Mark Johnson Art Blog Wonder & Whimsy

3rd Ward online art competition

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Well I’ve signed up for their online art competition. I am putting myself out there again in a “vote for me” way with http://markjohnson.3rdward.com/

I am always very aware of how my art doesn’t translate well – my cheap old digital camera is not a very good window through which the world sees my work. The work itself is in a state of flux. Each major piece changes radically from the one before as I learn how to see/show my vision. Not to mention the learning curve as I handle the various mediums.

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Family Round – end game of a painting

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This acrylic piece has been sitting on the easel for far too long. I’m including it as part of a juried submission that accepts works in progress, which means it can make it into the Blog as well. I’m betting the end result will not look too different from what I have here, but it will take forever to achieve that small difference. That’s just the way it goes with some work, I guess.  20″ x 20″

I noticed that I never posted a final image of the painting in this post –

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Taking Part in 2 Shows

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I’m happy to be taking part in the Don Valley Art Club’s Annual Spring Show. There will be quite a range of work by the members, including my new piece Reflections II.

Place Todmorden Mills, Pottery Road, Toronto Ontario
Show Dates April 30, May 1, 2, 8 & 9, 2010

Opening Reception Friday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Awards Presentation 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Weekend Shows Dates and Times
Saturday,

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Reflections II

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I decided I wanted to do a variation of Reflections, going with the energy and ideas that were still strong from the original. So, working on a larger scale (36″ x 24″) in acrylic, I will be trying extra-hard to make this piece a fully functional painting when hung in any orientation. I’m interested in following up on where I was when painting Reflections.  So while not trying to be cute about it, I’m reflecting upon the reflections of things,

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Icons and Water Element

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11″ x 14″ pencil

People have a reliance on and a relationship with the animals that share our world. Our bodies, our natures and the very roots of our existence are conjoined. There is a natural correspondence between this ancient interrelationship and the iconic gestalt that we consider when we think “bear”, “bird” or “fish”. These creatures have acquired connections in our perception which include the cycles of life and death. The primeval forests we roamed were the domain of the bear.

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Art on Deck – February 21,2010

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The Song – 12″ x 16″ finished size in micron pens and colour pencils. This is the first stage complete before I colour it in. The show is coming up and I feel the crunch time, so I will see how quickly I get The Song complete. Hopefully there will be a final version hitting the gallery today.

The finished piece – learn as you go when it comes to this particular art board and these pencils and pens I think.

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Toronto Art Expo 2010

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I am participating in the upcoming Toronto Art Expo. I’ll be in Booth D073 – a corner location on the perimeter a few rows away from the centre stage. Very exciting, very nerve-wracking for this neophyte, and a little rich for my blood. But it will be an amazing experience, and something to look back on with a certain sense of accomplishment. Please find a way to come out and say hello. If you are interested, contact me and we can try to hook you up with some of the opening night free admission passes they gave participants

SHOW HOURS:
Thursday February 25: 6-10:30 pm
Friday February 26: 11am-8pm
Saturday February 27: 10am-9pm
Sunday February 28: 10am-7pm

my TAE online gallery

Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front Street West

google map

ADMISSION:

Adults: $12.00
Students (with ID) and Seniors: $8.00
Children (under 12): Free

Toronto Art Expo home page

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Art on Deck (What’s On My Easel)

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I thought it would be interesting to have a running blog showing what work was in progress. Sometimes art changes quite a bit as it works it’s way onto the canvas or the drawing board. Sometimes the process leads to an evolution that wasn’t expected at all. The review of the art can be a fun thing, and maybe even lead to considerations regarding a variation that would be interesting to follow.

Tuesday February 16, 2010 “Reflections”

Acrylic 18″

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A black marble and an iron knife

What is Art?

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I think art is organizing and binding of time and material with intent. The intent is to add quality while expressing some purpose in our lives. Good art does this with aesthetic intent, craftsmanship and the imbuing of the artists pleasure into their construct. A person can be an artist in the way they load a truck, mop a floor or care for a child.

It isn’t necessary to intend to make art in order to have art made.

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