Monday, March 22, 2010

One More Day . . .Going Right Out Of My Head

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Detail of 40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic painting by John R Redmond


Hello Friends,

Here I am posting the latest in a series of 40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic paintings I have made recently. Above is a detail photo.

Further down in this blog posting I share lyrics from a song I wrote recently.  I offer them as a tribute to Dan Achen who passed away this week.


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I am enjoying this painting.  Some of the detail photos are fun.  When I view them in this digital format is is like entering the painting.  Its’ many dimensions unfold in the detail photos.

When I began applying colour to this painting I wanted to continue emphasising magenta, as I have in this series, to give the painting a good red warmth.  The sunlight of Spring time is encouraging.  And our weather in Ottawa recently has been a warm respite from severe, snowy recent winters.  I want to encourage a warm Spring to usher in a fine Summer.


Click on any image to view it enlarged.
If you would like to view my paintings check out previous blog entries and/or scroll down to Froggy at the bottom of the page. Click on Froggy and hop to my online store with links to eBay.
I'm also on Etsy. Search for seller johnredmond (no spaces) or use the painting images on the right side of this blog page to zoom there instantly. You can find me on Facebook, MySpace and, "tweeet twweet," Twitter (Redjar7)



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Details of 40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic painting by John R Redmond




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Details of 40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic painting by John R Redmond



If I can find a way
If I can make it through one more day
My ship is coming in
My love is coming home
Our dream is gonna sail on through . . . “
Chorus from my latest song titled ‘Find A Way’.

 
 
Here is a photo of the full painting which is the latest in a series.


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40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond



The song I recently composed has a working title of ‘Find A Way’.
I think the lyrics tell the story.

This past week our friends experienced the loss of a good friend, Dan Achen. 
Dan Achen was a Juno award winning recording producer and former lead guitarist for the Canadian band, “Junkhouse’.

The lyrics of my song seem appropriate so I am sharing them with you further down in this posting.
To all of those who were and are close to Dan my deepest sympathy.

Our dream is gonna sail on through . . .

Below is the story as reported by the Canadian Press and on Canadian television.


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Find A Way by John Russell Redmond, March 2010

 


I walk down to the rocks
Of the St. Lawrence River shore
Sometimes the world
Don’t make sense to me anymore
I set down my bag and I watch the waves
The rhythm of the river and a distant sail
Cause me to long for you
And I wonder heart ache, do you moan for me
As I chant my blues away
 


 
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I am born of the earth
I am born of the wide blue sky
The black shining night
Endless surrounding me
In each place and time; vastness found
Dancing of the ripples in a mystic round
Calls me to dream with you
And I wonder magic, do you smile with me
As I wipe my tears away




 
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A leaf torn from its branch
Adrift on a whisper breeze
Twirling away
Falling by the river bank
And it’s gliding through; through the reeds
Birth, living-dying - love’s memory
Helplessly calling
And I dream wide awake, within the stream
As I chant my blues away
 

I believe, I believe
I don’t need to believe
I know
 

If I can find a way
If I can make it through one more day
My ship is coming in
My love is coming home
Our dream is gonna sail on through
 
 

40” x 32” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond
Viewing the album as a slide show in full screen is a meditation.




Dan Achen, 51
Former Junkhouse guitarist dies of suspected heart attack
By The Canadian Press
Sun. Mar 21 - 4:53 AM


HAMILTON, Ont. — Dan Achen, former lead guitarist for the Hamilton rock band Junkhouse, has died of a suspected heart attack.

He was 51.

Achen, the owner of Catherine North recording studio in downtown Hamilton, was playing a game of pickup hockey with friends at Oakville’s Glen Abbey arena late Monday when he suddenly dropped to the ice.
Duke Foster, a sound engineer at Catherine North and one of Achen’s hockey teammates, said there were paramedics on the scene within minutes but they couldn’t revive him.
During the ’90s, Achen was a key part of the band Junkhouse, which scored international success with the hit Out of My Head.

