GORDON MILNE FINE ART
  • Home
  • About
    • biography
    • artist statement
    • exhibits
  • artwork
    • dance and dancers
    • landscapes
    • portraits
    • drawings
    • canadian sport heroes collection
    • canadian sport legacy collection
  • media
    • The Twins
    • Colette Bourgonje
    • Alberta Ballet
    • Ian millar portrait
    • immersion
    • Podcast
  • blog
  • Contact
Picture

SOLD
    BC Wildfires


January 20, 2023     Happy New Year everyone. My first painting of 2023 is a return to a very familiar and favourite theme -- the foothills and mountains of the Livingstone Range west of my home. Over the years I have created several paintings inspired by this landscape and I continue to be amazed at the sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic changes that are influenced by the changing seasons. Sadly, the beauty of this landscape is also affected by external events that sit outside the natural rhythms of our world.

This painting is called BC Wildfires and addresses the global problem of climate change. As our planet continues to warm, the summer wildfires in British Columbia have grown in intensity with each passing year. This past summer was arguably the worst in recent memory and resulted in a tremendous loss of wildlife and resources, mass evacuations,  and even the total destruction of the town of Lytton. Seen from the Alberta side of the mountains, this painting shows the red skies and smoke-filtered sun that have been coloured by the heat of the fires -- a solemn warning of the encroaching danger and a clear reminder of our challenges ahead
.. .


November 10, 2022    
I am often asked about the process involved in completing a painting -- especially a portrait.  Every artist has their own unique and personal approach to creating artwork. For me it is something that I find difficult to explain and even though it is a very intimate experience it is also something that I don't fully understand. The closest analogy that I have is to imagine doing a jigsaw puzzle where you don't know what the final image will be and where the shapes and the colours of the pieces are constantly changing. Every painting is a leap of faith.

Recently I completed a painting called The Twins -- a portrait of Alberta Ballet dancers Jennifer & Alexandra Gibson. In an effort to help me understand my own creative process I decided to keep a record of the evolution of this painting from beginning to end through a short timelapse video. I think I might be more confused now than before! Enjoy.

Picture

ON LOAN     Alberta Ballet

September 22, 2022     Better known as The Twins, Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson have been mainstays at Alberta Ballet for 13 years. The idea of painting their portrait has intrigued me from the very beginning.

Alex, Jen and I agreed to begin this project just as covid was raising it's ugly head. Finding time to meet and talk, arranging available studio space to draw, preparing the creative prep work and just getting to know Jen and Alex occured over several years -- a process that was difficult at the time but that I now think was very necessary. As twin sisters, not only are Alex and Jen almost identical, they are uniquely and intimately connected emotionally and spiritually. Creating this painting over a long period of time allowed me to see the twins as individuals and to discover and appreciate Alex and Jen's very different and distinct personalities. Similarities. Differences. Connection. Qualities that I hope are reflected in this portrait.

Thank you Jen. Thank you Alex. It's been a pleasure.


The Twins     72" X 48"      acrylic on canvas.

This painting is available for purchase. Please contact the artist for additional information.
Picture
SOLD     Portrait of Colette Bourgonje

May 13, 2022    So pleased to unveil my portrait of Colette Bourgonje during the  Sport + Spirit Gala hosted by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame last night in Calgary. One of Canada’s most prolific Paralympians and a member of the Metis Nation, Colette Bourgonje competed in a remarkable 10 Games across summer and winter and brought home a total of 10 medals. What an honour to have been given the opportunity to meet her and to paint her portrait. Colette's portrait will now be included in The Canadian Sport Heroes Collection at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Colette Bourgonje     72" X 48"      acrylic on canvas.

