Deadlines and Angels

Well, the à la Klimt painting is still unfinished. Sometimes, I have to set these pieces aside and move on to something else for a day or two. I just couldn't bring myself to concentrate on the itty bitty details today. But of course, I painted, I always paint and I do find solace in painting angels. It's been a hectic couple of weeks, deadlines for the Originals show, tax time, family stuff...it was definitely time this week to attempt to recover with an angel or two.

The first one is still unfinished. I started it on Monday; I've used texture paint to create a raised Celtic braid on her halo and gown. I haven't quite worked out how I'm going to finish it...maybe tomorrow.



The second angel is finished. I've called it "Beautiful Pure". It's acrylic on 12 x 16 in gallery stretched canvas, and is hopefully, peaceful and calm. I've taken a chance and listed it on eBay for a pretty low opening bid...sigh...always a gamble.

Unfinished à la Klimt

I spent another long day at the easel with another in the à la Klimt series. This one is a Frida. I took this shot indoors so the quality is low but here's the latest "work in progress". It's a large canvas, 18 x 36 inches with lots of golds.

More à la Klimt

I've been putting in long hours on this latest series of à la Klimt paintings. So far, I've done two interpretations of the Madonna and the third one is simply two women. I've done this sort of composition before...I like the impression of comfort and trust the pose seems to create. The women may represent sisters, friends, or even mother and daughter. Whatever the relationship it is one of closeness.



I call this piece "Almost Gold". I've used gold leaf and various liquid gold and metallic paints on a wood box frame. The shot below gives a bit more detail.

Another Golden Madonna

As I sit here at my window, I can just about watch the buds opening on the maple tree. This morning I watched a little scramble between a robin and a brown squirrel. I'm not sure who got there first but they both seemed to be claiming squatter's rights!
I finished the latest in my à la Klimt series. It's a Madonna, quite reflective and a little sad, more romantic than art deco. I've used a combination of metallics and gold leaf. It's a fairly large piece 16 x 20 inches on a 1.5 inch deep box frame.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day All! I hope you had a moment to think about and act upon ways to care for this beautiful island we all share.

I'm back in my little studio following the Originals Spring Show. One of the best things about getting out and participating in an art and craft show, other than the obvious advantage of making a bit of money, is the opportunity to meet wonderful new artisans. We always help each other out, and share a few much needed laughs if the hours get long and the sales are scarce. My newest craft show friend is Joanne Jones and she is amazing! She is all about strength, generousity and commitment to her fellow humans and good old mother earth. But I'm going to let Joanne's own website Minedrecreations fill you in on how she recycles cast off clothes into very cool fashion accessories. And to make this environmentally ethical adventure even better, a portion of each sale helps fund a South African girl’s university education.

And I'm back to my paints again. I'm working on another Klimt inspired piece, still just an idea. But in the meantime, here's my April Nibblefest entry on eBay. Nibblefest is a themed art contest that starts on the 20th of each month. This month the theme is reptiles. Reptiles come in many shapes and sizes but I chose a snake. the snake's eyes are little sparkly Swarovski crystals. And as usual, the auctions start at the scary low bid of $0.99!

Zen, Tape and Spirit of Macgyver

Thursday morning, and just a few minutes to spare before I blast out the door for DAY ONE of Originals Spring Craft Sale. It was the usual sprint to the finish to get as much new work ready as possible, and then the absolute bedlam of packing up the trailer and setting up the show. The display always looks pretty passable by the time it's assembled and the work hung...but I admit the process is lacking in ZEN. We never seem to do the same lay out twice. My ever loyal and suffering hubby seems to channel the spirit of MacGyver, to somehow build the display and hang as many pieces as possible. And all this without a swiss army knife! And yesterday, we had even managed to forget the duct tape!

But this is it, the show must go on and will go on!

Originals Preparations in High Gear

Here it is already Monday, and Originals Spring Craft Sale is just a few short days away! As much as I wanted to paint, I've been organizing my work all day today, making sure each new painting is completely finished, I've signed it and it's ready to be packed up. I've been busy taking photos of the new pieces and loading up the images to my website. It's always a mad dash to the finish line!

And more excellent news has arrived, it's official, I'll be at One Of A Kind Show in Toronto next November. So many things to do before that one, including transportation and accommodations. But one day at a time. In the meantime, here's one of the paintings I'll be taking to the show this week.




It's called "Promises", done on masonite in a 12 x 24 in box frame. It's soft and romantic and makes me feel like spring has finally arrived. And even though we still have gritty old snow banks, I actually spotted some beautiful little crocuses today. Made me smile.

Hillside Is A Go! Yahoo!

I love Hillside Festival. It's just one of those amazing weekends that makes a summer memorable. I'll write more about it later. But for now, I'm cheering, I got the happy news today that I've been accepted as a vendor at Hillside 2008!

As always, I spent my day with my paints. I seemed to have fallen back into that romantic mood...sweet doll faced angels...I called this one Buchanan Ballad, because I used a Buchanan Tartan paper and because I'm tired and couldn't think of anything else to call it...

Spring Cleaning Sale!

With Originals Spring Showcoming up on the 17th, you can imagine I have new work in every corner and nook and cranny! I decided I need do some spring cleaning! So, I'm running a week long 50% off sale at my eBay store. Sometimes it's just good idea to freshen things up.

This piece is not part of the sale. I just finished it today. It's a mixed media collage including vintage sheet music, an old map, Swarovski crystals gold leaf and plenty of glazing and texture...it's reminiscent of my Byzantine icons...but with a contemporary feel.



It's called "Not Impossible Things" and is done on masonite in 12 x 24 inch box frame.

