Melon wedge - SOLD

A thick juicy wedge of watermelon for a summer day. Thank you dear summer for your relaxed days and easy livin' ; ) 

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Tomato, tomahto

This reminds me of a tomato Tim Burton would have designed. Such a cool vine - looked like it was reaching out to grab something (or someone..mwah ha ha :) I used a palette knife on this one - it had been a while and I just felt like playing with something new. ALSO: A few people wrote to tell me the links to the artists I had tagged on the Seven Links Project didn't work. All I can say is that it was late and I was tired. I'm surprised I didn't screw-up anything else..lol They are now fixed and all is well. Happy weekend!

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Strange beauty

We bought a bouquet of these at the market today. I painted one last year - they're called cockscomb and a bunch of them together look like a furry brain. How can you not be intrigued by a plant that look like fur! Nature is pretty cool.

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Pure

That's what this cupcake was called: Pure. I think it was meant as in pure vanilla.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Little butter tart

Little butter tart on a bakery box. I bought this at The Dutch Shop after enjoying a very homemade-tasting lunch (and I mean that in ALL the best senses!). I've had this box kicking around for a while and today it finally worked itself into a painting. Glad I saved it!
6"x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

The Seven Links Project

Crystal Cook, an exquisite painter (and I'm happy to say friend : ), tagged me in the 7 Links Project, which is "To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again."
Hmm! That's something to think about! 
Okay. Well, below are my top 7 links in these categories:
• Your most beautiful post
• Your most popular post
• Your most controversial post
• Your most helpful post
• A post whose success surprised you
• A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved
• The post you are most proud of
I am to tag other bloggers and so it goes. I love this idea as everyone has posts that get overlooked or buried and are really quite gorgeous and informative! 

My most beautiful post: The Allsorts family

Okay, I spent a lot of time thinking what my most beautiful post was. If I were truly picking based strictly on "beautiful posts", I feel it would the tribute to my grandmother. I feel a strong attachment to her baby photo and of course her memory. But since this is a painting blog, I searched over my work. Yes, there are colourful, delicate flowers, snappy wine bottles...but what makes a painting beautiful? I went back to this piece I painted in February. It was original, a bit quirky and at the time I had said that it turned out just the way I wanted and it made me happy. That's what I strive for daily so choosing today, this is my pick (it could be entirely different next week!)

My most popular post: BLOW-OUT STUDIO SALE 
A whopping number of people visited that post. I guess everyone loves a sale : ) 

My most controversial post: MEN: 2

Hmm. Can't say I've really had one! Perhaps the painting that is the most controversial is the one I did of former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Just because politics by nature is divisive. But I really love this one!

June pond, acrylic, 16" x 20"

Your most helpful post: Plein air with Laurie Wonfor Nolan - Day 1

I spoke about a tip Laurie gave me using mylar. And from the comments I know it really helped at least one painter ; )

A post whose success surprised you: Glass of lilacs

Hands down this one. I just didn't realize it would resonate with so many.

A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved: Santa string

Just because I painted it in 2009 and I didn't have many followers. Not many people would have seen it and it's one I've always enjoyed. This is a painting of an old string of Santas made of pipe cleaner with plastic heads, holding bristly trees and wreaths. Probably from the 1930s. It belongs to my Dad (the string and the painting).

The post you are most proud of: Holiday table (a flower for Richard)

Because this was painted with equal parts reality, memory and intution. It's extremely difficult for me to do that kind of work and have it turn out so well. I wish I could regularly repeat it.


I tag the following blogs:
Barbara Muir
Cathleen Rehfeld
Dean Grey
H.W. Dixon
Karen Appleton
Lisa Daria
Suzanne Berry

Enjoy!

Squeeze lemon with sugar

Today this plastic lemon bottle caught my eye. A nice pop of yellow. Actually, it was the contrast of the green lid against the lemony yellow that really made me happy. Isn't it nice when you can feel such a thrill from colour relationships? (smile)

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

ART LOVE: Cityscape 1, 1963 by Richard Diebenkorn

Cityscape 1, 1963 by Richard Diebenkorn
oil on canvas, 60 1/4 x 50 1/2 inches
Because...wow! Exciting shapes and colour. Dynamic composition. LOVE.

Chickory weed - SOLD

This is the problem I have with calling some things weeds - if it wasn't labelled a weed, you'd probably love it for it's beauty! This one is all over the place right now : )
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / SOLD

Carving

Holy hannah it's HOT!
This is a small sculpture I picked up - I really liked the form. It will definitley be showing up in more paintings!
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Cupcake fever

Have I said how hot it is??? Tomorrow may be a record-setter as the hottest day ever in Ontario. Wow! So today I was passing by a new cupcake shop in town called Icing Fever (appropiately name for today! lol) and I stopped in to pick up this sweet little apple pie cupcake to paint. And I was extra lucky - I got to participate in market research! They asked if I'd like to sample 2 of the same flavour cookies, made different ways. Kind of like a bake-off ; ) Fun! I highly recommend dropping by.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Spelt chocolate biscotti - SOLD

