Back Tomorrow

Will be back tomorrow with a full blog post. Trying to get paintings ready for both Carriage House Gallery's group show as well as Ridge West.

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.

Off To Midland

The show is being hung today so I am heading out to the gallery to check it out. Pamela Allen will also be there so it will give us a chance to talk before tomorrow night.
Yes, I'm still nervous.

I'll post again tomorrow morning with a few new pieces that will be in the show.

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

Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is

My oldest daughter came home on Wednesday night all fired up about meeting Craig Keilburger and hearing him speak. She said it was one of the most powerful experiences she had ever had. I knew it would be as I've listened to him before and he definitely is a man on a mission. It was fascinating to sit around the table and listen to her excitement as she described what that day was like and what it meant to her. She met him personally afterward and said he was unbelievably kind and just exuded such energy and passion. So after all was said and done I began thinking about what I could do. Yes, I've bought the "Me To We" book, bought their "Be The Change" t shirts to give out as Christmas gifts, talked about the organization but I guess I feel I've talked a good game but when it comes right down to it........time to put my money where my mouth is.

I've made a personal decision to choose one artwork per show (maybe two, we'll see how it goes) and if that piece sells, the money will go to funding an appropriate project through Free The Children. I'm going to contact them tomorrow and get all the ins and outs on how to make this happen. I would like to have a small card beside the piece for my upcoming show at The Carriage House Gallery, which will inform the potential buyer exactly what the money is going to be used for. A tax receipt will be issued to whomever buys the work also. It is a win/win situation for everyone. For me, for the buyer, for Free The Children and ultimately and most importantly for the people whom the money will help.

I'm getting off my soapbox now............thanks for reading
Hope your well,

My One Small Moment of Fame

Yesterday ended up being much more fun than I had originally thought it would be. The idea of being interviewed on television - one on one- was unnerving to say the least. I say that as someone who doesn't even like having her picture taken. Ten minutes after I arrived at the gallery three of the folks from Rogers Television arrived for the shoot (that's tv talk). The stunningly beautiful, tall, blonde, Trish who was to interview me, Karen, I'm not sure what Karen did I just noticed she carried around a clipboard and wore very dark sunglasses and finally, the cameraman who seemed to know exactly what was going on and who kept calling me Mel.

I was very conscious of how dry my mouth was which always happens to me when I'm nervous. I was also laughing at other's jokes too loud and too often which is another lovely quirk I possess when the nerves hit. The Rogers people were so very kind and generous that once things got rolling (more tv lingo) I was feeling much more relaxed. Carol and Stu hung up four of my pieces and I stood in front of them as Trish interviewed me. I truthfully don't remember much of what I said.......I hoped if I was babbling too incoherently they would just pack up and go home. In the end it all worked itself out in the wash, as my mother would say.

Because they were actually filming a show that dealt with the arts community in Simcoe County and not a news interview, they informed me they had to shoot an intro which was to take place outside. It went something like this:

Trish is walking down Midland Avenue talking into the camera about the Carriage House Gallery etc. etc.

I come walking out to the street and say "Hi Trish"

Trish says, "It's Melody Madden who has a new show coming up at the Carriage Hill Gallery". We do this little acting spiel about the show and she says "Let's head on over to the Gallery to take a look at your work"

We both run across the street and disappear into the gallery. A nice wide shot of my butt running and I'm sure jiggling as well. This was the major "cheese" factor of the whole day. Trish's acting was great.......I looked like a deer in the headlights as I couldn't stop looking at the camera. It was that damn light.....it was like a magnet.

So I guess that was my Andy Warhol "15 minutes of fame". When I got home I found that the cat had puked on the floor in three different spots........back to reality.

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.

A Common Thread

Spring

Some amazing weather has just begun here in Ontario and I for one couldn't be happier. Everyone I run into just seems to be in a better mood seeing that the long, cold winter we've just experienced is drawing to a close.

