In answer to a few queries, I shot all three images FROM MY CAR while going up Centre Road to Carlisle. No 'photoshop' on 2nd image, that's just a good crop. (I don't use Photoshop.)
Friday, March 1, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Harold Sikkema: Trickster? or Master-in-the-Making?
Recent photo digital works, in a collection entitled ‘Landscrapes’, by Harold Sikkema, are showing at the YouMeGallery in Hamilton until March 3rd. A friend and I went last week to consider this work and talk to the artist.
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| 'Oxbow' from 'Landscrapes Exhibit' by Harold Sikkema |
That said, some are definitely more successful then others. I attribute this mostly to the clarity of the initial photography taken from the natural world, like this enjoyable one, Communio, available in a multitude of sizes:
Cumulatively, these carousels of cacophonic imagery are
‘ordered’ through a carefully constructed imaginative maze that, if nothing
else, make perfect sense to Harold Sikkema. Viewers will have to work a bit harder to ‘get it’ ... And therein lies some
of the problem with Harold’s work.
There is no question that these recent photographs invite
emotional and intellectual meditation, BUT at a certain point I wondered when
he would ‘let go’ of ‘us’. Each image is
accompanied by an obscure title and accompanying poem that demand
‘attention’. It’s as though Sikkema INSISTS that we consider the title and poem
BEFORE the visual – when, in fact, the visual ALWAYS dominates and clearly
predates both the title and the poem. This insistence is counter-intuitive and
creates a completely unnecessary ‘tension’. Truth be told, the tension is more aggravating
then compelling. Rather then ‘allow’ a ‘flow’ between the subject and object,
(ie. the viewer and the work), Sikkema has established deliberate ‘intellectual
obstacles’ that viewers must battle through, before they can just ‘look’.
This is further evident in the meticulous lists of objects and locations
adjacent to each photo montage. You simply cannot LOOK without Sikkema ‘getting
in the way’ … Consider this promo VIDEO.
It seems the artist doesn’t want us to merely LIKE each
individual photo montage on its own merit, on our own terms. Instead, he works very hard
at convincing us that his works are complex mini-universes that catalogue a
‘human-versus-nature’ continuum. Likewise, at times, his language, when
describing the computer-generated photo-montages, is vintage ‘artspeak’. He effusively defines - and defends - his photographs
as ‘sculptural-like photo-tapestries’ …. ummm. ok.
Hey man, I’m still going to LIKE these photo-montages anyway.
When I inquired about his technique, Sikkema was
forthcoming. He layers photo images using inversion & photo filters. Micro
and macro images are superimposed one on top of the other that intriguingly (and
convincingly) add depth and resonance. A close-up of faded driftwood lingers
over a miniature savannah of meandering wildlife of - buffalo (?); a plastic (-
broken?) baby doll is nestled in a indigo coloured - eggshell (-?) within the
twirling helix of a shredded (-fluorescent?) tire; deer (-?) antlers shoot off a
simulated globe, miniscule inverted farm fences linger like lingerie – o’my : yes, these juxtapositions are beguiling.
Collectively, it certainly is an imaginative romp.
Still. I couldn’t help but feel – and think – that, aside
from a lot of evident time and effort, there was a LOT of gimmickry involved in the composing
and the making of these digital images. Harold was proud to point out the
gigabit capacity of his computer and his multiple hard drives.
It sort of begged the question: what came first,
the computer or the ‘vision’? In other words, could this 'vision' hatch - without
the computer?
All told, Sikkema is using photo-computer technology to
‘tell his story’, and, mostly, he does a very good job of it. For now, we’ll
overlook his inclination to be a bit heavy-handed with the 'public’.
We LIKE your work Harold. Seriously. You don’t need to
justify - or amplify - your SELF in the accompanying minutiae. It detracts and, too often, obfuscates.
Even so, I do foresee that Sikkema will do very well with this small body of work, short and long term. What remains,
of course, for all of us, is The Future …
How his images are
built, sort of:
1. - Photos of Harold - by mlh
2. - Tinkered photos of Harold - by mlh
3. - Final Photo montage of Harold - by mlh
Et voila.
He does a much better job of it.
( ... He’s clearly got a bigger
& better computer … )
It IS much better then the first ...
Monday, February 18, 2013
Hamilton Beach - Winter (Acrylic)
Went for a walk along the beach strip with a friend.
It was friggin' FREEZING ...
Even behind the dunes, on the boardwalk, the wind was howling.
