YQX ART

Newest piece, ‘The Recluse’

‘That Night In Kingston’
Hard to believe it’s been 10 years now since The Tragically Hip performed their final concert on August 20, 2016, at the Rogers K-Rock Centre in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. I think it was something that most of us watched as it was broadcast live by the CBC, as we knew it was really the end of something special.

I’ve come to appreciate The Hip’s music more over the years and unfortunately never got to see them perform live. Something that always touches me when watching that final show, are the few moments when Gord Downie would lose track of the lyrics and his place in the songs (which is completely understandable as the man was battling terminal brain cancer). In those moments, his band mates would play and sing more powerfully and the audience would come in, as if to cover over Gord’s struggles so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed or out of place. Once he regained his place in the song the crowd would then cheer triumphantly. It was a beautiful way of kind of letting him know, ‘don’t worry, we understand what you’re dealing with and we’ve got your back. You’re doing great!’

It’s incredible the emotions that music can easily convey!

‘Stages’ - Recently completed commissioned piece of a Newfoundland outport and the colourful fishing stages that are typically seen. 24" x 36"

‘Return To Me’ - Visions of Little Venice (Newtown, NL.)
18” x 24” Acrylic paints

‘Leave the World in the Wind’
I’ve had this idea for a while of an image of big city life set in juxtaposition to a simple NL scene to really highlight what makes life here so beautiful and unique to our many visitors. But I couldn’t figure out how to set the contrasting ways of life in one scene that didn’t seem strange or unnatural. Then it hit me, putting bed clothes/towels on the line with city landscapes printed on them!

‘Good Haul In Cat Harbour 2’ (Lumsden, NL.) Companion piece to sketch I did last year of my uncles/members of the Whalen family from many years ago.

‘Westminster, London, After The Rain’

My wife bought me a painting set a few weeks ago and these are the first two paintings that I’ve done since back in grade 12 art class. These are acrylic paints and I’m really enjoying them, although the paint dries up incredibly fast!

Portrait I just finished of a lovely lady, Dorothy, from Columbus, Georgia that my wife and I met on a cruise a year and a half ago. We got to meet her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who were all together on the cruise. Her husband, Nelson, was also supposed to be with them on the cruise but sadly passed away not long before. When I showed Dorothy some of my sketches she showed me the picture of her and her husband that this sketch is taken from and asked would I draw it. I meant to have had this done for you a long time ago Dorothy.

For: Dorothy
In loving memory of her husband,
Nelson “Buddy” Yoder (AUGUST 31, 1937 – MARCH 1, 2024)

Dedicated to the memory of Ron Hynes (Dec 7, 1950-Nov 19, 2015)
He was one of my favourite songwriters, if not my favourite. As my wife says ‘his songs paint scenes that you can see and feel’. Like the old cab driver (Killer Cab) recounting his memory of a late night passenger, who, on the lift out of town, unwittingly confesses to committing a murder.
Or the widow in ‘Atlantic Blue’ trying to describe the immeasurable grief of losing her husband in the Ocean Ranger tragedy, and raising their children on her own.
Or the motorist who envisions a young Dana Bradley (Ghost of Dana Bradley) hitchhiking on the side of the road, ‘counting on a kind heart’ that as we all know ends in sorrow. And I could go on and on and on. You don’t just hear those songs you feel them right down to your core. If you’ve ever tried to write songs you quickly come to realize that to be able to consistently put words and music together with that kind of emotion is not luck or chance, it’s a God-given talent that few possess. With his ability I’m sure Ron could have moved to Nashville somewhere and made a very good living writing songs for some big names. Instead he chose to stay here in Newfoundland and write songs about our history and our culture that will give us a lasting identity.
I’ve enjoyed his songs for many years now and it’s provided a lot of the inspiration for my art. This piece is my humble way of showing my appreciation for his work.
I would love to hear in the comments what song or songs of his touch you and why.