"Foremost I try to evoke the experience of a place and what I find exciting as a source of inspiration. Many of my paintings feature the unique polarity between city and countryside, the contrast between the natural space of the landscape and the urban space defined by the architecture."
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"I paint what inspires me and try to capture the
different composition ideas as well as colour schemes in
experience for others to appreciate. Currently my
watercolour to gain confidence on the path chosen.
motifs come from medieval French and quattrocento Italian scenes I have encountered while travelling.
You have spoken about many of your paintings having as
I was educated at MIT and UC Berkeley before
their subject: 'the architecture of cities'... Please explain.
emigrating to Canada. For many years, I was a
Cities are shaped by imagination and collective memory.
partner in a successful Toronto architectural
My experience of how architecture has shaped urban
practice."
form and landscapes is the subject of many of my paintings.
You are a successful career architect, painter, and writer... What similarities are there in your approach
You focus on Italian and French cities... Why do they
to your creative pursuits?
particularly appeal to you?
There is the initial excitement of sketching ideas and
My interest in Italian and French cities started with
trying to express what I find interesting. But I explore
studying Renaissance art and architecture in university.
this in different ways before committing to a
Later when I was able to travel I became inspired to
particular approach. In painting this means trying
sketch and paint various scenes, initially to capture the 195