Mark Reeder Fine Art

The Oxtongue river in winter

2012-01-11T12:42:00.001-05:00

Oxtongue river in winter, 6 x 9.75, oil on panel, 2012 © Mark Reeder.

I feel pretty lucky living in 'cottage country'. I have the privilege of a different perspective living here, something that I notice even more in the off season. The silence that can be found on even the shortest walks here in the winter months can be very meditative and strikingly beautiful.

This particular spot had no trail to it, aside from the deer trails I found along the way.

Happy New Year!

Water: An Art Show in Algonquin Park 2012 - Teaser

2011-11-26T16:05:00.000-05:00

This is a short trailer for an art show called "Water" to be held at the Algonquin Art Centre in Algonquin Provincial Park in Summer, 2012. Participating in the filming of this was a lot of fun!

Music: Hanz Zimmer, "Journey to the Line"
Artists: Matt Coles, Mark Reeder, and Taryn Hobman.
Film Footage by Andrew Sheppard and Kate Heming
Produced and edited by Joel Irwin
Please note: This video is for entertainment purposes only

Algonquin Art Centre interview

2011-10-06T10:04:00.000-04:00

I was recently interviewed by the Algonquin Art Centre. I really enjoyed answering some of these questions. It's pretty amazing how inspired and motivated one can get by talking about something you love to do.

If you would like to read the full article you can follow this link to visit the Algonquin Art Centre blog.

Studio in the woods

2011-09-21T21:46:00.000-04:00

Studio in the woods, 7 x 7, oil on panel, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

This painting is of the front door of my studio and gallery Spring Lake Studios. I painted most of this outside and finished it up indoors. I have painted this building a few times but this is the first one that I feel accomplished what I was looking to capture.

I love plein air painting but I am also very much a studio painter. It's an interesting process and journey discovering all the different ways to paint and be inspired. I find that much of my plein air works are the beginnings of paintings that I end up finishing in the studio. Starting a painting on location or working from studies or sketches done from life gives you invaluable information. Photos alone always seem to be lacking some vitality, not to mention accuracy in tone and colour.

My studio and gallery is a special place for me, it was once the studio and gallery of my grandfather William Kratzer who was a landscape painter here for more than 30 years. Although we rarely painted together he showed me it was possible to make a living as a painter and that it was a viable occupation. That is a really big deal when you are in the early stages developing yourself as an artist in a world that doesn't always consider it a 'real' job. I will always thank him for that.

Renovating this studio space over the last few years has been a labour of love and I am working to have it ready to open for spring 2012. Stay tuned for announcements of upcoming workshops at the studio and at some great locations in the neighbourhood for some painting en plein air.

What's new in the studio.

2011-09-08T20:11:00.000-04:00

Sexy Rexy in a jam jar, 6 x 8, oil on panel, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

"Sexy Rexy" is a type of rose. Not too many roses do that well this far north but this species, now in it's second year in my garden, seems to be growing very nicely. I think part of the reason why I love gardening so much is that opportunity to use freshly cut flowers as a subject for painting.

"Sexy Rexy in a jam jar" is one of many smaller works I have near completion so I will be posting some more very soon.

Another Day at the Office

2011-08-19T11:36:00.000-04:00

I love where I live. I love the Canadian landscape and as much as my first love has always been portraiture I have come to the realization that I am being seduced by painting en plein air. The seduction has been quite voluntary and makes perfect sense considering it has been part of the plan all along.

When I made the move north to Muskoka from Toronto a few years ago part of the plan was to explore landscape painting. Specifically painting en plein air. I have always wanted to live here and now it is quite a regular thing for me to journey out to some of my favourite locations with my homemade plein air easel and some paints to see what I can learn about painting. I think the key to growing as an artist is to keep challenging yourself and I'm pretty sure any plein air painter would agree, painting on location is always challenging.

My studio is of course one of my favourite places to be. I love the academic and creative energy in the space, the smell of oil paint and having some great music on while I am working. I am sure every artist loves their work space and probably feels most at home in front of their favourite easel.

When I think of "the office", however, for me the office is always outside. My outside studio. It can be an awesome adventure if you like the outdoors. Painting en plein air does take a little more effort. Also, your time painting is limited. You only have 2 maybe 3 hours of working time before the light changes. This can be very challenging, especially if you have become accustomed to the luxury of working in the consistent and reliable light of your studio.