Another Party

Well the party continues. By that I mean I start out to paint a party girl and somehow along the way the painting gets a little sad a little wistful. I call this one "Betty And Bea". It's painted on 8 x 10 x 3/4 in plywood.

Cats and Party Hats

Maybe it's the seemingly never ending winter that's getting to me...it snowed again this morning and now it's raining...I start to paint party girls in sparkly party hats and somehow they end up looking alot more forlorn than I had intended...Ah, maybe April showers will bring the smiles back to these girls...

Feathers and Glitter

For the next couple of weeks, it's all about getting ready for Originals Spring Show. I'm still working on the collection of small format paintings on 5 x 7 inch canvas board. Here are a couple more I've finished this week.



This one is called Arianna. She's got dramatic blue eyeshadow with all kinds of sparkly glitter.




This one is called Alina, yes I'm working my way through the "A"s. She's very glittery and is topped off with a Swarovski crystal and real feather on her head band. And I discovered today that even all cleaned and dyed these feathers are irresistible to both the dog and the cat!

Forgotten Keys and Understated Sparkle

Today I experienced one of those random acts of kindness that are just so special. It was small in the grand scheme of things, but a perfect gesture. I am a "multi tasker". Most of the time I'm pretty accomplished, particularly when it comes to combining dog walking, grooming, exercise getting and postal pickup and delivery. Doggie knows at a fairly predictable time in the day, I will wash my brushes and exchange my slippers for boots and get her leash from the closet. It is naturally her favourite time of the day, so there is much Malamute howling and general excitement. It has been a snowy winter but finally, mercifully, the snow is beginning to melt. As welcome as this sign of spring is, it is undoubtedly the dirtiest time of year for the big dog owner. After much trial and error, I've discovered that the mush and slush that accumulates on her long coat, brushes out nicely if first rubbed with snow followed by a brisk raking.

So today was really no different as I struggled to grip the leash, the letters and the dog brush while I locked the door and get going. But, twenty minutes later, I realized that my hands seemed much too free and it was my keys that were missing. Yep, I had locked the door and left them in the lock! As I hurried home, it was easy to imagine a stolen car, ransacked home...plus all the embarrassment knowing that I had done a really dumb thing. And this is where I get to the random act of kindness. While I was out, I had received a postal delivery and there tucked safely and discretely behind the packages were the house keys. Thank you kind postal employee! You made my day!

And oh yeah, this is what I was painting today before I headed out on my little adventure.



It's called "Understated Sparkle" and is another in my growing collection of party girls. And she has lots of sparkle, glitter on her eyelids and little swarovski crystals on her ear rings and necklace.

Spring Easter Christmas...where do the hours go?

With my first show, Originals Spring Show , just around the corner I'm spending even longer hours than usual in my studio. Once the huge snow drift in front of my window has melted, my little room will be flooded with light, especially in the afternoon. But for now, I'm still in the shadow of the snow mountain. I'm using it again tonight as a backdrop for my latest collection of little paintings. These little guys are painted on 4 x 6 in canvas panels and have little embellishments like glitter or Swarovksi crystals. Hmm...they'll make great stocking stuffers...what am I doing??? - still not dug out from the winter of 2007/2008 and already thinking about next Christmas!

Infinite Variety

Yes, it's already 7:00 pm and no I didn't jot anything down for my blog before this moment...but I did tidy up my studio a wee bit, and I did paint today. I started a new angel and a Madonna on this Palm Sunday and I finished a Frida. I haven't painted many Frida pieces yet this year. This one is very folky, very sweet.



I called this one "Infinite Variety", a coupling of words I found in the introduction by Carlos Fuentes to "The Diary of Frida Kahlo". It's a marvelous introduction to her journal.

A Bit of A Vixen, A bit of a Vamp

Every day I promise myself that I'm going to set aside a few minutes early in the day, at an hour that I'm more likely to be able to put two words together to write in my blog. And here it is again, the sun in low in the sky; I'm tired and ready for the couch and, yep, I haven't written a thing in my blog. But as I've said before, I'm much more a painter than a writer, so I'll at least post a couple of new pieces. And don't forget, you can find lots more of my work, new and old at my website.





The first piece started out as another in my series of Flapper girls. As I worked, she became a bit more goth, a little bit scary. I used acrylics and gold leaf on wood. I like the texture of the wood. I called her "Vara (the Vixen)".



This one is also painted on wood, and is definitely a vamp! I called her Astrid...I love that name.

Angels and Snow

Can you believe it? The city just got the sidewalks cleared yesterday and it's snowing AGAIN! And it's still cold, but spring will come. With snow in the air and spring on my mind, it seemed like a good day to pare things down and paint some good old fashioned folk angels. As much as I love detail in a piece, there's something so sweet about country inspired figures. They're rustic and look simple, but sometimes it takes me longer "not to paint" things than to paint them...if you know what I mean.


So after a long day in the studio, there's a host of angels growing on my window sill.

The Collection Grows

The collection of girls continues to grow.

Party Girls

Women, women and more women! I started out this week painting a couple of Flappers and it was just so much fun, the crowd of gals is growing! Some of them are flirty, some are winsome and every one is just a little bit different. I've been posting them on my website almost before the paint is dry!



Speaking of paint drying...I have another one on my easel I'd like to finish tonight so better get at it!

Snow and Flappers!

The Toronto Star is reporting that 52 centimetres of snow fell yesterday here in Ottawa. It just fell and fell and this is how it looked when we woke up this morning.



And finally, the sun shone and I was able to get some decent shots of my recent paintings. So, here's Adelaide, the first in a series of funky fun, party girls.



She's a bit of a flapper I think, with her black bobbed hair and long red beads.