Memories of Canada Day

Another great Canada Day celebrated with family and friends...........

My friend Joe once again piped in the parade.....

Old and young were there.......

Friends...............

We even had a Michael Jackson tribute..........

After all was said and done a group of friends came back to our house for a BBQ and a challenging game of babminton. The younger girls decided to take on what they called "the old guys". Don't quite remember who won...........

A day of which great memories are made..........

Not A Whole Lot To Say

Dimming of The Day

Work in Progress

8"x8"

I had all intentions of blogging yesterday but a bunch of last minutes came up and by 9pm last night I just wasn't in the mood. I guess not having a lot ot say kind of put a damper on it as well. I'm just spending most of my time painting away in the studio and trying to adjust to having the girls home for the summer. Tomorrow is Canada Day and the village I live in never fails to put on a great show. Everything from a parade, BBQ, musical entertainment and a Strawberry Social. You just got to love small town living.

Here's the Weekend

Have a great weekend all! Will be back on Tuesday with small art for sale on my "sales blog" as well as a recap on what is going on in my life/art.......if your interested tune in then. Enjoy the sunshine wherever you are.

Lisa Call

More new work in progress............

Just a quick note to check out Lisa Call's (who falls into the most disciplined artist I know cateogory) blog today. A great post on how people who buy her smaller works display them.

Fabulous post as always........I do not know where she finds the time but I totally admire her.

Summer Has Arrived

Work in progress..............

It seems as if summer has finally arrived here in the Village. I've been hanging laundry outside for the past few days and does it feel good. There's nothing like the smell of clothes that have been hung out to dry in the sunshine. So other than laundry I've still been spending a fair bit of time in the studio. I now have a list (yes, I know I've said this before) of galleries I'm interested in approaching for representation so come tomorrow I'm on it. Nothing may come of it but you just never know.

On the workout front I've been consistent with my strength training.......much thanks to both Kelly who I consider my own personal fitness guru and Jim Karas who I don't know personally but follow his blog religiously. If Kelly had a blog I'd follow her as well...hint...hint. I've been using resistance bands and practicing power yoga in which I'm using my own body as a weight. Both have been terrific for developing strength and I love that!

So I'm off to drive, I mean chauffeur the girls into town and then more laundry awaits and hopefully more studio time. Hope your having a good one.............

Finding Purpose

Today was the girl's last day of exams so they are obviously all pumped up about the fact that school is over until September...........me?.....I'll let you know at the end of the summer. Now I do love having them around because they are good company and pretty cool kids but along with that comes all the driving which I feel quite mixed about. My oldest is supposed to be getting her license this summer but that too, is a double edged sword. I mean I know it's time and she is becoming more independent but now rather than driving her around I'll be sitting at home worrying that she's safe. There is no one more responsible than her and I know she'll be a great driver but I'm not deriving much comfort from that these days. Oh, the trials and tribulations of parenting. I suppose it never ends which is what my mother constantly tells me so I'll have to face the fact that I'll be spending a large majority of time breathing deeply, keeping my fingers crossed and realizing that some things are not under my control.

I need to be more like this guy that I met in the park last week.

He told me he sits on the same bench everyday and feeds the chipmunks. As I was standing there talking to him I was amazed at how many of them were gathered around him. He had names for them also, which some may find strange but I totally get. Jolly, is the chipmunk he's feeding in in the photo and I didn't ask why he named him as such. He said that coming to the park everyday and doing what he did gave him "purpose". That really resonated with me and I thought about it for hours afterward because isn't that what we are all looking for..........something that gives our lives purpose and meaning no matter how big or small............purpose........yeah, I love that!

Work for Images and the Joy of A Maple Latte

Reflection

6"x6"

Acrylic on Canvas, Copper Thread

Yesterday's yoga class has me wishing I was taking another one today. After class I felt so refreshed and ready to get back home and start painting which I did........but not until I stopped at the Blue Bottle for a Maple Latte which was probably one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. Thankfully I don't live in Barrie or I know I'd be shelling out $4.00 a day drinking one. I asked the woman who prepared it for me how it was made and she kindly told me it was two shots of expresso, steamed milk and a shot of maple syrup. Can't get much more Canadian than that.

The above piece is the first I've finished for the upcoming Images Studio Tour. I think I'll do at least ten or so as they are a great price point at $100.00, come framed and most people who've seen them have picked one up. I've taken copper thread and inlaid or collaged it into the ground cover. The jpeg came out much darker than the actual piece is and doesn't quite pick up the shimmer like seeing it in real life would. Work is good and I'm happy with the way it's progressing. I'm almost finished my first 16"x20" which scared the hell out of me at first but I'm slowly getting used to working bigger. The small works are still fun but I do feel the need to branch out and experience what it is to work on a larger format.

Wherever you are in the world today ........... have a good one!