Frida à la Klimt again!

August 24 already! My apologies to those of you who regularly visit my little blog. With the clock ticking towards Cabbagetown Art and Crafts Show, I've been spending long hours at the easel.



This piece is another in my on-going Frida à la Klimt series. I've had this one started since sometime in the mid winter, but just couldn't seem to figure out the deco design until last week. I splurged on this one and used lots of 14K gold leaf from Thailand. It is so delicate and rich; almost buttery in texture.

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Back Again

Apologies for these long stretches between posts. I haven't been in my studio as often as I usually am. But I have managed to finish a couple of pieces.



This sweet little Chihuahua is called "Kahlu"; what a great name for a sweet little dog. I did it in acrylics on 5 x 7 in wood for a very nice collector.

The second piece is acrylics and collage paper, another red haired angel.



*all image rights reserved Wendy Ryan*

Frida at Home

It's late afternoon here in my little studio and I'm already noticing how the days seem to be getting shorter. Summer is so fleeting, especially in a northern climate. We've had a wet summer here, not nearly enough sun, but everything is gloriously green and lush. There's the lightest soft breeze drifting in my window; it's all quite lovely.

I've been working on commissions this week. They're not quite ready to share, but in the meantime, I've received a lovely shot of one of my large "Frida à la Klimt" pieces hung in its new home. Many thanks to Catherine for her patronage and for sharing this photo of Frida in her new home.




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A Morning Remembered

A few weeks ago I met a lovely young woman who commissioned me to do a painting for her. July was a busy month with shows but at long last her painting is ready. It's called "A Morning Remembered" and was one of those pieces that was a joy to paint.



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Home From Hillside Festival

It always takes a day or two to come down from Hillside Festival. It's one of those special summer festivals full of great music, amazing food and friendly supportive people who stop by my tent and go home with a piece of my art. And if I'm very lucky, I'm blessed with my "Hillside Moment"...that one little treasure that I'll hold in my memory until the next Hillside comes along. And 2008 did not disappoint. This is my 2008 Hillside Moment.

Shortly after six pm on Sunday, just moments after Stuart McLean had taken the stage, the wind blew, the heavens opened, and the rain came down. I can’t remember exactly how many people took refuge in our tent, but we all hung on and prayed that it would hold tight until the storm had passed. The wind was crazy, the rain was pelting down, but it was all over in a matter of moments. The sun came out, the tent cleared, and the show went on…

It soon became time for the Aboriginal Circle to close. As the participants, including eight Tibetan monks turned to face the four corners of the world, singing and drumming, the brightest, most breathtaking rainbow you can imagine arched perfectly above the wigwam.

Everyone was snapping pictures…except me…I never seem to have my camera…but I think I prefer having this one stored away in my memory rather than a photograph...

So now it's time to return to my paints...maybe tomorrow I'll have something new to post...

Madonna Icon Revisited

Sunday night and time to clean my brushes and turn this machine off! I've been working on a few commissions these past few days. One is a gift so of course I can't share it until after the surprise is delivered.
But I can share this one...it's a recreation of one of my previous pieces...a little tweak here and a little tweak there and it's a brand new piece. I've sent a pic off to the collector and they are delighted. This is the best music to my ears.



I loved painting this one...reminds me of pre and early Renaissances. I used lots of texture and gold leaf. Tomorrow, after it's glazed, I'll add a few Swarovski crystals.

*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan *

The Garden Pond

Somehow the week has gotten away from me. I started this post last Saturday and the clock ticked away and it remained a draft... But I'm going to go ahead and post it...so for the next paragraph, just pretend it's Saturday.

A glorious weekend off...well, I'll still be painting, but happily, we're not packing up the car for a show! The sun is shining, no sign of rain and even the humidity and mosquitoes seem to have taken bit of a holiday. I don't often share personal photos or stories, I'm not a good photographer, nor a great writer, so the focus of this humble little blog will remain my paintings. But as I so completely enjoyed my morning coffee in the back yard, I thought I'd share a shot of my unkempt garden pond. I made the garden warrior using a hypertufa recipe I found on the interent. I poured the mixture of cement, sand, and peat moss into a plastic pail, caught it before it set and carved it using an old paring knife. He's been guarding the pond for the last four years, surviving even the harshest of winters.


So that was Saturday and now it's Tuesday and I've been painting of course, so I'll share some work with you.



This painting is called "Favourite Friends". It's a collage on gallery wrapped canvas and I've got it up for auction on eBay.

Ive been experimenting with this really cool texture paint I found at the art store. This Frida is definitely Art Deco...a bit industrial, a bit naive, maybe even a bit Nouveau.

