The Challenge of Green......

After a quiet winter, art activities are springing up everywhere around me!  With three group shows ahead I have lots of motivation to paint.  Three pieces that follow a theme are now hanging in the Southampton Gallery.  Others will follow, to be displayed in Harriston, Kitchener, and Thornbury along with work from other members of the Saugeen Artists Guild.  I'll be sure to keep you posted here with information about these awesome shows!

My challenge for these three pieces was to work with all that green foliage!  I attempted to show the shapes of the trees and bushes, without including every little leaf.  I greatly admire Emily Carr, as well as many of the Group of Seven, for being able to paint trees abstractly as interesting and varied shapes.  

I hope to improve as I challenge myself with a subject that I find difficult.  You may notice though, that in every painting here I have added something as a focus that is man-made--  something definite and concrete and easier for me to paint!

"Down to the River"
acrylic
24 x 18

"Along the River Trail"
acrylic
24 x 18

"Recess Along the Trail"
acrylic
24 x 18


Here's an example of how Emily Carr's "green" looked. Amazing!!

Spring classes are springing up!

Now that the weather is warming up, I am making plans for teaching some fun acrylic classes in the next few months.  I will continue to hold one class a month in the Chesley Community Church craft room on Tuesdays.  And now I can hold classes at the "home" of my art group, Saugeen Artists Guild, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hanover.  Those classes will also be once a month on Thursdays.  The classes are all day, for a suggested donation of $30, plus materials if needed.  The first class at each venue will be flowers (of course!).  I suggest tackling one flower alone, similar to this one:  

There is an easy way we will use to create that papery look that is common to poppies!  Check out more details about these lessons on my "Classes " page on this blog.   It's such a joy to journey with other artists to create art and use our God-given interests and talents!