Mondays........

Lost & Found

20"x20"

Acrylic on Canvas

Some people view Monday morning as quite motivating, you know, the start of a clean slate, brand new week to make things happen.... I clearly am not one of those people but I've got to kick it into gear as there is laundry to be done, work to be started and finished and the floors need a good washing.  What I really feel like doing is sitting outside with a good book but it's not going to happen today.

Yesterday I was checking in on Rita's blog and she was talking about good books for summer reading.  I think I mentioned a few posts ago how I had finished Elizabeth Gilbert's "Committed" and enjoyed it.  I also picked up "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" only because everyone kept telling how I just had to read it.  I never really like going into a book that way as the expectation is just far too high and at the end it just doesn't seem to measure up but I'm keeping an open mind.

So other than this little pathetic piece of "fluff" I've thrown out there I really don't have anything much to say...apologies all around.

Oh, but I will be heading to Midland on Thursday to take up my work to Carol Currie for the Thunder Beach Show

Fading Rituals

Mixed Media on Canvas

6"x6"

SOLD

This week as far as work goes (the art kind) ...will be a write off. 

 My inlaws arrive on Monday for my daughter's graduation and then leave on Wednesday for Toronto.  Wednesday I start cleaning the house and grocery shop for the second shift as my family arrives on Thursday.  They depart on Sunday just in time for my inlaws to show up for dinner on Sunday night.  Come Monday all goes back to it's usual comforting pulse of silence....o.k. maybe not silence as I forgot the girls are off school for summer break........you'll find me working in the garage.

Things have been slow lately and I'm simply trying to finish up two pieces to deliver to Carol Currie for the Thunder Beach Show on July 17th.  Other than that I've been kind of wandering around doing my best to reorganize and purge my house of "stuff" that seems to have collected in drawers I never find the need to open.  I know there's junk in there so that's why I never open them.    The rain here seems to be relentless and day in and day out it seems rather gloomy.... not good weather when it comes to being inspired..sunshine is my drug when it comes to creativity.

At the moment I'm  reading "Committed" by Elizabeth Gilbert and am really enjoying it.  If you read "Eat, Pray, Love" and think this book will be anything like that..."it's not".  I read many of the reviews on Amazon and thought the people that didn't like it were looking for a sister book to EPL.  This book stands on it's own merit and as far as I'm concerned she's a really good writer.  It's frank and honest and 

gives you a sobering look at marriage as a whole.

Anyway, I'm off.. ..time for a bit of meditation as my practice has been lagging lately

Not sure how much studio time I'm going to get today as "household" tasks are once again getting in the way.  Washing windows,  laundry, washing the floors..... yuck...necessary but still yuck!  Think I may bake some cranberry muffins as well just to treat myself.

Speaking of food, last night I made the most incredible potato salad in the history of potato salads.  I've never been a big fan of the dish mostly because of all that mayo which is far too creamy for my likes.  But yesterday I came across this recipe which had won a "potato salad" contest... who knew there were contests for potato salad but none the less it was "amazing".  Holly even took the tiny bit of leftovers to school for lunch today.  If your interested........send me an email and I'll send you the recipe.  I also made a tomato/avacado/feta salad with maple balsamic dressing which was yummy too.  Have no idea what got into me  but it sure tasted like summer.....

On the art front which is what this blog is supposed to be about not movies and food but I do so enjoy digressing....

Check out Carol Currie's blog for an update on the Thunder Beach Show on July 18th.   Great line up of artists such as Rod Prouse and John Hartman and of course Carol herself who has done an incredible job of pulling this all together.

Movie Thursday

On The Art Front:  Busy working away for Images as well the Thunder Beach First Annual Art Exhibition which opens Sunday July 18th 1-5.  For more info check out Carol Currie's blog.
It looks to be a wonderful show although I unfortunately won't be in attendance.  Carol has so graciously offered to take some of my work up there as I'll be in San Francisco.  I am also meeting with The Matilda Swanson Gallery in June so if things go as planned I'll have representation in Blue Mountain.  Next week I'm headed up to The Silverbridge Gallery with new work and to meet the new owners.  So lots going on!

