St Martin's by Ken Tobias

This delightful landscape work by Ken Tobias, creates a sense of soltitude. The picture covers such a vast panorama of sea and distant land that I cannot help but feel a sense of diminution. The recognition of one's finiteness against the vastness of earth and sky creates for me a sense of awe at the beauty of the earth.

Ken choses his colours well. The blues and the whites of the sky ties into the reflection of the water below and the colour of the sea bottom and the illuminative warmth of the headland and the distant blue horizon take me back to the times when I have walked the shores of the Bay of Fundy, with my camera in hand.

Ken Tobias, Songwriter, Singer and Artist.

Ken Tobias donates painting to 'Brush of Hope', in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. 2009.


Ken Tobias celebrates life as many artistic people do, with his hand in varied art forms. While Ken is known, mainly as an foremost Canadian songwriter, and singer
not so many people know that behind the scenes Ken expresses himself with a palette, brush and canvas.

Since the focus of this blog is on Canadian Visual Arts, I suggest that readers interested in Ken's musical career and background check the links at the bottom of this page. But, for the uninitiated Ken is known for writing the soft rock classic song by the Bells called Stay Awhile which sold over a million records and he is known for such Canadian hits like I just Want To Make Music , Every Bit Of Love, Give A Little Love, Fly Me High, Dream #2 and New York City

Ken was born in St. John, New Brunswick and he directed himself in life as a draftsman. Before long, he found himself on a journey which led him to the East Coast television music show, 'Singalong Jubilee' and springboarded from there into a formidable music career.

Ken lived for many years in Toronto through the 1990s before returning to his home town.

Ken was for a time represented by 'The Gallery Wall' in Toronto.

You can check out Ken's website by clicking here. Ken expects that his website will soon feature as many as 160 of his paintings.