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Pip on the stairs at the new studio building. Watching to see where I am painting next so that he can go lean against that wall.
Me at the Minster, mastering my fear of heights. Caleb was no help. Gothic Architecture and the York Minster
Thursday, April 19, 7-8:30 p.m., $20
Marvel at the artistic spectacle of Gothic architecture through an exploration of the world-famous York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Built on Constantinian Roman ruins between the 1220s and the 1470s, the Minster is known for its massive expanses of medieval stained glass, soaring towers and enormous buttressed walls. The Minster is also home to some of the finest examples of Gothic sculpture – full to the brim with sculpted human heads pulling faces, angels, animals and gargoyles.
This session is illustrated with some of my own photographs of the Minster from a recent trip to the UK.
(Look familiar from Pillars of the Earth??)
York Minster, York. Photo by self-described master of photography and everything else, Caleb JonesMy little brother Caleb went with me on this trip - our second together to Europe. The first, three years ago, to Spain and Italy, was an unmitigated disaster (for half, at least - from Venice to Rome), where we refused to even walk on the same side of the street. But my maturity and even temper saw us through and back to Canada.
This latest trip to the UK was better. Caleb, fortunately, has almost reached my level of travel sophistication and mature temperament. But just so you have an idea of what I deal with on these trips:
York; Caleb in a pretend huff. 
Exactly.
But we bonded over our mutual love of English tea and a teashop in York called the Hairy Fig.
Yum
I momentarily forgot that I was paying for everything.
The chimney at 73 Duke was exposed downstairs but not upstairs, so this week's project was bashing out gyprock and laths and plaster on the second floor. A messy job. The dog is looking worse all the time, now covered in paint and plaster dust.
Oh, and more painting this week. ...and still not finished.
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Saint John and Harbour, oil on canvas, 18x96 (two panels), 2012]]>
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Before: entrance
Removing the walls and shelving around the entrance
First floor
Tired PipFirst week at the new studio building! Busy painting, removing the shelving unit around the door, and chasing dog out of the paint. The painting and wall removal bits are going well... not so successful at keeping Pip's face out of the paint can.
The Germain Street location is closing soon. I have very limited hours there over the next couple weeks.
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The walls at Duke Street are currently red and black, and I'm eventually aiming for bright white... might take a few coats.
Guess who was a big help.
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I have a large 18x96 inch commission in the works based on some photos of the Saint John Harbour, like the one above. I'm really looking forward to this one. I sketched out the concept on the canvas today - happy with the dimensions and the subject material. I love clients with an ambitious idea and willingness to try for an unconventional canvas shape.
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