On The Movie Front:  Saw a preview of this new documentary called Joan River: A Piece of Work and now I feel like seeing it.  Not that I am or ever have been a Joan Rivers fan but I just love documentaries and hey, you gotta admire someone whose 76 years old and still doin it ..........

Cheers,

March Break

March break rolled around faster than I had anticipated and now it looks like it's going to be a  pretty busy week after all.  Both girls are working on and off as am I.  Tomorrow we're headed to the city to look for a dress for my oldest daughter's graduation.....it's almost guaranteed that I'll be tearing my hair out in clumps before the day is over.  The mall makes me crazy!!!!!

The warm weather is still with us and it totally feels like spring is here to stay.  I'll probably not seriously get back into the studio until the end of the week so nothing new to post work wise.  I'm really excited about next Monday as I'm headed to Midland to paint with my friend and artist extraordinaire, Carol Currie.

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.

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............................

Oh What A Night

When I arrived at the gallery I was totally unprepared for what a beautiful job Carol and Stuart had done of hanging the work. I kept thinking "wow, there's my name on the wall alongside two artists whose work I have admired for such a long time". Big, big moment for me. The first people to arrive were my friends Anders and Vivian and shortly after that the fiber arts group I lectured to last month, my friend Kim. It is always so very good to see friendly faces. My butterflys were gone after about five minutes and I was having an amazing time.

John showed up with the girls about an hour into the show. He had been away in the city all week so it was the first time I'd seen him in seven days. Everyday I count how very fortunate I am to have a guy who believes in what I do and supports me in every way possible. Ok, as my kids would say, "enough of that sappy stuff".

Alice and Pamela were probably more wonderful than I had even imagined they would be. So generous and interesting to talk to you. I feel like I've made two new friends. Our three styles of work were so varied that the show was even more visually appealing than I had first imagined it would be.

Around 8:15 Karla Crawford walked in with her guitar in hand. She is performing at the gallery next Friday night and stopped by to give us a taste of her music. We all gathered around and while she was singing you could have heard a pin drop. Her voice blew me away. She only sang two songs but I know everyone there including me was hoping she would do a couple more.

Around 10 pm there seemed to be a bit of a party forming at the gallery but I was spent. All the excitement and six hours of talking had worn me out. My hat goes off to the Carriage House Gallery for all of Carol and Stuart's hard work. Words aren't enough to thank you both. Big thanks to Alice and Pamela for making the show such a success by including their gorgeous work. My friends, you know who you are......you wonderfully supportive people. Thanks also to Alison who has just started reading my blog and came to the opening with her husband. It was great meeting you. Thanks to Liz.......everyone should be as fine a supporter of the arts as you are.

By the end of the night I had sold six pieces. I was a happy girl.

I probably won't see the studio at all today. Laundry needs to be done and the floors have to be washed but I'll be washing them with a smile on my face.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow I'm going to post some of my smaller pieces.

A Common Thread Opening Night

Yesterday I spent about five hours at the gallery with Carol and Pamela Allen. Looking at all those blank walls and trying to visualize how the show would hang was daunting to say the least. My stomach is still doing the butterfly thing but I'm also excited.......I think. John has been away all week in Toronto so these past seven days have been a bit overwhelming. All in all things did get done and now I'm ready. I just dropped off three small pieces for matting this morning to my framer Diane (have I said I love my framer.........I do). The small pieces which I posted on this site are doing unbelievably well at the gallery and the show hasn't even opened yet. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the price point is so good. Makes it perfect for people who have just started collecting art and are looking for something smaller.

The Barn on Rowanwood Lane

Last fall I was picking my daugher up from a sleep over and on my way there came across this barn. It was late in the afternoon and the way the sun was shining it almost looked purple. I stopped the car took the photo and knew I would use it one day. The barn reminds me of the amazing work by my favourite painter Tracy Helgeson and her beautiful barns. I've long admired her work and I do think I'm her biggest fan. Oh no, wasn't that what that psycho Kathy Bates said to James Caan in the movie Misery. Yikes! She's going to think I'm a crazy now. Hopefully she won't read this. Ok, back to the piece as my nerves are causing me to ramble incoherently. The barn, sky and road are painted in acrylic but the trees and grasses are completed in thread.

