Latest Pieces to be added to Etsy

The dragonfly bracelet has a bit of beach history to it.  A beachcomber's bracelet with stones washed by the sea, green malachite for the seaweed, a wooden bead to represent the driftwood and a bit of crystal bling for the treasures beachcombers hope to find and finally the sterling silver dragonfly that is an ever present feature along the sandy beaches.

This one measures 7" with a lobster claw clasp. $45

A three-in-three sterling silver chain, a faceted
oval stone and a faceted quartz heart with a flurry
of crystals and pearls in between.  7" with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp. $60

Last Commissioned Piece of the Year...

Silver and crystal and pearls....faceted stones and embossed initials....

I couldn't help it.....

A Christmas package arrived and I was good for about two days....and then I caved.  I opened the cardboard box thinking there would be a wrapped Christmas package inside.  But the packaging gave me a hint as to what was inside. (A Jim Shore collectible)  Thinking it was a Christmas decoration I went ahead and opened it and staring back at me was this wonderful frog.  What was truly amazing was that I had

just this afternoon finished painting an adirondack chair to be auctioned off in the Spring in benefit of

the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses).  They belong together!  They couldn't have matched any more perfectly.  So now I either have to paint myself another chair just like this or bid on it myself!

Ahhh, Christmas shopping......

The problem with getting Christmas shopping done early is that you inevitably see improved versions of what you've already bought and probably already wrapped, which is what happened to me this week.

So back I went to return one package and buy another and pick up a few other gifts along the way.

But it wasn't all hardship!  Picked up my daughter for the weekend and passed by this Gelato counter

that is new at our mall.  I have to confess we didn't have any this time but took pictures instead.  Next time I will make time and budget my calorie intake for this!  

On the way home (adding to the sensory overload) was the winter scenery on our road leading into

Hudson....(a great place to live around Christmas time).

 

An Invitation.....

I am taking part in a group show at Galerie Viva Vida in Pointe Claire Village of small format works.

I have two paintings at this gallery.

The first one is a 14" square oil painting, finished on all sides to be hung frameless (or framed if you prefer) of a bowl of pears on my favorite black floral fabric.  And the second image is a 8" x 24" mixed media acrylic painting on wood panel with a depth of 1.5".  I enjoy including paintings within paintings and this one features a mini interpretation of one of Bougeureau's....one of my favorite artists.  The teacup in the front of that image is of one of my Lilly of the Valley teacups and the reason I titled this one "Lillies of the Valley" to include the two young girls in the image.

This exhibit will run until the end of January. 

I LOVE Color.....

Sat at my torch this week for the first time in months and made these simple beads.  I had a tendency to
overwork each bead with various techniques but when it comes right down to it, simple is good.  The glass speaks for itself.

A Fall Still Life

I love this season - just before the leaves fall, everything is golden.  The richness and warmth of the colors are inspiring.   I tried to bring a little bit of that indoors with this photo.

New Paintings for Fall

This is really why I haven't posted.  I've been painting........

Each of these paintings measure 14" square and are on stretched canvas, finished on all edges meant to be displayed frameless but would look great framed as well.   With this size, I like the idea of having a

wall of a grid of paintings, for example nine paintings hung 3 x 3.  Either with color or subject matter

as a unifying theme.

They will be on exhibit at the local Hudson Artists Association Fall Show at the Steven Shaar Community Center on Main Road, Hudson, October 15th through the 17th.

The second painting of the pears and yellow daisy is a small version of the 40" painting that I did late this summer.

Wow! October?.......really?

Time flies when you're having fun....I can't believe I haven't posted for October yet!

I received an email from Seth Apter of The Altered Page (a wonderfully inspiring site for those interested in mixed media, especially book arts) to tell me that my contribution to his on line compilation of mixed media artists in a section called The Pulse will be viewable on Monday, October 17th.  Sorry I think that

was a rather long winded sentence.  But do check in on Monday to have a look at my contribution as well as other artists.  Make sure you're comfortable and have a coffee close by.  You're going to want to stay awhile!

