Je Suis Paris

'Je Suis Paris' - oil on canvas, 30 x30

The second in a series of large-ish rose paintings I've been tinkering with.  I do love roses; heck, I love flowers!
 
BUT, I was stuck on this one for a few weeks. Today I heard it ask me for something...recent world events whispering in my mind...a  geometric element amid the organic shapes.

clan of artists

Autumn in Vermont - 6 x 8" - $95

I'm guessing it's about 10 years or so since I started art blogging. I originally began on a Wordpress platform, but switched to Blogger after some hiccups I couldn't seem to solve. I am actually fairly tech challenged, but I enjoy connecting with artists around the world and seeing what they're doing.  Feels a bit like a sisterhood; well that's unfair, because there are plenty of brothers too! Let's just say it feels like a clan.  A tribe.  I get excited when someone new leaves me a comment, and I usually hop on over and link to their blog to check out what they're doing too.  

Pasture in Autumn - 6 x 8" - $95

RLAA is an organization I'm part of.  I don't get to meetings frequently, but when I do it's nice to connect with members of the clan. Yesterday we shared in group discussions in an 'art cafe' type format; discussions ranged from our art making processes, art education, art marketing experiences, and individual art philosophies. All fun and enriching. 

Next weekend, I'll be with yet another clan of artisans, to participate in the Thousand Islands Art Fair (Holly & Ivy TIarts Fair) held in Gananoque at the Arthur Child Museum.  Nov 21 / 22 - 10am -5pm.  Fourteen artists participating all under one roof will be a fun time, I'm sure.  Hope to see you there.

 

Public spaces and art...win/win!

Post card for my KGH show

Getting art into public places where even the non-art going public hang out is win/win for all.  Artist's love it because more people see their work, the public loves it because unexpected beauty is brought to sterile boring spaces, and the host space benefits from any art sales commission that may arise from the exhibit.  

I'm excited to tell you that I am the 2nd Kingston artist to be invited to show my work in the Kingston General Hospital.  The 1st was Tim DeRose in Sept/Oct.   

Apple Tree - oil on panel - $95

My 15 painting solo exhibit will be open to all from Nov 7 - Jan 7 in the Kidd 1 corridor at KGH; which is  just about the busiest hallway in the hospital:)  That makes me very happy...because maybe my work will bring joy to someone's day, be it a staff member, a patient or a visitor.

KGH has permanently installed excellent lighting and a great new hanging system in the hallway.  The art committee who selects the artwork has been very helpful in choosing works for this show, which is a good mix of my larger works mostly consisting of landscapes, rural and urban themes inspired from the eastern Ontario region in which we live. 
Three cheers for Kingston General Hospital in taking this great leap to bring art to all within their hallowed halls!

gooey, squishy impasto

work in progress - oil on wood - 20 x 28

I had some fun building an impasto background of subtle tinted whites, cutting around blooms and streaks of drippy paint.  Sometimes I used a rag to spread the paint, sometimes a knife, sometimes my fingers or a brush. This one's not on canvas, it's on cradled wood panel...retaining crisper lines, brush/knife work than when I paint on canvas .  I smear it with my gloved finger or with a cloth when I want less deliberate edges. I'm working on 3 rose paintings at the same time, trying out different surfaces. Working intuitively, for a looseness, a little bit messy...heh. heh.

Today in Vermont

Fall Colours - 6x8 oil on panel

I'm on the last day of my Vermont interlude, on the road home tomorrow. Lucked in with sunshine for 2 full days and had a great time hiking the forest trails, hanging with girlfriends and painting too. I didn't paint outdoors cuz the wind was crazy, but I was happy to make 8 small panel 'starts' from the comfort of the chalet east facing picture window.  The blue hills create a dynamic contrast against the fall colours. These panels will no doubt evolve a bit more when I get them home to the studio, will probably work into them again.  The colours on some of the trees are gorgeous, though the majority of the leaves have already fallen.

roses

 Treated myself to a gorgeous bunch of roses on the weekend, which became inspiration for some canvas's  on Sunday.  oh my the smell of these under the warmth of the studio light is luscious.

Roses are so cliche` in art, but how can one resist painting them? 

Gallery Road Trip

Some of my work on display at Gallery on Gore, Perth

Oh, Autumn!  You have bewitched me again.  
Today I set out on a one hour road trip to the town of Perth, Ontario for a visit to Gallery on Gore with the purpose of delivering new paintings.  