Picture
First Steps - New Painting

January 22, 2022.     Over two years ago Alberta Ballet artists (and twins) Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson met with me to talk about doing a "dual" portrait.. After many covid-related delays we were finally able to get together to do some prep work for the painting. It was great to see Jen and Alex again and it's such a good feeling to be starting this new painting.
Picture
Mark Tewksbury   acrylic on canvas   72" X 48"
Canadian Sport Heroes Collection


I'm very pleased to announce that Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and Aspen Properties have extended the Canadian Sport Heroes art exhibit until December 2022. I'm thrilled that this collection of paintings will be on display to the public for another year. The Ampersand is a beautiful and inviting location in downtown Calgary and provides a great opportunity to support the arts while celebrating some of Canada's most iconic Olympians. I hope you get a chance to visit.

 

Please click the link above to find out more about the Sport Heroes Collection and this exciting exhibit.
 
The exhibit can be seen at:
The Ampersand (formerly Sun Life Plaza)
112 - 4 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Picture
SOLD     Georgian Bay

October 14, 2021       I'm very pleased to present a new landscape called Georgian Bay. This painting was completed two years ago but due to the complications and restrictions created by the pandemic it was necessary to keep it on the shelf until recently -- when it finally made it's way to it's new home in Duluth, Minnesota. Georgian Bay is truly a work of the imagination and was created with the help of many photographs, a lot of research and my vivid memories of the warm, sun-soaked rocks that line the shore and retain the day's heat well into the evening. The painting is all about those warm rocks, the sparse landscape and the big water that can change from calm to violent in the blink of an eye. I was thrilled to receive this note from the new owners.

"We unveiled the landscape this morning and it is extraordinary! One thing that stands out for me is that the rocks look like they are rooted. I am not sure if that was intentional but for me has meaning because I very much believe the rocks are alive and are rooted. The colours are very vibrant and remind me of the nights with the best sunsets. Thank you for all the love and talent you put into this piece. Now the hunt is on for the best place to showcase it!"

Georgian Bay     36" X 48"      acrylic on canvas.

Picture
I’m very excited to have partnered with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame to complete a portrait of Colette Bourgonje, a Métis athlete from Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan. Colette competed nationally in cross country running until a car accident paralyzed her shortly before her high school graduation at age 18. Undeterred, Colette’s never give up attitude propelled her to compete in 10 Paralympic Games (both summer and winter) in which she amassed a total of 10 medals in wheelchair racing, sit ski, and cross country events. Now retired from competition, Colette has turned her attention to teaching, coaching, and mentoring aspiring young athletes.

The portrait of Colette is the 17th painting included in the Canadian Sport Heroes Collection and will become a valuable teaching resource for CSHoF’s exciting new Indigenous Sport Heroes Education Experience. You can read more about Colette’s incredible story at www.IndigenousHeroes.ca .  What an honour!

Picture
SOLD     Portrait of Hayna

August 2, 2021        I am so pleased to present my portrait of Hayna Gutiérrez Vergara to celebrate Hayna's retirement as a ballerina and her long and illustrious career as a principle dancer with the Cuban National Ballet and Alberta Ballet. Hayna's Cuban heritage, her favourite move (à la seconde) and her passionate performances as a dancer all contributed to the inspiration, colour and energy within this piece.

Portrait of Hayna was completed almost two years ago and, due to the pandemic, we were unable to unveil the painting as we had initially planned -- in an intimate evening of art, music and dance. As disappointed as we were to have to postpone and eventually cancel our event Hayna and I are DELIGHTED to share this portrait with you virtually. Portrait of Hayna is now hanging in it's permanent home at Hayna's house.

Portrait of Hayna    48" X 72"      acrylic on canvas.
Picture
SOLD     Canola Fields: North Battleford   

July 12, 2021     This painting is called Canola Fields: North Battleford and is based on some drawings and photos from a road trip through Saskatchewan a couple of years ago. On a whim I turned off the highway just west of North Battleford and followed a winding dirt road for a couple of kilometers....which ended at a four way intersection. For as far as the eye could see in all directions were brilliant yellow canola fields nestled into the gently rolling countryside.

Canola Fields: North Battleford     36" X 48"      acrylic on canvas.



