Holiday Window

Holiday Window - oil on linen - 7x9 "

I used to work at the little frame shop that is featured in this painting. Setting up the Christmas window used to begin early in November so that it was all sparkly and bright during the Kingston Santa Claus parade.  I remember one year we had just set up the display; a giant Christmas tree made of picture frames. During the evening parade a customer came in and wanted the exact picture that was hanging in the middle of the tree...it meant dismantling our creation to unhinge it.  ha ha ha! The joys of Christmas merchandising! After that, we were careful when planning our holiday windows to make easy access to the items!
It was fun most of the time, lots of creativity and interesting things needing framing, making every job quite unique.  I still enjoy popping in for a chat with the work gang when I'm in town.  BUT, I do love, love, love being a full time artist now.  I illustrated my personal Christmas card this year with the image from this painting.  Merry Christmas everybody! xoxoxo

Tuesday in December

Summer Pub Nights - The Ports - SOLD

I met the nicest couple at our artist open house, Dec 7th. I learned we had similar shared experiences, in that we lived in Victoria, Australia as did they for a time. It was so lovely having a chat with them about it.  They had come in search of my painting 'Summer Pub Nights- The Ports', which I didn't have at the show with me, but I directed them to KGSGallery where that painting was currently residing.  Yesterday I found out from Kate, the gallery manager, that the painting had sold when she was away sick.  I'm hoping that it was sold to that nice couple because it's satisfying when you learn who your painting will live with, and you really like them.

Christmas preps are in full swing, got the tree up and decorated on Sunday, doing some baking too!

I had some time yesterday in the studio working on a project I began in August but put on the back burner. It's not nearly there yet; too early to post, but I'm feeling positive about it again which is something. Meanwhile...

Good Morning Halifax poster 24 x 18" -$40

I created a poster for the east coast tourist market from my painting 'Good Morning Halifax'.  Currently  I'm approaching a popular gift shop in Halifax in which to sell the poster. (The original painting was sold to a kindred spirit for her home in Stanhope, PEI.  I'm so delighted that this painting will live in the east coast!) Fingers crossed the poster will get picked up by the gift shop.  I was born in Nova Scotia, I consider myself a NS artist, although I am currently living in Ontario.  Dave is in the process of making me an awesome rolled posters display stand, which I'll bring along with me on our trip at the end of the month.   Yes...cant wait!  We're driving out to Nova Scotia in the truck; so looking forward to some family time again, with a large dose of grandaughter on the side.




 

let the fun begin

I feel like there's a huge holiday coming up...well there is the obvious one, but I'm talking about time.  A holiday of time.  I feel like suddenly I have lots of it again, and it feels lovely.  That's me being in the present. Appreciating these moments.  Cherishing this moment while it lasts.

 I've been pretty full on this past week. After reorganizing after our artist open house on the weekend, I finally tackled the sanding and painting of an old cabinet, I had emptied in September. It's new functional purpose will be a wine glass / liquor cabinet. I finished it yesterday. 

I gotta say it's a good feeling re-purposing something. Amazing what a little paint and new hardware can do to update.  Dave also created a built-in shelf in the unused space in front of a no-longer working door frame in our living room and I painted that too. so it's been a busy few days of painting and re-coating. But it feels good to have it done now, and before Christmas.

In the studio it's time for play.  Yesterday I tried out a textile medium that you add to acrylic paint, so that you can paint on fabric and it stays soft.  I found out about this stuff from a good friend's mum I met at Thanksgiving, who had taken a fun workshop with Pipi Tustian of Tangerine Dreams Gallery in Victoria BC.  I was excited by the possibilities of trying it out.  I love textiles, I love painting, so imagine the fun!  I bought some textile medium right after our conversation, which was back in October at Thanksgiving, and it's been waiting for a little play time ever since.  So, I fooled around. No preconceived ideas of what I would make yet, just experimenting how it takes to different fabrics etc. Fun! 

So with all this time, I guess I really cant put off doing the books any longer...

the spark

Artist Open House -Sunday Dec 7

Doing what we love is key. As artists doing what we love is the spice that makes work come alive; the song in our souls.  