Achen was part of a close knit crew of music industry insiders who had been getting together for the past 10 years to play a friendly game every Monday and Thursday.
"We realized we shared a love for both rock ’n’ roll and hockey and we quickly became friends," said Andy Curran, a prominent artist manager with SRO Productions.
"Our most recent addition to the team was (former Canadian Idol contestant) Rex Goudie. Dan was slotted to produce Rex’s next record."

Achen, originally from Regina, moved to Hamilton in 1981 and became part of the local music scene.
"He rode from Regina on his Kawasaki Ninja (motorcycle) all the way to Hamilton, recalled Junkhouse frontman Tom Wilson.
"He stopped at the Gown and Gavel and that’s where he met Colin Cripps. That’s basically how we all met him."

Achen formed a band called the Go Devils living with Cripps, who is now a sought-after session guitarist for artists such as Bryan Adams. Eventually both would play together in Junkhouse. Achen was part of the wedding party when Cripps married internationally known singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards.
"Dan Achen was a fireball redhead and his personality was a pretty good match for that red hair," recalls Edwards. "He was a great guitarist. He loved guitars."

Several internationally known artists have recorded at Catherine North over the past 10 years, including Achen’s niece Feist. At a concert two years ago at Hamilton Place, the Grammy-nominated singer held up her favourite red guitar and proudly announced that it was a gift from "Uncle Dan."
In 2008, Achen co-produced a Juno-winning album Bring Me Your Love, a solo project by Dallas Green of the platinum-selling rock band Alexisonfire.

"Making that record with Dan was one of the best experiences I ever had," Green said in a statement.
Achen is survived by his mother Phyllis in Calgary, his brother Norm in Oakville, Ont., sisters Lyn and Lynda both of Calgary and June in Peticodiac, N.B.. Achen is also survived by his 13-year-old son Riley and Riley’s mother Judy Donnelly.”
 
In honour of and in gratitude to Dan Achen for filling our silence so beautifully, Hockey Night In Canada offered this tribute during the Saturday night coast to coast broadcast.






RIP Dan Achen
Walk in Peace, friends and dear ones of Dan Achen.



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John Redmond
Ottawa, Canada



John Redmond Art

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Spring Forward . . .

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Tom Wilson’s painting (left) and three of mine (right) enjoy a conversation at Galerie 240, Ottawa – just hanging out.

 ‘’Hi Tom.”'
“Hi John.’’
“How’s your day Tom’’
‘’Great, back on the wall again.”
‘’Oh yea, you been hanging ‘round.”
“Yup, hanging ‘round. Having  a gig at The Boathouse.”
“Ah, sweet.”
“Yeah.’
“When ya coming back to Ottawa?
'”Soon.”
“ Great. Nice show.”
“Yup.”


Hi Everyone,

I promised to share photos of the Vernissage at Galerie 240 for the show Looking Back which ran from the beginning of January 2010 through mid-March. 
Here they are.

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Those interviewed at the show were having a good time.


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Crazy artist above . . . thought it was cool.


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This painting above was featured on the poster for my solo show at Galerie 240 in November/December 2009.  The January-March show Looking Back featured artists who showed at Galerie 240 during 2009.


‘Looking Back’
Artists whose work will be on display
include;
Tom Wilson, John R Redmond,
Debabrata Murkerji. Jeanne Wilkinson,
Eamon, Karl Ciesluk, Leona Brown,
Banna M Khalesi, Zdravko Jolic,
Matthew Kennedy, Brenda Gale Warner.
Click on the Galerie 240 link to read more bio and info about the show. http://galerie240.com

Galerie 240
Representing fine Canadian & International Artists

For more information: 240 Guigues Avenue, Ottawa Canada K1N 5J2
613.680.0866
Click on any image to view it enlarged.
If you would like to view my paintings check out previous blog entries and/or scroll down to Froggy at the bottom of the page. Click on Froggy and hop to my online store with links to eBay.
I'm also on Etsy. Search for seller johnredmond (no spaces) or use the painting images on the right side of this blog page to zoom there instantly. You can find me on Facebook, MySpace and, "tweeet twweet," Twitter (Redjar7)

 
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Three of my 72” x 30” x 1/2” acrylic paintings hanging at Galerie 240, Ottawa.