PODCAST       with ZAK @canadianpodcast

Occasionally I am asked to talk about my life as an artist and what art means to me. It's an indescribably difficult thing for me to do. I have always been reluctant to resort to the language of "artspeak" -- lofty and esoteric descriptions of art and artists that have little to do with everyday life and the challenges of creating artwork. In this interview I have tried to honestly discuss those challenges, how they affect my paintings, my life and what Garth Brooks has to do with it. Hope you enjoy.

Very grateful to ZAC @yycinfluencer for inviting me to be a guest on his podcast @canadianpodcast and for providing a comfortable and welcoming platform for me to discuss life, art, inspiration and the ups and downs of being an artist.

This podcast is also available on Spotify and ApplePodcasts


Picture
GIFT       Portrait of Karen

March 2, 2021     I'm very pleased to present my latest painting.  Portrait of Karen -- a portrait of my wife, partner and best friend of almost 50 years. 

This was a challenging painting. In creating a portrait I have always relied on a very focused but limited impression of the person I'm painting -- based on live sketches, photographs and a few hours of conversation. I now understand why so many artists shy away from painting loved ones. How does an artist approach a painting based on a lifetime of shared emotions and experiences. There is so much information to draw on and in some ways not enough information at all. It's quite overwhelming.

Still, when the portrait is complete, through all the emotions and memories and with so much more to come, this is the face that has always shone brightly whenever I look across a crowded room.


Portrait of Karen    36" X 24"      acrylic on canvas.
Picture
SOLD!   Junction Mountain

January 20, 2021.   For almost 40 years we've looked at this view of Junction Mountain from our front window every day...and despite some houses added over the years it's still one of the most beautiful Rocky Mountain vistas I know. Decided to paint my impressions of this landscape with summertime colours.

Junction Mountain     18" X 24"      acrylic on canvas.

Picture
Canadian Sport Heroes Collection

January 12, 2021   Hello everyone. What better way to start the New Year than by announcing the Calgary exhibition of the Canadian Sport Heroes Collection.

The Canadian Sport Heroes Collection has made an enormous impact on my career as an artist. Not only was it an incredible experience for me to meet and paint these outstanding Olympians, I was also given the opportunity to pursue my passion for sport and athletics through art. Learning first hand about the dedication, endurance and commitment that it takes to become a high performance athlete changed my outlook on life as a person and certainly influenced my approach to painting. This collection of paintings represents a large part of my life's work. The exhibit is open to the public -- so put on your mask and come have a look.

Huge thanks to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (CSHoF), Aspen Properties and the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSI) who partnered together in order to bring the Canadian Sport Heroes Collection into the community.


Sun Life Plaza in Downtown Calgary
112 - 4 Ave SW, Calgary
January 12, 2021 until December 31, 2021

                                                                           
Picture
SOLD!   The Livingstone Range
   

December 7, 2020     Hello everyone. I hope this finds you well and staying safe. I'm very pleased to present my most recent painting entitled The Livingstone Range. Since moving to southern Alberta in 1977 I have been greeted every morning with a spectacular view of the mountains to our west -- and I've always been intrigued by the changes to the landscape that occur as you move further south.

The Livingstone Range is based on the countryside ranging south of the Porcupine Hills to the Old Man River. It's a starker landscape from where I live -- windswept, fewer trees and quite bare in comparison. The foothills feel more gentle than those further north and the roll of the prairies butt right up to a sheer wall of mountain. Yellows, golds and soft ochres dominate the landscape. It's so beautiful. 

During the evenings In the late summer and fall there is a quality of light that occurs where everything seems covered in honey -- soft, warm, rich colours that make the landscape glow. The Livingstone Range is about those honey-soaked colours. It's about the relentless wind that sweeps across the prairies and it's about the sense of wildness and openess of the landscape. It's Southern Alberta at it's finest -- a landscape that I've wanted to paint for many years


Picture
Ancient Wisdom

August 5, 2020.  During the past four months I have been working diligently on a new painting. Ancient Wisdom was painted amid worldwide feelings of anxiety, fear and displacement in a society suddenly turned upside down - an atmosphere which had an enormous impact on the process and the evolution of this painting. It took some time to decide what Ancient Wisdom meant to me personally.

