Blue Christmas

Some time ago, a study was undertaken to determine the general artistic tastes of Canadians. When it came to paintings, it was found that Canadians had a strong preference for blue landscapes. These days the blue painted landscapes of Canada extend to the political landscape as well.

When you consider the changes made by the Harper government, it's amazing to see how quickly the country has moved to the right, and into Conservative blue. It seems like some folks are wishing for a blue Christmas. Judging from the current First Nations' protests and opposition MP twitter rants, many Canadians are against the blue that's creeping more boldly into the political landscape.

This illustration is a quick piece I did for Pecha Kucha #12 which took place at the Park Theatre on November 22, 2012. Find out more about Pecha Kucha here.

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Artwork is © Chris Chuckry

Stephen Harper

Here's an older Stephen Harper piece I completed after his first re-election, I believe. There are rumblings that apparently he's somewhat of a control freak, and intends to make Conservative values, Canadian values. When you look at some of the policy decisions he's made, it's easy to believe that this is the way Canada is heading. The 63% represents the number of voters who voted against him in that election.

The center-left parties in Canadian politics are too splintered to mount a credible challenge to the Harper government--a reversal of the 1990's, when the political right, was disjointed and unable to mount a credible challenge to the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien.

This piece is © Chris Chuckry. Thanks for looking.

Winnipeg Summer Heatwave

Another hot summer has rolled into, and over, Winnipeg. Last summer was hot too, but dry. This year, humidity brings an added dimension. The hot weather certainly makes it feel like things are cooking, or even burning. Like the "Golden Boy," who sits atop our Legislative Building.

If it's not the heat, it's the arsonists. Once again we have a problem with criminals, lighting fires seemingly on a nightly basis. I hope it stops soon. If not, it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt--or worse.

The sketch for this piece was done last summer, along with several other arson related sketches. Recently I decided to work this one up--before the heat got to me. It is a pencil sketch, painted in Photoshop and it is © Chris Chuckry.

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Winnipeg Water Park

"Who's ready for the Water Park?" Not too many people by the sound of things in the media. Granting seven million dollars to a private company to put a budget hotel and water park at the Forks is not sitting well with a lot of people--especially those who feel our roads could be in better shape. So, is the sun setting, or rising on this project? I guess we'll see how City Council votes.

However, it does seem like someone is ready to ride some water slides and a lazy river. Pet project indeed!

After deciding on this concept, I did a quick pencil sketch which was then scanned and painted in Photoshop. If I had to do it again, I think I would ink it before finishing the color in Photoshop. That approach may have allowed a better likeness of the Mayor in the color version, since I feel some of the likeness in the sketch was lost in the color.  Maybe I'll try that approach on the next one.

This piece is © Chris Chuckry 2012.

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Spring 2012 . . . so far.

Along with the tulips, a great number of Police Evidence Markers have been sprouting up around town. Not a welcome sign of Spring. There has been an alarming number of murders in Winnipeg so far.

Unfortunately, when I did the initial sketch for this piece, the number on the police evidence marker was '11.' Before I could finish the illustration, the number had jumped to '12.' It would be great if it stayed at twelve, but I'm pessimistic on that front.

This was a very loose pencil sketch that I finished in Photoshop. It is © Chris Chuckry.

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F-35 Casts A Long Shadow Over Ottawa

Somewhere near Ottawa, an F-35 casts a long shadow. With cost overruns and red ink in Ottawa, will the plan to purchase F-35's come to a crashing halt?

I wanted to do a piece around the F-35 controversy that has recently been dogging the government. I think the metaphors work, but the execution could be more successful. Perhaps the jet should be more cartoonish and be crumpled a little to show some effect of the impact on the jet. The dollar sign crack in the ground is red, to symbolize "red ink," not blood. I'm not sure how confusing the red is.

Somewhat successful, but if I were to do another version of this, I'd make the jet crumpled and moved to the top middle of the dollar sign crack. I'd also make the type smaller, so there is more emphasis on the jet. Not too bad for a first attempt at the concept. On to the next one--unless anyone wants to see the revisions.

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© Chris Chuckry

Commemorative 2012 Canadian Penny

Here's my design for the 2012 Commemorative Canadian Penny. Soon to be extinct, since it costs more to make than it's worth. Do you think prices will be rounded up or down?

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© Chris Chuckry