Still, great to be 'out there', soaking it up.
Unusual for me, these were done in acrylic, not oil.
Tried to make the best of what I had 'on hand', colour-wise ...
If interested in more info, (size/price),
please contact the artist.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Local artist, Steve Pilcher, in line to win an Academy Award with Pixar & Disney team of fellow artists & animators
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| Animated Feature in line to win an Academy Award (aka an Oscar). |
Taking aim with their best shot, Pixar & Disney's fiery red-headed
creation, Merida, could win an Academy Award.
BRAVE, the coming-of-age story of a head-strong Scottish
Highland teen-princess, Merida of Clan Dunbroch, became an instant hit when
released in the summer of 2012. As of early January of this year, this 93
minute animated movie, created with a budget of $185 million, has grossed over
$520 million worldwide.
The animated characters are voiced-over by such film and
television luminaries as Emma Thompson, (Queen Elinor), Billy Connolly, (King
Fergus), Craig Ferguson (Lord MacIntosh) and Kelly Macdonald (Merida).
When discussing the development of BRAVE during an
interview last June with the Burlington Post, Pilcher makes clear that what the
audience sees on the screen is the mere "tip of the iceberg." Many many hours go into pre-production, in
this case, seven years. As an example, artists have to create numerous
paintings to show the Lighting Department how to light each shot.
Illuminated animated head shots. Lighting matters.
For more on the intricacies of developing an animated
feature film, consider this article about the ‘production pipeline’.
Coming back to MM Robinson, it was evident to the entire school, even way back then, that Steve had extraordinary artistic talent. A quiet and rather unassuming teen, his tender brilliance revealed itself in his consistently confident sketches of the natural world fused with his sensitive and poignant portrait caricatures. To this day, he confirms that his greatest inspiration comes from his love of nature fused with his love of fantasy.
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| Steve Pilcher, in his 20's. © Napoleon Publishing |
While at M.M.Robinson in the mid 1970’s, he developed under
two teachers, Jim Boyle and Paul Hryskiw, who helped guide his maturing talent.
Pilcher has, in turn, inspired other aspiring artists.
Soon after high school graduation, Steve began a career in design and illustration. One of his earliest efforts was Elfabit, (Hayes Publishing, 1982) an inventive and well-loved illustrated children’s book that again fused Steve’s two passions, nature and fantasy.
A slew of illustrations for children’s books followed. He
was the winner of a silver award in 1991 for his work on Norbert Nipkin and the Magic
Riddle Stone (Napoleon
Publishing, (1990), re-issued by Dundurn Press, and now available via Amazon.ca. )
His other children’s books, now out-of-print, include Toni and the Dandelions (Grassroots Publishing, 1994), Norbert
Nipkin (Napoleon Publishing, 1989), and The
Bus Ride (Gage Publishing, 1986).
In the late 1990’s he went to work for Warner Bros in Los Angeles as a visual stylist on ‘Quest for Camelot’. He eventually went on to become the Art Director for Dreamworks’ box-office smash, Shrek 2, (2004). He later worked on Shrek 3, before he moved to San Francisco to work on BRAVE, an animated feature for Pixar.
In the late 1990’s he went to work for Warner Bros in Los Angeles as a visual stylist on ‘Quest for Camelot’. He eventually went on to become the Art Director for Dreamworks’ box-office smash, Shrek 2, (2004). He later worked on Shrek 3, before he moved to San Francisco to work on BRAVE, an animated feature for Pixar.
 | |||
| Shrek 2, Pilcher’s handiwork is evident throughout |
Seven years later, he and his team of artists & animators stand to win
the film industry’s standard for excellence in one’s craft, an Academy Award
(also known as an Oscar).
For animation enthusiasts, a book, The Art of BRAVE, documents
the detailed animation process for this long film production. Many of Steve’s wonderful
‘behind-the-scenes’ illustrations are included.
 | ||||||||
| Clan Dunbroch family portrait, conceived by Steve Pilcher. |
My questions & his answers follow:
1. Nature and fantasy
are two of your passions. When growing up as a teen in Burlington, were there any ‘local’ natural locations that inspired you? Anywhere
special?
Yes, there was a field and a patch of forest behind my home
in Burlington
near Upper Middle Road,
it was the source of many drawings, paintings and story ideas. I also used
to drive 2 hours or more north of Burlington,
to even more remote forest areas.