The other day I spent participating in the filming of some footage for an up coming promotional video to promote the Algonquin Art Centre and Algonquin Park. Myself, Matt Coles, the Art Directer of the gallery who is also a painter, along with Andrew Sheppard and his assistant Ryan Perry who were filming the project spent the day hiking, painting and filming. We began before sunrise and wrapped up after sunset so it was a long but amazing day. Beautiful weather, clear skies, great locations and although the sun was a little bright while we were painting in the late afternoon it was an amazing experience.

I wish now looking back that I had taken more pictures but here are a few to share. Hopefully this post will inspire some of you to get out on a little adventure of your own and try out some painting at the office.

Website launch

2011-08-11T07:09:00.000-04:00

markreeder.ca

My website is up and running! It has been a busy last few years and I am glad to finally have this up. It is still a work in process so stay tuned for more work.

Have a great day!

New Drawing

2011-08-05T08:09:00.000-04:00

Anna, 9 x 11.5, graphite and charcoal on paper, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

My love for art is rooted in my love for drawing. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting at a table drawing something, anything. There was never any pressure for me in 'getting it right'. I just felt at home in the process. Of course I did also feel a sense of accomplishment when I managed to draw something that looked like the subject I was studying.

The International Year of Forests exhibition at the Algonquin Art Centre

2011-06-13T08:43:00.002-04:00

This summer I am participating in an exhibition at the Algonquin Art Centre. The exhibition "has been created as part of the United Nation’s 2011 “International Year of Forests”—a global campaign to educate people on the importance of forests for human and ecological sustainability."

You can follow this link to read more about the show.

My contribution, A Measure of Balance, is the only figurative piece in the show.

A Measure of Balance, 30 x 48, oil on linen, 2011 © Mark Reeder .

This painting, A Measure of Balance, is as much about measuring ones awareness as it is about acknowledging relationships.

My initial intention in pursuing this idea was to explore the meditative state that comes through repetitive work. I find myself in this state when chopping wood or through other forms of work where repetition and the desire to do something well is the intent. This image represents the quiet moment before action, visualizing how it will be.

I discovered through the process of building this painting that there was something being said about the relationship between humans and nature. To consider what it is to take down a living tree for our use brings to mind our direct connection with nature. More importantly, it also makes me think of how easily humans have an attitude towards feeling entitled and which can quickly fall into excess.

I believe that “being at the top of the food chain” requires us to act responsibly and as guardians, especially considering the interconnectedness of all life. It is important to consider the impact of our actions and to find ways to live in balance with ourselves and our environment.

Although I initially saw this as a conversation about meditation through action; looking further into the subject I became aware that the painting was also about the relationship between us and nature, and how we interact with it.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand was appointed by the United Nations to produce the official film for the International Year of Forests. Narrated by Ed Norton.

The International Year of the Forest exhibit will be on display from June 1^st to October 15^th so if you happen to be in Algonquin Park this summer or traveling through stop in and check out the show.

I also have the following pieces on display at the gallery.

Oxtongue Rapids, 12 x 16, oil on linen, 2010 © Mark Reeder.

Algonquin Rapids, 12 x 24, oil on linen, 2010 © Mark Reeder.

Early Morning at Ragged Falls, 19 x 42, oil on linen, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

Have a great week!

Build your own plein air easel.

2011-06-06T11:38:00.001-04:00

This is a project that I have been looking forward to completing for some time now. I am very happy to have this finished and look forward to getting out and putting it to use.

The outside dimensions are 12 x 16 inches and it was built with 1/4 inch plywood with 3/4 inch ripped pieces of pine, but you could use hardwood as well.

The palette is plexi glass that I happened to have. I would like to change this to glass when this one gets too difficult to clean. Underneath I have a piece of linen toned to a neutral grey. Since I like to paint on toned grounds this allows me to mix on the colour/tone that I will be painting on.

I built this entire easel with scrap materials that were left over from other projects, including the stain and clear coat. The only thing I purchased for this was something called a t nut, which is what allows me to fasten the easel to a camera tripod.

The side hinge was the only piece of hardware I had difficulty in sourcing. So much so that I built my own using two metal L brackets that I bent straight in a vice and with a hammer. Along with some washers, lock washers, two bolts, nuts and a wing nut to tighten and hold it in position, everything works perfectly.

The other aspect in this design that was difficult to decide on was how to keep the panel I would be painting on in place. I was considering fabricating my own hardware as I did with the side hinge until I came across Jim Serrett's site Pochade Box Paintings. In his post on How to build your own Pochade Box , where he goes into great detail (and I highly recommend reviewing this post) he show's how he used a small bungee cord through slots to hold the panel in place. I thought that was brilliant. It works great, it's inexpensive, lightweight and you can tie a quick knot in it for smaller panels. Many thanks to Jim Serrett.

