Onto something!

Yes that's right, I think I am onto something these days! I think there is some sort of subject in my work without my intention! I think I am thinking about people's secret lives, who they really are beneath the skin and don't show anyone. What they know about the world, the secrets, the truths, what they know about themselves. Mmmm yes I think that might be it.

I know there is a lot of myself I just don't share with the world, granted that often leads to people around me not really understanding me. I think people often have this view that I am some fragile and sad little person, nothing could be more from the truth! I really am quite content with myself, I am generally a very happy and inspired person, much stronger than people would think. I have my views of the world and don't like to shy away from strong emotions though in the end I really am content. So I must conclude there is more to people than what we see from the outside.



My paintings just seem to be painting themselves these days which I think speaks of this underlying idea of the unavowed. This inside world just seems to fuel me. Maybe it's a way for me to explore myself through study of others. Well I should stop now and get to my easel, sitting there with my newest creation... larger than life! One has to love the empty and yet not moments of painting bliss when everything else in the world melts away and all you see is color, lines, shadows and soul discovery.

Red, red, RED!

Hello hello! I am in a great mood today, I just finished a really great painting! I did something I haven't done in a VERY long time.... play and try things! Well ok so I do that frequently but not so much in my art :-P It feels good to have just let go and tried something scary! Not to mention have it turn out! :-O




Hmmm not sure why the color isn't coming out well on the net but it's crazy red LOL! Blinding red! NOT like most of my works that are browns, blacks and soft skin tones LOL This is WILD for me LOL Hey it was good fun though! It feels good to have just tried some ideas that I've had for a while. I plan to do more like this with strong color. Of course to contrast that I also finished a painting of the same girl in an old barn LOL that is more neutral tones and spooky. Hey it's just fun to play, what is an artist who doesn't keep searching themselves!

So Ian and I finished re-arranging the apartment so I could have a better space to work. Wow what amazing light in my new work space! Two big windows! Better than painting in the kitchen LOL... mmm plus now I am right beside a heater.... will be nice for the winter months!

My b-day is in less than a week... going to be 27! Time flys! Not so bad really, maybe 27 will be a good year for me :-D Some things certainly seem to be coming together. I am planning to have just a few friends over and make a pile of Indian food, easy and fun. Sit and chit chat and maybe make some mulled wine to warm us up. Good to have friends to warm up with on cold days, good food and good talks make for fine memories!

Creativity and nostalga are flourishing along with the fall colors!

Well things seem to be looking up a bit LOL after two shit weeks I finally feel things are back in line. Back to painting and doing a good job of it too! Not to be boasting LOL I am so happy to see the amazing colors developing outside, it's really inspiring. I am really getting into the fall mode, Halloween and yummy hardy warm soups :-) It's such a great time of year.

I always feel so nostalgic with the cooling air. It makes me think of playing in leaves (on all fours LOL) with soft, pale yellow sweaters on. Just the smell of the leaves is so beautiful. It's really quite remarkable how the human mind works. I feel like I am back to being 4 years old with all the comfort in the world. Mom and dad took care of everything, all I had to do was discover the world. LOL ok I sound very melancholy but really it's great to have memories like that. Coming in from the cold, taking a warm bath, cuddling in PJs on the couch then having dad's hot Veggie soup. Boy, I really did have a great childhood. Maybe a little too pampered! I do look forward to giving the gift of comfort to my children that I was given as a child.


I am feeling very inspired, lots of painting. I am working from the photos I took of my friend in her spooky old barn. The new pastel is really working out well. I think they will make a great series. Sort of her creepy hide out, a little retreated space to think. Lots of character. I am also looking forward to painting a few new models this fall. I am lucky to have people so willing to pose for me!! Also hubby and I are discussing re-arranging our home so I can have a better space to paint in. It's rather exciting! The new place I MIGHT move my work to would have much better lighting and many shelves to arrange my supplies. Not that I have a problem with painting in the kitchen LOL I do think this new space would be a great place until the studio will be ready, which may take a few years to save up enough to construct properly. I guess we will see what happens.

Well I guess that's it for now. Just happy the air feels lighter now, not so much sad and not so much negativity. Off to finish my work for the day then have a warm bath! :-P

Writing on a rainy day.

