Moody Teacup

This is just before I punched in all the highlights and lightened the background.  I'll post the finished
image tomorrow.  This was the second approach to painting this teacup.   I really overworked the first one and also made a bad decision to paint from a photo that I didn't set up very well.  Not enough
contrast in the lighting so of course the end result was less than pleasing.  That's what happens when
you launch right in to a painting without doing a few "lesser" works to warm up with.  This one
came right after and is much closer to what I wanted the outcome to be.

Art Quilts

Forest Lake

16" diameter

bowl shape

hand dyed and commercial fabric

Spotted Robin

16" diameter

bowl shape

hand dyed and commercial fabric

Every so often I make a complete 180 and create something very different from what I've been doing.

I've been trying to find time to do some art quilts.  Nothing too labor intensive because I can never be too far from my painting projects.  This was the perfect project.  Involved enough to be a bit of a challenge and interesting in a tactile way.  I also had a collection of hand dyed fabrics that I was looking forward to using so all of this came together in a very pleasant way.  I never want to leave

a project with newly acquired skills too soon or else I worry about losing the thought process that led me to this so at least one more before I return to my painting.  

Cut paper design....

Design and painted textures are important no matter what I'm creating so I've been designing lately with cut paper from my growing stash of painted papers.  A spin off of the collaged birds of last year (which I fully intend on returning to) will be posted here in the coming days.

Spending less time at my computer...

means creating more.

A Sensible Quote

Having fun pairing up handwritten quotes with artwork and playing with my watercolours at the same time.  I can't stress enough that taking time to play can lead to great new discoveries.  This is unlike what I usually do with oils and something I'd like to do more of.

Gouache Love

I started these with the idea that they would just be informal sketches so I would've composed these a little better but I was in a hurry to apply this new found love of gouache.  I think this media (for me)

is here to stay.  

Now why hadn't I tried this before?

Gouache seems to be the best of two worlds and for some reason I never really explored the possibilities.  The convenience of watercolour with the ability to do fine detail and work in layers

like oil paints.  I originally thought I'd work with them for illustrations but am pleased that I can

do more fine art work with them as well.  

New Year, New Projects

The start of a new year means the opportunity to work on new projects and so early in January and in collaboration with the Deka team, I created these handprinted menus and place cards.  I'm brushing up on my calligraphy because I had way too much fun in 2015 working with this team.  Photography is by Emilie Olson (my daughter).

Saying goodbye to 2015

Looking forward to a happier and more creatively productive 2016.

Studio Sale

and the last one of the season at my friend's studio.  Carol has a felt and textile studio and held an open house.  I enjoy this type of Christmas event as it is in a more welcoming atmosphere and interaction with visitors is more pleasant than in a great hall.
        

Enamel Exhibit

At the invitation of Lorraine Bouchard (my enamelling instructor) I was invited to participate in this exhibition and I'm pleased to say that my little enamelled chickadee sold this week!

Mésanges

This is what these little birds are called here in french speaking Quebec.

The desire to do a little watercolour one afternoon resulted in this year's Christmas cards.

Cardinal II

10" square

collage with hand painted and found papers on wood cradled panel

It seems appropriate to be using these colors at the start of this new holiday season.  I've been doing a

little calligraphy as well and decided to work them in, in subtle ways.  I'll be taking better photos as these are a tad fuzzy.

Cardinal Collage

8" x 10"

Painted and found paper collage on cradled wood panel

Moving on from chickadees, cardinals have been a joy to work on.  I had been hoarding favourite papers but was determined to actually use them.  Although I have several new ones to post, I returned to this from a previous post to add more branches as it seemed to need a little something more.

Two Tulips Up for Auction

I have two tulips paintings up for auction this week.  It's the start of the busy season and the search is on for gift giving.  Perpetually blooming flowers in the form of a painting are a good way to start.

The auction (or buy it now feature) are at the Daily Painters website as follows:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449871 for the pink tulips and

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450107 for the red tulips

Fall Exhibitions

My submissions to the Hudson Artist's Fall exhibition taking place this weekend.

Sunflowers

16" x 20"

Oil on Canvas

Called sunflowers for good reason, they landed in my home unexpectedly and I couldn't let them go until I had taken photos of them first.  I didn't hesitate setting up to paint them as the yellow was too lovely to ignore for too long.

What a handsome boy...

Carter

8" x 8" Oil on wood panel

I love the way he's sitting in a three quarter pose as if he knew he would have his picture painted.

I've painted Carter before but as a closeup.  

White Petunias in Silver Cup

10" x 10" x 1.5"

Oil on collage on wood panel

I like the serendipitous results I get when painting over a collaged surface but have to be careful not

to "work around" interesting little tidbits and forsaking the integrity of the composition.  Still it does create a little bit of interest.  The following details is an example of what I managed to keep in the painting and will probably lend itself to the title "New Beginnings"

Boheme

A new local event that was most successful (a little rain at the end of the day but it was a welcomed, warm summer rain).  Fun to do but now it's on to planning the next which take place the third week of November.  I often question my planning tactics as I approach a deadline but realize that I can 

never be completely in control because all the good stuff happens from the creative frenzy that takes place.  Good ideas just seem to abound and I have to take advantage of them as they appear.