This morning I read the new issue of Queens Quarterly that arrived in my mailbox. In it, is an article written by artist and curator Liz Wylie that elaborates on this idea.  She weighs the notion of artists(dead or alive) fame and posterity vs the artists "aliveness in that moment of creation".  She says " Our job is to live fully, and if we are artists, to bring that intensity of life to our work; we must focus on our creativity and what we are doing, not be looking over our shoulders, vying for fame and keeping an eye to posterity."  

Joy - acrylic on wood - SOLD

How true is that?! That sentence really hit a chord within me. Working in the isolation of our studios, it's easy to come off the rails, thinking we need to create for upcoming shows, a gallery, or clients. It can steal us away from our hearts desire.  The best art always happens when we are able to tap into the 'life' within us. the spark. the truth.

A Fine Day, Blue Rocks - oil on panel- SOLD

On Sunday we enjoyed a wonderful turnout for our 'Artist Open House'.  The sun shone through the floor to ceiling windows in Marga's waterfront home which we had transformed into an intimate gallery for her pottery and my paintings.  Guests mingled, sipped punch and browsed the art, and both of us had a thoroughly good time(really good sales too).  And on the topic of 'the spark in art' guess which of my paintings were the ones that sold... yep... those ones.




 
 

out of season

Call of the Loon - oil on panel - 9 x12

I know it's December 1st, so my post isn't very seasonal...but today i worked on  summer paintings, I had started this a while back and decided today was the day I would resolve it. I was listening to a nature cd while I painted called Call of the Loon...and I felt like I was right in the painting with the sound of lapping water and distance loons calling...hence the title.

getting from here to there

Work in Progress - oil on panel - 12 x 16"

"How do you know when to stop painting?"  
It's kind of an age-old question for artists.  

For me it's a gut feeling.  Basically, if the painting is saying what I want it to say, I feel it's done.  BUT there are  times I might start a painting without a clear idea of what it is I want to say.  I'm can be delighted about the sheer joy of my subject or process and I get swept up in the moment, forgetting about focusing on the idea.

stage 1             stage 2                    stage 3

That is okay; we all need our playtime... it keeps the first stage loose and genuine.

When I began this painting I was at my friend Sherry's house, she had invited me for a paint-day get together, something we've been occasionally doing over the past few years.  It is such a fun time.  We paint, do coffee while painting, do lunch, chat, paint some more and our cup runneth over with good times. It's no wonder then that I began the painting in a joyful mood, and didn't bother to focus much. ha ha.  who cares. some things are more important!  It's funny I remember looking at it that day and commenting to Sherry..."What's with this effort...it looks like I painted it in grade 4!"  ha ha ha.  I took my little painting home and set it on the shelf in my studio.  I knew it wasn't done, but I didn't know what to do with it...I liked the freshness and simplicity, but it wasn't conveying anything, and I wanted it to.  stage 1.

Two weeks later I woke up and the first thing I thought about was putting a bicycle in that painting, and I was excited; for me, excitement is a good sign! I decided do something about it.  After all, as it was, the painting wasn't satisfying to me. I knew I would have to do major surgery. BUT, I had a PLAN! and hope. The oil medium is so wonderful for allowing changes of heart and direction. I could never have done that with watercolours, and I know I'd struggle trying to do it with acrylics. When I went to bed that night I had stage 2.

Stage 3 was resolved last night. I painted out some of the tulips, created more space around the bike(never underestimate the element of space). I simplified the background tulips so they became a unified shape. I also really paid attention to the edges of the tree shapes.

So that's how I got from here in stage 1 to there in stage 3.  I will let it percolate for a while longer (while I work on another painting) and in a few days I hope to hear it speaking to me.



 




  

Free Wheelin'

Free Wheelin - oil on canvas - 30x36

Not exactly tiptoe-ing through the tulips...but my idea of the next best thing...pedal power through them! I love riding my bike.  I like the scents in the air as I whiz along, being able to hear bird sounds.  Out in the country where I live we have some nice trails that are good for bike riding.  In Ottawa in the spring there is a glorious tulip festival where I saw many people going for rides.  This painting was inspired by that.

