Seasons Change

Here we are ...the last few weeks of summer. The sun is infact shining . It is a beautiful day. I hear the bluejays , the geese are  in formation , bear sightings near the bike path  and snow in Alberta.  Yes it is still summer although all signs point to a change in season. Are we ready? Does it matter? Seasons change. I think that's a song.

 

Temiscaming, QC

I love this time of year. School  is back in session, activities  are resuming, every one is busy and an abandoned art studio is waking up. Somewhat dormant for the summer but  the artist in resident is itching to let loose with the paints.   So I will start back today. I have some commissions to start , but I need to resume paintings that express my own vision

 

Gordon Creek

Temiscaming, QC

     Ottawa River

        Temiscaming , QC

The following paintings of mine are being Exhibited in Repetigny, QQ

         Pink Peony

          Colored pencil

    What  You Don't See: Plight of the Plover

   Colored pencil

These paintings will be exhibited  in multiple venues part of a juried exhibit  for la Vase portage in Mattawa

 Resurgence

      Second Glance

Monarch Flight

 Monarch Flight

This drawing was done many years ago , one of my first drawings with a pen.  This is a stippling technique , which for those that are unfamiliar with the technique , it is dot after dot after dot. I added color to it with colored pencil. This was , at the time, an experimentation  to mix the two mediums.    The pen work was time consuming but the technique of stippling perfect for the subject .

 This is an 8 x 10 acrylic painting with  the addition of rice paper collage .  I must use the same reference or just love the  orange/yellow color scheme.  This is a particular favorite  of mine.

These are samples of adapting the design from my painting to fabric bags, hand painted. 

 Finally I am taking this design and adapting it to this initially plain wooden stool. The stool is in the very early stages but I think it will look quite nice when finished. It is my Friday Decorative painting project. :)

This Monarch has definitely taken flight .

Year in Review 2013

Welcoming in the new year 2014 is a time to reflect on the previous year and plan for the New Year.  I love my time to reflect: we so often forget or not take note of some of the events and accomplishments that should be noted.
2013 was a year of some major personal accomplishments: travelling to New Orleans with a group of very special women, Sole Sisters , to run the New Orleans Half Marathon; running a 30 km race in Hamilton , the oldest road race in Canada; running a special Women's Half Marathon in Toronto and finally  finishing with the Montreal Marathon. The Montreal Marathon was  such a special Marathon for me ; not only my home town but a dream of mine for the past ten years. This is me having finished the Montreal marathon.

2013 was the year for my solo exhibit  : Nature's Gallery: Backyard Perspective . This exhibit ran through the summer at the Train Station Museum in Temiscaming,  Quebec. This was my second year exhibiting work at the Station Museum but this past year was special because it was a solo show.   I managed to exhibit over 35  works of art from some miniature paintings to large scale paintings 24 x 48.

I also had the opportunity to exhibit 

 3 paintings  at the Art in the Park 2013 Juried  art show. For most of the summer these works were exhibited at the North bay City Hall, including:  Algonquin Loon, Belted Kingfisher and Spring Sparrow. 

 I was thrilled to have  received an honourable mention through the people's choice awards  for Spring Sparrow .

In the end of 2012, I opened a Studio in Temiscaming to run some art classes for the Community. They have been well received  and also provides me with a location to exhibit my work.   I have been providing art classes for ages 6-adult  and hope to continue this year. I am planning to work more from my Studio  this year and would love to expand to working with seniors and would love love love to work in the hospital .  Not an art therapist and would never approach as one but would like to use art to assist those who are ill or  living with disabilities  or seniors who are housebound and would benefit from  some distraction that also works the mind and body. My background is physiotherapy so I can see how  art not only works the mind but can also help with fine motor and gross motor skills.

2013 was pleased to sell over 23 paintings, hired to do mural work , started making and selling jewellery,   and for the second year in a row painting  hired to paint windows for local businesses. 

All in all 2013 a very good year.  2014 will be great . Will be working on some commissions, my project Road to Abitibi , which I posted on my Blog  and finish a childrens's book.  

Happy New Year and Happy Painting!!!!!!!!!!!

  

Road to Abitibi

                                                    

 I have lived in the town of Temiscaming for over 13 years. A small town in Quebec bordering Ontario. When you enter the town, crossing the bridge  at the same time crossing the Quebec/Ontario border you are met by a pulp and paper mill, the life source of this town . I have lived in pulp and paper towns for the past 25 years  from Terrace Bay, ON to Whitecourt, Alberta and now Temiscaming QC.  What strikes me is that pulp and paper towns are usually situated in the most gorgeous areas in Canada. I love where I live ...I love the area...my family loves the area..I particularly love love love my own backyard which borders the beautiful rock formations and forests that define the area of Abitibi -Témiscamingue.  I look out my window and at times see a fox scurry through the woods , people have seen moose, deer , lynx  and some have claimed to see a cougar and of course the black bears....most people here have some story of a bear encounter. I myself have had a few and I have had them for lunch in my own backyard , stealing apples from my trees.  The birds that frequent this area are abundant and magnificent.  I am an artist and well how could I not want to draw or paint such rich subjects and glorious landscapes.  As I type now I look out to my backyard and the trees are covered in snow ..not a branch is uncovered. I will take my dogs for a walk soon in the woods to more fully impress this image into my mind and  memories.  But as I look in the yard , although not literally there ...I see the fox scurry through, I imagine the lynx that I am dying to paint yet have not seen my self... I imagine it there hidden somewhat behind the trees.  I look up at the trees and see the owls that I so want to paint....even though not there I imagine them there ..... 

