What's been happening!

It's been awhile since I posted but things have been busy here. Several months of caring for Mom, plus lots of local art shows and the Visual Fringe here in London. Then a gathering of the Simpson Clan just this past week. Fourteen for dinner Wednesday to Saturday!  So what's new ?? Well I am participating in the Art Exchange Square Foot Show , opening Friday ,  July 12 , 2913 at the Westland Gallery in Whortley Village. Check the Art Exchange website for details.

Lambeth Art Show

Well the Lambeth Art Association Art Show is all done for another year. I was very pleased to receive an honourable mention award from our judge, James Patten , Director of the McIntosh Gallery at UWO. And also to sell a small collage. Lots of visitors came through and enjoyed the show.  Next up--the Visual Fringe at the Arts Project starting June 5-15.

Something new

Here is something new for me--lots of pouring and manipulating of fluid acrylics. Think I will title this one Paris at Night.

Georgian Bay

This is a collage I created using paper that I first painted with acrylics and then tore into pieces and rebuilt into a representation of Georgian Bay. I like how this method really gives the feeling of the rocky shoreline and choppy waters of the Bruce area near Tobermory..

Brush and Palette show

This work titled The Horse(full sheet watercolour paper, framed) is one of several I will be showing at the Brush and Palette Show, Thursday April 4-Saturday April6 at St. Paul's Cathedral, on Richmond Street in London, Ontario. Show opens at 5 pm on Thursday and closes at 7 pm on Saturday. Hope you can come, will be a great show!

The China Trade

This is a collage from a few years ago when I was creating collages based on history. In this example I was thinking about the development of bone china as well as other goods from the East, and the colonies of the British Isles.

The Corn Field

This work was inspired by a paint out at a local farm surrounded by corn fields. I had been told that the corn "speaks" but this was the first time I heard the creaks, snaps, sighs and groans for myself. Kind of eerie. So I painted the corn stalks large and up close, and added papers, material, and pictures from an old calender.  I think this is about 16x20 on canvas.

Its all about the trees...

These works are created with two different techniques, one acrylic paint, the other collage with paper and scraps of cloth.... but the subject matter always seems to have something to do with trees. In fact, a lot of my art seems to be about trees. Perhaps it is a result of spending my childhood on a mostly tree covered property?

Docklands

Here is something new I am trying--collage using material, found papers and tissue paper stained and stamped by me.  This work is a little like a quilt. Am I crossing a line here? Is this the beginning of mixing craft and Art? or is that a discussion that is over?

Busy Times

Haven't posted for a while--been busy, not so much with Christmas stuff as art stuff. I did a two day workshop for Ingersol Creative Centre and a team retreat for Financial Services UWO. Both were fun and both were collage. Upcoming for winter are two sessions at the Arts Project, one on collage and the other titled Large and Loose which is working abstractly with larger brushes and large supports. Check the web site artsproject.ca for courses and registering.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Tuscany!

Above are the fields outside our rooms and some of the buildings in the complex where we were staying. Some of the buildings were as old as 15th c.

Painting in Italy

Just back from 18 days in Italy, 5 in Rome touring about and 11 with "Walk the Arts"painting in Tuscany. Above are a couple of the results. This was an excellent trip, teaching was great and the food was fabulous.

What's new?

Having a quiet time these days, just working on some new stuff and trying out some new processes for upcoming classes and workshops. As always, I will be teaching at The Arts Project , starting on October 23 - Working Large and Loose with Acrylics class and later with a new class titled The Sketch Book:Creative Ideas for Sketch Books, travel journals art journals etc.   (Nov20-Dec11).  Go to artsproject.ca to sign up. I also am planning workshops with the Ingersol Creative Centre and others.  Looks like fall will get busy as October comes!

The Running Shoes

This is titled "The Running Shoes" and is part of my series I am presently working on about Marathon Races. Funny thing, I don't run and am not really interested in sports or sweating. Mostly, I am interested in why humans choose to do activities such as marathons in large groups, what does that do for us, do we work harder or feel more comfortable together? I am also including pictures of Canada Geese, as geese mate for life as humans ideally do and geese gather in groups as well. All of these will make up part of an exhibition I have planned for October of 2013 at the Arts Project, more details to follow.

Art show at Aeolian Hall, London

Opening August 1,2012 at the Aeolian Hall I will be participating in a group exhibit at the Aeolian Hall 6.30-8.00 pm. Come down and have a look, show runs till Sept 8. Check the Aeolian Hall web site for more information.

The Square Foot Show

Opening tonight at The Art Exchange, the Square Foot Show has really taken off. Over 300 works of art, all 12x12inches are on display. All kinds of media and styles, it is very exciting to see. Hope you can come! Opening starts at 7 pm and should be very busy. I have 3 collages on view myself.

Summer days

Hi it's been a while since the last post. It is really summer now with very hot days and lots of sun. Oh Canada, land of extreme weather! Mostly I am trying to get outside to paint with the Gallery Painting Group and friends. I am participating in the Square Foot Show at the Art Exchange on Wortley Road, opening on Friday, July 6 at 7pm. The show continues until July 28 and will display the work of more than 125 artists, more than 300 pieces of art! Hope you can come!

Example of accordion book

One of my accordion style books, often taught in my classes on collage. The theme of this one is travel.

New Classes

May 22 is the first class of a 4 week session of "Large and Loose" at the Arts Project. If you are interested in learning some ways to work more abstractly or in a non-objective manner, or just wanting to loosen up your style please visit the Arts Project on Dundas Street in London, On. or go to the web site--  artsproject.ca for more information. The class has only a few spots left!

"Night"

The Lambeth Annual Art Show and Sale last weekend was very successful (lots of visitors and sales were brisk). I sold 3 and the piece featured above, "Night", won an Honors award.  "Night" is from a series of work using poured acrylics, such a fun process and a great way to practice letting go and allowing the paint to discover its own way around the canvas.