My First post

Well, I finally set up a Blog..... How exciting!!!

Well, where to start???

I am 52 years old, and very much enjoy expressing my self through painting.

I came to art in a long path..... it started in 1980, with a hammer, and lots of nails..and assorted power tools..... and an old house on sullivan st. in toronto..... and a contracting job.....

In the summer of 1988 a good client sat me down with a cappichino on a very hot sunday, on the back deck and asked me some hard questions.... the aswers lead to the heart of downtown and the facalty of architecture at Ryerson. it took six years ( of night school) but in the fall of 1994 at the age of 38
i found myself a full time first year student of architecture. and the adventure began!! I have never worked so hard in my life as i did for the next 5 years.... I loved every minute of it...

and at this point just before I jump ahead to now I just have to say a thanks to a few who helped me make it through Len R. Steve and Naha, Richard L, and Blaine Who never left. Bob G. the man who introduced me to a small paint brush, walked me to the threshold, cracked the door open just enough to show me the light, than steped back, to let me find my own path . More about Bob in latter posts. My brother Mark for his guidence and lastly to my father Keith, for his quiet support.

Zoom to the present ....


I started with Watercolor about 3 years ago, and have started working in oils this past year. Iwork in what I call message abstract, blending images and textures. Things that inspire me are music with a message that comes from the gut , Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Eagles and Canadian folk such as Ian Tamblyn. Old buildings, I spent the 1980 s traveling in Europe ( when not renovating old houses in toronto ) how can any one walk in to the Cathedrals look up and think these were built by hand, and not be moved??

my paintings and soon sculpting have to say somthing...quite often the message is very diferent from where i started.....

where and how this blog will develop is a good question... but it will not be limited to just art

more to come ... just remember to stop and listen for nature is talking ... go in peace and goodwill

Norman K.