Originals Christmas Show Opens Tomorrow!

The One of A Kind Show Toronto, is now history. It was an amazing show! I can't begin to describe how much talent is gathered together under one roof - visual arts, crafts, furnishings, fashion, food and everything else created by very special artisans. And if you're anywhere near Chicago, you have to go to One of A Kind , Chicago, Dec 6 - 9! I won't be there, but some of the artisans I met in Toronto were packing up for the trip to the Windy City, so it's sure to be fantastic.
I hope to post some links to some of these artists later in the month.

With my oh-so-patient and loyal hubby I will be setting up at another amazing show tonight. If you're in the Ottawa, Ontario area don't miss Originals . The show runs from Dec 6 to 16 and will be the best place to find something special and unique and of course, support the arts community.

And unbelievably, I'm in a TV commercial for the show!


It was quite an adventure to get the video crew squeezed into my tiny upstairs studio. No one but hubby, the dog and cat ever really come into my little space. I'm still asking myself "Is that really me?"...Of course, the camera must have added ten pounds and ten years...and that voice...do I really sound like that? Well, you'll just have to come out to the Originals
show to find out! At least until I figure out how to load the video on my blog...sigh, maybe after the weekend.

I had a couple of shots of most recent work still in my camera when we left last week, so thought I'd post one today.



I've been fascinated with the work of Gustave Klimt for the past few years. This piece is not intended to be dark in any way. Although the angel holds a skull mask, it is not meant to frighten, but to assure that the mystery continues beyond the temporal. Much in the way the Day of the Dead celebrates of the lives of those past, so does this piece. I’ve called this one “Be Not Afraid”.


Title: Be Not Afraid
Medium: Canvas, Acrylic, Silver Leaf
Size: Size: 18 X 36 in
46 X 92 cm
Date: 2007


The angel is positioned against a Klimt inspired Art Deco background in blue, green metallics. Her robe pattern is an homage again to Klimt. I've used plenty of texture and liquid gold leaf for her halo. This is a large dramatic painting, sure to inspire conversation no matter where it is hung!



Copyright © Wendy Ryan - All Rights Reserved

Paintings! The Night Before

Well, after months of preparation, it's finally the night before the first Christmas art sale! We're off to Toronto tomorrow for the second half of One of A Kind in Toronto. It's been a full day already of painting, packing and wondering if I've done half the things on the list I didn't make.

So before I go back to it all, here's a little sample of the work that's been done since I last posted. I've got just about everything up on my website ...except for one piece that I'll have to get a shot of tomorrow before we leave.



She Was a Goddess




My Tuxedo Tom



Our Star



Stars And Snow



Frida On Ice

All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan

No Time to Post, Just Paint, Paint, Paint

Time is tick tocking faster than I can believe, Now only a week until my first Christmas show. I'm still a daily painter, but certainly can't claim to be a daily blog poster, that's for sure. So, just to let you know I'm still here, are a few of my new pieces. I've managed to get just about everything I've painted on my website, so if you have a moment, I hope take a browse through.






v

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Christmas Angel Paintings

Well, the count is definitely on until Christmas! Yikes, less than a month until One of a Kind show in Toronto! And then right on its heels Originals in Ottawa gets rolling. So, on the weekend, I started a couple of Christmas themed paintings, angels of course. They're both done with acrylics on canvas with plenty of texture and little swarovski crystals for stars.



This one is called "Tree Time".



This one is called "Almost Here"...as Christmas most certainly is!

Angels Painting For Today!

These were done while the camera was ailing, I'm so happy to have it back.



This one is 8 x 16 in and I called it "And A Rose". It's got lots of texture in the background.



This one is done using similar technique, angel times three! It's called "For The Soul and is 16 x 20 in.



This is a big one, 18 x 36 inches. It's called "Bouquet of Peace."

*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Another Angel Painting

Well, my camera is home, safe and sound. It's just too late tonight to write much, so here's one of the new angel paintings...and more to follow. It's called "A Guiding Hand".



All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan

Angels, Cameras, and Work, Work, Work!

Here I am another week has flown by and the Christmas shows are looming closer and closer on the horizon! I've been painting angels all week, and have a good start on another in my à la Klimt series. As you might recall from my last post, the impatient "all thumbs artist", that would be me, managed to injure her beloved camera. The camera returned home from the shop with new pins and memory card, good as new, or so I thought. I anxiously lined up all my finished canvases, aimed the camera carefully and click...somehow, something had happed to the shutter! Every shot was overexposed and looked more like special effects for a Halloween prank than art photos! So, the camera has returned to the shop once again. It has been a year of technical missteps for sure.

