Artist in Residence Pt 1 - Day 6 - Mill Pond Gallery, Richmond Hill

Today was the last full workday of my week long residency.

another day another beginning

Since I am on my own and not sharing the residency with another artist, as most of the resident artists are, it means if I have a drop-in visitor or two I talk with them. 

nice carving day.

And that means the work gets put on hold.

painting sketched out by end of the day today

I'm not someone who can ignore or just say HI and get back to the task at hand. So this kind of gallery show/sitting and working does work, I have created work, but not as much as I could have.

getting bigger

That being said, the past two days have brought people into the space who are looking for prints. Mostly it has been word of mouth recommendation. 

Great!

completed skyline, one house, one car - this block will definitely need several proofs

They have heard that prints were being shown and they have made the effort to drop by and look. Many visitors want to make prints but have no access locally to a press of any size. One person has been specifically looking for a local printmaker for 6 YEARS. Others had no idea how prints were really made and once they see the big block and the carving tools and the finished prints they appreciate the work even more. It's about the most an artist can hope for when showing their work I think.

So.

Once I got home I saw that my PRINT FROG arrived from Texas! Yay! I have to try it tomorrow. I have some small blocks to print and we'll see how it works, but really, this is a tool for printing large blocks by hand without a press.

Print Frog - like a printmaking crystal ball

It has serious weight and the grip is good. Kind of wide and loose. Very excited to see what this may add to my printmaking process. It'll definitely need a post or two of its own.

Bonus! Stickers!!

 Gallery Open/Artist in Residence
July 31-Aug 6
HOURS in attendance:
Fri July 31: 1pm-8pm
Sat Aug 1: 12pm-5pm
Sun Aug 2: 12pm-5pm
Mon Aug 3: 1pm-8pm
Tues Aug 4: Gallery Open 1pm.
NOTE: I'm in attendance: 5:30pm-8pm
Wed Aug 5: 1pm-8pm
Thurs Aug 6: 1pm-10pm

Artist in Residence Pt 1 Wk 1 Day 5 - short day - Mill Pond Gallery, Richmond Hill

heading downtown early

Due to an appointment I could not reschedule,

Toronto

I spent only a few hours at the Gallery today. In my absence fellow RHGA members, Andrea and Michelle gallery sat for me making sure the gallery would be open.

Thanks!

I did make big progress creating a pile of wood shavings as I began carving my woodcut.

I am going to hunker down and see how far I can get tomorrow, my last full working day.

Last because with the Mill Pond Concert across the street on Thursday night, I am told the crowd often finds its way over to the gallery so it just isn't a day to make art but a day to talk about art. So be it.

Residency Info and Hours:

Mill Pond Gallery
314 Mill Street
Richmond Hill, ON

Gallery Open/Artist in Residence
July 31-Aug 6
HOURS in attendance:
Fri July 31: 1pm-8pm
Sat Aug 1: 12pm-5pm
Sun Aug 2: 12pm-5pm
Mon Aug 3: 1pm-8pm
Tues Aug 4: Gallery Open 1pm.
NOTE: I'm in attendance: 5:30pm-8pm
Wed Aug 5: 1pm-8pm
Thurs Aug 6: 1pm-10pm

Artist in Residence Pt 1 Day 4 - Mill Pond Gallery, Richmond Hill

Yesterday I chose my image for my next woodcut.

My panel is Russian Birch meauring 24" x 36". I am carving by hand but I may use the Dremel tool in spots. We'll see if that's what's called for.

Today I spent the day transferring the drawing to the woodblock.

charcoal and compressed charcoal

This first step begins the process that makes this image my own which is slightly different from reality as it passes through my brain and into my carving hand.

FYI:  EZcut lino makes for a good eraser.

As an unexpected bonus I decided on an image to paint for one of my reclaimed canvases but not the big one.

I am going to put most of my energy into the woodcut since it is harder for me to find the space to carve than it is to paint on an easel. I want to use my time in residence in the best way I can for me.

