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!

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.