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