Fare Well

Today as I was working on this painting my senses were with my daughter, who left this morning for a month long journey. I was also feeling bittersweet about the last days of May.

Later while out walking in the field I came upon a hawk feather, resting on the long grasses before lifting off with the breath of wind.

 May, Fare Well, oil on canvas, 40x40in, 2013 

 This painting will be featured in a dual exhibition, (along with work by Dara Aram) at Earls Court Gallery in Hamilton, ON. Show runs August 9 – September 8, 2013, with the opening to be announced.

a sense of place

This happy-and fun!-couple are taking their new painting home after attending Saturday’s open studio event.

 I am always honoured and delighted with those from afar who collect my work as they tell me it enhances their daily life. I am, however, especially moved when collectors close to home make the decision to acquire one of my paintings. They have commented that my work is a connecting sense of place; that it triggers a symbiotic connection with this magic land...this response resonates within my being as an artist and in my daily being.

Open Studio event this Saturday

The image below was made one evening last week, when the weather was warm and hues of summer were tantalizingly near.

 May, remains of the day, oil on canvas, plein air, 16x20in, 2013

It has been cold, grey and monochrome this week, perfect for hunkering down and preparing for Saturday’s Open Studio. 

may be

I went out the other day and made two paintings. The first one is below. The second, after working on it for two hours, tore as I was packing up-it was very windy, the canvas was small, it got away from me, became impaled on a branch, and, need I say more?

There's a lot to be said for letting go-whether the`going` is within our control or out. In earlier years I`d work a painting to death, driven by the fear of 'failure' thus admitting`defeat'. Now, a wee bit wiser, I welcome surrender. It is a valued part of life. I want to keep learning.

on the line

When I look at my side yard I often think of Fairfield Porter and his lawns with green shadows. I like the sense of order in his work-so far from my own!

After I hung clothes on the line (like many, something I really like to do) I turned and looked at the irresistible juxtaposition of May flowering trees and shadows…

 May, laundry day, oil on canvas, 16x20in, 2013, available

waiting for my favourite paint-shirt to dry

further a field

           I love May

*and no, I am not responsible for ALL of the empties- guerrilla artists, I know where you live ;{)

To see more constructions and discoveries, click here.

plein air tree easel

 May, remains of the day, oil on canvas, 8x10in, available

This evening I was tired but because of the lovely weather I didn't want to pass up an opportunity to work outdoors. 

 My intention was to sit and paint with a small canvas perched on my lap so I left the french easel behind. However, once at the site with renewed energy, I regretted not bringing my easel so I could stand and work.

So I decided to try mounting a support in the branches of the pear tree instead and it worked out beautifully. The low branch sections also enabled me to place my painting mediums and brushes at an accessible distance-it was perfect!

 I have the utmost respect and gratitude for whoever invented the bungee cord

spellbound

 Have the enchanted orchards only cast a spell on me? If so, I hope there is no expiration date.

  May, remains of the day, oil in canvas, plein air, 18x24in, 2013, available

all things seem possible

Forsythia is pure joy. There is not an ounce, not a glimmer of sadness or even knowledge in forsythia. Pure, undiluted, untouched joy.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I was enamoured by the shape and texture of this weathered panel that was waiting for me in the field. 

May, encaustic and oil on found panel, 5x15in, 2013, available

The initial application of stained red in the under-painting remains exposed in the lower part of the work and appears throughout in the panel’s crevices. Hence I didn’t develop the forsythia in passages as I did not want to lose the lovely tactile push/pull between the built surface and what lays beneath. 

I quite like this from all angles.

The world's favourite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May.

Edwin Way Teale

hello May

What a beautiful May day here in Niagara! If felt so great to be outside working again. 

May days grow almost as quickly as I paint! This wild orchard is still carpeted with dried winter grasses but fresh green forges it’s way through with rapid fervour.

 May, oil on canvas, 18x24in, 2013   available

The lovely thing about working outside this time of year is listening to the riot of birds. There was a corn field behind me, attracting a myriad of flutter from Canada geese to  finches, however my  favourite-the Bobolinks- are back from South America. I don’t know how they synchronize it, but its pretty amazing that every May 1 they appear!

This Orchard is not yet in bloom but little bits were breaking out as I was working.

 Happy May!