Tea and Oranges

Another recent painting lesson at my church was on a kitchen theme.  Some of the participants brought items from their own kitchen to include, and even took photos beforehand to have as references.  I started "Tea and Oranges" at home, to begin a demo, and finished it afterwards.  The title is from a song--  perhaps you remember Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne".  In the song there are the words "...and you feed her tea and oranges that come all the way from China".  And my favourite tea really is Earl Grey!   I was tempted to call it "Earl Grey--  hot".  Science fiction fans may recall Captain Picard asking his replicator for his favourite drink........  

"Tea and Oranges"
acrylic
12 X 16

Announcing Spring!

During a recent acrylic class that I was teaching I was encouraged by my demo to finish this crocus piece.  There are several layers on the background, because the participants and I wrestled with how to finish off the painting to make the crocuses shine!  I attempted to create sunshine from the left, landing on the crocus petals.  It's always a joy to paint the first flowers I see in the spring.  

"Announcing Spring"
acrylic
12 x 16

Great News!

I am so pleased to report that my latest painting "Saugeen Spring" was accepted for the 2018 Art Map Landscape Calendar!  It is such an honour for me.  The painting will be hanging at the Southampton Art Gallery by May.  Barb Pearn does such an awesome job organizing the calendar, contacting all the artists, arranging for the jurying of the submissions, having the paintings photographed professionally, etc.  It's a lot of work, and the finished calendar is an excellent quality.  I'm proud to be in it!  

Saugeen Spring

I have finished a new painting that I've entered into the Art Map Landscape Calendar contest.  I don't get too excited about painting large spaces of green in landscapes, so it was a challenge to use this particular photo reference!  It was taken at a spot between Durham and Hanover, that I spotted a couple of years ago.  It was such a gorgeous sight in early spring that I stopped the car to take the photo.  The water and the sky were a brilliant, clear blue that took my breath away.  My dislike of painting pure landscapes (can't there be a barn? a house? at least a fence?) meant that I put off using the photo until I needed something exciting for the next calendar.  But there were all those cedar trees, looking the same except for their size.  I tried a couple of different styles for them, until I stayed with the shapes that you can see here.  Simple shapes.  Abstracted shapes.  Stylized shapes.  I like those shapes.  Simple shapes are good.  Even the reeds in the foreground turned into shapes.  Simple shapes.  Abstracted shapes.  Whether it gets in the calendar or not, I have learned lots by working through it.  But I still don't care for large spaces of green!  

Saugeen Spring
acrylic
20 X 30

Spring Painting Classes

After a long, busy winter, with the Saugeen Artists Store participation before Christmas, and lovely family time in the south, I am back at my easel!  

I have also decided to offer painting classes again, at my church.  A few local artists have been enjoying some informal lessons with me, and there seems to be enough interest to expand these so that anyone can attend.  Tuesday mornings at Chesley Community Church have been "Open Art Studio" days, where anyone can bring a craft, a painting, or even a knitting project to our Craft Room where we work together, drink coffee and have lots of laughs.  These are open to anyone, with no charge.  We talk about our work, and share the results.  

The three lessons I'm planning will be a little more formal, and last from 9:30 to 3:30.  The dates are April 4, May 2, and June 6 (the first Tuesday of the month).  There should be time to finish a small painting, or at least know how to finish it at home.   Or bring it back the next Tuesday!  Each day there will be a different painting theme.  

If you are interested, please email or call to reserve your space.  See more information under the "Classes" tab of the blog menu.  

I think the first class should be on flowers.......

but which one???

 

Can you tell where this is?

I have changed some details in this painting that may make it difficult to determine where this little general store is located. It seems to be a piece of history that stood still, especially with the phone booth nearby.  I can't remember the last time I used a phone booth!  I did many layers of paint in the sky during this painting, hoping to make it a dark sky at the end of the day, after the store had closed.  But it seemed so top-heavy.  So now it seems to be more like early morning.  You, as the observer, get to pick whatever time of day you like!  

                                             (By the way, the store is in Clifford, Ontario.)

"Corner from Antiquity"
acrylic
16 X 22

Fall Inspiration

There is lots of inspiration at this time of year for putting paint on a canvas!  Here are some leaf and sunflower pieces, all of them quite small but delightful to work on.  The sunflowers were part of an afternoon demo and lesson I did at Wasaga Beach for my previous art group.  It was so great to see some of my art colleagues there and catch up on our lives!  

"Fall Away"
acrylic
12 X 12

"Compliment"
acrylic
8 X 8

"Floating Fire"
acrylic
6 X 6

"Humility"
acrylic
12 X 12

"Sunny Triplets"
acrylic
12 X 12

"Worship"
acrylic
12 X 12