This collection consists of eight paintings inspired by photographs I captured during my travels. All the original photographs were in black and white — my favourite format for its striking contrast and timeless simplicity. Yet, in stripping away color, I realized something vital was missing. Black and white photography invites imagination; it makes us fill in the emotion, the temperature, the memory of the moment.

For these paintings, I wanted to reimagine those scenes — to paint impressionistic versions of my photographs while restoring the most dominant color I remembered from each one. I asked myself: If this photograph had a single color palette to define its essence, what would it be? That question became the foundation of this series.

I think life in general is in black and white and we as individuals paint the colour into it. My colours won’t always be the colours you choose, but as long as it’s colourful, it’s all that matters. So through life we bring our colours together to form memories. And through those colour palettes we find our ecstatic beauty.

The Ecstatic Beauty

April 20th, 2024
Vancouver, BC
Franklin Studios

SOLD

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Venice Beach, California. Home to one of the world’s most iconic skate parks situated right on the steps of the beach. Skaters fill the skatepark from morning to sunset boasting a watchful crowd all day long. The sunset backdrop multiplies the skaters in numbers as their shadows synchronize their way around the stone bowls impersonating the flowing ocean waves metres away.

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. A tourist destination for gringos from all over; who visit to enjoy some of Mexico’s finest pleasures. The ocean, coronas and if you’re lucky some horseback riding on the beach. This is one of my beloved early photos — taken on a family trip — a group of horses taking a much deserved break on the beach. A 30 minute break spent dreaming of a tourist who can actually have them run at full speed like they were born to do. For now, they find solace in waiting between shifts, sneaking in a tasty carrot from a curious tourist.

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Amsterdam, Netherlands. A place of debauchery and design; two words that epitomize a beloved concert venue there called Paradiso. A repurposed old church delivers a jaw dropping experience for an artist to preach to their fans in a jam packed intimate room backdropped by beautiful stained glass windows that refract light in the most sanctified of ways. Here you’ll find Joey Bada$$ on his B4.DA.$$ tour making the stage his own for a sold out crowd back in 2015.

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Manhattan Beach, California. Whether you’re entering the ocean or walking out, the feeling of elation is almost identical. You’re either beyond excited to feel that first rush of water to fully engulf your body or you’ve just surfed and are filled with a feeling of satisfaction and “namaste”. The South Bay community of Manhattan Beach will offer you just that; a timeless laid-back moment for the sake of all our blood pressures. 

SOLD

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Rome, Italy. The pride and joy of the Roman Empire and a city that still stands with its history intact. An elegant city to say the least; filled with hoards of vespas zipping around the city like well-dressed worker bees. Vespas there are a preferred mode of transportation of business and play. A different perspective on the little motor bike as seen in Canada where it may seem cute, in Italy it’s your most efficient way to get to work. Taken during a family trip to Italy, you’ll see the back of a stylish businessman weaving through tourists in a busy area in Rome and if I remember correctly, wearing a big old smile loving every second of his commute.

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Lima, Peru. A place where surfing is a lovely affair to Peruvians’ first love futbol. Located right on the Pacific Ocean, you can pretty much surf from the north all the way to the south along the coast finding all different types of waves; perfect for every style of surfer. You don’t need to venture far from Lima to find a good swell, but if you choose a short drive out of the city you’ll treat yourself to secluded beaches with waves that look like Peru’s beloved dessert Suspiro de Limeña. Here you’ll find a local surfer making it look easy like a Sunday morning.

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Cusco, Peru. An iconic city built on top of one of the highest mountain ranges in the world possesses history at every turn and climb. The picturesque and colourful city said to be designed in the shape of a Puma have ancient ruins of their own making up the Puma’s head called Saqsaywaman. In addition to ruins, you’ll find may favourite animal, the Llama roaming the grounds. Traditionally a very protective animal living in herds, I see many parallels with my latin culture, so it’s only fitting to find them everywhere in Peru. The photograph was taken up top at Saqsaywaman where I managed to capture a beautiful moment between a mother llama and her cria (baby).

Vancouver, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches

Sorrento, Italy. A coastal town on the foot of Italy’s historic metropolitan city Naples, it’s home to beautiful beaches and countless cafes that you can spend all day hoping around each one. In addition to tourists roaming the streets, you’ll find street cats everywhere and usually they’ll have the best spots at the beaches as you can see. They thrive in this town and they’re doing what cats do best, eat, sleep and wander; all while reflecting how sweet life is on the Italian coast.