I think my work table's surface is fascinating.

this one too.

Residency Info and Hours:

Mill Pond Gallery
314 Mill Street
Richmond Hill, ON

Gallery Open/Artist in Residence
July 31-Aug 6
HOURS in attendance:
Fri July 31: 1pm-8pm
Sat Aug 1: 12pm-5pm
Sun Aug 2: 12pm-5pm
Mon Aug 3: 1pm-8pm
Tues Aug 4: Gallery Open 1pm.
NOTE: I'm in attendance: 5:30pm-8pm
Wed Aug 5: 1pm-8pm
Thurs Aug 6: 1pm-10pm

Artist in Residence-Pt 1 - Day 3 - Mill Pond Gallery, Richmond Hill

 Quiet Sunday at the Gallery. I met Roya today. She was the perfect person to drop in.  (Hi Roya!) Dan came by and we had a good artist talk and a couple pretty much ran through the whole exhibit without saying a word, though I heard them laughing upstairs, which is good cause my funny things are up there.

I made coffee and have been leaving my keys everywhere. Just like home.

I made big progress today. After viewing image after image on the computer I've chosen my next subject for a large scale woodcut in my suburbs series.  Ironically it came from an image I took this morning, and wasn't even on the hard drive, though what I will paint was, but I took that image a day ago. So, very fresh work. Love that.

garden with deer

I started transferring the image to the block but have another hour or so before I complete it. I placed the grid onto my canvas but left it at that. No idea what will go on my extra large canvas. In every way it is a blank to me. Long workday today. Hope to make great progress!

Residency Info and Hours:

Mill Pond Gallery
314 Mill Street
Richmond Hill, ON

Gallery Open/Artist in Residence
July 31-Aug 6
HOURS in attendance:
Fri July 31: 1pm-8pm
Sat Aug 1: 12pm-5pm
Sun Aug 2: 12pm-5pm
Mon Aug 3: 1pm-8pm
Tues Aug 4: Gallery Open 1pm.
NOTE: I'm in attendance: 5:30pm-8pm
Wed Aug 5: 1pm-8pm
Thurs Aug 6: 1pm-10pm

Tea for Two -- paintings for the tea room at the Burr House, Richmond Hill, ON

I was happy to provide the Burr House Tea Room (run by the Hill Potters' Guild and the Burr House Spinners and Weavers) with some artwork for their walls. 

I am installing the pieces tomorrow morning. 

There are 10 more in the works. 

All of these paintings are 8"x10" acrylics on canvas, all called Tea for Two. 

They will be shown in pairs. 

Some are more obviously connected in image, 

and others more by, 

shall we say,  

spirit. 

They will be on display in the tea room until the end of September, 2012. 

Tea room hours: 12:30 - 4:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of November

Saturdays and Sundays only in December.

Drop by and have some tea and scones ($4.00! A true bargain!) 

Marvel at the artwork in the tea room! 

and in the craft gallery! 

(all made by guild members! and local artisans!!)

and on display in the main gallery where, (Oh!) I have an exhibit with the exceptional Doris Walter, sculptor. We're having an opening September 6th from 6pm-8pm 

so if you come by you can meet both of us 

LIVE! 

and 

IN PERSON!! 

The Quiet

The Quiet
30" x 36" acrylic on canvas

I'm still going, still painting away. This one caught me off guard. It's moodier than I anticipated which is weird for a daisy. I have one more day before I have to pack up the car. The weather is going to be a killer though. Weather Guessers are saying it's going to be a record-breaking Thursday here: 37C/humidex 48C. Phew. A little bit of relief going into the weekend. I am hoping that Ottawa's rep for being cooler than Toronto hold true.

Frog Stack

Frogs Five High
18" x 24" acrylic on canvas

I'm just pushing forward into the week now, heading toward Saturday when I'll be in Booth 41B at Minto Park in Ottawa on bustling Elgin Street aka at Urban Art.

