February!

A few days ago I realized that I had succumbed to my yearly February sense of doom.  It doesn't matter that I am reading some fascinating books and have a stack of 10 more waiting [I do love books and have recently found some new authors and titles.]  I've just finished Stitches and am now reading Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, both by Anne Lamott.  Very human but one can only chuckle and be encouraged to move forward when you read her perceptions of life.  However, I am also struggling through Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo.... a difficult read but timely.

The doom persists.  It doesn't matter that I have all I need and live in abundance and warmth - especially on this our [hopefully] last heavy snow of the season.... what a white day we have had!  But it has settled and the clouds must have gone because looking out into the blackness from my second story studio window I see a star!  Or perhaps it is simply a weather satellite.... or one of those other machines which spy on us.  Oh well.

This week I tackled some landscapes.  I prepared five canvases, 16 x 20" each and have, I think, completed two.  No, I am not a plain air painter - yet! Perhaps never will be.  I prefer to struggle in comfort in my workroom.  While several paintings will be winter scenes the two I have completed are not.  Hope you enjoy.

Looking forward to the sunshine, which is promised by the weather man, in the coming week... although I will be spending 2 days, I suspect in a room without windows, at an Elections Canada training session....  But I am hopeful and I am thankful that this February has been one of my better ones.

Riverbend - along the Yellowhead Highway

Prairie Summer Day

Roses.2

Another rose painting finished - I think there will be two more... perhaps in the near future although I am changing over to acrylics for a bit.

Roses.1

Working on flowers again and this time it is a set of two rose paintings in watercolour.  This is the first.  I have no idea what to name paintings of roses!  Perhaps by the time I am finished the second one I will come up with something.  I am doing these while contemplating my next acrylic water paintings.  But there is a busy week ahead so it may be several weeks before the second rose painting is complete.

Evening Considerations

When we are in White Rock, BC we frequently take time to sit by the beach.  Several times this past summer we picked up a coffee and snack later in the evening and found a bench along the promenade to watch the sunset.  But before the sun sets there comes a beautiful interlude when the rays of the sun are intense and the shadows more vivid.  It is a special moment.... there seems to be a stillness when those who need to leave before dark are regretfully making the decision to do so, and those who have come to watch the sun set calmly await their departure.

Here is a scene from one of those moments.

Evening Considerations - Watercolour, 8 x 10"

A Moment Blessed

"A Moment Blessed" - this painting is based on one corner of the ceiling in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St George, here in Saskatoon.  It was finished Christmas eve.... which I mused about as I realized I was just completing the part with Mary and the Angel.

The beauty, the care, the artistry people put into such places of worship always amazes me and I am grateful for people who do this.  I often wonder that, if we spent more time in quiet contemplation of the beauty created by mankind and of the natural artistry of God, we might have less conflict and hate in this world.

I have likely posted this blessing before but it inspires me, calms me, and pushes me in a meaningful direction.  May this coming year - 2015 - find our souls well.

A Blessing for Equilibrium

Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,

May the music of laughter break through your soul.

As the wind wants to make everything dance,

May your gravity be lightened by grace.

Like the freedom of the monastery bell,

May clarity of mind make your eyes smile.

As water takes whatever shape it is in,

So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what’s said,

May a sense of irony give you perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames,

May fear or worry never put you in chains.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough

To hear in the distance the laughter of God.

~ John O'Donohue ~

(Benedictus - A Book of Blessings)

Seasonal Sale

I will be hosting a "Seasonal Sale" of my Artwork 

and would love to have you drop by 

for a visit and cup of coffee.  

Bring a friend if you like. 

Most paintings will be reduced 20%. Cards are $2.00.  

Three of Matthew's Photos will also be for sale.

TIME:  Friday Dec. 5th 4 - 8pm & 

Saturday Dec. 6th 10am - 6pm.  

LOCATION:  7 Leyden Cres., Saskatoon SK

Reflections

This summer we were at the Aquarium in Vancouver. While waiting for the dolphins to 'perform' I was drawn to the adjacent pool where the beluga whales were swimming around.  The shadows from the trees and skies made the water a beautiful deep green-blue with white shadows were the belugas were.  It was absolutely lovely and I was mesmerized by the colour.

While methodically working my way through the watercolour "Fallen Leaves" [see last post] I wondered how I might paint even a part of this water. I had prepared three 24 X 30" canvases by painting them a dark blue.   I knew I wanted to do them in acrylic as opposed to watercolour and I came to realize that I wanted to do closeups of small areas of the water.  Finally, I decided it was time to try the liquid acrylics I had purchased last summer. Thankfully I had purchased some pouring medium which increased the ability of the paints to flow and mix together.

Three full days of work resulted in the paintings below.  I think I might try a few more water paintings but will certainly need to replenish my paints before doing so.  This way of painting does require a lot of paint and I was thankful for one of our local art shops [http://huesart.ca] which I could get to quickly to purchase more paint!  Hope the colour harmonies bring you joy.