Our ancient ancestors have all followed a similar cultural path. The names, stories, gods and legends may be different but the quest for who we are and where we fit in the universe is the same. From the beginning of time, in all parts of the world, art, music, dance and the spoken word have provided us with links to our past and to the mysteries of life. Art, even in the most difficult and unsettling times, continues to touch us all.

I would like to dedicate this painting to all the visual artists, musicians, dancers, performers, writers and poets who, despite a recent covid-related survey naming “artists” as the least essential service on the face of the earth, continue to work quietly at their craft. We have always been here – and always will be

Ancient Wisdom     acrylic on canvas     72" X 48"

This painting is available for purchase. Please contact the artist for additional information.


Picture
Lake Coochaching
  

Lake Coochaching. A new painting based on a sketch made during a road trip to Muskoka several years ago. A very windy day -- almost blew the sketchbook out of my hands while I was drawing.

Lake Coochaching     acrylic on canvas     16" X 20"

This painting is available for purchase. Please contact the artist for additional information.

Picture
SOLD!   Lake Simcoe
  

Just finished this little painting that was based on a drawing during a road trip to Muskoka several years ago. Colours in an early autumn.

Lake Simcoe     acrylic on canvas board     12" X 9"


Picture
Picture
Birthday Gift     Alberta Winter

Alittle bit of Alberta is now residing in the UK. Alberta Winter is 9"x12" acrylic on canvas and represents the view across the fields from our house. It was painted for my aunt who will be turning 90 in the next few months. Happy Birthday Ann.
Picture
SOLD!     Celebration!

Very pleased to present a good photograph of my recent painting Celebration!. I'm quite overwhelmed by the positve response that it has received. Thanks everyone!
Picture

Thanks to Catriona LeMay Doan and Sport Calgary for inviting me to create this painting in honour of retiring Sport Calgary CEO Murray Sigler. This painting represents the joy of participation and the joy of achievement through sport.....from elite athletes to invovement at the community level. Celebration! was recently unveiled at the prestigious Glencoe Club in Calgary and now hangs proudly in the Sigler household. What an honour.
Picture

First steps. Very excited to be working together with Hayna Gutierrez Vergara in creating a large-scale portrait. Hayna has recently retired after a long and illustrious career with the Cuban National Ballet and Alberta Ballet. We have decided to document the progress of the portrait so more to come.
Picture
DONATED!     Kyle Shewfelt

On June 5 I attended an amazing evening at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame called Who's in the Hall .During the course of the evening I produced a live painting based on gymnast and gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt which was subsequently donated to the Hall. What a pleasure to be in attendance, to see some people I havent seen in some time and to spend a copuple of hours painting. Many thanks to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame for allowing me to take part.

Picture
SOLD!     The Road Home

During the many years I've lived in Southern Alberta I've had the pleasure of viewing this incredible landscape on my way home. Finally decided to do a painting of it and will likely be doing several more.

Picture
SOLD!     Portrait of Kristen

Creating a portrait is a leap of faith for both the artist and the subject. This is a painting of Kristen Jacklin and I would like to share her words with you.
 
"I came to the idea of a portrait very reluctantly after some very persuasive conversations with my husband.

Gordon was professional to work with on the portrait. He took time to get to know me as a person through conversations with me and my family. The process was like nothing I have done before. I soon realized this would not simply be a picture of me but that he hoped to capture certain aspects of my life and my personality in the representation he would create.  It took courage to make myself vulnerable and trust in the artist to capture who I am.The unveiling was wonderful.

