ALICE SALTIEL-MARSHALL

Making Cards

2012-01-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

My efforts from yesterday

Wintry Sunday afternoons in Debie's sun room making cards are good times. She has a lot of wonderful toys and so do I. We double our pleasure when we pool our collections, share ideas, methods ...

Happy at our play

... and yes, wine.

Debie's handy work; real lace on double-sided tape, glittered and removed

My station; calculating where to cut to thread the ribbon

By now it's dark outside, the mess is deeper and I'm only on card #3!

Five hours yielded four cards. Debie is much faster than I am; she made eight. On a good day I could paint a small painting in the same time it takes to make one card. You might ask why do it? For the sheer joy of it. And then there is the pleasure of shopping for (and yes the hoarding of) pretty papers, ribbons, embellishments and rubber stamps, etc. Ideas from the card making magazines are a spring board. The thrill and the challenge is taking and infusing them with our own creative twist.

Labours of Love

2012-01-10T12:58:00.001-07:00

As I seek out inspiration and contemplate what to paint, I offer you this, the last painting I did in 2011 ...

"Maggie" acrylic 7" x 5" (December 13th)

For Bill's sister, and her husband, I painted Maggie so that they could make a gift of it to their neighours who own her.

When Linda and Ron moved to Alberta Gunner came with them. Sadly, and only six months (to the day) after their arrival he had to be put down (cancer). At almost precisely the same time Linda met Kevin while he was walking Maggie. It is nothing short of a miracle that when my in-laws purchased their own condo, they became Wendy and Kevin's neighbours. Much to everyone's delight Maggie roams freely from one home to the other.

"Gunner" 2010 oil 12" x 9"

Gunner was Linda and Ron's third English Springer Spaniel. I had painted watercolour portraits of both other pets, long ago, when they were young dogs. Linda's bids for a Gunner painting had been falling on my deaf ears for years before he passed. Finally, and as a housewarming gift, I painted the portrait above.

They say I create wonderful likenesses and if anybody would know it would be the owners. I have never fancied myself a pet portrait artist. These paintings are labours of love and, truth be told, they aren't really labourious at all. There is a joy in creating anything that I know will be so well received and appreciated.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

To begin 2012, I thank all of you who take the time to read this blog. Writing it gives me joy and I take great pleasure in receiving your comments and emails. We are fortunate to live in a time when sharing information, inspiration, art and life is this easy!

As we slide into a new year I like to count the paintings I did in the year prior. Of the 58 paintings I made in 2011 only 13 were larger than the daily format (which, for me, measure 6" x 6" or 5" x 7"). Compare this to 2010 ... when I began the almost daily painting project ... I made 59 paintings. Of these, 30 were larger (although many not by much) than the small gems. This has me noting that I am on target about creating more, smaller, daily paintings. Heartfelt thanks for your tremendous response to these; there are only a handful left unsold.

Although I haven't picked up a brush since before Christmas it won't be long before I do. Until then I leave you with this painting. A flame signifies so very much ... including, and especially, hope ...

Cherries, Candle, Check! unframed oil 6" x 6" $100.

The Gingerbread House

2011-12-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

One last post this year ... and one last post about Christmas 2011.

Our 2011 masterpiece

I only made one gingerbread house with our daughters when they were young. Perhaps we're making up for lost time by making one a year for the past three Christmases. In recent years, the first house was from a very ordinary pattern I pulled off the Internet. Last year Denise designed an adorable, wonky, leaning house.

The foundation construction on Christmas Eve

This year she was considering a two story structure, perhaps an A-frame? But that idea morphed into a grain elevator ...

The Boss (Denise) and the man in charge of the railway track (Larry)

We were very serious about accuracy; we even had a protractor out to assure the correct angle of the roof lines. I hadn't made enough dough and we were unable to have the lean to shed, so we improvised.

Christmas Day; it was a family affair

I get to do the icicles

And in the end it we were all very proud of our masterpiece!

Demolition on Boxing Day!

The two previous years, the big boys have smashed it. This year, the girls won out and chose to pick away at it gently as girls are wont to do!

Christmas at Our House

2011-12-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

December 25th, 2011 Christmas dinner at our house

I'm always delighted to have the family here, especially at Christmas. The newest family member, Amira, attended her first family gathering! It was extra special that Adam's Mom, Jan, could join us to be with her son and first grandchild!

Amira, only two weeks old

Avery is three now and loves her tutu from Aunty Laura

The adults had a secret Santa gift exchange but for the children it was open season and so there was still rather a lot of gift opening chaos ...

The clean up crew dealing with the aftermath

Wishing and hoping that all of you enjoyed a happy Christmas with your family and friends!

Merry Amaryllis

2011-12-28T14:42:00.001-07:00

Long ago, Sharlene http://sitekreator.com/stushnov/main_page.html
and I would send a box little gifts to one another. Our tastes are so similar that buying for one another is like buying for ourselves making the shopping quest most pleasurable! A few years ago we resumed the tradition with an added new twist; a painting exchange.

With my collection of treasures

Why save opening it all for Christmas morning? My family doesn't need to witness the obsession, although I invite Bill to watch and he does. So I bust into the box as soon as I receive it, often with a glass of wine, and always very slowly so as to savour the attention to detail and the exquisitely wrapped presents. This year the parcel came on Christmas Eve day, so I wasn't overly early!

From Sharlene; Merry Amaryllis 2011 acrylic 8" x 10"

I wish that the camera could capture the warm glow of the metallic gold in the background, but sadly it does not.

I was annoyed with myself for not budgeting the time to paint a new amaryllis for Sharlene this year. I'm hoping she'll forgive for sending this painting, done in 2009, for a Christmas exhibition ...

For Sharlene; Merry Amaryllis 2009 acrylic 8" x 10"

When This Artist Decorates ...

2011-12-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Christmas morning, the tree in the living room

Some may think that I am excessive and I'm not saying they are wrong but for me this passion for colour, design and decorating carries over and reaches far beyond my painting. It is woven into my life.

The stockings were filled

You'll notice that the elders' stockings are rather small. Stocking-stuffers were smaller in the olden days! One stocking-stuffer didn't fit in my Santa sock (as Avery calls them) but I found it hiding here behind my gifted painting ...

My beautiful Merry Amaryllis painting from Sharlene

Table set for the feasting

This holiday season I met a lovely, seemingly normal, woman who has nine decorated Christmas trees in her home! She helped me feel less obsessive compulsive. I readily admit that we both have an addiction, but there are addictions far worse than ours! Right, Deanne? :-)

The peacock tree

I simply could not resist this wreath

And this is how it all looked before the mayhem. Stay tuned to see the joyous mess we made!

Christmas Stockings

2011-12-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care

It all started in 1972 when I made six felt stockings ... for Bill, myself and two other couples who traveled from afar to join us for our first Christmas in Banff. Denise's and Laura's were made for their first Christmases in 1975 and 1978 respectively. With acquired sons-in-laws I made two more in 2007, for Larry and Adam. Avery's was made for her first Christmas in 2008. This week, for little Amira, I sewed my 19th stocking.

In progress

The little caricatures are meant to portray the personality of the individual. In designing them I consider the colour placement plus colour compatibly to their immediate family member's stockings. It's easier and best to hand sew all the bits of felt and embellishments on the front before it is machine stitched to the back.

The latest for our newest family member!

As she is only two weeks old, I can't really know Amira's personality, yet, but I suspect she'll be athletic and playful. She was born in Banff on a clear night when the 99% full moon was magically lighting the snowy mountain peaks, so the Christmas ornament that I have her swinging on is that moon.

Without a doubt these stockings are a labour of love and I loved making each and every one of them!

Red Hot Geraniums

2011-12-19T10:46:00.001-07:00

Fireball Geranium acrylic on cradled panel 1" deep, painted edges 9" x 12" $550.

Flower gardening has always transported me to a happy place. It used to be that I didn't like geraniums because their fragrance is somewhat fowl. I had to get over that because the red ones provide such an amazing colour display and I cannot resist painting the ones I grow.

Red Hot Geranium unframed oil 6" x 6" $100.

My Fascination With Bighorn Sheep

2011-12-18T11:13:00.001-07:00

With Bighorn, west of Banff , February 1973

In September 1972, with some of our meager possessions in storage and the rest in our old Renault, Bill and I drove west (I call it immigrating from Ontario) thinking Kamloops would be our destination because it was halfway between the Rockies and the Pacific coast. Falling in love with Banff and the mountains saw us cut the journey short. We and have remained in Alberta ever since.

I trust you'll enjoy seeing some of my favourite bighorn paintings ...

My first Bighorn painting 1973 oil 8" x 6"

Coming from the east I was familiar with deer and moose but the bighorn sheep, as only a western herbivore mammal, was new to me and I was fascinated by their compact muscular bodies (only about 40 inches at the shoulder) and their wide-set peculiar shaped, rust coloured eyes.

The Ruling Monarch 1985 oil 14" x 18"

The rams are famous for their large, curled horns. These impressive growths can weigh up to 30 pounds. They are a symbol of status and a weapon used in epic battles fighting for dominance or mating rights when males face each other, rear up on their hind legs, and hurl themselves at each other in charges of some 20 miles (32 kilometers) an hour. Ewes also have horns, but they are smaller and much less curved.

Baby Bighorn 1986 watercolour 10.5" x 13.5"

On Golden Hill 1988 oil 12" x 16"

It had been a long time since I last painted them, and well, wildlife in general. But in the past couple of years I've felt the urge again. Here is my latest effort ...

Wild Thing 2011 oil 9" x 12"

I Have a New Granddaughter!

2011-12-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Laura, Adam and baby Amira, a day old

Amira came into the world in the usual way, she just took 42 hours to do it. Her Dad and her Mom in particular look remarkably well for the marathon that her birth was. A big girl, she weighed 8lbs 4oz and is 21 inches long. Born in Banff, Alberta on Friday, December 9th at 9:17PM. Less than two hours later, Gramps her two aunties and I got to meet her.

