Joy in making

Sometimes my creative fancy takes forms in design and construction not always in painting, but often derived from my paintings in some way, made of or including tiny original paintings, or printed from one of my original paintings onto fabric.

Creating these designs gives me as much pleasure as painting; at least for short periods of time, until I saturate my desire for them.  It provides me with a  much needed diversion, especially when I have painting 'dry spells' or I'm stymied in some way while working through my usual painting process.  It's a common complaint for many artists, and getting going again can often be baby steps in new directions; the creative muse soon returns and all is good with the world

 

I think of making my handmade goods as an extension of  what I like to do and who I am.  Prototypes for these ideas often die in infancy, but some survive and come into fruition.  It can take a long time to bring a handmade into production.  Beginning from the time the idea drives my creativity,  I can spend hours laboring on different ways to make it work...then a long time tweaking, to make time, cost, and construction methods suitable for producing it.  It needs to meet a certain aesthetic that works with my art, but also stands alone.

Tiny Townscape Chocolates

'Chickadee'  - cushion -SOLD

Original designs and small product lines are always the driving force behind anything I create in the handmade goods market.  

I love the unique quality of making something out of time and love. That doesn't necessarily transfer to profitability but I don't always care about that. It satisfies me to 'make things' and if I sell them, well then it's a bonus for me.  I don't have an interest in scaling up to large production; small production is what makes them special and uniquely mine.  I find this ethos is a quality that people who buy my handmade goods are looking for... something distinct and one-off.  

 

when it feels right.

Walk In The Woods
oil on panel - 12 x 16 -$450

Do you ever wish you could press "pause" and "rewind" while painting?  I do.  How to get back to those spontaneous and fresh marks full of  passion, before time allows sober second thought, reworking / tweaking until the original idea is lost somewhere in the blurred vision of your process?!  ha ha ha...  thankfully, it's only art; and what doesn't work, can teach us a lot!  I've been struggling with my paintings this month, so I like to think I'm gaining an education of sorts:)  Usually time and patience shows me the way.

This painting was completed in 3 separate sessions in oils...alla prima for the general idea.  A few weeks later when fully dry, I had a desire to paint out much of the original marks I'd done, using an abstract intuitive approach using opaque tones, which probably only took about half an hour, but it was a uniquely satisfying process, obliterating what I didn't like, and trusting my sub-conscious guide.  I put it on 'the shelf'.  I wasn't quite sure where it would go, but it felt good to let the muse take charge.  A couple more weeks passed, more time to ponder. Yesterday I took it off the shelf again..."what if?"... a few fresh marks.  "Ahh... so that's where my heart wanted to go."   I know it's out of season for posting on my blog in the winter... (after all I began it when it was autumn!) but I'm happy with this little painting.  
I think my favorite thing about working in oils is that it often forces me into a slow process which I have learned is best not to fight...somehow this slow unravelling feels right for me.







 

Recent work

'Firsts'
mixed media / oil on wood
30 x 30" - $1200

Finally got around to finding a resolution with this painting yesterday, using oil pastels and oil paint over my acrylic sketch.  The figures are my daughter Rachel and grandaughter Ella. 
Inspired by a spectacular family photo portrait taken by Matt's aunt, Lori MacDonald. 
I took the liberty of removing daddy and doggie from the picture...sorry Matt & Asha!  

What really spoke to me about mother and child, is their gesture /body language; reflecting that particular joy any parent experiences introducing their child to the power and awesomeness of nature.

July in January

'Backyard, July'  - oil on canvas 48x24 in

My garden in July feels like the right subject to be painting in January... bringing my thoughts from winter doldrums to sunnier days.   I like mixing luscious tints; smearing them over top of thin washes with palette knife.  Kind of like icing a cake... the process luscious and decadent... the physicality of the oils somehow seductive.  Sometimes the drag of the canvas is a bit of a deterrent to how the paint glides.

detail

detail

Happy New Year gifts

Holiday Window - SOLD

It's always a real joy for me when someone loves my art and wants to see it, and even more so when I can show it to them in my own studio.  
I show my work in 3 galleries, which I am very grateful for,  but occasionally somebody will contact me through my website or blog and ask to see a particular piece.  
If that piece is not currently in one of the galleries, then it is often at home with me, squirreled away somewhere in my studio!  

Today a request to show a piece of work, manifested into a wonderful studio visit by not one, but TWO lovely ladies, who braved the cold and ice outside to make a trip to come and see my art. 

 I love interacting with people, about art in general and my passion for it;  it's what I miss the most about no longer operating my little porch gallery. 
 

However, today was a gift.  A special Happy New Year present, in that not only did both ladies buy some of my art, but I was given the gift of being able to meet them and feel the warmth of how art can touch people.

             

December studio time ...

With Christmas day over it feels good to hunker down in the studio and paint again.  I'm currently working on two water-lily & beaver pond themed paintings...here's what they look like so far, they're still a work in progress.  I like how they start as one idea and morph into other ideas as I go.  Inspiration for these ones has come from one of my many trips up highway 10 from Kingston to Westport.  I stop the car, jump out and creep to the shoreline so I can gaze at the beaver ponds, patterns of the lily pads floating on the surface.  At this time I snap a few photos for reference.  I think I took the photos in late September.  When I'm ready to paint the photos help jog my memory, so I can meditate on these experiences again.

We went to Victoria for a week just before Christmas, enjoying time with family.  We did a few kilometers of hiking on the Juan de Fuca trail leading down to Mystic Beach through lush coastal vegetation and and old growth forest.  What a special day!

Christmas was quiet and peaceful but delightful...Jane came home to make it special for us.  Happy New Year to all! xo

Studio 87

Studio 87 grand opening weekend

Studio 87 is a spanking new gallery in Perth Ontario, and whoooooa, is it a beauty!  Owners Randa Khoury & Martin Hauschild have done an outstanding job on a renovation to this historic Perth property which is located across the street from their current Gallery on Gore.  

a decadent feast for guests, clients and artists

Two weeks ago when I dropped off new artwork for the space, construction was in full swing...the beautiful (to be) limestone fireplace hearth only had a couple of stones laid, the walls needed painting, lights and hanging systems needed to be installed. 

beauty, beauty, everywhere!

On Friday Dec 9th, when I attended the first of two grand opening events, the gallery was miraculously transformed into a simply beautiful elegant space!  Really,  I was gobsmacked at how lovely it was, especially having seen it under construction only a couple of weeks prior.  Alexa and the owners did a spectacular job hanging all the work in record time for the big opening weekend.  

Rhanda, greeting guests

Interior design/decorating of the new space is very impressive... thanks to owners Rhanda & Martin.  Rhanda has an interior design business and one of Martin's many hats had him designing and creating a beautiful natural maple desk top for the space (it was in use as a wine bar during the opening event). They have kept all the lovely old features of the space (wonderful old tin ceiling) but brought everything into this century, making it functional and welcoming. 

me with my painting 'Playtime'

As one of the represented artists at this new gallery, I feel delighted to be able to show some of my new work in this space.