I first saw this design at Open Box M and just loved it. If you are looking at purchasing a plein air easel instead of building your own I would take a look at the Open Box M site as well as another great easel design at Alla Prima Pochade. They have a wonderful design as well.

Here are some more images of the easel to give you a better look at it and to help show you how it was built. If you have any questions about it feel free to post them or message me.

Happy Monday!

With an unfinished panel to show how it's held in place.

and from the back, showing the bungee cord.

3/4 inch piece of plywood where the t nut is installed.

Recent portrait: The girl without the pearl earring

2011-05-27T12:46:00.003-04:00

The girl without the pearl earring, 16 x 22, oil on linen, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

I finished this painting a while ago and today I made the time to photograph it. The sitter is my wife, who has modeled for me for numerous paintings.

The title "The girl without the pearl earring" came from a conversation my wife and I were having while I was part way through the painting. I had mentioned to her how I like portraits showing the head turned, looking over the shoulder, like this one. My wife said it reminded her of Vermeer's "Girl with the pearl earring", a painting I had reproduced before. "That's it," I said, "only this is The Girl without the pearl earring." She laughed and agreed and the name stuck. It's a fitting title, considering my love for 17th century Dutch painting. It also fits because of my lack of interest in decoration of any kind. So the fact that she is not wearing a pearl earring makes a statement, however unintentional.

Some may argue that "art is decoration" and that is something I would absolutely disagree with. However, I think my philosophies on what art is should be left for another time.

Here is the Vermeer reproduction I was referring to, from a previous post.

after Vermeer

Have a fantastic weekend!

Some like it hot.

2011-05-07T19:03:00.000-04:00

Hot Peppers, 12 x 24, oil on linen, 2011 © Mark Reeder.

This recent still life is part of the show I'm having in Huntsville. I'm a big fan of hot food so I couldn't resist painting some. It also made for some nice colours!

Solo show in Huntsville, Ontario

2011-04-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year I was invited to be the first featured artist in a series of exhibitions at The Framing Place & Gallery in Huntsville, Ontario. I stop in there often to see their great selection of frames. They are affiliated with the Algonquin Art Centre which is another great place to see some amazing art when traveling through Algonquin Park. Participating in this series offered a great opportunity to introduce my work to the surrounding area. Since I moved up here from Toronto in 2006, I have spent most of my time nestled away in the studio working away on portrait commissions and expanding my portfolio (as well as renovating the studio and gallery space). I haven't had the time to get involved with anything in Muskoka and I saw this as a perfect place to showcase some of my landscapes as well as a mixture of other subjects, including some portraits and still life paintings. If you are anywhere near Huntsville from April 22 to May 19 stop in and take a look!

The Framing Place & Gallery

1-33 King William St., Huntsville ON P1H 2L4

705-789-3205 1-800-863-0066 e: info@framingplace.net algonquinartcentre.com

This is a Rembrandt reproduction I completed not too long ago. It is one of my favourites by the Master. I decided to leave it as part of the show displayed with some fantastic Dutch and Italian style frames. Here is a preview.

I hope all of you had a great Easter weekend!

New cityscape, fresh off the easel.

2011-04-20T09:03:00.000-04:00

Alleyway, 8 x 10, oil on linen, 2011 © Mark Reeder

When I lived in Toronto I didn't really drive all that much. When I had to go somewhere I would usually travel the city by subway, which is always interesting. I also walked a lot. I loved walking through the city, and I would usually take short cuts through alley ways and side streets. I found these routes much more interesting than the facades of main streets with their 'fake fronts'. By taking such detours you could see and walk through the character of the city as well as part of it's history. It also gives you an opportunity to see some graffiti art along the way.

Rapids on the Oxtongue river.

2011-01-28T13:23:00.002-05:00

Rapids on the Oxtongue river, 12 x 16, oil on linen, 2010 © Mark Reeder.

This is another riverscape from a series that I have been working on. There is quite a long stretch of this river not far from my home and I always enjoy taking the opportunity to go for a walk down by the water.

Landscapes are still new for me but I am becoming more inspired every time I finish a painting like this. It was quite daunting at the beginning branching out from my comfort zone of painting portraits and still life, and the odd urban scape, to a place where I could combine my love of nature with painting.

Framing

2011-01-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

Leah, oil on linen, 2008 © Mark Reeder.

I thought I'd start off the new year with a post about framing. I think the importance of framing can be over looked far too often. In my mind the frame becomes the home for the painting. It allows the painting to be viewed with some separation from its environment and also further promotes the illusion of the image. A frame can show care by protecting it as well as displaying it the way one wishes it to be seen. When a painting is dressed up in the right frame it reminds me of how I feel when I get dressed up.