It's so wet, cold and gray out... hard to be inspired today. I am trying to get inspired to work and so far it's a no go :-S I did look through some poetry I have written though. Funny how things just come to me, words just form sometimes to describe how I am feeling. When I look back on my writings(poetry) it always kind of surprises me. It takes me to that exact emotion that was present when I wrote. Part of me feels like sharing but then part of me is scared to see what people think... also if people even care to know how I feel. I suppose same goes for my artwork, do people really care to hang it and will they feel what I felt when I painted it.

Hmmph LOL can you tell I am in such a lovely mood?! Normally I am much more cheery and more inspired just having a few off days of self doubt. Ah well it will pass. Maybe I will just do another still life today, seems to keep my mind more neutral and just inquisitive about light, shape, color etc. I feel I really need to get the energies back to normal... something is off in the air these days.

On a lighter note my new porch is just amazing. It has a great view and has plenty of space to set table and chairs out for coffee outside... my own little cafe! The sun is trying to come through the rain. Hopefully my world will right itself. Off to sketch!

Emotions like the falling leaves

Wow it's been a crazy week... not seeming to calm down yet. Still being very creative with lots of new ideas. It's weird sometimes when life throws you for a loop emotionally. I am always surprised at how fast and frequently our lives take turns. Anyways needless to say it's been one of those weeks.... ups and big downs. It is really nice to see the fall coming in. Smells like fall, those maple leaves and their sweet earthy scent. Makes me feel like cooking.

Cooking is so amazing, I feel good when I play with beautiful veggies from the garden which we cultivated. Creating something that is good for myself seems to be like a meditation, it's creating for pleasure and for health.. not a bad deal at all!! It's so great to see the huge variety that we gardened, so much amazing food to try new recipes! Just to state it now my absolutely FAVORITE cookbook is : Passionate Vegetarian by Crescent Dragonwagon. Ok so her name is a bit comical BUT she REALLY knows her stuff! She is very experimental with food. To be honest every recipe my husband and I have tried from this book has been a BIG success. I have to say the one recipe that sold the book to me was Braised Red Cabbage with Onions and Apples in Red-wine and Cranberry Sauce! Yum YUM! Today I am trying a beet recipe with sweet and sour creamy beets!

http://www.passionatevegetarian.com

Check it out! This is really a MUST HAVE for people who are vegetarian or who like to cook Vagetarian.

Well anyways I am hoping this week will be better than last with less ups and downs. The karma has just been out of whack... maybe the magic of fall will balance things out. My big fuzzy cat sitting by my side seems to think better times are to come. Now back to my cooking!! :-D

Dazed and confused on a grey day :-S

So, I am back from the art show, recouping from that and a little cold :-P all the fun stuff ;-) The show went decently well and there was some people interested to see more. Lots of cards handed out... guess we will see what happens from here. People are full of talk :-P

The show really did get me thinking though, what it really is to be an artist and what people are looking for in art. Seems in our world there is less interest in nudes, really it's pretty sad. Not that I had any visions of crazy art collectors up in the Laurentians LOL!! I just think the average person is rather intimidated by "over-exposure" LOL The models are crazy to reveal themselves to the artist... let alone to the whole world. People have this idea that there are creeps out to look at nudes and there are some...but honestly who is going to put out cash to see a fine art nude rather than search the net for nude photos. I think it's all in location.. I think as far as some people are concerned the artist is just as much to blame asking people to model... and for choosing such a subject that people can't connect with.

On the other side of it, people at the show took interest in what I assumed would not be of much interest for random people. They seemed very interested in the paintings of my old family photographs as well as my portraits. Hmmmm think I have been told many times "people will not buy or be interested in portraits that are not of them or their family"... :-S Oh well guess again! So I guess I will just keep on with the subject I love and develop some really interesting portraits.

I really am happy I spent the time to make a good portfolio, it turned out to be invaluable. Everyone took a good look through. It was very easy for them to get a feel for my work with the variety of mediums and subjects, not to mention my bio there was able to get all my words out without me having to do the notorious "about me" talk over and over. I do see however that I need to make my bio bilingual, funny that I never thought about it before! Ah well one thing on the list of many to get done.

