A barn makeover........

After a November acrylic workshop I led using a photo of a local barn for our reference, I promised that I would let the participants know how I finished it.  Here is the original photo:

After working on it at home for a while, this is what I came up with: 

I had changed the roof colour and simplified the landscape, then I let it rest for a while.  I played with it once in a while in the next couple of months, but was never happy with it.  It was so boring!  Finally I got interested in adding sheep to it, and found lots of sheep photos in my references that I have always wanted to try out.  I still wasn't happy with it, until I went to a more whimsical style that I have quite enjoyed working with, and this is the final result:  It's so much more interesting!

It will be in the L. E. Shore library Gallery during the show I am doing with Aggie Stretch and Sheila Bannerman for the month of April this year, alongside some other sheep-ish pieces!

Commissions that get me looking for spring.......

My neighbour and friend, Deanne, asked me to do three happy flower paintings for her hall.  In the middle of winter, I was happy to comply!  These are only 10 X 10 each, but they represent a theme that she and I are particularly fond of....gardening!  I hope to continue the flower theme for a looooooong time to remind me that spring must be coming.  

Another commission that has been happily delivered this week is of a dear pet that had passed away recently.  His name is Cody-- a golden retriever-- which reminded me of my own golden, Max.  Max even sat for me in a photo shoot when I needed more detail!  (Did you ever try taking a photo of a dog profile when he knows you're doing it?)  The final painting is on a 12 X 12 canvas, which makes his face almost actual size.  His owners seemed very pleased with it, which is so gratifying for me.  It was a tricky one to do, since I have only done pet portraits in watercolour.  The hardest part was his lovely curls (which Max does not share).  

"Cody"
12 X 12
acrylic

A new painting

It's been such a busy fall, that I have only this one painting to show for my time in the studio!  I took the photo in Yorkville, when visiting my daughter and getting around to the galleries I know best.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and the shadows on the busy streets were strong and inviting.  This painting was a result.  It is very simplified, which I love to do, so if you happen to recognize the spot you won't see the usual details that are there.  I loved the contrast between the dark of the tree and street in the foreground, and the sunlight on the street and houses farther on.  I added a person from a different view, to represent the path that we are all hopefully taking in life--  from darkness into light.  From misperception into truth.  From bondage into freedom.  From confusion into faith.  Although the painting certainly doesn't look Christmas-y, it brings to mind the prophecy of the coming of Jesus in Isaiah 9,  "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light."  Added to the significance of the light, is my love of painting buildings, angles, and windows!

"Walking toward the light"
acrylic
16 X 20

A Painting Day with the Elmwood Starz!

The Elmwood Art Group put on a lovely day of painting last Saturday, November 8, at Grace United Church in Hanover.  I walked 18 guests through a painting of a Grey County barn.  We had a lot of laughs, spilled paint, drank coffee, and got to meet new friends.  Here are two photos of the group and their paintings.  Remember that most of them are not completed at this point!  Hopefully each one will finish their work, and go on to try some more acrylic painting.  

And here are some of the painters hard at work.

This is as far as my own barn got.  I will post the next steps as I add more to it.  Perhaps it will help some of the painters to be motivated to finish theirs!

Studio Tour weekend is coming up!

I'm preparing now for two upcoming studio tours at my home
--  The Art Map Studio Weekend, and the Autumn Leaves Studio Tour.  It will run from Friday until Sunday, October 3-5.  You are welcome to come and see my acrylics and my watercolours, and of course have a visit and a snack.  Here is one of the paintings that will be on my wall:

For times, maps, and information about the other studios on the tours, click on these sites:


www.autumnleavesstudiotour.ca

www.theartmap.com


                         I hope to see you here!!

A beautiful new Gallery.....

The Santa Fe Gallery Show called Saugeen Artists Diversity is up and looking awesome!  What a lovely gallery, with art on every available wall on the main floor, in the halls, up the stairs, and into the Gallery itself.  There is also a handy art supply store there called "Mudtown Art Supply" just down the hall from the gallery, where there are more paintings!  Give yourself a treat by visiting there in the near future.  It's located on 3rd Avenue East just 2 blocks south of 10th Street at the harbour.  I have eight paintings there until September 27, along with 8 other artists from our art group Saugeen Artists.



Here are some photos of the reception last Saturday, August 16 2014.

I am standing with artist colleague Janet Main.  

Two of my paintings are on my left.

Here are 6 of the artists represented, as well as Lin Souliere, gallery owner and artist, in the front in the orange jacket.

Summer Art News...........

It's been a wonderfully busy summer, with family events, holidays, and even a bit of painting thrown in!  I have two commissions on the go (but I can't show them to you since they are surprises....) and have sold 7 paintings from 4 different venues.  That is so encouraging for me. 

And now the "Saugeen Artists Diversity" show is going up tomorrow, August 14, at the Santa Fe Gallery in Owen Sound.  I am one of 9 artists from the art group "Saugeen Artists" who are putting work into this brand new gallery run by Lin Souliere, a proficient watercolour artist in her own right.  The official reception is this coming Saturday, August 16, at the gallery, from 2:00 to 4:00.  One of the paintings there will be my "Frosty Morning", which was accepted for the Art Map calendar for the month of November. 

I hope to see some friends there!