Larry and Denise brought Avery in the following morning. She wasn't sure about seeing her Aunty Laura in a hospital bed and she wears that expression on her face ...

And then she was introduced to her cousin ...

Our lives are forever changed and we are thrilled about the rich addition Amira makes to our family!

Thoughts of Christmas Decorating

2011-11-30T09:43:00.001-07:00

Here we are at the last day of November, my painting binge complete, the Canmore Market come and gone and my thoughts have turned to transforming our house for the holidays. If these two Small Gems remain unsold, they'll be a part of the festive decorating.

Royal Purple oil 6" x 6" SOLD

Golden Web oil 6" x 6 SOLD

Unframed $100, framed $135, each.

A Surprise

2011-11-28T15:18:00.001-07:00

Thanks, from Denise, Laura and me, to everyone who came out and shopped at the Canmore Artisans Christmas Market. Four of the Small Gems sold. Perhaps the mountain people are so terribly fond of their landscape that still life just isn't their thing? What came as a complete surprise to me was when these two larger paintings went to good homes ...

Ribbon Lake oil 10" x 18"

Cypress September oil 12" x 16"

After yoga class this morning I went to lunch with some of the ladies and then I brought them home with me. I now have four less Small Gems - all still life paintings. Many thanks gals!

Please click here for the Small Gem images:
http://www.artbysaltiel.com/Special%20Projects/special_projects.htm

It's Show Time!

2011-11-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011

10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

Well, folks, here it is, my display set up in our basement to satisfy myself that all would fit and look well.

At the market, I am not independently billed in the advertising because I am sharing a booth with Denise. We are listed under REVIVE Hand Made Collections (her business name) and we are right next door to Laura Marshall Designs!

Please click here for images: http://www.artbysaltiel.com/Special%20Projects/special_projects.htm

And Now There Are 29

2011-11-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

Star Light oil 6" x 6"

Last night, She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named came over - by invitation - to see my display and the collection of Small Gems. Of course she fell in love with one but honoured my request about no whining and no begging to shop.

As fate would have it today is her birthday and well, you know how weak I am, this morning I gift wrapped this painting and took it to her office. Her joy has made my day.

There will be 29 available at ...

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

A Mountain Landscape!

2011-11-23T20:14:00.001-07:00

Morning Magic, Lawrence Grassi Range, Canmore, AB oil 8" x 24" SOLD

With THE GOAL of 30, and the shower gift behind me, I moved on to finishing other paintings I had in progress. This is one of them. Many thanks to Dorothy Connoy for the reference photo.

As a trial run, I have set up my display downstairs. All the little paintings, and a few other surprises, are arranged on the table I'll take to the sale. And on this table is a precious, three tier, wall shelf - made for me by a friend in the early 1970s - on which many of the framed SMALL GEMS look stunning. I must say I am pleased with it all.

If you can, please come and see ...

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

Sock Monkey Art for Lil' Buddy

2011-11-22T06:49:00.001-07:00

Within the next couple of weeks I'll be getting a new grand baby via my baby, Laura, and her husband, Adam! Although they don't know the gender, the soon-to-be-parents have always called the unborn babe Lil' Buddy.

Finished acrylic painting on unsupported canvas 18" x 24"

Armed with a few images from the Internet I designed a wall hanging to incorporate Laura's colour scheme and attraction to sock monkeys.

The sketch

The one quarter size sketch coloured in.

Enlarged and ready to paint

Just one more monkey left to paint!

Presented at the Lil' Buddy Baby Shower

On Sunday, with Mary, sister Denise co-hosted a most spectacular Dr. Seuss themed baby shower ... it in itself was a work of art! You'll want to see the photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150971850575438.758204.715295437&type=1&l=c6f24ef3bf

Art Club Paint-In

2011-11-18T07:08:00.001-07:00

It really is a Create-In because we have a jeweller and a stained glass artisan in our group and they were among the 11 members who came out for our evening, November 15th, of working, eating and partaking of the grape together. As is often the case, when artists work together, a great vibe prevailed in the room.

Yours truly working on Wild Thing

Barb just hung out while Catherine made caricatures

Pam worked her magic with chalk pastels

David smiles over his blank canvas

Thanks to Judy Dahl for the photographs.

And yes, Wild Thing will be available at the ...

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

A 6x6 Marathon

2011-11-13T10:26:00.001-07:00

Not all of these little gems fall of the brush; this one was especially painful.

the start

It seemed like a good idea to start with a purple background but I quickly discovered the trouble I had created for myself when I tried to get a bright, clean yellow on top of it. I had to pull out my fast dry white to cover it over and still the resurrecting of that went on for hours and hours.

the repair

I've let a couple of people peek at it (you know how weak I can be) and both want to buy it, so although I was exasperated with it (and didn't care if I ever saw it again) I am grateful that my angst doesn't show in the finished piece. But maybe it does and this is the appeal?

the set up - I'll show you the finished painting, later!

Ah, but I can't wait to show you where purple worked like a charm in painting number 30, Royal Purple. I so much want to paint more like it ... but by life this week, and next, may not permit the time to squeeze any more little gems in before ...

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

The Painting Binge ...

2011-11-09T12:03:00.002-07:00

... continues.

Apologies for not posting much here of late. With the binge in progress there isn't much to write about and I just don't want to show you any paintings until showtime. I'm really Daily Painting these days; lost in my own, blissful colour world.

My treasured paint box ... it's been with me since 1965

I'll post The Little Paintings just prior to going to Canmore. Please excuse how arrogant this may sound, but you'll have to come to the sale to have first crack at them.

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

But, Is It Art?

2011-11-01T15:34:00.000-06:00

Is painting faces, as simply as this, considered art? It's been a few years since we dressed up for Halloween but since we were invited to a costume party on October 31st (a Monday night no less) we did! I am particularly fond of this dress (and cape) that I was gifted with nearly 20 years ago and pleased that this year (unlike others) I fit into it!

My husband never ceases to amaze me when it comes to getting in costume. This was the first time in years that he didn't dress up as a woman. Often he has been a bearded woman; very disconcerting, but all in good fun!

Because we left home, for the party, at 7:15PM we only had these two, cute trick-or-treaters come to our door. Left the jack-o-lantern and bowl of candy outside for the rest to help themselves. It's been reported that the daughter of friends, and her five pals, took the last of the treats.

Not for the faint of heart ... and should you wish to see more ... please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150914835185438.749821.715295437&type=1&l=4a1413d506

Further Weakness ...

2011-10-26T22:31:00.001-06:00

Peach Prize oil 5" x 7" SOLD

A dedicated follower of my blog has notifications of my posts come to both her professional and personal email addresses. And so, before my last post showed up in her inbox (boxes) I knew I would have to relinquish to her the painting she has been lusting over. I am such a pushover. But how did she even get to see it you may ask? Well, she just comes over and I am unable to deny her access to viewing what is going on in The Anne Frank Room. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=208288&id=715295437&l=80c0074a94

She can be very dramatic and actually began shaking when I told her what I had done with two paintings over the weekend. And persuasive ... have I mentioned persuasive? Wonderful for my ego; I find her adoration of my work irrestible. I mean, who wouldn't?

What this means is that now I can show you an example of the flower paintings I'll have in this miniature collection. And the good news is, even though I let three of them go, I am still over halfway to my goal of thirty small paintings for the ...

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

I Am Weak

2011-10-26T17:44:00.000-06:00

Time in a Bottle oil 6" x 6" SOLD

An artist friend approached me and asked if she could buy one of my little paintings because she won't be in the country when the Canmore Christmas Artisan Market happens at the end of November. Recently Jeanne had shoulder surgery and she isn't able to drive so I took ten of my dry paintings for her to choose from. Having trouble picking one, she asked me if she could please buy two. Now, I ask you how could I say no?

Paired With Kari's Cherries oil 6" x 6" SOLD

But my weakness does afford me the opportunity to show you what you can from me expect at this sale!

Perhaps you'd like to mark this date on your calendar?

Canmore Christmas Artisan Market

November 26-27, 2011
10:00am - 4:00pm

Canmore Collegiate High School
1800 - 8th Avenue, Canmore, Alberta

Ingrid Christensen Workshop

2011-10-23T12:55:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, nine women (three of them Lindas) assembled in a studio at the University of Calgary's Art Building for Ingrid Christensen's day long, Painting the Figure from Life workshop.

Tami modeled for Ingrid's first demo

Ingrid is an excellent instructor who has the rare ability to talk and paint at the same time. It was a delight to hear her articulate what she was doing while doing it. She made it all look so easy, which, as expected, wasn't as we found out when we tried employing her approach. I learned a tremendous amount by watching her develop paintings in her loose, impressionistic style and wondered if I could emulate it. Of course not! Not exactly, but it was hugely beneficial for me to try; to paint using large filbert brushes with just four colours (plus white).

Ingrid painted Susen's portrait for her afternoon demo

The premise was to suggest elements as opposed to painting every detail. To pay close attention to warm and cool colours and their relationships to one another. To establish the darkest darks and lightest lights. To begin by painting thinly and then build the work by painting around the figure/features as much as actually painting them. To build the painting with successively, thicker layers of paint "tickled" on and then strategically place thick "pieces" of paint.

My morning painting oil 20" x 16"

I have to add that not only is Susen a beautiful model she can remain impressively still.

My afternoon painting oil 16" x 20"

Please visit Ingrid's website at ... http://www.icartstudios.com/

See the entire photo essay here ...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150895069185438.745091.715295437&type=1&l=cb4a05b344

Peacock Recipient

2011-10-19T08:51:00.001-06:00

Wondering if she would like it, I watched with bated breath as Avery opened her Peacock painting. She said "It's a picture, it's a peacock." And in her softest voice "It's so pretty!" My heart soared. Her Father said "We can hang it in your room." and her Mother said "It's not going upstairs!" So, her Dad found an empty nail and hung it on the living room wall. He later wrote to say "She was/is enamoured with this painting."