Usually I listen to CBC talk radio as I drive along, but this morning was sunny, bright and so spectacular, I wanted to be right in the moment and soak it all in.  Switch off that blathering radio and be mindful!
Canadian shield granite outcroppings among the myriad of fall color, luscious. I ended up taking a detour because of roadworks, but never mind, I traveled down roads never explored before.  I'm glad I could enjoy it today; I heard lake effects snow might be in the forecast for the weekend! ugh.

Johanne, hanging some of my work

Gallery on Gore is a lovely little gallery on the main street of Perth, Ontario.  Gallery owners Johanne and Kevin are professional and enthusiastic about the art, which is such a great feeling for an artist. I also think it's a super important quality when it comes to selling art.  So many people are intimidated entering galleries,they need to feel welcomed when they do.  No problem at Gallery on Gore, it's a friendly little place!
I was happy when they chose 8 of my paintings to restock their inventory of my work.

There used to be an empty storefront next to them when they first opened a few years ago, but now the Perth Picture Framing shop has moved in...perfect neighbor, I'd say!

Ride to Work

Ride to Work - oil on canvas 18 x 14"

This painting sprang to life last week.  I was feeling out of ideas of what to paint.  When that happens, I like to go digging in the many folders that contain my own photo resource collection.  I'm not a great photographer, but I can aim and click like the best of them when a light pattern or atmosphere inspires me.  The morning light spoke to me in this one.

original photo, and line sketch for painting

I am a lazy painter. I do not love drawing. I love to paint. BUT, when there is a lot of architectural stuff I do need a guide before I get all excited and lay in the paint.  I cheat.  Yes! I use tracing paper and a sharpie, but I try and keep my copy looser than the actual photo. Basically I grab the main lines and do a quick value sketch.

I stained my canvas with a thin mix of vermilion. Up-scaling the  line sketch with thin alizarin paint onto the canvas (ssshhh, dont tell anyone but I use a light box to do this, because as I said before, I'm impatient, I dont like wasting time drawing, somehow it kills my passion to get to the painting).  

yay! almost painting... but first I'm going to choose my palette.  I mostly choose lively high key pigments... two reasons, I want a light mood to my painting, and I want to play around with colours that I'm less familiar with so I feel like I'm learning something as I go. Learning = more fun!
Here they are:  warm white, indian yellow, cad orange, violet, cobalt teal, cobalt blue, vandyke brown.  I know, I know! wierd, eh?  ha ha.

Blocking in the darker values and lighter values, sets up a push pull kind of thing right from the start.  I like this push- pull, it's what artists refer to as 'a dialogue'.  For me it's the most fun part, because it allows the freedom for interpretation and individuality.  The vermilion creates a nice base for the other colours, as it seems to harmonize them as it glows through the thin paint. 

I begin to analyze the painting...  Here, I felt it might be more interesting with the addition of some life. Like what, I hear you ask.  Maybe a dog walker? Some birds? A pedestrian?  I decide maybe a student on a bicycle...after all, this neighborhood is close to the university, and I'm into bicycles lately. ha ha.

This one is 18 x 14 inches on canvas.
 

Summer Marina

Summer Marina - oil on linen - 18 x 14 - $450
click here to purchase

Finding a painting subject can be a  battle for me, so I settled in this week to utilize some of the many  resource photos that I took this summer.  There was one of the marina, which kind of suggested I give it a go, so I got busy.  All the boats and reflections did a number on me and I was really losing my way, so I decided to accentuate the lateral design aspects of the scene.  That kept the process a little more interesting to me, gave me a little room to play; venture down some un-travelled paths.
I made a point of going down to the Agnes Etherington public gallery yesterday as the Hart House collection is on view, and it's luscious... a good sized collection with about 30 odd works, there's some lesser known Lawren Harris's and A.Y. Jackson's.  There is also an interesting little exhibit of Carl Beam's and Ulrich Panzer.  It was a great little interlude for a painter on a rainy Tuesday.

