Zippity do da…

Lillies at Sundown - oil on canvas – 30″ x 24″ It’s curious to me just how varied my painting styles can be…it often has to do with the mood i’m in when i pick up the brush. i’ve given up bothering about it. I liked the blue shadows on the fence as the sun went down stretching itself across the fields near where i live and landing smack on those orange lillies against the fence.  i started with trying to organize the shapes, but soon got carried away with that seductive evening light . ha.  I’m such a pushover.

beginning paintings

I managed to get 2 hours of painting time yesterday afternoon up in the studio. That was a bonus because at 8am yesterday morning I decided that today was the day that i was going to repaint the walls in the family room.  I am going for tranquil look with a neutral soft white after 8 years of living with yellow, and an accent wall of orange.  I liked the brighter colour back then, but time for a change!  It took me until noon to paint the first coat over the yellow walls and 2 coats over the orange wall.  Then i had 4 hours for it to dry…so up to the studio…i didn’t think i was really going to work on much but i got interested by some new slides I took recently. I thought ‘how can I simplify that into large shapes?’ So this is how i began.  I definately need to resolve some areas, but am pleased with the start of this so far.  I actually really enjoy working on the beginning of a painting…i guess it’s the feeling of potential i really like…the freedom of knowing there are infinite possible ways it could develop.  I think i would like to spend all my time just beginning paintings.

fiddle diddle

Early Market - oil on board, 12″ x 9″   I’m a fiddler…i wish it was of the celtic musical sort, but no! I’m a fiddler of the ‘touch here and a touch there’ sort…c’mon dont tell me you fellow painters dont know what i mean. there are sometimes when i can clearly and concisely get down the necessary elements and then leave it alone, and other times when it seems i am bushwacking my way to the end! …i think this happens mostly when i haven’t a clear idea of what it is i want to say to begin with.  fiddle diddle. fuddle duddle.

sundays

 ‘Distant Bales’ oil on canvas, 24″ x 30″  When I was a child I didn’t like Sundays much.  My dad would relax and smoke his pipe (or maybe a cigar from time to time) in the livingroom, often listening to classical music.  Mum would often read, sew or garden which also meant that it was ‘her day’ too.  I would find the sunday afternoon quiet time dragging on with everyone doing ‘their own thing’.  Back then there was no Sunday shopping or even museums open if you felt like going on an outing. At age eleven i found this very boring! I couldn’t wait for Monday to start the week again as it meant school, activities with friends etc.  I thought I would never get to like ‘boring Sundays’.  But now; here i am  a grownup, and now I love Sundays!..who’d a thunk it!  It’s one of my favourite days because more often than not i get to “do my own thing” which for me usually involves painting of some sort.  Today I finished ‘The Way In’ which I’ve posted below, and got a good start on the one above .  Yay for Sundays!

deconstructing

The Way In – oil on linen, 14″x18″
This morning I spent some time updating my website and doing computer related stuff… before i knew it, the morning was gone and i was still in my pyjamas sitting at the computer.  In an effort to breathe some fresh air i went out to check the mail and poke around the garden… i wanted to use my time wisely and spend at least a little time in the studio, but i knew my creative energy had allready been drained from the hypnotic pull of that darned computer screen.  I figured activity might cure me, so got dressed then went for an invigorating bicycle ride down the K&P trail. Yep it did the trick. After lunch i was more than ready to settle down and go through my slides for a painting subject… i wanted something that had interesting shapes that i could deconstruct a bit into more simplified shapes, as that’s my latest interest.   Found this barn doorway with the light shining through it and ’ding ding’ the bells went off in my head.  Is it finished? I dont know yet, but perhaps I’ll know next week.

art at Summerhill

On Monday evening I attended an artists reception held at Summerhill given by David Dodge (the Chancellor of Queens University) and his wife Chris Dodge.  Chris is a lover of the arts and decided to spruce up the walls of the stately period university dwelling with new art from the Agnes Etherington Art Rental Gallery…then they held a drinks and nibblies party to celebrate Kingston artists at a reception in Summerhill to show their efforts.  It is a meaningful thing to Kingston artists to be celebrated in this way…the rooms at Summerhill are used for many receptions and meetings.  Promoting local contemporary art which is available from the university art gallery rental program is fitting and a superb use of the space to show wonderful art to all the people that pass through there.  I was delighted to be one of the artists whose work was chosen to hang there.

fun

Today is hubby’s birthday, so think I’ll take him on a date. We’ll go see the latest Star Trek movie; my daughter Rachel says it’s a good bit of fun.  Soooo speaking of fun, i’m posting a little  update on one i’ve been working on…a little side step and diversion to keep me amused.  
‘When You Thought You Could Fly’ – oil on canvas - 12″ x 12″.

Art After Dark

‘King at Night’-oil
Last night Kingston celebrated the semi-annual ‘Art After Dark’ gallery walk.  Frameworks Gallery participated, and we featured the works of Debra Tate-Sears.  The opening night was really successful despite the rain which did not seem to keep art enthusiasts at home at all, we were happy about that! We had lots of people visiting the gallery and we even sold 4 of Deb’s painting which was great for opening night! Her works will be featured until the end of June in the gallery.  2 huge bouquets of lilacs helped spruce up the gallery greeting guests with their over the top fragrance.   Lots of yummy sandwiches, cookies and punch.   Our gallery openings at Frameworks Gallery just keep getting better and better! It’s a delight being a part of it.
Watercolours by Debra Tate-Sears below:

3rd strike lucky!

 This is the 3rd time starting a painting. I just couldn’t live with the first 2 compositions…so they got the old paint over!  I feel i am on the right track now with it. It has a special destination when done, it’s for my daughter Holly.(pictured below)  She loves frangipanis and so I wanted to paint them for her.  It’s still in progress but i feel happy about the direction it is taking now.  phew. still in the game. I will post it when complete.

still on the go

Still workin on these 4 little experiments…none are done and some i have plans to alter siginificantly…for example the one at the top i am making into a night scene, oh yes! and the third one from the bottom will get a flurry of sailboat activity, and lose the snail…ha ha, no it’s not really a snail, it’s an unconvincing riverboat!..see what i mean lots to edit and work out yet…but all part of the experiment. The bottom one is especially getting a rethink.  (uhoh..just noticing what a mess the rest of the studio is in this pic… oh bother)