It was a grand birthday party. Gathered to celebrate were sixteen adults, six children and a new born baby! To see the photo essay, please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150882033405438.742678.715295437&type=1&l=34153b159a

A Peacock for Avery

2011-10-16T07:00:00.030-06:00

Today is Avery's birthday!

In June my granddaughter and I spent an afternoon at the Calgary Zoo. I was excited to be showing her the large animals, especially the big cats. She enjoyed them well enough but what captivated her most was a peacock. We happened upon one of these free roaming birds, prancing on the spot with his tail feathers fully outstretched, and Avery was awe-struck. Closing in on him, I'm sure with the intention to touch, he squawked. She froze but didn't turn away ... she couldn't, she was completely mesmerized. I eventually coaxed her on but for the rest of our visit she kept asking for the peacock. As we left, one was calling out to us arrogantly posed on a roof looking just like this ...

Peacock acrylic/mixed media on canvas 24" x 12" NFS

What a wonderful learning experience/experiment the entire project was! I used Golden Gel Medium Molding Paste for the heavily textured background. The yellow colour, which I thought would be an appropriate contrast, didn't please me at all ...

At the end of day one

The following day I scrubbed watered down turquoise and purple over it and, to my delight, the pretty Interference Gold still shone through. Recently added to my obscene collection of rubber stamps is a large (4.5" x 6") overall pattern of peacock feathers. I was bummed out when it wouldn't transfer onto the textured surface of the canvas until I thought to fill in the "dimples" with molding paste - using a palette knife - over that area to make it smooth enough to receive the stamp.

End of day two ... I needed more feathers!

I painted feathers, loving a reason to use Iridescent Copper. Then, I was horrified while sticking down the first real peacock feather, to find that matte medium I used had sucked the iridescent life out of the glowing, shimmery colours. And when I tried to pry it off the paint was coming with it! It had to stay; so, using gloss medium this time, I buried it under more feathers.

Finished painting detail

For extra, good fun and to top it all off I sprinkled an opaque, micro fine glitter (Western Blue by Jewel Glitter Ritz) onto wet medium on his neck.

Can such a young child enjoy yet another painting from her grandmother?

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, AVERY!

More School Art

2011-10-13T11:38:00.001-06:00

Some of us kids thought it would be a great idea to collect the work of our fellow classmates. Some didn't want to share or exchange. After they had been marked, our assignments were regularly left in a heap, on a table. We were expected to find and retrieve our own work. On days when there were absentees we enterprising kids helped ourselves to whatever we wanted. This is how I came to own a small, delightful collection of artwork, some of which I share with you here ...

Helen Salomaa - charcoal 27.5" x 18.25"
4th year

In her own way Helen was a master of the human form and among many things, she was ambidextrous. She was shrouded in mystery. We never knew her age, but she had to have been older than most of us because she had her own car and a studio in Markham Village, supported we assume by the sale of her oil paintings.

Barbara Krasinski - gouache 19" x 13"
3rd year

Barbara's armour was one of the Museum Class assignments. She got married and dropped out in third year.

Lisa Shallhese - pencil & watercolour
21.5" x 15" - 4th year

Lisa had a very avant-guarde flair to her work. We never got close to her, she came across as mature and somewhat withdrawn.

Sally Simone - pencil 22" x 15" - 4th year

Simone (you never called her Sally) was a no nonsense, exceptionally petite gal with a most distinctive personal style. She got married halfway through third year and graduated with honours ... number one student in our class of fifteen.

Sandra Shibata - oil pastel 17" x 13" - 4th year

We had two Sandras. Ko who is Chinese and Shibata who is Japanese. Both gentle spirits. This drawing illustrates an inner strength not visible in Shibata's outward demeanour.

Murray McLauchlan - conte 24" x 16"
4th year

Murray's strong portrait, like the kid himself, makes a statement on black paper. His yearbook quote made reference to his probable fate of busking for quarters in a New York subway.

John Williamson - watercolour 19" x 15" - 3rd year

Another Museum Class project by John; an exceptional use of watercolour. Even way back then, he was our most troubled soul. After a short, fast life and somewhere in the past decade he took his own life.

Mark Thurman - charcoal 15.75" x 22" - 4th year

And then there is Mark, the fellow whom we all admired for the talent which simply flowed from him. He was always top of the class until the very last semester of final year when Simone bumped him to second place. I was third. An interesting fact: at the beginning of grade nine we three were the runts of the class all measuring five feet tall. At the end of grade twelve Mark was 5'10", I had grown to 5'6" and Simone was still 5'.

Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.

School Art

2011-09-29T11:11:00.010-06:00

Only a small collection of my student art work has survived the years and most of the pieces I kept are what I would have considered to be my best efforts; work done in our final year. An early assignment was to set up right across the street from the school and draw a building. I chose this boarded up house. A pretty basic drawing but please remember I had only just turned 14!

Pen and ink 22"x15" First year, 1962

Central Technical School is a public high school with the Toronto Board of Education; tax dollars well spent. If you recall the television program FAME, that's what I liken it to. There had to be some advantages to being an inner city kid! Life drawing was a constant throughout the four years, here is an early exercise:

Life drawing exercise, pencil 22"x15"
Second year, 1963

You can't help but improve when life drawing classes were either all morning or all afternoon long and happened almost every day. Compare the sophistication of the drawing below to the one above.

Life drawing, pencil 26"x17.25"
Fourth year, 1966

The first time we 14 year old kids had a live, nude model we were scared half to death when a barefoot, bare-legged, male model sauntered into the studio wearing a bathrobe. Eyes downcast, unable to look at one another we all held our breath, but when he took it off there was an almost audible, collective sigh of relief. Back then inequality was alive and well; the women were completely nude (those who wanted to be that is) but the men wore g-strings. In forth year painting the figure was introduced ...

Figure painting, acrylic 28"x15"
Fourth year, 1966

We were being prepared for any path in an artistic life; many courses had commercial art in mind. Some of the girls dreamed of being fashion designers and some of the boys hoped to go into advertising fast cars. Most of us did go on to pursue a wide variety of careers in the arts.

Learning was exciting with the broad range of subjects which, in addition to all that life drawing, included: History of Art, Research, Design, Illustration, Lettering - much was done by hand, although we did have Letraset there were NO computers! Anatomy - we had to learn all the bones and muscles in the human body. We had a class called Museum when we would got to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) and there, from life, paint things like coats of armour, African masks or the enormous Chinese mural.

Some design projects ...

Book sleeve, watercolour and ink, 8"x20" Fourth year, 1966

Five page, three fold brochure, each page 8.5"x11", gouache
Fourth year, 1966

Album cover, acrylic, 6"x6" Fourth year, 1966

And for those of you who may have been waiting for it, done from an arrangement Doris McCarthy set up in her studio classroom ... my first oil painting:

Still life, oil 20"x24" Fourth year, 1966

Central Technical School

2011-09-27T17:36:00.004-06:00

Last week, I took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as I photographed old pictures from my art school days. If Xpresspost is all it's cracked up to be Mark will receive the CD I made him for his birthday, today.

Helen Salomaa in front of the Art Building, January, 1966

The gal behind the camera most of the time is pictured above. Our own personal paparazzi; she has left us with a life-long gift of so many photographs. I stopped in the midst of writing this post to consult Canada 411 where I found Helen's phone number. After all these years, she and I have just had a long, wonderful and rich conversation.

In September, 1962, ten days after I entered grade nine and the Art Course at Central Tech, I turned fourteen. Side by side thirty kids (some came, some went) forged their artistic skills in the four-year art program. To accommodate the extensive range of art courses our academic classes consisted only of the absolute essentials. These we studied all together in "the old school" classrooms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Technical_School

However, we were split into two groups for art classes and spent glorious hours in the fabulous studios of the art building. This afforded us an intimacy the likes of which was highly improbable in a regular curriculum of a Toronto Public High School. At the time Central Tech had an enrollment of 2000 students.

We made art and studied together ...

Mark Thurman, me and John Williamson (RIP), January 1966

... and, we played together ...

Neil Sharp, yours truly and Mark Thurman, April 26th, 1964

Being children of the 60s we were naturally influenced by The Beatles. Above we emulate their Twist and Shout album cover.

Murray McLaughlin, me, Sandra Shibata and Sandra Ko, January, 1966

Having such intense courses, based on solid classical training (in other words we learned how to draw) available to me while so young was undoubtedly one of the finest opportunities of my life. Art instruction was imparted by instructors of the highest calibre including Canadian icon Doris McCarthy, who taught there for 40 years.

Life drawing was a daily event, April 1966

As the four years flew by I savoured every day dreading its end well before the last year came and went.

Last day of the last year in Paul Summerskill's class, June 10th, 1966

Many divine turns have sent me in directions I never dreamed of but, to this day, I maintain the foundation that I continue to build on are those precious Central Tech years.

The September Road Trip

2011-09-22T11:27:00.007-06:00

Although we didn't travel far we saw an vast amount of inspiring beauty and had a most excellent time exploring territory new to us.

September 15th at Many Glacier

On our first night out, September 6th, we camped at the young mining town of Elkford (est. 1971) in the wilds of British Columbia's Elk Valley. The following morning we took a short hike to nearby Josephine Falls viewed from the edge of a very deep canyon. That afternoon we went the short distance to Fernie and set up camp (for two nights) at Mount Fernie Provincial Park which is just down the road from here ...

Island Lake

On September 9th, we crossed into the United States and lazily made our way to Mountain Meadow RV Park at a little town named Hungry Horse, between Whitefish and West Glacier, Montana. Based there for five nights, we alternated hiking days with shopping and touring days while enjoying glamping with full services including wireless Internet, at our camp site, great meals at cool cafes and restaurants. The last time we were in the Kalispell/Glacier area was in 1979. It was a flash trip with two young kids and a couple of outlaws. Things are quite changed since then. It all looked new to us, with the exception of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Anyone who has ever traveled it can never forget the beauty and what a feat of engineering it is.

