May

                                                               

Hi there,

So far May has been a beautiful month.  Rather chilly, but just so lovely in rain or shine. The crab apple trees and lilacs bloomed early, so here the landscape is on the best dressed list.

On the art front, I've been using acrylic paint lately. Acrylic paint does dry fast, but what I enjoy is it's forgiveness. Make a mistake paint over it. Don't like the painting at all. Paint over it. It's that simple. 

                                               Liking the cool yellow. WIP

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                                               Acrylic on canvas paper--adhered to mat board.

                                                      An old frame I've had around for some time.

 The last image from the portrait booklet that I have been drawing from.

Portrait from 1917.  To me, he looks very modern.

 

Steeping green tea

                                                 

   Linking to Friday Face Off and 

                                                                 T Stands for Tuesday.

                                   Linking to other Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                       Thanks to all for hosting!

 

                                                                   Cultivate Your Dreams

Bright Side

Hi everyone,

Starting out on the bright side today with a pic of flowers. Love the colours--so uplifting.

Just now we have a few feet of snow with more storms on the way, so I haven't been out and about to my usual haunts to take photos for a while.  We are, however, really enjoying  longer days. 

 

                                Green tea in the mug. The wood cut is by Elizabeth Harbour.

                                  Love is in the air too.  Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

                                                                          * * *

                                      

                                                   Soft pastel on Clairfontaine Pastel Mat paper

Above a large sheet of Pastel mat paper that I've been putting off cutting to specific sizes.

Since I have precision challenges, I called on Chat GBT and ask the best and most efficient way to cut the sheet into 5 x 7 inch pieces. What a wonder. Spit out the info in a few seconds. Too bad the program couldn't cut paper as well. :) 

Great to have sized paper on hand. Now I can easily grab a piece of paper and paint a small painting.                                              

                                                     

                           

 

Tried out Canson XL cold press, sketchbook paper. I think it is wood pulp paper. Not as good as cotton rag but not bad.  Still working on the pears. Will see what happens when I erase the outline and then paint some shadows under the pears. 

Plan to paint the pears using soft pastels as well.

At the end of the month, I will be closing my Etsy shop.  It's difficult to get seen there, and the fees have gone up again. 

 

 

Another drawing. 

 

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off link party among others.

                                          

'Til next time... 

                                                 Happy Valentine's Day!

                             Linking to other Link Parties via my link party page.

                                                   Thanks to all for hosting!

      

                                                    Cultivate Your Dreams                                                                                                        

Beautiful Days

Hi everyone,

Time for another peek at the spring.  It is lovely just now.                                                         

          

             

                                          Iris, with wildflowers Anemone and Flox.

At one of the parks they cut down several truckloads of trees. Apparently there was a blight, but also, it looked to me, like they cashed in on a few good loads of timber.

What you see here is some of the undergrowth that has emerged with the sunlight now hitting the forest floor. The flower in the front may be Wild Bergamot or Bee Balm. It is a plant  I haven't seen before. Anyway, it was definitely waiting for the right moment, and it took the opportunity to fill in many gaps.

                                                     Also a new comer. I think it is wild rhubarb.
                                                                           

                                                                     * * *

 A few words about my dear friend, Joannie who passed away in April. She posted comments here and enjoyed the photos from the wilds that I took.

 Among her many accomplishments, Joannie went back to school at 46 and became a social worker and opened her own practice. Later in life, she also completed a Master Gardener's diploma.

What a gift she was to the world. I do miss her so much, but I feel blessed to have known her for 30 years and to call her my dear friend.

                                                           A Wonderful Hosta.

                                                 A pick me up Matcha
 

                                                                    * * * 

 In my lasts post, I mentioned I was drawing from a book of Sargent's work. But I happened across this photo on the Mets open access, so I decided to try and draw Etienne Maurie Falconet (1716-1791) from the photo. Etienne was as sculptor; his bronze of Peter the Great resides in, of course, St. Petersburg.

 

  First time using willow charcoal; it fades quickly, but it is very forgiving. A piece of glassine over the drawing would help, I reckon.

Thank you for your much appreciated comments on my last post. I tried to respond here, but  was only able to respond to a few before Blogger had other ideas. 

And this winds down another post from the hinterlands of Canada.

See you...

                                                 

                                                                   Cultivate Your Dreams

                                              Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                         Thank you all for hosting!

                                            

All of a Sudden

 

Hi everyone, 

Time has a way of slipping by, so it has been awhile.

The spring art exhibition was a successful event. Always nice to greet the public and spend time in a room filled with beautiful artwork. Several students also participated in the spring show and their work was impressive, indeed.

 And so May has arrived--such a beautiful month.  Even though I was checking daily, all of a sudden, it happened, one morning when I looked out the window the trees were sporting new leaves. Definitely awe inspiring, and you wonder how it happened so fast.

Glorious greens in varying hues catch your eye and bird songs fill the air. Ah spring, so wonderful.

 

 Because it was so warm in March, the sap ran early. But heavy frost followed in April, so a lot of the trees lost their buds. Never happened before that I know of, and I have been around awhile. However, as you can see they recovered well.

 

                                                                    Lilacs

                                 A  dreamy, spectacular day. So beautiful!
 

                                                        The geese enjoying new tasty grass.

                                     

                                                  "A Light exists in Spring

                                                   Not present on the Year

                                                   At any other period --
                                                   When March is scarcely here"

                                    Emily Dickinson. A Light Exists In Spring.

In early March last year, I happened upon this American Bittern. He or she was intent on catching a meal, so he didn't seem to notice me. That day an anxious photographer with huge lenses on a tripod was circling the area. He ask me if I knew the name of the bird, and if I had ever seen one before. Because I have a few bird guides, I knew it was a Bittern. I said that I had never seen one before, although I've been looking for years.