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Brenda Warner (left) and Andrea Burns (right) enjoy the opening show at Galerie 240.  Brenda Warner is the Galerie owner and artists aussi.




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Looking Back…Spring Forward…see you at the next show…


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John Redmond
Ottawa, Canada



John Redmond Art

Saturday, March 13, 2010

I Me Me Mine; About Me

 

Oct 10 2009

John R Redmond

Canadian born artist residing in Ottawa, Canada

John Redmond's work is fluid. He creates pure abstract and abstract land/waterscapes by an action pour, splatter and spray technique. Seldom does Redmond use a brush. Accidentally on purpose is his method. He employs the flow of waterborne acrylic paint to form layers of texture and blended colour.

Redmond's paintings are often delicate. Others are bold and surreal. Redmond expresses images of clouds, mist, storms over wilderness forests and lakes, waves, seas, under water worlds and gentle or wild wind blown rains.  Some paintings are filled with phantasmic imagery. Splashes of colour on canvas and the movement of water build his distinctive style. Whatever artistic vocabulary Redmond employs his expressive paintings are to be seen, felt and touched.

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30” x 24” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond

Click on any image to view it enlarged. If you would like to view my paintings check out previous blog entries and/or scroll down to Froggy at the bottom of the page. Click on Froggy and hop to my online store with links to eBay. I'm also on Etsy. Search for seller johnredmond (no spaces) or use the painting images on the right side of this blog page to zoom there instantly. You can find me on Facebook, MySpace and, "tweeet twweet," Twitter (Redjar7)

Applying acrylic paint with an almost watercolour method over his textured base, Redmond reveals moods reflecting the rhythmic pulse of the fluid world in which we live. Viewers are drawn to Redmond’s abstract imagery because they recognize in his work the flow of something which they themselves are. His multi-dimensional paintings evoke an experience of inner and outer reality. The viewer is welcomed into a painting and urged to create along with the artist.

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30” x 24” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond

Redmond paints for joy, sanity, self-development and the expression of beauty. His art reflects a life long interest in world religion, philosophy and psychology. A special interest in East Asian thought considerably influences his artist expression. Redmond’s experience and love of Canadian wilderness is also evident in his paintings.

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Acrylic paintings by John R Redmond at Galerie 240, Ottawa

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His paintings have been shown at Ottawa’s local galleries and art venues. Masks created by Redmond appeared at the National Art Centre in Opera Lyra’s production of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’. Life sized puppets designed and created by Redmond have been a part of professional performances in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and New York City.

Redmond was born and raised in the Montreal area. He moved to Ottawa to attend university and is a long time resident of Ottawa. He holds a B.A. in Religion from Carleton University, a B.Ed. from University of Ottawa, and is also a Montessori trained teacher. Currently Redmond teaches in public school at the elementary K-6 level in Ottawa.

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40” x 30” 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond

Redmond studied Fine Arts while attending Carleton University, Ottawa. University courses included study of North American Native Art, and Asian traditions of Buddhist and Hindu Art.

This artist strives for a balance between action and quietude. Redmond began practicing yoga and meditation while enrolled in a Pure and Applied Science program at John Abbott College, St. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. During this period he also began a life long interest in the martial arts. His athletic endeavours have included marathon and ultra-marathon distance running. He has completed 20 such races. He was a core team member of several Cross-Canada running relay teams. Redmond has assisted with the instruction of young martial artists and has taught yoga and meditation in the Ottawa area. In October 2004 Redmond completed the Toronto C.N. Tower Stair Climb (1776 stairs) in 18 minutes 30 seconds.

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28” x 20” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond

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24” x 20” x 1/2” acrylic painting on canvas by John R Redmond

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Acrylic paintings by John R Redmond at Galerie 240, Ottawa

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You will Redmond find on stage in the Ottawa area singing some Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, J.J. Cale or Lennon tunes. He also enjoys writing and performing his own songs, accompanying himself on guitar.  Redmond views his music, his dynamic physical activities and the quietude of yoga and meditation as complementary. This sense of action and silence is expressed through his paintings.

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John Redmond

Ottawa, Canada

John Redmond Art