2. When at MM
Robinson, your artistic talent was guided by Jim Boyle and Paul Hryskiw. How
did they respectively shape your IDEAS about art & illustration?
Jim Boyle wasn't that artistic, but very pragmatic, which I
really liked, he was the main teacher I had. Paul was definitely more
introspective and artistic. I wouldn't say they really shaped my ideas,
truth be told, I was a very determined, self reliant and somewhat introverted
young person.
3. You and Robert
Bateman became friends. What was the BEST advice he ever gave you?
‘Stay open-minded.’
He was and is very much an objective,
self-aware intelligent thinker. I really enjoyed our time together discussing
art and methods. I was in my early 20's
then.
4.. After graduating
from MM Robinson, did you have any further academic art training?
I went to Sheridan
College for a couple
weeks to try out animation, but left when I figured that I didn't want to
animate. I was more interested in art direction, painting and illustration, it
felt too specific for what I wanted to express.
5. Elfabit, your first book, is a wonderful
fusion of nature and fantasy. Did anywhere in Burlington act as the basis for those
illustrations?
Actually my first illustrated book, was a book called
"Norbert Nipkin". "Elfabit" was mostly an imaginative book
inspired by fantasy and nature. There was one image I painted down by a creek. That's
the brownies-floating-on-acorns image. I wasn't in the best of financial
circumstances at the time, and as a result the work in that book wasn't my
best.
6. You (and crew)
travelled to Scotland
to scout locations for BRAVE. Did any one location or aspect impress you?
All of Scotland
did, the Isle of Skye, The Dark Mile, the
Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis, Glen Affric, the two castles we visited,
Eilean Donan and Dunnottar. The power of nature out there was awesome.
7. Define Scotland in one
word. -
Mythic.
8. You are a deft
hand at caricature. How did you learn this skill? What most influenced this
development in you as a youngster – t.v., or comics or ___ ?
I don't think I'm that great at caricature. I love to create
my own characters though, comics and great art always influenced, and more
importantly, inspired me.
9. Do you produce
other art outside of work? If so, what is your focus ?
Yes, all the time. It's my personal work in the form of
paintings, drawings and some sculpture, usually taking form as a book.
I'm trying to finish one this year, my publisher has been patiently
waiting for. Working on these animated features take up a lot of one's time.
10. MM Robinson is
having a 50 year Anniversary Gala Celebration Weekend in May. Will you and your
spouse be there ? ( More info here: http://mmr.hdsb.ca/Reunion/)
It would be fun to go, but work and time restraints
may make it very difficult for me to get there, as I live in California, so, I don't know yet.
11. Any parting word
you’d like to send to your admirers and fans in Burlington, Ontario, Canada?
If I do indeed have any fans or admirers, I would like to
say thanks for thinking kindly of me, I will always use my skills to hopefully
inspire and touch whoever you may be. I love and cherish my memories of
living in Burlington, especially those late teen years in Moss Glen Court with
my Mom, Dad, brother Chris, my sister Kathy and our little dog named
"Mighty". I will always have a part of Burlington with me because that is also where
I met my wife Donna.
Kudos to Steve Pilcher - Brockville
born, Hamilton and Burlington bred.
Proof positive of that old adage: ‘Where there is a will, there is a
way … ‘
UPDATE, February 25th, YES!! - BRAVE wins Best Animated Feature at 85th Academy Awards!
UPDATE, February 25th, YES!! - BRAVE wins Best Animated Feature at 85th Academy Awards!
The Burlington Public Library has 10 copies of BRAVE, but
you’ll have to wait to see it. As of last Friday, there were 273 ‘holds’ on
those DVDs. Tangentially, a gaming app, Temple Run:BRAVE, is free to download. There’s also a dedicated
Facebook page for die-hard BRAVE fans. And, you never know, Steve may just turn up in Burlington in May …
 |
|
Pure fantasy, Angus, the horse, and Merida, the red-headed princess, naturally done ...
Update: Yup, he came! Great to see and chat. What a guy!  |
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Hamilton Beach Walkabout ...
In contrast to the escarpment, the lake offers something completely different.
Played hookey for a few hours and put together this 4 minute vid. Enjoy.
(If the VIMEO video frame isn't appearing, blame Google, owners of Blogger and YouTube.
They don't own VIMEO ... ) Try this link instead ... https://vimeo.com/59609524
Played hookey for a few hours and put together this 4 minute vid. Enjoy.