Going-to-the-Sun Road looking west from Logan Pass

I can't really think of anywhere more beautiful to be stuck in road construction traffic. It delayed our hike until late in the day when the light was so much finer. At Logan Pass, on the Hidden Lake trail, we got our moneys worth of wildlife and knock-your-socks-off scenery in the best of weather, even with forest fire smoke haze.

Mountain Goat beating the heat

Hidden Lake

With the weather so fine and everything (that wasn't already was closed) about to shut down for the season the crowds were horrific. We drove around and around the Avalanche Lake trail head waiting for a parking spot to free up as if we were at a mall on December 24th. I worked hard to exclude the hordes in my photos!

Avalanche Lake, near Apgar, West Glacier National Park

Coming home up the east side of Glacier National Park we intended to stay just one night at Many Glacier then quickly changed our minds so that we could take the full day hike to the Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint. The elevation gain was 1600 feet over 8.5 kilometers ... I like to mix up how I measure things! This primo trail is out in the open for most of the time affording exquisite views of mountain peaks above you and jewel coloured lakes far below. If you have time to look at only one photo essay I would suggest this one.

Grinnell Lake, East Glacier National Park

If you are inclined here are links to complete photo essays:

The September Run Away Begins
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150817649475438.729474.715295437&l=aa53743d10&type=1

Eureka, Montana
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150820205040438.730039.715295437&l=6443b3f6eb&type=1

West Glacier - Logan Passhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150822655300438.730490.715295437&l=07f8455c5d&type=1

Avalanche Lakehttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150824970550438.730851.715295437&l=7d5500f414&type=1

Many Glacier - East Glacier

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150826348595438.731045.715295437&l=1f4e6d66d4&type=1

The Goal

2011-09-20T09:15:00.001-06:00

I want to have 30 little oil paintings for the Canmore Artisan's Christmas Market, November 26th and 27th. I am excited to report that my daughters and I will all have booths side by side! Denise sews purses and other amazing accessories with patterns she invents. Laura has added hand created silver pieces, of her own designs, to her beaded jewellery.

Daily Gold oil 5" x 7" SOLD

I had six small paintings toward The Goal. Because I needed a thank-you gift I was down to five. Then, a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) came over and wore me down into selling her the painting above. I am weak and I simply cannot resist her adoration or whining. But the meagre collection was dwindling.

That the weather is so lovely isn't helping matters at all. When yesterday started out cold and cranky I went to my room and painted a pear and crab apples which I clipped from the tree down the street. Too bad I can't show it to you. If I am to reach The Goal I have to stop posting any paintings I create between now and the end of November.

In the meantime I'm left with telling stories. But of course you have the option of reading them ... or not!

FCA Anniversary Show Opening

2011-09-19T10:02:00.000-06:00

The venue

On Friday afternoon, September 16th, Federation of Canadian Artists Calgary Chapter President, Kathy Hildebrandt, and her "hanging crew" received 170 paintings and seamlessly had all of them installed in The Simmons building ready for the 6:30PM opening reception that evening.

A wonderful, spacious setting

Rosemary Bennett, Linda Wilder, Kirsten Jensen

Three founding members were on hand to celebrate and to present awards ...

Jeanette McClelland, June Mongomery and Irene Wahl

Yours truly with Canmore artist, Dana Roman, and my painting

With Dana and her mixed media on silk pieces (not bottom right)

And what's a celebration without cake?

An exquisite 32-page colour catalogue was published which included all the paintings in the exhibition. I regret that I didn't get a photo of Kathy, but I tip my hat to her and everyone who contributed to hosting such a monumental, impressive, commemorative show. What a shame it was only up for two days!

FCA 30th Anniversary Show

2011-09-05T09:25:00.004-06:00

Haiduk Lake and Peak, Banff National Park 2007 oil 28" x 16" $2750.

During Calgary's famed ART WALK (September 17th and 18th, 2011) the Calgary Chapter of Federation of Canadian Artists is presenting their 30th anniversary exhibition ... see the invitation below.

The national organization was initiated in 1941. I joined in 1986 and in 1988 I was the first Calgary Chapter Member to receive the highest level of membership which permitted me to use the initials SFCA after my name. At the time I was 40 years old (no where near being a senior!) and thought that perhaps they should have used M for master! I served as the Calgary Chapter president from 1991 to 1993.

Should you be in Calgary and/or plan to take in ART WALK please do stop by to see the FCA exhibition ...

The Calgary Chappter is over 100 members strong and from them approximately 170 paintings with be on display (and for sale) at the Historic Simmons Building in Calgary's East Village ... a diverse and dense urban village ... part of the city's Rivers District Community Revitalization Plan.

Twenty-five Years at The Avens

2011-09-01T21:52:00.007-06:00

(You can click on any of the photos to see them enlarged)

Arlene, a weaver and a founding member of the CAAG
at a Christmas Fair, December 3rd, 1982

In 1981, when Bill and I moved back to the Canmore area, I joined the then one year old Canmore Artists and Artisans Guild (CAAG) and met Arlene Curry. She and I became fast friends. Side by side we raised our children ...

Kathy's 4th birthday, July 10th, 1983

Dale and Denise, Kathy Arlene, me and Laura September 16th, 1989

... and when Arlene had a vision to open a gallery we planned it together. On June 13th, 1986, the doors of the Mountain Avens Gallery opened for the very first time. Initially it was only to be a summer venture in a small, rented house at 730 - 9th Street beside the Peppermill Restaurant which is now The Trough.

Arlene on opening day, June 13th, 1986

Yours truly inside the Mountain Avens Gallery, June 13th, 1986

It was important that the name of the gallery include the word mountain. The Mountain Avens flower grows only at high elevation and the plant has leaves that are evergreen. On the gallery's first birthday I gave Arlene this painting:

There Will Always Be An Avens 1987 oil 10" x 8"

In 1987 Arlene (and her then husband) purchased an old house on Main Street. After extensive renovations the gallery seamlessly moved and opened October 10th, 1987. Here it continued to flourish and be further cemented in the community. For years it was where our families viewed the annual Canada Day parades.

Canada Day 1991 - Denise, my Dad and Arlene in the doorway.
Bill on the left (in blue) and me with the yellow beret and palette

There were countless group shows and I participated in all of them but it wasn't until November 1994 that we presented my first Mountain Avens Gallery solo show ... Mountain Intimacy. I had decidedly hit my stride with mountain imagery; I now had a few years of painting outdoors and bagging peaks under my belt. The back country had captured my soul and was now shining through in both my studio works and plein air paintings.

The gallery's tenth anniversary exhibition hosted works by past and present artists. At the opening reception, June 15th, 1996 special remarks entitled The Blossoming were given by Bob Sandford.

Arlene, Bob and me at the 10th anniversary celebration

Arlene sold the gallery to John Borrowman in December 1998, and for a time she remained on as gallery manager. John also owned The Quest in Banff and so the Mountain Avens Gallery was given a new name; The Quest Avens Gallery. When John sold The Banff Quest he entered into a business arrangement with Arlene and together they planned a grand, new building.

Down with the old to make way for the new

The little house/gallery closed in September 2000 and while the construction of the new building was in progress the gallery operated out of a rented, temporary space above what today is the Main Street location of the Rocky Mountain Bagel Company. Here is the completed masterpiece before the current, simplified name - The Avens Gallery - went up on the exterior ...

The new Avens building, September 11, 2002

The new interior space of The Avens was/is magnificent; very conducive to solo shows and I was ripe and ready to have one of those every spring. There were six annual exhibitions in all beginning in 2003 with Under the Influence; French Impressions and concluding with Wild! in 2008 ... but these are stories in their own right and best saved for future posts.

The Aven's 20th birthday, me with John and Arlene, June 10, 2006

When we moved to Claresholm, in September 2008, I eased out of working as much as I had and excused myself from the high pressure of what major shows involve.

By December 2010, when John sold the gallery I had really settled into semi retirement. In the transition Curtis and Andrea kept a few of my paintings but I wasn't committed to providing new art to the new owners. On August 29th, 2011 I removed my paintings from The Avens Gallery. This marked an unceremonious end to a vital, twenty-five year, chapter in my life and with it came a multitude of feelings. Gratitude for the great years working with Arlene and John. Relief that the weight of obligation to produce and provide is lifted. And, as you would expect, some sadness, but also delight that The Avens, like the perennial flower it is named after, continues to grow and blossom every year.

Quarry Lake

2011-08-31T14:02:00.000-06:00

Quarry Lake oil 18" x 24"
Our wedding gift to Samatha Peris and Evan Koebel married here
August 27th, 2011

It was a wedding of beauty and the gift of the Gods was the perfect weather. The photographer has compiled an exceptional slide show which you can view here:
http://orangegirlphotographs.com/slideshows/SamEvan/

To see my own take on the event; the view from our Marshall family perspective, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150784557990438.722124.715295437&l=54db76460b&type=1

Life Goes Round in Circles

2011-08-24T18:45:00.004-06:00

I've been incubating this particular post for a very long time. More recently the inspiration for it has come as the result of receiving an email from Shelly. In it she included images of six, different, little flower paintings that her mother gave to her. She wrote: "I have always loved these pieces, they have been hanging in my parent's house since they were purchased".

Varnishing a number of finished flower paintings, March 1975

The memory of how I actually conceived the notion and then embarked on this collection is lost in time. It may well have been the result of finding cute 4" x 5" frames at the Calgary Hudson's Bay Company store in 1973 and figuring out what to put in them. With a roller I applied a blend (dark to light) using raw umber and white oil paint for the background, on 5" x 4" Masonite panels. Once dry, the flowers were painted on in oil.

