More paintings from Red Deer

Shhh, model's in session. Quietly typing away in class after finishing the top painting. These are three of the paintings I have been working on today. It is a long day with class running today from 9am to 9pm tonight (so I've got just about another hour to go). I am very excited about the paintings today, but I have been so close to them that I think I will have to turn them around and look at them with fresh eyes tomorrow to determine if they are truly finished. I apologize for the bad photos but after painting all day, a couple of coffees, and a shockingly large tequila long island ice tea, my hands are a bit unsteady. I will take better photos once I have my paintings back at my studio. Which reminds me of my own comfy bed at home and how much I miss it.
I am so fortunate to be here. It's a wonderful experience and a great chance to meet other artists. I am one lucky gal.

In the throws of the Open Studio at Red Deer

   I am happy to be blogging from the Red Deer College. I am here taking an open studio model session course. I am working my ass off. Painting as fast as I can, eating up the 6 or more hours of model time a day. I am in figurative painting heaven. I must suggest to all artists that if they ever get a chance to take a course at the Red Deer Summer Arts Series to do so. It is fabulously grueling and intensive, and completely gratifying.
I hope to post some more photos from my experiences here.
Kisses and hugs to my loved ones while I'm gone.

Glancing Back Along the Drive

Glancing Back Along the Drive

July 19, 2010

Acrylic on Canvas

$400.00 CAN

I was driving back from the beach and had to stop on top of a hill along the highway to capture the storm clouds that were rolling in. I am glad I did because it made for wonderful painting reference material. You may recognize this painting because I completed it at the White Avenue Art Walk and was painting it on the early morning news on July 17th. I like how it turned out.

Got the World Under my Heels

Got the World Under My Heals

July 2010

Acrylic on Canvas

48" x 36"

$1,000.00 CAN

This self portrait I completed right before the art walk, but with the jumble chaos that is my life this summer I haven't been able to post it till now. I brought it with me to the art walk and I was surprised at peoples response to it. There were more than many people who wanted to see more of my figurative work, which is really encouraging because painting the figure is my favorite subject of choice. I hope that more of my figurative work will sell so that I can keep producing it. I have enough reference material to do a whole series like this painting, but having lots of reference material doesn't mean that I have lots of time.

Good Bye to my beloved studio dog Lola

Good Bye to my Beloved studio dog Lola

I am sad to say that my dear dog Lola passed away yesterday evening. I had to put her down after she suffered several debilitating seizures.

I never knew how much I loved her till she was gone. Over the past 8yrs she has been by my side. She had watched me paint many of my paintings. She was my studio dog. She followed me where ever I went. She went to University with me and would quietly watch as instructors would critique my paintings, most of the time they didn't even know she was in the class with me. She came to work with me during the summer when I worked at a campground greeting campers. She was there when my grandpa, my co-worker, and my great grandmother passed away. She was there when I got married and when I came home from signing the divorce papers. She was there when my children were born and she patiently helped me to teach them about what the word 'gentle' meant. She was a great friend to my son who was so proud when he could get her to do tricks. She often let my kids dress her up. She would come and get me in my studio whenever my youngest would wake up from her nap. 

I woke up broken hearted with no reason to get out of bed. I am not a morning person and would often resent having to wake up to let her out. This morning I wish I had to. It's good to have a reason to get up, even if it is a small fury one.

I kept walking over to her dish to give her water out of habit, but she's no longer here. I had to put away her dog dish hoping it would help. I keep thinking I see her, and I look for her, out of habit before I go outside. I took the kids for a walk and caught myself thinking if I should take her with me. It's hard to change to the fact that a constant that has quietly been by my side and I had taken for granted is no longer here.

I miss my studio dog Lola. She was an important part of my family and a great friend and I miss her dearly.

