Summer Pub Nights - Merchant

Summer Pub Nights - Merchant
oil on canvas 14" x 18"

I tweaked this painting recently.  Took out the foreground figures, aligned the barrels and solidified the tree shapes. I'm much happier with it now. 
It's funny how the idea can get lost in the details you put in...for example what moved me to paint this scene was "the atmosphere of celebration a weekend summer evening brings combined with our historic architecture".  I joyfully painted what i thought was my original idea; added to the merriment by painting in a young duo in front of the fence heading into the entrance, under the limbs of an extremely(for me) fussily described tree.  After I was done I was mildly satisfied, and posted it on the blog(to lots of nice comments i might add!)...but as it sat on the wall of my studio for  a month, i viewed it knowing that it was not saying what i had intended...at least not in the way that i had intended...the idea was getting lost in the details!   It now seemed to be about the young couples choice of entering the establishment and not about the atmosphere.  It took me a month to realize that was the core of the unsatisfactory feeling I was getting from the painting.  Boy o boy... if there is one thing I've learned it's always worth it to take a risk in an effort to get the painting to voice my intentions...otherwise there seems (to me)no point in painting it.

Computer woes

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...just stuck with a frozen computer.  I've been having problems with it for a couple of weeks, but this past week it really went down.  hopefully next week i'll be back online properly...in the meantime...it's just amazing the amount of stuff i actually get done in a day when i dont spend any time on a computer! Last week one day i marvelled at this when i was driving BACK from the shops at 10:30 am having completed my morning workout, chores, and errands ! Wow usually i think i have no time in a day...but really i know that i burn valuable time 'plugged in'. it's funny how life was also good back when there was no computers. we think we cant do without them...but really it's probably good to be reminded of the natural order of the way life is.

new Events category on my website

my website - 'Events' added on left nav bar

A new category has been added to my website...EVENTS!  I thought this would be a good way of letting clients know of what art shows and other events I'm participating in.  It will also come in handy for notifying folks about classes / workshops.  Don't know why I didn't think of adding it before...but there you go!  It's up now and I'll update it frequently as I book things. Here's the link to my Events page.

That Blue - Lapis Lazuli

April Love by ER Hughes

When I was a teenager I saw the work of  Edward Robert Hughes in a gallery; I was smitten.  It was this painting, 'April Love'.  At the time I thought he was one of the pre-raphaelite painters.  I remember telling my mother about the beautiful painting I had seen in the gallery that day when I got home.  When I mentioned the pre-raphaelite's she immediately knew which painting i was talking about. Speaking to the dreamer and romantic within me, I was utterly captivated...beautiful young women with flowing hair and robes painted with a heightened reality, set in nature.  What teenage girl wouldn't love them? 

Midsummers Eve by Hughes

Later I found out that Hughes was not actually one of the  pre-raphaelite group. That surprised me. He was not even a contemporary in his time.  Like John William Waterhouse who was also heavily influenced by the pre-raphaelite style...both continued painting in this (at the time) 'old fashioned' style...in the late Victorian, and well into the Edwardian eras.

When I was in college I purchased a few posters to decorate my room.  One of them was 'Midsummer's Eve'.  My friend Jane Stamps  always sent a Christmas card with an angel on it every year...one year, it was 'Night With Her Train of Stars' by Hughes.  I still have that card, though my dear friend Jane is no longer with us. She's gone to join her angels.

Hughes used a lot of Lapus Lazuli in his paintings, that gorgeous iconic blue which has been treasured by artists over the centuries. 

Night With Her Train of Stars by Edward Robert Hughes

Lapis Lazuli- Italian Renaissance  art

Lapis Lazuli is a rock that mostly consists of the mineral Lazurite.   Ground into pigments throughout antiquity; it was prized as it was a relatively rare semi-precious stone... these days, it is the synthetic version, French Ultramarine Blue, that has largely replaced Lapis Lazuli on most painters palettes.

Kingston's 'Art After Dark' - May 23rd.

On Thursday evening Downtown Kingston will host Art After Dark...a soiree of galleries, shops and artists studios hosting art exhibitions, music and refreshments  from 7-pm to 10pm!  It's a fun evening of gallery hopping in mild spring weather...hope the rain holds off.  I will be showing some works and hanging out at Kingston Frameworks, but I will also pop out to visit other exhibitions/receptions for some of the evening.  Two of my artist friends, Sarah Hunter and Bonnie Brooks will be featured artists at Gallery Raymond's exhibit. I'm looking forward to seeing some of their new work there.  
I've been working on more of my tiny wood block paintings...this time some farms...the simple life.  Life has been pretty simple this past week...computer went on the fritz.  

summer campus

I lived close to Queens university when I was a student at St. Lawrence college back in the 70's.  The architecture of many of the older buildings is lovely...not so much the new buildings which are mostly steel and glass. Grant hall is an older building...it has an Italian influence going on.
I enjoy design...it's my most fun part of a painting...lots of liberties with this one... but i rather like the vortex sensation.  Dorothy, are we still in Kansas?  It definately has movement...

