mikesparks

2011-02-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Getting closer...and going well. no sudden falls or leaps.

2011-01-17T17:56:00.000-08:00

This one is a fresh start. I had one finished just before the holidays but accidents happen. It fell of my workbench while I was vigourously sanding/finishing a silverpewter sculpture. I heard the thump as it struck the floor and initially thought nothing of it. While working, stuff is always flying and falling on the floor. When I actually looked to see what had fallen and saw the smooshed corpse, I felt a little bad.
This one is prooving to be much better and has a better weight and presence that the other seemed to lack.
oh...and that`s a support wire coming out of the top of here head. she is not really a unicorn.

2010-07-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

quick props

2010-06-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

I've been focusing more on sculpture lately. Here is one that I`m very interested in. It is one piece for a multi pieced project. I originally had the idea back in 1999-2000 when I first arrived in Montreal. Life ups and downs made me forget about it, but I have since remembered...and I am glad.

2009-11-26T08:40:00.001-08:00

2009-11-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

2009-11-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

Better than T.V.

2009-11-01T13:38:00.001-08:00

2009-10-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

2009-10-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

2009-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

At work, underpainting started.

2009-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mould for a bombardier jet, to be cast in silver pewter and then electro plated. Original black plane done with wood and clay, then cast in black plastic. Tail section will be a seperate mould.

2009-09-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

2009-09-16T05:02:00.000-07:00

Day two

2009-09-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

"Untitled"day one, height 38cm

2009-08-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

"Hiding food from bears"

2009-08-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

"Sunset" Papineaux-Labelle - aug 2009

2009-07-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

As a testament to pure stubbornness, and my ability to tune out, I ran a marathon. To my surprise, and as hard as running that distance was, I'm looking forward to experiencing it again!

It was awesome!

2009-06-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Film still from Hitchcock's -"To catch a thief".

8" x 9.75" gaphite and sterling silver on arches paper.

2009-05-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

2009-05-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

2009-05-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Day one - I first saw this image about nine years ago in the movie, "To catch a thief" by Hitchcock. When I saw it I was struck by how a single still can explain everything. It had a calming affect I can't simply describe. Stay tuned.

2009-04-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

"Oh so oily, but oh soooo good!"

2009-04-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Ran my second Half marathon of 2009 today in 1:48:35. I`m happy with that:). Tonight we feast on deep fried turkey!!

2009-04-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

"April 4th, first half marathon for 2009" a little tired but no worse for wear.

2009-03-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

What could it be? Soon you will see.

Quote of the day-"Go put your creed into your deed" ~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

2009-02-14T17:34:00.000-08:00

2009-02-09T17:15:00.001-08:00

2009-01-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

2009-01-24T10:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of the finished work.

"The Swimmer" - 19" x 19" graphite and sterling silver on arches paper. 2008-09

2009-01-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

This is almost completed. The working title is "the swimmer". I might rename it. I might not. what do you think?

2008-12-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

Smells like winter- As we enter another season of cold, snow and darkness we enter another season of friendships, reflections and possibilities.

2008-12-08T03:33:00.000-08:00

" Minus 20 today in Montreal! Stay warm!

2008-12-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

"Building a better box" - 2008

2008-12-02T03:38:00.000-08:00

"Flag" -New York city.

2008-12-01T03:44:00.000-08:00

2008-11-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

"Waves" 11" x 11" almost finished. This is a sneak peek .

2008-11-17T03:18:00.001-08:00

2008-11-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

"Learning to make fire" (proposed sculpture)

With the economic shit storm rearing it's ugly head, I can't help but think of survivalism. Could most off us really live off the land?

2008-11-14T03:38:00.000-08:00

Sketch for bronze sculpture "Shelter"

2008-11-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

"In Progress"-yes, this is a clay version of the sketch below, "Ocean detail" finished size will be 12" x 12" cold cast nickel silver. I grew up a the beach. At the end of every summer it would be sad to leave the ocean behind. I always wanted to bring it home with me.

2008-11-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

"Tonight I ate a triple decker whopper from Burger king". To my body I say "Please...forgive me".

2008-11-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

2008-10-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

2008-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Halloween, Zombie!!!!!

2008-10-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

2008-10-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

All finished..Finally!

