The Friendship Tour - part four

June 2nd we caught yet another VIA Rail train from Ottawa to Montreal followed by a metro ride to Longueuil, on the south shore, where cousin Claudine, her husband Sebastien were living with their daughter Ericka. We spent several lovely days with this accommodating, fun loving bunch of cool relatives. Laura and I had stayed with them on our mother/daughter trip to Montreal and Quebec the month before she married Adam in August, 2010. I was so pleased to return with Bill this time because, since this visit, the Cicchillitti's have sold their suburban home in favour of a duplex in the old village of Longueuil. 

A warm welcome at the Cicchillitti's, yours truly, cousins Claudine and Marc Leblanc, aunt Loretta, Bill and Sebastien

My beautiful, 82 year old, aunt Loretta

With aunt Loretta's kids, Claudine and her younger brother Marc

On my mother's side of the family the scales are tipped the opposite way to how it is with my agnate side. In this case I'm the elder cousin. Aunt Loretta is six years younger than my mother and was fourteen years old when I was born. I was fourteen when Loretta had her first child, Claudine. When Bill and I married, Claudine was seven. In essence, I had no cousins of playable age when I was growing up, but now, well now it's different. 

When Sebastien married Claudine he adopted her sons, Adam and Nick. They are a tightly knit unit who care deeply for one another. Being with this family makes me feel as though I've come home. They are intelligent, engaging, artistic and enjoy life to the fullest.

Ericka is not only a painter, she has an exceptional voice, as do her mother and grandmother

  

While we were there, Claudine and Sebastien celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary so I presented them with a painting ...

Do they like it?

The Roses 12" x 16" oil on board

I first visited Montreal during Expo 1967, when I was almost nineteen, but I spent most of my time at the wondrous spectacle that it was without really exploring the city. In the two trips, of this past decade, I feel that we have only scratched its surface.  

The lovely, urban Saint-Louis Square Park in Montreal's Plateau area

Claudine and the colourful Victorian homes at Saint Louis Square

Claudine, Ericka and Bill in Old Montreal

We got a bit thirsty touring around The Port and Old Montreal so we stopped here for a beverage and a snack

An exceptionally cold and rainy day in The Village on St. Catherine's Street 

At St-Viateur Bagel Shop they make the best bagels in the land

We had a feast at aunt Loretta's where we got to see two of cousin Marc's three sons. Bill with William 

Daniel and Sebastien

Mount Royal, is a park on top of the hill over-looking the entire city of Montreal. From here you can see the Olympic Stadium

The fake goodbye photo, me, aunt Loretta, Claudine, Bill, Sebastien and Ericka

On June 7th we bid the LeBlanc/Cicchillitti family goodbye pretending that was the last we would see of them this trip. We may have fooled Sebastien (the kids knew otherwise) but no one can fool Claudine who was not at all surprised to find us at their wedding anniversary celebration, June 11th!

Bill with Sebastien who was either really surprised or faked surprise well to find us among their guests

Sebastien and Claudine in 2016 ...

... and on their wedding day, in 1991

Adam played amazing classical pieces for his parents and guests ...

... and Nick played and sang a wonderful rendition of It's a Wonderful World

Here they were engaged, but now they are married, Virginie and Adam 

That night I shared a very special time with aunt Loretta

Ericka, Virginie, Nick, Sebastien, Claudine, Adam and aunt Loretta

We departed Montreal for home the day following the celebration but there is still one last instalment of the trip left to be told. It's not officially part of The Friendship Tour as it didn't involve seaking out anyone. Our solo run away to Quebec City is up next.

The Roses

THE ROSES (Three Angels Surrounded by Love)   oil on panel   12" x 16"

During our stay in Victoria this past winter, as I was about to settle into a painting session at a friend's studio, I spied Marcela's version of THE ROSES. I asked her if she'd mind my trying to emulate it. Her answer was not only "Please do", she happily described the process, she'd learned in a workshop, loaned me the amazing transparent reds to achieve the look and sent me away with her reference photo so that I could finish it at home.

March 19th, 2016, in Marcela Strasdas's studio with Sharlene Stushnov-Lee  

THE ROSES at the end of our time in Marcela's studio

When I began the painting I had no plan for its destiny but once home, as we were planing The Friendship Tour to conclude with a 25th wedding anniversary celebration, I decided that it would make the perfect gift. My cousin Claudine and her husband Marc have two sons and a daughter. It came to me that the white roses symbolized the three kids and the red roses were the surrounding love which the parents have always shown and continue to bestow upon their children. With this love and support Adam, Nick and Ericka have thrived and blossomed to become the incredibly creative adults they are.

