family weekend

Easter weekend is a big deal around here since the inaugeration of the Easter Classic last year.   
What is the Easter Classic you ask?  It's a bolo tournament(backyard game) and we play for a cup.  This year all of my daughters plus partners and inlaws will be here to help us celebrate! I'm excited.  Consequently I've been putting my creative energies into prepping for lots of company coming, so takin a break from painting this week.    
 
Exciting news is Jeff proposed to Holly last night!  woohoo!!!  So when the gang all arrive this weekend there no doubt will be a lot of celebrating going down.  I hope you have a Happy Easter!

red door update

Finito! Emily and I finished our contribution to the Red Door Art Project last week.  I tweaked it a bit yesterday after I got home from Ottawa and viewed it with fresh eyes...this is now the final version...it's awaiting Emily's signature..I added mine to the bottom portion last night. You probably cant tell in the photo, but there is a lot of metallic bronze and silver paint used; for example the piano keys are silver(not white, like they look here) and have a nice reflective quality..as does the twinkling stars in the night sky. We probably should come up with a name for the door...haven't quite solidified that yet...any suggestions?  Hopefully we will turn over the door this week to the Gilda's club office.  I'm not sure how many doors will be in the auction, but I cant wait to see what the other celebrities and local artists come up with. It was a fun experience doing this.

It was also fun being 'vendor for a day' at the Ottawa hospital on Friday, at one of the hospital auxilliary tables.
Holly was just great, helping me load, unload and set up my display, and she promoted my efforts to all her co-workers... I am so lucky to have my amazing daughter in my cheering section!  

My friend AEmilia visited me and brought lunch...deliscious dahl soup and naan bread; that's her in the piccy with me. She is good at sales! wowzie she can work it. heh heh. Thank you AEmilia! My 2 tables were set up outside the hospital gift shop. I enjoyed the experience ...I sold some small paintings and gifts. It gave me a good idea of what to prepare for if I do it another time..perhaps one day in early December, before Christmas. 

vendor for a day

I'll be at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Friday, March 22nd.  I have 2 tables to display  small paintings and gift items.  I"ll be in the main floor area, near the gift shops.  I thought it'd be a great way to show a different circle of people what I do, and market my smaller art items.  It's an initiative by the hospital auxilliary,  and in addition I'll get to see my daughter Holly and my friend AEmilia who is going to bring us lunch.  fun times.  

getting started

Emily Fennell - the polka dot master

Today we got started painting our door!  We are combining themes of interest that represent both of us, music for Emily, art for me.  The music and art is piping out of chimneys and windows, over the rooftops, and under the night sky of a funky little heritage town:) We have a general idea what we want, but the paint and the application of it is giving us surprises we hadn't expected to encounter, like transluscent colours when we need opaque, etc etc.  I'm sure we will make decisions as we progress that we hadn't originally planned...but that's the fun of it. That's Emily applying a polka-dot border, and below making music:)

The Red Door Art Project beginnings...

Tomorrow Emily and I are getting together to work on our Red Door Art Project.  We already met 2 weeks ago to brainstorm ideas and we have a few design sketches figured out to work from. The designs are cartoon like in the sketches, but I want to encourage freedom in application. I think it would be nice to be as expressive as possible. 

polka dots?

Originally we thought about doing a thin checkerboard border to grab the eye...but I'm starting to feel that might be too constrained; so I've been thinking perhaps of trying polka dots instead...I will chat about it with Emily tomorrow when we get painting. We are planning a palette of warm tones, red, orange, purple etc. The door is all ready for us on the easle now.  The back and sides are bright red, and we are going to keep that consisitency in the front borders too.

teaching

While out shopping on the weekend, I ran into a lovely friend and previous student of mine who asked me if I would teach again anytime soon.  It's the second request I've had quite recently.  I answered: "I'm thinking about starting again in September".  She said "or maybe the spring?".  I do understand the request, the urgency.  In it I recognise the same desire to begin something ...joining a class or a group of painters is one of the best motivations for setting yourself on the mission of making time for your painting in your otherwise busy life.  

I considered it again...I went home and seriously looked at the calender and wondered how I might fit it in this spring, but alas... with a 2 week holiday away in April... it just doesn't leave much time. There's my porch gallery to get ready for summer visitors (I open it May 1st)...also....spring gardening consumes quite a chunk of time. And I do love gardening.