Virtual Painting through Google

Just when I thought the iPhone/iTouch had something amazing to offer artists with the amazing apps
available I come across this website of paintings done of views found through Google Street Maps (Virtual Paintout).
I have only started to explore the resulting paintings but stopped to admire Anne Campbell's
paintings.   Her paintings are of images taken of famous department stores in New York and her version
of these are slightly abstracted.  They were absolutely wonderful so I picked Saks Fifth Avenue to explore.
This is the screen shot I took of the result of this search.  Can you imagine the street scenes available to us now?

Studio Tour 2010

A steady stream of visitors today and the weather turned out to be quite nice too.

This is a sneak peak....
You can't miss the place, this is parked out front!

10:00 a.m. until 4:00 Sunday too.

Painting and soldering, painting and hammering.....

....blissfully I might add.   This weekend is the Studio tour from which I had taken a hiatus for the last two years but now I'm happy to say I will open my door to those interested in having a visit, sharing some hot spiced apple juice and talking shop.

Here are some of the handcrafted chainmaille bracelets I've just recently completed.

More Cameron Street Blossoms

Part of a series of these flowering branches....this one is still on my easel and seeing the photo helps me

decide what needs to be improved.  This one measures 24" x 36".  

Here is the one from last Spring (sold).

Looking for Sunsets...

Tonight had some spectacular views for sunsets.  Unfortunately I left the house a little late but did

manage to capture this one.   A little tweaking in Photoshop to view the tractor and barn a little better

and this may become a painting.

Progress

...and this is how it's progressing.  Still work to be done all over.

More work was done on the central pear and the yellow daisies.  The daisy on the left will be the focus of my painting next.  For reference the smaller image at the bottom of the easel of the pear measures

8"x10".

Here Comes the Next One...

I started the tulips painting and finished it inside of a week because I used acrylics.  This one however
will take a little longer because I had planned on using oils.  I wanted a more painterly look for this one with juicier brush strokes.  It too measures 40" square.

I've just begun the color mapping here letting my drawing show through.  I'll add the darkest darks next for reference.  It should be interesting getting the texture of the dish cloth at this size.  I made sure to crop out

the ironing board just to the right of my easel :>)

Fall Preview

As an artist (artisan) I create on a daily basis and I'm not sure if I'm early (I doubt that I am) but thought I'd put up a preview of art work to come this Fall and Winter.  Some items that I've been working on to compliment the silver and glass jewellery that I've been doing will be hand crafted/painted earring stands to add some art work to your dressing table.  Small vessels to contain jewellery, small scale collages of local scenes, and I'm indulging in some fiber art with the creation of felt and silk flowers to make wearable art as well as jewellery pouches to store special pieces.  There is often a theme of birds running through my jewellery and painting such as the silver and pearl nest pendants and the soft sculpture nest/containers as in my photo.  Watch this space for more notices on what's new in my studio....

On My Easel This Week........

This one is a 40" square stretched canvas and I've used acrylics for this one.  I had always used acrylics for murals but rarely for fine art, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I can achieve the desired result that

I thought only oils could give me.   Although it looks finished here I still have work to do, mostly on the centered large upright tulip as well as adding some foliage at the bottom to give the image more weight

I may also re-do the background with more interesting brushwork.

I've added the finished version....it is now signed, sealed and delivered.

Street Fair and Finished Paintings...

I'm beginning to feel the rumble of activity as the summer enters the later stages.  Paintings for Fall shows and exhibitions are on my mind now.  Experimenting with new media has to be put on the back burner.  Time to get some serious painting done.
One requested painting from the Spring has been finished.   Cooper is now framed and
resides on the mantle at Rod and Linda's.