So I am thinking about why I make art... for myself and for others.. as an artist I have to think is my purpose to sell... Most people need to pay the bills with their work. I am quite fortunate that I am not under such pressure. In a way it have me mostly painting to please myself and not others. I do want others to see and enjoy my work... so I need to find a balance that will appeal to the public and still be interesting for me as well. Food for thought! I think I am already decently on the right path. Just need to keep the ideas flowing and keep working. Ha ha need to find more glass birds is what I need! :-P I saw some fantastic ones on E-bay.... oh what a frightening place.. so much junk and cool, MUST HAVE stuff LOL One man's(PERSON's) trash is another's treasure!!



Well before my fingers go numb and before your eyes fall out I will go. Time to snuggle in and finish my sketching. Tonight is a night for Barley, Lentil, sun dried tomato soup! mmmm I love the amazing nostalgic feeling of cold fall days! (note the photo of a cold and patient model I did body painting on a few years back!) xoxox

Canning Tomatoes, painting and waiting for the art show!

Wow so much happening these days, hard to keep up with my journal. Things are coming together though! Finally I am all set for the art show next weekend (8th and 9th). I only have a few last minute details to touch up. Not too bad for someone so disorganized! Maybe I am finally learning something?? LOL Be OVER prepared LOL Then you can kick back and take some much needed breathing time.

I am sitting here boiling up some tomatoes with hubby, it's such a nice fall activity. It feels very fall in the air, the leaves are starting to turn and the garden is coming to an end. I am really excited to get a party together for Samhain (Halloween). I guess any excuse to eat with friends... LOL I want to get lots of mulled wine and harvest foods for everyone to enjoy. I think we will have this party on cousin's porch and deck it out well! Could be lots of fun! Who says Halloween is only for kids ;-) I do feel my witch within stirring these days.

I was able to get some FABULOUS photos of a friend to paint from last weekend. Even with the rush I managed to get all my under painting for a pretty large painting all finished yesterday! I am very inspired by these photos... can you tell? We used an old barn of her families for the setting, rather interesting to have someone scared of heights crawling around up in the lofts... LOL *ahem ahem* not that I am that bad with heights ;-0 :-P :-S Anyways the photos turned out perfect just how I envisioned them. Spooky and contrasty!! I am planning to work on this painting again today at this rate I might even be able to bring it with me for the show next weekend!




I am off! Tomatoes need to be canned and the painting is calling to me. Back with news of how the show proceeded after the weekend!

Fall is in the air and glass birds everywhere!!

LOL Yep the title sums it up well. It is really starting to feel like fall out there! Lovely for our nightly walks. I am looking forward to the fall really, getting back into a pattern, painting and maybe going into Ottawa to paint some new models.

The end of summer has been changed rather abruptly by this art show popping up. Lots of framing and running around LOL I guess it is blatantly obvious that I am NOT ready for shows.... spend all my time hold up in my kitchen working :-S Well things are going to change! I do feel better about this show and just getting out there more. Just have to keep the courage up. I am still slowly learning about moulding. I must say Framing is one part of painting that I am not excited by!! :-P

I am back to painting my little glass birds! Just started an acrylic of them. I really do enjoy them not sure why... I am thinking about the path of my artwork and subject matter. I really feel I am moving in the right direction. When I look at my portfolio I see subject development. Now I just have to get BIGGER!!!! and BOLDER!!!

I am really looking forward to getting some of my ideas into the works. I have a great panel waiting for a certain friend who just posed for me.. and enjoyed herself..... ;-) To come pose again this time I want to start a big acrylic of her. She is such a pretty person, inside and out. I really enjoyed painting her. I feel it is partly due to me knowing her so well for so many years. She is so feminine in my eyes and such a great supportive friend. I am so happy she finally felt brave enough to show off her pretty curves! Again I see many great sessions with her in my future :-D

Must run now cousin has arrived for a walk! Must quickly finish my Earl Grey mmmm! xoxox

Crazy times!

Well I have been a bad girl... no no not too bad just too busy to write. ;-) I guess after Gaspe I took some time to try and catch up with life. Things just always seem to pile on. Now I am trying for some big changes, like I said before this fall is my time to get out of my comfort zone and show my work off a bit.

