In The Works

I'm working on the finishing details of an interesting piece, at least for me.  It's two 12 x12" and a 30 x 24" put together, a little like a puzzle.  It's a commissioned piece and I'm pleased with how it's going. I do wish my daughter was around to get some good pictures.  I'm also working another piece, to hang in Fusion soon.

Did I tell you?  I've been asked to continue to display my art work at Fusion Cafe & Bistro into December.  I was over the top pleased, it's been an incredible experience and it's great to be given the opportunity to continue to show my work.

Working around the bend and sway of the fibromyalgia has been a trick, but I'm managing so it's all good. I'm just too happy to be painting!

Polyptychs & Works In Progress

I've really got to master the art of creating my own frames and stretched canvas.  I live in an area where art supplies are hard to come by.  My choices come down to Michael's Craft store or ordering on-line.  I wanted to get some longer, narrow panels to do a triptych with but Michael's does not carry the size I need in the the sturdy framed Gallery wrap.  But I'll take what I have and do something interesting, I hope!  Maybe I'll finally try doing a polyptych.  I've been wanting to do this since buying Suzy Andron's DVD, she does amazing work, and is the person who introduced me to the wonders of Gorilla Glue.  Love her for that alone :-)

This one is almost done.  It's an interesting design, I created it to hang horizontal, but as you can see vertical will work too.  On the table is the layout I decided to go with, I'm hoping it turns out. On the floor is another commissioned triptych waiting to be painted.

I really need to figure out a name for this piece, it's to go on display at Fusion soon!

I want to wish all my American friends a wonderful Thanksgiving, hope your celebrations are full of laughter and good times!

Exhibition & Meet the Artist

It's been a time of first for me in the past week.  My first exhibition  and my first 'Meet the Artist' at Fusion Cafe & Bistro.  The pieces I had on display have all sold!  Can you say, happily surprised!  I got to meet some of the people who are purchasing my work and it's a humbling experience but a brilliantly happy one at the same time.  I enjoyed hearing their responses to the piece(s) they had chosen, art really has a voice all it's own. It speaks first to me as I work with it's elements to bring it to life on the canvas, then it speaks to the individual who's eye it captures.  Maybe that's why I don't find it hard to part with the pieces once I've finished the process.  For me, the power has always been in the process, the act of creating, feeling my way along as it teaches me things about myself, about persistence, about what it means to complete.     So I'm in my studio this week, creating some new pieces to add to the display.

Oh and I got to meet Doug Dickinson the journalist for the Bugle, wonderful to put a face to the name and thank him in person for making me sound good in print! I appreciate everyone who came out and stopped to chat, thank you.

I have to tell you, having all these firsts take place at Fusion has been the greatest gift for me. Tracie has been wonderfully encouraging and helpful, she has created an amazing gathering place.  

My sisters, daughter and I had the best time during the 'Meet the Artist' enjoying the delectable Brunch Buffet, well they did, I was too nervous to eat much but did enjoy another one of Fusion's incredible cheese cakes. Yum!  Even had my son drop in with his wife Lori, who has become quite the PR person for my art and of course my two Grand-daughters.  Loved it, when the youngest, Lyvia asked me, "Nanny are you an artist?"  I looked at her and grinned and said, 'you know what, I think I might be!' We both had a good chuckle.

Looks like the fist layers of texture are dried so I'm out of here!

I'm In Print!

It's been quite a week, a little surreal.  Not the least of which was having Doug Dickinson interview me for an article in The Bugle-Observer, Woodstock's weekly newspaper.  Doug did a wonderful job making me sound pretty good and I am grateful for the opportunity.  The Bugle was kind enough to give me permission to scan and share the article with you.

I am hoping that if you click on the image you will be able to read the full article.  But just incase, here are a few snippets from the interview:

"It was in 2010 that she discovered her real passion for art.  "I picked up a canvas to see if what I was doing in my journal would translate onto a canvas, and something just exploded inside of me as I wandered through the world of abstraction,"

"You could say I came to the party late, I'm 55 and am only now finding the artist within me."

All I can say, is thank you Doug for a great article, my first!

Meet The Artist

My first art show is going quite well, paintings are selling, people are enjoying what they see, and I am still trying to get my head around it all.  Fusion's owner, Tracie Jones has scheduled a "Meet the Artist" for Sunday afternoon, from 1-3pm.  Another first for me and I am excited and nervous all at the same time. For those of you who are in the area please join me. My sisters and daughter will be joining me for this, got to have my peeps with me for moral support!  They are all into photography so I'm sure there will be some photos to come in future posts.

'Rise Up' 24 x 36"

For now I'm busy working on a second version of a piece I originally called 'Rise Up.'  The original has sold but there have been a number of inquires on the piece so we are hopeful that the second version will go as well.

Hope you are all having a great week!

Art On Display

This is a shot of the Boxed In Remix in it's final stages, the background is actually a deeper burgundy-brown but it's the best I could get before it went to be put on display at my daughter-in-law, Lori's work place.

Lori just sent me a photo of Boxed In Remix hanging on her office wall.  Looks nice if I must say so myself.

More of my work is now on display at Fusion Cafe & Bistro from now until the end of November.  Unfortunately we were so busy getting the pieces hung that I forgot to take any pictures of the whole process!  I will try and get some before the end of the week though.  I love Fusion's decor and ambience and my paintings look great on their walls, thank you Tracie!