(If the VIMEO video frame isn't appearing, blame Google, owners of Blogger and YouTube.
They don't own VIMEO ... ) Try this link instead ... https://vimeo.com/59609524
Monday, February 11, 2013
SNOW!! ... finally ...
The first major snow fall of the season ... about 14-16 inches ... FUN!!
The image on the right is the route to the woodpile ...
The image on the right is the route to the woodpile ...
Conventional photography doesn't really do the FUN part justice ...
stomping through fresh powder ... brilliant sunshine, clear skies ...
and not THAT cold ... really ... :)
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Town of Oakville: Parks & Recreation Spring Guide 2013 - Another 'mlh' FREEBEE
 | ||||||
| Cover photo image by m.l.holton, entitled 'Paint by Pixels' |
Image was chosen by Town of Oakville Parks & Rec Dept,
from over 90 entries from the 'Capture Oakville Exhibition' of last fall.
from over 90 entries from the 'Capture Oakville Exhibition' of last fall.
I was solicited, and asked to contribute this work to the Town, for 'free'.
 |
| Cover credit in guide (upper right), distributed to 25,000 households in Oakville |
 | ||||||||
| My 'Paint by Pixel' image used again on the Town of Oakville website as the HEADER ... |
It certainly would have been NICE to have been PAID for this work.
Ah well, just another 'mlh' FREEBEE tossed out there ...
Can get discouraging.
WHEN will 'users' realize that VISUAL & WRITTEN CONTENT is CREATED ????
Sure, I get some local 'promo'/p.r, but seriously, I've been doing this for 35 odd years,
I don't need PROMO or PR as such anymore -
I NEED people to PAY for my WORK.
Cheers. mlh
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
35 ONLINE @ The Burlington Art Centre
One of my oils will be presented in the ONLINE Auction, starting January 17th. - Link to 35 ONLINE Auction **Direct link to my item - HERE.
Feb 11th, update: SOLD. (Someone got that for a real steal!)
Virtual Tour of the Burlington Art Centre.
Friday, January 4, 2013
First Oil Painting of 2013
'Paint Poem to Wolf Kahn' by yours truly - oil on board
For more info (price/size) - contact artist.
New Year: Wild Turkey
A wonderful winter walk reveal earlier visitors - twelve wild turkeys ...
Great way to start the New Year ... 2013.
Wrote a column about this, scroll down to bottom of this LINK.
Wrote a column about this, scroll down to bottom of this LINK.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
It certainly is a 'Merry Christmas!' on the world wide web ...
The internet is changing us. It permeates nearly every aspect of our conscious lives. It is altering not only the way we think, but the way we perceive the world: past, present, future and dream-time too. Cumulatively, this is both a good AND a bad thing. But now is not the time to digress on a strident polemic ‘pro’ or ‘con’. Rather, in the short term, (and since you’re here anyway), consider these viral internet Christmas ‘treats’. To be sure, none would have the success they have had without our perpetual ‘clicks’ or ‘hits’.
Ho Ho. -- Surf’s up. (Adjust your audio to skip the YouTube adverts … )
Christmas Lights: GANGNAM style. 2 million hits, and
counting. (Don’t shoot the messenger!)
Amazing Grace: Christmas Lights. Another festive folly at 23
million hits.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: an adapted Pachabel’s Canon.
Visuals include a few cheesy velvet paintings, but hey, who cares, it has near
4 million hits.
Again, Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Nutcracker Suite (like
you’ve NEVER seen or heard it.) Not as well
known, but still pretty impressive at 250,000+ hits and climbing.
‘Santa Baby’ by The Good Lovelies (audio only) from Kingston Ontario.
Obscure, with 4,000 hits, but delightful just to listen to their lovely harmonies.
Chipmunks Christmas: Jingle Bell Rock (audio only.) Ok, ok,
it’s a stationary cartoon, but it’s still had 3 million hits. (Clearly many
miss these delightful little animated high-pitched rascals…. )
Christmas Carols by the Westminster Abbey Choir. Lovely choral
arrangement with 118,000 hits. Not much of a visual, but again, this majestic
music does impress, even on the web.
‘O Holy Night’ by Carrie Underwood. Guaranteed to send
shivers down your spine, with the added bonus of sing-a-long script (… pity
about the ‘devine/divine’ typos though.) The poor script and visual design may
explain the surprisingly meager 124,000 hits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRAlJSd0nM
A ten minute cosy wood-crackling fire with 2.5 million hits.