But happily, my scanner still works, so I can at least post a couple of small pieces destined for the One of a Kind show and sale in Toronto. These are both acrylic on gallery stretched canvas. The backgrounds are textured and they're shamelessly folky and romantic. The angel has a metallic gold halo. Little Swarovsky crystals sparkle in the night sky over the little girl and her red birds.



Title: Roses in the Heart



Title: All I've Seen

Well, it's back to work for me.

*All image rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Nibblefest Angel Painting

Here it is October 20th! The count down to my Christmas shows is on and with it comes the excitement and just a little bit of that heart pounding panic! One of a Kind in Toronto is just around the corner! And Originals in Ottawa follows fast on its heels! My house is filling up with finished paintings and our living room has been converted into a bit of a workshop where hubby is testing and assembling the new display. There are still so many things left to do...so much planning!

In the midst of all this chaos, I managed to break my camera yesterday! Unbelievable! I won't go into the sorry details, it was definitely "operator error", not covered under warranty, but can be fixed. But it means I'm without camera for a week. So, in the meantime, I'll be posting only those smaller pieces that can fit on my scanner.

Today is also the first day of Nibblefest, the themed art contest on eBay that I participate in when able. All listings must be started at $0.99! The theme this month is "Shadows". My painting is an angel emerging from the shadows. I had painted a larger version but I'll have to wait until my camera is fixed to add it here and to my website.



Well, the shadows are lengthening here in my studio, so it's time to finish up and maybe if I'm lucky hit the couch!

Another Angel Naive Painting

I've been at my easel all week painting angels. I didn't get decent shots of the big pieces yet but thought I'd post this little one. I still don't have a name for it yet...so for today it's Angel October 18 2007.



It may be difficult to see, but it has lots of texture, I used sand in the gesso, everywhere but the face and neck. A great alternative to commercial texture medium. I'm continuing my series of naive angels and will be posting them soon.

I just couldn't let Blog Action Day go by completely unmarked...even though I didn't post yesterday. So I thought I'd share an environmentally kind tidbit. I stumbled upon the Low Impact Woodland House several months ago while I was looking for environmentally friendly housing solutions. Who wouldn't want to live in this little parcel of heaven?


Back to my reality with a thud! It's been work, work, work since I returned from celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving with our family. I was reminded to give thanks in so many ways...including giving thanks that the two thousand dollar car repair we incurred didn't prevent our trip or cost even more...Ah the joys of free wheeling down the highway!

With Christmas shows rapidly approaching, every corner of the house is filling up with finished paintings! For more new work and show info I hope you'll drop by my website But for now here are a few of the new pieces.

Naive Angel Painting For Today

Today's painting is a simple little angel, naive, but not quite primitive. It's called "Quietness" and is done on 8 x 10 inch gallery stretched canvas. Although it's hard to see, the stars and halo are done in metallic gold.



“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Bible

Blue and Red Paintings Revisited

While I was organizing my files this week I came across some images of a small series of women in red against a blue background that I had painted over a year ago. I decided to rework this theme again. These pieces are both done in acrylic on 8 x 10 inch canvas. They're sort of stripped down and abstract, and lots of fun to paint.

I call the first one "As You Are."



The second one is called "Not A Big Thing."

Paintings for Today Frida à la Klimt, Angel and Horse

It just could be that fall arrived last night. The heat and humidity have been replaced by cloud, a bit of drizzle and cool enough temperatures that I finally closed some windows. And as I made the morning coffee the air was filled with the honking of Canada Geese as they made their way south. Four great V Formations flew over our house...it was so beautiful and so unmistakably Autumn.

True to my pattern, I'm behind in posting the new paintings. I've been working on a number of pieces, more angels, horses and another in my Frida à la Klimt series.




I call it "A Golden Soul". Like the previous pieces, it's textured acrylic with metallic and gold leaf.

The next painting is another in the "Dark Angel" series. This piece is large, 24 x 36 inches, lots of texture and bronze metallic.



And the last one for today is a little angel out for a ride under the stars on her great, grand steed.



As always you can find just about all my work, old and new on my website.

More New Paintings - Angel and Mother and Child

I can't quite believe we're officially in the Autumn season! But we are and here I am on an unbelievably warm day in September building building Christmas inventory.

I put the finishing touches on a couple pieces today. I've been working on them for the last couple of days.




This is another large piece 36 x 24 inches.

The second one is another in my series of dark angels. If you've ever taken a browse through my website, you'll know I've painted a lot of angels. I've used iridescent copper for the background and highlights of this piece. I've called this one "At Your Door".



