Project Finishing Day

I had to wait patiently for this little Marsh Wren to show its self.  It liked to flutter down low in the cat tails, teasing me with its call.

 

This Blue Heron has been on and off my painting table for a year now.  There's nothing like a looming deadline (my September gallery show), which I have been avoiding due to summer boating and cottage visiting, to get things done.

 

 

A few more highlights and accents.  Now it is finished.  We live in an area that is home to many swans.  This is the second time I have painted them.  I love reflecting other colours in the white.

Swan Flight

 

It was a nice quiet afternoon of painting. 

This one is almost finished.  Swan Flight 12 x 24 Oil on Canvas.

Today and tomorrow are my last two days to finish up incomplete paintings for my show at The Blue House in Brighton, opening September 3.

 

 

This guy goes to school full time next week. 
Maybe I'll get some more unfinished projects done.  Or, maybe I'll dig out my encaustics and have time to make a big, fun mess.  I teach the odd encaustic class but never seem to get at any encaustics in my studio.  Here are two of my students from a workshop I taught on Monday.

Peonies in a Pint, my painting for a Realistic Floral class that I am teaching at Loyalist college in Belleville starting September 18.  I have set up of whites peonies I'd like to get painting to coordinate.

End of Summer Cram

I am feeling the end of summer cram. 
Too much holidaying, not enough painting and organizing. 
Actually the holidaying has been great!  Lots of fun cottage/cabin time with the boy, cousins and grandparents.  However, the preplanning for fall has taken a hit.  Today, I am packing for more cottage time, while getting ready for a solo show in September, painting a donation for the Trenton Memorial Hospital Gala, an Encaustic Workshop at the Gates in Brighton August 26 and trying to get the finishing touches on the piece I am teaching at Loyalist College starting September 18.  More on the class at Loyalist to come.

The Boy and the Maine Light

My husband thinks that there shouldn't be pictures of the boy on my blog, that it should be all about my artwork.  Professional.  But the boy is what it's all about.  He's five.  I paint around his schedule.  Which means hanging out at the beach a lot.  Grass cutting, gardening and 'honey do list', the one made for me is competing with painting too.

The boy and his cousin he calls sister.

Today though, I finally have a new painting to share after puttering an hour or two here and there for weeks. 

Maine Light 16 x 20" Oil on Canvas

I also have a new painting is on the go.  A piece I will be teaching at Loyalist College in the fall.  It is a realist floral, acrylic with oil glaze.  I am slowly working away at it.  The beach is calling...

Sailing off shore at Presqu'ile

Last week I set up a display of artwork at the Presqu'ile Provincial Park Interpretive Centre Gallery.  This is a new painting that I did to put in the show.  It was a cool week and I was dreaming of boating while painting.  Not a bad way to spend my time.
12 x 12 Oil on Canvas.

Quinte Arts Concil Juried Show 'Expressions'

Last week I entered my second juried show. 
Why?
Peer critique, expanding my viewing audience (slightly as QAC in Belleville is only one town away), adding to my CV.
They were 127 entries. 
60 were selected for the show that opens May 9 at the Parrot Gallery in Belleville.
Here is the piece that didn't make the cut.

Dahlia    Oil on Canvas   16 x 20

 

 

And the one that made the cut.

Blue Churn    Mixed Media on Canvas   12 x 24

Fascinating Felt

 

 

The last few weeks have been about felting and Zumba. 

 

In April, as part of a Brighton Arts Council Show, I will be displaying some of my felted pieces and paintings at the Impresario Artisan Market, 37 King Street West, Cobourg.  Also on April 13th I teach a felting technique class at Loyalist College.  Welt felting, felting with resists, nuno felting, lots of playing around with felt happening in the workroom. 

I am starting a Seniors Zumba class in a few weeks and last week I started teaching Zumba for a High School gym class.  I can practicing new Zumba songs while felting but not while painting.

Back to painting soon...

 

Wet felted butterfly fascinator.

Nuno felted scarf with tassles.