Friday, October 17, 2008

Back to Killarney






I took my son up to Killarney on the Thanksgiving long weekend for a little painting. Perfect weather and absolutely brilliant colours. Not very happy with the results but I did enjoy myself.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008


This is my first attempt to paint in High Park. It's unfinished, which I blame partially on the unavoidable onlookers. "Are you painting?" was the usual query. I guess the easel, brushes and paint and the canvas with a picture of a tree that was remarkably similar to the one standing right in front of them were insufficient clues. I thought the painting sucked anyway, so I headed home.
In retrospect though, I wish I had stuck it out. It's not half bad. Mind you had I stuck around I would have had to deal with the crazy lady who climbed my subject as I was packing up.
I miss Killarney where my only audience were the chipmunks.

Sunday, September 7, 2008


Here's another I did from a pic taken in St. Lucia while on a cruise a couple of years ago.
Needless to say I embellished the clouds a bit. Probably got carried away, actually. Bit of a cloud fetish kind of thing.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

a COLOUR landscape!!



Yes I broke out the paints.
This is based on a photo of a woodlot near our cottage in Kintail.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008



Here is the last painting from Killarney. I sat on the front steps of the 'Haversack' (the cabin my daughter called home for the past 3 months while working for the Killarney Outfitters) and painted what was in front of me. Absolute bliss for 4 hours.

Monday, August 25, 2008

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Pt II


On the beach at Inverhuron near Kincardine.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Pt I








OK, so they're not in colour, like some people .
Sketches from a cottage we rented on Lake Anima-Nippissing. Cool place.









Saturday, August 23, 2008


This was done the day before we left. Again, at the site.

I got really exited about this one, then after stepping back to admire my brilliance, I realized I had painted a backdrop for "the Jungle Book-part 2". That's the F---ing storyboard artist coming out when I'm not looking.

...and number 4. I've got this thing for Birch trees.

This was created in the same day. All these are in oils on gessoed masonite.

After that fiasco, Annemarie convinced me to look for inspiration at the camp site. More food, potential roof over my head and company when needed was the argument given.
And this was the result. Just a simple study of a birch.

Kolouring Kanvases in Killarney


I'm back from Killarney Provincial Park and had a spectacular time painting. 6 paintings in 10 days. I'm not sure if my enthusiasm is reflected in what I created but in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny "I don't give a crap!" (....or was that Lord Black.) More than half my enjoyment comes from just the act of painting outside.
Anyway, this was my first attempt. I hiked with all my gear out to AY Jackson Lake and produced this piece of shit. I was in sort of a 'I'll show that Mark Harris I can paint clouds, too!' frame of mind and failed miserably. I was chased back to the camp site by that nasty black cloud.

Monday, June 30, 2008



This was inspired by a true event (except for the Jesus part). While having dinner with a good friend the other night we struck up a conversation with a couple beside us. They seemed pleasantly surprised at my buddy's dry wit, keen grasp of politics and encyclopaedic mind. As usual in these situations, I sat silent, content to listen to this enlightening conversation. After enquiring as to everyone's career choice the question was put to me. After I said that I was an illustrator their eyes lit up like super novas and their smiles were so large the corners of their mouths seemed to meet at the backs of their heads. You'd think I was Brad Pit or as the cartoon suggests, Christ himself.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Playing with Painter 10


Just goofing around with Painter 10. Fortunately its not much different than 8. Just fewer crashes...which is a good thing.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

SpacedOutMan



Got a new tablet & worked out the 'new gadget' frustrations on this one.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Shameless Plug

Like all great art, it speaks for itself.

Cruise Island


Another Painter X landscape. Sure is easy when you've got lots of 'undo's'!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Pouring a new step


Finally got around to pouring a step in front of the studio using my son as a pack mule. I'm not too sure why I had a son cause all he does is remind me how old and decrepid I'm getting.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Mothers Day




Another 'digital landscape' (ie too lazy to get out real paint) done for my wife. It's from a photo taken on a camping trip last year at Inverhuron Provincial Park.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Helicopter Thing

Oh look, another flying machine...

The Road



I read this Cormac McCarthy book a few months ago. One of the most disturbing & best books I've ever read. I was inspired to do a couple of images.

Barbados


Based on a pic I took on a cruise last year

Monday, February 11, 2008


Sorry Mark, couldn't resist the opportunity. Blame Ma Bell.

Way to kick a guy when his network is down!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Here we go again


Well there goes my day, all shot to Hell
(so to speak).

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Caught Napping


Did this for an online forum, to avoid working for a living.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Charity painting


I did this for a charity auction. I would show you a more recent effort had I not carefully removed the canvas from its stretcher with an x-acto knife and tossed it in the garbage.