So this is me   but I will tell you another story which will lead me back to this particular story of me  the artist , wanting to encapsulate the imagery of the Abitibi- Témiscamingue wildlife and landscape.  I am a city girl born in the sub herbs of Montreal....Greenfield park....I say it proudly as any Greenfield Parker would do..... I lived at 602 White Crescent...my home for almost 50 years even though I moved away in my twenties.  My parents  were the typical parents of the time...hard workers , loving and responsible parents..and like so many,  then and today, had their struggles...I will always remember  from a young age, when things were tough my Mother would always say.."put me on a bus to Abitibi" ...and saying that very randomly knowing little of the region...It was a place far away...an imaginary place that so many parents want to transport themselves to at some time in their lives...It became a catch phrase for her through out her life...not really serious ...kinda funny .. said at times with a smirk...similar to the expression many of us use today...Serenity now... well hers was  "put me on a bus to Abitibi"......As the years went on, well  don't I move to Abitibi Temiscamingue....go figger.... But my parents were ageing and well never able to get out here to visit....so my Mom never had a chance to get on that  bus to Abitibi...which would have been fitting after all those years...... So back to me the artist....I thought what a way  to encapsulate this rich experience of living in this area....Put these images to canvas....a collection of images that if my Mom were here today, she could feel that she truly took that bus to Abitibi and was able to share those images with me.  So this is my ode, if you would call it that,  to my Mom ....Road to Abitibi. I will do a series of paintings capturing the local wildlife, people and more intimate views of the landscape.  These works will be dedicated to my Mom who unbeknownst to herself inspired them...also my Father who , as a artist himself who never was able to pursue   his hobby...showed so much interest when I started painting later in life..that I  always paint with an image of him on my desk. I think of him when I paint ..I think of him often. So I will work hard to present a striking image of this region ..how I see it.  So before the snow falls off the branches I will get out there and truly enjoy my walk in the woods....and maybe just maybe will see that lynx.

Window Painting

It has been a busy few weeks window painting, commissions, jewellery making,  ornaments, and finishing up with the winter art classes.  I would like to show some of the window painting. I love the window Splash at Crevier a local business in Temiscaming. It is a challenge to do , only in that I have to do it on the outside...which I actually prefer now but weather dictates when it can be done.  I have done it two years in a row and it is done for the holidays..which means I am usually painting in November. Weather is risky ...from rain to ice pellets to snow with sub zero temperatures.  So what are the challenges? ...well one major challenge is  paint will freeze  with  sub zero temps...as well as my fingers  :) . I use acrylics which are water based so makes for easy application and ultimately removal  but will freeze  and if rain hits while being applied will cause the paint  to run off or leave small marks where it has loosened the bond of paint to window (thinning the paint).  So November in Temiscaming...I have a window to paint but I need my "window" of opportunity so I wait and watch the weather station... supplies packed and ready to move at a moment's notice.  Finally the day arrives , designs in hand, paints and brushes packed, layered clothing for the elements and cup of coffee.  I start  with the sketch of the design on the windows . Decide to work with only two windows initially ....I  have three to do... but worried about weather changes..better to have two fully done,  than three half done.  Away I go  sketching with a water base marker that can easily be wiped away.  Design on.... now to paint the black outline....going smoothly ...loving it.  Starting to snow..Anxious to get it done...Pressure on myself as the Santa Parade the next day and would like to have had it done but..alas ...blowing snow dinging the window and any paint I put on,  leaving little marks... decide to abort...mission delayed.  So had to leave with two windows drawn  with black outlines and a few sections painted, but no where near completed..... Now we wait ...next day sub zero temps but a nice day decide to try...haven't done this before (paint below zero) so not sure what to expect...think I know what to expect but not definite...as I suspected paint freeing as I apply to window  so no flow and looks messy ...abort again ...after  only two strokes.... I wait....and wait.....and wait.....

                        The temperature goes up days later...I am ready for the mission ...everything else I am  doing put aside, on hold...dishes, laundry, children, (just kidding) ..school day ...8:30 I am at the window with supplies...beautiful day...and I paint....and paint....and paint. Still not done but fingers frozen and need a coffee...weather getting a little cooler as day goes on....finish the two main windows ...not sure if will be able to do the third..feeling bad...but weather dictates.  No going back must finish...time to power paint....quick sketch..outline and away we go with painting the last piece to a beautiful winter scene . With so little time to spare as the snow is coming with temps dropping, I paint the final brush stroke....sign and leave . The next day temps well below zero....I made it and I love it! 

Pieced Together: Collage Study

Pieced Together : Collage Study

Pieced Together:Collage Study was done in Coloured pencil with some acrylic highlights and some addition of  Rice paper  through collaging. Designed to look like cut pieces creating a look of a very obvious collage. This is based on an original watercolour collage that I previously did. In my previous painting I did in fact cut up a loosely based watercolour and collage to a  another watercolour background and then preceded to collage further with rice paper and acrylic highlights. In this particular piece I drew the images as such in colour pencil  and attempted to recreate the look of the collage. I did add some acrylic highlights and some rice paper threads were added at the beginning and at the end.

Window Painting

Mark the Holiday season with a Window Splash. Great for businesses . Each window can be  customized. I once did a snowmobile Splash for a Polaris dealership. I am presently painting my windows at the Studio and I will post the works in progress. For now this is a Splash I did for  a local business here in Temiscaming.

Studio window painting