2010 Whyte Avenue Art Walk

   The above photos are from this past weekends adventurous artist experience. It was hard work but the Whyte Avenue Art Walk was a great success. I may be complaining about how sore and tired I am right now, but make no mistake I will be back next year. A little more prepared with some working minions and a little better display. I learned a lot during the art walk about myself and about others.
   I must send out my deepest thanks to my wonderful parents who took in my kids for more than just 'the weekend' like I had told them, to my amazing man that in one evening took on building my display and tackled all the framing as well as keeping the kids occupied while I worked at getting ready, to my great family and friends who came to visit and encourage me especially those that held down the fort while I used the facilities. Also, a large thanks to the wonderful ladies that run the most beautiful flower shop Laurel's On Whyte, who were so gracious, kind, and helpful. It was the most beautiful place to be, outside Laurel's with all the luscious flower pots and flower garden smells wafting from inside. The support that I have received from everyone overwhelms me, almost to tears (probably because I am exhausted).
   I had lots of fun. Even though I am a small town girl, the crowd was great and everyones response to my work was extremely encouraging. When going through all the photos I have of the Art Walk I notice all the people looking at my work. Some passers by take a closer look but even those just trying to get through the crowds get distracted by it. To be on Whyte Ave, with all there is to look at and all the odd things and people going on it is a small feat to catch someones attention. I was able to see so many things and now have so many quirky stories to tell my friends. For instance, there was this one, very attractive confident young woman in a fabulous sun dress (I was envious of) that, as she walked by, I noticed and so did many others that her bags over her shoulders had got intangled with her dress revealing her whole backside and very sensible clean cotton undies. No wonder she was so happy during a sun skorching day, she had a wonderful breeze going on.
   I like that my work is achieving my goal, which is to get people to look. It really fuels the fire. Even today, though tired, I wanted to paint.
   I will be posting the painting that I completed during the Art Walk and the self-portrait that I finished just before and haven't had a chance to post yet. You may notice them in the photos: the blue car mirror painting and the larger one with the black dress.
   This past weekend not only makes me want to paint but it also gave me a greater shove to start showing my work more often. I am amazed at how many paintings I have laying around. If you are interested in purchasing my work please email me.
Life is Beautiful. Light in Life, both in people and our surroundings, inspire me.


  

Email Issues Resolved

This morning I realized that my email address: [email protected] was not working. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. It is working properly now. To think I passed out so many of my business cards this past weekend at the Whyte Avenue Art Walk and then not having my email address working made my heart skip a beat and yell while pulling at my hair, 'Oh, NO!'. All is well now. It's fixed. Feel free to email me.

I will be publishing a post this afternoon about my experiences this past weekend at the Whyte Avenue Art Walk along with some new paintings.

Promotional Lengths for the Whyte Avenue Art Walk

This morning I woke up at the most unreasonable hour. I was out the door by 5:30am. I was on Whyte Avenue in front of Lazzara's Cafe because the wonderful organizers of the Whyte Avenue Art Walk picked myself and a few others out of over 300 artists to go on the morning news with a sample of our work for promotion of the Art Walk which starts tomorrow. It was such an honor to be picked. For a night owl such as myself, that doesn't like to talk to people before 11am if I don't have to, it was quite a challenge. I almost felt like staying up for an all nighter, because I just couldn't convince myself to go to bed while the sun's still shinning. So, if you happened to catch the two second glimpse of someone on the morning news that looked like me chances are you were right.

The above picture is where I will be located tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful location to show and sell my work. I have a beautiful tree and get a fantastic view of lush greenery from Laurel's flower shops pots and window displays. I hope you can come down and join me.

Whyte Avenue Art Walk Edmonton July 16 -18th

   On July 16th to 18th I will be participating in the Whyte Avenue Art Walk held in Edmonton. I will be located in front of Laurel's flower shop. Here is a map of the event, I am located in the section marked 'D'  Map. There will be hundreds of local artists working in various mediums on site and selling their art all along Whyte Ave.
   I am thinking of it as a cleansing of my studio. I will be bringing all of my work that I have for sale. Almost everything piece on my blog will be there. I will even have some early work that was created before the start of my blog. Some of the better stuff from my University days will inevitably show up too, the stuff that was too good to paint over or turn into hand bags. The above photo is a bit of the mix of paintings that will be going to the art walk with me. I am getting them sorted and organized for the event.
   I will be painting on site as well. If you want to come and meet me and my paintings I encourage you to come and check it out. Trust me art is better in person than on a computer screen.
   I went to the art walk last year and I was truly amazed in the variety of art. Many of my artist friends will be there I can't wait to go. Good friends, usually good weather, and so much fabulous art it will blow your mind!