 Wings / 24x36 / acrylic on canvas Recently I had the great privilege of leading a painting workshop to a lovely group of women at the Wheatland Art Society in Strathmore. Though I haven't really painted a canoe in awhile, I wanted to create a special gift for a friend who is an outdoorsman so, of course, this works well. We are celebrating their new home and engagement. I just love new beginnings.
 I've been going through my studio supplies...there is something about autumn that inspires a good clean up for me. Anyway, I have a selection of supplies to share with someone who would like them...watercolour pencils, tubes, crayons and pans, a brush washer, elephant sponge, brushes, compressed charcoal, tortillons, palette knives, oil paint samples, misters, a mini mannequin and a small container of Liquitex flow medium. Please get in touch if you're interested. **UPDATE: They have been donated to an organization that provides children's art programs.**
  A family friend created a great wooden panel for us to hang our crokinole board so I decided to paint it in order to make it attractive even when the board was in use. This summer our skies were filled with the most beautiful cumulous clouds (filled with rain, but still beautiful) so I chose an image that I took on one of our journeys to paint. Though I usually paint the background for landscapes in a rust/red, in this case I decided to use a lime green to act as a type of 'green screen'. I haven't created something like this in awhile so it was fun...and I'm really happy with the results.
 My daughter, Katherine Funk, is a fashion designer whose pieces that were featured in the Victoria International Marina Future Oceans fashion show this summer are currently available through the Bay Centre in Victoria as well as online (visit the eco shop here). Most of the pieces include her hand stamped fabric and all are locally produced (Canadian) and eco friendly. They can be custom made for sizing and you can read more about the entire project and her inspiration which runs from the 1920's to 1970's here.
 Awhile ago I received a request for an interview from the Platform for Passionate People...of course the title of the blog intrigued me as I am definitely passionate about many things, but especially about art. Sometimes I do find it difficult to control my emotions when it comes to creativity, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Anyway, if you'd like to read the article, please visit their website here.
 I'm slowly preparing for my next 52 WEEKS project to begin in 2020. I have struggled with whether or not I wanted to do this again for another year and, if so, what exactly I wanted to be my focus. After the Heroes and then the Nasty Women projects, I have been wanting to challenge myself again. Both of those projects were deeply meaningful for me, not that the others weren't, but just not at the same level as those two. The panels are prepared and I have thought about this particular idea for several years, I just want to clarify it in my mind. Which in my case means a lot of journalling, actually. Fingers crossed that a solution will come to me soon.
 The winner of a copy of my book HEROES: 52 Paintings over 52 Weeks is...
_.art.by.melaie._ Thank you :) Please send your mailing address to [email protected] CONGRATULATIONS!   Throughout the years I have been incorporating spray paint into my work I always struggled with the environmental impact that spray paint cans had. Not only that, the nozzles also tended to clog easily in spite of extra care and they often required replacing which meant they went in the trash since that plastic couldn't be recycled.
..... As an advocate for the environment for as long as I can remember, this really bothered me. At the same time I absolutely love the process of creating patterns using stencils and spray paint. ..... For Christmas my husband gave me an Iwata airbrush and I absolutely love it. The results are a little different with a finer mist which I was a little concerned about as I adore the grittiness of street art and the drips and flaws that come with it...but I absolutely love the airbrush. ..... It's much lighter & smaller which works really well in my hands and is very easy to clean and maintain. I definitely recommend it. |
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