Of Celts, Canadians, cats, and other things

Mark, The Lion

 I'm reading Richard Gwyn's book, 'John A., The Man Who Made Us'. I thought one of the best lines in the book, describes John A.'s political savvy quite succinctly as the 'ability to herd cats'. I'm not writing a paper so won't include a footnote or anything. If you are Canadian then you'll appreciate that not much has changed....That remark reminded me of a series of copies of paintings I did for a local church a few years ago. I should mention that another artist, K. Bellamy,  helped me to do the calligraphy (her specialty) and provided lots of artistic, emotional, and spiritual support throughout the project. These paintings represent four guys who also did their share of herding . Their flock consisted of  two legged sheep. The artist who produced them in the 1300's was a genius. You can read more about them if you search the British Library online for the Lindisfarne Gospels. Copies shown here were done on canvas in acrylic and ink and are 3' x 4'.

Matthew, The Man

John, The Eagle

Luke, The Ox

Christmas Show

Home to Roose

I've just dropped off these three pieces at a Art on Kent co-op gallery  http://theartsdepartment.ca/. Check it out  if you're in the area. The name of the show is 'Affordability'--speaks for itself I think!

Dancing Sky

The works are inspired by the countryside around our place and are painted with encaustic wax on birch panel. The artists' wax can be used to create very representational work but I love how is frees me up to be more expressive. The medium is warm and flowing and smells wonderful. I tried to capture the way this time of year feels--gray, mild and still. I think of a favourite poem by Canadian Archibald Lampman called In November . You can read it here;
 http://poemhunter.com/poem/in-november-1/ or listen to another version that inspired Canadian Loreena McKennitt . The links jumped to the bottom of the post for some strange reason. Just scroll down if you're interested :)

Bottom of the Field

http://www.quinlanroad.com/audio/wintergarden/snow.mp3. The lyrics are
 posted there and move me every time I read them.  http://www.quinlanroad.com/explorethemusic/wintergarden.asp?id=100

A Dose of Summer

A Dose of Summer

I love painting glass as much as I love painting flowers. The little blue 'Milk of Magnesia Bottle' is from my husbands antique bottle collection and the flower came from our garden.We've just had our first possible snowfall predicted here today. My annuals have succumbed finally to the frost and I found this little painting I did recently. Thought we could use a dose of summer as we face the cold months ahead.

Sign of the Dove

I haven't posted in awhile. Spring has brought many home reno projects and repairs which are taking up a lot of creative energy. Amongst them, I am also trying to sort through all the photos that we have taken on recent trips. In the process I came across this one. It was taken in Italy almost exactly 2 years ago now. The dove flew into my photo unexpectedly that day and I was happily surprised to see it there later. Today is Pentecost Sunday on the Christian calendar and marks the permanent arrival of the Divine Spirit, becoming available to everyone. It seemed appropriate for me to post it and in doing so, inspire me to begin completing some of the pieces that I've been planning in my head while my hands have been busy digging, scraping, painting around home!

Still Standing

Still Standing

A friend is getting married. She is so happy and the future is so bright. She asked me to paint this for her a few years ago when things were not so certain in her life. This tree stood near her home and when she decided to move asked me to paint it for her as a souvenir. I pointed out that it had been hit by lightning and instead of painting out the damage, I would leave it in as inspiration. The tree had recovered and kept on growing a beautiful crown heading for the blue sky above. I don't paint landscapes but trees 'get to me' for some reason and I think of them more as portrait pieces. I think she may have put the painting into a back corner somewhere but the image still carries the memory and the meaning of growing through the storms.

Late Spring

The 'Remember' Tree

Another week of rain. A psychologist on CBC radio today is talking about the weather and how adversely it can affect 'us Canadians'. I've been so looking forward to seeing some colour that I've given up on blue and green and decided to feast my eyes on ochre and sepia and burnt sienna and how they glow against blue grey skies and sepia tree skeletons. It's painted in encaustic (wax) and includes a photo of an elm.This tree is one I pass by very often and feel is quite beautiful in relief against the sky. Maybe the rain is getting to me after all...

Happy Easter!

This is the piece as it appeared on Easter morning. Hope you are celebrating the rebirth of hope where ever you are.