Christmas Festivities and New Year Plans

Trying out my new 50mm 1.8 Christmas lens on the primary subject.
Daycare Friday is quickly approaching, do I actually work/paint or should I spend more time with my new lens and friend's month old baby. Easy decision.

I am very excited to share the news that I will be the "Artist in the Park" at Presqu'ile Provincial Park near Brighton this summer from July 6 to August 31. More on the park can be found at ontarioparks.com, however, I get to hang out at the park every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm. Details will be posted at the park. My job, promoting the park and art. Sounds like fun to me.

Fall activites and art shows

6 P.M. and CrazyJ is sleeping. It doesn't look promising for me to achieve the elusive full nights sleep. Ahhh...oh well. The blog I've slacked off and ignored in favour of fall art show prep and spending time with my small child gets a new post.
My participation in the local fall art shows is now complete. I managed to complete one new painting this fall. Plus, I have a good start on a few more. Now it time to enjoy the upcoming festivities and come up with a plan for next years show.

Volunteering as the Brighton Arts Council's Curator is keeping me very busy. Luckily, the BAC has a wonderful variety of artists who humour me when I need art right now to fill spaces. And while promoting fellow artists, including myself, I have sold a couple of my paintings. Worthwhile venues to visit in the Brighton area include; the Kingsley Korner Gallery at the Chamber of Commerce and the Library, Lola's Coffee House, Vito's Restaurant, The Independent, the Brighton Inn and the Beauty Reservoir.

Then I started cold felting scarves. For fun and because the boy can help, he likes to spray the wool, the dog and whatever else catches his eye. At least he isn't running around with a paint brush loaded in oil paint. Actually, I felt the need (no pun intended) to create something elegant and original for an upcoming gala at the Four Seasons. Photos of that with dress to follow when the event happens. Now I have a selection of scarves for Christmas gifts as well.

Spotlight on Brighton

40"x60" Mixed Media on Canvas

For my part in promoting the arts in my local area I curate the Brighton Art's Council Art Rotation. In between running around Brighton getting all the BAC venues spruced up for this weekend's "Spotlight on Brighton", and chasing the toddler, I have managed to finish the fine tuning on my Cape Sagres beach painting.
This will be a very busy weekend in Brighton with special displays set up in the local resturants to coinside with live music and a large art show at the East Northumberland Secondary School sponsered by the Lion's Club. Plus, numerous other events. I get to paint pumpkins with any kids that come to the art show and mind my both. You can learn more about all of the activities at octoberisartsmonth.ca.
Now I only have to worry about who is going to put their finger into the wet paint.

Yeah, back to school!

I'm not sure who was more excited about playschool starting again, Jack or myself. He was asking for school all summer. The first day back to school tired him right out. He fell asleep sitting up. Naps are getting few and far between, so, I quickly got out my paints and got to work.
October will be a busy month for shows. Hopefull, I will have a few new paintings to share.

Twenty odd days of company

Exploring the fabulous boardwalk at Presqu'ile Provincial Park with Grandma and Grandad.

The Ploughman's lunch at Huffs Winery enjoyed by Gwen and I on a day away without the guys. Fifth Town and Black River cheese with homemade pickles and pate and the Reserve Riesling over looking the vines. Very relaxing!

An impromptu drop-in to see the wool at the Rose Haven Farm Store in Picton had Gwen and I signing up to try our hand(s) at felting. A bit of wool, a pool noodle, some patio door screening and we are now set to make scarves for all our friends. So we would like to think.

Between visitors I some how managed to get the giant fall leaf painting finished. Photo below, can you see the "wow, finally" on my face?

However, other painting projects and free-work for various art councils have been put on hold until playschool starts since "Jack the great napper" has become "Jack Nonap".

Yes, Ryan and Jack, I did manage to get pickles made. 17 sealers have been proudly shelved in the basement.

Fall leaf painting

Amazingly enough, between all my distractions, the giant leaf painting is nearing completion. It is the biggest painting I've attempted to date 4' x 6' oil on canvas.

It is a commisson and I'm looking for feed back. I have added more branches since I took this photo yesterday and I am working at developing the centre of interest. Any helpful critics would be welcome. The photo is a little dark.

More distractions, wine touring

I love wine. I love wine touring. And I love living close to "the County". Yes, "the County", Prince Edward County. It is a fabulous place to explore, we do it by boat and by car, for antique shops, fishing, the scenery and the wineries. The last year has seen the addition of many new wineries in "the County". Our goal yesterday, besides touring visiting brother-in-law around, was to visit some of these new wineries. We made it to Hillier Creek Estates, Harwood Estates Winery, Hinterland Wine Company and Karlo Estates.
Ummm...good times. Above are photos of Vicky and Jonas from Hinterland Wine Company, my new favourite winery. They are very personable. We enjoyed visiting with them and keeping them from their work for quite a while. The baby was also very nice. We left with a fabulous chardonnay and a reisling that didn't last 24 hours. I am very excited to go back with friends. Soon. http://www.hinterlandwine.com/ It's on the road to Closson Chase. If you know me, you know where that is because I drag everyone there on my wine tour to see the cool bathroom, the art and I like their wine.


Ryan and Mike posing at Karlo Estates (great Malbec) and Harwood Estates (Pinot Gris).

More distractions

The maniac tricyle driver thinks it is lots of fun to see if he can beat me to the to road. It is a close race that starts without warning but with the right flip flops I can get there first.

Between end of the school year parties, apartment hunting for my husband for university in the fall and my camera distracting me, painting time has been scarce the last two weeks.

Arts Quinte West Studio Tour

Thanks to everyone who came to visit on my studio tour last weekend.
I am looking forward to hearing from people who managed to complete the whole tour, nine studios with nineteen artists.

Here is my guest host, photographer, web designer and social media coach Penny Olorenshaw of PoloDesign, trying her hand at Encaustics, painting with wax and oil pigments.

Sold at my studio tour, my ode to friend Henry Mitchell, who paints wonderfully imaginative forest scenes. His would have had ladies with period costumes.

6"x30" Oil on Canvas

Arts Quinte West Studio Tour

One day until my studio tour.

Here I am working on some new paintings.

One is a commission, a giant painting I'm

wondering if I will ever get finished.

The other is a mixed media water study,

my favourite thing to paint, water and clouds.

This new painting was inspired
by a poem written by my friend
Melissa Duguay.
12x12 Mixed Media on Canvas