Weekend Report

Not a whole lot going on that I can report. Spent the weekend in the city visiting my family which was great. Nothing like Mom spoiling you. Yesterday I attended my first Images Tour meeting which ran about three hours. Yes, it was long but we got much accomplished. Looks like it's going to be a fabulous tour.

Now I'm going to go out and look for something fabulous to happen in my life so I'll have

a much more interesting post tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Hazel McCallion

Solitary in Red

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

Lately on mornings when I am feeling a tad "ancient" I check out Hurricane Hazel on You Tube. It continues to remind me that age is a state of mind and this woman is the perfect example of that.........my new role model. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do.

The Evolution of Art

Quiet Conversation
6"x6"
Acrylic on Canvas

Over the past few years, in between my mixed media artwork, I've been experimenting with acrylic on canvas which has recently come to the attention of both the Silverbridge Gallery in Muskoka as well as The Ridge West Gallery.

As of next week both galleries will be representing my paintings as well as my current work. I have two other galleries who are interested in the new paintings but I won't jinx it my mentioning them until something has been confirmed.

Although this is an unexpected turn of events for me and a departure from my mixed media work it is exciting all the same. This will not in any way take me away from my first love of working in paint and thread but enhance it, providing me many more ways in which to continue along this creativity journey that I've always had such passion for. Much thanks to all my fellow artists who have supported and encouraged me......... most especially Carol Currie artist/owner of The Carriage House Gallery in Midland. A true artist in every sense of the word.

Sometimes you just never know where life will take you............................

Annie Leibovitz Documentary

The Chosen Few

Acrylic on Canvas

8"x6"

I'm off to pick up my sewing machine today .................yeah!

Watched a great documentary on the weekend which I highly recommend....

Annie Leibovitz: Life Thought a Lens was an absolutely fascinating account of her life as an artist.

Tired But Productive

The Chosen Few

Work in Progress.....

Acrylic on Canvas

The Green Bench

Work in Progress......

Acrylic on Canvas

I'm hoping this post makes sense as I'm tired this a.m. and hopped up on too much caffeine. Woke upat 4:11 in the morning with "art inspirations" and couldn't get back to sleep. Wish those"art inspirations" would come to me when I'm struggling away in the studio and tossing everything I've done in the garbage. I finally drifted off around 5:30 just in time for the alarm to go off at 6:15. My youngest had a babminton tournament today and needed to be at the school for 7:00 a.m. to catch the bus. I am not a good morning person at the best of times and today was just another one of those mornings. Stopped at "Timmy's" on my way home and had a extra large double double which I never do so by the time I got home I was raring to go.

So another days passes and I still don't have my machine back. Probably my fault as I've been meaning to give them a call but they did say at least a week so I'm cutting them some slack. But I've been entertaining myself by painting quiet happily in my studio. Once these two are fnished I may sell them online or take them to a gallery.......not sure yet....... too tired to think it through.

I'm headed for a walk...................have a good one

Machineless

Since my sewing machine has been in the shop since Friday I've been trying to do some other necessary jobs that need to be done in my studio......... you know, like cleaning it up. Yesterday it seemed everything I touched art wise fell apart. I must have painted about four or five pieces and ended up tossing everyone of them. Totally frustrated I decided to instead vacuum because god knows that task has been long neglected. Lots of dust bunnies hanging around that were nothing like the chocolate bunnies I have been scoffing down all weekend long. So with the vacuuming done and being quite pleased with myself, I decided to tackle the closet. I opened the door, thought about it for a second and closed it again. Maybe not!


I'm hoping to hear back regarding my machine sometime today so in the meantime I'll pay some bills (do they never stop coming?), do some laundry, NOT eat anymore chocolate, wash the kitchen floor, send media info for Images Art Studio Tour (deadline is today) run to town for a few errands and maybe just maybe that closet won't seem so daunting today.... who am I kidding?

In A Dream

Thanks to Ellen, I found out about a new film called "In A Dream". It is a documentary that chronicles the life and work of artist Isaiah Zager who has covered more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning mosaic murals. Looks absolutely fascinating and has won numerous awards.

Check it out here

Q

Dwelling

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

The blogsphere is all buzz is a.m. regarding my guy Jian Ghomeshi's interview with Billy Bob Thornton of "Slingblade" fame. Seems old Billy Bob has a band called the Boxmasters who are performing tonight in Toronto as the opening act for Willie Nelson at Massy Hall. I listened to the interview from beginning to end and couldn't believe how rude Billy Bob was to Jian. Of course Jian handled it all with his usual dignity and integrity.........classy guy. Listen for yourself. It's probably going to be a long time before B.B. is invited back to Q and as far as I'm concerned, never would be o.k.

Click here to watch it on YouTube

Just When We Thought We Had Seen The Last Of It

This is what we woke up to this a.m. and it's not like we weren't warned. Yesterday was a gorgeous, sunny, spring like day. Almost all of the snow had melted and I wouldn't for a minute believe what the weathermen was feeding us. Hah! ..... 20 cm of snow? You've got to be kidding? Well, looks like the joke's on me. Today I'm trying my best to just not look outside. It's all a bit much don't you think?

The show opening on Friday night was one of the best show openings I had ever attended. Although the rain persisted all day and all night, those dire hard art fans and friends of mine came out to the show anyway. It was busy from start to finish.

Ellen had hired a caterer, Jackie from Edible Affairs, who went above and beyond great food. Hope I didn't eat too many of the h'oeurves as I was starving by the time I got there. In my rush around the house looking for, of all things, my bra (god knows I couldn't leave home without that) I forgot to eat dinner.

All of my friends from the village showed up as they usually do. Just can't say enough good things about each and every one of them. They've seen my work a million times over but each and every time I have an opening there they are for support. So I sold some work...........smaller pieces but still work all the same. Met some really interesting people. Love this woman's stockings.

John showed up with Sierah and Fannie. Fannie is another exchange student from France that we hosted for the weekend. She overlooked the fact that my French .... well honestly it just sucks. Everytime I tried to say a sentence in French she smiled sweetly and reverted back to English. Guess she was trying to tell me something................

A wonderful night indeed!

Senses Opening Night

I was at the gallery this a.m. with a photographer from our local paper who was taking some shots for a piece they are doing next month. Hats off to Ellen for doing such a gorgeous job of hanging the show. Looks like there will be quite a few people attending tonight even though it's pouring like cats and dogs here. I'm not complaining because at least it's rain and not the dreaded snow which can really kill an opening night.

Here's a few shots I took this morning and no, I didn't include my own work because god knows you've all seen quite enough of it here on the blog. Tonight I'm planning on taking a lot more photos and will post on Sunday or Monday about the big night. It is my friend Andy's first gallery show and I'm so excited for him (he does the beautiful wood bowls) and I'm also looking forward to meeting Sue Miller. Our paths have crossed at various times but we've never met face to face.

Meditation in Schools

Fields of Red

Work in Paint & Thread

This morning as I was getting my usual dose of the Huffington Post , I noticed on the sidebar an online news conference, scheduled for Friday to launch the David Lynch Foundation's global iniative to teach one million at risk youth the value of meditation.

I am a firm believer in meditation and have personally meditated twice a day for the past five years. Sometimes I may miss a practice but very rarely. Anyway, enough about me as I'm digressing as usual. The funds for this initiative will be raised by the "Change Begins Within" benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 4th. The concert will feature Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eddie Veder, Moby, Sheryl Crow and Russell Simmons.

Here's an interesting clip on how meditation is helping in this Detroit school.

Click Here