Blog

It's less than 2 months before we head off on our big adventure and I've been juggling lots of balls in the air! So far I don't think I've dropped anything--but there's still time! Along with packing up the house, cleaning, getting it on the market to rent, and making travel arrangements, I've been preparing for 3 shows and getting some painting in too! I hope to keep time for painting and have registered for a 6 week life drawing course which runs until December 21, as well. Looking forward to working with models and pencil or charcoal, for a change. Nothing like keeping myself busy, eh?

Here's some samples of what I've produced in the last 6 weeks (and there's more under "new work" in the Images tab of the website)...

I was so happy to have 4 weeks of collaging with a great Vancouver artist, Robi Smith of Blue Lantern Studios. I created 4 collages and learned a lot--some of which will have to wait until we move into our new place in Summerland to continue with, but in the meanwhile I really got a better sense of composition and pattern from the work we did in class.

It was great fun to play with shapes and colour, and delve into Robi's

generous collection of paper-based materials, such as stamps (both postage and ink), acrylic paint, images, and pages from old books, as well as old maps. Then the challenge was to put them together with some sort of cohesiveness. Robi has worked with Nick Bantock, the author of the "Griffin & Sabine" storybooks (highly recommended for both story & illustrations), and has taken some of his slightly surrealistic artistry into her work, & thus into ours.

Then I have renewed my acquaintance ( & love) of working with india ink, both in conjunction with watercolour and alone.

Here's one piece, looks a bit like a watermelon but it's actually a squash that was part of a large collection of autumn squash that my husband brought home for me to paint, & then eat, a few weeks ago. There's a painting of the "Turk's Turban" in the "Images" section under new work, as well. Such an interesting shape they have--a lot more complicated than this one!

The next one (below) is one of a series of two (so far) initiated by a friend who is married to a Swede--she asked me if I ever did birch forests as she wanted a painting of the Swedish countryside--so I did one in watercolour (again, see the "Images" section) & I liked it so much I did another with ink & watercolour.

Look at them both & tell me which you like best!

It's been suggested that I do a series of 4 to represent all the seasons--and I may just take that on!

Meanwhile I've been doing a bit more traditional work including the candle here. I've always wanted to try to paint fire and there was a great demo at the Port Moody Art Association. A few days later I tried out the technique & am reasonably pleased with my first attempt.

I've finished one show already for the fall--the afore-mentioned PMAA 44th annual show was last weekend. I was really pleased to sell two paintings there, amidst several hundred well-done works of art by about 40 artists. This show was originals only, and there are some very talented artists in the group.

Next I'm getting geared up for a large private show next weekend, and then the last sale of the year December 2-4 in Coquitlam--the Coquitlam Christmas Craft Sale, at the Civic Complex on Poirier Street.

Please come and see me there, get your 2012 calendar (some quantity left @ $12.50) and I'll have cards, magnets, magic books (journals and sketching) and lots of original pieces too--framed and unframed. I have a new spot, in a different room, this year, next to my two cousins (a potter and a stained-glass artist) who have been in the sale for years--if not decades. This is the last year for them both, and probably for me too. We're all going to be other places--they've got places in Arizona and I'll have to think hard about whether I want to make the trip down from Summerland next winter. So come on out to see me, before we head off on our next adventure!

Until then, I'll be "Painting Away in the World"...and getting ready to practise the art of globetrotting!