Sunday things

Such a nice break in the weather yesterday, the warmer temps beckoned me outside. Great day to attend the Fat Goose Craft Fair, held in Grant hall at Queens university.  That is "Purling J's Roving Yarn Co" red truck parked outside the door.   Such a cool idea for a business...Roving J's truck is a walk in yarn shop!  Did I tell you I am learning to knit socks? so excited about that!  I'm already working on the toe of my first one! Hopefully by the time I knit the second one I'll be a little quicker.
It was a joy to have a gander around the craft fair and take in the incredibly beautiful, innovative work of many local craftspeople.  I purchased several Christmas presents!

A great day too for outdoor jobs.  Dave got up on the ladder, replacing an 8 foot roof flashing strip that blew off in the high winds last week. yay Dave!  He also painted 2 adirondack chairs. oooh... time for me to get some jobs done too!  I removed the pumpkins from the garden and winterized my roses.  

Inside the delapidated old relic of a barn, I retrieved my stored easels. Did I tell you it's creepy in there? It is. I'm sure a million bats live there not to mention racoons and other critters of the shadows. It seemed a better place than the garage to store them  when I first put them in there, but they were pretty filthy when I got them outside, covered in cobwebs and who knows what else. A broom, spray cleaner,  long handled scrubber and I went to work. After a rinse and a stand to dry in the weak afternoon sunshine they are actually usable now.  

Here is one of them put to use holding a painting currently in progress;  one from the 'Ride' theme I began last year, which I know I'm not done with yet.  In a way having a theme or an idea to work through is kind of comforting; it eliminates the dreaded "What will I paint?" question. And it's interesting for me to see how the paintings develop through a theme.

the rest of the easels are now in my studio storage, which should make them way easier to retrieve when I need them for the open house at Marga's on Dec. 7th.  Here's the invite for that!  You're invited!

finding treasures

Marga Vanderwal and Sue Hale
two of four artists at studio #6

My friend Marga Vanderwal, artist extraordinaire of gorgeous pottery has invited me to show some work at her Christmas open house show and sale!  The show will be held at her lovely home overlooking the St Lawrence river on Treasure Island, not far from Kingston.  I'm excited!  It will be a drop in affair all day on Sunday December 7th.  It's so fun to do intimate house shows and Marga's wonderful pottery is an inspiration for me.  

outside, the weather was frightful

inside, the fire delightful

At the weekend art show in the Rockport, Thousand Islands area, I was very lucky to sell 3 paintings.  Traffic was way down this past weekend compared to last years show,  although it was a pleasant time anyway hanging out with the 3 lovely artists who shared LaRue House with me.  We hung out around the woodstove in the quaint little building laughing and sharing stories.  I dont mean to sound all 'Pollyanna-like', but really... in this life, these moments are the real treasures, are they not?

Last night, I was beginning a group of small paintings, had just loaded my brush with a gob of cadmium red and 'poof'...we lost power! The radiator in my studio died, blackness ensued while the wind ferociously howled outside.  I called to Dave who came up the stairs with a flashlight enabling me to clean off my brush.  The rest of the evening was spent cozying up to the wood stove, knitting by candlelight (Dave playing solitaire on his ipad).  Thank goodness for wood stoves, the house was getting chillier by the minute.  Luckily, about 5 hours later we regained power.  Times like this make me realize how much of a treasure it is to enjoy a warm house and electricity; though sitting by the fire together was also a sort of treasure.

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures - oil on panel - 8 x 12

This painting began as a demo in one of my classes.  Later I felt like working on it some more and bringing it to completion. I had a tricky time with the cobblestones, but eventually got a handle on them...I especially loved painting the cobblestones in the umbrella's shadow and enlivening them with a variety of colour.  I find shadows exciting when they contain reflected colour.  If this painting dries I will take it with me to the art show and sale in the Thousand Islands this weekend. 

A lark still bravely singing...

Remember- 8x8- oil on wood

I painted this last year, but it seemed fitting to post again tonight on the eve of Nov 11th.  Dave and I will watch the ceremony at the war memorial in Ottawa from home on tv tomorrow, taking time to remember them and reflect on the sacrifices of those who serve.

The Thousand Islands 'Holly and Ivy' Arts Fair is on this coming weekend in Rockport. There are 6 locations, each hosting a number of artists.  I will be one of the artists at LaRue House which is on the Thousand Islands Parkway at 247 Old River Road. Click on the link for more information and a map of the area.

