Crazy Cleaning Ninja

Besides looking scary ass and sweating like a pig (has anyone actually seen a pig sweat?), I am about to attempt to clean the carpets. And no, I will not do your house.

Working from photos

Most people know that I collect and work from old snapshots. There comes a point where you have to stop looking at the photo and start working on the "painting". I have reached that point here. The photos are often tiny, blurry, and lacking in information. At some point I just have to let go and concentrate on trying to make it work as a painting. So...here I go!

If you get this message on the 24th, go check out the opening at Pynelogs tonight 7-9.

I want a fluffy calf!

Doesn't she look cuddly? Story at:  http://grist.org/list/fluffy-cows-are-the-honey-boo-boos-of-the-bovine-world/

And while we're at it, I would like

a swedish vallhound!

I hate mosquitos and like Emily Carr

Emily Carr   16x16 liquid acrylic

The Emily painting was an experiment using fluid acrylics and a heroine theme. Not sure how I feel about it yet. I was lucky to live in Victoria BC for several years where her legend has a large presence. I visited her father's house and walked past the house she used as a boarding house to raise money so she could live. She upset just about every Victorian convention regarding the behavior of women. She was a terrific artist and writer. I strongly feel that, if she had been a man, she would have been respected a lot more artistically.

Aargh! We had a cool wet spring and the water levels are still very high, hence a plethora of mosquitoes. They are sucking the joy out of me and my dog walks. Hordes attack my eyes and hair. One even tried to fly up my nose this morning. Dang!

A peach silk blouse

A peach silk blouse...sleeveless when it's hot....

with a red linen blazer when it's cool.

Go see what the Visible Monday gang is up to:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2013/07/visible-monday-105-summer-whites-redux.html

Papier Colle Femmes reception

Judy Walker and me at the reception for Papier Colle Femmes. There was a fine turnout. The rest of the show was very interesting also. Our third musketeer, Carney Oudendag had to miss the event because she had just moved and was up to her ears busy but she was keenly missed.

the moon goddess headband.

Judy inspecting the moon album. We hadn't seen the other persons finished work until the opening. It was like opening Christmas presents. You can see some of the mail art envelopes on the wall.

Carney's super suitcase.

Judy's awesome album.

 If you can get down to Pynelogs, go have a delicious lunch on the patio and take in the art.

Back from Nelson

I arrived in Nelson with a little trepidation. I could have spared myself. I was given the venue of the Ellison Market, a funky organic produce, vegan and alternative food and garden supply store located in a quaint 100 year old building. My heart stopped for a second when I saw that I had to hang my show on brick walls but there were little niches and holes for the nails. The staff, especially Susan, were extremely accommodating and helpful.

My paintings get to hang out in cozy coffee shop for a month. A great place to have cuppa and a snack and contemplate some art.

 The store smelled of spice, hemp/burlap and new baby chicks...actually quite a homey comfortable atmosphere. (The baby chicks were gorgeous..I want some badly).

Lots of people turned up for the artwalk. Ellison's put on a lovely food table full of many of the  items that they carry and was extremely popular. Nelson art lovers are a colorful and creative lot. I wish I had had time to take photos of them.

The art group even sent around buskers for a 15 to 20 minute show.

I was nervous going into an environment where I didn't know anyone (unlike my happy home receptions in the valley) but people were very kind. I heard some great comments. One of the more interesting was the idea that one woman thought all my figures were self portraits. She was sure she could see my face in all paintings. I have heard that artists often transpose their faces into their paintings.

I want to thank my brother and sister in law, Alan and Randi, for all the help and support they have shown me over the years and for putting us (and Fiona) up. The only problem with Nelson was there wasn't enough time to go exploring. Hopefully, I can rectify that when I go back to pick paintings up.

Papier Colle Femmes

Witchy woman    8x10 collage

Inspired by stories on collage collaborations that I kept reading about on Art blogs and “Cloth, Paper, Scissor ” magazine articles, I decided to approach my two favorite collage artists in my area. They are Carney Oudendag and Judy Walker. I suggested that we each make a dozen collages, four of which would be sent to the other participants each and four to keep for ourselves. It was a bit of a wild ride. We didn’t really know what we were doing but we plunged in anyway. I think that may be the best course for most projects. We called ourselves the "Papier Colle Femmes" which translates roughly to women who tear up paper. Grrr!

Our collaborative collage project will be in the Pynelogs Innovations show July 8-21. The reception is Wednesday night July 10 from 7-9 pm. Please join us and find out what a collage collaboration looks like!

Nelson Art Walk

 Dancing Queens  16x20 acrylic

 I am taking part in the Nelson Art Walk this year. I will let you know how it turns out.

"This year ArtWalk will kick off on Friday, July 5 with opening receptions at the 16 participating venues and a street party packed with artsy activities and performances in the 400-block of Baker Street.
The event starts at 6 p.m. with the Kootenay Keltie Pipe Band marching the ArtWalk route. Throughout the evening, there will be musicians playing around the route, providing ambiance for your art viewing experience."    Nelson Star newspaper

Yippee, a pipe band!

Western shirt

I have a western shirt that I really (it's a classic Scully) like but it is pretty hard to style. It's not too bad with the midcalf denim skirt but not with the shoes and not that wide of a belt. Sorry about the fuzzy photo. I had the camera set on a timer. Half the shots were perfectly fine and the rest were fuzzy. Go figure.

I rather like it with the pencil skirt but not with those shoes. Maybe tights and ankle boot in the fall. The shirt is surprisingly heavy and way too hot for the weather we are having now.

Go check out Visible monday at:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2013/06/visible-monday-103-i-am-wearing-pants.html