Happy New Year 2012

Hockey girls   24x24

May you keep your stick on the ice!

Across the Lake

Across the Lake    16x16  

Another winter sport  painting. It's 40 F here and everything is melting (at least in the valley bottom).

Fun Site

I found a cool new photo manipulation site at:   http://pixlr.com/o-matic/

Load up a photo and try it out. I especially like the old-fashioned looking border that I have been searching for for months!

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family that are flung far and wide. And to all my art friends who have taught me so much. A special Merry Christmas to all the people who follow my blog and share their stories with me. Your encouragement truly keeps me going when times get rough. May you all get what you need in the coming year and some of the things you want.

Happy Tib's Eve

Invermere is having a big pond hockey celebration in the beginning of February and there is an art show being held in conjunction with it. I am getting some winter themed paintings ready for it. Anyone have snappy title for this one?

32 Feet and 8 little tails

When I was four, we lived in an old farmhouse in the country. We had one of those great old radio's (this one belonged to Bruce's family). I had a few 78's that I could play and I would listen to them for an hour at a time, probably driving my mother crazy. Then again, it probably kept me occupied while she got her housework done.(This was pre-TV, my god, how ancient am I!)

Never mind "Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer". The BEST Christmas song was "32 feet and 8 little tails".
You can listen to it here:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz7rMCo5TO4

Most Happy Solstice

View of the Purcells   photoshopped photograph

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.  
The only other sounds the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Rober Frost

This is one of my favorite poems. I have had the pleasure of riding a horse home on a snowy evening, when the air is still and flakes the size of a quarter are sifting through the sky. There is no sound but her crunching footsteps and the jingle of the bit. The heat of her body rises up and envelopes me, her breath makes a halo around us. That calm beauty is what I hope eternity will be.

Crystal Night

So I continued to tinker with this painting until I achieved this. I like the colors better and it is a match for the other painting. I am going to hang them facing one another in the dining room for the Christmas season.

Lumber Jill dress

I have been wanting to sew this dress ever since I saw Green Apples green plaid shirtdress (pattern Vogue 8028, Dec. 11, 2010). I thought it was appropriate for a woman living in a timber mill town. I wore it to a Christmas party the other night and I must say I stood out in a sea of black, white and sequins.

With my furry hat, I'm ready for the winter storms!

I'm off to throw my name in the hat at Not Dead Yet Style Visible Monday #26:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com/

Discombobulated

This seemed like a good idea at the start and then I felt it went rather sideways.I didn't like the color of the deer against the background.  I was going to paint out the background until I saw it in the photo and liked the snowflakes better as they popped in the photo as opposed to how they were looking in my dim basement. I kept at it and will post the result in the next blog entry.

Starry night

Starry night   16x16    $300

The purples never photograph well. They are actually a bit more pink.

Rosy Dawn on the walking trail

We had fresh snow yesterday. Facing north.

It has the cosistency of sugar. Facing south

The sunrise was beautiful reflecting off the mountains. Facing west.

Tough old snow dog, Kirra.

Sore footed Fiona, ready to head home (unusual).

I love when the mountains glow.

Falcon

peregrine falcon     12x12   $200

I like how this painting turned out. The background behind the bird pleases me. I like my Cravens' crosses. That is a design my Dad taught me how to make when I was about 6 years old. I think they look masculine.

Spirit Bear

In case you didn't know, British Columbia is home to the "spirit bear". You can read about these beautiful animals on the "Moon Willow Press".

http://www.moonwillowpress.com/2011/09/great-bear-rainforest-part-3-the-spirit-bear/

Dude, check it out

 Canadian little drummer boy. And yes, they sometimes wear shorts in the winter in Canada. I especially like the gloves.

 

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2011/12/06/winnipeg-teens-little-drummer-boy-goes-viral/

Christmas spirit

Betsy and Sally get into the Christmas spirit.

Evolution

I found this cranberry colored jumper with a boiled wool texture that looked cozy and interesting. It was too long and had unfortunate pockets, one over the belly and another about 6 inches below that. I don't know what the designer was thinking. Maybe they were from Austrailia or were just fascinated with kangaroos. I shortened the length and used the fabric to broaden the sides. I then moved the pockets to the sides. I paired the dark cranberry up with some turquoise and I am ready to face the -15 C breezes.

I love the fuzzy texture of this jumper but it picks up every piece of lint and doghair floating around the house. I expect it will be a shade of pink in the near future. Off to see what they are doing at Visible Monday:   http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com/

Negrita

I wanted a pony from the time I was old enough to know what a horse was. For a few blissful years, I owned a high stepping appaloosa named Negrita. She had an unfortunate tendency to shy occasionally and left me to walk home on rough roads in my stupid cowboy boots. But she also helped me fearlessly attack a coyote that was intent on eating my little sheltie (we charged him and scared him off). I had some wonderful rides on her and still miss her. And thankfully, I did finally get my "pony". So keep your fingers crossed, Aunt Peaches.

Buy Local Art

 Lewis woodpecker      12x12     $200

The mad dash for Christmas gift buying is on. Consider supporting a local artist and purchasing a truly unique handcrafted item from one your local galleries. I support:

http://www.blackstarstudios.ca/

http://www.villagearts.ca/index.htm

(Not) Losing my Marbles

Actually, I found all these pretties in the mud at the dump. I wonder who threw them away and why. Does anyone else remember the cracked marble jewelry craze of the '60's? If nothing else, I am going to pour them into a pretty canning jar and admire the colors.