So the fall it will have to be...This year, instead of teaching classes in town, I will run them from my home studio. It will be a lot less hassle than trucking equipment back and forth to class. Doing it from my own home studio will mean less students(max of 4) but a more comfortable pace for me.  It will be an 'open' class, in that students can work in their medium of choice; instruction will be individual.

beach huts and a project

Beach Huts - oil on weathered wood - 2.5 x 3 "inches

I do seem a little obsessed with painting these little beachy blocks, but they are giving me a certain pleasure. Less of a time commitment for sure than working on something larger, and I can sit while I paint them.  They satisfy the desire to "create something beautiful everyday" as Deanne Fitzpatrick says.   I feel like I'll never run out of subjects for them either...so much scope has the sea!

Yesterday morning Emily Fennel came over and we put our heads together to collaborate ideas for The Red Door Art Project, something we're working on for a Gilda's Club fundraiser. It was a delightful meeting, she's such a sweet gal, we threw out ideas, gelled some too. Painting a door is different than creating a painting. Basically we want something fun and fabulous that reflects both of our style... is original, but beautiful too; because the purpose is to have someone bid on it at auction. What was easy, was that we had similar visions, pretty much agreeing on what we did and didn't like. Now that we have a concept it's going to be up to me to design it. Emily is going to paint it with me after that.  Looking forward to seeing it come to life...stay tuned, i'll post pictures as we go.  

March on...

March!  Yes...I love this month...it holds such promise.  The spring equinox is on March 20th.  That is also my Holly's birthday. I watched a program on tv last night which explained about the ancient Mayan civilization creating a temple who's architecture lights up in the form of a snake when the suns rays are cast upon it on March 20th.  The temple is in Chichin Itza. 

I am marching along with my beachy house blocks. I'm having heaps of fun with them. Something about the sea...makes me feel like i'm on holidays.  Speaking of holidays...I'm excited because in April, we are heading to Florida...hmmm...more beach resources. ha .

beachy blocks

Three more beach blocks from yesterday. They are tiny, so I'm using small brushes, nothing bigger than 1/2 inch angled, and as small as 3/0 for some of the work.  Tiny brushes never wear very well for me...seems i'm always replacing them...their tips get all bent out of shape. I am taping off the edges of these blocks with painters tape. This allows me to stay loose, because the biggest issue about painting small is the tendency to paint tight. i dont want that. I start each one from a reference, but quickly let it speak to me; changing the shapes, and colours ...I'm after the feeling not the detail.  
I'm listening to Life of Pi on audio book while i painting.  I saw the movie a number of weeks ago.  Then I really wanted to read the book, but knew i wouldn't have time, so audio is the solution for me.  It's well written, enlightening, deep and such an unusual story...really enjoying it.

Update on Women Recreated Project

I just returned from Halifax ,Nova Scotia this afternoon! Had a lovely 3 nights with my darlin' Rachel...she's my middle daughter. It was so great to see her, and really great to miss the wicked snow storm that brought Ontario a fresh blanket of the white stuff while i was away. In NS it was sunny and milder, that's my shadow taking the pic and Rachie walking her dog Asha in the sunshine. 

I just received an email today showing the finished image for the Women Recreated Mosaic Project that I took part in for Queens University. It is sort of nice to see how it is coming along.  I think this is the finished image, but it sort of looks like a few of the squares are still unfinished.  Perhaps they didn't get 100% participation for the project. My image is 5 rows down and 5 across.
It was sort of a fun participation project, although i found it challenging to stick to the theme, colours and basic design layout of my assigned square while at the same time interpreting it in my own style of art-making. 


For me, I find it a valuable experience taking part in local art projects that have a purpose of raising awareness or somehow otherwise benefiting the community. Next month I have volunteered to participate in another community arts related project...The Red Door Art Project...which raises funds for Gilda's club which is a cancer support centre. I will be collaborating with musician Emily Fennell.  Very much looking forward to meeting her and to having some fun with the project.