(Time now for you to supply the Hot Rum Toddies or spiked egg nog.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsD1zoI7NYo
Why all this ‘feel-good’ webby Christmas fuss? Well,
seriously, there was this child born approximately 2012 years ago. The Story of
Jesus Christ: Full Length Movie (2 hours). With a paltry 214 hits.
Draw your own conclusions …
Merry Christmas One & All.
Margaret Lindsay Holton
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Conor Harrington, Street Artist from Cork, Ireland
 | |
| Detail from a Rodney Smith image ... |
On the other hand, it could just be the weather ...
Samples of Harrington's work follows:
Marvelous, no?
p.s. I am trying a larger type size on my posts.
You like? or not? Let me know. Thanks.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Exhibit 10: Art in the Workplace @ MIP, Hamilton
I'm 'in' with a pinhole photograph - 'Hawthorn Tree & The Fence Post' .
Dates: November 19th, with OPENING on November 29th.
Closing March 7th, 2013. All welcome.
A few of my pinhole images were recently published in the
wonderful HAL: Hamilton Arts & Letters Magazine
Also, my brother, Luther Holton, is offering his first public art installation:
This shows his provocative stone work about 1/4 of the way through.
(... photo portrait par moi tweeked in my 'White Out' way ... )
Opening Night:
(A full & festive occasion, but not everyone was interested in the art .... )
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tara Krebs: Visual Enchantress ...
As I've mentioned before, periodically I stumble on a 'new' talent who is so evidently REALLY talented that I've got to toot their horn for a bit. Last week I popped in on the STELLAR solo show of Tara Krebs.
I didn't know much about her (and still don't really), except that I REALLY like what she's doing at the moment. Her works are so poignantly whimsical ... And if that seems a contradiction in terms, well, yes it is. But that's the FUN of her efforts. The earnest playfulness that immediately engages the 'viewer' is intoxicating. You just can't help yourself as you delve deeper and deeper into her striking 'small format' pieces.
Called, 'Narratives', these 'stories' seem like torn illustrations from some hybrid children's book, but on closer examination, there ain't anything 'childish' about this work. Masterfully executed, with a precision seldom seen these days, the 'stories' are intellectually and emotionally evocative, and oddly, very timely.
I guarantee that you will not come away from this exhibit 'bored'.
After a brief email chat, Tara has given me permission to mine a few shots from her website and post them here for you to consider. The following particular image worked its magic on me, especially after seeing a few 'preliminary' un-finished steps on Tara's blog, sample follows - (Look closely in the 'unfinished' smoke-scape ... enchanting, isn't it? )
It is possible to procure these, and other of her engaging works, at very reasonable prices as 'photo prints' via Red Bubble. You just might want to do that. This is one to WATCH.
When compared to some of the Top 300 on Artnet, or the top 100 iconic artworks of the past 5 years one often does wonders ...To my mind, Tara certainly gets it.
I didn't know much about her (and still don't really), except that I REALLY like what she's doing at the moment. Her works are so poignantly whimsical ... And if that seems a contradiction in terms, well, yes it is. But that's the FUN of her efforts. The earnest playfulness that immediately engages the 'viewer' is intoxicating. You just can't help yourself as you delve deeper and deeper into her striking 'small format' pieces.
Called, 'Narratives', these 'stories' seem like torn illustrations from some hybrid children's book, but on closer examination, there ain't anything 'childish' about this work. Masterfully executed, with a precision seldom seen these days, the 'stories' are intellectually and emotionally evocative, and oddly, very timely.
I guarantee that you will not come away from this exhibit 'bored'.
After a brief email chat, Tara has given me permission to mine a few shots from her website and post them here for you to consider. The following particular image worked its magic on me, especially after seeing a few 'preliminary' un-finished steps on Tara's blog, sample follows - (Look closely in the 'unfinished' smoke-scape ... enchanting, isn't it? )
And another ... (not my best 'copy/paste' repro ... )
And another ...(better yet, go to HER SITE to be further tantalized ...)
When compared to some of the Top 300 on Artnet, or the top 100 iconic artworks of the past 5 years one often does wonders ...To my mind, Tara certainly gets it.
Tree Wolf and Other Stories,
Now showing at Hamilton Ontario's
Show runs from Nov 4-30 - See it.
Update: In March 2014, I wrote this article about Tara's work, for Raise the Hammer.
Update: In March 2014, I wrote this article about Tara's work, for Raise the Hammer.
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