Announcing: My New ART Blog!

I've added a brand new blog

featuring my fine art

which has either been sold, or is up for sale.

Fear not! I will be keeping this blog up and running.

The new blog, entitled Art and Life

will tell the stories behind my work,

the reasons I choose to paint what I do, etc.

Think of it as a sort of behind-the-scenes look

at my artistic process.

I hope you will check out the site and

please leave comments as well

because I very much appreciate feedback.

The weird things that pop into your head

Memories.

They show up unannounced.

Today for instance, I was thinking about my son's choir who has just arrived in England for a tour. That thought turned into a memory of when I was on tour during my college years. That thought took me to eating time, and I remember our group singing a silly song at the end of each meal that was provided for us.

It went like this:

(sung to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it")

We thank you for the food that we have et,

We thank you for the food that we have et.

It was yummy, yummy, yummy,

And so pleasing to the tummy ~

That's the reason for this little minuet.

This tulip picture doesn't have any relevance to this posting, but aren't they beautiful? And yes, they grew in our garden this year. Dare I say that spring has truly arrived?

We have a winner!

Yes, I know I said a winner would be announced yesterday, but I was otherwise occupied ...

So! this morning is the time to draw the name for the Tree Hugger Bookmark.

Thank you all for your fun art disaster and werewolf (!) stories.

Since it's my draw I can make my own rules,

so I put in all your names twice.

So without further delay,

THE WINNER IS ... (drum roll here) ...

Kim!

I'm thrilled that it was your name that I pulled out of my favourite fuchsia hat, Kim!

You need to know that it was your sweet giving spirit that was one of the reasons

I started thinking in the first place, about leaving my Tree Hugger Bookmarks

out there in the big wide world.

I hope that you and everyone else who happens to come along

and pick one of these bookmarks up, will be blessed in some small way by receiving one.

Oh, and Kim I love your Spring Walkabout Apil 13th post photos of you with your art ~

hope you don't mind that I snatched the photo here to announce your win.

It made me smile, when I saw the photo of you literally hugging a tree,

but I liked the photo here because of your beautiful smile.

One other thing ... the New York fine art chair is completed ~ yay!

It's being delivered tomorrow to its new home.

Before it leaves my house,

I will take photos and share them with all my lovely readers.

Re-purposing, Disasters AND a Giveaway

As many of you know, I'm always re-purposing and recycling materials of all sorts in my mixed media art. All the fine art chairs I've painted so far, are 2nd hand or gently used, if you prefer that term. I've been painting over the past month on my latest chair. It's a commission with a New York City theme ~ more about that adventure later. Because I've been working almost exclusively on this chair, I needed a little break. I felt I needed to do something completely different.

This is what I made. They are hand drawn bookmarks with pretty fibres ~ I call them Tree Hugger Bookmarks. They are all made out of pre-used cardboard. I am leaving them here and there in my travels for some unsuspecting person who comes along and happens to discover them. I hope whoever happens to discover them will enjoy using them.

About my New York chair. I have a funny story for you about something happened earlier today as I was painting. I had a major paint explosion! There I was, peacefully painting my chair, when I unexpectedly lost my balance. It has been said by some that I'm unbalanced, but this was ridiculous! Off balance, I knocked my water and paint brushes over, then my foot came down on some red paint and the tube exploded all over ~ all over the kitchen floor, table, drop cloth, my arm, shirt, apron and foot. This could explain why some artists actually have studios to paint in!

In honour of the "amazing" paint day I've had, I am going to have a giveaway. I will send the winner one of my Tree Hugger Bookmarks. Just leave me a comment. I'll make a draw from all the names of everyone who leaves a comment. Tell me about one of your art disasters, and I'll put your name in the hat two times! Let's give it until Sunday to make the draw. I wish you better luck than I have had today. Isn't that photo of my foot scary?

ART Friends

Friendship is born at that moment

when one person says to another,

'What! You too?

I thought I was the only one.'

~ C. S. Lewis

As an artist, it's so difficult to be surrounded by those poor unfortunate souls who "just don't get it". But what a joy to find those rare kindred spirits who do!

I am thankful to have a few folks who share in this art journey we call Life!

You are a blessing.

Elephants and Roses

Besides looking for wonderful treasures, when I wander through a 2nd Hand Shop, one of my favourite things to do is to find the gaudiest, silliest, awful-est item possible and take a quick snapshot of it. Unfortunately the other day when we went to the antique mall, I didn't take my camera with me. So I can only describe the nastiest item I found that day. It was a brass elephant. Not only was it a brass elephant which is bad enough in itself (I've never been a big fan of elephant ornamental items) but it was also a rotary telephone. Had to be one of the tackiest things ever ~ and I didn't have a camera to capture the horror! Sad, sad me.

Learning my lesson, on my next outing to a local 2nd Hand Store, I took my trusty digital with me. And there it was in all its beauty! One can only imagine the creative individual who thought that this was a good idea.

Feast your eyes on the amazing Rosie ~ the latest in the Barbie line.

Uh, I didn't purchase her, in case you're wondering.