Memories, Real and Imagined

I felt particularly nostalgic when working on this series. It is inspired by memories of my childhood growing up bilingual in Quebec during the not-so-quiet part of the so-called Quiet Revolution. For more information, drop me a line through the contact form.

Weyalloh? Graphite, ink and marker on paper 7 x 7 in My parents met working at Ma Bell's. Before my father brought home a flashy turquoise princess model, we owned one of these big black phones. We were privileged to have a private line when others shared what was then called "party lines".	Middle-Aged Men of the Fifties Mixed media 7.75 x 5 in A vintage photo of this man reminded me of the older men in my childhood environment. Sometimes grumpy, sometimes playful, they were gruff, but mostly kind to me.
The Reader Mixed media on paper 5.75 x 9.75 in Inspired by a photo of my father taken in the 60s when he took correspondence courses to complete his studies.	The Good Sisters Mixed media 7 x 15 in Archival framing 10 x 18 in The good sisters were a constant presence throughout my childhood. They fascinated me and I even thought I might join an order at some point. Covered from head to toe in flowing veils and robes, they seemed to float as they walked. I thought of them as saintly, but discovered they each had their own personality, like the rest of us.
The Fathers Mixed media 7 x 15 in Archival framing 10 x 18 in Catholic priests were respected and held a great deal of authority when I was growing up. A series on memories of my childhood would not be complete without them. Of course, we learned about the dark side of priesthood in the years since and the process of drawing them turned into a meditation on faith, power and human frailty for me.	Sisters in the Sun Mixed media 11 x 9 in Professionally framed Storyteller and writer Gail Nyoka shared a black and white photo of herself and her sister and the sharp shadows immediately captured my attention. My sister Diane and I also had matching, but different coloured clothing to wear on Sundays and special occasions.
Rose, Summer 1961 Dry pastel and ink on paper 11 x 14 in A photograph of my beloved grand-mère in front of the cottage designed and built by her menfolk. In the 50s and 60s, even modest workers could afford a flat in town and a cottage in the country - especially if they had the skills to build them themselves.	Mother Nature Just Found Out The Pipeline's Been Approved Ink and gouache on paper 13.5 x 10 Professionally framed 19.7 x 16 in When I found this photo of an elderly woman, I thought her beautiful and could not resist drawing her. There is a soft fierceness about her expression - as if she possesses a sad or fateful secret.
Mother and Child Dry pastel and ink on paper 12 x 10 in The elegant wife of a school commissioner, my mother raised six children, baked special birthday cakes and made most of our clothes. I thought of her as I drew this piece, remembering how my little brother Daniel craved her affection.	Man in Yellow Chair Mixed media 10.25 x 8.25 in My mother was an anglo-montrealer. My father was a franco-ontarian. We often packed into the car and drove the hour-long trip to Hawkesbury, sat outside on kitchen and lawn chairs and enjoyed kool aid, chips and hard candy - all treats we did not get often at home!
The Guys Dry pastel and ink on paper 11 x 12 in My grandmother had four sons. She took in boarders as well. These young men forged solid bonds and were always on hand to help. When family members were expropriated from Chenail Island for the construction of the Carillon dam, my dad, his brothers and "les gars" drove from Montreal every weekend to build homes for them. I remember them as much with hammers and saws in hand as with a glass of spirits as strong as their own.	Les Communiantes Acrylic on canvas 16 x 20 in Joy and nervous anticipation marked the milestone of my first communion. When I saw the photo of these girls waiting to file into the church for theirs, I imagined and worked to portray the various emotions they must be feeling. I, by the way, was just like the girl in the red shoes.
Eddie Mixed media 14 x 11 in Reference: 1946 Photo by Ed Clark	Fudgesicle This young woman relaxing with a frozen treat was the sketch that inspired the Fudgesicle/Apocalypse series.
Go Away Mixed media 10 x 7 in Growing up, I always was more impressed with old ladies than with old men. They were fierce under their flowery hats. Elegance and propriety mattered to them and I admired them for never letting themselves go in public.	1950 Remembrance Day Coloring pencils, markers, ink 9 x 12 in When I saw this vintage photo of two women watching a Remembrance Day parade from their window years after VE day, I thought of how they must have felt if they had lost a fiancé or son in the war.
Room to Let Graphite, ink, coloured pencil 14 x 11 For those displaced by war, for women who had lost husbands, for girls who found themselves without work when soldiers returned and took their jobs, poverty was the norm. If they were lucky enough to have an extra room in their flat, renting it out was about the only way to make ends meet. Those were my thoughts as I drew these little girls standing in the doorway.	Ladies in Hats Mixed media 12 x 12.5 in Even though they may have worn slacks and old blouses in daily life, women in the 50s and 60s would not have been caught dead in them when leaving the house. Hats, gloves and an elegant deportment were the norm on Sundays in my neighbourhood.

Memories, Real and Imagined

Weyalloh?

Graphite, ink and marker on paper 7 x 7 in My parents met working at Ma Bell's. Before my father brought home a flashy turquoise princess model, we owned one of these big black phones. We were privileged to have a private line when others shared what was then called "party lines".

Middle-Aged Men of the Fifties

Mixed media 7.75 x 5 in A vintage photo of this man reminded me of the older men in my childhood environment. Sometimes grumpy, sometimes playful, they were gruff, but mostly kind to me.

The Reader

Mixed media on paper 5.75 x 9.75 in Inspired by a photo of my father taken in the 60s when he took correspondence courses to complete his studies.

The Good Sisters

The Fathers

Sisters in the Sun

Rose, Summer 1961

Dry pastel and ink on paper 11 x 14 in A photograph of my beloved grand-mère in front of the cottage designed and built by her menfolk. In the 50s and 60s, even modest workers could afford a flat in town and a cottage in the country - especially if they had the skills to build them themselves.

Mother Nature Just Found Out The Pipeline's Been Approved

Ink and gouache on paper 13.5 x 10 Professionally framed 19.7 x 16 in When I found this photo of an elderly woman, I thought her beautiful and could not resist drawing her. There is a soft fierceness about her expression - as if she possesses a sad or fateful secret.

Mother and Child

Dry pastel and ink on paper 12 x 10 in The elegant wife of a school commissioner, my mother raised six children, baked special birthday cakes and made most of our clothes. I thought of her as I drew this piece, remembering how my little brother Daniel craved her affection.

Man in Yellow Chair

Mixed media 10.25 x 8.25 in My mother was an anglo-montrealer. My father was a franco-ontarian. We often packed into the car and drove the hour-long trip to Hawkesbury, sat outside on kitchen and lawn chairs and enjoyed kool aid, chips and hard candy - all treats we did not get often at home!

The Guys

Les Communiantes

Eddie

Mixed media 14 x 11 in Reference: 1946 Photo by Ed Clark

Fudgesicle

This young woman relaxing with a frozen treat was the sketch that inspired the Fudgesicle/Apocalypse series.

Go Away

Mixed media 10 x 7 in Growing up, I always was more impressed with old ladies than with old men. They were fierce under their flowery hats. Elegance and propriety mattered to them and I admired them for never letting themselves go in public.

1950 Remembrance Day

Coloring pencils, markers, ink 9 x 12 in When I saw this vintage photo of two women watching a Remembrance Day parade from their window years after VE day, I thought of how they must have felt if they had lost a fiancé or son in the war.

Room to Let

Ladies in Hats

Mixed media 12 x 12.5 in Even though they may have worn slacks and old blouses in daily life, women in the 50s and 60s would not have been caught dead in them when leaving the house. Hats, gloves and an elegant deportment were the norm on Sundays in my neighbourhood.