Dog Songs

… Thus, we sit, myself
thinking how grateful I am for the moon’s perfect beauty and also, oh! how rich
it is to love the world. Percy, meanwhile,
leans against me and gazes up into
my face. As though I were just as wonderful
as the perfect moon.

Mary Oliver-‘The Sweetness of Dogs” from her latest book, ‘Song Dogs’


 

Song dogs, encaustic on panel, 8x12in, so13, available

copyright Jan Yates, 2013

If You Are Holding This Book
You may not agree, you may not care, but
if you are holding this book you should know
that of all the sights I love in this world—
and there are plenty—very near the top of
the list is this one: dogs without leashes.
—Mary Oliver

November

The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness.
-   John Updike, A Child's Calendar   

 November, encaustic on panel, 6x14in, 2013

die in bright colour

"October is nature's funeral month.  Nature glories in death more than in life.  The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May.  Every green thing loves to die in bright colours."
-   Henry Ward Beecher  

It has been cold this week, and my health has not been great so no hiking to paint plein air. Instead, my brush followed the fluid changing vines through the kitchen window. 

October, oil on canvas, 20x24in, 2013, available

thankful

Be Thankful
that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
-Author Unknown

It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, and besides being thankful for friends and family, I am thankful that I live in this country.

Thankful not to live in war. Thankful not to feel abandoned and thankful not to live in fear.

I had an enlightening conversation with someone today who put things in perspective. She knits wee dolls, known as 'Izzy's' that go to children overseas, like Africa and Afghanistan and other war-torn countries. 

Here are her words:

'I took a friend for an appointment at the Juravinski (cancer) clinic in Hamilton.  In the waiting rooms, they have baskets with yarn and needles.  Anyone can pick up a piece at any time and just knit a row or two of a square. The squares are collected by volunteers who make them into blankets for patients. I hadn't knitted in years but I thought, "Well, I could do this!"  I quickly recalled how much I enjoyed it and, on the way home, I bought some yarn and started to make simple scarves.
Then, a friend sent me a link for the Izzies. A mom whose son was in Afghanistan, made them for her soldier son - a Sargent Isfeld (not sure of the spelling) - to give to the children there. I started knitting right away and got a few friends to join me.  We couldn't get a contact to send them with soldiers but we easily found other people who were going to places like Africa and India where they visit schools and orphanages.'-Arlene

 What strikes me is the selflessness -imagining  persons in their cozy safe surroundings taking the time to create something so small yet so significant with the intent to make life a little easier for someone so far away. And each doll has it's own look and personalty, imparted by the maker, so in a sense they are sending a part of them selves to impart a smile half way around the world.

                                         Arlene's girls



And on another thankful note I am sincerly grateful to those who purchased my work during this week's studio sale, as well as coming out for studio visits! Your ongoing support is deepley appreciated.

I love it when they fight over my work!

Sale of paintings

'All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.'

Havelock Ellis

This week's  featured works are available during my studio sale. 

The image below was made a few years ago, is plein air-worked right through a few fog-filled days.

November, Letting Go, oil on canvas, 24x48in, 2010

available here

Open Studio & online Sale

 

Fall, cold wax, oil, encaustic on canvas, 24x48in, 2013, available

Happy October!

For three weeks in October I will be opening my studio doors and inviting the public in to see the tools of a working artist's trade. This open studio gives you a rare opportunity to see inside an artists' working space and talk directly about what fuels the work. 

Work can be purchased online. Sale ends October 19.

Click here to view available works

 

Alla Prima workshop this Saturday

Upcoming workshop at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery: Painting the Still Life Lively

wild bliss

This time of year my indulgence is to eat (gorge on) luscious sweet pears from the wild orchards. I feel so lucky to be able to walk out the door, meander down a path fragrant with harvest, and reach for a sun-warmed pear, biting into juicy bliss!  

The dogs and I have been frequenting one tree at a time-they take the lower branches and me, the rest. I didn’t realize just how much we were consuming until one day our first tree was bereft of pears except for the very top. I thought some deer had visited for a feast. Then it hit me- it was us! Since, we have gone through a few trees -have to ‘get’ while the ‘getting’s good!