It's time to let the world see some of my work and maybe make a few $$... hopefully LOL It's a start but I am doing a little show up in Morin Heights with a friend of mine and some other artists. Nothing too fancy but hey, will be better than poking around here EVERY weekend. I can't expect people to just see my website and come to me. I think artwork never really looks as good in a photo anyways so better for people to see it first hand. I have done shows before just nothing in quite a while... maybe for the good... or the bad but at least I feel my work is where I want it to be development wise before I start to display it. I was quite surprised at how nice it looked to have made a decent portfolio(Today thank you very much!) it looks really nice printed and mounted on black pages. I have at least 40 paintings I am very happy with that can be shown. Now I can focus on where I want my work to go. I see with it all laid out what works best in terms of subject and interest. There are some of my paintings that are more detailed than JUST portraits. I think this is where I should go. Ideas and portraits together. Just gaining a balance of something that people can identify with and still be special and interesting to me.

I am very lucky to have two friends recently take an interest in modeling for me, people who I have asked for a looonnnngggg time LOL I think once they start it will be quite addictive! I know one of them(who already posed and enjoyed the results, my work) Will be back soon :-P The other will be posing for me this weekend... ohhh ideas abound, I have plans...concocting many plans! She will be scared *evil laugh* whoo whooo ha ha haHA ;-) witchy enough for you? MMmmmm looking forward to Halloween... ok so it is two months away but hey!! Some people love x-mas I LOVE Halloween!

Anyways my days will be filled with framing... BAH! and finishing a few works. I guess now I have no excuse not to write. I have had my vacation and enjoyed it immensely. Now it's time for the crunch and making things happen! Raaaaa!

Seeing through eyes of change.

Wow I just love having high speed internet... lol two years without and it's so great to finally get it back! I can get back to seeing what's happening in the world! I am watching all sorts of amazing videos, they are very inspiring. I love LOVE the vids by Sigur Rós. Glósóli is one of my favorite videos they created as it deals with something very interesting to me, growing up. The changes that happen, how the magic changes things are not quite as fairy tale with time. We learn there is ugliness in the world as well as beauty. I think that is such an interesting part of humanity, sitting on the verge and just learning about life. The music is quite beautiful as well, they really are experimental in that the lyrics themselves are in a non-existent language. They just create what sounds good and seems to have meaning even though there is no way to really know what they are trying to convey. Beautiful Neverland style children run through fields slowly growing in numbers and learning about firsts of life. They end at the edge of a huge cliff and .... jump off... it's so beautiful. Something to say about the courage needed to grow up. I find it so inspiring. I MUST paint more children.

I have always found that delicate age to be facinating. Before society pushes it's views onto us. Before the newness goes. I have many ideas for works dealing with that. An artist who did some facinating paintings of young girls on the verge of womanhood was Balthus( Balthasar Klossowski de Rola). I just discovered his work a few months ago but find it quite interesting. He has a very twisted sense of Alice in Wonderland that he painted into his work. Loaded with mirrors, and cats who observe the young women. The subjects he chose seem to have an innocence and yet a power that has yet to be revealed. He was also a master of light, the contrast and the delicate observation of tone he used set the atmosphere to something magical and yet harsh.

Well I must be off as I am to dine with the parent's in law this evening. We are going to the restaurant which we ate at after Ian and my wedding. It's such a cute place in the old port. Amazing Italian food and great place to take a walk after! I will tote my camera along incase I come across something eye catching. There always are things to be seen and captured :-P

Water Lillies and rainey days

:-D What a beautiful quiet day it is! A little too humid but hey, there is good energy in the air today. I was informed that today is my 4 year anniversary! 8 years together already.. times flies! Good thing family remembers these things for us! Neither of us seemed to keep good track LOL! Oh well, the main thing is we are still together and now have an excuse to celebrate with our favorite foods tonight! Pretty good in todays age to still be very much in love after 8 years! Things just get better with time, like good wine ;-)

I am sitting here with my favorite Billy Holiday songs playing, the rain is coming down in buckets, my parrot is sitting on my lap, a Caffe aux Lait at my side and an amazing water lily that I found this morning looking stunning. Things feel pretty good. Quiet and beautiful. I love rainy days! Just something about them... they have a comforting feeling.