Part of the process

Getting myself somewhat organized is a bit of a balancing act for me. I dont know about you, but if I let things get too cluttered in my studio i just cant seem to focus at all.  A happy medium between tidy and untidy seems to work best. 
This morning, after receiving a reject letter for an art show I applied for; instead of throwing it out in frustration, i decided to create some files.(yes real files in a drawer...not on the computer!)
I figure after a few years I will likely aquire a collection...my optimistic self thinks that instead of being a negative thing this could actually benefit me positively.  In the same way that I get a certain satisfaction out of crossing things off of a 'to do list', I figure that in time I will look back at this file and see it as a testament to the things I attempted and perservered with,not the rejection that it represents today.

In the meantime I cant wait to paint some more beach-houses...that's the little blocks up there on the shelf waiting. I usually use a 'quick-dry white' plus a tint colour for the painting ground, but I didn't have any 'quick-dry white' ...so i used regular 'titanium white' instead. not a good idea.  The thick ground(applied with a palette knife) is taking just FOREVER to dry...another lesson learned! 
I'm off to Halifax this Monday for a few 'girly' nights with my middle daughter Rachel. woohoo! excited.

Starlight oil painting

Starlight - oil on wood - 8 x 8 inches

Was it last night or the night before? ... I was floating in the hot-tub, the stars above me were so  incredibly bright. I noticed that around each was a halo of lilac, pink and gold.

I had begun two paintings both featuring night skies a few weeks ago, but they were languishing. I hadn't been able to connect the sky to the very dark earth below.  But...after studying those stars whilst in the tub i thought: 'why not play up the halos around the stars in my night sky and find a way to somehow connect them to the landscape using similar tones? So this is what happened here. The effect turned out rather jolly ...and(ahem!, this was a surprise...) a little like Van Gogh's 'Starry Starry Night'!   I'll bet he too, studied the halos around the stars one bright night many moons ago. 

The blue I used for the sky was "Indian Blue" which is a blue i inherited from a friends old paint box when she moved.  I've not used it before. It is very intense, but has good power for a night sky.  I'm happy because it turned a very static solemn painting into one of celebration and movement.

Wineries Tour

Wineries Tour - oil on Canvas - 30 x 24"

'Wineries Tour'  is the product of painting through the filter of  my recollections.  The memories are from a county wine tour we went on in September.  It's a side-step away from what i usually do...but who wants to be usual?  It's been quite interesting working in this way, and I'm sure I will experiment with other abstract work when i get the notion.  I've been interested in abstracts for a while. Fun to see what evolves.

Still life stage and chooks

Dave made me a great still life stage last month!  The design is very similar to the one designed by Carole and David Marine, available here.  Dave had difficulty finding the furniture grade pvc that was suggested, and so used plumbing piping, but it was not as easy to work with, he had to modify it a bit.  I am just delighted! It is quite large and will fit large bouquet's or smaller items. At the moment i like it draped in white(I'm using old table cloths and pillowcases) but i will likely try other fabric draping options. It's opened up a whole new world of still life to me.  I never did much of it before, as i preferred landscapes, but it is a great option for subjects in the studio and i know i will enjoy the ease of setting up a still life and being able to control the light source(always a problem before when i would set a plant in the window and the light would change as i painted).

chooks - oil on wood - 4 x 4 inches each

I didn't use the stage for these 'chooks'. They are an experiment in pushing impasto effects. Impasto is a word for thicker paint.  I've been wanting to create thicker passages in my work, so I thought i'd give it a try here.

beach houses

beach houses - oil on distressed wood - each are 2.5 x 3 inches

Day-dreaming of holidays; painting these teeny tiny beach houses on unfinished wood blocks are the next best thing to being there for me.  I like painting on wood, i prefer it to canvas...but maybe not over linen...i love linen. Linen has a smoother weave than canvas; my brush glides easily on it.  It's why i like painting on wood too, I guess; less drag on the brush. 

I've been waiting for an order of small wood supports to arrive.  Getting impatient, I had some unfinished wood blocks in the studio.  Looking at their texture reminded me of weathered wood. ...Perhaps 'beach houses' could be a theme?  Perhaps a 'distressed'  border around each? ... i think i feel a collection...