I first sold these floral paintings at Norrell's Art Gallery, in Calgary, and at the Tamarack Gallery , in Banff. Later the Moriane Lake Lodge gift shop became a hot market but Rundle Photo Shop, in Banff, was undoubtedly my best outlet. And the bonus there was Chuck Hester (shop manager) who became a tremendous supporter of my art and a life long friend. Back then you could purchase one of these paintings, framed, for $15. I tracked down the company who distributed the frames and was able to buy them directly and wholesale at $2. each. The commission was 1/3 which meant, for each one sold, I received $10. (less the cost of the frame of course). Sales were brisk as folks happily collected multiples.

Wild Rose - one of the first paintings in the series SOLD

It would take me about one hour to do one and I could paint several a day; my record was eight. Speaking of records, I am still annoyed with myself for throwing out (years ago) the sheets on which I kept track of them all. So, I can't say just how many different wild flowers I included in the collection, but I'll guess at about a dozen.

Bluebells SOLD

With the records gone, I'll also never know exactly how many wild roses or wood lilies I painted but I am certain that these two flowers numbered first and second, respectively. While painting larger pieces of other imagery (mountains and wildlife) I kept the flower paintings production going on for five years. During that time I also bore and delivered our two daughters.

Columbine SOLD

When I dreamed I was eating a wood lily I knew it was time to stop. Bill wondered if maybe I couldn't just make it to 750? The answer was no. I quit at 735. By this time the retail price had crept up to $30. each, but still it was time for the gig to be over. In my wildest dreams all 735 of them are reunited in a single room ... and solidly paper one wall!

Wood Lily - the only one I numbered and kept NFS

When I said (at the beginning of 2010) that I had joined the "Daily Painting" movement ... I had really already been there. I was just coming full circle. And one of the joys of all of this is being able to show you how much I have grown as a painter. This is what a small lily painting, I create today, looks like ...

Saffron Lily 2011 oil 5" x 7" SOLD

The Wedding Gift

2011-08-22T18:57:00.000-06:00

Working on Quarry Lake ... oil 18" x24"

The wedding is on Saturday and so I thought I'd best finish the gift. Although it has been somewhat cloudy today it was so warm that I resumed work on it on our back deck. May this be the weather that the marriage itself will enjoy, at the site portrayed.

In this photo the mountain is fully finished and I'm working on the treed slopes. The lake and the tree were completed indoors because I had to retreat to the cool Anne Frank Room when the thermometer hit 30C! I'll show you the finished painting once it has been gifted.

Painting in the Play House

2011-08-10T21:08:00.002-06:00

The fluorescent light fixture in The Anne Frank Room has died. I have a call into the electrician, but I don't want to paint down there anyway, so I've set up shop in the play house. It's not heated, nor does it have electricity. I run an extension cord into it from the garage. Bill calls it a garden shed and I suppose that's what it really is. After all we do store garden furniture in it, during the winter. But, the lawn mower is definitely not allowed in there.

The sign above the door reads ALICE'S WONDERLAND

Since I was a kid, I've wanted a play house and that's what I call it. So there.

Although it's a long way from being finished, today I managed to get this 18" x 24" linen panel all coloured in. It's a gift for a wedding we'll be attending, August 27th. I asked the bride and groom for input and they provided photos of where the ceremony will take place. At Quarry Lake, Canmore, with the beautiful back drop of the Lawrence Grassi Range and Ha Ling Peak, on the right. The latter was formerly known as Chinaman's Peak, which is what this stubborn gal still calls it!

Souvenirs; Round Three!

2011-08-09T17:34:00.001-06:00

Golden Sundown available as a poster, an apron and a laptop skin!
(Original oil painting sold)

I have entrusted my badlands images to Erica Neumann and given her free reign to put them on whatever items she deems appropriate.

Sentry Spirits available as a license plate!
(Original oil painting sold)

Illuminated Gold available as a charm bracelet and a coffee mug!
(Original oil painting sold)

Fresh out of art school my first job was designing and hand-cutting silk screens for t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons, tea towels, and (are you ready?) souvenir pennants! Does anyone even remember pennants? If I can get down and be humble I will dig out, from the depths of my archives, some of these items and show you images in a future post, but don't hold your breath!

When I came on board Irwin Specialties (founded in 1926) it was a division of Irwin Toy. Until today, I thought the company had disappeared off the Toronto scene all together, but no! While I was looking for a little history for you I learned that they have reemerged as iToys! You can read the story on their ABOUT US page at http://www.irwintoy.com/ Should you care to know more, please go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irwin_Toy

Irwins was my first incarnation as a souvenir artist. In 1972, when we moved to Banff, I continued to work for them by mail while I was developing my own line of souvenir items: http://www.artbysaltiel.com/Reprod/reproductions.htm

And now here I am in round three ... I'm travelling in circles. Crazy, fun, good circles. Please allow me introduce you to Erica's artful merchandise at Flipping Art Gallery Gift Shop ... http://www.cafepress.ca/flippingartgallery Some cute gifts there folks!

Coutts Homestead, Nanton

2011-07-29T10:00:00.001-06:00

On Canada Day, last year, we were invited to lunch at the Coutts Homestead. I was blown away by this piece of paradise hidden in a vast stand of trees on the wide open prairie to the east of Nanton, Alberta. Yesterday, Linda and I finally got ourselves back there to paint. The gardens are brimming with native and imported plants, buildings and outdoor art. It would take years to exhaust the potential paintings this special place inspires.

Halting in our tracks, we both gasped as we rounded a bend and caught sight of the extensive poppy garden set against a field of screaming yellow canola. And crowning it all were the Rockies shimmering in the distance.

Linda opted to paint what she could see beyond the tree

I choose to include it ... and it surely needs some work, yet!

While the jury may still be out on the merit of our paintings I know I speak for both of us when I say we were both deeply satisfied and filled with joy for an afternoon so well spent.

Already a well photographed and painted site, in time it will become even further immortalized. Among the flow of visitors there yesterday we met two other painter gals. For the foreseeable future, Jim Coutts will continue to live at the farm but recently he gifted his Grandfather's homestead to the University of Lethbridge. Below is a link to the story of his bequest as well as another link to an excellent video of Jim himself explaining it.

Elm Allee

http://www.thisismyu.ca/stories/donor/2011/06/gift-launches-coutts-centre-western-canadian-heritage

The Potting Shed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4HO4xOS3nI

Some Have Gone and Some Remain

2011-07-26T19:07:00.000-06:00

I must be somewhat of a masochist for insisting on painting portraits even though likenesses elude me at least half the time. What a thrill it was when, with little effort, I nailed Jean. Athough I laboured for hours over Marie Claire, she looked nothing like herself. I had to put it aside or go mad. Madam Vallet arrived in Canmore last week and I will be seeing her soon. Being notorious for leaving things to the last minute, I finally sat down and completed the painting, today.

To fully appreciate this post, I invite you to read There Are Places I Remember from April 28th:
http://artbysaltiel.blogspot.com/2011/04/there-are-place-i-remember.html
With the portrait done, I can now publish the following which has been on hold as a draft since then ...
I deliberately didn't show you the inside of the Auberge Ravoux because I was saving it for when I had finished this ...

Jean and Marie Claire Vallet acrylic and oil 12" x 12"

Last month (March 23rd) Jean gave up his battle with cancer. I ache for Marie Claire. In my heart of hearts I painted this double portrait for her. But, perhaps I needed to do for myself, to help me process this horrible loss. Such a fine gentleman gone much too soon.

Lunch at the Auberge Ravoux, October 4th, 2003

In reality, Bill and I were seated in front of the window so that we could look at and take in the activity of the cafe. http://www.maisondevangogh.fr/ The lace curtains distinguish where we are and so I choose to place the Vallets in front of them. The symbolism of having Jean beneath the lace, which becomes ever lighter and brighter towards the top of the image is, as I see it, the path of his ascending spirit.

This was a most tender moment, one I am so pleased to have caught. We had been talking about the abundance of lovers who kiss publicly on the streets of Paris. Here, Jean leans in as if to give her one and I love her look of delighted anticipation. Did he actually kiss her? I honestly can't remember, but I will ask Marie Claire when I see her.

Rest in peace, Jean.

A Dream Realized

2011-07-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

Table Mountain, Bill, Susan, Jim and me the night before our hike

Now that I have stood on top of Table Mountain I can scratch another item off my bucket list. Last year, when we camped (for the first time) at Beaver Mines Lake right beneath the striking mountain, I knew I would not only paint it but I would have to stand on that peak one day.

I know that you've seen it before, but once again ...
Table Mountain oil 30" x 40"

With my last journey of such epic proportions undertaken three years ago and given my level of unfitness you might say it was foolish of me to take on such a vertical hike, and you'd be right! The elevation gain is 2510 feet; 765 metres for you converts. Could we have had a clearer day? I don't think so. The forecast high for July 18th at nearby Pincher Creek, Alberta, was 31C. It seemed even hotter on the trail.

Going up I was on a natural high spurting aloud about how much I miss trekking in the mountains. "I can take on Mt. Robson!" I exclaimed (yeah, right). The stunning views at the top not only met my expectations they exceeded them.

The sheer face of the west peak

With the utmost caution I just had to crawl out to the edge and peer down. So far down to the lake and campground below.

Going down was grueling, exhausting and oh how I wanted to be carried! Days later my muscles still ache. Would I do it again? Oh yes!

To view the entire photo essay please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150725642175438.704257.715295437&l=a239458396&type=1

Art for TV and Flat Screens

2011-07-10T09:34:00.000-06:00

Neumann Gallery and Studio, Okotoks, Alberta

Friend and fellow painter, Erica Neumann, has a wonderful gallery and studio at 101 Elma Street, Okotoks, Alberta. If you can't get there in person, please browse her dynamic, innovative paintings on her website: http://www.ericaneumann.com/

On the leading edge of technology Erica has also created a website "Art for Flat Screens". She has kindly included my badlands paintings on it.