Sisters

This piece was another inspired by the beautiful greenspaces around where I live. John and I sometimes go walking through the Simcoe County Forest on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of opportunities for inspiration and photos. These two trees seemed to appear out of no where as we rounded a corner but their proximity to each other was fascinating to me. Another piece in which a snapped a photo and knew I would use it for one of my artworks.

Well, let me just take a moment to thank everyone who reads this blog for your kind comments and email messages regarding tonights opening. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. If any of you are in the Midland area tonight between 4pm and 10pm, please drop into the gallery to say hello. I'd love to see you.

I'll be back on the weekend with lots of updates and photos.

Good News

Summer Days
Work in Felted Wools & Thread

Yesterday I heard from Carol Currie at the Carriage House Gallery and she sold two of my pieces on the weekend. Yeah! Sounds like it was just someone who walked in to see the current show and happened in some way or other to see my work. When I did the television interview a few weeks ago they needed some of my artwork for the shoot so I decided to bring it all up and just leave it. I guess in hindsight that was a good decision on my part. Anyway, it is going to feel good going into the show with two pieces sold.........

Paul from the Purple Hills Artist Tour just emailed my artist page which I am quite impressed with. They did a great job. You can see it here

Today is going to be a crazy day in the studio. I am still finishing one piece that must go to the framers tomorrow morning as well as two other small pieces for matting. I have butterflys in my stomach already and the opening isn't until Friday......yikes! Yesterday I attended a baby shower for our friends Andy and Laurie. I spoke with a big group of my friends who are all intending to come out to the opening on Friday night. There is nothing like the feeling of standing in the middle of the gallery and seeing your friends walk through the door. In that moment I truly know the meaning of the word "friends".

Have a great day

Gearing Up

Yesterday I headed off to Midland to see Carol and Stu at the Carriage House Gallery to drop off some of my new work as well as pick up some postcards. We spent some time going over most of my work for the show (I still have three pieces that I haven't finished yet). Carol made great lemon/ginger tea and we sat around in the kitchen talking about the "business of art". They are both tremendously talented and have such wonderful insight and exciting ideas that I couldn't wait to get home and start working again. Some people are just like that aren't they? When you come away from your time with them you feel not only motivated but more of yourself than when you got there. Rather hard to explain except to say, it is just this great energy some people exude.....feels good to be in their company. Once again I am digressing. The gallery is stunningly beautiful. They have really outdone themselves this time. They were both very excited about my work which of course is music to an artist's ears. They also loved the small pieces I just started double matting and selling here. They would like to know if I could have ten for opening night..... Yikes. Looks like my butt is going to be in the studio night and day until June the 5th.

Sleepless Nights, New Ideas, Great Dinner Parties

Last night I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. My head was just buzzing with new ideas and possibilities for work which was of course good just not at 11pm. So as I lay there I tried the "deep relaxation breath"...nope, still not feeling tired after 82 of them. It crossed my mind to try counting sheep but come on.....does that really work? When I eventually got around to trying to visualize the only visualization I could summon up at that moment was me working in my studio so at around midnight I gave up the fight and headed in to work.

I received an email from Carol Currie yesterday at the Carriage House Gallery. A textile collector bought my piece "Two" on Saturday night and would like me to contact her with the possibility of acquiring more work. Fabulous!!!! Carol also wants me to think about either participating in a group show or doing a solo show with the gallery this year. No wonder I couldn't sleep.