 What a scoop!  I only wish I had one of his photos, but, alas, I do not. Although blurry, I count myself lucky to have this photo and to have seen this wonderful bird.

 In April the beavers were busy in the marsh. Not sure what they are up to. The water is shallow and sometimes they drain the marsh, so it's not the best place for a beaver lodge. Perhaps they will dine on the invasive cattails and purple loose strife. That would be great.

 

                                                            A muskrat lodge, I believe. 

                          There are also mink in the marshlands. We saw one last week.

                           No time for a photo opt though. They scamper along the boardwalk, flip over the side and disappear in a flash.

           

                                           A bumper crop of Trillium this year.

                         

                         

                                                  

   A likeness from Sargent's portrait drawings #7. Over the year, I will draw practice copies of most of the drawings in this small booklet. There are 41. So far while drawing, I keep asking myself how did he do that? Amazing.

 A free hand with a little added watercolour on Strathmore toned tan sketch paper. The best drawing paper I have found. While drawing this, I erased many times and it didn't mar the paper. It did buckle a bit from the watercolour, but it is not made for mediums.

              The sketchbook is a bit pricey these days. I bought this one sometime ago, but recently bought one with gray toned paper which was cheaper. If you are interested, perhaps you can find a better deal at your local art store.

 

 Tip for portraits from Milan Art.  "Generally,  the middle of the eye lines up with the corners of the mouth. And the inner eye lines up with the outside of the nose."

                                                                     Until Next time...

                                                          

                                                                   Cultivate Your Dreams

                                              Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                          Thank you all for hosting!

                                             

Spring or Thereabouts

                                                       
Hi Everyone,

 Now in the early morning, the sun lights the prisms and they dance on the wall.  And in these parts that means spring.  But from the ice and snow still about, you can see that, here in Canada, winter tends to hang on, sometimes, a little longer than necessary. But it is so wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and enjoy longer days.

Yesterday, we went to the Sugar Bush where Maple syrup is made. What a busy spot. Too busy to hang about waiting for breakfast, and the snowy trails were over flowing with people as well.  Although there was no hope of getting served breakfast before closing time, it was nice to see everyone out and about enjoying life. 

Also made a trip to the marsh. We saw a lot of robins. They were looking for a tasty morsel or two. Not easy for them to find food just now. Unfortunately, I didn't have any raisins with me. Did have sunflower seeds for the hungry chickadees, Starlings, and the squirrels were happy to see us too.

                                                             Garden Centre Easter delights.  

                                                    All that colour! It makes my heart sing.

                 Couldn't resist buying, probably, too many plants. (Is that even possible?) 

                Absolutely love the miniature African Violets dressed up in their polka dot pots.

                                 

                        Saw painted candles somewhere, so wanted to give it a go. As you can                                                              see I got a little off course. 

                                                      

                                                              * * *

 Really enjoying the linocut printer makers art I've happened upon lately. They are amazing!

 Besides Angela Harding, John Bloor is also a wonderful printer maker. 

 A link to his Etsy shop here

                                                

                                                          Stone Harbour by John Bloor  

                                                           Couldn't resist this one. 

                                       

                                                     An inspiring book. Oh to be half so good.

                                    One of these days I will dig out my carving tools.

                           

Found this embroidery kit on Etsy. Love to knit, but, for now, this is much easier on the hands.

  Made the needle minder a few years ago from paper clay; it's finally getting used.

                                                 Watercolour on Fluid 100 paper. 

                     

Because of Blogger's fickle ways, I wasn't able to leave replies to your comments here on my last post. Perhaps this time. I do thank you all for your lovely comments. 

                               I hope you all have a very Happy Easter!

                                         Cultivate Your Dreams 

                               Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

You Never Know

Hi everyone,

By the time tulips have reached this stage, it's generally time toss them out. Because of the beautiful colour, I left them until the petals began to drop. 

Snow drifted down last night. I do like a surprise though, and a white world this late in the spring fills that category.  Needless to say, this spring has been a cool one. (You never know there could be snow.)

Yesterday I just had to go to the woods. Since I injured my foot last June, I haven't been going too far. I finished physiotherapy last week, and it still hasn't healed. So, the physiotherapist recommended shockwave therapy even though she said she couldn't endure it. That did make me laugh because, really, what a recommendation! I will ruminate on that one. To me, it doesn't seem wise to shock an injury, although the idea of it is to reduce scar tissue. The other and last option besides a brace I've ordered to wear at night is a cortisone shot.

Below, the tiny green sprouts of the Trout Lilies. When they bloom a wonderful carpet of yellow will fill the undergrowth. Although they are the first flowers that bloom, in the woods, in spring, they can be quite tender. Fingers crossed that the snow is kind to them. 

In May there will be an art exhibition at the mall. Three entries are allowed. I have a few paintings in mind but, besides the one below, I will likely paint two new paintings. I will frame the painting below as soon as my point driver arrives. Not something I've done before, and pastels have to be framed so that the painting doesn't touch the mat or dust may fall on the mat. Spacers are used, but I haven't been able to find any, but I can use acid free foam core. Are you with me lady luck?

                

                                                           

                                                  Pastel on Pastel mat paper 8 x 10 inches.

                    

                                          A few new soft pastels from Great American. 

                                                        

                                             Pastel on pastel mat Approximately 13 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches

If you've been reading here awhile, you may remember this painting. I kept wanting to add a boat to it, and finally figured out how.

             I am happy to report that my computer problems are all sorted thanks to my son, Jesse. 

Have a lovely day... 'Til next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

The parties cover most of the globe; there’s much to see and admire, so do stop in for a few visits. 

                                          Special thanks to the hosts.