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

plein air painting workshop in the garden

This beautiful weather has even made my garden glow-come out this Sunday afternoon to paint it or the surrounding vineyards. Thank you to GPAG for the opportunity to introduce this plein air workshop. All levels welcome.The fee is a steal at only 25.00 members and 35.00 non members. If it rains we will work in the studio at the Grimsby Public Gallery with fresh cut flowers. Please register via the Grimsby Public Art Gallery.
phone: 905-945-3246
e-mail: gpag@town.grimsby.on.ca

 

openly exposed

  
 I dropped this new painting off at Earls Court Gallery-in hopes it will be included in my upcoming show with Dara Anam  However, aesthetically it depends on the combined body of work. The curator has an excellent eye and I am happy to go along with her decision--fingers crossed!

 July, goodbye, oil / cold wax on canvas, 30x40in, 2013

I confess that I abhor openings where my work is featured and I must show up- I feel vulnerable and exposed and all I want to do is run and hide. my saving grace? WINE!

That's not to say I'm not excited to see everything up, as well as chat with old and new friends as well as collectors who will be attending. If you are in the region, please stop by for some art, wine & refreshments.
 Click here for details.

July (goodbye)

 

I set off last night hoping for a brilliant sunset. Instead, a study in greys.

 

 

July, (goodbye), oil on canvas, 18x18in, 2013

 This is the third of the sky series on it's way out to Earls Court gallery on Saturday- hope the paint dries!

 

 

morning side

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

July, morning-side,  oil on canvas, 18x18in 2013, available

brew

The weather has been irresistible lately and although I have studio work to finish up, a plein air escape was inevitable. 

July, storm brewing over Olgas barn, oil on canvas, 16x16in, 2013, available

wild things

Sometimes I look at the billow of July leaves on open rows and can’t help but think of big butterflies. The unkempt vines are my favourite with unrelenting weeds weaving into wanton wild carpets.

July with Queen Ann, 36x48in, 2013, available

Look familiar? This is a rework of an earlier painting. I have just brought 'July'  into the Jordan Art Gallery.  www.jordanartgallery.com.  The Jordan Art Gallery is an entirely independent venue, run by artists, for artists. 'We are committed to communicating our knowledge and perspectives on the disciplines we represent.'

Greenbelt Harvest Picnic

 
It is a thrill and honour to announce that I have been selected to participate in the third annual Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. 

Those familiar with my work know that my focus has been on agricultural issues and the plight of those Ontario farmers whose livelihood and lifestyle has been decimated by pressure from urban sprawl.
To read more about the project, please visit this link. 'Cultivating the Greenbelt:an ongoing dialogue with our protected land'

This year Neil Young and Whitehorse (have seen them live and they are sonic wizards) will be joining producer and musician Daniel Lanois' roster of brilliant musicians. Along with  performers and visual artists, there are farmers who will be providing local produce and natural foods.



The event takes place August 31. For more info please visit: http://www.harvestpicnic.ca/


Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Neil Young recorded with Crazy Horse for the first time in 1969 for the album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere which includes the hit "Cinnamon Girl" and the extended guitar workouts "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand”.
In 1979, Neil Young & Crazy Horse recorded Rust Never Sleeps... READ FULL BIO

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Emmylou Harris - Already celebrated as a discoverer and interpreter of other artists’ songs, 12-time Grammy Award winner Emmylou Harris has, in the last decade, gained admiration as much for her eloquently straightforward songwriting as for her incomparably expressive singing. On Hard Bargain, her third Nonesuch disc, she offers 11 original songs—three of them co-written with Grammy– and Oscar–winning composer Will Jennings. READ FULL BIO

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Daniel Lanois - One of the world’s most influential music producers – a shaper of albums by the likes of U2, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan. Daniel Lanois is best known for ongoing collaboration with the eclectic Brian Eno, Lanois first came to the ambient music pioneer’s attention while still in Hamilton. There, Lanois produced albums by Canadian stars from Martha & The Muffins to Ian Tyson to Raffi.   READ FULL BIO

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Whitehorse - Six Shooter Records’ Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet tie the musical knot with the debut of their new band, Whitehorse, marrying their talent and chemistry on stage as a smoldering duo. Gutsy and resolute in their pursuits of sound and substance, Luke and Melissa’s fusion of the personal and professional brings to mind the road-tested romance of Johnny and June. Individually, Luke and Melissa have been recognized ...   READ FULL BIO

good things come to those who wait

  

As a young girl I wandered fields at my grandmother’s farm. They were enchanting and mysterious. I loved to disappear in them, dream in them, and emerge from them as if I’d been in a magic world. Decades later I’ve opened myself again to the wonder of field.

