Cleaning up!

Spring always brings to mind Spring Cleaning. Today I tackled my art room. It is such a small space and things can pile up quickly. My plan is to be visious and throw out things I haven't used in years. Like my old oil paints. I use alkyd oil now and I am sure the oil paint is rock hard.

And those old paintings that didn't work. I will pitch them in the trash. Oh , but look at that pastel, a bit of work and it could look great. And that brush I bought in China and never used, how can I throw that out.

 

Now I am too tired to continue, but tomorrow I will get a start early. May be I could throw a few of Jerrys things out instead.

the dog show

Don't miss this Group show

Encouraging Moira

Hi friends, One of my favorite website is Dog Art. Moira McLaughlin the web creator lost her dog this year and wrote about her experiences at a dog pound. I was touched by her article and wrote to her and she posted my letter.....  http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/2012/02/a-note-from-kit-cutting.html

 

The miniature show is on at Portside Gallery this month http://portside.cuttingpromotions.com/ I put in three this year and two were photos. 3x4

                                                                    Fanshawe Lace

                                                           

Fanshawe Winter

Paintless

In the midst of painting my old dog Buddy's portrait for the art show "Dog Show" in being held in March, I ran out of paint. Black paint, a mixture of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. It gives a nice rich black. I was out of Burnt sienna and almost out of the blue.
 "Just go to the art store and buy more" you might say. We have two art stores in London and they don’t carry Alkyd Oil paint, so I will have to order it. This kind of paint is not popular with artists despite my constant encouragment that people try it.

W&N Griffin Alkyds were developed in response to oil painters' requests for a product that dried quicker than traditional oils but slower than acrylics. In 1976, Winsor & Newton responded by launching Alkyd Oil Colors, a range of fast drying genuine oil paint

I heard Currys Art Store is new London, on Southdale road, so off I went to see if they carried it.
Their new store is all clean, pristine, and well layed out. They have a display of alkyd oil ... they are out of sienna. Disappointed I ordered it in and have to wait to finish Buddy.

Here he is half done. I kind of like him like this.

I also was blessed to have a self portrait picked for the show Identity Transfer show at the St Thomas Public Art Centre in St Thomas Ontario. The reception was on Saturday, the show runs January 14 to March 3, 2012. http://www.stepac.ca/home.html

My Lucky Dog

Lucky, our new foster dog is demanding a walk. Actually he is just sitting there and I am feeling guilty that he needs a walk He walks pretty good on a leash. Luckyis black Shetland Sheep dog (Sheltie), you can see his herding traits.
7 years old timid, gentle dog loves to chase a ball and kill his stuffed toy. And Jerry has taught him 3 tricks already.

Here is slide show of Lucky killing the raccoon 

He will lick himself all over and then cough up fur. "Lucky" I say, "You are not a cat" I think he may have lived with a cat and picked up bad habits.

But back to the walk, I can imagine Lucky in the right place running free and going like the wind. I painted a little picture of him as I imagined.

I think I will paint a series of lucky as I imagine him.

Squares

This summer is all about squares. My art can be seen at "Sunday on the Square" http://www.coventmarket.com/art-on-the-square/ at the Covent Garden Market on some Sundays, this summer. I did this last year and had a blast meeting all the skateboarders, strollers, bikers, walkers and rummys who love London downtown. The market is open from 10am to 4pm. There are all kinds of artists, painters, sculpters, potters, photographers and jewelry makers.

My garden is in squares this year, We planted brussel sprouts, carrots, beans, tomatos, zuccinni and more. I love watching those tinny plant struggle up thru our clay based soil. We already had a feed of lettuce.

Speaking of squares, I am enjoying a book about the painter Chuck Close. by Christopher Finch. Chuck does portraits in a grid system. Tiny coloured blocks that when you stand back make a giant face.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Close

My friend John asked me to do a pastel portrait of him. His wife had her prtrait done in 1969 and John always regretted that he had not been painted as well. I used and old 4x5 black and white photo, just finished John. He is in his 60s now so it was fun painting him so young.

So as we said in the 60's be ther or be square...see you on Sunday

Diane Dobson's art blog

My friend Diane Dobson just started her first art blog at DianeDobsonsartblog.blogspot.com  I am so excited for her. She has three of her great paintings on the site already.  My favourite is miniature of a walk in the country.

Diane and her husband have gone camping with us several times over the years.  The painting reminds me of those vacations in Ontario's north.  We love to paint together and hike on the trails of places like Killarney Park.

Diane is a birder and is always pointing out this and that bird to me.  Our greatest find for me was the Sand Cranes in a field in Manitoulin Island.  Possible for their red crown but also becouse of their large size and funny walk.

Check out Dianes blog. Here is a photo of her at Bon Echo park painting in damp, cold,  weather. That's dedication!