on Canvas: 1996 – 2000
1996 – 2000 were prolific years, producing some 200 works on canvas. I originally began using acrylics but transitioned to oils after meeting a fellow painter, poet and writer, Vidal Alcolea, in 1997, who had been painting exclusively with oils for some time. There are three distinct stages during this period: The Toronto Years, 1996-1997; 1997-1998 and 1999-2000.
Unfortunately, there are very few photographs of my work during this period. But I am endeavouring to collect them and will post them as they become available. But I have created partial listings of the works during these periods.
7 Houses, 2 Dogs and a Cat, Naccarato, Oil on Canvas, 24′ x 36″, Toronto, 1998
YEARS
Partial List of Selected Works
1996-1997
Returning to painting after an absence of more than twelve years, I began by exploring some of the philosophical ideas I had reflected upon. One such idea related to the contrast between the ephemeral and the physical.
For example, the series of seven paintings entitled The Smiling Buddha Series, explored the various stages of Buddha, such as his contemplation under a tree, karma, and reincarnation.
In the work, Underground, I tried to imagine my relationship to Earth. On many of my walks, I imagined what lay below my feet, and how Earth was not a static object, but one which rotated on its axis and around the Sun, as part of the Andromeda Galaxy.
The Smiling Buddha Series: the series consisted of 7 canvases measuring 40″ x 60″, Acrylic on Canvas, 1996
Underground, Acrylic on Canvas, 48″ x 36″, 1996
Myth of Eternal Return, Acrylic on Canvas, 36″ x 48″, 1996
Twins, Acrylic on Canvas, 30″ x 30″, 1997
1997-1998
During this period I began to investigate various locations in Toronto including The Annex (Bathurst and Bloor Area) as well, Kensington Market (College and Bathurst), and Little Italy (College St West). This led to much of my work during this time, such as Shoreline (Toronto Waterfront), St. Stephan’s Church (on College St.).
The work, 7 Houses, 2 Dogs and a Cat captures the row houses found along many of the Annex’s neighbourhood. An ironic element plays out in this work, in that, there is no evidence of any dogs or cats in the work.
Shoreline, Oil on Canvas, 36″ x 24″, 1997
St. Stephan’s, Oil on Canvas, 36″ x 24″, 1997
Women with Red Hair, Oil on Canvas, 24″ x 36″, 1997
Houses Burning, Oil on Canvas, 18″ x 24″, 1998
Along the Docks, Oil on Canvas, 18″ x 24″, 1998
7 Houses, 2 Dogs and a Cat, Oil on Canvas, 24″ x 36″, 1998
1999-2000
A very important series arose during this period entitled The Riley Lake Series. They evolved from my stay at my friend Vidal’s girlfriend cottage in the Muskokas.
Twenty-two works emerged and were first shown together in the summer of 1999 at the Tux and Wally Gallery in Toronto. Also during this time, some of the work’s inspiration came from visiting the Green Room Cafe, in the Annex. The work, The Green Room, shown below during this period, was created based on the cafe’s interior.
The Green Room, Naccarato, Oil on Canvas, 24′ x 36″, Toronto, 1999
The Passage, (Riley Lake Series), 36″ x 24″, Oil on Canvas, 1999
The Pond, (Riley Lake Series), Oil on Canvas, 36″ x 24″, 1999
The River, (Riley Lake Series), Oil on Canvas, 24″ x 36″, 1997
White Flower, (Riley Lake Series), Oil on Canvas, 18″ x 24″, 1998
Yellow Lillies, (Riley Lake Series), Oil on Canvas, 18″ x 24″, 1998
Red Lillies, (Riley Lake Series), 36″ x 24″, Oil on Canvas, 1997
Riley Lake Sketch #01, Oil on Board, 10″ x 08″, 1999
Riley Lake Sketch #02, Oil on Board, 10″ x 08″, 1999
Riley Lake Sketch #03, Oil on Board, 10″ x 08″, 1999
Riley Lake Sketch #04, Oil on Board, 10″ x 08″, 1999
The Green Room, Oil on Canvas, 36″ x 24″, 2000
Seated in Blue, Oil on Canvas, 60″ x 80″. 2000