Positively primroses

Primrose 1- oil on wood - 4x4"

 Okay... so I broke down and swung into Neils Flowers on my way home from town last week. I wanted to see spring flowers...especially smell them. I just love to step into their greenhouse at this time of year, like entering a new world full of perfect balance...moisture, growth and renewal. I couldn't resist buying 2 gorgeous primroses.  They remind me of England. When we lived in Camberley, Surrey they were always plentiful in January, in the shops and in the gardens.  The yellow ones have the most devine scent!  They are the ones that also grow wild, so they are more true to the original genesis of primrose.   

Primrose 2- oil on wood - 4x4"

Wash Day - oil on gessobord - 12" x 9"

Then I played around with this painting 'Wash Day'.  I developed it from a plein air that i had lying around from our Vermont excursion; one that's been hanging about ever since. With it's angry clouds (that was during Hurricane Sandy that I painted the clouds) brooding, there was an ominous feeling to it, but it seemed vacant. i added the limestone house first, then later the laundry. I might still add a figure... under the long-underwear on the line...but I'm having a hard time deciding if it needs it...any ideas?

Gallery Cafe Season launching exhibition

2013 Season Exhibition

Sally Chupick 
Frankie Lemonde-Meunier 
Vera Donefer
at Mill Street Cafe Gallery

me and some of my works at  the gallery cafe

4400 Mill Street, Sydenham, Ontario, Canada
Ph: 613-376-1533

Feb 14th - Dec 30th  

The Mill Street Gallery Cafe opens the 2013 season with lunches Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 to 2:30pm. On display are paintings by Sally Chupick, Vera Donefer and vibrant mixed media works by Frankie Lemonde-Meunier. 

613 376 1533. 4400 Mill Street, Sydenham, ON.

learning and a surprise

Throughout this week I've been experimenting with acrylics some more.  These 2 are on small wood supports, only 6x6 inches. The idea was to skip a photo resource to paint from; instead pulling subject matter from my minds eye and imagination and go at it in a playful sort of way... i wanted to fool around and get used to the 'feel' of the medium. I didn't really care about having anything to say...basically illustrations to learn technique.  
What's with the sailboats you might ask? hmmm... I really have no idea! I was listening to a program on Thursday night on tvo called 'Art of Germany' (a great show!)and the narrator described the sailboats in Casper Friedrich's art as symbolising 'life's great journey'. heh heh. not quite sure that's the case here! heh.

Something's still gurgling away in my mind on another theme i've been working on though; it's to do with the 'County Tour' theme that I've been working on in my larger oil paintings.  I decided to start an interpretive painting to get to the bottom of it. The only thing that seemed fitting to try and work it out was to work in an abstract manner. And that was a surprise even for me!  So far, I'm liking where it's heading, you can see it hanging on the white-washed doors in my studio. I'll post again when I complete it.

abstract 'County Tour' painting in progress ~ 30 x 24 inches

Gerberra's oil paintings

2 years ago when I quit my job at the framing shop, I wondered if I might partly regret it. I enjoyed the interaction with customers and staff; keeping in the loop about the ongoing local arts scene, friendships etc. Going from an art-related job to running a seasonal small business from my home and secluding myself out in the country to paint, could become a recipe for loneliness. 

Gerberras - oil on wood supports - 4 x 4 inches, each

Time has shown me otherwise.  I cannot believe how the time has flown by since then.  Not one day do i ever wish i still had the job!  These days my job takes more self dicipline...such as showing up at the easle when I'm not in the mood, doing the books when i'd rather paint, marketing etc. But it is hugely more satisfying.  Now, I stay in the loop when I want to. Good friends and art clients stay in touch.

And I read more. That's something I had stopped doing for a long time.  This week I've been reading an art book that is widely well known, but i had never got around to reading before. It's a most fascinating read: 
 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards. 

Display shelf for art shows

The sitting area in my studio

Dave made me a wonderful selection of display shelves in various sizes to display small unframed works for art shows.  He had made one before in a large size which i used in my porch studio gallery, but these are more suitable to small sized works. That's two of them resting on the blue loveseat in my studio.  

I painted them all white so they will fit nicely into the decor of the Gallery at the Porch Door when i do open it up in the spring. I'm looking forward to doing a couple of shows this year.  I found out that i've been accepted into Art Among the Ruins which is a lovely 1 day outdoor event not far from where I live. Of course the weather could be a factor. Anyone have a canopy for sale or rent?