I picked up my artwork this morning for the Carriage House Show and I just couldn't be happier. Diane took each one out to present to me and I felt the chill start at my toes and eventually work it's way to the top of my head. I just couldn't believe the work could look that wonderful. I'm not going rattle on again about framing as I did that in my last post but suffice to say.........I am one happy girl.

Below you can find the before and after of "The Village". It started out with a plain white mat and a brown wood frame. Here is before minus the frame because I couldn't find a shot of it........just imagine that there is a brown wooden frame around it. The size was originally an 8"x10" but is now a 16"x12". It goes without saying a photo can never take the place of seeing it live.....besides I'm not a great photographer either as you can see by how lopsided the photo is.

Where It All Begins

This is a new piece that is just at the first stage of progress. It all begins with the cotton and the paint. I generally like stretching my cotton onto a frame before I paint it as it adds to the stability of the work........it's not shifting all over the place. I always begin in the background so after the work is removed from the frame I'll begin blocking in the trees that are furthest away from me. They will get worked in thread as well as the background leaves and branches. After that is done I'll spend the majority of my time working on the foreground. I am envisioning lots of tiny bits of lavendar amongst the grasses.

When I was out this morning I picked up some new thread as I am also working on a hibiscus flower for the show in June and surprisingly enough only had three spools of different pinks. Guess pink doesn't come into play that much in what I've been doing up to this point but perhaps the hisbiscus flower will change all that.

Last week Sue emailed me asking me if I stretch my work in a hoop. Yes and no. The problem I've always had with the hoop is how very limiting it is and the fact that I have to stretch and restretch my work depending on what area I'm working on. Lately I've been stablizing it with canvas which really seems to work best for me.

My site has now been launched at the OCC. While your there check out some of the other amazing artists the Council represents.

Update

After days of snow the sun has finally decided to appear and it sure feels good. Spring is just around the corner.
Sunday our friends Les and Victoria (the newlyweds) came by for lunch which John prepared.........I just cleaned the house. Our neighbours Charlie and Joan dropped by around 3 for some dessert. They had wonderful stories to share about their trip to South Africa. All in all a good weekend

The exhibition announcement for "A Common Thread" is up at the Carriage House Gallery.....check it out under Exhibitions.

Must get back to the studio...........

Snow Days, New Work, New Show

Stillness6"x6"Work in Paint & Thread

I have decided to begin selling some of my small pieces online starting with my blog. This decision was something I had been playing around with for quite some time. The artwork entitled "Stillness" is not finished as of yet. The grass as well as some of the trees are yet to be completed but when it is I will post it here. My midsize and larger pieces will still be reserved for my representing galleries and shows but these small ones are great fun and give me a general idea on whether I want to invest my time in attempting a larger piece based on this composition. More to come....

I received the final contract from Carol Currie yesterday regarding the three person show I will be a part of at the Carriage House Gallery in June. Both Pamela Allen and Alice Vander Vennen are on board.....yeah. I have long admired their talent and been inspired by their beautiful artwork.

Today is another snow day here..........the kids are loving it

New Ramblings

Talked with Carol from the Carriage House Gallery today and it looks like we may schedule the show for July. She has spoken with designer Annie Thompson as to her interest and she is coming up to check out the gallery space some time soon. There may be a theme for the show but we haven't gotten that far yet. I have promised 10 new pieces which will be considerably bigger than the format I've been working in lately. Yikes ........note to self.....stop reading about Tom Cruise online and get into the studio more.

Yesterday I was shovelling snow...yuck. I think the older I've gotten the more I crave the warm weather. Fifteen years ago I could never understand how anyone in their right mind would ever want to head down south for the winter........now I can.... but that just may mean I am not be in my "right mind" anymore.

Finished The Other Boleyn Girl last night and loved it. Kelly, Judy and I will make a girls night of it when the movie comes out. I also want to see Juno which is being billed as the little movie that could. Similar to when Little Miss Sunshine came out which I watched three times.
The piece I've posted just came back from the framers and looks great. I love that we went with a black matt rather than the classic white as it just pops the yellows right out of the work.

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