plein air, June

I am behind on this blog. This is a plein air painting made in June on the Niagara Escarpment

'Little June'
oil on canvas
8x8in
copyright Jan Yates, 2015

Shetland art residency update

in progress: St. Ninian's, Shetland

 
in progress: Sumburgh Head, Shetland

This body of work is new and I will be delving into it throughout the year-probably much longer. The series is evolving out of a recent (April 2015) residency in the Shetland Islands, of which I thank the Ontario Arts Council and those of you supporting me by purchasing paintings via the 'Wild in Shetland' crowd-funder. Those paintings were all made looking out to the sea, listening to the laughing gulls and lapping waves and breathing in the heady sea air-some were supervised by a seal.





in progress; St. Ninians






in progress: Scalloway walk 1

Since my return, beeswax (encaustic) has given me the freedom to preserve forever the things that have found me on the Shetland walks.

 

The plein air paintings below were made especially for the caring individuals who sponsored me via the 'Wild in Shetland' crowd-funder. 

 


  








 

 

above works now sold

Esheness: sold

http://janyatesart.blogspot.co.uk/

Fare Well, oil and cold wax, 8x10in, private collection

all images and content copyright to Jan Yates, 2015

upcoming painting workshop

Plein Air Painting
on the Niagara Escarpment
(a UNESCO Biosphere reserve)

presented by the Grimsby Public Art
Gallery

Paint the summer golds and greens in fields, orchards and vineyards in this painters' paradise. For those preferring structures, there are barns, fences and wonderful fallen down sheds for inspiration. 

You will receive individual guidance in the media and subject matter of your choice. We will address personal challenges, goals, approach and technique on an ongoing basis.

Through 4 sessions, there will be lots of time to immerse yourself in making art. Painting outdoors improves your skills when working back in the studio. Learn about simplifying your pallet, working fast in the changing light, mark making/ brushwork and paint handling, as well as colour and value relationships.

Saturdays: July 25-August 12,  2015 10am-12pm 4 Sessions $45 Members/ $55 non-members *Class Location: Grimsby, ON Tuesdays: July 21-August 11,  2015 10am-12pm 4 Sessions $45 Members/ $55 non-members *Class Location: Grimsby, ON SPECIAL: Sign up for BOTH SESSIONS!  $75 Members/$80 Non Members register here

Shetland April 30

new post on the Shetland blog can be found here

Shetland blog

 Some new posts and paintings about Shetland are on my other blog. To save me some time pasting them onto this one, I hope that you will just click here to see what I have been up to! Thanks for visiting!

Time Circles

Mirknen haps a rummelled broch 
on Houlland’s knowe, rowes hit 
in a twilt o lavendar: saft smored 
as a Danish Hjøllund a year ago. 
Da line o da prow is sib 
an da soonds on da tongue, but 
dis laand canna scoarn da forest, 
fat byres an grit rigs o coarn. 
Here hit’s a tooder o hedder 
an da mintiest flooers. Fae da broch 
da Wastside raiks aa aroond: 
Eid Voe spörs ta da nort, 
bi wast, a headicraa ta Burrafirt, 
ta Foula an Waas. Soothbye, 
a vire o voes at Sandsoond 
an Skeld - Skjáldr o da sagas. 
A year is come richt roond. 
I da simmir dim, sungaets, 
we mark da rim o da broch 
– time circles: walk da mairches 
o a twalmont gien. 

Christine De Luca

 from Wast wi da Valkyries (Lerwick: Shetland Library, 1997)

Shetland: April 17, 15, 14, 13

Once again I am behind on posting. It is so very hard (impossible) to articulate my feelings about being here. I am nourished. The way of life in Shetland has led me to question the status of my own life ways in Canada. With the last leg of this residency I am trying to subdue  a sense of foreboding. Being here has excavated a truth in myself that I thought was buried deep.

This residency is very different from the time in Ireland. Then, I was an objective outsider and in an altogether different state of mind. That residency was deeply profound and still affects my work, it is just a different experience than this one. In Shetland, I am IN the sea, IN the hills, IN the skies. There is no dividing line, no objectivity-just a divine surrender to a place in time.

April 15

A heady day in Shetland-sea birds ( some puffins that you CAN'T see in these photos),, cliffs white beaches, wonderful company and laughter -and the weather was bonnie too. Anne and Mike hope you know how much it means! At St Ninian’s Isle http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/st-ninians-isle

and Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve http://www.sumburghhead.com/

 

 

April 14

I told myself that I must hunker down today and work-and was only going to the store (5 min)and back.....but the sun was out... Scalloway-

 

 

April 13

had such a wonderfully exhilarating walk (climb) today-