New Rose bed

Last weekend was mothers day, and when Holly and Jeff arrived for a visit they brought me a beautiful potted Mister Lincoln rose! lovely.  I cant tell you how much I love roses, but i haven't had a great deal of success with any in the spots where I have put them before.  I know now that is because they were in places that were either too windy, or too shady.  I have spent the past 4 days since the weekend thinking about where to plant this new rose... then I remembered....

Two years ago my friend Mary came for a visit and we went for a walk around the garden sussing out the best spot for roses to thrive in my garden.  At that time, we determined that the only really good spot (that gets good sun and protected from the wind) was an extension of the current perrennial bed out by the picket fence.  I meant to create a rose bed there last year, but somehow I just never got around to it! 
Then my friend Sylvia told me about how to use newspapers to suffocate the grass, adding layers of mulch, manure and soil to fertilize and create a good base for a new bed.You can read about the method here.  ...Perfect! I have a big pile of manure brought from a visit to a friends farm 2 weeks ago, and heaps of mulch leftover from the fallen tree branches from the last storm.  So I set to work this morning just as the rain began...perfect weather for planting.  Two hours later...here is my new rose bed! Thrive on Mister Lincoln...thrive on! I love painting roses.

Lakeside

Lots of sail training takes place on the lake in Kingston.  I love watching sailboats. Such a great symbol for freedom. We once knew a family who packed up their 2 kids(aged 8 & 10) and their golden lab and went on a year long sail from Montreal (leaving via the St.Lawrence seaway)and down the east coast of North America to the Caribbean. I was amazed.  I couldn't imagine 2 kids and a dog in a car for more than 2 hours, let alone in a tossing and heaving small sailboat.  But I was impressed.  I get seasick really easily so sailing doesn't appeal for me!  But I love watching them from shore.

farmstead oil painting

Working on some small paintings in the studio today, getting into the swing and rhythm of painting again after having a break of a couple of weeks.  It feels good ...and luscious...and meditative.  This farmstead emerged; there's lots of them like this on roads around South Frontenac. That's the county in which I live. 

studio spring cleaning

I haven't painted since i returned from holiday. Various reasons.  I hope to get that going again soon. Special time communing with paint and canvas is the thing that nourishes my spirit. Like a meditation I feel refreshed and peaceful after a good painting session. I thought I was going to paint yesterday, but I dont know if it was the weather, or me...I was too tired to tap into any creative energy at all.   Instead I decided to do some less taxing but more mundane things like cleaning out my drawers in my studio and re-organizing supplies; getting them off the surfaces they have been cluttering for months which has resulted in less and less real workspace. 
The top drawer is paint...Couldn't believe how much paint I actually own, once i organized it! Some are trial tubes of colours I experimented with, then abandoned...others I've inherited from artists now deceased...and others are the regular palette that i find myself reaching for again and again.  I've grouped all into shallow boxes of primaries, neutrals and earth colours. 

spring - yay!

A good start at the Gallery at the Porch Door this week...visitors and some sales...all good.  Just before closing yesterday afternoon i snapped this piccy; the forsythia and daffs are in bloom out by the sign.
 
I picked up this  large iris watercolour painting that I had been showing at the hospital in Ottawa; nice to have it up on the wall again in my gallery. It's been a long time since I did a large watercolour like that.  I did think i was going to be doing one for a client this spring, but after back and forth communication we've decided that an oil painting will suit the subject better.  I'm looking forward to beginning it; it's of a BEAUTIFUL property in Australia.

on the farm

Fab weekend...great weather, plus we met Holly & Jeff at a friends farm in Maxville.  Sandy needed some helpers getting the hay bailed and stacked in the barn, so who better to help than a bunch of unsuspecting cityslickers like us? ha ha.  but it WAS fun. We enjoyed an outdoor picnic at lunch and celebrated Jeff's 36th birthday too, and as a special birthday present for Jeff's the Leafs won their playoff game that night!

ready for all kinds of weather...

So I've been sussing out pop-up canopy tents for the past month or two...trying to decide what kind I want to buy.  I want a white one for various summer shows...white is best as it allows lots of daylight on the paintings. 
When we were in Florida last week I saw one at Home Depot at $100 less than what Home Depot in Canada was selling the EXACT same one for.  I dont get that. It doesn't seem fair at all.  I was going to buy it and bring it home but didn't want to be encumbered with lugging it through the airport.  
While in Costco this morning guess what I came across?!  A fabulous pop-up canopy tent for a reasonable price too. It's a Caravan brand, which is a good one. I was smitten.  When I got home, I talked to Dave on the phone and told him of my discovery.  I planned to go back next week and get one, but when he arrived home from work today guess what he was carrying in the door?! surprise!  We set it up in the driveway just to be sure of how quickly and easily it would go up, and it's a breeze! I'm so delighted.

Opening the Gallery at the Porch Door for the season!

 It's that time again...time to open up the Gallery at the Porch Door! Woohoo!  It's my third season of business and once again I'm looking forward to greeting the spring/summer visitors who will grace my porch this year.  The past 2 days have been pretty hectic; I stopped by a gallery yesterday morning that was showing some of my recent works; I decided I want to show it in my porch this summer, so asked to make a switchermaroo with them. I was happy to find out they were totally fine with the short notice, and so flexible too. Win, win. They got a fresh change on their walls, and I got my recent work back for my gallery.  
If you're in my neighbourhood, please stop in and have a peek...I'm open Wed- Fri 1-5pm and weekends by chance throughout the spring summer until the end of August.

