recent paintings and news

recent paintings and news

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

the mean season




Everyone I know says Fall is their favourite time of the year. Personally I have a love-hate relationship; her dazzling beauty steals my heart yet, inevitably, her guise steals my light.



October
oil on canvas, 48x60in
copyright Jan Yates, 2014


 

Thursday, October 9, 2014

October


The leaves were falling on all sides like the last illusions of youth under the tears of irremediable grief. A brood of chattering birds were chasing each other through the shrubberies, and playing games among the branches, like a knot of hiding schoolboys. Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail.

- Henri Frederic Amiel




October
oil on canvas, plein air, 16x20in
 copyright Jan Yates, 2013
available

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Milkweed



milkweed, grape leaves, feathers, wild asters, copyright Jan Yates, 2014




milkweed,  copyright Jan Yates, 2014 


milkweed, wild asters, robin's nest, copyright Jan Yates, 2014 




On September 27, 2014, as part of the Grimsby Arts Walk, I invited the community to join me in getting our Monarch butterflies back. Passersby were asked if they would like to help the Monarchs by saving and planting Milkweed in their garden. I provided a limited number of locally harvested milkweed seed pods.
Picture






Seeds
Participants were fascinated to see the seeds in their natural state, encased by protective pods. Upon opening them, they  removed the seeds and were asked to write their name, or a message, on the remaining seed pod. I kept the pod. They kept the seeds.


 








Pods
Milkweed seed pods are extremely durable and weather tolerant, so I presented each signed pod in a tree at the entrance of the Grimsby Public Art Gallery and Library. The project continues to grow.






 Start a project in your region

If you or your organization would  like to see this project take flight in your area, please contact me as I love spreading the word-and seeds, for our Monarchs!   


This project can not be used without written permission from Jan Yates, 2014
                                                                                                                                                 

Milkweed seeds for sale


If you are interested in purchasing Milkweed seeds to plant in your garden to attract our Monarchs, I have some available and ship throughout Canada, US and parts of Europe. Seeds are $6.per pod, with each pod containing 50+ seeds. Shipping is extra outside of Canada. To order, please click here.





Monday, October 6, 2014

Sumac





Taking Flight
sumac, encaustic on panel
12x36in, copyright Jan Yates, 2014
available


October
 sumac, encaustic on found panel 
16x16in , copyright Jan Yates, 2014