Folks, some of you are wishing me congratulations. My apologies for not being clear enough. I'm not participating in the 57th TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR; I did not apply for this exhibit—I'm still very busy illustrating my books. However, I do plan on attending it as a visitor. I shared the info about this fair because a lot of you would really enjoy it. Very best!

Photo from blogto.com
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Next weekend: July 6-8 (Fri., Sat., Sun.)
57th TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR
at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto
​This is an awesome annual exhibit (rain or shine) and admission is FREE every year.
There are a plethora of beautiful paintings, photography, and other artwork. If you can make it to the fair, I'm sure you'll enjoy it a great deal, as I always do at these massive exhibits and fairs. ENJOY the summer and God bless!

When I was selling my work at St. Lawrence Market, a lot of viewers asked me who and what inspires me and my artwork. This question is also asked of me at opening receptions of my exhibits. And so, I created an "Inspirations" page in my website, listing a sampling of sources of inspiration which have served me well. I really do believe a lot of you will be interested in this topic and information about myself. To get to the "Inspirations" page quickly, please click here. Enjoy and God bless!

A little bit late, but oh well. May 1st was my very first day sketching outside in the balcony this year. Here, I was sketching illustration ideas for my second children's book. Aaahhh...it's so good to be back in the balcony. Humble and simple yes. But not mundane. More like comfortable and enjoyable and very cozy. There is beauty and joy in simple things.

My love of music and an old crush is revealed in this sketch, Moonlight Melodies. This is another sketch I did while on vacation in northern mainland Portugal. It will make a beautiful painting. Click here for more info.

My love for the seashore and fantasy is somewhat expressed in this sketch, Out in the Sun. This idea came as a result of someone's advice; that I should do a painting of a mermaid. My art director and editor just saw this sketch and loved it so much that he wants to purchase a print of the painted version. Unfortunately, this image will have to wait until I finish all the paintings for my first children's book.

Some of you wanted more info on the stolen artwork. The Singing Tree and Robin Hood are old pieces which I did in college when studying Graphic Design. Both were put on display next to each other, behind locked glass or plexiglass. The person(s) broke the lock of the display and, surprisingly, took only my pieces. This occurred during March-break. Upon returning to college, my instructor told me the sad news, and thus ends the fairy tale!?

This black and white, pen and ink artwork was stolen, as was the painting titled Robin Hood. It was executed using technical pens with black India ink, on illustration board. I believe the image size of this piece is no larger than 11x17 inches. It is titled The Singing Tree and it is a scene taken from the book The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, written by Howard Pyle.

Here's a colour-corrected image of the pencil sketch titled Longing for the Light (Sketch).

I did this sketch while on a beautiful beach in mainland Portugal during a vacation. It is in the natural world where I feel the greatest presence of the Holy Trinity — God, the Ultimate Artist and the Ultimate Creator. I would love to do a painted version of this image, as soon as my schedule allows or as soon as I can make time for it. I'm currently illustrating 2 children's books, one of which I am also the author.