Today was a day of wipedowns. Geesh - a few days of not painting and it was like I forgot how ; ) Started off with wine bottles (1st wipedown, okay...it happens), moved on to shoes (2nd wipedown, frustrated), got about halfway into a ceramic soap dish, stood back and... (3rd wipedown, ready to pull out my hair, my husband decided we should go have lunch...lol) After lunch I cast about for a new subject and voilà - I saw my bag of favourite biscotti stacked up with all the things I had unpacked from my weekend show. There was one left. I liked the way the bag was a bit crunched and how the lone biscotti was peeking through the cellophane. And I really dig de la terre's packaging. 
6" x 6" / oil on panel 

Port Credit Art Show 2011

These are snapshots from the Port Credit Art Show 2011. It was steaming hot (35˚ before the humidex). I know my southern friends are smiling at this but for us...eeks! Aside from the heat it was a good show and I met some enjoyable, creative, interesting people: vendors and customers alike. I need to make a special mention of thanks to: Debra who let me stay at her place, fed me, kept me company and helped with tear-down (!); Corrie for hanging out with us too; and Jim (who traded ice for brownies when we thought we were going to pass out from heat stroke).

ART LOVE: Autumn Trees by Egon Schiele

Autumn Trees by Egon Schiele

1911 / oil on canvas / 79.5 x 80 cm

Most people think of erotic, slightly disturbing work when they think of Egon Schiele but he also painted some intricate and dynamic land and cityscapes. This is one of them. Yes, it is a limited palette and has a spare feel but I think it's absolutely exquisite. Look at how those branches are so sensitively seen!

On another note, I got home this evening from a weekend at the Port Credit Art Show. Wow - was it hot! I hope to have some photos to post tomorrow. I met a lot of great people ; ) To all those who are reading today for the first time - thank you for stopping by booth and for your interest in my work. I'll be back with a new painting tomorrow!

Martini anyone?

It was delicious! (the olive - sadly, no martini! lol) 
Friday to Sunday I am at the Port Credit Art Show. All daily paintings will be on sale for $75 flat! The show takes place at the marina - Snug Harbour. Hours are: Friday 4-8pm, Saturday 11-8pm, Sunday noon-5. Looks like a perfect place to do some shopping! 

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Olive you

Sorry if the title makes no sense - it's from an old knock knock joke. 
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive you ; )
First thing that came to my mind. 
So Friday to Sunday I will be at the Port Credit Art Show (Mississuaga). Hours are: Friday 4-8pm, Saturday 11-8pm, Sunday noon-5. It takes place on the boardwalk of the marina. Id' love to see you there! 
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Garden peas

Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.  ~Charles Dickens

Those who are regular readers of my blog know that my grandmother passed away a few months back. Well today would have been her 90th birthday. It's strange not having her on this earth any longer - I miss her. Anyway, she was a natural green thumb and always had beautiful gardens filled with flowers and berries. This post is dedicated to her.

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Lunch scraps

My plate after lunch looked beautifully abstract so I carried it into my studio to paint ; ) There are 2 bits of asparagus stalk, 1 strawberry hull, the tip of a pea pod, 1 cherry and a bunch of cherry pits. Disclaimer: yeah - I'm not always so healthy - lol. My mother-in-law stopped by and she had just been at the market.

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Summer's bounty - SOLD

This is for the new Daily Paintworks Challenge: painting reflections. I've had this vase for a while - it was a thrift store find. I always enjoy painting it. Reflections are tricky. As everyone always says, you just have to squint and compare.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Brush

Finally! Here is the painting I did last week for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. 

6" x 6" / acrylic 

ART LOVE: Death and the Mother by Käthe Kollwitz

I first learned about Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) in college as I was given her name for an art history assignment. Kollwitz was a German expressionist who drew, sculpted and was also a printmaker. There are many of her pieces that haunt me and give me chills. Is there anyone who captured the sorrow and suffering of post-war more powerfully than she did? I can't really pick one piece I favour above all others (Woman with Dead Child (1903) is devastating) but since this is the first one I remember seeing it is the one I've chosen to share. She had a fascinating life - I highly recommend looking her up. 
Note: I believe this is the proper title but seeing as I don't have an actual book with me I had to rely on the internet.

Embrace your inner Monet - Plein air Workshop at The Good Earth

Today I ran a plein air workshop at The Good Earth. It was a beautiful day and I want to thank all the artists who signed up and made our first event such a success! The weather was perfect, the flower beds were stuffed with blooms and a riot of colour and the people were spectacular ; ) I had a great time with each one of you and was thrilled with your work! I also want to thank Nicolette for hosting such a lovely day. The lunch we were served...divine (I even saw a few cameras being whipped out: ) and was just what we needed to nourish us to spend the afternoon back outside painting. For those on Facebook I have uploaded all the photos from the day. You can go to my page Eat Drink Paint to check it out.

Thanks everyone!

p.s. If you'd like to join in on the fun, there are three classes left. Note: themes are broad. You're welcome to paint whatever you're drawn to! 

Classes:

Friday August 12th (Everything's Peachy)
Friday September 16th (The Noble Grape)
Friday October 14th (Golden Hues).  

You can contact me for further information.

Fletcher Creek

Oh dear...where's my head at? I did a painting today for the Daily Paintworks Challenge...and left it in my studio ; ( 

Becasue of the people who receive my posts every morning in their inbox I feel a certain obligation to post something! So in lieu of the painting I did this afternoon, I will post a piece from my website. I can't remember if I've shown this before but I painted it a couple of summers ago and it just makes me happy ; )

Fletcher Creek /acrylic / sold