I keep plugging away at the 'Women of the West' series...as I learn more about each amazing woman, I paint her portrait. This project has been slow but, oh so rewarding. As a female artist in Alberta, it is so wonderful to learn about those women who were breaking barriers in the early 1900s...in the beginning. Very inspiring!
I've been keeping up with my weekly visual journal. It's been a fun way to try out different media along with different subject matter and to add as much or as little writing as I'd like. This is a small 3.5x5.5 inch HandBook Journal which fits quite nicely in my little purse, so I can add to it when we drive places...that's definitely a bonus. I can see myself adding more grey toned imagery as I only need to bring along this small tin of ArtGraf and a water brush...I also add a little colour when I get home from our little jaunts. When I started this early in the year, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it, but it has turned into a nice little, non-demanding 'hobby'.
When I was in college, I loved working with charcoal. With my studio located in our home, it is just too dusty so I was excited when I saw liquid charcoal liquid was available. The only thing is that when it dries it is a little gritty but you can get really dark darks with it. I squeezed it into a small mint tin so that I can use it like watercolour pan paint.
Schmincke Kohle Liquid charcoals in 35 ml tube – a clean, dust-free way of painting, charcoal drawing and underpainting with charcoal. The three pigments of natural origin used for this (PBK 8, pit black) are created by charring fruit seeds from the EU area and result in the following unique coal nuances:
Of course, the liquid charcoal can be combined with drawing charcoal. The blurring and removability of these paints depends on the substrate’s surface. The more even and firm the surface is, the easier to change the charcoal’s application. We recommend testing before use. All three colours are available in 35 ml tubes, as well as a limited edition set of three small tubes. Recently Lauren Kannwischer from the Calgary Guardian reached out for a little interview & it's now available online at www.calgaryguardian.com. I am so very grateful for the support I receive as a female artist in Alberta.
I recently received an Olive Passport Traveler's Notebook and brass fountain pen and have been intrigued as I have wanted to simplify my travel supplies even more than they have been. I've also been thinking about reducing my cell phone use & would like to incorporate many things into one:
On Friday, I attended the Amazing Airdrie Women's Awards for which I had created another award for a local female-run business...this time it was Ambition Performing Arts. This one was so fun to paint. I wanted an image that represented Ambition Performing Arts' slogan, "This is where you belong" and the first line that I read online, "Imagine your child walking into a room filled with smiling faces," while also incorporating the colour red from their website (red symbolizes love, energy & good fortune). I also included purple to represent my friend Sherry, who owns AirdrieLIFE magazine and puts on this wonderful event every year.
I've painted Mount Rundle a number of times, but typically in a square format. This time, I decided to create a more vertical orientation and now I'm trying to decide a few things....
1. Do I like the shapes and colours that I have incorporated into the mountain? 2. Do I want to incorporate embroidery? If so, do I want to add recognizable shapes (ie. embroidered trees at the bottom) or quilting-like patterns? I know I want to push the contrast a bit further, maybe by incorporating more of that vibrant pink in the sky and also in the mountain forms. Other than that, I think I might live with this for a bit and see how I feel. It is always such a privilege for me to paint several members of a family...and this one is pretty special as they are good friends and have been collectors of my work for many years. It's been a special privilege to paint several generations of women from this wonderful family. Now, I think, all of my commissions are complete and I can focus on the 'Women of the West' once again...especially as I only have one exam to write and no more coursework until May. Then it's only 6 more university classes until I've completed my English degree - the end is in sight.
One of the local businesses that I always support is the Airdrie Public Library. This year, their fundraiser is an auction of mini paintings, which is so fun. Anyone can stop by to pick up a 4x4 inch canvas to paint before April 28 to contribute to their Tiny Art Show. The online auction will take place May 19-31 and the in-person silent auction will take place at the Tiny Bubbles Gala on May 31. As usual, I painted a cozy chair & book...two of my favourite things. :)
One of my husband's co-workers had purchased one of the canoes I hung in his office as an Anniversary gift for her husband so I had to balance things out with another. I'm often surprised at where or when my paintings are purchased, especially since my goal with these was just to brighten up my husband's office. I decided that it would be nice to add another red one to replace the last. I do enjoy painting these small 8x10 pieces as I usually get to watch something that I enjoy...this time it was S.A.S. Rogue Heroes, my youngest daughter's recommendation.
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