Winter Rooftops

Winter Rooftops - oil on canvas - 16 x 20"

Winter Rooftops came about from a photo I took about 4 years ago from my window in a room at the Four Points Sheridan.  The scene certainly didn't look like this, the photo showed a drab winters evening, but I knew I could use the perspective as a springboard and create the atmosphere in my own way.
This one took more time to dry than usual with  thicker paint on it, but it was kind of juicy working on it!  
I often admire texture and thick paint in other artist's work, and it is something that I would like to get in my own work, but it's a slow process getting there, especially when I'm a painter who's natural inclination is to blend a lot.  BUT, it is a goal of mine to incorporate more texture.  It's funny,  I feel like there has to be a purpose for texture in my own work, like it cant just be slapped on willy nilly;  texture always grabs the eye, so I feel it works best in focal areas. 
AND may I say this...it is ALWAYS easier to get texture and interesting brush strokes when painting 'daily paintings' that are usually no bigger than 9 x 12.  That is because one sweep of the hand with an average sized brush can carry a thick gob of different toned paint which allows interesting passages and transitions.  The success of the whole daily painting movement kind of proves this, and I've always been pleased with the textural brushwork in my own small paintings.
It IS more difficult to get a similar loose textural result on large paintings. The tools incorporated for producing larger paintings to create similar effects are large palette knives, big brushes, giant spatula's...whatever one can creatively think of in application is AOK.  More than one palette might be necessary, many artists who work large have several.  Having a large space in which to paint is a must too...one needs to be able to move around the work and stand back from it often to take in the progress of it.  This is also NOT the time to be stingy with paint.  Have lots of tubes on hand.  Heaps of paint must be at the ready to be squeezed out of the tube frequently, because one goes through a LOT of paint when painting this way.
Recently I was in Vermont, I had the opportunity to pop into a gallery where I admired some gorgeous large contemporary landscapes by an artist(Craig Mooney) who obviously worked with huge brushes... they had the magic that small paintings do, and I was very inspired.  
This winter I'm making a push to create larger works (for me) more often, and getting a little more textural in the process would be very satisfying too. 

Pub Door and a pastoral...

Pub Door - oil on canvas - 30 x 30"

I've been working my way through different stages of several paintings this weekend so feeling happy about keeping ahead of the eightball(so to speak).  After a wonderful few days hiking and visiting friends in Vermont, on Sunday Dave and I made the most of our quiet weekend. I enjoyed a wonderful painting day listening to some gorgeously inspiring opera music, with the sun streaming in the south window of my studio. Dave went for a motorbike ride, so he was having fun and so was I. 
I was going to take my Pub Door painting to KGSGallery along with 2 other paintings on Saturday for their December exhibition but it wasn't quite dry and I'm glad I didn't rush it.  I had a chance to resolve it a little more, and now it reads to my satisfaction.
My arm is still quite tender, but I'm taking it gently and trying not to squeeze with force on the brushes when I'm rinsing them...that motion is just the worst for aggravating my tennis elbow.

Greener Pastures - 9 x 12 - SOLD

During my classes I illustrate various concepts about painting design through demos, so I start many small paintings for this purpose and then leave them lying around on the shelf unfinished.  Yesterday I thought why not develop some a little further and see where they go.  Here's a pastoral acrylic in progress...(I still want to strengthen the shadow under the white cow).  This lesson focused on 'shapes within the painting'.  I painted the cows upside down to illustrate the brain's ability to read shape more accurately when looking at it as an abstract element and not what it actually is(in this case, a cow).  
I jump started the season yesterday and made my Christmas cakes. I have to do them quite far in advance because they need lots of time to steep in brandy wrapped in cheesecloth (about 4 weeks), then I package them up and include them in my family's Christmas parcels.  Smelling them cooking brought me right back to my mums kitchen in December! xo


 

one day acrylic painting workshop in my studio NOV 20

Thursday November 20th I will do a one day workshop from 9:30am-4:30pm for acrylic painters in my studio.  The fee is $50 for the day,  paid on arrival.  The day is limited to a maximum of 6 participants; 4 participants need to confirm for the workshop to go ahead. Students bring their own painting supplies,  table top easles are provided.  Confirm by Nov 15 by email or phone if you'd like to be included. 

