Studies of Poppies

Poppy Study 1, June 4

I belong to an artists' co-op gallery in Grand Bend, Sunset Arts. Last Saturday it was my turn to work in the gallery. On my way home I noticed a beautiful garden of poppies in front of a store beside the highway.  I didn't have time to stop but I went back this week to do some very quick sketches ( the garden was very close to the highway and it didn't feel very safe to set up there with traffic whizzing by) and to take lots of photos.  Since then I have been happily painting small studies of poppies. I have been playing around with composition and with background colours. These two are my most successful to date, but I think I need to do some more studies before I start my painting. When I finish the painting, I'll post it here.

Poppy Study 2, June 5

I'm looking forward to this weekend's studio tour in Grand Bend. Stop by for a visit if you are in Grand Bend. My work will be in Sunset Arts Gallery on 63 River Road during the tour and for the summer too.

Painting for the Spring Shows and Summer Galleries

Daylily

I have been busy painting, getting ready for the Spring club shows....Brush and Palette and Lambeth Art Association as well as getting work ready for The Boathouse Gallery in Port Stanley ( opening March 1st) and Sunset Arts Gallery in Grand Bend (opening May 5th ). This little watercolour will be at one of the shows or galleries. I haven't decided yet where it is going to go.

Getting Ready For A New Season

Today I drove to Sunset Arts Gallery in Grand Bend to get ready for the Grand Bend Studio Tour , Arts & Eats. The tour will take place on Saturday May 14th from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday May 15th from 11am to 5 pm.
Sunset Arts will be open on weekends until June 17th when it will be open daily until September.
The photo is my wall at the gallery. Every year I either under or over estimate how much work I will require. As you can see from the photo, this year I underestimated! So... another trip to the gallery this week to finish hanging my wall. I really don't mind. This time of year the countryside is lovely to drive through. Today the willows along all the streams and creeks were a breathtaking sight and the orchards we passed were pink, not with blooms yet, but the bark was pink in the light rain.

Snow Clouds

We went up to the Sunset Arts Gallery today to remove my work ( end of season ) and to meet with a customer to deliver a painting. Driving home from Grand Bend , we were surrounded by snow clouds.  Beautiful, but eventually we got the snow and driving became a little unpleasant.

A Day At The Gallery

Yesterday was my turn to work at Sunset Arts. Brian came with me to help hang some new work and to keep me company. We had a good day, visiting with many delightful people who came into the gallery and with Theresa Marie from next door. I took some paints with me in case I had a chance to do some work and was able to complete a small watercolour in between visitors. The weather was perfect and I saw lots of families on their way to the beach. Many boaters took advantage of the great day too and passed by on the river near the back door of the gallery.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are off to Port Stanley to do some painting with the Gallery Painting Group.

Beach Rocks, watercolour, 3 x 5
Painting done between visitors to the Gallery

Update: Sunset Arts Gallery