Grandidea

2011-06-01T14:07:00.002-04:00

The Toronto Watercolour Society invited Stephen Quiller to do some workshops in mid-May. His palette was interesting and his use of watermedia was fabulous. His brushwork and practiced use of layering was amazing. This was one demo.

2011-06-01T13:49:00.003-04:00

I've been away from my brush. Madly taking classes to get back into the mood and into the groove. It finally clicked and I have built three paintings in four days. I'm frustrated with the surfaces. The change of thin to thick paint just happens to me, I don't plan it. I need to figure out how. Fun class on portraits with Klaas Hart: did a colorful rendition of Jeffrey, our model. I'm thinking maybe I should try a few landscapes again...

Pursuit of painting

2009-03-01T12:51:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I think there are nearly as many artists in the world as there are people. In my bookmarks file I have galleries, artists and on-line artist sites that must represent at least the population of New York, and I only keep tabs in the sites I have found and like! If ever there was a place to view artwork from millions of hands!! It only makes me want to paint more.
I've started an informal group of my artist girlfriends and we get together to see what each of us is working on--so far we've met twice. It's so motivating to see what others are doing and to hear about their obstacles and insights. I'm hoping it stays a viable group. Everyone's life is so busy these days.
I'm in two community arts groups that keep me connected with a disparate group of fledgling and accomplished artists. A few in those groups are masterfully taking their work to the world, entering juried shows and galleries on an on-going basis. I don't seem to get my work out there as often, yet I'm not convinced that's a bad thing. I keep hoping to have enough pieces to put a real show together and take it to some galleries--but somehow, a piece or two gets donated, sold or otherwise removed from the open market, and I still don't have a show to rub together. Then there are the paintings that have great promise that I'm afraid to finish lest I ruin them.
Setting myself a deadline to accomplish some small tasks might be in order.

Nights

2008-07-15T10:29:00.013-04:00

2008-07-15T09:35:00.003-04:00

Homeport B & B
The Very Best Victorian B & B
www.barrycoombs.ca

Travelling lightly

2008-07-15T08:37:00.006-04:00

Having returned, I'm no longer completely airborne. Landed to the messy kitchen and empty refrigerator, car rides and logistics...but oh, what a week of freedom!
Barb and I had decided to return to Grand Manan to paint again with Barry Coombs, and had recruited our friend Donna to come. Donna brought Randa. We added a few days off the top to see a bit more of the New Brunswick, and to visit the Beaverbrook Museum in Frederickton. First off Frederickton is charming. We stayed in "The Best Victorian B & B", just minutes walking to the quaint downtown. (it was inviting, and with a pool!) On one of our strolls we came across this gorgeous Victorian with what I'm sure can be called a "cat walk."
The Beaverbrook is a gem, like you're visiting a rich friend's parlor with some exceptional art. Wildly eclectic, the collections being shown included some of the disputed works (Turner, Freud...) and a new exhibition on New Brunswick architecture through history--which included the summer home of friends of my husband's and mine!
Rolling hills and river flats brought us to Gagetown Village, some art and old stuff stores, and a charming historical museum. Homeport B & B in St. John was the best thing about that town, though Barb and I had a very nice dinner at Billy's downtown. (I'm sure there are things to do in St. John, but on a Saturday night we didn't find much except a cruise ship and some Jamaican music.) Then on to Black's Harbour and Grand Manan.

Grandidea: Spring might be coming

2008-04-09T15:19:00.000-04:00

Grandidea: Spring might be coming

2008-04-09T15:09:00.003-04:00

Spring has a way of sneaking up on us here in Ontario. From one blustery winter's day to another there's a little harsh wind, then a little rain, a few gray warm days and then, BAM! You think it must be spring because the sun is shining. Well, it isn't actually shining, but you can tell it's up there somewhere. I just started back to my easel and put together a nice scene of three little girls on the dock. I don't know who they are. They are summer personified. I wish it were that warm, as I sit at my computer with my feet freezing.

More Painting

2007-07-03T15:02:00.003-04:00

Although the summer has started, I'm not quite there yet. Kids split in three directions, weeks whipping past like pages in a thriller. Four canvases primed and waiting. I'm working larger, but it has it's downside. "After the Show" has taken me almost a year. Recently chosen for the Toronto Watercolour Society Spring Show in Toronto. I've named it "Summer Sand."