 September, wild pears, oil on canvas, plein air,  16x20in 2013, available

encaustic, cold wax & dog tree intervention

  

'Fall'-demos from a recent encaustic and cold wax workshop:

 fall 1, encaustic & cold wax on panel, 8x10in, 2013, available

 fall 2, encaustic & cold wax on panel, 4x12in, 2013, available

Below, a few images from last Saturday's  Dog Tree intervention.

 

Prior to the installation, I made encaustic dog 'tags' containing quotes by well known persons. They were hung in the lower branches for passersby to handle and read.

and gathering materials for this embellishment could not have been easier...

for the love of dog

There was no other wanderer on that road, yet I was not alone, for his tracks went with me, each paw-print as familiar as the print of my own hand. I followed them, I knew each thing he had done, each move he had made, each thought that had been his; for so it is with two who live one life together.

Farley Mowat, The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, 1957

Rags for those loved: the Dog Tree Dogs inspire artists.  Emily Carr They also bolster our communities, help us heal, improve our fitness and teach us about love and compassion. They enhance our spirit. In 2012 I installed ‘Rags for those Loved, intentions from Ireland’. Local residents were given the opportunity to engage in an ancient Celtic custom in recognition of loved ones who were ill or have passed. I am excited to announce the continuation of  this ritual of leaving offerings that represent a wish or aspiration, however this time; the dedication will be to our Dogs. ( or any loved companion, great or small, that has enhanced your life..) The community is invited to embellish a symbolic tree with collars, toys, rags, poems, or any item that connects them with their beloved pet. These adornments are meaningful – symbolizing grief for a loved companion that has passed as well as a desire or dream for a new family member or adopted friend. Visitors are encouraged to stop by with their pets to tell a story, and to write their dog’s name on a piece of fabric, tie it to a branch and make a wish.

ARTS WALK Saturday, September 14 1-3:30PM Reception at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery 4-5pm Site specific community project: The public and their dogs are invited to participate. Location: Outdoor grounds of the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, ON, Canada   18 Carnegie Ln., Grimsby, ON., L3M 1Y1  905-945-3246  http://www.grimsby.ca/residents/cultural-facilities/art-gallery_____________________________

summer birds (sold)

Everything is changing colour early. September is bittersweet. I miss my summer birds. The yellow finches left a few days ago. The yellow goldenrod will have to do.

It is a colourful yet quiet time of year to be out painting.

September, early gold, oil on canvas, 18x24in, 2013, available

upcoming encaustic workshop

Sway, encaustic on found panel, 2x5x14in, 2013, available

September Encaustic painting workshop at the artist's studio all levels welcome Saturday, September 21 12:30-5PM click here for course description and registration. Booking and payments can be made securely online via paypal

skyfall

 For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.      

             Leonardo da Vinci 

August remains of the day, oil, cold wax  on canvas, plein air, 8x8in, 2013

coalesce

my witness is the empty sky

Jack Kerouac

August, remains of the day, oil on canvas, plein air, available

self portrait

Another re-work of a painting from last August that I wasn’t happy with. This year, I`ve been especially moved to paint my `homeland` as it might be the last summer here-change is in the air. 

 As followers know, this tree has been a constant in my work over the years. With it’s wild unkempt branches growing in different directions I consider it to be a self portrait. 

 August, oil on canvas, 24x36in, 2013

We have had cooler weather and early in the season, lots of rain. I have never seen so many apples adorn this wild tree since I moved here fourteen years ago so am assuming the season’s climate has factored in.

 Daniel Lanois

On a related note I have just returned from a press conference for the The Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. It`s location, at Christie Lake Conservation area, is beautiful! The outdoor music event  features farmers markets as well as visual art. 

It was really lovely to meet some of the farmers and musicians at this morning’s media conference, although I think my enthusiasm over meeting White Horse in person might have placed me high on their `beware`  list of stalkers! 

 

Melissa McClelland & Luke Ducet (whitehorse)

Follow up

Below a few images of Sunday`s 

workshop held at my place. I also wanted to report that my opening at Earls Court Gallery went REALLY well, however their photographer is on vacation so I will not be able to post images until she returns. 

in order of appearance:
Daryl, Liz, Bob, Marj