Inside the gallery. Left is the "Flat Screen Flash Art Show"

As explained by Erica ...

The site is virtual art, set to music - when the art shows are clicked on and played full screen, they turn your flat screen into a painting that changes every 30 seconds. Soon (in a couple of years?) everyone will have their TV integrated with the computer, and have screens all over the house that would need art - so they're not black when not being used. Our mission statement is "to provide easily accessible art for people, and to provide a new source of revenue for artists." I wanted to be the first online gallery for this, except it's so new no one knows what it is ... soon though!

Please check it out and I invite you to pass this link along: http://www.flippingartgallery.com/

Plein Air at Racehorse Creek

2011-07-08T21:26:00.001-06:00

In this week of magnificent summer weather our usual mid week R-Podding opportunity was sandwiched by fun times with departing and arriving guests. To try and squeeze in some camping would have been ridiculous. So instead, on Wednesday, we took a day trip through The Gap where The Old Man River cuts through the eastern range of the Rockies and went to play in the Alberta Forestry Reserve. Here we had a picnic lunch followed by idyllic hours of soothing pleasure along one of the three creeks in the immediate vicinity. When we found this spot, last year, I fell in love with it and have longed to go back ever since.

While I painted, he fished; what a richly beautiful place it is and such glorious ways to spend an afternoon.

It's been over a year since I worked en plein air. Here is the fruit of my labour ... bugs, caught in the wet paint, and all. I've learned (the hard way) how to best get rid of these critters. Wait until until the paint is dry; they brush off with ease then!

Racehorse Creek oil 9" x 12"

For more photos, please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150705316550438.698052.715295437&l=8e97897be8

Flashbacks

2011-07-05T18:32:00.003-06:00

R-BAR 1985 oil 24" x 36"
Left to right, Leo Wright with brothers Gord and Morgan Wilson

Summer has finally arrived and we've been enjoying a lot of visitors and getting out frequently in the R-Pod. Which means there has been little painting going on and therfore I have nothing new to show you. Recently, I have had a series of amazing flashbacks and so I thought you might enjoy a story about one.

In 1976 and for five years, Bill's first Ranger posting was at Chain Lakes Provincial Park, close to where we live now. There we met and were embraced by neighbours, the Wilsons. I incubated images of their ranching life for a good five years, and it wasn't until after we'd moved away that I finally began to paint it. Who knew that once I got started I would go on such a roll? To the extent that a curator once said "You have enough cow paintings to launch an entire exhibition of just them ... but not in my gallery!"

About a decade ago a woman telephoned to announce that she had the above painting and asked if I would like it back? As the new owner of Conquest Art she had found it in a closet, didn't want it and didn't know what to do with it. I'd always thought it had been sold and never dreamed I'd ever see it again. But, she advised that it had been leased out. Since I'd always mourned selling it, I happily agreed to her proposal of exchanging it for a landscape of the same size. And that's how it came to be back in our collection, hanging above the fireplace in the den.

Leo's Mother, Ruth Wright, June 3rd, 2011

Last month I notified the winners of The Claresholm Art Club's raffle. It was established on the phone that, as fate would have it, one of the recipients was Ruth Wright, Leo's Mother! When she came to collect her prize we had a wonderful visit and I shared with her the painting's provenance while Bill made a print of it for her. Pretty cool, eh?

Painting and Camping

2011-06-26T18:11:00.000-06:00

Fiesta Iris unframed oil 5" x 7" $100. SOLD

You're likely aware, primarily through my continual complaining, about how wet (and cold) our spring has been. So, as soon as we get a window of fine weather off we go R-Podding. There was one such window last week. We hitched up and went south west, for two nights, to one of our favourite places; Beaver Mines Lake.

I'm lured by the beauty there which includes my new favourite mountain and Bill is drawn by the fishing. He goes out on the lake morning, afternoon and evening.

When I accompany him I get to gawk at Table Mountain

Sometimes when I don't go with him I paint.

I had started Fiesta Iris a couple of weeks ago and thought this would be a good time to finish it. When it was done, I laced into another, seen below, which I didn't finish ...

And then, as quickly as the window opened, it closed. Under a threatening sky, on the morning of June 23rd, we packed up and came home. And home is just a little more than an hour away from Beaver Mines.

Out of the Fire

2011-06-17T11:57:00.000-06:00

Hot pots out of the kiln ignite newspaper in the pit

In our spring of rain, the sun shone on June 12th for Bertine's annual pottery class firing of primitive, horse hair and raku pieces. Students are anxious to see how their creations finally turn out and what with all that fire, it's a guaranteed high energy event. Below, Mike (who gets the sweltering, dirty job of loading and unloading the kilns) takes vessels to Bertine and Jenn who lay horse hair on them while they're hot.

The Quonset is a hub of activity inside ...

... and out!

For primitive firing, pots are placed in barrels with burning wood, sawdust and other weird stuff like food scraps. They're left to slow cook all day; when they're done so are we and it's time for beverages and feasting!

My six pears and two pots

Inspired by my raku pieces from out-of-the-fires last spring I only made raku pottery this year. And although I used the same glazes, the clay was different and therefore so too were the results. I had hoped for a copper metallic finish but the Fire God obviously had other ideas! Now to find twigs to use as stems. And I will polish them. I promise!

To see the photo essay and the other types of firings please click on this link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150657212575438.686335.715295437&l=65f7bb0610

Painting in the Living Room

2011-06-10T09:28:00.000-06:00

... or as Avery would say; the Linen Room.

After all, painting is portable

As much as I like The Anne Frank Room I have no desire to be in the dungeon on a spring or summer day. I might not have painted indoors at all yesterday except that it was overcast and gloomy (until much later). So, I set up in the living room and happily worked with only natural light on my subject and to see with. It made for a lovely afternoon.

Last fall I painted several 6x6s of crab apples which I had clipped from the trees down the street. Right now these trees are an amazing spectacle, glorious in full bloom. Every time I pass them I swear the blossoms all whisper "pick me, paint me!" I could resist no longer. Look at how completely relaxed the little bough is reclining next to my thrift store pitcher. I'm sure the flowers were as happy with their stem in a water-filled florist vial as I was when the glass of wine was delivered.

Crab Apple Pink unframed oil 6x6 $100.

Glazed Pears

2011-06-09T12:43:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I went to the pottery studio and glazed my precious pears plus these two pots. I'm planning to give the pears stick stems after the raku firing which happens this coming Sunday. Pray that they don't blow up in the kiln!

Teacher Bertine figures I used rainbow and copper glazes on the bowl I made last year. Don't you just love the names rainbow and copper? If she is right (and I really hope she is) then my pears should come out looking like the finished bowl in the photo above ... but there are no guarantees in raku firings. Wish me and the little babes luck!

To refresh your memory of the process behind the pears please click here:
http://artbysaltiel.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html

Alberta Badlands

2011-06-08T12:16:00.232-06:00

Exquisite light at sundown, May 31st, 2011

A week ago today we were camping with Don and Ann at Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Brooks, Alberta. It was our third visit and everywhere I was tripping over familiar hoodoos and memories. Titles of oils and watercolours, painted long ago, came tumbling out of my mouth. And all over again I found myself completely fascinated by the strange beauty of this World Heritage Site. Our first visit was in September 1993 and it was quickly followed by a second trip in April 1994 because I was on a bender to paint this wild, barren, lunar landscape.

Me, Bill and a favourite hoodoo behind the Visitor Centre

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150639951080438.680578.715295437&l=6676387f75

If you click on the above link it will take you to the photo essay I compiled of our recent time there in which I integrated some of my paintings.

I came home consumed with the desire to really remember that time. So I dug out photos from the early trips and revisited the artwork as a result of them. I fished out painting slides, learned how to scan them and made a complete digital record of the collection. It was a deeply satisfing experience. I invite you to click on the following link to know the details behind the series, the exhibitions and to see all of my badlands paintings:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22752120@N04/sets/72157626791691425/

May these thumbnails whet your appetite ...

The Lure of the Iris

2011-05-28T18:58:00.003-06:00

Golden Goddess unframed oil 7"x5" $100. SOLD

Today the Claresholm Art Club held their last Paint-In before breaking for the summer months. In spite of the rainy weather (it's been doing that for the past six days) Don and I were the only two members to turn up! Still, we painted together for a couple of hours. I finished the above painting which I'd begun two weeks ago at the library painting demonstration.

For years I've had a fascination with irises and their ultimate elegance. Many of you will know that I have a special attraction to the fiery copper, reddish/orange, golden coloured varieties.

In Greek iris means rainbow ... which explains the extensive range of colours that the flowers can be found in. Myth has it the flower is named after the goddess, Iris, who was considered to be the messenger of the gods travelling between heaven and earth ... on a rainbow.

Happy Birthday Victoria and Bill

2011-05-25T10:08:00.000-06:00

Here are the amazing men in my life ... Adam, Larry and Bill

At Easter the kids asked Bill what he wanted for his birthday. He replied "For you all to come to Claresholm to help me add on to our deck and for us to have a tennis tournament". And so, on the Victoria Day long weekend the family came. We ate, we drank, we played tennis and the boys brought their carpentry skills. They worked hard to construct this fantastic addition to our back deck. What better gift than one of time and labour of love?

To see the entire photo essay of how much fun we had, please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150622812935438.674963.715295437&l=3b64036656

The Offspring

2011-05-16T10:53:00.000-06:00

Art Central, downtown Calgary
http://www.artcentral.ca/

As an artistic mother I wondered how my progeny would express their innate creativity. Isn't is marvelous that I never doubted that they would have some? Denise designs and sews ... http://revivehandmadecollections.webstarts.com/index.html

Laura designs and makes jewellery ...
http://www.lauramarshall.ca/ And now my heart soars as they have rented a studio space together!

