The Bounty - Sold

The Bounty, 24x20 oil

What do you do with so many apples?  Make applesauce of course.  Actually, if you're creative in the kitchen you can make all sorts of things.  Recently I've discovered some amazing chutneys, that go really well with  meatloaf or pork chops.  Unfortunately, although I would love to, I have not made any.  When I have well ripened fruit I tend to make cakes or breads with them, or my husband throws them into smoothies.

Measuring Up - Sold

Measuring Up, 16x16 oil

Apples, apples and more apples.  I have so many apples in my fridge at the moment; I better start baking.  Good thing Christmas is just around the corner.

One a Day

One a Day, 24x30 oil

December is here already!  I'm looking forward to Christmas and all the hustle and bustle that comes with it.  I've hung my final show of the year, (contented sigh), at the Good Earth Wine and Food Co., (goodearthwineandfoodco.com).  I've been so busy getting ready for the show that I haven't had the luxury to just sit here at my computer and write my blog.

I am super pleased with this painting, 'One a Day'.  Every time I look at it I smile.  Shiny, fresh beautiful apples, just washed, sitting on a tea towel, so simple. but says so much.  It stirs up wonderful memories of picking apples as a child, or my mom's fantastic apple pies.  

Fresh Ingredients - Sold

Fresh Ingredients, 20x24 oil

Just a thought...I wonder how many people would become vegetarian if they had to catch and kill their own meat?

Season of Sprouts

Season of Sprouts, 24x12 oil

This past Saturday was our last day to pick up our farm shares.  I'm going to miss this weekly visit to the market.  Over the last few months it has become a bit of a tradition to stop at the market, pick up our veggies, perhaps some honey and maybe some flowers or other items we may need, then head down the street to browse the shops with the final destination being the coffee shop.  A nice way start the weekend.    

Then There were Five - Sold

Then There were Five, 12x6 oil

A special treat!  I love the brightly coloured macaron cookies!  They're not only fun to paint, but each colour is a different flavour, combined with a complimentary favoured creme in the middle.   It's hard to just have one.  

Food for Thought - Sold

Food for Thought, 12x12 oil

The gorgeous red-orange colour of a ripe persimmon makes the fruit look so tempting.  According to old folklore, almanac.com the seed can tell you what kind of winter it will be, Predicting Weather Using a...

Passion for Persimmons - Sold

Passion for Persimmons, 12x6 oil

Last weekend was the Burlington Studio Tour.  We couldn't ask for a better weekend!  The weather was amazing, so many people attended the tour.  Thank you :)  ...and now if my house could stay this clean until Christmas that would be perfect!

Many of you were asking about upcoming shows.  I have two more shows coming up this year, one is at a private function in Guelph on November 23, and the other is at the Good Earth Food and Wine Co. in Beamsville, where my art will be up for the month of December.
  

Feathered Friends - Sold

Feathered Friends, 20x16 oil

Sometimes you just need a little help from some friends.

Please Hang Up and Try Your Call Again - Sold

Please Hang Up and Try Your Call Again, 24x12 oil

Happy November...already!  These past few weeks have been crazy!  It's nice to be busy, but being TOO busy is not any fun.  It's all about balance right?  

Here is my latest painting, (I love that old black phone!), just in time for the studio tour.  November 5 & 6 is the annual Burlington Studio Tour, artinaction.ca.   This is my 5th year in the tour and it looks like it's going to be a great weekend.  I will be in my own studio, along with a stained glass artist, Siobhan Lynch, and a printmaker, Alison Sawatzky.  

Away - Sold

Away, 12x12 oil

Here is my final painting of this series.   The beautiful twist of this oak leaf reminds me of how dramatic and extreme nature can be.

Here they are all together:

Found Fading Away

Fading - Sold

Fading, 12x12 oil

Here we are gradually moving into the colder part of the year.  Some of the trees have started to change colour now.  In my house, this means the front hall gets filled with toe covering shoes and boots.  Sweaters and jackets fill the hooks and there are muddy dog paw prints leaving trails around the house.  Other than the dirty floors, I love this time of year!          

Found - Sold

Found, 12x12 oil

The other day, when I was out for a walk, I collected a few items to add to my Thanksgiving decor.  Of course, looking at the beauty of the fading leaves inspired me to do a series of paintings.  Here is the first.