Oh and I did my first interview about my art, to be published in a local newspaper.  That was interesting and all a little mind bending!  Will share more once/if it makes it to print.

Boxed In Remix

Not sure if you remember this canvas, Boxed In, but this will be it's third remix :-)  What can I say, sometimes I like to take an old canvas and give it a new direction.  It's sporting a very different look today so I thought I'd share.  This is done in acrylics then highlighted with bronze ink, gives it a wonderful aged feel.  I'll let it set for awhile before I finish it out.


Still working on the new triptych, I believe it's ready for paint, once I get my colour mixes tweaked I'll get started on it, this is a new commissioned piece.


Did you know there are 5 universal shapes? These shapes show up around the world, across all cultures in artwork and the like.  According to cultural anthropologist, Angeles Arrien, "the square symbolizes: stability, solidity, and security.  Meaning: Drawing a square mirrors the process of constructing a foundation. These people are ready to build, to implement a plan, to manifest ideas. They need consistency, accountability and completion."


Interesting isn't it? Helps to explains why I don't tend to like working with squares very much! Notice how loosely my squares are filled in, consistency & completion are not big ticket items for me, I have to live life so on the fly because of my health that these elements became things I had to let go of in order to find a way to be at peace.   I'm a circle, spiral and cross girl myself :-)  
Angeles Arrien says,
"Circle: Symbolizes, wholeness, the experience of unity

Meaning: When people are engaged in the search for wholeness they aspire to independence and individuation. What they need most is space, room in which to find themselves, and develop their own identity.

In Relationships: These people will feel loved and trusted when allowed plenty of space. If the space they need is not offered to them, they will simply take it. It is wise to wait and to allow the person who is in this process to initiate communication and contact.

Underlying Fear: entrapment, being caught in a situation that will restrict or restrain them"

In a nutshell they mean:
Circle: Symbolizes, wholeness, the experience of unity
Cross: Symbolizes, relationships, integration
Spiral: Symbolizes, growth, evolution
Square: Symbolizes, stability, solidity, and security
The fifth symbol is the Triangle, symbolizing: dreams, visions and goals


Intriguing why we move towards certain of these shapes in our work at different times.  I first heard about these universal shapes while reading Betsy Dillard Stroud's book, Painting From The Inside Out. Betsy uses a lot of personal symbolism in her work.

Starting next week, select pieces of my art work will be on display at Fusion Cafe & Bistro, along with the works of two other artist.  This is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am deeply appreciative of Fusion's owner, Tracie Jones for her support of local artist.  Tracie has built her business with the same energy and warmth that she greets her customers.  It's a thrill to know my work will be hanging in her new facility beginning Nov 14th, just in time for Woodstock's Victorian Christmas celebrations.

For those who live near by, give yourself a treat and come and enjoy some of Fusion's gourmet coffee and their cheese cakes, lets just say, they leave you drooling for more.  Don't get me started on the rest of the menu!  And enjoy some art at the same time! 

"Art Flourishes In Constraints"

"But while art flourishes in constraints, it does not do so easily." David DuChemin


I'm a fan of David DuChemin's work, his photography and his words.  In fact it was his words that first captivated me.  I had bought his book Within The Frame for one of my photography loving sisters and got lost in the mind and spirit of it's author.  I love how he writes about creativity and the artist eye.  


Today David has posted a piece that I relate to...the restraints and changes that our physical being can bring our way.  David survived a terrible fall and is finding his world altered because of it, just as mine has been radically altered because of the severe fibromyalgia and now arthritis.  


"But if this sounds like a building storm of pity, it’s not. It’s simply the recognition of a new reality. A reality, like yours, that is full of constraints. But while art flourishes in constraints, it does not do so easily. I am slowing down. I am back in school. And like many of my own students, having a melt-down on the first day of a workshop, I’ve come back to that place where nothing – nothing – comes easily." David DuChemin


Well said David.  I get it.  Sometimes I chafe at the constrains and limitations that chronic pain has brought into my life. But then I take measure, as David is, and I adapt and find what I need within the life that I have now.  We all have our things that we must push through, and allow to work their way out through our art, whatever its form may be.  

That being said, I've got a new piece on the go, it's fairly large 48 x 24. Had a great time coming up with the design and am adding my textured base before layering in the paint.  I used my favourite new toy, Wood Icing in sections, the yellow parts. Gosh I love this stuff, I'd have used it on a lot more of the canvases but I'm hoarding it until I can order in a new supply.  Thank you Mary Beth for having that give away contest!  

Repeats-NOT!

As usual my pictures aren't very good, but I wanted to at least give you an idea of how this painting turned out.  Once again, I've learned some lesson about myself and my art from working on this piece.  It was an attempt to create a design similar to a piece I did a few years ago that others have liked a lot, including my husband who won't part with it :-)

So, what did I learn?  That I don't do repeats well, in fact I won't attempt to duplicate a design again.  I guess when I've gotten it out and down on canvas once, it just doesn't work for me to try and revisit it again.  Colour palettes, similar tools, techniques are fine for me to work in over and over, but the layout and design of a piece, well this is my second attempt at revisiting a basic design and both times it left me hanging and uninspired by the end results.  I guess there is a lot more of me and a spark of inspiration that goes into my art than I realized!

So onwards and upwards!