The Art Loop, lower level of Art Central

I was thrilled when they asked me to help them arrange and decorate their studio. On May 2nd I arrived to find all their gear moved in and Denise sewing a curtain to suspend in front off and hide the unattractive back wall.

Curtain goes up

By the end of the day it was all well organized. I love how, in the photo below, the girls are arranging displays of one an others creations! Please go in and check them out ... Art Central is at Centre Street and 7th Avenue, and theirs is the first studio you come to when you enter the left side of the loop!

For more photos please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150591108120438.666036.715295437&l=eb67837a8b

The Art Journey

2011-05-11T10:54:00.003-06:00

The art journey is not often on a straight, smooth road. I feel the need to explain my absence here ... while I had hoped to publish the sequel to my last post There Are Places I Remember other things have taken precedent and the key painting for it sits on my easel unresolved and unfinished.

A small but happy turn out at the Art Club's paint-in on April 30th

The feature wall of our library show

As coordinator of the club's 3rd annual, month-long show at the Claresholm Public Library, I'm pleased to report that 16 members submitted a total of 63 pieces to this exhibition! The opening reception took place May 4th when we had the unveiling of the What Do You See? project. Don Campbell conceived the idea and, in February, he circulated an image inviting members to paint their interpretation. Nine members took up the challenge. The results were fascinating as were the artist's comments about how and why they arrived at them. Not satisfied with her first attempt Judy Dahl painted three in total! Pam Copeland (http://www.pamelacopelandart.com/) was unable to attend the opening so I shamelessly stepped in to claim her gorgeous entry ...

Me with Pam's exquisite chalk pastel

For more photos please click on this link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150594968475438.667163.715295437&l=ee9d5e42d1

And now, along with these two ladies, I am involved in a public art project. We're hard at work researching and preparing the maquette, but we did take time off for Mother's day!

There Are Places I Remember

2011-04-28T10:30:00.014-06:00

Marie Clarie and me after lunch at the Maison de Van Gogh

I always say that without art I would never get to so many remarkable places and meet such a vital cross section of people.

In 2002, Bill and I spent a month in France, a week in Paris and the rest travelling in the south. For me this trip became a Van Gogh pilgrimage as well as a reconnoiter mission, scouting where I could paint next time. As luck would have it next time came the following year.

On both visits we were hosted by the Vallets who live just west of Paris. Between these trips I read everything I could about Vincent including an art/cook book called Van Gogh's Table, which I had to own. The Auberge Ravoux is the restored guest house and cafe where the artist lived his last few months, and died. I needed to go there. When I told Jean this he was thinking of Auvers in the south and maintained, rightly so, that it was too far from Paris to go there for lunch. A man who prided himself on being a grand tour guide of France, he had not heard of the cafe in this little village, but when we arrived he was ready with a reservation and a guide book. On October 4th, 2003, he and Marie Claire provided us with one of the most memorable days of my life.

Lunch was exceptional. After it we visited the cemetery and went on a good long walk about the town looking for the sites where Van Gogh had painted.

At the graves of Vincent and Theo

Auvers-sur-Oise is spotted with signs like the one below that announce the places where Vincent had painted.

The immortalised Auvers Church

Wandering quaint streets we found as many sights as we could

Marie Claire

To be continued ...

It's Been a While

2011-04-20T17:00:00.005-06:00

My last solo show was in April three years ago. WILD! featured paintings large and small, mostly new and some really early pieces from the 1960s to the 1980s. These were to illustrate that my love for the big cats of the world was not a new thing. What I am building up to here is this collection included the last large canvas (36" x 54") I was to paint for a while.

Today I celebrate finishing the largest canvas since then ...

Table Mountain and Beaver Mines Lake
(Southern Alberta Rockies)
oil on canvas 30" x 24" (day four)

Moving from Canmore to Claresholm, Alberta, in September 2008, heralded a semi-retirement mode for me. I am now in a position to paint for the sheer pleasure of it, to experiment with mixed media, pottery, card making, book binding and whatever my little heart desires. It feels good to be living the dream!

I have always leaned on having a purpose to propel me to paint. The Alberta Society of Artists will showcase an exhibition called Peaks of the Canadian Rockies (in July and August). This is what encouraged me to paint the scene; to enter it into the juried show. Let's see if it is accepted.

When we went south, for the month of March, I left the painting on the easel at this stage; an acrylic wash. I like to think of it as a colour map. Often, but not always, I start an oil this way.

After day one

End of day two the canvas is now covered with oil

After day three

The painting was completed on day four ... see the image at the top of this post.

C.M. Russell Museum

2011-04-09T11:51:00.001-06:00

Yours truly, April 7th, 2011

On our last day of travel home from Palm Springs we stopped in Great Falls, Montana to see Charlie Russell's Museum. The last (first and only) time we were there was in the early 1970s, when there was a 1500 square foot museum beside his log cabin studio. We marveled at the extensions, the collections and the grandeur of it all today.

I remember the log cabin vividly because, as is always the case, viewing the working space of a deceased artist (1864-1926) is almost sacred to me. His easel, paints and brushes sit there as though he had just stepped out.

The Jerk Line, classic Charlie oil

To view more photos from our visit to the museum please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=639295&id=715295437&l=fa25b8b8cb

All Play, No Work

2011-04-03T00:11:00.014-06:00

At the Esprit pool, March 29th

With so little time left here I have opted to leave off painting in favour of just enjoying what Palm Springs has to offer. After the last painting I began stepping out with Bill in the mornings to play tennis with a group of seniors affectionately known as The Geezer Tennis Club. It is important to note that Bill and I are junior geezers but there are some senior geezers, such as Fred, who is 86 and Bob, who is 79. Remarkable, don't you think?

Geezer Tennis Club, March 28th

It has been very hot the past few days with highs of 30 - 38C and with the trek home commencing on the 5th I think I'll just keep on playing tennis and hanging out at the pool! Let me leave you with this bright, cheerful image ...

California Poppies

If you like, you'll find more photos on these links ...
Lunch in Beverly Hills (Visiting Selma)https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150456712645438.631185.715295437&l=15e2ccbaeeMore PSCA:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150463140890438.633305.715295437&l=71483a34d3

Geezer Tennis Club:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150539682710438.635135.715295437&l=66e3663cf2

Pool Swapping:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150540209510438.635287.715295437&l=f18604fb7a

The Last Supper:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150541552105438.635697.715295437&l=304c187411Adios Palm Springs:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150550798615438.638494.715295437&l=d5d792fd88

Paint and Eat

2011-03-24T14:26:00.005-06:00

With Mexican avocados (that seem to always be ripe) readily available, and my penchant for them, it's hard not to want to eat one every day. Plus, once they are cut open they begin to turn an unsavoury looking brown grey colour, and so it was best to eat it immediately after the painting is finished!

Avocado unframed oil 5" x 7" $100. SOLD

I thought you might to see how the painting began

And perhaps my snug quarters ...

But I'm quite happy spending a few hours here in the tiny condo kitchen ... before going off to the pool!

Experimenting

2011-03-22T13:24:00.000-06:00

Even in paradise it can be cool and rainy. Such was yesterday. After stepping out to buy Bill new tennis shoes, another Michael's fix for me (more rubber stamps) and lunch at The Fisherman's Market we came home and settled in for the remainder of the day. I set to work on the dining room table.

I began by drawing, using coloured pencils and a fine tip artist's marker, on a tinted panel. I then painted over it all with acrylic paint. I stamped, scrapped, splattered and scrubbed until I was happy and the piece looked like this ...

Avery With Flowers in Her Hairs mixed media 12" x 9" NFS

Full credit to Maria Pace-Wynters for the inspiration here. I hope she isn't upset with me for trying on her style. On the Internet, I happened upon her blog and follow her exciting and innovative art with great interest. Please see her work here: http://mariapacewynters.wordpress.com

The Living Desert

2011-03-21T19:13:00.001-06:00

The Living Desert was established in 1970 by several trustees of the Palm Springs Desert Museum who foresaw the impact that resort development would have on their local desert ecosystem. 1,000 acres (of the 1,800) remain in their natural state and the first rate facility is home to a great number of desert animals from around the world.

Grévy's Zebra is the largest of three species of zebra

Bill and I visited The Living Desert, on our first trip to Palm Springs, in February of 2008 when I was gathering reference material for my big cats solo show called WILD! I was thrilled to see as well as bobcats here, this cougar here ...

The cougar with a serious stare

Daily, there are two Wild Wonders Shows at the park's amphitheatre which are always worth taking in. Among the animals featured at the 2pm show on March 18th was this serval. As a lover of the world's wild cats, he was, for me, the best in the show!

From the African Savannah, a serval

For the entire photo essay click here:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=630687&id=715295437&l=08e9f3a174

Lime Light

2011-03-19T09:22:00.002-06:00

In keeping with the citrus theme, here is the painting I did yesterday morning. Afterward, I did not eat my subject!

Lime Light unframed oil 6" x 6" $100. SOLD

El Paseo Drive

2011-03-17T23:40:00.000-06:00

El Paseo Drive

With my people, I spent the afternoon at this exclusive shopping area in Palm Desert which easily rivals Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills. There are exquisite shops and so many commercial galleries here ... oh how I wish they would permit photography! One of my favourites is CODA ... their variety is most impressive. www.codagallery.com/palm_desert/index.php

The shop windows are dazzling

For more photos, please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=628817&id=715295437&l=b555236ac8

Slices of the Good Life

2011-03-16T10:40:00.001-06:00

Unlike the condo we stayed in last year, the patio in this one is not particularly conducive to painting. But one must adapt. I like the shiny, white, kitchen tiles here. I set up my arrangements on the elevated portion of the counter above the sink and by the window. Yesterday morning I painted this ...

Slices of the Good Life unframed oil 6" x 6" $100. SOLD

Then I ate my subjects, I took the rest of the day off and went to the pool. I had to ... it reached 32C!

