Friday, December 17, 2010

My 15 seconds....


Well, they say every dog has his 15 seconds of fame..... here's mine, at least for now!
Ajax Mayor Steve Parish honoured my work by purchashing this painting of the town's waterfront. He is shown in the photo presenting it, along with myself, to his associate Cherry as a retirement gift. He did the presentation at the inaugeral Council meeting in Dec.
On to other art happenings....... my artwork was selected into the juried exhibition at Whitby Station Gallery and Klaus and I attended the opening last Saturday. I'm certainly in some good company there with only about a third of the entries being selected for the show.
Cultural Expressions Gallery held a show of small works for the Christmas season and had a very successful opening where three of my pieces sold..... kind of a thrill because I was there when the pieces came off the wall.
Just finished some commissions that are being delivered today so the studio is a little quiet right now.
I'm off school for two whole weeks so I'm going to sleep in and just enjoy the holiday.
Merry Christmas to everyone and hope all your wishes for the new year come true.

Friday, September 24, 2010

New Adventures and Different Roads


The only one at the studio easel these days is Teddy! He's a little slow...but hey, not a bad start.
I've been caught up in so many things these past few months that the only art in my schedule is short breaks at the waterfront to do some sketching and reflecting..... there's a new word in there somewhere..lol
I've been involved in a program to get spiffed up for back to the business world and get a real paycheck. Finished an 8 week program and now it's off to school to get up to speed on the latest releases from Bill Gates. The first week of classes is history and I survived.... even the Thursday "Weekly Test Day"! One test in the morning and one in the afternoon. I only have 14 weeks to go and I'll be certified (probably literally)!
My sweet Klaus actually tried to make me eat breakfast on my first day of school....... we soon got that sorted! I promised to take an extra sandwich and eat it at recess - that's the best I can do.
My friends have been joking about a school uniform...... well my answer was.. my Cape Breton Tartan Kilt and red stiletos.... keep in mind that my friends are artists, they thought this was fabulous and can't wait to see it.
I did just finish a three day show at the Oshawa Art Assoc. Camp Samac venue and in November I'll have a solo exhibit at the Ajax Council Chambers which should be up til late December.
Durham West Art Centre will also be on my agenda for a one day show on Dec. 4th at the Kinsmen Heritage Centre in Ajax.... watch for the flyers.
Now..... if I could get Teddy to switch places so that he does the homework and I finish the painting..hmmmmm ?????

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Life in the Art Burbs......


Well, after the last blog about juried shows and planting gardens...... I'm thrilled to tell you that the resident rabbit ate most of the salad garden and topped it off with the morning glory plants for dessert. Life goes on!!

The juried show saga about "waiting by the phone" quickly came to an end an hour after I dropped off my show stoppers....... I received a call that they had been rejected even before the jurying process started... Somehow I had neglected to read the fine print and submitted work that was unframed. Only gallery canveses were accepted unframed.....

Totally my fault and I'll get im next year!!!!!!!

So....... onwards and upwards. The newest work to be completed in the studio has actually been on the studio easel for quite a few months. I'm glad to say that it is now been signed, varnished, photographed and framed.

The working title is also changed to read "Forever and Always" - Acrylic on Stretched Canves 24" x 36".

I've also started a new piece that will be from the Pickering Waterfront - 30" x 40" - Landscape with a twist.

As my mantra says...... "Support Your Local Artist"

It's an investment in the future of our society.

Friday, May 21, 2010

To paint ?.... to plant ?.... or wait by the phone ??


Such a wonderful time of year...... the garden is ready for planting and the flowers and vegies are dancing around on the potting table waiting to get their preferred spot in the garden.
On the art side of the scale....... the juried competitions are in full swing. You fill out the applications, submit your jpegs, and wait to see if you have been accepted into the show. Is the work good enough?? Did you present the right pieces??.... maybe you should have picked a floral instead of a landscape painting to submit for judging!!!!.... or what if you had submitted an abstract instead..... what is the judges background? do they prefer watercolour instead of oil???
So..... you present what you think is your best work then ... sit by the phone like a girl waiting to be asked to the Prom!
What if nobody likes my work? What if I don't get picked?

You know....... if they don't like it..... "What do they know?!"
I like what I do.. and I do it for ME! That's what counts at the end of the day. So there!..lol





Monday, May 3, 2010

May Brings Flowers and Cold Germs



Such a busy time right now... lots of shows going on and other art events like juried shows and art openings.

This is a picture of me with my accepted work into the juried exhibiton at "The Conference Place Gallery" in Whitby this week.

I dashed away from a 3 day show in Pickering to attend this opening on Saturday.

Last week-end was a 3-day show in Ajax which was a great success and last Thursday night was a great art bash at the Station Gallery.

Needless to say...... all this schmoooozzzzing has slowed me down long enough for the dreaded cold bug to catch up to me. I have a busy week ahead so I hope this is a two-day cold .... I have places to be almost every day this week.

I'm treating it with Cold FX and a glass of sherry

Friday, April 16, 2010

Spring Shows Coming Up


This is a repeat of my "Tips & Tricks" page on my website......

....lots of stuff going on in the studio these days. The spring shows are coming up so that usually creates frantic activity in the studio.

