Arts Quinte West Featured Artist

This month I am the featured artist at the Arts Quinte West Gallery downtown Trenton.
On display are WaterStudies, floral and some feathered friends.  Plus one Pipe Band.  I love pipers!  I like to throw one in the painting mix every once in while.  This little painting is of the Prince Edward Hasting Band. 
Most of my work is done in oils or mixed media (acrylic, tissue papers or impasto and oil glazes).  I have some small Encaustic work also.
I also have some felted berets and scarves for sale.

My latest piece is a donation to the Gallery for the December fundraising show, Art Squared.  Can you see the price?  All 12" square pieces are only $50.  I have other pieces in the 12" square $50 selection too.

 

Playing with felt

 

My new scarf design, it's a shawl and a scarf made out of Merino and Blueface Leister wool with accents of silk and mohair.

Moments Juried Show

Fall leaves off to a good home.

My booth at the Lion's Art Show October 20 and 21.  Lots of waterstudies, a few flowers and scenes of Presqu'ile and some fun felted scarves.



My latest Mixed Media Waterstudy 30x30".  This piece was accepted into the Arts Quinte West Juried Show themed Moments.  Very suitable, I think, as there is a small glimpse of the setting sun just above the horizon only seen for a moment.  The show runs the month of November at the Arts Quinte West Gallery 84 Dundas St, Trenton.  It also received an honourable mention.  My Dancing  Hibiscus was also accepted into the show receiving an honourable mention.



Artist in the Park WrapUp

Here are some little water studies I did at Presqu'ile in August during Paint the Park. On site just inside the campground where there is a beautiful view of Gull and High Bluff Islands. Paint the Park was an event I organized with the Park to give local artists the opportunity to paint en plein air with campers and display (and sell) their art work.

 

August was the wrap up of my two summers as Artist in the Park at Presqu'ile.  I have been an active volunteer for many years, but being the Artist in the Park at Presqu'ile was my favourite volunteer activity, ever!  All fun and relaxing, with no organizational headaches, it doesn't even sound like a volunteer position.  With only the commitment of being on location each Wednesday in July and August.  Some extra paper and paint for any one who happened along to visit.  It was a great opportunity for growth and challenge as an artist who really wasn't a plein air painter.  A wonderful chance to meet many new people, campers and visitors to the Park as well as staff and other volunteers.  And a place to display and sell my artwork.  Thanks to everyone that made a point to visit me on location.  And to those that purchased my art as a momento of your summer travels, more Thanks!  It is always exciting to see a piece off to a new home and to meet the new owner, my appreciation of your support!

New at Presqu'ile

A little painting I did at the boardwalk pond.  The boardwalk is one of my favourite places at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.  A Blue Heron entertained me the entire time, flying back and forth in front of where I was painting but stopping to rest just out of sight.  The next two weeks I am painting at the lighthouse and then back to the boardwalk to, hopefully, paint a closer viewing of the pond.

My paintings displayed at the Interpretive Centre Gallery.

Mmmm Pesto

This is all about pesto.  Almost.
I love it!  On my wrap, on the leftover salmon in the wrap and on my fork.
It is daycare Thursday.  I should be painting.  In fact, I really need to finish some paintings.  My little display at the Presqu'ile Interpretive Centre needs more paintings.  Two have gone to new homes.  Thank you to the new owners, I hope you enjoy them!
Instead I'm thinking about pesto and making more of it.  The first batch was to give the basil some room to grow.  I made it from everything getting out of control and going to seed in the jungle garden.  Chives, oregeno, cilantro and parsley.  Plus, some of the normal pesto ingredients, garlic, oil and what nuts I could throw in the chopper before J got them in his mouth.  He was helping, he is in charge of the button pushing.  He's really good at that.
Last week was felting week in preparation for the Arts UpFront event that I organized for Arts Quinte West.  I demonstrated and displayed my felted pieces at Wish Home Accents and Decor.
This week is supposed to be painting week.  At least Daycare Wednesday and Thursday are somewhat about painting (and pesto).

Unexpected Nap.

Yikes!  J's unexpected nap caught me off guard.  Do I paint, felt, come up with teaching ideas or work on more promotion for the event I am organizing this Saturday, June 23 downtown Trenton for Arts Quinte West called Arts UpFront.  Not on the list but a quick blog update wins.

Every week there is a distraction for me from painting, felting or class development.  Often, it is volunteering with Arts Quinte West or the Brighton Arts Council.  Both arts groups have recently opened art galleries.  Last weeks distraction was husband's Change of Command complete with military tradition, marching and ceremony.  Plus the after reception and the after BBQ with family and friends, which really is the whole weekend.  And the week before prepping 'meat for many', coming up with creative salad ideas and my favourite, hat shopping!

