Mike Shankman’s paintings are relics of an aftermath, the debris left behind after powerful and destructive forces have toppled what once stood.  His images are both desolate and visceral, and I like them very much. Enjoy!

Welcome to the first post of 2010!  To be honest, I was having a hard time trying to single one artist out for this first post of the year, so when I received a message about the Cuckoo Collection, a hybrid gallery/art project, I realized my problem had been solved. The Cuckoo Collection is a (mostly) online project featuring works by great artists like Mathew Borrett (see above image), Scott Griffin, Amy Bowles, and Phil Taylor (see images below the fold), so there’s a little something for everyone there.

Thanks Bettina for the link!

Also, thanks to everyone who’s made their picks already, and if you haven’t chosen your favourite featured artist(s) from the archives yet, be sure to do so in the comments here to be entered in PaintBlog’s first ever contest!

The play of light against dark is a well-worn tool of the artist, and Sam Wolfe Connelly uses it well, but surprisingly, he also seems to be applying this method to his sense of mood. I can’t help but feel a sense of lightness in even the darkest of his works.

Be sure to check out his blog as well, he has a lot of great in-process images there.

You could argue that Karla Wozniak is a cultural archivist as much as she is an artist (or is that the same thing?) While I find myself completely drawn in by her paintings, I’m equally repelled by the accuracy of Wozniak’s depictions of urban and suburban landscapes. Or maybe I’m just repelled by how ‘at home’ I feel in the landscapes she has created.  It might be time to get out of the city for a short vacation.

Fantastical depictions of historical events, anthropomorphized animals, an intense sense of fun, epic battles, and immersive worlds gone awry.  What more could you ask of Jeremy Fish, he’s given us all of this and more.

During my brief conversation with Jesse Lown I discovered that last weekend’s show was his first show ever. From what I could tell the reaction he received was excellent, which hopefully means many more shows will follow.  He also promised to offer prints for sale in the near future, and that is a very good thing.

I first came across the work of Jay Dart last summer, and was very happy to see him again at this year’s TOAE.  His drawings and watercolours are full of subtle brilliance, and I hope to continue coming across his work for many years to come.

It was the first time in a few years that I was able to walk around the TOAE as a spectator and fully take in all the great work that was there, and now my brain is so full of images I think I’m going to have to spend the week downloading that information here on the blog.

To begin with, I bring you the work of Ilichna Morasky, an artist not afraid to go to the insect world for inspiration.  Her work is sometimes jarring and always fun, and I hope to see much more from her in the future.

It’s that time of year again! If you are in Toronto, near Toronto, or can get to Toronto this weekend, it’s time for another excursion down to Nathan Phillips Square for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. This is one of my favourite art events of the year, and a great chance to see works from hundreds of amazing artists, like Stephen Noble, whose painting is pictured above. Hope to see you there!

Florian Fiebig is an animator by trade, but if you visit his blog you can find some great oil paintings, ink and watercolour sketches, and drawings.  It’s a good way to start the week.