"THIS IS MY COUNTRY. WHAT I WANT TO EXPRESS IS HERE AND I LOVE IT. AMEN" - EMILY CARR (MAY 1934)

Tuesday 29 March 2011

DOWN TO THE WIRE!

Title:  Aspens in Fall
Medium:  Acrylic
Size:  5x7

 I am hanging my show in Whitehorse on the 31st which is the day after tomorrow.  I do not feel ready but this is normal.  What I cannot believe is that I leave for Whitehorse tomorrow and I am still painting!!
Time to stop so I can make my inventory list and painting labels.

Monday 28 March 2011

TWO NEW PAINTINGS - ASPENS AND SUNSET


Title:  Aspen Trail
Medium:  Acrylic
Size:  5x7



Title: Sunset Study
Medium: Acrylic & Oil Pastel
Size:  5x7



Sunday 27 March 2011

ACRYLIC PAINTING - ALPINE BLUE

Title: Alpine Blue
Medium:  Acrylic
Size:  16x20

This is not the blue that I actually intended but this happens a lot: 
What I had imagined before starting is not what the end product ends up looking like.
Life is like this too that's why I should let go of too many expectations.
 The cliffs in the background remind me of the cliffs near the turn-off to Faro, this painting is from imagination though.

Friday 25 March 2011

WATERCOLOUR OF DRURY LAKE

Title:  Spring at Drury Lake
Medium:  Watercolour
Size 5x7

These small paintings make great studies for bigger paintings. 
This little lake is way back in from the Campbell Highway.
A great ski-doo ride when the weather is nice.

WATERCOLOUR OF ROSE MOUNTAIN

Title:  Rose Mountain Area, Faro Yukon
Medium:  Watercolour
Size 5x7

Am trying to get some smaller works done before next Thursday.  I feel like I don't have enough for my show!

Thursday 24 March 2011

"SHOW US HOW IT''S DONE" CHILDREN AND ART


Ruby and Grandma (Marilyn Boyle)

  

Berkley painting with watercolours.
 





Jackie, Berkley and Ruby
 
An afternoon of fun at my friend, Marilyn Boyle's place.  Her grandchildren are so spontaneous, natural  and fun when it comes to creating art.  We used watercolour, oil pastels and watercolour pencils.

WE ALL HAD A  GREAT TIME!!

 
LOOK AT THEIR BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK!

 

Tuesday 22 March 2011

REPLENISHING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT

Spring - Magundy River
(Would make a lovely painting)

Elisabeth Barrett Browning  wrote: 
 "The earth is crammed with Heaven and every common bush afire with God"

I don't know about the rest of you - but when this weather hits - it's like a miracle to me! The sunlight and the warmth.  I love going for walks and yet I am so used to being at my easel indoors that I have to make sure that I get outside!  Once I step out and walk- my spirits lift immediately. I soak up the light and feel the wind on my face.  I feel energized.  This time of year is so phenomenal!  Being outside rejuvenates, invigorates and provides much needed energy after a long winter (it feels like it's over)
I am going out to Magundy today.
My final word is this: 
"We all need to replenish our creative spirits... this is best done by being in the great outdoors. Something as simple as a walk can fill  your creative well for the rest of  the day."

Monday 21 March 2011

BEING IN THE MOMENT



Title:  Little Salmon Lake
Medium:  Mixed Media
Size 8x10


This little painting was no thinking - just playing.  Somewhat like the Dragon Lake painting but I put hills in the back.. I wanted to do a small painting so I could experiment with glazing a painting that has acrylic and oil pastel.  So I hope I don't ruin it.

I sprayed the painting with a workable fixatif and it worked quite well.

Saturday 19 March 2011

MORE FOR THE SHOW!


Dragon Lake:  Sunset of Fire
Medium:  Mixed Media
Size:  3ftx4ft

Another painting that had to be worked and worked and worked.  This painting was done by memory
We used to fish at Dragon Lake and I really liked our camping trips there. 





Study: Robert Campbell Highway
Medium:  Watercolour and pencil
Size:  5x7

This is the first small painting I have done in months. The area seemed so small!
The location of this painting is across the Highway from our home.  We hiked up quite a ways and
the stump caught my eye.

ART IS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

I was reading my Twice Weekly Newsletter from Robert Genn and the topic was :"A Spiritual Event

A spiritual awakening is often found and developed in a wilderness. It can be a poem or a parable of a deep forest, a mountain meadow or a cactus-studded desert. The outdoor spirit of plein air refreshes and further enables the indoor studio chapel. Each new creative beginning is a confirmation of the simple truth of taking care. And while it may all appear to be self-indulgent and isolating, every thought, every stroke, every caress of the brush adds a small refreshment of meaning and purpose to our universe. "Work is love made visible." (Kahlil Gibran)

I find  this to be so true in my life as a painter. It is important for me to have a place where I can focus and work.  Magundy is my sanctuary. My place to do my art. The act of living in the wilderness amongst the trees and by the river replenishes my creative spirit. 

I have finished the Magundy River -The Bend


MAGUNDY RIVER - THE BEND






Tuesday 8 March 2011

NEWEST WORK - MAGUNDY RIVER


Title:  Magundy River - The Bend
Medium:  Acrylic
Size:  2ftx3ft

This painting is not quite complete - I not sure what has to be done yet but I
will be working on it a little bit more.  The reference photo was taken in the fall and the
the snow was not on the back hills but it looked very strange when I left the snow out so I put it in.

Monday 7 March 2011

OTHER WORKS TO BE FOR SALE AT MY APRIL, 2011 SHOW



Magundy River
Fall 2010
3ftx4ft
Medium: Acrylic
This was initially a plein air painting but was finished in the studio. This spot is just down our lane from the yardsite.  We have 8 acres of heaven in the Yukon Wilderness.  I could spend the rest of my life with enough material to paint just from our acreage on the Magundy River.



I have added this picture because it is hard to photograph this painting because of its size.





Spring Break-up Yukon Ri ver
2ftx3ft
Medium: Mixed Media
(sold)
This painting is hanging in my living room - I am rather fond of it so if it doesn't sell in my show at the
Chocolate Claim  in April, 2011- that will be ok with me! I like the Sun, it was hard for me to do and
sometimes I do things and don't even know how I did it! 
In December, I did a much smaller version of this painting for a benefit fundraiser. 
It was painted in memory of Dot Rogers.

MONDAYS UGH!!

Magundy River
Work in progress
Stage 1

Having three teenagers in the house does not make it conducive to getting a  lot of sleep on the weekend!  Don't get me wrong - I go to bed but the rest of the house is up  and that disturbs my sleep.  So Mondays are a bit of a low energy day for me as I haven't had great quality sleep from the weekend.
Nevertheless I had better get myself in gear as I have my show in April at the Chocolate Claim and it is now March 7th. - DISCIPLINE. 

I am working on a painting (shown above) that is halfway finished and I need to get it done.