Pumpkin Season

Pumpkin Season, 12x12 oil

Before the Pie, 12x12 oil

Thanksgiving is here already in Canada.  Before I cook up these little pie pumpkins, I thought I should paint them.

Erica at Home - Sold

Erica at Home, 18x24 oil

I've known Erica for many years.  She and my daughter have been friends since childhood.  When I stopped by her home I took tons of photos, trying to get a sense of who she is, now that she is all grown up.  It was no surprise to me though, how relaxed and at ease she became when I asked her to play piano, something she has done most of her life.  

The Kids - Sold

The Kids, 18x12 oil

A friend of mine really wanted a painting done of her family.  Time was running out for me to get paintings done in time for the 'Painted Faces' show.  To save time she asked if she could take photos of her kids and send them to me.   Although I prefer to take my own reference photos, because of time restraints I said sure.  I had her take a million photos at different angles and positions.  This way I was able to pick and choose poses and put them together in a composition that I liked.  I am pleased with the results and managed to get the painting done in time for the show.

If you want to catch the show, it's on until October 5, 2016: 

In the Studio - Sold

In the Studio, 16x20 oil

Most people that I know have a passion for something.  The lucky ones even get to make a career out of it.  This is a portrait of a friend of mine, Teresa Seaton.  There are many ways I could have described her in a portrait, but they all would have included her art somehow.  She is a stained glass artist.  This is not a painting of what she does for a living, it is of who she is, teresaseaton.ca .

Fancy Dress

Fancy Dress, 12x36 oil

There is nothing more fun than the world of make believe.  Dressing up and pretending the  impossible.

Erica - Sold

Erica, 16x16 oil

I've been so busy painting that I haven't had time to take photos until today.  Erica is one of the paintings that will be in the upcoming portrait show starting tomorrow evening.   I've only just finished this painting today, so it's going to be tricky to get the wire on the back.  It'll probably stay wet for another day or two; the only downfall of oils.  

Daydreams and Butterflies

Daydreams and Butterflies, 12x18 oil

This is a painting of a wonderful little girl I met during one of my recent shows.  Somehow, even at such a young age,  she exudes personality.  

  

The Old Houses of ile aux Marins - Sold

The Old Houses of ile aux Marins, 10x8 oil

I've just spent the last couple of weeks on holiday with my husband.  We drove across eastern Canada and flew over to St Pierre et Miquelon from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Luckily we have family in St Pierre who are always willing to give us a tour around the island.  We took the boat from St Pierre to ile aux Marins a few times as well, where I managed to squeeze in time to paint.  We were extremely lucky with the weather having only a couple of the typical maritime foggy, rainy days.   I only wish we could have stayed longer.       

Call Waiting - Sold

Call Waiting, 12x12 oil

I know some people still use the old phones, although I'm not sure if the old dial system would still work.  I found this one in an antique shop.

Day Trip - Lost

Day Trip, 24x12 oil

Hitching a ride on a paper airplane!  As I was drinking my coffee on the back porch, watching the birds fly here and there, this is what I imagined could happen.

Last weekend I took this painting, (not quite dry), to show and sell at the Guelph Art on the Street Show.  It was carefully placed on top of the boxes in the car for the hour long drive.  It was a gorgeous day...not too hot, a nice breeze blowing, the sun shining... perfect.   There were a lot of people enjoying the day, and purchasing art.   I could not have asked for a more perfect day.  In fact some one had offered to purchase this painting but was trying to haggle with me to lower the price, hmmm.  While packing up at the end of the day I had placed this painting on the roof of the car to keep it out of harms way.  I'm sure it was dry to touch by then, but didn't want to chance it.   After unpacking the car and putting some things away I realized that I didn't have this painting!!!  The last place seen was on top of the car.  Can you believe it?  I knew better than to put the painting on the car but was tired when packing up and completely forgot about it.   I don't know how far we traveled before it flew off the car, but I doubt it would have survived without being damaged.  

Live and learn.

Safe Crossing - Sold

Safe Crossing, 12x24 oil

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I'm sure that chicken had his reasons why, what really matters is that he did it safely :)

Still Brewing - Sold

Still Brewing, 8x8 oil

Recently, while sitting on my back porch, I realized just how many different kinds of birds visit the feeder on a regular basis.  This little guy I believe is a nuthatch.   It reminds me of a woodpecker the way it walks up and down the tree trunk, but is much smaller.  