What a beautiful gift I found this morning in a white water lily that washed up on shore along the bank of the river. It was just waiting there for me, to inspire me. I had quite a good time taking photos of it in an old basin. It's so inspiring when something like that happens really it seems like a gift from nature. I made good use and I might just have to get my sketch pad out now and see what comes out. Oh ideas ideas! gone gone and gone. Here is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that Billy Holiday sang. Seems appropriate for today with the rain and my anniversary.

I'll Be Seeing You

I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through

In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well

I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way

I'll find in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you

I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way

I'll find in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you

Billowing Skirts are fun to draw!

Well I guess you can imagine I am drawing out a watercolor of a friend when we were hanging out along the Lachine canal in Montreal. Her skirt is flying around with the breeze in the photo that I am working from. Terribly good fun to paint fabric blowing.... for that matter her in general hair flipping around, certainly has the early summer atmosphere with the soft breeze and amazing sun. I am just contemplating if I should have some writing in this painting... might go then again might NOT! LOL It's difficult to say, especially it being in watercolor... the other thing I am thinking is if I want to add some pastel... eeekkk decisions decisions.. :-P Either way I am having a good drawing day FINALLY! I had been feeling a little stuck. I think there was too much to think about aside from my work.

So I am making a plan of action for my return from Gaspe. Things that need to be ironed out to make life easier. Mainly backing up some of my supplies so when I hit inspiration I can grab a panel or paper and start right away. Also supports, need more. Ah the fun stuff, not like I need a to do list online here in my supposed journal. All I mean is that things need to be corrected to make my life easier! Still have to work out my framing issues as well. Gah! So much to get done! Oh well life would be boring without.

I have been thinking about some new subjects to work on and a few different techniques. For new subjects I am thinking of doing some interesting still lives of old stuff I find. Old toys, old ceramics and glass, mirrors, bottles, mmm and yes more glass birds!! I'm also thinking of doing some works on Mylar paper to create layers. That type of paper can be really interesting, if properly used it can give you some very deep and creepy atmospheres. Anyways there are ideas in the works. MMmmm and some new models as well. Anyone interested?? ;-) I can always use a model in amidst my crazy old artifacts... nude... LOL no no that isn't a spider crawling out of my old suitcase... :-P But honestly there is so many amazing ideas I have with interesting lighting and playing textures against each other.

Well enough blabbing for now I should go and start the washes for my painting it's sitting waiting....

Weeewwhhh, Jazz Fest, retirement party done done and done!

Wow soo much going on this month! Now I am just looking forward to kicking back and relaxing a bit before our trip to Gaspe. Some time to get some art done and things tied up.

So, my mom and aunt's retirement party was a success, everyone said that they had a great time. There was quite the abundance of food :-P ok maybe a little overkill but hey! I had many yummies left to snack on for a few days. Everyone was such a help, arranging food and just extra hands to keep things running smoothly. Anyways all in all I think it was a decent send off.

Oh and we had a chance to go and walk the Jazz Fest in Montreal, though sadly it's never enough time for me. I have always loved the atmosphere at the festival, so next year I have to do double time to make up for my lack this year. I was still able to take some interesting photos and find a new musical group to discover.

The group is called DJ Dolores and Aparelhagem. Really amazing mix of sounds. They are a Brazilian group, very jazzy tone with yummy, lusty trumpets, I do have a big love affair with dirty trumpets. The website for them is : http://www.djdolores.com/ there are some clips of their music on the site. mmmmm one more for my growing collection :-)

It really is quite amazing the faces that reveal themselves in that crowd. So much that would be paintable! Amazing men with long dreads, children smiling and playing, old faces and young faces, people of every color and background. It's just so amazing and beautiful. The music is just amazing and so varied. I have discovered several groups who I have continued to listen to and follow over the past few years. Really the feeling of the fest is something so energized with creativity I am like a bee to a flower, it nurtures me and my creative spirit.

Inspiration, new curry concoction and a beautiful day!