I made this frame over the holidays for the owner of this painting, which I posted quite some time ago. Before I committed myself full time to painting and while I was working toward that goal I was fortunate enough to have chosen jobs that helped me acquire useful skills. Renovations, carpentry, and cabinet making helped prepare me for being creative in more ways than just painting, although painting is still my first love.

I hope to post more paintings in their frames as the new year unfolds.

Hope everyone had a great holiday and a safe New Year! All the best for 2011!

Algonquin Rapids

2010-10-28T13:11:00.001-04:00

Algonquin Rapids, 12 x 24, oil on linen 2010 © Mark Reeder.

I feel very fortunate to live where I do. A short drive takes me to some very special spots that some only get to see while on vacation. In 2006 I moved north from Toronto to the small village of Dwight, just outside the west gate of Algonquin Park. I smile when I see that it's called a village, it is that small. It's small and usually quiet even during tourist season. Living minutes away from some beautiful places such as Ragged Falls Provincial Park and Algonquin Provincial Park can be pretty amazing. Even when it takes an hour to get to some places it's a wonderful drive.

These rapids are on the Track and Tower trail in Algonquin Park. I've been hooked on painting rapids for the last while and this is one that I have recently finished. I did this in the studio from photos that I took when my wife and I hiked the trail over the summer. I would love to go back and paint it en plein air . There is also a very nice look out on this trail if anyone has an interest to go there, just keep in mind it is one of the more difficult trails in the park. I like to think of it as an 8 kilometer obstacle course.

Learning from the Old Masters - part 1

2010-10-24T11:39:00.012-04:00

Sketches, studies and reproductions I've made over the years.

In many ways I would have to consider myself self taught, although I'm not a big fan of that way of thinking, especially considering the fact that if one is paying attention, there are teachers everywhere. Since I have no formal training much of my education has come from studying art history, drawing from life and as this post shows, studying and reproducing works of the old masters. Most of these are from 2001 to 2005 and are an example of the choices I've made and which artists have inspired me.

Exploring these works and trying to reproduce them taught me a great deal as I tried to understand how they accomplished what they did. Along with studying the paintings themselves and the lives of the artists I also spent endless hours studying books on the methods and materials of the old masters in an effort to absorb as much as possible to develop a sound technical practice, to create works that were properly constructed and would stand the test of time.

This list is not complete by any means. There are still a few reproductions that I've painted which I don't have records of. I don't do many reproductions these days unless I'm commissioned to do so. I have about six in the studio that I have been meaning to get back to for the last few years, but they are more for my own personal enjoyment. I hope to finish them up over the winter. Stay tuned for "Learning from the old masters - part 2".

Flagellation of Christ, detail, after Caravaggio, oil on linen © Mark Reeder.

Self portrait as a young man, after Rembrandt, oil on panel © Mark Reeder.

Self portrait as the Apostle Paul, detail, after Rembrandt, oil on panel © Mark Reeder.

Rembrandt's eyes, after Rembrandt, oil on panel © Mark Reeder.

Study for the Head of Apollo in the 'Forge of Vulcan', after Velazquez, 8 x 12,

oil on panel 2004 © Mark Reeder.

Fumee d'Ambre Gris, detail, after Sargent, oil on panel, 6 x 7, oil on panel © Mark Reeder.

Roses, after Sargent, oil on panel © Mark Reeder.

Venetian street, detail, after Sargent 9 x 12.5, oil on canvas © Mark Reeder.

Bust of Medusa, after Bernini, 12 x 12, oil on linen © Mark Reeder.

after Michelangelo, 6 x 12, oil on canvas panel 2005 © Mark Reeder.

after Rodin, 6 x 12, oil on panel 2001 © Mark Reeder.

Catching up - part 2

2010-10-21T16:05:00.002-04:00

Wrapped in white, 24 x 54, oil on linen 2007 © Mark Reeder.

As I mentioned in the last post, I've been going through some images of my work while refining my web site. This is another one I thought I'd share. "Wrapped in white" is part the collection of one of my very good patrons and was not shown in an exhibition. I thought it deserved a post all to itself.

Catching up

2010-10-21T13:50:00.004-04:00

Selected works from the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2005 and my first solo show 2006

While working on the finishing touches for my website I came across some images of my paintings from previous exhibitions. These are some of my favourites. I thought this blog would be a good place to share them since I will be starting the website off with more current work. Hope you enjoy!