It's also for auction on eBay .

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Etude

Back from the Cobourg Waterfront Festival and very happy to have three weeks off before Hillside Festival. I've been so busy with these shows I haven't even had a chance to check out the line up - until tonight. I am so excited! Vinyl Café, Hawksley Workman, Sarah Slean, Cowboy Junkies, Sue Folley, and so many more. It is going to a fantastic weekend! But in the meantime, I've got work to do and bills to pay.

So, the brushes were flying today. I finished this little Frida and have listed it tonight on eBay She's all a-glitter and sitting pretty with her violin and sweet little birds.

I've called this little piece "Etude"...I love music terminology.

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Thunderstorms and Festivals

Summer is so short in this part of the world...we wait and we wait and we wait while the winter wind blows and the snow flies and then finally winter ends. But here we are already past the summer solstice and still wondering about our beloved summer weather. We had another thunderstorm today and it doesn't look like it's over yet. Let's hope there's sun and gentle weather for the Cobourg Waterfront Festival. But before all that fun begins, don't forget to have a peek at my Nibblefest entry eBay The auction ends tomorrow night.

So before I call it a night, here are a few of the new paintings I'll be taking to the festival.



This one is called "Can't Catch Them". It's acrylic and collage on 8 x 10 in gallery stretched canvas.



Under The Smiling Moon
size: 12 x 36 in



Princess of Spring
Size: 12 x 24 in

I've stamped little gold Celtic knots along the neck of her gown.

And for the rest, I hope you'll take a browse through my website.

*All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan *

Never Caught Up!

With less than a week left before the Cobourg Waterfront Festival I'm spending long hours at my paints. I have a number of new pieces all set to take pictures of...if I can dash out during a sunny break from these rain showers that seem to roll in every hour. Perhaps later today.

And I have to tell you about my June Nibblefest entry on eBay. As you may recall, I participate in a art contest once at month with a number of really fine artists. It's a themed contest, this month the theme is "Out of the Mist" and all entries must start at the low opening bid of $0.99. The auction closes on June 27th so you still have lots of time. Have some fun, try a bid or two!



It's another collage piece with lots of glitter and sparkles!

*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan *

Home Again

Home again from another show. And this time the weather was just not as co-operative as we had hoped. We had sun, we had shade...and yes we also had thunder and lightening. And the last place I care to be during an electrical storm is in a wooded park under a metal frame tent! We were very happy to pack up and hit the highway home.

And of course it's back to work for me. Here's a little 8 x 10 in canvas, called "Twilight Tricks. It's at auction on eBay and ends in the evening on June 22. I've added a little touch of glitter to Frida's dress and the stars in the sky. These cats have simply worn her out!



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Dogs and Mermaids

When you are awakened by the sound of your 92 pound dog throwing up on the bedroom rug you know that you should tread lightly on this day...
Matters of doggie bodily functions are left to my ever suffering husband as I have the weakest of stomachs. I can gag at the mere thought of what went on at 6:11 am!
So, I quickly sidestepped the - well, you know what - thinking my skills could be better utilized making coffee and hubby's brown bag lunch. A lovely way to avoid the doggie mess except that in my haste to exit the bedroom, I forgot my glasses, which meant that I was doing everything by touch and sound rather than by sight...the end result being a broken glass and big ol' boo boo on my right hand. I did have a moment of panic, fearing that I might not be able to hold a paint brush for a day or two. But plenty of pressure, cold water and band aids put me back together again.

So with only one sleep before we head to Toronto for the Beaches Arts and Crafts Show I've finished a few more pieces. It's already late and time for bed, so I'll just put a few up here. As always, you can see more on my website.


This one is called "A Fanciful Idea" and is at auction on eBay.



This one is called "The Gentle One".

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The Day After

Well Art In The Park 2008 is now behind us. And it was a glorious weekend. While other parts of Ontario had severe storms we had mostly blue skies over head. It was incredibly hot but heck, we complained all winter about the cold and the snow, so it's time to enjoy summer.

I would have loved to take today day off to clean up my studio and maybe even relax, but there was no time for that with Beaches Art and Crafts Showthis weekend. So it was right back to my easel. And my poor hubby is the steamy hot garage right this minute building a couple more box frames for me...what a great guy.

I finished a couple of pieces to day that I had been started earlier in the year. At least I think they're finished...hmm, maybe tomorrow I'll feel differently....





I took these pics indoors so the quality isn't great. I'll have better outdoor shots tomorrow and add them to my website. And now it's time to clean my brushes and call it a day!

All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan

Glitter and Art Deco!