Hello All! Another good and inspired day! I really am enjoying reading this new book of mine, this woman has a really great way of looking at things. Very blunt LOL but really encouraging. It feels sort of familiar the stress and self doubt that the young artist who is corresponding with her is feeling. I have started to find my own way, to know what to do to become inspired on just any day and this guy is asking many interesting questions of her. He is concerned about Originality, boredom, being stuck with the same subject all the time. She really gives insight to how to just be yourself and just work through times you are not feeling inspired. She talk about creating "bad" art just to keep creating, even if you are unsure if you feel it is "good" work. The idea is to push through and eventually by playing with "non-serious" work one will rekindle the fire and find something inspiring and things will roll once again. I think I can see that in my own work. I often get so concerned with the perfect subject I will block up and stop working. The other thing she talks about is working when you are not in the mood to create. She feels that often if we should just keep working even if we are not in the mood, like any other job, one can still create art even if we are not in the mood. Food for thought! I really like the idea of playing and not always expecting to create good art... more of that in my future and more exploration of what I want to show to the world.. my views. She seems to feel one should just be themselves and that is original enough. I like that. I often worry i am creating too much work centered around my own life and my family, but that's what I am interesting in now. Why should I change that? I am not planning to do that all my days, just part of myself I want to explore. Anyways I am fine tuning my abilities while working in this way. I am learning to be bold with my work. Just Do it! ha ha ha Well it is good advice really! I guess it is a good thing that I have so many different subjects and styles I want to try in the future, as she writes it's just to keep the many ideas in order and not let the over stimulation block you up LOL I feel that way for sure! Well I am off to eat some new curried concoction I have created! Couscous, Chick peas, raisins, cranberries, onion, curry and honey!! mmmmmm :-D Supper with my mom who has retired as of today!!! :-D YAY go mom go mom go!! Now she can kick back, read as much as she wants, stay up drinking, garden right into the fall and socialize like crazy! :-D xoxox *good energies today!*

Furry soul mate, new book and lots of inspiration.. what better things can life hold?!

Wow what a nice day so far! Lazing in bed with Danzig my furry soul mate... ok he's just a cat really but what a furry little soul he is! He certainly knows the good things in life! We just lay about snuggling for about an hour in bed. Such a luxury!

I went out to check my garden after the crazy storm last night, it seems very refreshed in it's best green! It's so amazing to watch all this grow, and to know I am cultivating something that will nourish me and my family. I then came back and did my porch gardening with Danzig by my side rolling around enjoying the cool breeze *finally*.

Then I decided to read a bit of my new book "Letters To A Young Artist" by Julia Cameron, the same person who did the "Artist's Way" book with the exercises to get ones creative juices flowing again. Unfortunately that book didn't do much for me, the exercises were good but a little too much structure for my liking. I must say though reading this new book with a more personal side of her work is much more inspiring to me. I really enjoy her views on art and artistic lifestyle. She talks about work ethic, trying rather than giving in when things get blocked or you lack inspiration, about keeping art in everything one does and just overcoming self doubt. It's really quite excellent! I think more people who are feeling an artistic block should read this! I have only tried the first few letters and already I got off my ass earlier in the day and finished my graphite landscape. Who knew! It even turned out fairly well considering my penchant for figurative work(ha ha yes the boobies i miss the boobies) and lack of experience in landscape.

I always get myself hooked up in my subject... is it artistic enough... what does it say to me... what will it say to the viewer... is it mature enough..... is it complex enough... should I try something different, a different style or approach... LOL yes I guess art really is all about doing it and not thinking so much as Julia Cameron says. I guess that is one lesson that takes a while to sink in, I often worry so much about what I am doing that I don't do anything at all. This is one thing I really have to keep working on and just work through times of inspirational block or self doubt.

So :-S I didn't get chosen for one of the thirty finalists in the portrait competition in Kingston. Am I upset?? LOL funny enough not at all!! I think it's a sign I am toughening up. I will just try again next year with a different subject maybe more contemporary and less traditional. That's ok! I will take a good look and see if a painting more like my Little Bird one would work better for that type of competition. I will also look and see if there are other contests going on that might fit my work better. Ok ok ok and some galleries to hang in... so tough to put yourself out there with the fear of lack of interest. Well I guess like Julia says I should just get on with it then worry later :-P it's a slow process, the main thing is I am enjoying what I am doing and learning a lot about myself and others for that matter while discovering the right path.

Off to finish the pastel of my friend in the Cafe. MMM I have amazing Jazz on Django Reinhardt is inspiring and there is a refreshing breeze drifting through my apartment :-D I am on the right track today and no negativity can pull me down.... hopefully tomorrow will be the same!