Sherman Falls

Sherman Falls, 12x9 oil

This was painted at Sherman Falls about a month ago.  It'll be one of the paintings on show at the Dundas Museum, (dundasmuseum.ca), at the end of July, through the month of August.  The group that I paint with on Monday afternoons has been around for quite a number of years.  The participants have changed over the years and has every level of painter, from beginner to master level.  The fun part about having an annual show together is seeing the other artists' work, and the different approaches to similar scenes.    

Friend or Foe

Friend or Foe, 12x12 oil

A dandelion and a wasp, inspired by my painting 'Bee's Breakfast'.  I was going to put the wasp into 'Bee's Breakfast', but then I would have had to come up with another title.  I like that it has it's own painting now.  I think dandelions and wasps are probably in the same category of being unappreciated.  

The First Day of Summer

The First Day of Summer, 16x8 oil

I love the changes and beauty that every season has to offer, but there is something about the long hot days of summer that I find irresistible. This was painted on Monday June 20, the longest and hottest (so far), day of the year!   Painted on location on Valley Inn Rd, near the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.   Happy Summer Solstice!

After a Day in (the Country) Burlington - Sold

After a Day in (the Country) Burlington, 24x24 oil

It's amazing how wildlife has adapted to the urban setting.  My dogs have been sprayed by skunks more times than I dare to say.  They have chased many rabbits out of the backyard and have had a few encounters with groundhogs and possums.  This painting started out as most paintings do, an idea.  The idea was then submitted to the upcoming show called  'Urban and Rural'.  I love combining images that don't always seem to belong together, as in this one, a skunk smelling a bouquet of flowers.  This painting is in the current show at the Art Gallery of Burlington which is on until September 5.

One Egg at a Time - Sold

One Egg at a Time, 16x16 oil

When I was planning this painting I was feeling overwhelmed with daily timelines and looming deadlines, realizing that it can all be dealt with 'one egg at a time', (making a list also helps).

Free Run

Free Run, 36x12 oil

I don't usually get my eggs fresh from a farm, but I do try to buy 'free run' eggs at the grocery store.  A few months back I picked up a dozen eggs from a local farmer.  The eggs were extremely fresh and the shells were a lot tougher to crack than the store bought ones.   I think I might look into buying my eggs from the farmer's market, when it starts up for this year's season.

Bee's Breakfast ` Sold

Bee's Breakfast, 24x24 oil

The long weekend in May has come and gone, which in this area of the world means that summer has officially arrived!  The calendar may not say it but the weather certainly does.

I've noticed that one of the first flowers to bloom are the dandelions.   A beautiful sight in mid spring when there are still no leaves on the trees, and no other colour around except for their bright yellow flowers.  A comforting sight, letting us know warm weather is on it's way. 

  

Delicious - Sold

Delicious, 12x12 oil

Besides being fun, painting fruit and vegetables in their most natural form has given me such an appreciation for all of their amazing colours and textures; and then I get to eat them afterwards! 

Roots - Sold

Roots, 48x24 oil

There has been so many changes to the food that we consume every day compared to what our ancestors used to eat.  I believe part of the goal was to make hardier plants that will withstand pests (by covering our food with poison), or processing foods to last longer on the shelf (to the point of removing all of the nutrient value).  The need to eat whole natural foods is a basic human necessity that seems to have been forgotten by the large corporations.  I am glad to see that there is a growing trend, at least here in Ontario, for people to purchase organically grown food from small family farms.

Sweet - Sold

Sweet, 12x12 oil

I worked on this painting as a demonstration at the Art Gallery of Burlington's Kaleidoscope Show a couple of weekends ago, but just finished it today.  I've spent quite a bit of time getting my 'stuff' ready for taxes.  I don't know what happens between this time of year and tax time, but somehow papers, receipts, and all those important things seem to disappear.  In the end I did find everything I needed, but I would have rather been painting!  

Juicy - Sold

Juicy, 12x12 oil

I think seeing the beauty in every day things is important.  Appreciating the small things.  All those small things add up.  I keep getting comments at shows on how I paint regular everyday things.   I've never really thought about it, I just paint what inspires me.  At first it was a test...can I paint that and capture how the light is showing off it's beauty?  Having my studio in my home probably helps to foster this, these are the things I see, use and eat.   I've heard advise given to writers to write what you know, well I guess I'm applying this to painting.

