Blog Notes

Silver Lining

Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

6"x6"

Yesterday and today I've been quietly hiding out in the studio as our main bathroom is undergoing a major reno that is long overdue.  We finally bit the bullet and went for it as the poor thing was simply falling apart.  Doesn't help in the least that the girls feel the need to not pull the curtain totally across when their showering....water all over the floor...rot...but today's not the day I've chosen to rag about the girls.... that could be a very long post  in itself and better left for another day.

Being holed up in the studio has in many ways been a blessing as I've really gotten a lot of new work either in progress or completed.  I'm currently working on a  36"x12" that is coming together nicely and which I'm really loving but you never know...the minute the paintbrush hits the canvas next that could all change.  

I received an email from the Matilda Swanson Gallery yesterday in Blue Mountain as they are interested in representing my work.  For the past few months I've been looking for a gallery in the Collingwood area and perhaps they'll fit the bill.  Were just in talks right now so we'll see what happens..........

I have this long range plan that I've devised in my calculating little mind in which I am represented by a gallery in Muskoka (Silverbridge...check), a gallery in Missisauga (Village Gallery...check), a gallery in Blue Mountain (Matilda Swanson...maybe...remains to be seen), a gallery in Toronto (would love to get into Art Interiors as it's one of my faves) and and of course a gallery in Vancouver (no leads on that to date).  So I feel part of having it come to fruition is putting it out there and I guess I just did that didn't I?  

Fabulous Opening of Bloom at The Village Gallery

Big, big thanks go out to Alison and Megan for such a lovely opening at The Village Gallery on Saturday. The attention to detail was so impressive....everything from the fresh cut flowers to the extraordinary treats provided by Raw Aura.  

Last week I had sent down jpegs of my three newest pieces which are mixed media on canvas in the hopes that they would agree to take them,  as the new work is a departure from what I have been doing in the past and happily enough,  they loved them and yes, will be carrying them in the gallery.  They will be photographed and hung this week.  

Ran into an old friend from high school and a few of her friends that she had brought along and we all went out to lunch with my sister and brother in law.  We decided on Raw Aura just because the treats at the gallery were so amazing .... we weren't disappointed.  Highly recommended.  Here's three of the desserts we ordered and split....

Chocolate Avacado Cake...my fave

Strawberry Cheesecake without the cheese

Some Banana Chocolate Thing...good

Unfortunately my other brother in law and sister in law arrived about 15 minutes after I left the gallery so I didn't get a chance to hang out with them which is too bad as I always enjoy their company.  I heard from Gregor that Megan gave both of their kids a freezi ... now that's a great gallery...prepared for anything.

Check out The Village Gallery for more photos and yes, I am in one of them.   I'm the one wearing the red jacket holding a water botttle

Bloom Village Gallery

I'll be there around 1pm

Hope to see you there

Feel Good Friday on a Thursday

Lost & Found

Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

20"x20"

Since tomorrow is going to be a busy one for me I thought I would post my "Feel Good Friday" today and perhaps call it .........  I'm honestly at a loss for "feel good terms" as it's far too early in the morning for the brain to be on full power.

If your around this Saturday and are looking for something to do why don't you come on out to the Village Gallery in Port Credit and take in the Bloom Show.  It runs from 10 am to 5pm.  I'm going to be there eating some goodies and checking things out.  

The movie I've chosen today is called "Paper Man" with Jeff Daniels and Ryan Reynolds.

Completion

Fading Rituals

Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

6"x6"

This piece was finally completed as of very early this morning mostly because it was the first thing that popped into my head when I woke up.  I left it on the easel last night feeling it just wasn't sitting right with me which isn't a great way to end the night because then I just can't seem to stop thinking about it.....memo to self  "crack open  The Power of Now"....which just happens to be one of my all time fave books but that's a story of another day.   Anyway, everything clicked this morning after my second cup of Early Grey and I'm a happy camper.

Check out "1000 Awesome Things"  #522......I just loved today's post mostly because it fit me to a tee.

New Work in Progress.......On The Easel & In The Studio

Work in Progress
Blind Faith

Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

12"x36"

So even with the best of intentions the studio has once again fallen into a pit of total mess and disorganization.  My paints are a disaster and heaped one on top of the other in a sad and neglected little pile.  Whenever I buy new paints I almost always promise myself to neatly wipe off the tops after using so the paint won't harden and force me to bring out my trusty little screwdriver.  This morning the screwdriver is back on the table.  Such a waste of time to have to try and dig through the hardened paint to find the fresh stuff.  Think I'll carve out an hour today and just get it done instead of whining about it.

