Lake Superior Bound

Me

Tomorrow we are headed north. I've gathered together all the essentials......sketchbook, camera, pencils, erasers, some watercolour pencils and I'm all set. I derive unlimited amounts of inspiration from walking the shores of Superior. It is an unbelievable place to visit.



And speaking of beautiful, I heard this song last week at the end of an episode of Nurse Jackie (which is now one of my favs) and couldn't get it out of my head until I found out who sang it. Two words, the phenomenal Patty Griffin........sorry about the cheesy video but I couldn't find it on you tube any other way.


See you in two weeks

Back At It.........For Now

And The Night Lingered On

Work in paint, thread, wool & silk on canvas

8"x24"

So today I'm finally back in the studio after a week that can only be described as exhausting.

Any week in which I don't have the time or the inclination to create art is, at the very least, a sad week. So I'm kicking around finishing up things until Thursday at which time we leave for the lake. Yes, time to head up to Superior for a bit of sun and sand although I've heard their weather has been somewhat like here.....rainy and cool. I don't care as I'm planning on doing a lot of sketching as well as working on my artist statement and trying to seriously come up with a good marketing plan. I don't think I've been putting everything I've got into what I'm doing and I'm aware that a change is coming. Being north will be a great time to sort things out and find the clarity I'm so sorely lacking these days.

On Saturday I visited the library and took out the bio of Jackson Pollock. It will be one I'll savour while I'm away. I saw the movie with Ed Harris a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it enough to want to find out more about his life and his art. Right after that I read Tracy Helgeson's blog about her much anticipated trip to the Pollock/Krasner house/studio in the Hamptons. She's due to blog about it today so I can't wait to check in.

Working A Day Job

This week I've been helping out in John's office working twelve hour days. By the time I get home I'm fried. No studio time for me I'm afraid at least not until next week. Gotta go and get some rest so I can do it all again tomorrow.

Hope your well........

Disco.........seriously??????

Thanks to everyone who emailed to ask where the hell I was. Yes, I am still alive and kicking but this has been an unusually busy week. Lots of teenage angst, running errands, searching for disco clothes (yes, you heard me right....disco clothes) and helping out in John's office. The only fun part of the entire week (not that teenage angst isn't fun) was being invited to a private screening of "Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince" on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. I've read all of the Potter books and love them. Surprisingly enough I haven't read the final one which I managed to dig out of my oldest daughter's room and will begin reading soon.



So I should explain the disco thing. We have this party to go to on Friday night which is a theme party. I don't like "theme" parties and hate dressing up. Hallowe'en has never been a biggie for me either due to the expectation of a "great costume". I'm sure somewhere deep down inside my brain something traumatic happened in my past to make me feel this way but let's leave that for another time. I was a teenager in the late seventies you would think I could remember what I wore but I honesty don't. I remember the music quite well but the clothing is another matter and who keeps their 70's attire? The best I can do is try to wear something sparkly.......I heard a few people have gotten together to form the Village People ........ come on people wasn't once enough. If the Village People are there you know we are all going to have to stand up and do the YMCA dance......now I'm feeling the angst. I'm sure there will be some Donna Summers and more than a couple white polyester suites aka John Travolta as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever.


I'll report back on Monday with the Bee Gees singing in my head..........

Design Wall

Within A Moment

16"x20"

Mixed Media

As of today this is my design wall...........

Pitiful isn't it?

This bulletin board houses snippets of inspiration that I've come across in various places.....

My photos, quotes I've found that resonate with me, emails or notes I've received complimenting me on my work, various colour combinations I've found in home decor magazines. Amost anything I see that sparks some sort of recognition of future works is tacked up there. For a short while I would post rejections letters that had come from a gallery that I had applied to, thinking it would motivate me to work harder but I ended up purging them from the board.........after I had stomped on them and then ripped them up of course.

I need to remain positive, upbeat and focused. Rejection will always be there but it has no place on my board.

Today I'll take everything down and reaccess it's place. Some may end up being recycled, some put into an envelope as a possibility, some will remain and some will be newly posted. Like a circle...like life. Constant change is all we can really count on.

Note: The above piece will be at the Ridge West Gallery for their new show opening on Friday July 10th.

For Sale here

In the studio today ...............

Saw one of my all time movies last night "American Beauty"..........a cinematic masterpiece. Best ending of a movie ever.

Have to workout also to burn off that brownie (two) that I ate last night. I suck at self discipline.

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..........