In The Studio

Today I'm going to try and spend half of my time reorganizing the studio and the other half working

Wish me luck....  I'm looking for balance

Things have gotten rather messy again ...

Yuck

Here's what's in varying states of completion .....

How's your Wednesday shaping up????

Road Trip, Delicious Food and a Fab Recipe to Boot!

Saturday we left to visit our good friends Karen and Jason who live a couple of hours from us.  We made the plan while sitting on the beach drinking cold beers this summer and a good plan it was.

Surprisingly enough Holly wanted to come along as well as she's become interested in sewing her own clothes (yes, she now has my machine) and Karen teaches Fashion at at the high school where she lives. The weather called for rain all weekend (they are always wrong... what's going on Environment Canada?) but we left on a perfect fall day.  Holly hooked up her ipod to the car radio and slowly introduced us to rap hoping in some small way we may become converts.. ... no such luck.  She started off with Rihanna & Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie" cause I actually have that song on my ipod and like it but after that it all went down hill.  We both like Adele so we listened to her the rest of the way especially this song.  Her voices blows me away.

On the way we stopped for lunch here....

Friends introduced us to this restaurant years ago and I have never forgotten it.  Unbelievably fabulous food.

Such attention to detail....

Delicious scones.....

I had an incredible tomato vegetable soup....

and the mother of all salads ... I mean where have you ever seen a salad that's a work of art???  I almost hated to eat it.  The dressing was some sort of raspberry vinigrette but when I asked the waiter it sounded like the chef "wasn't in the mood for sharing"

That night we enjoyed dinner with our friends and a delicious Pad Thai and they were in the mood for sharing ....

So speaking of food and recipes, I made this awesome Fire Vegetable Broth Soup with Sausage last Thursday night.  It was from Karen at The Art of Doing Stuff .. she always has great recipes and she makes me laugh too...

Cheers to a  terrific Monday...

New Work

Even In The Quietest Moments.......

Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

24"x 24"

Sunday Stuff

Sunday turned out to be stellar  ... sunny, breezy, gorgeous skies .. the most perfect fall day.

John's fishing plans fell by the wayside as we decided to spend the day doing stuff around the house.  At first that didn't seem like such a fabulous plan to me but I eventually got in the spirit  and enjoyed myself.  We spent a few hours rearranging my studio so I could take my larger canvases (30"x60") and hang them directly on the wall rather than an easel.  Holly's boyfriend was over so that saved me from throwing my back out by trying to help John move the mammoth wooden desk that sits in the corner....

On Saturday we were at the farmer's market and bought a big basket of organic tomatoes...I wish I could say we had planned this out like the good little canners we aren't....but we didn't.  We came up with the brilliant idea that we would make some sauce.  We are strictly amateurs at this point but next year....look out.

We took the skins off with was super easy by just throwing the tomatoes into boiling water for a minute and then tossing them into a bowl of ice water ... easy peasy.  I don't mind seeds so we left them in.

Found a "how to " this a.m. from Karen at "The Art of Doing Stuff" which we may use next year minus the tomato press but who knows.  We may think it's so much fun we'll pick one up for ourselves ...or maybe not.  Will revisit that idea next year.

Over at the Cottage Nest , Jen suggests this delicious recipe from Martha Stewart Living for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares.  Haven't tried it as of yet but Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Make it a great Monday.....

Autumn Has Arrived

As Promised

8"x10"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Work in the studio is going well.  I'm really pleased with the direction in which my work is headed.

I had a great first meeting with Lyn at The Tangerine Gecko Gallery last week while I was in the city visiting with my mom.  She is looking for big work for the gallery so Monday of next week I'll be giving my 30"x60" a go.  Below is the 24"x36" I've just begun.  It is in it's very early stages but as you can see it will be quite dark.

The last couple of days we've been picking apples off of our two trees in the backyard, at least the ones the birds haven't had a chance to peck away at.  They are still a touch tart but I like them that way.  This morning I put a sweater on after I got out of bed ... autumn has arrived.

Monday Morning

Thought I should check in but unfortunately I don't have a whole hell of a lot to say.

I was in the city for two days last week dropping off new work for The Village Gallery and visiting with my family.  It was good times for sure.

One night after a huge helping of chinese food and a beer or two my sister decided to stay over at my moms with me.  We slept in the guest room which has two twin beds identical to what our  room was like when we were little kids.  It felt like being 8 years old all over again as we lay there talking in the dark, laughing and giggling.  Good memories shared.  My sister and I were never very close growing up as we were both so different in personality and interests but as the years have worn on I feel we have developed a relationship that has grown deep and strong.  It is a relationship that comforts me.

Have a wonderful Monday in your part of the world....

Ahhhh Italy

So today as I sit varnishing my paintings I'm dreaming of Italy......

Me & The Buddha

The Summer I First Believed

24"x24"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

I'm doing my best to remain focused today as I've got a lot on the go and feel I'm falling behind.  I spent yesterday rearranging my cupboards and thoroughly cleaning out my kitchen which was an accomplishment but in the end I wasn't standing in front of the easel.

The above piece is either going to go to The Village Gallery or Tangerine Gecko Gallery.  I'm headed to the city next week with deliveries for both.  The Matilda Swanson I will visit sometime in later September and The Silverbridge in a couple of weeks.  

On the way back from Peterborough last weekend John and I stopped at this really cool spot that we had read about in the Globe and Mail.  It is the site of one of the largest Buddhist Temples to be built in North America, if not the largest.  It my take years to complete with the main building being 65,000 square feet.  It will be open to the public.

You can read about it here.

A few photos of the day....

The property is absolutely stunning.  I could see the Buddha's head in the distance which will be part of a stone statue weighing 100 tonnes.  I wanted to get a closer look but the gate was closed with a No Trespassing Sign and I wasn't willing to climb it.  I may have done that 20 years ago but now I'll just be patient and wait until the gates open to the public.