Kesha Bruce has a great blog post this a.m. about working big..... her experience meeting with a gallery owner interested in big work.  Rather ironic because the last few months I have been exploring what it is to work big or should I say bigger since a 20"x20" seems pretty daunting to me right about now.

Work in Progress

Lost & Found

Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

20"x20"

New Art Connections............

Love, love, love this tree.  It sits just down the road from my kids old elementary school and everytime I drive by I always wish I'd had my camera.  I've been playing around with ideas for how I'm going to put it into a piece so I think come tomorrow I'll have things cleaned up enough in the studio to begin.


Saturday I was checking out one of my fav sites which is Art Interiors, a gallery in Toronto that I simply love, when I came across an artist's work that really resonated with me.  Found her website and then her blog and dropped her an email.  If I come across an artist's work that I really like I always email them. Maybe I'll get an email back or maybe I won't but that's not the important part..... I personally feel that I want to express my appreciation and enjoyment of their work... just another quirkly little thing with me.  Her name is Rita Vindedzis and she did send me back a great email after reading some of my blog and we couldn't get over how much we have in common....both have teenagers, both in the arts, both are cat people, like Starbucks, live in Toronto (she does, my hometown) and strangely enough...have both had our work on Cityline.  Weird how things sometimes sync up like that.  Check out her blog..it's a good one.

Feel Good Friday

Seeing that's it's Friday I thought I'd leave off the week with two new "feel good" things I've just recently come across.

The first is Neil Pasricha's blog 1000 Awesome Things.  My new favourite and a blog that makes you realize no matter how busy you are...life is moving on...take a moment and appreciate all those small joys that make up your life.

The second is a new movie called Looking For Eric.  Watch the trailer and feel your spirits lift.

Have a great weekend....

New Work

Ancient Voices

Paint, Wool & Silk on Stretched Canvas

16"x16"

New Work Too

Clouds

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

The Village Gallery Spring Show

If your around the area on April 24th,  please drop by the gallery to take in beautiful art and eat some amazing organic snacks by Raw Aura....  at The Village Gallery...

On a side note:  to all your Lost fans out there...loved the whole parallel universe thing last night between Locke/Desmond.

R&R

Yesterday was the last day of a long weekend of work so I treated myself.  Sat on the deck at the end of the day and enjoyed a fabulous glass of red, watched the sky...which happens to be one of my all time fav things to do.

Just me, myself and I, oh, and of course Simba

Gallery Opening

Headed out to The Ridge West Gallery tonight for the opening of their show "Create Joy".  Both John David Anderson and Sue Miller will be in attendance.  Extraordinary Jackie is catering so perhaps I'll eat enough snacks so that I won't have to make dinner tonight......

Last Eggs Standing

Glad this weekend is over and done with as my body couldn't take anymore chocolate.  Not that anyone was stuffing it down my throat or anything like that, oh no, I was totally in control at all times and that is where the problem lies.  This is the last small basket left and I have now given it away just in case the temptation rears it's ugly head sometime today... that kid from Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory has nothing on me.

All in all it was a good weekend though as John's family came for the day on Sunday and what a gorgeous day it was.  We were able to sit outside and simply bask in the warmth and the sunshine.  I can't remember an April 4th that was 26 degrees C.

On the art front I'm working away and have slowly steered away from painting on cotton and am doing much more work on silk.  I like the way the paint flows across the surface and creates extremely interesting patterns without any help whatsoever from me.  Rather like it has a mind of it's own and I've been generally quite pleased.  My friend Sue Miller  has an opening this Friday night at the Ridge West Gallery so I'll head out to support her and am excited to take a look at her newest work.

Oh, and for anyone out there who watches "Lost" what a great episode last night. I think the series may  slowly be coming together as the whole alternate universe thing is quite exciting.  I've loved Desmond right from the start and the way he goes around calling everyone "brother" makes him all the more endearing to me.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, Passover or whatever else your celebrating....have a wonderful holiday weekend,  and yes, I know I posted this photo last year at this time but what can I say.....I'm a freak when it comes to Winnie The Pooh.