Art Among the Ruins - June 15th

This is the postcard I just received for a wonderful summer art show I'll be participating in this year. Posting it here for a little early advertising. 

"Art Among the Ruins" is a large annual outdoor art show and sale set among picturesque ruins of a 19th century mill beside rapids of the Napanee River. in Newburgh, Ontario. Featuring over 55 local artists showcasing juried-quality paintings, sculpture, mosaic tile, fibre, wood, paper, photography & more! BBQ lunch is available to purchase. Music. Free admission. 613-378-6516.  www.artamongtheruins.com

beachside

Worked on a few small ones last week while away in Florida, though i must confess to being pretty lazy the majority of the time:) ... I did find plenty of inspiration for my beach blocks series... I love the colour combos and holiday feel of beachside dwellings. Check out the pink chimney to match this cute one.

On morning and evening walks around the village, I  noticed the gorgeous tropical floral scents in the air.  

 
 

summer pub

Worked on this painting again this afternoon.  Even though it was raining outside today, i had the windows in the studio open and was listening to the birds singing while I painted. Lovely. I guess they're happy for rain and not snow.  Me too...although they are forcasting a winter storm warning for the Ottawa region for Friday.  bah humbug.  I hope our flight isn't delayed.  Our holiday to Florida starts Friday, and we're meant to be flying from Ottawa.  fingers crossed.  I am so looking forward to sunshine!

The abundance of spring fundraisers

It's that time of year...seems spring is the season for fundraisers!  I do get my fair share of requests for donations of artwork to help good causes.  After participating in creating a door to auction for a cancer support club last month, I have had three more requests, all within a week.  I chose one of the three, and have decided to pass on the other two.  This is the painting I chose to donate for the auction at a spring ball for Juvenile Diabetes. 

Window Seat on the Water - acrylic, 18 x 18"

While all of the causes are good ones, juvenile diabetes has special significance for me as my close friend's daughter was diagnosed with diabetes when she was about 8, and I'm well aware of what a challenge it is for people dealing with the disease.

Today in my studio I completely changed the pub painting that I started a few days ago. I kind of knew I would change it, after I could see it was heading in the wrong direction.  This is where we are today...quite different.

The one in the background hanging above the shelf is the block in for the Merchant;the evening light on the stone building is the main event.  The one on the easel is the Ports and i'm painting it over an orange ground.  I want the summer evening light to be the purpose for it too.  I'm planning to put figures in both of them, to keep them from looking like haunted houses...I'll post when done.

summer pub evenings

Back in the studio this week, I'm feeling like painting Kingston again...an old pub or two...these are some of my fav's in Kingston. Last summer in the evening I took some photos. I've been wanting to paint them ever since...something about the atmosphere... a feeling of pleasant anticipation...friends meeting up, sharing stories, a pint , possibly a musical evening...
I started one painting yesterday, but still working out the design of it. This will change drastically before I'm satisfied.  I hope to post progress as I go. 
Dave and I dont go to pubs much anymore, mostly because we live in the country, the drive to town and back is a deterrant. The Merchant is one of the pubs we enjoy. It's an oldie.  When i was a student in Kingston, i used to sometimes go with my friends to the Portsmouth Tavern, it's been the heart of Portsmouth village for many years too.  A sense of history surrounds you in both places.

Mini Reproductions, Art shows, and the winners of the Classic

These are 4 x 4 inch blocks with mounted mini-reproductions of some of my artwork.  I propped them up in the sunshine here near a window sill, but i will take better pictures for etsy sales.  I like the presentation better than offering them in cello bags. Each one is centred and mounted on a sanded, gessoed wood block, then finished with a protecting coat. The titles of each one is onthe back. They're finished with a small saw-tooth hanger. I will offer them for sale in my gallery when i open it in May(not long now!) and they will come with me to some summer art fete's. 
I will be at Windsor park in Ottawa south for a one day arts and crafts show on Sunday June 9th.  I will also be at Art Among the Ruins this year on Saturday June 15th.  In July I will also be participating in Fantasy in the Forest, which is a fun weekend show taking place on July 20, 21st near Perth Road Village.
Two more piccys from the Easter Classic below; me throwing  a bolo, and here's the champions this year, brother and sister team Jeff and Lori, a.k.a: Betty's Angels

 

Easter Classic weekend

We were thanking our lucky stars on Saturday as our Easter Classic Bolo tournament swung into action...the sunshine and warmer temps between days of gray and cold were such a tonic.  Having the family here is a special gift for Dave and I, but the sunshine was icing on the cake; especially since Easter was so early in the season this year. Everybody was in a good mood, Dave too...the sun was in his eyes here. heh heh.  Nights saw us enjoying campfires.  Matt, who is Rachel's boyfriend played guitar for us, setting a mellow mood.  You might have to cover your ears from our singing!