Galleries

Bombastic is the title and description of Court Painter’s recent exhibition.It also could describe his irascible temperament and celebrity brand.

As an aside :(Stockholm, 27 April 2026) World military expenditure reached $2887 billion in 2025, an increase of 2.9 per cent in real terms over 2024. Military spending declined in the United States but rose by 14 per cent in Europe and by 8.1 per cent in Asia and Oceania. The top three military spenders—the USA, China and Russia—spent a combined total of $1480 billion, or 51 per cent of the global total, according to new data published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 

-Court Painter seen holding a sparkler.

-Installation

-Installation

-Installation

-The Press Attaché to Court Painter is seen holding a purchase from the gallery gift shop.

-Court Painter in his studio

-Court Painter in his studio

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer & Flag Hugger

The Trump administration plans to impose new tariffs on dozens of trading partners, including Canada, over allegations the countries are allowing goods produced by forced labour into their supply chains.

The proposed new tariffs were announced by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer late Tuesday night, not long after he wrapped up an afternoon meeting with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc in Washington. 

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” Greer said in a news release.

For a stinging analysis of the latest in American hypocrisy this is a must view with Tod Maffin.”Lectured by the Guilty”

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Court Painter & Double Trouble Portrait

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

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Donald Trump has sent an official US delegation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr.

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Cook is overseeing the president’s controversial White House ballroom extension and is chair of the US Commission of Fine Arts.

Another guest is the former Hollywood actor and Putin supporter Steven Seagal.

Ukrainian officials shared video footage on Wednesday that showed drones buzzing noisily above St Petersburg’s skyline. “The Petersburg forum is opening with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after Ukrainian strikes,” posted Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to the country’s defence minister.

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Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in St Petersburg early on Wednesday, hours before international guests gathered for the city’s flagship economic forum, in a blow to Vladimir Putin.

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Several long-range drones crashed into oil storage facilities after Russian air defences failed to shoot them down. There were loud explosions and black smoke rose high above the city from the blazing oil terminal. Drones also struck the nearby Kronstadt naval base and shipyard in Leningrad oblast, which is home to Russia’s Baltic fleet. The corvette, the Boikiy, caught fire. It was in dry dock undergoing repairs.

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In the past, Russia has used the St Petersburg forum to court western investors. Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most have stayed away. The Kremlin has instead invited close regional and other allies, including this year the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania, alongside ministers from Cuba, Belarus , Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump’s official US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr.

Source: Edited from The Guardian,June 3/26

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Court Painter with landscape “The Straight of Hormuz”

The biggest risk may no longer be escalation.

The biggest risk may be normalization — of instability itself.

For three months, most analysis has focused on military operations, ceasefires, negotiations, and whether a deal is finally within reach.

But what if the more important story is what happens as negotiations continue?

Instability itself may be becoming a source of geopolitical power — that could keep pressure on oil prices, shipping, inflation, and global politics long after any agreement is signed.

Prof Robert Pape from Escalation Trap

Link to article added on June 1

https://open.substack.com/pub/escalationtrap/p/the-trap-gets-worse?r=1sx7vz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

The central issue is no longer whether escalation occurs.

The central issue is whether instability becomes self-sustaining.

If instability continues generating leverage, shaping negotiations, fracturing alliances, influencing energy markets, and creating recurring opportunities for military action, then the future of the Iran war will not be defined primarily by whether negotiations succeed or fail.

It will be defined by whether instability itself becomes durable.

If that happens, the most important legacy of this war will not be the bombing campaign, the negotiations, or even the confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program.

It will be the emergence of a new strategic reality.

A world in which instability itself becomes the new normal — because it is increasingly a source of geopolitical power.

And if that world emerges, the Age of Instability will outlast the war that created it.

Excerpted from Prof Pape’s article.

Court Painter demonstrating normalization of instability in the studio.

Headlines gathered on May 27 regarding the Alberta separation madness.

• Alberta separatism has Mark Carney saying what’s on his mind
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• Carney needs to stay out of the separatism debate
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• Danielle Smith’s referendum gamble brings Alberta to the brink — is Canada ready?
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• Prime Minister Carney waves the Clarity Act over Smith’s ‘dangerous bluff’
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• Danielle Smith plays both sides of the separatist coin
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• Carney knows from experience separatism can get very real if Alberta is mishandled
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• Kenney paints a horrifying doomsday picture of an independent Alberta
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• Smith backs federalism. Her party won’t. Sure path to big trouble in UCP
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• Danielle Smith is brewing Canada’s own Brexit problem
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• With her “maybe” option, Danielle Smith could deliver an endless tax on Alberta’s economy

Court Painter engaged the studio resident scribe, Chastise Horatio Alas Thoughtbubble (Chat GPT), to fluff and flourish the headline sentiments with a dash of Bardic bravado for thine ear, eye and mind.

When Carney spake, his thoughts did sharply sting,
Of Alberta’s restless and divided ring.

“Hold fast thy sparks!” the wary voices cried,
“Lest separatist flames spread far and wide.”

Fair Smith now gambles at the nation’s brink,
Whilst Canada stands poised, pausing to think.

The Clarity Act, like a threat of enough enough,
Did Carney brandish ore the dangerous bluff.

Danielle doth dance with faces twain in hand,
One for the throne, one for secession’s band.

Carney well knows how swiftly tempests swell,
When wounded provinces rebel and yell.

Kenney paints visions dark as judgment’s day,
Where Alberta lone hath lost her golden way.

Smith backs the realm, yet her own court rebels,
And trouble deep within the UCP dwells.

A northern Brexit now begins to brew,
As anxious patriots fear the peace adieu.

Smith’s maybe hangs like pox upon the land,
A costly fever that none can rightly stand.

Danielle with Pandora’s box

Premier Danielle Smith presents her government’s version of a release valve for the separation sentiment roiling Alberta.

Release the hounds!

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday they’re eyeing a fall 2027 start date for construction of a new bitumen pipeline to the West Coast. It’s part of a plan to accomplish the remaining steps of the landmark energy deal they signed last fall. There is to be a new scheme for carbon emissions pricing in Alberta, and a commitment from Carney to declare the pipeline as being in the national interest by October of this year.

Meanwhile behind the optics…

Canada’s Asian pipeline strategy faces significant criticism, focusing on the accelerating energy transition in Asia toward electrification, which threatens long-term demand for Canadian oil. Concerns include reliance on outdated demand projections, massive capital investment risks in a shifting market, intense environmental opposition, and the rapid rise of renewables/EVs.

 [1, 2, 3, 4] Click numbers to view Energi Media videos and relevant articles.

Court Painter has called upon a manual phoropter to decipher the optics of the announcement.

A special treat! Court Painter is not only a virtuoso with the brush but a steady hand with the camera. During his recent Beijing visit he was invited to attend and video President Trump and President Xi at the height of their dining experience together.Key moments of the delightful interaction and minimal monologue is captured in Court Painter’s signature easy on the eye & ear style .