Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Peacocks

See the pretty peacocks. Someone released a dozen of them into the bush around town. Imagine hearing their exotic cry at 5 am....MAAAOOWW, MAAOWW!! rather like a wounded 300 lb. cat. One of these days, I'm going to find out what these things taste like.

Off to "Art in the Park" in Kamloops after much painting, printing, packing and swearing.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Aboriginal Day

Aboriginal Day was held on June 19th. Bruce was invited to attend as mayor. He opted out of making a speech but he was part of the Grand Entrance. You can just make him out in his black shirt and cowboy hat.

I grabbed the oppurtunity to have my picture taken with our local constable Marko Shehovac in his dress scarlet. Marko arrived in the valley a little over a year ago and has been very busy establishing a positive police presence in the valley. His RCMP reports in the local newspapers are very entertaining and I predict a crime mystery novel writing career in his retirement years.
A beautiful beaded yoke dress loaned by Ft. Steele musem.

A dancer hurrying to the start of the grand entrance.

Unfortunately, I had to leave right after the grand entrance to run up the valley to find my site for the Columbia valley art tour (the meeting was the same afternoon) so I missed the drummers and dancing, darn it.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Mixed Bag

Inspired by Alisa Burke's book "Canvas Remix", I decided to jazz up some of my plain canvas tote bags. Spray paint, acrylic paint and black marker and lots of random graffitti go into the mix. I would like to paint my garage like this! I'm still craving the hot pink and orange....I wonder what that means?

Friday, June 25, 2010

Revelstoke Courthouse

This is the grand old courthouse at Revelstoke. I was quite charmed by all the older homes in Revelstoke. There are a few fancy ones but many are just nice, moderate homes that have survived the years.

I really liked the old courthouses in all the little burgs in Texas (and Illinois for that matter). There would be one big striking building with roads radiating out from it. I would love to be on site when they tear down some of the decripit ones, so much treasure to glean!!

I had a woman explain to me that you must be rich to be eccentric, otherwise your'e just plain crazy. It's not called Crazy Ravens Studio for nothing!!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

302

Morgan and I quickly walked along the quaint older homes of Revelstoke looking for interesting architecture. I liked the crescent detail of this house. I put the bear in as a pun to let you know you where in Revelstoke.

Speaking of bears, view this video clip to see why I pack bear spray, and make LOTS of noise when I am out walking:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/06/20/bc-grizzly-charge-leon-lorenz.html

Gaaahhh!! I may have to wear depends when I go walking now!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Basia


Second entry for "Faces of Kimberley". Kimberley has a folkfest (I love folkfests..food and dancing, what could be better?). I made the stamp to echo the details of the flowers in her costume. I am painting feverishly. Will I get everything done by thursday?

I have renamed this Basia (pronounced baw-sha), after my dear friend of Polish decent who taught me useful Polish swear words.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Across the Columbia River

The bridges at Revelstoke. Amazing to think that this big river is the same one that flows north from the springs at Canal Flats.

p.s. if you need cheering up, go check out "cake wrecks". Then explain to me why, when hiring a cake decorator, the first question isn't "Can you spell?"

Sunday, June 20, 2010

A new beginning

I had a person request this painting. I painted this image a couple of years ago, but a relative would like another one. It is interesting going back and trying to recreate the photo but in a new way. I have a lot more to think about now than then.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Lost in the wilderness

I am working on entries for "My Revelstoke". This is a view of the local bridge. I need to go back and possibly deepen the value of the far mountain. But first, I am going to change the sky color to a more contrasting color. The painting is boring and blue to me. I think I will dump the clouds too, they are just competing with the snow pack and they look pretty lame. Oh heck, I'd better straighten out the bridge a little too...no one is going to want to cross it. Never be ruled by a photograph! Tomorrow, this could be a different (and hopefully better) painting.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Accordian Man

This is one of my entries for the "Faces of Kimberley" show. Kimberley has an accordian festival every year and this year I am going to go get photos. This gentleman was sitting outside the mining museum entrance last year playing away for himself and anyone else's enjoyment. I have always wanted to learn to play an accordian. Then I could be a busker!

I liked his sporty white shoes. It was a challenge making them dark enough to not compete with his crisp white shirt.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Backstroke

I made a few changes and finished this painting and my client took it home yesterday! He liked the blue tones. I had fun making these. I may have to do some more.

Friday, June 11, 2010

What I wore to the Wings Reception

I love my aviator helmet and my boots. I figured after painting all those bird pictures, I may as well be a ¨bird woman¨.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Dangerous Tea

Just so you know I'm not totally slacking off, I have been painting. I thought the model looked as though she were planning something sinister, so she has become a spy. The books in the background are all famous spy novels. Would you like to have tea with her?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Farm Chicks Booty

I picked up some paper ephemera, old quilt blocks, funky costume jewelry, vintage stamps, keys and a cool beaded crown embellishment. They will be sources for collage work. I wish I could have recorded more because there is so much cool stuff to look at and the vendors are very creative setting up their booths.

Bruce and I also hit a few yard sales while waiting for Farm Chicks to open. We picked up a small tv (for the camper) for $2!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Back from FArm Chicks




“Ah, good taste--What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness.” Picasso


One of the things I love about Farm Chicks is that women dress for the occasion. Here are a couple of them "dressed to impress". I especially like the lady's handkerchief skirt.

I packed my camera to record ideas, costumes, interesting people, displays and the darn thing acted up something fierce. Quite often the shutter wouldn't open....or like the second picture, the shutter was so slow due to the low light, the image was fuzzy. Sorry, but it was so much fun.
It was held in the big barns of the Spokane fairgrounds. I went in at noon on Saturday and it was packed. Next year, I would wait to 2:30-3:00 to let the crush subside.

I am amazed at the creativity. People were lapping it up. I do have ideas for my Columbia Basin Tour show in August!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Junuary

It has been such a cool, wet spring here the CBC has dubbed it "Junuary". I liked how my rhubarb and lilacs looked on my gardening/painting table.

Yahoo, I'm off to FArm Chicks Show!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Second Loon

This one is still a work in progress but it's 90% done. I haven't come up with a title yet. Getting excited about going to Farm Chicks Show tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Petticoat Junction!

If you can remember that tv series, you are dating yourself. I happened across the extremely creative Alisa Burke's blog in my travels and saw her tutorial on a petticoat skirt. I wanted one and voila, this is my version. She is a messy girl after my own heart. (Hey, I am going to replace that carpet someday anyhow!)

I have to confess....I am a fabric hoarder. I have fabric I bought to make my daughter a baby quilt and she is now 28. I have a dresser, a trunk and several boxes full of scraps that I am going to turn into something someday. I am sick to death of clothes not fitting and am trying to sew my own stuff. I am also sick of the fact that clothes are one style and generally a certain number of "in" colors and every chain you go to has the same thing. I always intended to be eccentric in my old age so I'd better get started now.

Oh yeah, I found the wonderful suspenders at the dump!