On July walks I am enthralled with the floaty look of field and  stop in my tracks for too many minutes to see the light flicker and spark on the random wild growth-thinking it’s not random at all. And bird-watching with a sense of awe as they synchronize in low flight before landing to become one with field..

 July, good things come to those who wait,  oil / cold wax on canvas, 30x30in, 2013

I had posted this painting ‘in progress’ and finished it today. The reference was a loose drawing but it just  wasn’t enough and I found the colours and shapes were not going where I wanted. Rather than hike with this large canvas to work on location, I brought the wild flowers and grasses into the studio and used them as reference. I often do this and find it always helps, whether just with colour temperature or structure. I am much happier with the painting now. 

Upcoming plein air workshop

Summer Painting in a Grimsby Garden

Join us as we revel in the heady scent, sound and colour of a summer garden.

This afternoon workshop is enjoyable for those with minimal art-making experience as well as more seasoned artists. We will paint on location Monet style-‘en plein air’. In inclement weather work will progress in the studio with fresh flowers as inspiration. Sessions are in oil or acrylic and a materials list will be provided upon registration. 

Sunday, August 18

1:30-4:30

Grimsby Public Art Gallery
18 Carnegie Lane, Grimsby, Ontario, L3M 1Y1

phone: 905-945-3246
e-mail: gpag@town.grimsby.on.ca
webpage: www.town.grimsby.on.ca/ArtGallery/Main/

June gone so soon

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfilment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." ~ Gertrude Jekyl

June 1, encaustic etc on panel, 7x14in, 2013, sold

June 2, encaustic etc on panel, 8x11in, 2013

 Started in May, finished in June, encaustic etc on panel, 6x18in, 2013

land mark, line & Solstice

Mark-making and line are ideas fresh from heart and mind. Tentative to begin with, then gaining momentum as faith and curiosity intervene- everything begins with line. Years ago my mediums of choice were charcoal and soft pastel. I slowly veered away but drawing is making its way back into my artistic sensibility.

Solstice (voices of the air), June, oil/coldwax on canvas, 40x40in, 2013, available

This painting  commenced with an acrylic ink under-painting. I then worked over it with oil and a thin application of cold wax. I wanted the painting to set up fairly quickly so I could build the sky but also needed some impasto in order to go back in and cut down again with thin solvent. 





The bottom of the work was drawn with charcoal, and I applied solvent (lots!) to saturate and move the pigment around. This process was repeated several times, with thin wax/oil added to the final layers. I then drew/wrote with charcoal–all rendered while the painting was wet.

*Summer Solstice is a significant day of the year for me. It has been an annual  tradition  to respond, document and pay homage-and this June marks year ten!

trees and time

I guess that my inner soul is nourished by the trees. I think most of us, if we let ourselves, feel this energy. We are all drawn to trees. They are magic, powerful, calming, useful. Birds are messengers and can’t survive without the trees. Neither can we.

 Voices of the Air, oil/cold wax on canvas, 30x36in, 2013, available

 I didn’t want to rush this painting. Yet I didn’t want it to be contrived or tight. Self discipline is integral in making art hence studio works evolve differently then plein air. Time is on your side in the studio-so I make the most of it. When rendering larger works I want to relish in everything I don’t have time for outdoors.

I still want to bring in the intuitive responsive play. Just as there is push-pull in a work of art, there is continuous push-pull in the making of it-at least for me. 

I started this painting last month and only worked on it once or twice a week. Besides wanting passages to dry I also wanted to approach each session with objectivity and a fresh mind open to possibilities at the start of each session. I do think it is easier to give up or change course when there has been time away from the work. In the last leg of the painting I was able to think more about the final strokes than the amount actually laid down. That’s the lovely thing about time.

close to the edge

Studio works of the orchard series are making slow but satisfying progress in preparation for the upcoming show at Earls Court Gallery.

I did get out for some respite –perched on the porch amidst fragrant June flowers whilst brush followed cloud. 

We have had some near-storms and lots of rain-a recipe for wondrous June skies!

 June, remains of the day, oil on canvas, plein air,  9x12in 2013, available

 

    "The wind shows us how close to the edge we are."-  Joan Didion  

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.