I can't be the only one out there old enough to remember "glitter paint kits". I've heard they're quite collectible these days. Back in the 1960's these sparkly paint by number kits were absolutely magical to a little farm girl like I was. And I remember it was the year that I snooped around and found my Mom's Christmas stash. And yes, I ultimately got caught. I do recall that Christmas really wasn't as much fun knowing what I would find under the tree.

Well today's first painting is my own glitter collage painting. It's a sweet little mermaid who has decided to set her basket of fish free! I seem to be on a theme here...yesterday a basket of butterflies and today the fishes...maybe it will make us all more conscious of the need to conserve and take only what we really need...



And for those of you who read my blog, you know that tomorrow is my first summer show, you can find all the info for this and my other shows on my website. And as I mentioned earlier in the week, I've been finishing all the paintings that have been lurking in the corners of my studio. I did pretty well, so thought I'd share them with you too.



This one is called "You Will Remember". It's acrylic on a large 12 x 36 in wooden box frame. The border is done in a sort of faux verdi gris finish. It's a romantic piece I think.



Another romantic woman done in my à la Klimt style in gold and acrylics on 16 x 20 in box frame. It's called "Touch of Romance".



More Klimt influence in this Frida piece. It's a large 18 x 36 in canvas and called "Out of Gold". I've used gold and silver leaf as well as coloured metallic paints.



And finally, one more Frida à la Klimt. I called this one Asian Accents. It's also 18 x 36 in canvas in gold and coloured metallic paints...quite jewel like I think.

And now, I'm off to pack up for the show!

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A Basket of Butterflies

I'm still finishing those final pieces for Art in the Park.
For those of you who are coming out to the show, my booth location is 15 Central. So there's not much time to write. But here's a little collage piece that will go for auction on eBay tonight.

I've used collage paper, vintage sheet music and acrylic to create "Basket of Butterflies."



*All image rights reserved Wendy Ryan *

Three More Almost Finished

The push to be ready for ART in The Park this weekend continues! I've got to keep this post short as it's already after 8 pm and I'm still working. It's been a cool rainy day and paint is slow to dry but nothing that can't be helped along by a little blast from the hairdryer.

These are three pieces that had been in various states of "started, but not finished" that I'm determined to have ready for the show this weekend.



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Art in The Park Around the Corner!

Last night I looked around at all the paintings that are nicely started, almost finished, and those that should never be finished and soon realized I need some organization and discipline to get my creative life in order. Sometimes there's nothing like a big brush, a can of gesso and a good strong stroke to put things in perspective. Aside from painting over a few canvases, I did make some other small advances today. I finished a couple of small paintings and put the final touches on a small commission that I can't share just yet, 'cause it's a gift.

But there is so much work left to do before my first outdoor show, Art in The Park right here in Ottawa that I'd better dash.



But thought I'd share the little piece that can be shared and get a little more work done before it's time for bed. This piece is a collage and acrylic on 8 x 10 in canvas. It's hard to see, but the crowns are done in a deep metallic gold. It's called "What Dynasty Is This?".

And before I forget, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have subscribed to my humble little blog. Thanks a bunch!

*All image rights reserved Wendy Ryan*

The End of A Beautiful Month

May and June are my favourite months...I love the trees that bloom in early May, the scent of apple blossoms that give way to lilacs as the month travels on. I've had a gorgeous lilac bouquet in the kitchen counter for the past week, but it's now time to toss them in the composter. And finally, it has been warm enough this past week to empty that composter and plant some basil and a few tomato plants. With a small yard and a big do, my vegetable gardening is limited to containers.

May has proven to be a productive time, which is good. With three shows in June, the next month is going to fly. I'm a bit behind in posting pics, but I have updated my website so you can always find my work there. So here are a few from the past little while that I think I missed on my blog.



This one is a collage, acrylic on 8 x 10 in canvas.




And another Frida.



And I call this one "Never Mind The Birdhouse".

*All Image rights reserved Wendy Ryan *

Once A Year

We just arrived home from the yearly pilgrimage to the vet's with a clean bill of health for both doggie and kitty. Once again here it is, the end of a long day, I'm ready for a book and a cup of tea but determined to post a couple of the paintings I've been working on this week. I've stayed mostly in the "little Primitive" mode and have great fun.



This one is on 5 x 7 x 3/4 in wood and is called "Dobeedobeetwo".



Another little one on wood; acrylic and collage paper and it's called Macbeen and Molly. And now it's time to turn this thing off!

Monday Again

Monday again! I started two large paintings and finished a little one...only the little one is really ready to post. So here it is, "Tabitha In the Tulips".

It's painted on 5 x 7 x 3/4 in wood. I love painting on wood!



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