I've wanted to bump up the contrast on the portraits I began during my Artist Residency at the ASA Gallery this fall so I have been playing with watercolour pencil crayons...Faber-Castell is my favourite pencil crayon brand. I'll keep adding layers to her hair, face and clothing until I am pleased with the final result as I am enjoying both blending in the marks with a waterbrush but also allowing some of those drawing marks to show. After I bump up the contrast on the background with another layer of green, I'll go back to her face. Loving these explorations!

Recently, I was reading about different ways to add pattern to watercolours, something I've been extremely interested in, and found a method of using water and a rag through stencils. Since I love using stencils in my acrylic work, I thought this might be the perfect method for me, especially since I prepared my watercolours sheets with watercolour ground, making them more sturdy and less susceptible to damage with some man-handling. Now that I've created a pattern on this first layer, I want to add another, deeper colour on top, allow it to dry, and try it again. I though it might replicate the feeling of dappled sunlight streaming through a forest of poplars. Wish me luck!

"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens is a novel written in the mid-19th century (Victorian era). The story follows the life of a young orphan named Philip "Pip" Pirrip as he navigates social classes, personal aspirations, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative begins with Pip's fateful encounter with an escaped convict, setting the stage for themes of ambition, morality, and transformation. The opening of the novel introduces Pip as he wanders through a churchyard, reflecting on his family history derived from tombstones. His innocent musings are interrupted by a terrifying confrontation with a convict who demands food and a file, instilling fear in Pip. As Pip grapples with the fear of being discovered stealing food for the convict and the horror of his surroundings, we are drawn into the bleak marshes that shape much of his childhood. This intense encounter not only establishes a sense of danger but also foreshadows Pip's future entanglements with crime and class disparity, as he later must navigate his relationships with figures from both the convict's world and his own lower-class upbringing.

"I'm a remarkable woman, always was, though none of you seemed to think so." ~ May Morris

I have completed several demos recently and this 8" x 10" canoe was one of them. The reason I called it 'The Butterfly' because I incorporated a butterfly stamp on the background and around the outside edge of the canvas. Plus, the butterfly represents transformation which, to me, is encapsulated by a canoe image, which is also a symbolize resilience and resurgence.

Only one more month for these ladies...only three left to finish though I have been considering adding the names of those women who were listed on the back of the photographs. I haven't quite decided how I will incorporate them but am considering adding them to the bottom of the portrait, or maybe, on the mat under each portrait. I may try a sample where I tape off a section to paint then add the names written in white. At least I have until August to complete these before the exhibition in Calgary.

As I've been preparing a 6' x 4' Gottrick canvas for an upcoming commission, I mixed up a new batch of homemade gesso for a third coat (purchased canvases typically only come with two coats). This was the recipe I was given in art college back in the day, though I did have to contact the school for a refresher a few years ago. The ingredients are readily available at hardware stores. In my past, when I stretched my own canvases, I often used the cotton canvas drop cloths from the hardware store as well.

GESSO RECIPE:
1 part Plaster of Paris
1 part Elmer's glue
3 parts acrylic house paint
1 part hot water

I've also been mixing my own watercolour ground to apply to wood, metal and canvas so that I can paint on a variety of surfaces using watercolours. I protect them with a coat of cold wax, typically Dorlands Wax Medium, a clear, non-yelllowing beeswax and damar resin based product that makes the work waterproof (no frame required).

WATERCOLOUR GROUND RECIPE:
1 part modelling paste
3 parts gesso
up to 10% hot water

Earlier this month I received some news that wasn't great but I also received some incredible news. There are a few things happening in the new year which are very exciting so I've decided to focus on that...I cannot wait to share! I'm always surprised by the amazing opportunities & blessings I receive in my life and extremely grateful for the incredible people that surround me. I've decided to take the next few months to study and paint and to enjoy my friends & family. I expect even better things for the new year. :)

"May Morris was a woman ahead of her time, living openly with her partner Mary and fighting for women's rights. As she became more aware of the unfair wages paid to artisans, especially women, she made it a point to be more involved in labour rights."