I immediately loved the portrait, the colours, the light, the size, and most important the accuracy of the representation of who I am. Gordon captured so many aspects of my personality that only those close to me understand. Even though filtered through his abstract art, my facial features are my own, they are real and accurate. We all think he ‘nailed it!’ We have the painting hanging in our living room where it adds a modern element and loads of colour to our home. We spend many evenings talking about it with guests and with each other. Thank you Gordon for taking this project on and for the care that you took to make sure we would love it."                      
                                                                                                                  Kristen Jacklin


Picture
SOLD! This piece is called Cold Day/Lower Kananaskis Lake.. Looking forward to seeing this piece hanging in it's new home in Calgary.  Acrylic on canvas board. 12" X 16"
Picture
Portrait of Taryn Nowels

SOLD! My recent portrait of Alberta Ballet artist Taryn Nowels. Huge thanks to Lisa and Todd for choosing me tp paint a portrait of their daughter. This piece is now proudly hanging in it's new home in Huntington Beach, California.. Portraits are memories.
Picture

SOLD! This piece is called Reverence in honour of Yukichi Hattori's incredible new dance work. Artwork and performance art combined -- this was a half hour live-painting that was created during Yukichi's performance of Reverence along with Galien Johnson Hattori and members of the H/W School of Ballet.. Thanks to the great people at Fernie for hosting this amazing evening. En Pointe: A Night at the Ballet was a resounding success. Thanks also to the wonderful couple who purchased this painting to celebrate their anniversary.
Picture

En Pointe! A Night at the Ballet

Join us on Saturday November 3 for an intimate evening of live art, live dance and live music. Begin your evening with an exclusive dinner hosted by Gordon Sombrowski, Chair of the Fernie Museum Patrons' Council and past Chair of the Alberta Ballet, artist Gordon Milne and Yukichi Hattori, Artistic Director of Hattori | Williamson School of Ballet, at Park Place Lodge. The highlight of the evening will be a performance of a new work, Reverence, choreographed by Yukichi Hattori while artist Gordon Milne creates a large-scale painting of the dancers.
Picture
PERFECT LINE

November 1, 2018 to April 15, 2019
Opening Reception November 1
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Fernie Museum, Fernie BC

Picture
The Rising
acrylic on canvas        72” X 48”

I’m pleased to present my most recent painting. The Rising is based on my firm belief that our earliest instincts (aside from food, shelter and survival) include scratching images into the dirt and onto cave walls, pounding out rhythms on hollow logs and dancing around fires. Art, spiritualism and magic defined our earliest ancestors search for who we are and why we are here. Sadly, throughout our history, we have slowly assigned less and less importance to these primal instincts and, as a result, the world around us has become more grey and uncertain. The Rising is a painting about us and who we’ve always been -- emerging from ignorance to light. It's a painting about hope.

This painting is available for purchase. Please contact the artist for additional information.

Picture
SOLD!      Kelley's Move  
acrylic on canvas     72" X 48"


Kelley McKinlay is in his 15th season with Alberta Ballet. Not only is Kelley a remarkable and seasoned dancer he is also a true lover of the arts. For the many years that I have known Kelley he  has always taken an interest in my artistic efforts, graciously answered my many questions, posed for sketches and patiently explained  the subtleties of movement in dance. This is my third painting of Kelley.and hopefully there will be more to come. This painting represents Kelley completing a Corsair Jump -- from the highest point of the jump to the strength and solidity of the. landing. Strength, fluid motion, discipline and artistry all define Kelley. What an honour to paint him.
Picture
SOLD!      Chassé Coupé Jeté    
acrylic on canvas     48" X 72"


Happy New Year everyone! I'm very excited to present my first painting of 2017 -- a portrait of Alberta Ballet artist Nicole Caron. This is my third painting of Nicole and it's so easy to be inspired by her energy and enthusiasm. Nicole is a beautiful dancer who brings an electricity and vibrancy to her performances that never fails to capture the attention of the audience. Although this is primarily a portrait of Nicole, the subject of the painting centres on Nicole's favourite dance move. Chassé Coupé Jeté represents the sequence of positions that translate as movement throughout the piece -- but it's Nicole's joyful presence that brings it to life.
  • Home
  • About
    • biography
    • artist statement
    • exhibits
  • artwork
    • dance and dancers
    • landscapes
    • portraits
    • drawings
    • canadian sport heroes collection
    • canadian sport legacy collection
  • media
    • The Twins
    • Colette Bourgonje
    • Alberta Ballet
    • Ian millar portrait
    • immersion
    • Podcast
  • blog
  • Contact