Very Fond of Tea

This was a commissioned piece for a baby shower gift.  I had a lot of fun with it - especially painting the little fox.  The text in the house and on the tree trunk is taken from a book about Emily Dickinson, and the text above the group is a quote from Alice in Wonderland.

I love working on commissions because it is fun to collaborate.  Two heads are better than one, especially when one of those noggins is attached to a paintbrush . . .

I realize this isn't the most flattering photo of me - but it was kind of fun - and those are my favourite hedgehog pajamas.

Happy painting everyone!

Finding time

When people see my paintings, they ask, "how do you find the time?"

My answer, "I don't do dishes."

Or, "I leave the dusting."

Or, "My respite worker, Elmo, takes over for a bit." (I'm a bad mom, aren't I?).




The truth is, I often have to snatch small moments. Five minutes for a tree trunk here. Three minutes to browse the books there. One minute to add some highlights.

You get the picture.

It's like the time I was trying to write a novel, and I took my notebook everywhere with me and jotted down little bits whenever I could. (Did you see the lady at the gym that day scribbling in her book, but not exercising much? That was me.) There's almost always a sense of "I've got a small window of opportunity and I must make the most of it."

That's how I do it.

If Birds Read Poetry - and Someday Dream

Collage has opened a whole new world to me with my paintings.  I have been dipping into my memory of poems and text I read twenty years ago as an English Literature Major at Trent University. 


I have a little someday dream. . . to have The Little Gull Studio in a floating house at Fisherman's Wharf.  I would sell paintings, cards, t-shirts, mugs, and host little painting workshops.  It would be cozy and lovely and a way of life to make you happy.  The best part?  Aidan would work with me.  And, perhaps if he wanted to, he could live on the Floating House.

Ah, to dream a little dream.

The Little Owl, ReDux

So, I did what I said I was going to do - I cut the owl out, and collaged him on a wooden panel.  Funny how deconstructing ones own work takes a huge leap of faith.  I decided to add the daisies as things didn't quite seem full enough in that space.  I'm wishing the bleeding hearts were against the blue sky instead of the brown...but that's something I can do differently next time. You see, as a beginner - I really am optimistic.  I just hope I don't look back in years to come with embarrassment.  For now, for where I stand now, I'm proud and excited about the possibilities. 

I've dedicated this little painting to my son Aidan: my little man who goes at his own pace.  I'm fiercely proud of him too.  My boys are my best work to date.

Of Paints and Brushes and Owls and Stuff

When I started painting, it was for myself.  I wanted to try to capture the images that floated through my mind; and I wanted to play with acrylics, and learn how to use that medium.  When I looked at works of art by illustrators like Rose Cowles,  something in my heart would long to do that too.

So, I bought my first paint set with my Christmas money.  I've probably already mentioned that in an earlier post, but it really was a pivotal moment for me.  I'd been aching to get my hands on the paint, the canvas, the brushes, the ideas, for over a year.  When the time came to jump in, I was ready. 



Then came another pivotal moment: when I realized that I could make my paintings into cards and sell them to help raise awareness and funds for our local Down syndrome society.  I approached the Board, and asked if I could. The Board was on board (awful pun intended), and so The Little Gull Project began. 

To say I am very proud of The Little Gull is an understatement. 

I'm very proud.  But, I'm also quite aware that my paintings are at the experimental stage.  There are a lot of wonderful artists out there, like Diane Duda, and I'm happy to learn from their creations.  Dianne uses text in many of her paintings, and that inspired me to try it too.  Take this little guy, for example:



This painting is an experimental project on paper. What do I like about this painting?  I'm pretty happy with the text collaged onto the owl's belly.  I think I could have done better with the bleeding hearts.  I should have used canvas instead of paper, as the paper buckled from the thickness of the paint.  I'm not happy with the background because of that buckling.  I'm thinking a different colour for the sky might be a better plan.  I'm tempted to cut the owl and tree out, and collage it onto a canvas, or wooden block (something I have yet to try).

If you have any advice on how to make this owl better - please leave a message.  I'm happy to learn! I'm in need of a mentor, or two, or ten....

The Little Gull has a lot of room to grow, and I'm okay with that.