The Hudson Street Fair and Music Festival winds down today.   Three hundred plus people came to visit the Hudson Artist Association's Summer gallery in the beautifully renovated main street building formerly known as Legg's Clothing Store and now called The Hudson Mews and I had the pleasure of

sitting in the gallery yesterday.  I enjoyed the meet and greet along with Derek Halbert and it was a pleasure to hear the wonderful comments that the space and artwork from the 25 participating artists

received.  I even managed to get some little watercolors done as people drifted by.

This is a little 4" square watercolor that I'll have in my Etsy shop in the next few days.  A few people echoed my thoughts that they liked the little squiggles to the left as well!  It reminds me of the calligraphic watercolors of Raoul Dufy and incidentally of an artist I came across just this week by the name of Brenda Behr.  I am on a bit of a watercolor streak right now and think I might continue this

small format to capture some of the current summer flowers.  The deep pink phlox come to mind....

Next on the Drawing Table...

This should make a nice little watercolor.  I'm using the new
Olive Oil from Tavola Mia as the center of interest.

Fresh from my garden...

Last week we had several days with periods of heavy rain just when my daisies were at their best.
So I made sure to cut some and enjoyed vases of them around the house following up with photo taking sessions so I'd be sure to have some for painting in the months ahead.  I will be improving the photos
but right now I'm trying to keep up with what's blooming and ripening....

Tadaaa!

Last year I posted some photos of olive oil labels I did the artwork for.  Maria Loggia of Tavola Mia imports them under her label to be distributed in and around Montreal at gourmet food shops.  The bottles have been delivered and I'm so excited to see the finished product!  I couldn't wait for sunlight tomorrow so I took the photo in low light outside and I'll post a better photo tomorrow.

Mmm, shrimp for dinner....

I thought I'd go out and take pictures of what's blooming before the heat gets to everything.

I found these petunias this year at my local garden nursery that I'd never seen before.  I loved the pale yellow and magenta combination but when I got them home and planted them I was less than impressed by the wishy washy look but then once they asserted themselves in the container and meshed with the other plants, I realized why I liked them so much.  The magenta isn't predictable which I like about it.

This one has painting possibities...

P.S.  The title reference is because of the shrimp compost that peaks out from below... : > )

On another note, I discovered Accuradio (I posted a link in my sidebar) has an all Glee channel.

Makes me happy.... : > )  Funny - as I write this "True Colors" by Cindy Lauper is playing on

Accuradio.  How appropriate!  ....and now my favorite guest artist on Glee (Kristin Chenowith) is

singing "Fire"....foot's tapping and I'm dancing in my seat.......

Special Project

I love requests for submissions based on themes.  This one is for a very special project for a bird
sanctuary right here in Hudson.  100% of the proceeds from the sale will go towards the building of a new wild bird rehabilitation centre in Hudson, QC.  Artists were invited to submit artwork measuring 5" x 7" of any subject and in any medium.  I chose to keep the focus on birds and these are my entries.  There are famous artists from across the country participating and yet the artwork will be sold at auction at a starting price of $65 no matter who the artist.  So it is a wonderful chance to own an original work of art at an incredibly low price.  The auction takes place on the 21st of August.

A Bit of Collage in a busy week.....

This week I worked on a few 5" x 7" collages for a special project I will tell you about soon.  It always amazes me that the bits and scraps that accumulate around me as I work just happen to be the perfect

bit that I need.
The view across the lake is a place that I drive by nearly every day on the Lake of Two Mountains.
I took that picture a few years ago but printed in sepia it looks like a scene from a 1930's postcard.
It's a busy week that doesn't allow for too much in the way of painting but these collages let me indulge
in the need to create something.

Not seen at my feeder.....

Feeding the birds this past winter was a new thing for me as I had never put feeders where I could

observe them before.   I didn't realize the variety other than chickadees and bluebirds that were in my own back yard and although using birds in my artwork was surely influenced by all the activity outside my window, one thing is for certain.....these birds are not from here!

(I love what Photoshop can do for watercolors.....)