On the easel is a commission of a house in Scarborough that needs to get finished by mid-May.

Under the window are a group of 4 brand new pieces called "Treble Cleff #1,2, 3, & 4. I just picked up the frames today and got them sorted... they are semi-abstract and very textured.

On the desk on the right is an abstract piece that is waiting to be framed with a trilpe matt.... have to get to Curry's tomorrow to get the third matt... Burgunday!

Fresh roses on the windowsill and a glass of wine by the computer complete the picture for this Friday night in the studio.

Monday, March 8, 2010

YEAH!!!! It's Spring


Went for my first bike ride today with my sketchbag and camera in the bike basket. Came home and produced a painting in record time of one of the shots I took today. Way cool...........

Acrylic on stretched gallery canvas 18" x 18" called Applecroft. I think the sub-division that the bike path is in is called Applecroft... hence the title.
Don't you just love it when things happen without too much planning interference.
It's called "A Happening"....... so much for the sixties :)
....... showing my age again... sorry !!!!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Trilliums are Blooming


This painting is finally finished.... I think ! This was started last spring when the trilliums were blooming.... family health issues abounded and the work was put away.
I resurrected it a few weeks ago along with some others patiently waiting in the wings.
This scene is behind the Ajax General Hospital in a wooded area I think it's called Clements Woods.
The work is on stretched canvas done in acrylic and measures 36" x 36".
I've also just posted it to the front page of my website.
Cheers
Sharon

Friday, February 19, 2010

Paint is flying again...... YEAH !!

After such a long dry spell the paint is finally flowing again in my studio. I pulled out a fresh new canvas 24" x 36" and started a work of two people walking down a tree lined street in the fog. Seemed almost appropriate as I seem to have been in a fog myself these past few months.
I also rescued two works that were started last spring and got turned to the wall to return another day.
Top left is the foggy scene, the bottom left is a local landscape at Halls Rd and Rossland Rd. and on the right on the large easel is a scene behind the Ajax hospital of the woodlot filled with trilliums. I'm working on all three basically at the same time which seems rather ambitious but if I get blocked on one I just switch panels and work on another.
These will probably take awhile to finish but I'm just enjoying the process.

Friday, February 5, 2010

This Week's Marketing Drive Has Been A Success !!!


Well, it looks like I got lucky and my galleries have pulled through!..... Had a number of sales in the past few weeks and it would appear that I'm a hot topic for the moment.

The Cape Breton paintings seem to be popular at the moment and I do hope it continues as these are my favourite works...... they are from the heart and home.

Being born in Cape Breton means that your heart is forever there.... the body travels to other parts of the world but you are never far from HOME !

The latest sale was "Shores of Cape Breton" Acrylic 30 x 40" on canvas.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Marketing and Promotional Week


Need to drive some traffic to my website and generate some sales. This is one of the most difficult chores for artists.......we just like to paint ! Original artwork can be purchased through paypal from the website or you also have the option to purchase prints and cards through my on-line gallery at Fine Art America....

So.... have a peek, make a purchase and know you have supported an artist !

Check out the website for originals


and see the print options and cards at

Sunday, January 24, 2010

EURIKA !!!!! I'm Painting Again.... YEAH !!


It looks like the spell has been broken! Browsing through the world wide web one day last week and got zapped by inspiration. A new idea took hold and I ran to the closet to find my favourite SHOES.... yes... I said shoes!!!!

Did you know that your shoes evoke memories of where they' ve been and for what occasion they were purchased and where they danced or had lunch.... they even tell you how you felt when you slipped them on and they know exactly what other garments accompanied them on the journey.

SHOES.... they have their own story.

I'm timidly attempting to portray my shoe storey in a series of foot fetish portraits. They deserve it. I've started with the ultimate favourite....... the Red Velvet Stilettos !

Here's a sneak preview....... the photo is a little shiny but you get the drift.

Who knew I had such a relationship with my shoes.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Still Facing the "Blank Canvas Block"


Hopefully it won't be too much longer..... but I'm still suffering from "Painter's Block" .... it's actually very painfull and I do wish it would end soon

I've been cleaning up the studio...... ie... sending pounds of paper to the recycling bin!!!! All the old sketches, drawings, ideas, etc. they are now in the bin waiting for the preverbial recycle man to show up and take them away...... only to make room for more sketches (hopefully) and to start the whole cycle over again!!!!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

In Need of Inspiration, Movitvation, Creativity, ETC...


Can't seem to get myself back to the easel...... been doing some sketching but just have a mental block for some reason!
Last year was pretty rough with family illnesses and I stopped painting in the early summer.
I had just assumed that I would jump right back in to the two large canvases sitting unfinished in the studio.... NOT SO !!!!
Oh dear....
This maple leaf is a little ACEO I did awhile back... 2.5" x 3.5" watercolour

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Throw out the Tree and put the baubles away !!!!





Another Christmas packed away in the boxes and put under the stairs. The house always looks a little strange without the ribbons, cards, ornaments galore and garland hanging from anything that doesn't move... :)



All this decluttering has been catching on...... I've been clearing out the studio file drawer to make room for everything that got filed on top of the desk..... also need to clean out the art club binders to make room for this year's new projects and agendas.