Foot Down, and Ready To Go

'Foot Down, and Ready to Go' - oil on linen - 18x14"- SOLD

I'm happy to post an image of my most recent painting commission, as the owners came by yesterday for the 'unveiling' and to pick it up. Happy to report they really liked it.  It was commissioned by a friend whom I hadn't seen in about 30 years, as a surprise gift for his partner.  I was delighted to oblige. Both of them are avid cyclists.  The painting was created from a supplied photo from their recent cross Canada bicycle tour.  It shows Helene checking the traffic in her mirror and about to push off on a highway climb through Ontario.  
Yesterday they were in Prince Edward county doing a 100km bicycle tour.  On their way home to Ottawa, they stopped in at my little porch gallery...although we kept the surprise, Helene did catch on that something was up when they made the detour to my place.  As soon as she saw the painting hanging in the gallery, it all became pretty obvious!  They both were happy with their new painting.and we enjoyed a nice cup of tea and a catch-up.

Great Grandad's palette

A few weeks ago while outdoor painting I gave my great grandfather's palette a whirl.  A compact little mahogany one, it's perfect for packing light.  It's been hanging on the door of my studio ever since I inherited it from my mum over 25 years ago.  I don't know if mum actually ever used it.  It's been my practice in the past to use disposable tear-off paper palettes for easy clean-up, but a painter friend gave me a tip about using steel wool with a little solvent to remove dried oil paint, and it works like a charm.

Sunny Break -oil on panel 6 x 8"

I don't mean to sound all "whoooowheee..." or anything but there was an energy in that palette!  YES.  A sort of mental connection.  The whole time I was painting I thought about my great grandad.  What inspired him? How often had he actually got to paint for pure pleasure?  Let's face it, life wasn't a breeze in rural Lincolnshire back in 1880.  A day's living would have been a lot of hard physical work.  But for some of great Grandad's life, he did work as a restorer of art...paintings of antiquity...BUT I'm guessing that's not all he did to make a living. I wish my grandmother were still alive so that I could ask her more about her dad.

I never knew him, but somehow I felt his spirit around me while I painted that day.  He would have been pleasantly enjoying the surroundings, I'm sure he never made it to Canada in his lifetime.  I think I felt what he might have felt as I worked.  That pure pleasure of manifesting my landscape observation with a few gobs of colored pigment.  No technology anywhere, just the same little palette 125 years later.

Art Noise for Kingston artists

Very happy to spread good news for Kingston artists: Kingston is getting a new art supply retail shop in the same spot that Wallack's used to be located on Princess Street.  ART NOISE will be owned by Tri-Art, a local art paint manufacturer based here in Kingston. On Saturday I was downtown and while there I happened to notice the sign posted on Wallack's old store window, which says ART NOISE will be opening at the end of October.  They will also carry other art supplies besides their own products such as canvas, boards, paper, encaustic supplies.  Super happy that we're going to have an art supply store again in downtown Kingston.

plein air & studio

Sunny Shop - oil on panel - $95
click here to purchase

Some of my panel paintings begin life as plein air studies.  Often there is something that catches my interest enough to start a little painting but when I get home, and put them up on my shelf to dry, I'm not always enamored.  In the excitement of interpretation I get clumsy (especially when painting straight lines) What I often think looks fine in the field, is pretty lack luster back in the studio. Maybe it's because I get caught up in all the other stuff that is going on outside (birds singing, people passing by, wind, bugs) and I'm not as focused on what I'm creating, tending to just lay down what's in front of me, without really asking myself what could make it sing.
 

This little painting, 'Sunny Shop' came together in the studio for me this afternoon.  Here's (left) how it used to look...an abandoned shop in small town Ontario on a hazy afternoon. That's more or less how it really looked, but as a painting, it wasn't really speaking to me at all.

Maybe I could tell a little story? It would be a fib, it's true, but so what.  The idea of a friendly open flower shop was way more fun than the blah boring empty storefront.

Chair interior and a visit to Toronto

Reading Chair in the Morning - oil on canvas - 36 x 30
$900 click to purchase

I'm pretty happy with how my reading chair painting came together this afternoon. It's the first larger painting of this theme(I did some small 6x8" size  interiors before when I was in Florida on holiday) but this is on canvas, and it took more time to figure out. My artist friend Sarah came by last week, it was nice to have her perspective at the point where I was flailing around a bit. ha ha. It confirmed my thoughts, helping me to find a resolution.
I didn't know what category collection to put it in on my website.  I stuck it in with the floral paintings for now.  I can always start a new collection of 'interiors' if I do others, which I'm sure I will as time ticks by.  I enjoyed finding a balance between hard and soft edges while suggesting the forms. What was on my palette for this one? Cerelean blue, cadmium orange, vandyke brown plus white were the basis for most of the painting...I think the ground was a red/pink tone. I used to use burnt umber  a lot when i wanted a rich dark brown, but these days I'm really loving the transparency of vandyke brown.  I love this corner of my kitchen, can you tell?