Tuesday and still Surviving! :-)

So!!! The wedding went very well... Was a perfect day, the couple couldn't have asked for better weather. A light breeze but amazing sun and warmth! The ceremony went well and the reception was awesome, good music, food and company! I was rather surprised with the quality of the vegetarian food we had, most places either serve spaghetti with plain tomato sauce OR 5 sprigs of asparagus, a lemon wedge and a potato... LOL Not so exciting! This time we had a fabulous eggplant entre with soft goat cheese and zucchini then a puff pastry with lentils, onions, cashews and prunes!! Not to mention the carrots, mushrooms and parsnips! Wow I am getting hungry just thinking of it! Anyways lots of good dancing and socializing despite all the stress beforehand it was well worth it!

Now I am just ironing out details for my mothers retirement party and getting ready for my well deserved trip to Gaspe! I'm looking at a stop near Rimouski to see the Metis Gardens! I am so excited to go there! Will bring my camera and steal some inspiration from them for my own garden in progress here at home :-) It will be amazing to get away and just visit with Ian for a while. I also plan to get a sketch book entirely for landscape while I travel around there.... mmmm something entirely new for me, give me people or objects and I'm fine trees and water... I guess we will see! It's not so much in my nature even though I adore nature and wildlife to paint it.. I guess I feel my domain is a little more experimental but then again one really can't know until they try! So!! I guess this will be an experiment! Maybe it will be a compromise and I will sketch people in the landscapes LOL!!! I also know for a fact that there are amazing old photos of Ian's family at the house we will stay at in Gaspe. The house was inherited by his mother a few years back, it's around 100 years old so very full of character!! It also is right on the border of Forillon Park so there will be many hiking trails and we will deffiantly make use of the beaches and of course Whale watching :-D :-O

Well I am off for now! I am going to sketch for a bit then kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy this beautiful summer weather! Hopefully tonight's walk will be as magical as last night's with so many fireflies not to mention the little deer who popped out to check us out! Summer out here in the country is just so amazing it does feel like a fairy land sometimes with the land so full of life and little spirits all around us. Not meaning to sound strange but it really does make one see that there is so much amazing energy in our lives and we just have to slow down to observe it. xoxoxo

Tom Waits ruined my self resignation to a day of rest!

So yes that bloody Tom Waits... I had just finished convincing myself that I really do deserve a day to just relax and do nothing else when low and behold I started to play some nice relaxing music.. and now after one song I am all inspired and realize didn't really want the dumb day off anyways :-S Oh well I suppose one could feel worse than to want to work! The only thing that is holding me back is my very sore body :-P I guess traipsing all over Montreal yesterday in high heels wasn't the best plan but damn it they are sexy LOL Ah well the price a girl must pay...

So I am all set for my the wedding tomorrow! Nice eggplant dress and amazing luscious, drool causeing , inspiring, desire filling, mmm yes I can go on forever shoes that are too hot for words :-P So yes, I am feeling pretty good about going out on the town like that! Well it will be very nice to stop running around after this is all done, though I am starting to think that is what summer is all about running around and packing the days. Oh well, I will still have my nice get-away to Gaspe later this summer which will be great.

So I am off to paint now.. even though I said it was OK to take a day off after running around getting suits, shoes, earings (not even for me!) yesterday. Ah well now i know never to put inspiring music on when I want to lay low LOL Bloody Tom Waits!! :-O ;-)

Will my eyes fall out?? Anyone taking bets?

LOL I think that painting wicker should be banned from the art world! Well not really it does make for a beautiful and detailed painting(though is that what I want? :-S). After staring at weaving for over an hour ones eyes go all funny LOL So it's break time. My new painting is looking really good though, coming along at a fast pace. I do find it funny that recently I seem to be picking photos to work from that are way more detailed than I should be bothering to work in... just can't seem to break this habit. Maybe my work would be more powerful if I didn't use as much detail?? Not sure really. I do like the way they feel very complete but I wonder if I overwork them. Guess I will only answer my own question by playing around and trying some new styles. I think it would also be very wise of me to do a few paintings in Acrylic, it's just too hard to frame pastels and they are just not as hardy being on paper rather than panels. Hmm things to think of when looking to hang my work in galleries. I do think I have some interesting themes in my work though, and I hope to discover even more as I go along.

