I'm very happy with the patterned mats around each portrait that were inspired by William Morris patterns.  He was a textile designer during the Arts & Crafts movement (one of my favourite periods), established the fantasy period and supported socialism. Though he disliked children, he loved his daughters very much...as a mother of daughters, I kind of love that.

"During the Victorian era, whose sobriquet refers to the reign of a female monarch, Queen Victoria, women did not have the right to vote, sue, or if married, own property."

My sketchbook has been invaluable in the process of creating my current portrait project. I can try out the new-to-me A.Gallo watercolours and brush as well as playing with designs & colour palette that will be incorporated into each piece. It's funny how long this project took to come together, as I usually have a plan for an annual project by October, but this time it took until late December. But it practically fell into place...I found the miniature photographs at my favourite antique shop, A.Gallo provided the glorious watercolours, brush & paper, I noticed the William Morris pattern on a photograph of my daughter's luncheon tray while she visited the Victoria & Albert Museum in London with a friend, and Michaels just happened to have frames on sale that had a lovely wide mat for patterns and a beautiful gnarled wood frame that, to me, has the feel of a vintage picture frame. Once I began to research the miniature photographs and found out that they were much like social media today, with the 'prettiest girls' having photographs sold by the photographer without their consent, I knew that this was the perfect project for me. Now, I hope to recreate what I've envisioned in my mind. It will be interesting to see where these images are exhibited next year.

Since the summer, I've been using my travel journals locally, like on trips to Banff or even Calgary, and I've been enjoying it so much. I think I stop noticing the beauty in my own surroundings so this has been a wonderful way to remind myself how fortunate I am to live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I typically being the work on location but, as a fair weather plein air painter, I tend to look for cafes or pubs to finish. The nice thing about that is that I can take a photo while on location and refer to it while I sit and drink in comfort. Plus, it gives me a chance to look at what I'm doing with a bit of a different perspective. Using a very limited set of supplies definitely helps to keep me motivated. The other thing I've been doing is adding stickers whenever I find them...it makes everything quicker so that I don't have to add my own lettering (though I do enjoy doing that as well).

I can't believe how much I'm enjoying working on these miniature interiors...especially after giving up interiors for many years. It's been so interesting to take photos around our home at dawn or dusk, casting wonderful shadows. And I'm loving the textured backgrounds...some are stronger while others are softer. I don't remember a time that I've used such small brushes but I am so thankful that I can pop these into my pochade and paint anywhere. There is so much freedom in that.

"Many have seen the status of women in the Victorian era as an illustration of the striking discrepancy between the United Kingdom's national power and wealth and what many, then and now, consider its appalling social conditions."

I'm so pleased that the City of Calgary has extended my Mini-Gallery exhibit at the Rundle Community Centre in northeast Calgary until the end of February. I was ecstatic to have my work selected initially and it's been an even better experience that I had anticipated. The feedback has been absolutely incredible and it is so wonderful to share these stories of grandmothers. Thank you Calgary Arts Development!

EXHIBITION: January 13 - March 9
1401 5th St N, Cranbrook BC V1C 3M3
778-517-5192

'Woman's Work' & 'The Grandmothers' will be exhibited at the Cranbrook Arts & Gallery from January 13 to March 9. I will also be giving an Artist's Talk on International Woman's Day, March, 8, 6-8pm and hosting an Introductory Portrait Painting Workshop on Saturday, March 9, 12.30-3.30pm. To register, visit Cranbrook Arts & Gallery online.

I've been wanting brush rests for awhile so I finally made some interesting ones inspired by Walter. They make me smile. I used Sculpey oven dry clay then painted and varnished them. With the amount of water that watercolour brushes tend to hold, I'm not sure how long they'll last, but I'm enjoying them for now.

Eva Cocks / 5x7 / watercolour on paper
.....
"The commercial value of the human face was never tested to such an extent as it is at the present moment in these handy photographs. No man, or woman either, knows but some accident may elevate them to the position of hero of the hour and send up the value their countenances to a degree they never dreamed of." ~ Dr. Andrew Wynter, 1819-1876
.....
I've just begun another women's portrait project, this one based on miniature photographs I received from Where On Earth Antiques (along with the vintage biscuit tin where I store the supplies). As I researched these miniature portraits, I found the story behind them to be fascinating as they really were a precursor to social media. I was also thrilled to find that many of the photographs had the names written on the back. I also decided to add designs to the mat inspired by designer William Morris as a nod to the era, to patterns that I love & to digital filters.
.....
The A. Gallo watercolours are so wonderful to use...they reactivate very quickly and the colours are so vibrant. They "have formulated recipes with the best lightfast and environmentally friendly pigments available today to match historical pigments like vermilion, carmine and verderame. All of our colors are mercury, lead, arsenic, cobalt and cadmium free." Plus, they were stunningly packaged! Definitely recommend. Thank you Alina!