Jane and mum at the aquarium

I just got back from 2 nights in Toronto; woohoo! A perfect chance to get in some special mother/daughter time with my darling daughter Jane (Janie-bear). We went to visit the aquarium, which was spectacular, even with the crowds.  

Jane in the control room

Jane's an associate tv producer on CBC's Dragons Den, and as the aquarium is close to the CBC building, afterwards she took me over to where she works; it was thrilling for me to get the grand tour of where it all happens...production studios, control room, Jane's own desk. 

As a mother I had a few teeny weeny nostalgic thoughts...after all it was Labor Day, (typically the day before a new school year starts here in Canada) and I was getting a tour of my daughter's workplace.  A little poignant for me, but very satisfying too...as a mother our job is teaching our little birds to fly, and it's gratifying to see them finally do so.  Hope you don't mind a proud mum's millions of pics! ha ha.

one of my fav galleries - Bau-Xi

giant thimble, buttons
on the street
in the fashion district

Next day was shopping and some gallery visits.  I was on foot, and it was hot(32 degrees), but I managed to cover a lot of territory, checking out old haunts in the fashion district and some art supply shops too.  It was a relief to get off my feet for a while, and indulge in afternoon tea and macaroons at the espresso bar in the Art Gallery of Ontario after 2 hours of exhibition viewing!

Here's a Lawren Harris for you...not his iconic northern landscape, but a beautiful urban Toronto winter scene...that master of design!
 

Fishing Anyone?

'Fishing Anyone?' - oil on panel
12 x 16 inch - $400

Another painting from the plein air painting weekend workshop a few weeks ago.  It's been in my studio on the shelf since then, waiting for a little time to consider what it might need to bring it to completion. It didn't take much.  Originally the darks/lights in the water reflections were a little jarring, so I worked on transitioning them a little smoother.  A bit of concentration on edges seemed to take care of it.  I was careful not to barge in like a bull in a china shop; because I really didn't want to destroy the spontaneous brushwork I had achieved which seems to be a hallmark of when I work outdoors. I used this limited palette: cerelean, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, indian yellow, cadmium yellow pale, white, and a tiny touch of cadmium red light. I was painting on a cadmium orange ground on the gessoed panel.

gallery sale and Fine Art America site

Wine Tour - 36x36 oil on canvas - SOLD

Happy news! This painting sold at Wellington's SIDE STREET GALLERY recently!!  uber happy; that's me!    I completed it after an autumn wine tour of Prince Edward County, and it was quite a departure for me at the time. I painted it about 2 years ago. Working in a semi-abstract way and letting my memories and intuition guide me I felt good about it, but wasn't sure how it'd be received.  I guess all us artists think like that when we venture into new territory.  I figured the best location to exhibit it would be within Prince Edward County as that was the inspiration for it...I guess i was right! woohoo, it's a good feeling when that happens.
Anyway yesterday it was time for my annual visit to Wellington. I picked up some work and brought in 3 new pieces for Paulette; I was happy she really liked the new ones too, so fingers crossed they do well for her.

An artist friend told me about the website Fine Art America. He says he does quite well selling his work from there. It is a website for artists and photographers that want to reach a larger audience for their artwork. FAA also makes money on selling artwork prints and other products by their member artists. I joined for free. I have 25 images on there(that's how much space you get for free; it costs $30 annually if you want to post more images). I figure I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes. Go here to see my stuff.

extended hours plus painting cozy subjects

work in progress - oil on canvas

Great to get back into the studio this week and mess it up!  I'm working on a commission for an old friend at the same time as finding my way with this 'interior' piece.  I've been enjoying it immensely.  Mixing lots of paint and applying it mostly with palette knife and rags, brushes, or just about anything that might create some 'music'. Earlier works of mine were painted very smoothly, but increasingly I am attracted to the vitality created with interesting paint application. I experiment with this in my abstract work too. There's something sort of cozy, about painting interiors as subject.  Many a happy hour has been spent sipping tea,reading/ looking out the kitchen window from this chair; I can see my perennial bed from it nicely too. Garden planning starts from this chair in early February. heh.

