Garden Update - the big picture

After the long snowy winter I am happy to report that several of my plants survived. Now they are thriving. Here's to the anticipation of a record year of growth and change and enjoyment in my postage stamp-sized garden.

Squirrels are alive and well.

My silver leaf vine is already taking off and entering squirrel territory.




Tulips are blooming their fool head's off.


Roses are climbing to the sky, conjuring up scents to entrance me deep in their tiny buds.

Wild violets pop up all over.

Ferns betray their prehistoric origins as they unfurl their fronds.

Even the dandelion is welcome with its sunny disposition.

Illustration Friday: Worry

The Colonel never worried about phytonutrients.

charcoal on paper, digitally coloured 11" x 14"

First I got ready for my markets and now I'm getting ready for shows...

Since I last wrote I started the Carp Market. As usual I was pressed for time and had to do a massive push to get things done. Here's a shot of a container of friendly plastic characters, fresh from the oven, trimmed and ready for their pins to be glued to their backs and then mounted onto cards and titled. lots of steps to get one jewellery piece ready for the market. This bucket held 90 characters that I made over a week. Here's a shot of what 90 looks like.



I'll show what a few look like close up finished and on their display cards a lady a lady bug
a bird and a mermaid.

Don't you love the luscious full colours of this stuff? I do. Love it. So shiny.



And where do these little lovelies live? Here. This is the craft building on the Carp Agricultural fairgrounds. I took this during setup the day before market started for this season. And here's an interior shot of my Carp Farmers Market booth as I set up for the season.No pins on my boards yet. But I do have my sign, completely made of friendly plastic, up.



Meanwhile Ottawa market is in full swing. The crowds are large and enthusiastic.

Everyone is happy to be out and catching up with each other and how we survived the winter this year. We are all so relieved to finally experience the good weather.

Somehow Mobius Tim and I re-configured our shared booth at the Ottawa Farmers' Market. I say somehow cause we have tried to do this for two years now and with the simple change of two tables, one to the front and one made smaller at the back, the whole space has opened up. And it takes us about 20 minutes less to set up and take down.
We're thrilled.




And this is a shot of the Ottawa River as I drove back from the Sunday market yesterday. The sun was perfect reflecting off the water. It was our first truly summer day.

Nice.

And, oh look! So shiny....



Now to get ready for Art in the Park in the Glebe a week from this Saturday. Lots on the go. Lots. More on this later.

Here's something new I made for the Glebe show... but I've had to bring it out already at the market due to my work being popular right now (thanks everyone)... enjoy!

The Big Bet 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas

... yes those are the keys to a BMW on the line...

Illustration Friday: Seed

Scientists prove Mom was right.

(note: diagram not to scale)

First Sunday Ottawa Farmers' Market for 2008

The day started warm and humid, but the sky soon darkened and the rain came down.

All before 8:30am. The crowds still came. And the mini horses were on site.

Dogs came dressed for the weather

and many umbrellas were on parade.

Current Exhibition #3 - International Mini Print Exhibit Ottawa School of Art

This mini print exhibit is on in the main gallery of the Ottawa School of Art until May 25th. There are prints from all over the world represented in the show, including two of mine! Here's a quick look around the main gallery. There are more down the hall but you'll have to come visit to see everything.

Current Exhibition #2 - Lee Matasi Gallery Ottawa School of Art

In the Lee Matasi Gallery at the Ottawa School of Art I am in a scholarship award winners' exhibiton along with Corianne Coutu, another student at the school. This is a two week display which started May 1st and goes to May 14th. Here's the show. I encourage you to go in person if you can and check it out.

Pre-show, at home on the couch preparation for the show.

Entryway to the show

Wall with Corianne's linocut, and three of my prints

Main wall of my work

A few of my pieces and Corianne's work

Corianne's paintings and a print

Current Exhibitions #1 - Spacemen at Bank & Somerset Windows

I just hung my first solo exhibit in the Primecorps windows just around the corner on Somerset Street, at the intersection of Somerset and Bank Street here in Ottawa. It's a very interesting space; three bay windows created only for exhibiting art to the street. My show goes from May 1st to June 30th.

I love having my spacemen paintings there. People just walk by, or sit on the benches and my work is in the background. Some people see it, others don't pay any attention. I really like that.

If you are around the area I invite you to have a look at my work.

Center window

Looking West to Bank Street

Looking East to O'Connor Street

Mini Horses!

A mini horse guide-horse for the blind

I just read the newsletter for the Ottawa Farmers' Market and this Sunday there will be mini horses at the market! Oh my goodness!!!! I am such a HUGE mini horse fan!

From 10-2 look for the mini-horses...

Ottawa Farmers' Market 2008 Begins This Sunday

Well it's that time of year already. It seems to take forever for the market season to start and then all of a sudden it's here and YIKES! I am still working on getting my booth stock together. Still hoping to have a new display (nope probably won't) and wondering where the heck my name tag is... got my apron though. It's been hanging by the door since the end of market last October. I invite anyone in the Ottawa area to come on out on what the weatherman says will be windy and rainy Sunday. But who cares? We're back! Bring an umbrella if you need it and say hello. We can all shake our heads and congratulate each other on getting through the Ottawa winter of 07/08. Need a reminder? Here's one:

This was the sidewalk I to the bus stop. See how it was just a little foot path down the middle? To the left was the snowbank, piled up to my waist. Wow. Amazing. This was winter 07/08.

New Work Happening

I'm ready for my close-up acrylic on canvas, 14" x 14"

I'm always a little nervous when I start painting after school has ended. How will I integrate what I've been studying all year with what I've been making all the years pre-art school? I never know if I'll be able to incorporate the new stuff into my old stuff. But this painting represents a satisfying blend of my old and new styles. I get to do the bold composition, some lines, strong colour, but it's a more sophisticated take on shadows and layers and textures. I like the way this guy turned out. I'll show you more as I buckle down and get to it.

Illustration Friday: Wrinkles

elbows are like tree rings showing your true age


Besides elbows, the tops of your hands and your knees will show your age as much as the turkey neck, the prune mouth and crow's feet.