Thursday, June 28, 2012

A Very Fancy Chair


 Ever since I saw a version of this at Anthropologie, I knew I had to make one. (a patchwork of past paintings) I had already stripped canvases from the stretcher bars of paintings that were never finished and had rolled away for some other purpose so I had only to find a chair.  And lo and behold my local  Saturday morning thrift shop had exactly what I needed.  I love it when projects come together like that. This was a big hit at the art exhibition this past weekend and "yes" I would sit on it!



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

This Makes Me Happy


Well I'm cleaning up my files (and they do need cleaning up) in the days after doing an exhibition.  I love this part.  Time to reflect on the successes (or not) of the ideas that became reality; a time to decide on what to pursue or leave behind (to be filed under "what was I thinking").  I'll share more of the past weekend in later posts after I've uploaded photos of finished works but I came across this one and I am so happy to see these brushstrokes which may come easily to some artists but that I struggle to achieve due to excessive puttering.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Exciting New Project



I've been working on something new and am excited to finally have the finished product in my hands.  A "toile"* design depicting Hudson.  Snippets taken from my sketchbook of Hudson scenes like the drive along Chemin de l'anse toward the town with the view of Oka across the Lake of Two Mountains,
horses grazing in the fields, the ducks on Pine Lake, the bunnies in our backyards and the birds and bees that frequent our gardens, the fences and flowers that abound everywhere.  The first fabric I have developed is formatted for 16" pillows and there will be (soon) the companion fabric showing more of these Hudson scenes that we call home. 

Black toile design on Cotton/Linen fabric in white.

Other colors will be available upon request.


*
Toile de Jouy, sometimes abbreviated to simply "toile", is a type of decorating pattern consisting of a usually white or off-white background on which a repeated pattern depicting a fairly complex scene, generally of a pastoral theme such as a couple having a picnic by a lake or an arrangement of flowers. The pattern portion consists of a single color, most often black, dark red, or blue. Greens, browns, and magenta toile patterns are less common, but not unheard of. Toile is most associated with fabrics (curtains and upholstery in particular, especially chintz), though toile wallpaper is also popular. Toile can also be used on teapots, beddings, clothing, etc. In upper-class (primarily American, but also northern European) society, toile is often seen on dresses or aprons used at such events as country-themed garden parties or tea parties.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

L'Allée d'Art Exhibition St. Jean Baptiste weekend


...and this is what I'll be doing this weekend.  If you are in the area, it promises to be an amazing exhibition.



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Blue Bottle and Hydrangeas

8" x 24"
Oil on stretched canvas
$320

I can't believe I haven't done a still life of those beautiful blue bottles that I've acquired over the years.  I included one in this painting and that's inspired me to set up something that will really be challenging.  That's what I need, more glass objects and reflective, metallic pieces.  I'm really happy with the reflection of the apple and bowl in the vase.  The blue bottle appears lighter in this photo of the painting so I may retake the photo.  I still have to
finish the upper left cluster of hyderangeas and sign and then I'll have one more for this weekend's show "Allée d'Art".

Monday, June 18, 2012

Getting Ready

Detail 
18" x 24" cradled wood panel.
Acrylic and Oil

Next weekend is a provincial holiday and I'm participating in an outdoor exhibition.  Rain or shine (and it seems we're getting both).  It's been a long time since I've done an art show outdoors.  I've come to realize though that it's not the success of the exhibition that matters but the work that comes from preparing for it.  The extra push to develop something new, often (not always) results in work that probably wouldn't have happened otherwise.  A slight departure from working on the small format "daily" paintings are the  partly abstracted canvases I'm working on.   I love pattern and texture and I've tried to work that in with the more realistic still life subjects that I am more comfortable working with.  It satisfies the part of me that wants to let
loose!

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Back tracking...





Before the series of red tulips I had painted more daffodils, one of which I had posted.  This one is 6" x 12" tall.  I guess since I had pointed out how often I liked to use this porcelain rabbit,  I thought I should post this one too.  The sunlight happened to light up this little tableau on my ledge and I reached for my camera.  I'll have to remember to keep some daffodil paintings to light up my desk area in the greyer months of winter.
Every Saturday morning here in town, there is a second hand shop that opens it's doors for two hours from 10:00 a.m. until noon.  I've been going there for years and find the most wonderful things (like this rabbit).  This morning I bought a porcelain cat in a wonderful shade of gray that I'm looking forward to arranging as well as some great baskets and if I don't delay I should be able to collect some peonies to arrange in these baskets before their bloom time is over.  It's hard to keep up with what's blooming, arranging, photographing, filing away for future reference and prepping canvases!

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Red Tulips Series III

6" x 6" x 1.5"
Oil on Wood Panel

Maybe because I painted this trio of red tulips twice before, I think my
favorite part of this one is the backside of the canvas behind it!  Probably
because I wasn't over thinking it.

Available in my etsy shop.


Friday, June 01, 2012

Peaches & Cream

6" x 6" x 1.5" Oil on deep wood panel
$80.00

I suppose the title is misleading but the tulips are a wonderful peach color and I painted my favourite little milk/cream jug and this title just jumped out at me.
It certainly is better than Peach Tulip in Milk Jug which is the way I usually title my paintings :> }  I think I managed to capture the sunny warmth of this image so I am happy with this one.

I am catching up on gardening and haven't created a June calendar as yet.  Hopefully I'll manage to squeeze one in soon.

Available here in my Etsy shop.