New Portrait

2010-09-09T13:20:00.011-04:00

This is a portrait I finished recently of my friend Minna. I really liked the light in this image, and the sense of a rural or country environment. The first thing that comes to mind though every time I look at it is the word youth.

Some older work

2010-09-04T12:05:00.006-04:00

One of my good clients brought this piece by for a coat of varnish during a visit to pick up another painting not too long ago. It was nice to see one of my older paintings again, especially after I lost a lot of work when my computer crashed a while back. It's also good to take a look back once in a while to see what you were doing, how it relates to what you're doing now and how it all sits in the journey of an artist's development of choices and inspirations.

What's on the easel

2010-08-25T14:16:00.008-04:00

I started this quite a while ago and finally got back to working on it the other day. I also have a couple more landscapes in process and most of the other paintings I've been working through are pretty much done. It feels good to get through a big batch of work and I still have quite a bit to do. I guess I'm always chasing after the next painting, or the last one!

The last couple of days the weather has been just beautiful. Having the windows open letting in the fresh air and having the studio cleaned up nice with some great music on and getting back to this painting has put me in a pretty decent mood, so I thought I'd do a quick post to share what's on the easel.

Hope everyone's having a fantastic day!

Vermeer Reproduction

2010-03-27T18:24:00.019-04:00

I completed this painting last year. It's part of a little on going project of old master copies I have had laying around the studio waiting to be finished. The current owner of this painting, a very good friend of mine, brought it by today during a visit. I was so happy, I could finally sign it! I was glad he came by with it not only to get a social visit from a very dear friend but also to see one of my favourite copies that I have done.

I was planning on putting this up as a post of reproductions when the rest are all done, since I have about 6 others waiting for some attention. However, since he came over today and I had yet to photograph it, I wanted to get this out there while it was still fresh in my experience. There are more to come and I'll probably make a reference to this post later on, but I thought some of you would like to see an example of work that inspires me.

Vermeer, along with Rembrandt, have been a huge inspiration for me and I've had and still have a great respect and gratitude for what I've learned studying their work, not only on a technical level, but also in their choices in subject matter, as well as composition, light, and reasons behind their expression.

I'm sure I'll ramble on in greater detail about their effect on me when I post the rest of my soon to be completed copies, as an ode to the old masters.

New Portrait

2010-03-23T13:53:00.022-04:00

I've been working through about half a dozen portraits and figures lately. This is the first one done. Most of the others are very close to being completed and I'm looking forward to getting on with some new ones and catching up on some ideas I'd like to explore.

Over the last few years I've become increasingly interested in exploring still life and how they can relate and express a human experience or presence. Landscapes and city scapes as well hold an interest for me, although it does resonate a little differently. I've been drawn to figures since my earliest studies of art history and the fact that they are probably one of the most challenging subjects to paint. I'm sure there are many artists out there that would agree with me on that.

Portraits, however, as a subject, are what interest me most. There is soo much potential to express a persons emotion or state of mind. The psychology of people and the qualities they can convey I find fascinating and an endless supply of inspiration. Just as much can come through with the gesture, position or action of the hands as with what's going on with the face.

Much of my intention in painting is to promote specific qualities and I thoroughly enjoy finding new ways to express them by painting portraits.

Portrait of Mr. Richard Smith

2010-02-18T10:16:00.005-05:00

This is a portrait of my friend Chantal's uncle Richard Smith. I was really caught by his expression and I was glad for the opportunity to do this painting.

Painting in the garden

2009-09-22T12:41:00.009-04:00

This is a quick painting I did of daisies I grew in my garden. I really love gardening and a big part of the reason or motive behind creating and exploring the kind of flowers I choose is also with the intention to paint them. In essence I want to create an environment in and around me not only to live in a more artful way but also to promote care, life and beauty. This ecology greatly enriches my life and inspires my choices in painting.

The Thinker

2009-08-31T15:59:00.004-04:00

An artist/musician friend of mine and I were having a lengthy discussion about art, creativity and philosophy the other day and this painting came up in conversation....coincidentally I came across the image of it this afternoon. I painted it in 2006 so it's been a while since I've seen it, was nice to see it again.

Leah

2009-08-20T13:23:00.003-04:00

I had this painting up a while ago when i was 'playing' with this whole blog thing. I was thinking to put this up with some other figurative work later, but decided not to wait.

Still life in the studio

2009-08-20T12:11:00.004-04:00

Here's a few still life paintings I've done recently, had quite a bit of fun working on these. I really like the idea in the first one showing a subject for a painting mixed in with the tools of the trade.