I've got another Klimt piece almost finished...maybe tomorrow.

No Bling Today!

No à la Klimt paintings to post today, maybe I'll start work on a new one tomorrow. I spent the day finishing two paintings, both familiar themes.



This one is called "Forever Friends".



I've painted many kids on horses...I call this one "A Very Rich Ride".


*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan *

Klimt O Mania Continues

Well, the Frida piece is finally finished...I couldn't seem to stop adding more detail, more gold leaf, more shine, but this is it, I'm not going back to it again!








“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”"

~ Frida Kahlo~

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: The Person She Knows
Medium: Acrylic, Gold Leaf on Canvas
Size: 24 x 36 in
60 X 90 cm
Date: 2007

And now on to the task of packing up everything for the Old Ottawa South art show tomorrow. It's a beautiful day today...hoping for just one more summer-like day tomorrow!

*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Old Ottawa South Arts and Music Festival

Another busy week flying by! I've been watching the weather hoping for sunshine on Saturday for my last outdoor show of 2007! This is my first year at Old Ottawa South Art and Music Festival. I've had a look at the website and WOW! Lots of talent at this one day show. I must remember to take my camera and take some shots to share.

So with the clock ticking, I'll share a new finished piece and one in progress First the work in progress. It's another Frida à la Klimt, 24 x 26 in, lots of texture and gold leaf. I took this shot in the house so the colours are a bit off but you get the idea.



I've got a couple of new pieces up for auction on eBay. After a flurry of excitement last week, it's oddly quiet on, so you just might find a bargain.

This one is called "With All Her Eyes". The large gold leaf halo encircling the angel gives this one a lot of shine!


So, it's back to work for me. It's always a challenge to try to guess what might sell at an arts show. Some shows permit only original work, in other words, no giclee prints. But The Old Ottawa South Ats and Music Festival permits giclees, so I'd better crank up the print and get some art cards ready to go!

*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan *

Michael the Angel Painting for the Day

Yikes! Another week gone by so quickly. I've been painting, daily, but have fallen so far behind in posting, it's high time to get some new work up here. I do want to mention again that my new work can be found on my website. I did a bit of quick updating this morning.

So moving on to the work:



Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: Michael
Medium: Acrylic, metallics on Wooden Block
Size: 5 X 7 x .75 in
13 X 18 x 2 cm
Date: 2007

I've painted so many angels, and from time to time, I'm asked to interpret a male angel. I've listed this one for auction on eBay.

The next two pieces are large canvases. I just finished them yesterday. The first one is called "Midnight Ride", another in my child and horse series. It's a large piece 36 x 18 inches. It was a bit too cloudy when I took this shot...so the jpeg seems a bit darker than the actual painting.




The next one is called "Contemplative Calm", also a large piece, 24 x 36 inches and lots of texture.



Well, it's back to the easel for me. I have my last outdoor show of the season next Saturday, Old Ottawa South Art and Music Festival and have lots of work left to do.

Dinner, Movie, Paris and Paints!

I guess I missed a couple of days over the weekend...what a lovely weekend it's been too! We saw a great little movie Two Days in Paris. We had just had this yummy early dinner with two young friends, a kind of combination, house warming, they've just moved into a new apartment and a belated birthday for me. The movie was just the right touch!

And of course, I forgot to post my new work. I've been working on some large metallic Klimt inspired pieces...but they're not quite ready, but this is a little sort of Folk meet Art Deco à la Klimt again.



“Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.”

~ Anonymous

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: A Little Discretion
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 8 X 10 in
20 X 26 cm
Date: 2007


It's hard to see it on-line, but the background is a rich gold and deep bronze sort of metallic. I took another risk and have it at auction on eBay with an opening bid of $9.99. Right at this moment there seems to be a little glitch with the image showing up in the search results so I'm on to my next adventure...repairing my listing. It's usually a quick fix, and then it's on to my paints.


*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan *

More Klimt Art Deco Painting Madness!

I guess it's time I admit - I am a "Klimtomaniac". I don't expect to recover anytime soon.


“Everything changes,everything moves, everything revolves - everthing flies and goes away."

~ ~ Frida Kahlo~

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: Everything Moves
Medium: Acrylic, Gold Leaf on Canvas
Size: 24 x 36 in
60 X 90 cm
Date: 2007

I'm a bit bleary eyed from this one, so am cleaning my brushes and turning off the computer. Happy Friday to all!

Blond Girl Red Bird Painting For Today

My collectors have often reminded me that I just don't paint blond girls often enough! So I thought I'd remedy that with a blue eyed blonde with her little red birdie friends.