Alpen glow #1

alpen glow #1     16x16 $300

I am busy working on Christmas projects and paintings. I want to be able to enjoy the summer this year and not be madly painting for shows. Well, we'll see how that goes. I can't believe its going to be December! Where did 2011 go?

Going Grey

I wanted to make an outfit with greys and a hat. I do like the line of this denim blazer. Off to join the mix at "not dead yet style visible monday #23".

http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com/2011/11/visible-monday-23-breaking-rules-willy.html

Canal Flats first art show

The Headwaters Arts Society was very pleased with the response of the showing artists and the attending  public of their first art show (and sale). Thanks to everyone involved for all the help and support. You can view photos here ( just click on the slideshow button):

https://picasaweb.google.com/pkcravens/CFArtShow02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJjshK2Tt4H4dw

Sassy Bird

Clark's crow #2      12x12    $175

Today is the first (I think) Art Show and sale in the village of Canal Flats. I was at the community hall last night setting up and was excited by the buzz from the participants. We are going to have 20 varied artists showing their work. Both Councilors De Lorme showed up, yay! One of our main objectives is to show the area that we are indeed rich in artists and we need a space in the new municipal hall so we can meet and create. I think we are off to an auspicious start. Wish us luck!

Bird-brained

Clark's Crow #1    12x12    $175

Still painting birds. I like the Clark's Crows because they are very graphic in their black, white and grey suits but they make a horrible sound reminscent of the noise the Martians make in "Mars Attack".

When in doubt, take the photo

While I scorn most graffiti, sometimes, someone had actually made something pretty cool. There are way more photos I wish I had taken than not. I think there is a metaphor for life in there somewhere.

Pink Peaks #1

Pink Peaks #1    12x12    $175

This is one of those paintings that doesn't photograph well. For some reason, my photo editor is really funny about picking up all the lovely purples.... Anyhow, I admire the effect when the late sun shines off of the snow peaks creating that lovely rosy look. Alpenglow, they call it.

Winter camo

The dogs that were so conspicuous in the warm green weather are harder to spot now. -18 C this morning. I am having trouble keeping my hands warm when out dog walking. My left hand (the pinkie and ring finger) has scar tissue that is very susceptible to cold weather. It get very cold (almost frozen) even with an acrylic glove stuffed inside my heavy thinsulate gloves. Anyone have any good suggestions to cure this? Short of staying inside!

Another little bird

chickadee2 12x12 $175

Enough chickadees, on to Clark's crows. When in doubt, put a bird on it. See video for details!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo

Bright Stockings

I am totally sold on wearing bright stockings. I just received three pair from "We Love Colors" and am trying them out with different outfits. I rather like brown and violet together.

Please check out the link: http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com/ visible monday #21

I may not be tres chic, I'll settle for cute. I am having too much fun with this!

Birds on the brain

Chickadee 1 12x12 $175

There are bright, chippy little chickadees out in the bushes. They make a change from all the crow species we get here.

They also serve who only stand and wait

Grandma Laura

Well, they didn't just stand and wait. They got on with their lives and took care of the homefront.

Grandma Laura had four sons enlisted in WWII. Cloyd Ray did not come home.

My Mom worked in a garment factory making coats. There were a number of occasions she travelled to meet Dad (who was in service). She said there were guys who tried to pick her up on the trains. She would show them her wedding ring. They would show her theirs!

Doris Cravens

My memories of her were that she never travelled without Dad and was afraid to do so. She must have been terrified but brave to travel alone in her younger years. If she decided she was going to do something, she damn well would have done it (a trait that seems to have been passed on to her daughter and grand-daughters!)

But they did wait, with hope and prayers for the best.

Alabaster and Old Bastard

Alabaster and Old Bastard 18x24 acrylic collage

I think I just love the title, which was suggested to me by the male model. He really was quite tan and she was translucent. I spent the day playing with the life drawings, and entering a nude painting art show that I am hoping some of these paintings will be juried into. They sure made me (and bruce) jump through hoops getting the formatting they wanted it (grrr.)

Tie-dye tourist

Inspired by Rice of the "Voodoo Cafe" blog and fellow artist Angelique Gillispie (who always looks cool) I have taken to experimenting with my wardrobe. Because most of it is thrift items, I feel free to chop, stitch and vary as much as I want. This was a ankle length dress that I cut apart and used the bottom to make the sides wider. I love the colors. I may not be tres chic, but I am having fun! Next photo session, I think I will incorporate socks as I am not sold on the flashing white ankles.

Check out visible monday #20 for other women who are becoming visible.
http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com/

Pederson Workshop

Last weekend was spent at Centre 64 attending a Jean Pederson workshop. Jean is a mixed media artist.

We explored using many kinds of acrylic mediums, gesso, transparent to opague paint. My main objective was to learn how to make an abstract look wonderful instead of a dog's breakfast. I think Jean has given me some great steps to achieve that. Check her out at:

http://www.jeanpederson.com/

I love her art installation "Farm Fragments". It consists of lots of ephemara pulled from her Uncle's old farmstead and her abstract paintings inspired by the farm. It takes me right back to the rural Illinois I grew up in.