Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Keeping Myself Company

Lately I've been increasingly aware of the fact that I talk out loud to myself, you know like making comments on the differences of the price of pickles while I'm standing in the grocery aisle or debating whether that shampoo that promises to give me soft and silky hair is actually going to...........it never does. Sometimes I catch myself and look around to see if anyone looks frightened while I'm carrying on my conversation and other times I do catch someone standing near me with a confused look on their face. I think there is some sort of saying that makes reference to the fact that it's ok to talk to yourself as long as you don't answer. Guess what? I started answering. Don't have the slightest idea what that means and I frankly don't care. Once I hit my 40's all that trivial stuff ceased to concern me anymore especially what others think. I remember reading this line once and it has always stuck with me........"it's none of my business what other's think of me".....love that.


Back to the grocery store..............Now that's not to say when I'm in the grocery store I don't make conversation with others. If I see someone looking at a jar of olives, obviously debating whether it's worth it........I may put my two cents in if I myself have bought the same jar. I'm trying to be helpful but my daughters being the teenagers that they are, find this totally mortifying, roll their eyes and run to a different aisle.


Although to be completely honest with you, I enjoy my own company. Always have and I suspect I always will. That's the true gift.

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Bounty of Spring

Undecided....in progress
Acrylic on Canvas
6"x6"

I can't believe it's Monday already as it seems like the weekend has whipped by in a blur. For Mother's Day, the girls (I know it was John) surprised me with an IPOD docking station with speakers for my studio. As much as I love my CBC and my sweetie Jian, sometimes it's nice to listen to music cause you know you can't dance to CBC...... at least I can't.


The girls were pretty much out of commision on Sunday as my oldest had a large project due today and my youngest came down with a really bad cold. As John was working around the yard I decided to bike on over to my friend Kellys. We had a beer, laughed a lot and just caught up on the news in the village.

Dinner consisted of a fantastic Butter Chicken dish with basmatic rice and fresh asparagus John picked from our garden. You gotta love the coming of spring............

Note: The above piece will be a part of the Spring Show opening at the Silverbridge Gallery on Friday May 15th.






Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Recap


From Here
Acrylic on Canvas
6"x8"

As you may have noticed I have been throughly absent from the blogspere lately. Not a whole lot to say and I haven't been spending much time on the computer period. So here's a brief recap from last Friday on........cut me some slack I'm getting old and that's as far back as I can remember.

Friday: kids had P.D. day......if I survive teenagers the rest will be as easy as pie. Phone ringing off the hook (of course it's never for me) lots of texting even though they just talked to the person two minutes ago. I finally got my youngest to take the recycling bin to the garage and while she was out there I put the garbage on the stoop. She breezes right past it and walks in the front door.


Me: did you take the garbage out?


Her: what garbage?


Me: the garbage on the front stoop


Her: oh, did you want me too?


Me: no, I just left it there because I thought it made a bold decorating statement.

I then brought out the dreadeded line......."when I was young" and then promptly dug my nails into my wrist to stop myself from sounding like my parents.


Needless to say, by Friday night I needed a nice change so I headed to Midland. The Carriage House Gallery was opening Donald Pettit's new show Natural Paths. It was great to see Carol and Stu again. Here's a few photos

Saturday I spent a bit of time in the studio but most it was taken up by all the chauffeuring I did. Oldest child to job, youngest child to birthday party, oldest child picked up from job, oldest child to friend's house. Note: to self........oldest child must get driver's license this summer.

Sunday was a write off day. It was sunny so I spent most of my time outside.


Monday I drove to Midland to have lunch with my friend and amazing artist Carol Currie. Ended up spending four hours just talking about everything under the sun. Carol is one of those people I just feel blessed to know. Supportive, kind and a true mentor to me. Here is one of her newest pieces that is a commission. Wish I could take a better picture as this is stunning in person.


Tuesday I headed to Curry's art supply. Always a scary move as money runs through my fingers there and I don't seem to care. On the way home I stopped and picked up our taxes. This year I finally got a small amount back which of course I had just spent at Curry's earlier. I've always found accountants and bookkeepers so interesting. I think it may be due to the fact that I suck at math. Never been a strong subject for me and probably never will at this point in my life. All those numbers just make be dizzy. Let's put it this way, I would rather stick needles in my eyes than balance my checkbook. Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit but you get the point.
Hope everything is great in your part of the world.













Monday, April 27, 2009

Weekend Report

Not a whole lot going on that I can report. Spent the weekend in the city visiting my family which was great. Nothing like Mom spoiling you. Yesterday I attended my first Images Tour meeting which ran about three hours. Yes, it was long but we got much accomplished. Looks like it's going to be a fabulous tour.

Now I'm going to go out and look for something fabulous to happen in my life so I'll have
a much more interesting post tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Hazel McCallion

Solitary in Red
Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

Lately on mornings when I am feeling a tad "ancient" I check out Hurricane Hazel on You Tube. It continues to remind me that age is a state of mind and this woman is the perfect example of that.........my new role model. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do.


Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Evolution of Art




Quiet Conversation
6"x6"
Acrylic on Canvas


Over the past few years, in between my mixed media artwork, I've been experimenting with acrylic on canvas which has recently come to the attention of both the Silverbridge Gallery in Muskoka as well as The Ridge West Gallery.


As of next week both galleries will be representing my paintings as well as my current work. I have two other galleries who are interested in the new paintings but I won't jinx it my mentioning them until something has been confirmed.


Although this is an unexpected turn of events for me and a departure from my mixed media work it is exciting all the same. This will not in any way take me away from my first love of working in paint and thread but enhance it, providing me many more ways in which to continue along this creativity journey that I've always had such passion for. Much thanks to all my fellow artists who have supported and encouraged me......... most especially Carol Currie artist/owner of The Carriage House Gallery in Midland. A true artist in every sense of the word.

Sometimes you just never know where life will take you............................

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Annie Leibovitz Documentary


The Chosen Few
Acrylic on Canvas
8"x6"
I'm off to pick up my sewing machine today .................yeah!
Watched a great documentary on the weekend which I highly recommend....
Annie Leibovitz: Life Thought a Lens was an absolutely fascinating account of her life as an artist.