I've extended my Gallery at the Porch Door's open hours! Usually I close the gallery at the end of the summer but this summer was rather disrupted with house showings, so I've decided it's worthwhile to keep it open a little longer this year.  Visit the gallery Wed-Fri 1-5pm throughout Sept and October!  (email or phone outside of those times and I'll happily open at anytime preferable to you)
  
I'll be showing some works in the James Brett hair salon(764 Gardiners Rd location) along with artist Heather Lovat-Fraser for September.   
In October and November I'm having a solo exhibition at Kingston General Hospital; 10 large size works!  It's going to be a busy fall!  
I'm unsure yet if I'll be teaching this fall.  I've put a notice on my website under the heading 'Studio Classes' suggesting people contact me if they want a class or workshop instead of me scheduling. We'll see what happens.

flower market district

Chelsea Flower Market - oil on panel
12 x 16

I'm calling this one done. Well not exactly...I'm actually calling it 'Chelsea Flower Market', heh. While painting, as it developed, it reminded me of the flower shop district in New York.  My friend and I wandered through it on our way to the Chelsea Market one morning while visiting the big apple back in March. Quite a hubbub it was, flowers everywhere; vendors and clients milling about taking care of the day's flower orders.   
This is one of those paintings that I let myself play with. I got bogged down halfway through and had to let it percolate for a long while.  The addition of dark shapes in the background got me going again when I was stuck. (thanks Wendy!) I didn't know quite what I wanted or where I was going with it, but I was okay about it. Overthinking can spoil the exploration process.

 

plein air weekend painting workshop

Water's Edge - oil on panel

What a hoot! It's been ages since I went outdoor painting.  BUT this weekend i busted out the bug juice and sunscreen and joined in Phil Chadwick's 'plein air painting experience' weekend workshop.  What fun!  We were a small group, but enthusiastic... keen to 'give' er all we got'.  It felt good to get out there with the birds singing and the water lapping at our feet.  Phil is a scientist and a weather forecaster, as well as an artist, and he gives a good workshop.  Funny stories and entertaining punchlines add to the flavor of his art sharing process.  

Phil painting

I tried to step outside of my comfort zone, experimenting with the process of 'one stroke and leave it alone'.  Quite a challenge for a 'soft blending' girl like me, but by the end of the weekend, I was pretty happy with my efforts on this painting of the water's edge near an old boat-shed on Charleston Lake.
VERY tired when I got home; but satisfied  too. These lovely painting spots really whet my enthusiasm to get out there in nature and give it a go a bit more often.  Totally enjoyed this little painting experience, perfect little present to myself!

Home again and painting, jiggety jig

Just back from a trip to Victoria for 9 days, and feeling rested and ready to paint again.  Thank goodness.  My arm and hand and fingers that were giving me aches and pains the month before we left have settled down again.  This morning I spent a few hours getting a satisfactory start on a large 'interior' painting of my favorite reading spot in the kitchen.  Maybe I'm feeling a little nostalgic about our eventual plan to move from this house, so  feeling like i want to paint what I love about the place.  It's still a work in progress but you can see how it's developing on the easel.  I've mixed up huge amounts of paint and laid the majority of it in by palette knife so far, a good way to get the paint on when working large.
On the other wall of my studio hangs a new 24x18" abstract painting.  I've titled it Solar because that's what was on my mind while I was working on it.  Near the window you can see another, smaller work in progress, it's a flower market painting that I glazed and added dark background shapes to.  I will be adding a few details and accents to it after it's fully dry.
 Sat & Sunday this weekend I'm attending an outdoor painting workshop with Phil Chadwick.  We'll be meeting in the village of Delta Saturday morning and somewhere else on Sunday morning to paint all day outdoors.  I'm really looking forward to it, it's been quite a while since I've been painting en plein air and the weather looks promising too which is great.
The photo on the bottom is a glimpse down into 'Fisherman's Wharf' which is located in the Victoria inner harbour.  A village of floating houseboats and restaurants, where you can eat your fish taco while watching the seals and otters swimming by.  Fun!

Fisherman's Wharf, Victoria, BC