Lake Edge Sundown - acrylic

There will be an acrylics painting demo in the morning, plenty of class painting time, and 'one on ones'.  Bring a packed lunch, morning coffee and tea/ snacks are supplied.  After lunch we will have a 'group share' where you can bring along samples of 'art that moves you' or pieces you're working on or have finished that you'd like some feedback on.  This may take 1/2 hour -1 hour, afterwards there will be plenty more class painting time.   If you are interested in this workshop and would like more information, please don't hesitate to call me at 613-531-4545

Pub Entrance and Happy hallowed eve!

Pub Door - oil on canvas - 30 x 30"

Here's one I've been working on a bit at a time over the past month, it is  30x30". I was drawn to the design created by the  architecture mingling with the shadows and foliage. I'm working on it a bit at a time because I've been having issues with my hand and arm(the one where I had tennis elbow about 8 years ago) again,so I need to work in fits and starts if I dont want to completely 'do in' my working arm.  This way also allows more time for contemplation while I resolve areas...nothing like time and patience if you want to enjoy the journey.

There is a new shop in Kingston opening up that will sell some of my cards and prints, called Koru Art Annex and Studio.  It's at 66 Brock street right next to the Kingston Olive Oil Company.  I popped in this morning to drop stuff off, meet the owners, and also get a peek at it before opening day, which is tomorrow!  It looks nice...gorgeous quaint space, beautiful jewelry, home decor and art pieces and nicely lit too; overall, it's got a happy energy vibe. All the best to you both Grace and Christine, it was lovely to meet you this morning!

Happy Halloween everybody!! isn't she just the sweetest little monkey? ha ha ha!! it's my grandaughter...first Halloween...I couldn't resist!

autumn atmospheric perspective

oils demo

I painted this demo in my afternoon class in oils to illustrate the concept of atmospheric perspective.  I had cad orange, ultramarine blue plus white on my palette because I wanted to keep it simple.  Too much colour can get overwhelming when you're learning.  About three quarters of the way through I caved and added cadmium yellow to the palette as I just couldn't get the birch foliage with orange and blue.  But it's kind of interesting to see how far one can take a painting with a super duper limited palette.

I'm heading to Vermont next week for a few days, looking forward to viewing the foliage on route. I will not be painting there but hope to gather photo resources while hiking. 

Birthday's are wonderful when the day's errands begin with lattes and pretty table linens...o...and did I mention scones? Thanks Roz. xo


 

weekend rework

On the Patio - rework - 30 x 30

Just spent a lovely 2 days with friends in Smiths Falls for Thanksgiving weekend, which was absolutely spectacular weather-wise. Much outdoor work was accomplished(if not by me) and socializing over croquet and wine's on the patio. A delicious turkey dinner for 14 by candlelight was a highlight last night.  The break  was just what I needed.  We came back this afternoon and I headed for the studio pretty much after we got unpacked. I had been thinking about reworking 'On the Patio' and painting in my head while I was away! ha ha...it never really stops.   So this is where I am now, and I'm feeling like I can almost hear it 'singing'.

home prepared supports

I had some raw linen which had been rolled up in my studio for a couple of years, and since I had some stretcher frames I thought I'd make use of them and stretch and prepare my own linen supports.  Easier said than done!!  Stretching and stapling is an art in itself.  At least I found a handy new use for my old AGO membership card...makes a good trowell!  First you cover the linen in a special size, then trowell on the oil ground, let it dry overnight. sand again, trowell again, let dry again and repeat...ugh. really i will NOT do this again!  I wonder what the surface will be like to paint on...hopefully  worth it!

here's an oil version of the Roman water stand demo that I painted previously in watercolour...I worked away on this today during the afternoon class in between one on one's with each person about their own painting projects.  We talked about edges today..how they can be employed to move the eye around the painting, describing surfaces and shapes. 


In the morning class we talked about the same things, but I demo'd a little bird painting instead.  

side step poems and collage

'Hope' - acrylic on wood -6x6

Only a month or so before the shows in November that I've signed up to participate in.  I like to take small paintings with me to these shows. I am realizing that my inventory is down considerably so the push is on to boost it and paint some small ones that will be new and different from last years selection.  I'm painting a bunch more 'mini's' and I'll also work on a bunch of 4x4's, just as soon as I get the boards prepared.  Meanwhile I was doing a side step yesterday fooling around with acrylics, collaging some poetry into small whimsical painted images... different from my usual path, but it was a fun creative thing none-the-less.  Good way to spend the rainy windy weekend tucked in my studio. 

