New Pieces and upcoming Art show

Since my last exhibit BICYCLE, I have been doing a bit of gardening as a little break before I start my next intensive studio time ~ painting and felting for an upcoming Art & Craft show in Toronto at the Distillery District (July 30th, 31st and August 1st). Of course this gardening project has been very much a weather permitting type of break....so on the rainy days I have been working away in the studio. Here are two of my most recent paintings (continuing the theme of animals on bicycles).

Slow Rider
Acrylic, Pastel and Pencil on Wood Panel
24" x 24"
Price $550

This piece was inspired by a friend who works with seals. Grey Seals can be found throughout various coastal communities in Nova Scotia. I once had the opportunity to swim near them in the wild.

Please do drop by if you are in the area (Distillery District in Toronto) on July 30th, 31st and August 1st. I look forward to seeing you and also meeting those I have yet to have the pleasure to meet. :)

Forest Exploration with my dog

Every day my dog and I go on a daily jaunt through the Acadian forest which surrounds our home. We listen to the bird songs, call of the owls and occasional coyotes while watching the various flora grow and fade away each season. It is on these daily jaunts where I figure out solutions to problems, discover something new in nature, work on getting over my fear of snakes and of course enjoy the incredible happiness of my dog. Her tail is like a butterfly that never stops moving - even if we've walked on the same trail 364 previous days throughout the year. She is an inspiration for my very being and teaches me to enjoy each and every day and the moment for what it is. She's even a muse for some of my artwork.

Spring Snake (harmless yet still sends my adrenalin a go-go). To get over this silly fear, I have decided to just get right in there and discover the beauty of snakes through a camera lens.

My pooch enjoying the ponds which have developed under the trees which were uprooted in the storm we had this past November.

One of the latest paintings I have created for an upcoming solo show at Harvest Gallery to be held at the end of May.

www.harvestgallery.ca

Time Flies

Wow! What can I say except that time has flown by without me realizing that I need to spend time on my blog. It was a very busy summer and now fall continues with that trend. I am thankful for the many commissions that have come my way, and have also found time to play in a friends pottery studio quite recently. Thank you to those you believe in me and my creations :)

Although it has been a busy year, it has also been a challenging one. I was without a sewing machine to make my stitched creations for five months - yikes! Also, the recession certainly has had an impact on sales and new projects that I had hoped to go forth with. This time has however made me re-think some decisions and perhaps has even forced me to delve even deeper into the creative think tank. So, I guess it hasn't been all bad. :)

These days I have been taking lots of photographs of mushrooms that exist in the forest which surrounds my home. I have also been inspired by the film Exit Through the Gift Shop in that I am back to screenprinting using primitive methods which are much more environmentally friendly. I have also taken my designs into the woods and have left impressions on the trees which have fallen or will fall in the near future. It's a great way to add a bit more character to the forest which is full of mystery and whimsy. Through this I feel like I too am a bit of a streetscape artist although my vista is within the forest realms.

Life is truly grand with all of its' ebbs and flows. It is the journey of such experiences which allow us to learn, evolve and fulfill many creative ideas. Thank you world for that :)