For the Love of Flowers - Sold

For the Love of Flowers, 8x8 oil

On March 18 I returned to Canada Blooms to spend the afternoon painting again.  I am happy to say the trip to the show wasn't nearly as eventful as it had been the first time.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to paint there again!  It took me ages to figure out what to paint, (there were so many wonderful choices), but I was drawn to this display.  I believe it won second place in it's category, but in my humble opinion, it deserved to be in first place.

Dancing Flowers - Sold

Dancing Flowers, 8x10 oil

Here is my painting from March 16, painted at the Canada Blooms Show in Toronto.  

The long story:

On March 16, (a cold and rainy day), I headed to Toronto to paint at Canada Blooms.  I had to stop and pick up a coffee on my way to the train station of course, making me miss the train I was hoping to catch.  It was still fine because I had planned to get to Toronto a bit early to check out some of the show before starting to paint.  Well, with my luck being the way it is, over the loud speaker there was an announcement that the train will be 10 minutes late, and then another announcement that it was cancelled.  When the next train finally came it got me to the show just in time to set up and start painting, at least I made it in time for that.  Upon arriving at the show there were all sorts of booths selling various items and services promising to 'enhance' your garden/home life in some way, so I wasn't disappointed that I had no time to look around, but when I entered the horticultural part of the show there was so much to explore and amazing displays all done with plants and flowers that I couldn't wait to explore.  There was a wonderful display of gerbera flowers with a very large gnome.  It would have been fun to paint the gnome, but the true attraction for me were the flowers.  I love gerberas!  So after I finished painting, I ended up staying at the show until late in the evening to check out some of the beautiful displays.  

It's been A Long Day - Sold

It's been A Long Day, 18x24 oil

I'm always looking around for things to paint.  Stopping in shops to perhaps find a piece that I can include in a painting.  Sometimes I'm lucky, but more often than not there is nothing that inspires me or the cost doesn't merit the purchase.  Who would have thought I should find something in my own house; there's an idea!  Over the years my family has acquired a few items from various relatives, (mainly my husband's parents).  You get so used to these things being around that you actually stop seeing them.  The piece that I used in this painting has been in my studio for the past few years, usually with a small plant or two on top.

A Slippery Path

A Slippery Path, 6x12 oil

Way back at the beginning of this month I went out to paint en plein air.  It's the only day I managed to get out to paint this month.  This was painted on a farm in Dundas, Ontario.

Early Spring

Early Spring, 12x6 oil

One day last month while I was doing the 30 paintings in 30 days I had gone out to paint en plein air.  Since it didn't fall into the subject of painting food related items and my 'before and after' theme, I chose not to use it as one of the paintings in the challenge. So in reality I could call it 31 paintings in 30 days challenge.

This was painted on location in Dundas, Ontario.  It was such a beautiful day!

 

30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016

30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016

Here are all 30 paintings from this month!  I love seeing them together like this.  Now to clean up my studio and move on to projects that are waiting to get done.  Thank you for following me this month.    

XO

XO, 6x8 oil

Here is the final painting of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey this month, and can still say that I can't think of a better way to start the year.

Spending Time Together - Sold

Spending Time Together, 8x8 oil

Two of my favourite perks of the day!  Taking a walk and grabbing a cup of coffee.  Allowing myself time to think about things other than the task at hand.  Recently I'd forgotten to bring a reusable cup, so I thought I would use this one as a prop for a painting.

Toast and Coffee? - Sold

Toast and Coffee?, 10x8 oil

I never make soft boiled eggs.  Probably because I don't care for eating them that way.  I imagined this painting to have a soft drippy egg.  Well after making three hard boiled eggs, then this one, that was as close as I was going to get.  The yolk is more like gelatin than liquid, (more to my liking, if I was going to eat it).  This is painting #28 of the month!

Soft Boiled - Sold

Soft Boiled, 8x8 oil

I decided to paint eggs for my 27th painting; just three more paintings to complete over the next three days.  I really haven't found this challenge as hard to keep up with as in past challenges, although it did get a bit tough around the two week mark.  The 'before and after' theme that I chose to follow for the month has been fun, as well as limiting myself to the subject of food or food related items.