Here is some art that I've made. 

Paintings

Poems

Making sketches of art in a museum

I’ve found that I gain a deeper appreciation

for art in a museum if I take a quick sketch

while I view the paintings.

It gifts me a closer study of the work.

When I find a piece that I like,

I first observe the details, the brush strokes,

the colours, the composition, the clues to

the artist’s choices.

I then take out a pencil and tracing paper,

and proceed to walk up to the painting.

I press the tracing paper flat against

the canvas and begin tracing the lines.

To get a more intimate experience with the art,

I recommend wearing earplugs to block out

the gasps of disbelief, and shouts of horror and urgency.

Regardless, when I am done tracing,

I always find myself moved by the beauty of my sketch,

and the fact that I have gained both another

deep appreciation for a work of art

and another museum on the list of museums that I am banned from.

Happiness

Screw contentment. I want happiness.

I want to be in a blue-tiled pool,

swimming in material things,

without a single drop of guilt.

I want a bright red Ferrari,

speeding down the seaside highway

at speeds so fast everyone knows

that I own the road.

I want to be fed cold grapes

while being fanned with palm leaves,

lying on a white marble bed.

Well…those grapes would taste even better

if my servants put down their fans

and we shared the fruits, sitting together,

under the radiant sun.

And who needs a Ferrari

when my Honda Civic can only reach

speeds so low that I am forced

to slow down and admire this

serene oceanic view.

And while we’re at it, I don’t even

need a pool—a warm shower is

good enough.  

Painting practice

As part of my daily painting practice,

the first challenge is to decide what to paint.

Perhaps I should paint a bowl of fruit

placed in front of a dark curtain.

Or a landscape of the sea

that pulls you into the warm sun

paired with a cool ocean breeze

carrying the slight taste of salt.

Perhaps I should practice the fundamentals.

A form study of a cone, a sphere and a cylinder,

each shaded with deep heavy shadows.

Or perhaps forgo shape and focus solely on colour.

Blotches of periwinkle, oxblood and turmeric yellow.

And there’s always the classics.

A beautiful woman with a gentle smile,

the shimmering night sky,

a melting clock.

Of course I must choose only one—

I can’t paint all of these ideas.

That task is better left

for the medium of poetry.