2011 La Quinta Arts Festival

2011-03-14T23:32:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, with Peter and Geraldine Shostak, I reveled in the expansive La Quinta Arts Festival at that city's Civic Centre Campus. The 29th annual show featured 230 artists from 44 states, Canada and Mexico. Hats off to all the artist and artisans doing this show for four days 10 - 5. I remember the level of commitment needed to do multi-days show.

Peter at Diane McClary's booth

Flat art included painting, drawing, pastel, photography and print making. There was all manner of glass art, ceramics, fiber, jewellery, wood and sculpture.

Bronzes by Wendy Salin

It was an absolute feast for the eyes in a spectacular setting. To see more photos, please click on this link ...

https://www.facebookphp/?aid=627204&id=715295437&l=7fea73b6bc

Palm Springs

2011-03-11T10:14:00.002-07:00

Arriving in Palm Springs, March 3rd

I am very distracted and busy enjoying summer life here. Palm Springs is just one of several cities in the Coachella Valley ... www.stacyeder.com/lifestyle/cities.htm
and there is much to see and do. Under bright blue skies, palm lined boulevards, green golf courses and flowers greet us everywhere. Only a few blocks from us our friends from Canmore also have a condo for the month of March and we play with them often.

The pool at our complex always beckons ...

Me in the Esprit pool

... making it easy to forget about painting. However, March 9th, I did paint my first of this trip ...

Hand Picked Lemon unframed oil 6" x 6" $100. SOLD

I'm sure you understand.

For more photos please click on these links:
En Route and Arriving at Palm Springs:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=621808&id=715295437&l=06c388e68a
PSCA Condo & the First Days

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=623580&id=715295437&l=b11a702c4a

Life in Palm Springs:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=625425&id=715295437&l=cae97182f2

Left Behind

2011-03-10T14:58:00.002-07:00

Painting, in progress, on the easel at home
Table Mountain 30" x 24"

Starting back in early January our minds have been on escaping the long, unrelenting Alberta winter.

The morning following "The Homecoming" we pointed the car south and began the three day drive to Palm Springs, California. It was 21C when we arrived, on March 3rd, and since then the temperatures have risen even higher. We're enjoying the green grass, palm trees, sun, warmth, tennis, the pool as well as the shopping here.

Thus far, I have made one 6x6 inch painting but I can't seem to add photos to any of my blog posts. So, until the problem is resolved I can only show you this painting which I had uploaded to a draft post while we were still at home.

They're Back

2011-03-01T06:51:00.003-07:00

Last night we met a plane at the Calgary airport. It delivered to us our most precious cargo ...

Adam and Laura, so very good to see you!

They family rejoiced and feasted (thanks to Larry for the fine meal) delighted in being all together, if only for one night. More photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=620790&id=715295437&l=3401a45b36

And now to get out of the winter that just won't quit ... California here we come!

Thursday Night Pottery Class

2011-02-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

This year, as opposed to throwing pots on the wheel in Bertine's pottery class, I'm focusing on hand building pears.

Cutting whole pears in half

Shaping the pears is satisfyingly tactile and, when they are leather hard, hollowing them out is a very meditative process.

Here they look like little uteri to me!

Then, I get to put the halves back together again and let them completely dry out.

Waiting to be bisque fired

Raku bowl 2010

After the bisque firing I'll glaze my pears in the hopes that I can replicate the result on my bowl, above. But, one never knows just what they will get from a raku firing! When the the required temperature is reached, in the second firing, they will be quickly removed (with tongs) from the kiln and placed in masses of combustible material (e.g., straw, sawdust, or newspaper). A metal or tin container will be placed over the lot to suffocate the fire. As I understand it, this is the process which causes the random colour and crackle. Wish me luck!

A Hellish Week

2011-02-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

Since February 17th, I have been distracted and consumed with concern.

Denise, Larry and Avery spent the Family Day weekend (February 19th to 21st) with us. As we all waited for further news of the uprising in Libya and updates from Laura and Adam this is what our breakfast room looked like ...

Communications Head Quarters

For more photos click here ...
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=617691&id=715295437&l=8739aa1226
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22752120@N04/5471736427/

Last September, when the newly weds moved to Benghazi, could anyone have predicted the events of this past week? Adam is project manager for Pure Technologies, in Libya, monitoring their installed systems on the The Great Man-Made River Project which provides drinking water to much of the country including Benghazi and Tripoli. http://www.puretechnologiesltd.com/

For the month of February, Laura has been in Florence, Italy studying jewellery making with a transplanted New Zealander, Ken Scott
http://kenscottdesign.com/ who, subsequently, is in his own hell worrying about the victims of the Christchurch earthquake.

Circumstances were such that Adam had the responsibility of rounding up his staff and seeking channels to secure his and their safe evacuation out of Libya. Today I am delighted to report that Adam (and all his staff) sailed out of Benghazi for Malta.

Adam and Laura in November, 2010

As Laura always believed, Adam will be in Istanbul before she arrives there on February 27th. Reunited, after a painfully trying time, they will then begin air travel home to Canada on Monday.

I am so grateful that this nightmare has a happy ending.

The Book as Art Workshop

2011-02-16T19:47:00.001-07:00

Bill and I both attended

February 12th and 13th, Dea Fisher instructed The Book as Art, a book binding workshop, in Canmore. She gave willingly and selflessly of herself teaching four different book forms to fourteen keen students.

The spacious Raven's Loft

The 12-page Folded Book began as a flat piece of paper on which we painted, splattered and stamped. Dea showed us the clever way to fold it and where to make two partial cuts before folding it again to its finished size. More embellishments could now be added; I scribed Joyce Kilmer's poem Trees onto the pages in mine.

Bill's decorated flat sheet for the 12-page Folded Book

In the afternoon we made hard covers for Accordion Book with Pockets, then folded the paper for the pages and pockets. Once the pages and covers were assembled we embellished little tags or cards to go into the eight pockets. This was when we got to see individual creativity at it finest.

Accordion Book with Pockets; Bill's on the left, mine on the right

In the morning of day two we made Side Stitch Books. Again we created hard covers which sandwiched pages we had "torn" (decal edges) that could be fastened together in our choice of assorted ways. I opted to sew mine as, in part, Bill did. He came to the course with the intention of using leather rather than the abundant and beautiful papers that where made available to us.

Side Stitch Books, Bill's with the leather cover and conchos

Afternoon of day two was the Leather-bound Long-stitch Journal. The stitching of this one exasperated me; I simply could not grasp the proper way to do the method. Bill wisely decided he'd like to do it differently and brought the pieces home to work on at his leisure. So, both are unfinished (mine may never be!) and if you want to see photos of them I invite you to go to the complete photo essay here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=614556&id=715295437&l=899a2bb58a

Annie Froese, workshop participant and owner of Art & Soul Studio Gallery in High River has prepared this delightful slide show about the workshop:
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a4d774e6a67334e4456384e4449344d7a49354d44673d0d0a&sb=1

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:00:00.021-07:00

To my husband, my family and my friends
who let my love light shine ...
Happy Valentine's Day!

Painting Tutorial #2

2011-02-09T10:44:00.008-07:00

In an effort to incorporate our own images in mixed media paintings I attempted to teach myself a quick method of making acrylic gel medium transfers. It's darn tricky business. Perhaps I didn't use enough gel medium on the photocopy of my sketch? Maybe too much or too little water and over rigorous rubbing on the back of the photocopy when removing the fibres of the copy's paper? When I kept rubbing off the toner ink too, I gave up!

Rubbing my fingers raw!

Yesterday, with my keeners, we each tried to make a gel transfer with the same poor results. If anyone has any insight into gel transfers, I'd love to hear from you!

We promptly abandoned the transfer thing and moved right into playing with acrylics. With no real plan, I flooded the panel with water and began dropping my favourite, hot colours into it. Pushing the wet paint around a pond appeared. The gals followed suit and we all went blindly into the unknown.

Me and Karen adding pearly white to our ponds

We established horizons, developed background trees and foreground foliage. But we didn't have any focal points. So we cut out animals from my wildlife note cards and strategically adhered them onto our paintings. To ground the creatures, in the landscape, we tucked their feet into the scrub brush by burying them under more splattering, stamping and globing of thick, textured paint.

Kari stamping

Kari's bear wasn't doing what she wanted it to, so she removed it, camouflaged where it had been and instead opted for a little flock of birds in her top left hand corner.

Karen's, Kari's and my finished paintings

Kudos to both gals. It was a tough challenge which they both rose to and completed great paintings ... Karen's first, ever!

To see the complete photo essay please click here:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=610824&id=715295437&l=215dfe007f

More Cards

2011-02-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I played at Karen's house for the first time. I've been looking forward to seeing her investment in equipment and materials. It includes a massive collection of beautiful papers, for scrap booking, but all of these things cross over into card making. We visited, had lunch and toured her extensive stock.

Four hours later we finally settled into making cards. Karen generously shared her bounty. I created all but the one, top left, in the photo above and Karen made five cards as well. Late in the afternoon, Bill joined us; her husband and sons came home from skiing and still we carried on working until the pizzas were delivered. It was a grand way to spend a blustery Sunday. Thanks, Karen!

Candlelight Treasure

2011-02-04T17:18:00.004-07:00

Candlelight Treasure unframed oil 6" x 6" $100. SOLD

For days now I've had this arrangement set up on a beautiful, pine, wall-mounted shelf unit which a friend made for me many years ago. I procrastinated painting it thinking that it wasn't all that exciting. However, today as this one poured off my brush I could see that I was mistaken ... I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

For the record, I didn't light the candles until the very end. I wondered if this would alter the lighting in the painting, but it didn't, really. There was 7" between the higher flame and the shelf above. Although it didn't take me long to paint the flames, it was enough time to leave a burn mark on the shelf above. Whoops!