New Beginnings

In my head I see September as the beginning of the calendar year, not January. Autumn is my favorite season and the smell of wood smoke in the cool air is heavenly. It's time to settle inside and get busy. I have several ideas for paintings that I'm anxious to get started on using oil.

The last year and a half I've been doing mixed media/collage work and enjoying it. I even won an award for one of my pieces. But now I have to focus on painting in a realist manner in oil and watercolor. I'll still do mixed media/collage work on occasion to relax.

Our Vacation

We are back from our trip to Toronto. What a crazy ten days we had. This beautiful butterfly landed on my daughter's hand as we were about to leave the butterfly atrium. I was so excited because I wanted to get a photo but it wouldn't stay still long enough.

The animals had plenty of room to roam at the zoo and posed happily for us.



Niagara Falls was breathtaking.

A field of sunflowers as far as the eye could see.

I have been given the Brilliant Weblog award by the lovely and very talented Valaine. Thank you, Valaine! I, in turn, am awarding it to: Illustrated Life, The Enigma, Ornamental, Misty Mawn, Joyful Purpose, Defining Me, The Hermitage

This is what you do:

When you receive the award, post the award image to your blog.

Link to the blogger you received it from.

Give the award to 7 other blogs and link to those blogs.

Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the award.

Have fun!

Something New

Cats

These cats live on an abandoned property and are fed by a lady who shows up in her car everyday. You can see the cats greeting her as she arrives with food and water. Very cool!

Beach Stone Pendants

Some new jewelry pieces.

John and I in the hammock with Cleveland

Blossoms

Buttercups

Mushrooms

Queen Anne's Lace

Plant against old building

Old houses through the trees

Roman sleeping on my bed

Blue jay in tree

Life has been exciting these past few days. The owner of a posh store came to my studio and she would like to carry my jewelry pieces. As well, there was a call for local artists to submit work for an exhibition to celebrate the launch of a new gallery and I answered the call. I submitted a huge canvas, 30"x 48" that I completed last week. The exhibition is from July 11 to August 24 with an opening reception Friday evening.

Work In Progress

Before I transferred the drawing of the house, I created layers of color and texture using gesso, paint and tape. As well, I used splatters of alcohol and paint and I scratched into the paper with a blade. I'll use ivory black watercolor to paint the house, which is missing its windows and doors. I can't wait to see the final result!

Happy Canada Day!

On the beach

Bell Island through the trees

Roman Emperor looking sweet

Bell Island at sundown

Roman Emperor

Creating the texture of weathered stone is one of my favorite things to do when I paint in watercolor.

A Crow And A Starling

Starlings wait in the cherry tree for a chance to swoop down and steal food from the stray cat's bowl. They briefly land on the wooden post to make sure the coast is clear before they snatch a piece and fly away.

Yesterday, the crow in the above photo was frightened away by a blue jay. They both wanted the same piece of bread, but only one was going to get it. Mr. blue jay squawked so loudly that the crow flew away in frustration. I was shocked because I thought the crow would surely have won. Too funny!

Sky and Trees

Here are some tree and sky shots that I took at various times throughout the day.

Life In My Garden

Mushrooms that grew overnight

Thyme

Lonely birdhouse

Tiny blue flowers

My studio is finally clean and ready for me to go into and make art. I have never seen it so messy as it has been and I was a little overwhelmed when I first walked in. I have an oil painting to finish and a canvas to begin. So looking forward to it.

Summer has finally arrived and with it the warm temperatures and blue skies. Up until Saturday the weather has been quite dismal and depressing with only a scattered nice day. We have had a barbecue every night this week and nothing says Summer like the wonderful smell of barbecue. The black flies have voracious appetites and attack viciously as soon as we step outside the door which can be quite a shock if you're not used to it, but we've learned to live with it over the years.

I have been blogging two years today! :)

Beauty Is Everywhere

No time for art today except for gessoing a huge canvas for future piece. It's a start I suppose.