'Wear Do You Go?' - acrylic on wood 6x6

Sometimes I wonder when I try  ideas like this if it's just way too crafty and I shouldn't show it with my other paintings, but the fact is I am a gal with a hat of many feathers and occasionally I like to wear the crafty one too. yikes...there's that word, 'craft'.  somehow its demeaning in art. why is that?  
I have only just discovered a fab show from BBC called 'Show Me the Monet'. I love it!  So fun to watch these ordinary folks/artists brave the critics to enter the exhibition and sale at the Royal College of Art in London. I've just programmed the pvr to pick it up everytime it's on, so episodes await. yay!

mixed neutrals

Roman Waterhole- watercolour 8x10

Thursday's classes were about mixing colour; mixing from primary's and compliments. This Roman stone wash stand was a good subject because it had a variation of neutral tones mixed from compliments.  This is watercolour, but I also did a demo version in acrylics for the morning class and an oil one in the afternoon class. 

busy artists in the morning class

There was great energy in the room for both classes as everyone got right into their paintings. It's a good feeling when the enthusiasm is obvious; after all it is about having fun as much as it is about learning painting.

Friday morning was back to my own painting projects...I have been reworking the painting 'On the Patio' from a few posts back! i know I know, you probably think: "knitpicker!".  but the truth is I cant leave something alone if it's not singing to me.  I'm still not there yet, but will continue to revisit it until it rests well with me.  A number of other works are in various stages of resolution too which is kind of good, because I like flitting from one thing to the next better than slaving laboriously on one thing.  I somehow can keep my momentum going a little better this way. 

teaching also, is learn as you go

Acrylics demo 1 - 9 x 12"

I started teaching a session of studio classes this week.  I have to say it is always a learning curve for me as well.  I usually plan a short painting exercise focusing on an element that I feel is important, demo it, then encourage the class to try it out.  After that we work on a slightly larger painting project keeping in mind the principles from the short exercise. It's definately not a step by step guide to creating a set painting.  Each one is working on their own subject, but trying to follow the task at hand. 

Acrylics demo 2 - 9 x 12"

What I'm learning is that this method is good for some folks and works well when there is people in the same class working in a variety of mediums.  I think it can be a bit too challenging for some who are new to their chosen medium or who haven't painted in their chosen medium for a long time.  I forget that getting back up on the bicycle sometimes takes a little bit more attention to technique and method.  

oils demo 1 - work in progress

So that is going to be the challenge for me going into this week's class...finding a step up that is just right for each painter to encourage them in their efforts.  This Thursday's class will focus on colour mixing.  It's one of my favourite subjects, but there's a lot to it; I dont want it to become overwhelming. I do want it to be relevant; applied to the subject/project that each person is working on.

I am quite delighted to find out that teaching occasionally as I do seems actually quite good for my own art practice, in that it makes me more aware of sensitivities other than just my own. I learn to see subjects the way another person sees it, which is unique and equally valid.  Fresh insights opens up my own mind and way of working.

On The Patio

On The Patio - oil on canvas- 30x30

I worked some more on this piece after supper last night. I had started to get more literal than I wanted, in details like clothing, faces and flowers, but I didn't like where it was heading.. I did a fair bit of reworking, and I'm happier with the overall mood now. My main thought and interest in painting it was the passage of  light spilling across various surfaces, and so I wanted to keep it about that.  Which was the reason I had to say bye-bye to Frederic and Charlotte under the tree...ha ha. 

Perspectives annual juried show BAA

Here I am talking with Niki about her wonderful painting that will be hanging in the BAA art show when it opens this Thursday evening at the John M. Parrot  Art Gallery in Belleville.  Yesterday was a busy day selecting works for the show.  I was pretty tired afterwards, so I took the slow road home on highway 2 which was rather delightful.  Thursday will be a busy day as that is when I start teaching this term; a morning class and an afternoon class. Immediately after class is over I will hop in the car and drive an hour to Belleville for the opening reception.  I'm looking forward to it though, they're a fun bunch!  If you're in the area drop in to see the show.