Finishing THE ROSES in my backyard playhouse, May 4th, 2016 

Presenting THE ROSES, June 2, 2016

The Friendship Tour took us on an amazing journey, we stopped at many places in southern Ontario and Quebec - but that's a story for another day. Toward the end of the tour we spent several days with Claudine, Marc and family enjoying the comforts and warm hospitality of their home in Longueuil (south shore Montreal).

  

Yours truly with my Aunt Loretta, Claudine, Bill, Marc and Ericka, June 7th, 2016 

On June 7th, we bid the family farewell, pretending that this was the last they'd see of us on our trip, only to return a few days later to attend their surprise party but I don't think we fooled either of them. Still it was an honour to be a part of the grand event where family and friends came together to honour Claudine and Marc ...

Ericka, Virginie (Adam's fiancee), Nick, Marc, Claudine, Adam and Claudine's mom, Loretta (my mother's sister) June 11th, 2016

Collection of Small Paintings

At this time of year I create a collection of small works to present at our local craft sale. Many of these paintings are available and would make excellent Christmas gifts. If you'd like to make a purchase (or purchases!) I invite you to contact me at ... alice@artbysaltiel.com

CHICKADEE SONG III   oil (bird) on mixed media background   6" x 6" framed   $150   SOLD 

CHICKADEE SONG IV   oil (bird) on mixed media background   6" x 6" framed   $150   SOLD  

CHICKADEE SONG III and CHICKADEE SONG IV shown framed 

BOTTICELLI ON FIRE (parrot tulip)   oil   6" x 8" framed   $195   SOLD  

Fun in the studio at Linderman Law; the lawyer, Karen Linderman, sporting a manicure to match BOTTICELLI ON FIRE

CRIMSON BLUSH   oil rose on acrylic tinted, vintage sheet music   6" x 6" x 2" unframed cradled panel (painted edges)   $150   SOLD 

PEACH BELLINI   oil rose on acrylic tinted, vintage sheet music   6" x 6" x 2" unframed cradled panel (painted edges)   $150   SOLD 

FIERY QUEEN   oil 6" x 6" x 2" unframed cradled panel (painted edges)  $150   SOLD 



EVENING ENCHANTMENT   oil 12" x 9" unframed cradled panel (painted edges)  $250   SOLD     

PINOT GRIS   oil  7" x 5" framed   $150   SOLD 

At the Claresholm Kinette Christmas Craft Sale with my booth buddy, Judy Dahl, November 21st, 2015

Embracing Where I Am

TABLE MOUNTAIN #2   18" x 24" framed oil on canvas   $2500.

Bill and are planning to move to Victoria, B.C. but (so far) things haven't panned out exactly as we wish and we find ourselves delayed in departing Claresholm. Rather than sulk about it, I've chosen to embrace it and enjoy the marvelous space that Karen Linderman makes available to me.



You may recall it was almost two years ago that I set up a painting studio, affectionately called The Art Room, in Karen's law office. After an eight month hiatus, I resumed my residency there last week. It sure feels good to be back painting again.

In my opinion Karen is the best lawyer in town. Those who know her will concur that hers is a most generous spirit. Giving, on a personal and community level, is second nature to her. Plus, she's a rare non-artist with whom I can talk about art, ad nauseam, and she remains keenly interested. 

Karen patronizes not only me. Her support of all local and regional artists and artisans is remarkable. Her love of the arts prompted her to spearhead Claresholm's first, hugely successful, musical theatre Fame! (January 2015) for which she was the Production Manager. Currently, she is working in the same capacity for Little Shop of Horrors, coming to the stage in January 2016.  

Linderman Law Office, 4916 - 2nd Street West is directly south of the Claresholm Post Office

Should you find yourself in town and notice that "The Artist is In" sign is displayed in the window, know that I'm there, painting, and it means I welcome your visit.

Yesterday, I finished the painting you see me starting (in the first photo above). Here are the progressive stages ...

And finished ...

TABLE MOUNTAIN #2 (Beaver Mines Lake, Castle area, South Western Alberta)  18" x 24"   oil on canvas

In the next couple of weeks I will be working on smaller paintings, such as the one below, to exhibit at the Kinette Christmas Sale on November 21st, 11am to 4pm, here in Claresholm, at the Community Centre. Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors go on sale there!  



PEACH BELLINI   oil rose on vintage sheet music which has been tinted with acrylics   6" x 6" x 2" cradled wooden panel