This summer cottage, west of Hawkesville, is in a farmer's field next to Boomer Creek, across the road from Smithside school. It has been there as long as I can remember.

I can think of only a few cottages that survive on farms in Mennonite country. Usually placed next to rivers, these simple dwellings are not habitable in the winter. I assume that only their granddaddy status preserves them.

This Kitchener neighbourhood provides a view back to my childhood, having grown up in a similar area where homemade structures such as garages, fences and lean-tos were common. Changes were made to properties before the days of building permits and other rules. This speaks to me of a time when kids roamed freely around their neighbourhood.

This painting originated from one of my older photos, and quite honestly, I cannot remember precisely where it was that I took this shot, although I know it was in Kitchener.

Using several winter photos of this back lane from my files, I created this view just off Peter Street in Kitchener. Freshly ploughed snow covers up any abandoned bits and pieces so common in such an area.

When I was an art student in Toronto in the 1960s, the back lanes around the art college became my studio, providing endless subjects for required projects. I developed a real affection for those out of the way lanes.

This painting, one of six produced for the Rogers Television Cable 20 series My View, was I think my favourite.

From this angle I can almost see the bottom side of the covered bridge at West Montrose. The reflection in the Grand River really does show its under structure. The end of the day sun slanting across this ancient bridge adds a dramatic element to this everyday structure. Although I have painted this historic bridge many times, this is the first try at an up close and personal view.

This painting is part of the series, My View, that I created for Rogers T.V., Cable 20.

Commissioned painting.

This view was inspired by the beauty of the lights on the wet street as I made my way home from the Duke of Wellington, my local pub. It is rather strange that I had not considered painting such a scene of King Street in Waterloo before. Doesn't it remind you of the many Paris street scenes that you have seen using the shiny street to reflect the lights? In the background you can see the Bauer Lofts.