" The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."

~ William Blake

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: Musings Under The Stars
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 5 X 7 x in
13 X 18 cm
Date: 2007

I've listed this painting for auction on eBay. I decided to start this one at a low opening bid of $9.99 without any reserve...hmmnnn...kinda risky I guess, but what the heck!

Painting Inspired by Klimt and Francesco Laurana

"Sculpture is more than painting. It is greater To raise the dead to life than to create Phantoms that seem to live."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I recently discovered the work of Francesco Laurana while thumbing through a book on Gustave Klimt. I fell in love with the work of this early Renaissance sculptor. There is a quiet serenity to his female figures that must have also appealed to Klimt. This piece is inspired by both Klimt and Laurana. The palette is predominantly green with gold, bronze and silver metallic art deco background. I've posted this piece for sale in my Yessy Gallery.

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: After Laurana
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 10 X 30 in
26 X 76 cm
Date: 2007

*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan

Painting for Today - Folk Angel Under The Stars

This entry is going to be very short, I printed and painted all day and I'm tired! So without much talk I'll post a little painting I finished today. I'll be at auction on eBay this evening.




" Judge of your natural character by what you do in your dreams."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: While In Your Dreams
Medium: Acrylic on Wooden Block
Size: 5 X 7 x .75 in
13 X 18 x 2 cm
Date: 2007

And now it's off to walk the dog!

*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Art Deco Art Nouveau Paintings, Paintings!

I've kept my Ebay store open during these busy summer months, but it's been so long since I put a painting up for auction. I miss the excitement of watching for bids, having people stumble upon my work for the first tiem...so today is the day! I've been working on a number of Klimt inspired paintings and I've scheduled this Frida piece to start tonight. With any luck, I'll get back in the groove of listing something new for auction every night.



" It is you whom I love today..."

~ Frida Kahlo

Artist: Wendy Ryan
Title: It Is You Today
Medium: Acrylic on Wooden Block
Size: 5 X 7 x .75 in
13 X 18 x 2 cm
Date: 2007


*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan *

Late Summer Got You Feeling Blue?

With the shorter days and cooler nights of late August, I'm thinking about the summer that seemed to slip so quickly away from me...Preparation for the trade shows gobbled up so much of my precious summer. I'd have to think long and hard before I schedule another one. I'm determined next summer will be filled with music and arts festivals. If I have a summer of 2007 regret it's missing that most wonderful weekend of all, Hillside Festival, in Guelph Ontario. Just visit the website and I know you'll be trying to find a way to make it to Hillside 2008!

But for now, I'm happily back to my studio, dog on the floor and kitty in the windowsill. It's a cloudy day and the breeze so moist, I can't decide if it's hot and humid or cool and damp. Paint is drying slowly, but sometimes that's a good thing.



I finished this little piece earlier this week. I've used a lot of texture and added a clay wooden cross to the background. I've put a few more new pieces up on my website, so hope you'll have a chance to take a look.

August Already?

The Buyers Market show is now history and I'm back in my little studio painting and printing and wondering where did the summer go? Already August, the days noticeably shorter and cicadas doing their daily serenade. We're off tomorrow to set up for one last trade show,By Hand in Toronto. I think the best part of these trade shows is getting out there and meeting other artists...I learn so much from my colleagues, both in terms of creativity and the business of art.

I call this one "3 Argyle Avenue". It's been on my easel for weeks and I finally finished it this afternoon.

Praying Angel Cross Icon - My Painting For Today

I've been working on a series of large angel and Madonna icons for the Buyers Market of American Craft show next week.

This is a contemplative angel, rather peaceful, her hands raised in prayer. My hubby cuts the crosses in 3/4 inch plywood. I gesso them and apply the Celtic braid in texture medium; sort of like decorating a cake. I let it dry over night then carry on with the painting. Once I'm satisfied I seal it then add the sparkling little crystals.




“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

Title: Enduring Faith
Size: 14 x 24 in
60 x 36 cm


*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan *

More Paintings. Surreal Cats Angels and Horses

Well, the new printer is installed and somehow this weekend I'm going to have to learn to use it! But in the meantime I'm painting, which is of course a lot more fun than printing!

I think I'm just about caught up posting my new work to my website. Here are a couple pieces that I finished this week.

. This one is a bit on the surreal side. It's called "It Was Cloudy".



When I was a girl I had an Appaloosa pony. Like so many farm stories, there was an unhappy ending to our Appaloosa story. But all is well for this little angel speeding across the snow on her grand spotted steed. This one is called "Dreaming Free".