"Reclined Figure" - 10" x 2.25" Cold cast bronze.

2008-10-04T11:05:00.001-07:00

Hey Matt, send me your email.

2008-08-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Almost finished, just have to smooth the skin a little more, add details. After watching the Olympics I am really interested in more dynamic/action poses.

I can`t wait for the fall running season, best time of year!

2008-08-03T16:24:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation! Hi Kelly! Neck up of next sculpture. will be a reclined figure.

2008-07-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

All finished. Cold cast bronze, I hope you like it.

2008-07-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

The mold is finished and poured. I`ll let it cure overnight and present it tomorrow. This time I used cold cast bronze, so I`m interested as to how it will look.

2008-07-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

2008-07-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

early stages.

2008-06-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

The sculpting is finished, time to make the mold.

2008-06-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Early stages...stay tuned.

2008-06-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

I just got my cintiq this week. If you are an artist and can afford one "Buy one!"

Not only is this the future of any art school/production tool, using it will blow your mind!

2008-05-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

coming along, should be finished soon.

2008-04-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

2008-04-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

latest pic of current work in progress.

2008-04-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

2008-03-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

Now the hard part, making the mold.

The image on the right is the figure covered in mold max rubber, pretty awesome stuff.

2008-03-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

Close to being finished. The finished figure will be done in cold cast nickel silver.

2008-03-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

2008-02-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

"A little less lumpy"

2008-02-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

2008-02-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Head #4 for fling, This is a little closer, I might save it for another sculpture.

2008-02-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

2008-01-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

Wax model for fling

2008-01-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

2008-01-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

Alternate version colorized in photoshop.

2008-01-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

"Fling" prep sketch,10" x 10", November 4th. After an excellent long Christmas vacation, I'm back with a fresh outlook for 2008.

2007-11-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

2007-11-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

"Skull mask " in progress, 34.5" x 34.5, oil on canvas.

2007-10-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

"Chop" graphite on paper, 13" x 17"

2007-10-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

"Chop"

2007-10-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

"Nails and Bullets"

Hey ho, let's go to the gun show

2007-10-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

2007-10-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

"Urban Abstraction"

2007-10-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

2007-10-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

"This is quite possibly the most boring movie you will ever watch". Picture it with a cool voice over, (Intense Hollywood voice)-"As the tormented artist traverses the abyss between compulsion and insanity...HA!!

2007-09-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

A little more.

Great inspiration for future work.

2007-09-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what you can capture with a simple digital camera. I've been taking pictures for over a decade, always looking for that certain "something" to happen. Trying to capture a moment one click at a time. Instead of editing the clicks, now I'm editing the seconds. I guess that's what I was always doing however random and fractured it was(is). I'm not tossing the baby out with the bath water but editing each video still as a possible seperate finished image seems well...much like wandering the streets looking for the elusive"something".

Ahhh..the great outdoors!

2007-09-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

2007-09-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

This is where it is at. So close I can taste it. The next drawing I have decided to do will be, "a promise". I have often wondered what one would look like, and I think I have found it.

Don't worry I'm still kickin!

2007-08-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

I had to take a little break from my artwork....I'll be back.

2007-07-15T11:55:00.001-07:00

2007-07-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

A little more, a lot more to go. Hopefully I`ll finish this creation this weekend. So far so good, the illusion of perspective is wicked!

2007-07-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

the slow build

2007-06-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

in progress, graphite on paper

2007-06-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

2007-06-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

in progress.

2007-05-21T13:15:00.001-07:00

day 2

2007-05-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

Silver point 2.0 -Correction, you can erase silver point,

2007-05-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

"Profile" - sterling silver on paper.

This drawing is actually done with silver. It`s an old technique that has been rarely used since the creation of graphite. Many of the old masters like daVinci and Michelangelo would draw using this technique. It is a slow meticulous way of working that produces a softness similar to graphite. The only drawback is that you cannot erase mistakes, every mark is permanent.

2007-05-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

"Montreal China town"

2007-05-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

"Sunny morning" 6" x 6" oil on artboard.

2007-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

A shout out to the gang, As per last night!

2007-05-06T16:41:00.001-07:00

"Rockets!"

2007-05-05T18:34:00.000-07:00