Along the Milne--sold Apr.21, 2011

Pumpkin Picking

I have been painting steadily lately including this one and several studies. Inspired by my Halloween birthday I painted some spooky trees behind a patch of pumpkins ripe for the picking.

Homes for the Holidays/Breast Cancer/Varley

I am now a member of the steering committee for the Homes for the Holidays Tour in Unionville and Markham, benefiting the Breast Cancer Centre at Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Varley Art Gallery. It takes place Nov. 19 and 20th. I approached the Markham Group of Artists and asked for a donation of a painting from any member for this worthy cause.Several artists contacted me to say they would contribute a painting which will be offered as part of a vignette to be won by the sale of raffle tickets. The boutique sale and raffles will be open to the general public at the Markham Civic Centre on Fri. Nov. 19th and Sat. the 20th of Nov.

Scarlet Reflection

Sorry for the poor cropping. This won 2nd prize at the Markham Fair 2010

Procrastination

"If you put off everything till you're sure of it, you'll never get anything done." Norman Vincent Peale. I was telling my little art group this week that even though I want to paint I seem to put it off with any little excuse. I have many ideas about what to paint and what pallatte to choose for it but find myself putting off the actual beginning of each painting. I wonder if that is a sign of being a perfectionist. Once I do start a project and actually put paint to canvas I so enjoy the first sitting or two, splashing the colours freely onto the support. Then about the third or fourth attack I really have to push myself to begin. I think it may be that for the first or second session there is no pressure to complete anything. I know I am there to experiment and have fun. But after that the next few sessions are all about fixing errors and putting the finishing touches to the work and I feel that it is more like work. At that point, it really had better look like something or I may even have to scrap it and start all over.

Impressionism/Expressionism Tree 2

Here it is cropped slightly better.

Charity Silent Auction

During my show at the McKay I was approached by John Liu the student organizer to see if I would offer one of my paintings to be auctioned for the charity Pathways at the Markham's Got Talent Show. I quickly painted a small daisy and delivered it to him the night before the show. I haven't heard how it went as yet but will keep you posted.