passage

I haven’t much felt like painting since my Mom’s passing. I found it hard enough even to go for a walk never mind pick up a paint brush. But yesterday late afternoon I made myself go out. To get to the field I walk through a narrow hilly path, surrounded by old fruit trees, maple, elm and sumac as well as wild brambly growth. This kind of terrain attracts birds of all sorts and in the spring especially it is something to behold.

It was unusually warm, the snow was melting and the air had that fresh earthy smell usually associated with spring. In the distance a grouping of elms were black with grackles. I find it so interesting to watch flocks of birds gather as well as lift off and fly—especially before a storm. It seems so beautifully orchestrated, as if there is a bird conductor, cuing them as to when to lift off and where to make their beautiful waves in the sky and then where to land.

As I approached my path to head back I looked up in the trees and at first glance silhouetted in the branches I saw more of what I thought were grackles—but then I thought I heard the settling sounds of robin—couldn’t be –usually first sighting isn’t until late March. As I got closer and my eyes adjusted to the sun, sure enough there they were!. Three of them! As I made my way down the path towards home it felt as if they were accompanying me and by the time I got back to the house the trees were FULL. Every year I’ve lived here, families of robins have nested and brought up their young. Seeing them all together somehow reassures me that things will be okay.

A few plein air paintings done throughout the years depicting feathered friends--apologies for the bad photos....

April,Tree with Robin

acrylic on canvas

8x10in, 2009

sold

April. Little Voices in the Air

oil in canvas

16x20in, 2007

sold

winter sky (sold)

Winter skies are full of colour—or at least I see it—early pinks culminate into saturated purples at day’s end.

February, Remains of the Day

oil on canvas

30x30in, 2011

available

My Mom used to paint every day, and I now have her supplies that she can no longer use. I have deliberatly worked this with her paints and brushes—she loves a winter sky.

~

bannière

A wee painting for a winter’s day..

February

oil on canvas

9x12in, 2011

available

Even a winter-lover such as I, who relishes in it's monochromatic pallet and the light's subtlety and nuances, craves a shot of colour now and then.

My neighbour likes to embellish the vineyards and yesterday I couldn’t resist the red and white icon of our ‘home and native land’.

*

encaustic monotype (sold)

I painted most of the day today and although I didn’t finish, it felt good to have a chunk of time to work. 

The extra time did allow me to complete some encaustic monotypes started at last week’s workshop. I usually work in sequence so the three individual images below will be presented as a triptych—still working out ideas re how to best display them.

I will be holding an encaustic monotype workshop on Tuesday, February 22. The fluidity of molten wax and colour combined with the immediacy and diversity of monotype, a form of printmaking, will be addressed in this 1 day workshop. Incorporating drawing and stencils for image transfer, you will engage and be inspired to play with collage, resist and relief techniques. We will also address temperature, adhesion, layering, surfaces and how to make your own encaustic drawing tools. You can find out more here or just email me. 

Voices of the Air

But then there comes that moment rare

When, for no cause that I can find,

The little voices of the air

Sound above all the sea and wind. 

The sea and wind do then obey

And sighing, sighing double notes

Of double basses, content to play

A droning chord for the little throats—

The little throats that sing and rise

Up into the light with lovely ease

And a kind of magical, sweet surprise

To hear and know themselves for these— 

 For these little voices: the bee, the fly,

The leaf that taps, the pod that breaks,

The breeze on the grass-tops bending by,

The shrill quick sound that the insect makes

Katherine Mansfield

Little Voices of the Air

encaustic monotype

left: 9x12in    middle: 12x14in    right: 9x12in

~