I'm feeling the before show panic now.
I'm remembering how many times I have felt this way and that everytime it works out.
I just need to keep pushing through.

So if you have the time stop by and visit me. I'll just be sitting there drinking coffee--I sure hope it's not too hot for coffee--and just watching the time and the people go by.

Sunflowers and Smiley

Continuing my quest to have something to show at my shows this summer, I worked from a.m. to p.m. and came up with these two.

The sunflowers are a rare subject for me. I hardly ever do flowers but I got a challenge from a friend to try it and so here they are. Voila!

Sun Worshipper
24 x 36 acrylic on canvas

Smiley the Dog is the kind of thing I really enjoy doing. Face on, direct gaze, big smile. Animals who know more that we give them credit for. This guy's very optimistic. Treats anyone???

Smiley
16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

Fresh Today: The Escape Artist

The Escape Artist
24" x 48" acrylic on canvas

I love hamsters. This image of taking a hamster walkies just killed me. I'm happy to have painted it. I am still feeling the urge to add a little here and a little there, and until I am packing the car for the Urban Art in Minto park show in Ottawa, I can do just that.

But not today.

I am worn right out. 3 major paintings in three days. I have 10 more working days until I leave for Ottawa. It would be great to have 10 more canvases completed + cards + small fun paintings.

We'll see how far I get.
Kind of exciting.

Today's New Work

Obey The Crown

22 x 28 acrylic on canvas

Continuing with the building of paintings for upcoming shows I made this today. I think it was longer than 2 hrs worth of work. I have another painting 2/3 done but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see it.

Aurora Jazz and Art Festival - - July 29 - 31, 2011

I am going to be showing my art at the Aurora Jazz Festival July 29th to the 31st. I am also one of the artists who will be creating a painting on site. I have two hours to paint something which will then be auctioned off in the evening in the Silent Auction Art Tent.

With such a strict time limit I thought I would practice and see if I can actually do this. Since I am readying myself for a string of art shows over the next two months (how did that happen??) I need to paint like a fiend anyway. When I moved I *gasp* happily destroyed a lot of my work since I have no space here to store it all. I also wanted to start fresh.

So today is my first try at a 2 hour acrylic painting. I am going to work outside in the backyard.

Here's a canvas I didn't slash. I can't relate to what I was getting at on it so I'll use it for my first two hour project. It's a large canvas: 30" x 32"

I really like getting water from the hose. It should make clean up fast and furious too.

Awesome.

Start Time: 1pm
Deadline: 3pm

Let's go.


Time 1:10 gessoed over my old image


Time: 1:12 checking out my source material for my new painting. Found my charcoal to sketch guides onto the canvas.


Time 1:20 Image is drawn onto the canvas. I'm ready to paint. Must be done by 3:00pm. Yikes.

Time 1:40 Background is in and first shadows applied. I only realized later that I didn't start with my darkest darks. Normally that's what I first place onto my forms but I forgot. I'm rusty.

Time 1:58 More colour added to the figures.


Time 2:00 The Halfway Mark.
I've been painting for an hour. Time to step back and take a look from a distance. I think I can make it but I can't stop. I have to keep going. (I am so relieved I can still paint... yay.)


Time2:05 Have to start dealing with the details and all those gaping maws.

Time 2:15
Stepping back to see if the images make sense, and they do.


Time 2:20 More darks and more shades of red.


Time 2:30 Only 30 minutes left to deadline. Here I am pushing the darks. This is when I realize I didn't do this at the start... hello?

Time 2:50 I changed the background colour completely and continued to add details and darks.


Time 3:00pm.
Time's up.
It's titled TRIO and I've signed it.

After thoughts: I feel I could add some feathery bulk to the guy on the lower right.
I'm wondering how adding a touch of green would work as well as placing some fiery red-orange-just a dab-into the focal points of the two open mouths. Since this is a practice canvas I have time to do it.

I can practically hear those noisy birds.

Good.