Stuck in there was a quick painting that had to be taught in three hours.  Here it is, a 9 x 12" oil painting.  I will be teaching my quick background, colour mixing and developing form through values and my blending technique.

June has been a great month of opportunity for me to promote my art work.  Here is the beginning of my display at the Interpretive Centre at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Brighton where I will be the Artist in the Park for July and August.  I am also displaying at the Arts Quinte West Gallery 84 Dundas St, Trenton, at the 'Gates' to Presqu'ile, Brighton Arts Council's newly opened Gallery and at the Trenton Medical Centre.  I am also the featured artist this month at Lola's Coffee House in Brighton http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/events/135214.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day, my special day, made possible by the JackJack Attack, the Roadrunner, the boy who lost his listening ears in Lake Ontario last summer.  I'm not sure why this year I'm reflecting more then other years.  Maybe because husband had been asking me what I wanted for Mother's Day for two weeks, likely feeling badly that he would be away.  Or maybe because it wasn't so long ago that I thought I would never have someone to wish me happy Mother's Day.  Maybe I'm just tired.  We spent a large part of the day at a place I don't really enjoy, Uncle Donald's to J, DonDon's to my nephews, rainy day stinky play land to me, the Golden Arches to others.  Most of the day was a very good Happy Mother's Day but the redirection, it's his turn now and the 'was that a playful air punch close to that little kids face or are they really fighting' is exhausting, as always.  Thankfully, he is tired now too. Many races to the back acre with his buddy B.  Another chase after the dog he let out (again).  And the final slope we have to push the kid sized ATV up because it's just not meant for grassy slopes with two growing boys riding.

It's been busy leading up to Mother's Days as well.  Husband started a new job (travelling again).  I taught a 'Make Your Mama a Scarf' class.  It didn't really go as planned but was fun.  Good thing the Mom's stayed and enjoyed making their own scarves after the kids picked out the colours and then got distracted by the toys that happened to be in the room I'd rented.  Next year I might put an age limit on it.  Then I did a last minute, week really, rush to finish up some things for my first show.  Here are some snaps.

 The wool, waiting to be made into something fun.














The scarf laid out.  The first step after picking colours.

I did make the kids make a Mother's Day card for their Moms.  Good thing boys like to glue whether they like crafts or not.










My share of the community booth at the Brighton Arts Council's Jubilee Show and Sale.  You can see my floral paintings, my piper and my felted pieces.

This is my newest painting, 12 x 24 oil on canvas white hibiscus.








Now Mother's Day is almost over.  I got what I really wanted, a few projects done.  A happy, tired boy who actually sat at the table for lunch AND supper, not jumping and spinning around like a transformer.  A boy who didn't listen to badly and quietly played with the Lego that Grandma sent while I scrubbed the floor.
Maybe I'd better wish Grandma Happy Mother's Day again. 

Current Events

Volunteering in the Arts Quinte West booth at the Quinte West Home Show this weekend.
I am wearing one of my felted vests, the three paintings behind me are mine.

Next up is the Brighton Arts Council BAC Jubilee Spring Art Show and Sale
Saturday, May 5 at 10:00am at King Edward Park Community Centre Elizabeth Street, Brighton, ON
https://www.facebook.com/events/314884415243875/

New Painting

16x16 Oil on canvas.


I'm not sure when I started this painting but it was after we travelled through Portugal almost two years ago. Today I put some final touches on it while J was trying to figure out why the empty staple gun wouldn't work.



J and his x-ray vision glasses.

Project finishing week

12x24" Oil on Canvas
I have painted two paintings from a lovely day out for lunch last summer at Huff Estate Winner. The other painting was of creme brulee, which makes me want to bake, paint and eat more creme brulee.

Felted vest, Merino wool, bamboo and silk.
My first attempt at felting my own piece of clothing. I was very excited to use my dormant pattern making skills.
Fashion photo shoot looking pictures will come at some point (hopefully).

I thought I was on a roll but it didn't last as long as I hoped. The cosmo was painted in two days so I became optimistic that the hibiscus that has been on my easel for a year would be finished also.

Displaying at City Hall and January plans

My felted hats, scarves and flower pins are on display as part of the latest Arts Quinte West (AQW) display at the Trenton City Hall for January and February. These warm handmade wool hats and scarves suit the theme 'Winter Magic' quite well.
Currently being laid out on my felting table is my first attempt at wearable art, a wrap vest in black, teal and silver blues. Next up more flower broaches, a new style of hat and some classes. Plus my favourite felting related activity, shopping for wool on etsy.com.
I am excited to announce that this summer I will once again be the Artist in the Park at Presqu'ile. This will be my second and final year before I pass on the opportunity to another Artist. I am already looking forward to relaxing Wednesday's painting at the Boardwalk, Lighthouse and along the lake and reacquainting myself with people I met last year.