So I am off to do some shoe shopping tomorrow for a wedding I must attend this coming weekend. Now I am all outfitted with a new dress and hopefully fabulous shoes too. It will be a long weekend but hey I think some of it should be fun... I hope ;-)

Well I am off to check my plants on the porch with my faithful cat by my side. I am starting to think it might be Danzig's(one of 4 cats!) garden not my own. He just loves to get outside and observe the goings on, always so much more happening (as far as he's concerned) on the other side of the great door. Poor guy, the life of an apartment cat. Hey I think it's them who have us trained to care for them and bring home the big (bag) gazelle(maybe not... LOL chicken perhaps is more accurate)!!!!

In search..

Wow what a thrilling day of looking at galleries... (much sarcasm here!)!! :-P I have been looking at galleries online trying to find some that my work might fit into. Of coarse my art went well today, working on a pastel of a friend sitting in a huge chair at a really funky cafe in downtown montreal. So that was all fun but trying to find where to show it.. :-S not so fun! I think people who do figures and portraits have it more difficult as there are limited galleries interested in hanging that style of work. An artist must have the balance just right, right pigments, right colors, right technical ability, layout, and just plain style to hit it off in the art world. It's just finding the fit like a puzzle.

Anyways today went very well, painting, gardening, visits and walks! Tired out now from everything :-) Good tired though. Will kick back with some wine and call it a day! Hopefully hubby will read more Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to me tonight :-P ;-) Much fun, much needed these days!! I think this will be a long week and I just can't wait to kick back after it and enjoy the rest of my summer! A lot to look forward to, trip to gaspe, visits with friends, retirement party for mom, painting up a storm and of coarse the Jazz Fest! :-)

Wow so many people!

Geeze I have been sitting here looking through old school classmates and just random people surfing on (wow wonder which site is so popular right now..) a social website. I just can't believe how many people there are.. and how many have such different lives than my own. Not a bad thing really, I enjoy my life and style for the most part, it's just crazy how many different ways there are to live. One of the funniest things is how close in proximity I have been to some really amazing and inspiring people without realizing they were there. On the other hand it is also quite astonishing how shallow many around me are... or were. I guess tonight I am just thinking about how important it is to draw the interesting and inspiring people in closer to me. Also to let go of the negativity that I feel towards people who in my eyes have wronged me or even just who see things in a very different way than myself. I have a habit of taking grudges against people or beliefs that rub me the wrong way.. it really isn't worth the negative emotional energy. I was listening to a show as I was painting today, an interview with Selma Hayack. She actually said something that stuck in my head, something like "Embrace adversity with all your heart as it is the greatest teacher you will ever know." I think that should become my new mantra.

A new attempt at an online journal :-S

Hello there! Back at this again LOL I am sitting here with a coffee with an internal dialog discussing why I want to reveal my thoughts to the world.... hmmm maybe nobody will read this after all ;-) So this will be a place for me to play with ideas and talk about what's going on in my life. Oh yes... be prepared!

So I am an artist.. or trying to be an artist.. By that I mean I paint and draw and try to sell my works. Of coarse this doesn't happen nearly enough! I paint people, my big fascination in life, I love to study people and try to get into their heads. I guess like all artists I am pretty sensitive, I am a sponge for emotions and love to hear about peoples lives (where they've been and who they have known, what is or was important in their lives, what their struggles have been) Pretty much anything dealing with people. I paint portraits, nudes and figures in everyday life. At this point I am just finding my path, trying to see how things work in the art world. Maybe hiding out a little more than I should but things are soon to change.

So this summer is going to be very inspiring for me. I will be heading out to Gaspe with my husband to visit some of his family and luckily this year I have my schnazy new camera to take fabulous photos! Also will go to the Jazz Fest in Montreal which is always a HUGE inspiration to me! I just love the atmosphere there.. drums beating to my gait and melodic voices from all over the world... not to mention the packed cafes with interesting faces.. perfect faces for me to paint!

Anyways enough wasting time... procrastination.... a bad habit to be kicked this summer! TOP of my list of to dos **GET MY BUTT IN GEAR!!!!!**