I also started thinking about what piece I would enter into the Zephyr Gallery's "International Women's Day Show" which is fast approaching as well as a juried show I'm interested in at the ACA Gallery in Toronto. "Bend, Fold and Manipulate" is an exhibit in which textile artists, through their work, will suggest the possible steps in a plan for how we, today, can be coaxed into turning in a new direction so that tomorrow we learn to lay together and interlace our freedoms to handle and manage and live in global peace. I love the ACA Gallery because of their commitment to change in the world. Much of the commission they collect from sold work goes to support social and egological projects. That is something most of us can get behind.

Next post I'll blog a bit about an "Eat, Pray, Love" dinner party I'm giving for eight of my friends at the end of January. Should be a blast. Whatever you do today........ enjoy!

Where's My Nursemaid???

Well I should have known...... it was inevitable but here I sit with a stuffed up nose, wads of kleenex and clogged sinuses. The kids are back to school, John has left for work so I'm wondering where is my nursemaid???

Everyone flew out the door this morning with a "hope you feel better soon" as I dragged my tired body to the kitchen. I yelled after them "is there any hot tea?" Nothing....just the sound of the door slamming shut. Oh well.........I'll survive.

I've been sketching quite a bit lately as I have some new ideas for a few abstract pieces that will be bigger than what I've been working on lately. Lots of primary colours and a lot of heavy machine embroidery with various threads in gold and silver.........perhaps even more texture as I may throw some batting in too. Depending on how I feel later today, I will try to spend some time in the studio.

Carol Currie and Stuart Leggett have their website up and running for the Carriage House Gallery. Beautiful job....amazing artists.

Here's wishing you a healthy day.

The Perils of Driving in Bad Weather

John took my work to the Carriage House Gallery this morning after I spoke with Stu to let him know of it's arrival. Carol and Stu are just about the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I am so going to enjoy being a part of their gallery.

So funny the other day when I was blogging about my terror of driving in bad weather. Last night I had to pick up my oldest daughter and Kelly's daughter from play practice and by 4:00pm I could see the blowing snow and grey skies and yes, I did begin to feel a tad panicky. By 4:30pm when I hit the highway the first thing I see is a major collision in the southbound lanes. Cars in the ditch, cars smashed up, ambulances, etc. etc. Ok, so now the little bit of panic I was feeling has expanded to full panic. Dry throat, rapid heartbeat ....you know the drill. But I am driving slowly and am saying a mantra to myself "you are a good driver.....just go slow" over and over again, maybe that is why my throat was so dry. By the time I arrived at the school the temperature had dropped and all that wet snow had turned to ice. Yikes!!! It was a white knuckle drive home and extremely silent in the car. A drive that normally takes 10 minutes took 30 minutes. Kelly called when I got home to see if I was alright. I just love good friends especially when they know all your "wierdness" and still love you.

I am back in the studio today finishing up another piece and last night was playing around with acrylic on canvas......

Hope everything is good in your part of the world

I really love this piece. Don't know specifically what it is but something about it makes me feel good. Maybe it's because the photo that inspired it was taken on a great weekend in Toronto with John and the girls. The man reading the newspaper on the steps of the Scotia Plaza on King Street in Toronto just seems so unassuming. The red of his hat sets of the potted flowers behind him so beautifully. The entire piece is completed in acrylic paint except for the folliage which is done in thread. I've been giving a lot of thought lately to selling my work online. I am still thinking about it and haven't quite decided but it does deserve some serious consideration. I would like to reach a much larger audience than I have with the galleries that I am with. There is a whole world out there and I would love more exposure. I would probably only sell small pieces which would of course be framed. I'll keep you updated.

I received an email from my friend Carol Currie and Stuart Leggett a couple of days ago announcing the opening of their new gallery "The Carriage House" in Midland. Carol is an amazing artist as is her husband Stuart Leggett. Together they have formed Claustro in which they create sculpted paintings. Absolutely beautiful work. Since they are both outstanding artists I'm positive the gallery will be wonderful also as Carol has a fabulous eye for design. Anyway, I heard from her again today asking if I would be interested in having some work at the gallery for opening night. Of course, I said yes. John will drop it off on Wednesday and we'll just have to see how it goes. This may lead to being part of a group show or perhaps even a solo.
Hope you had a relaxing weekend