Art Exchange Miniature Juried Show 2012

Island of Burano, Italy

 

This is one of my entries into the Art Exchange Miniature Show. It is a watercolour painting of the reflections on the canal on the Island of Burano in Italy. Burano, famous for the handmade lace made there, is located near Venice. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather while on the island and enjoyed walking and wandering.

I have spent the last few days with a wonderful book by one of my favourite watercolour artists, Mary Whyte. Although I have never seen one of her paintings, I have fallen in love with several of her paintings in photographs in various locations.The book is titled An Artist's Way of Seeing.

She writes:
" Art does not have to be something intended or something with a price tag. Art can be the way we set a table, lay a brick patio, teach a child to fly a kite or sweep a floor. It can be as simple as the way we cook a meal or write a postcard. When we are truly engaged in the experience of living and are not concerned with worldly expectations, the fruit of an artistic expression is inevitable.It will happen in spite of ourselves."

and
" Subject matter is neither pretty or ugly, as the beauty of a painting lies in the work itself. It is about seeing.... with the heart and soul as well."

and finally
" I've learned that painting from life can be one of life's greatest pleasures.....They all contribute to the soul of the work. And to my soul."

The delightful thing for me is that Mary Whyte writes the same way she paints, with gentleness and poetry and an abiding respect for the world and people she paints.
This is a book I will return to again and again.

Pen Sketches

This sketch is done in pen. It was done from a photo taken in old London North. I love the views you can sometimes see between houses in the older areas of  London . I think the trip to Venice has me looking for areas "between places" that remind me of the views down the small canals.

This sketch is also done from a photograph. The house is on Piccadilly Street in London and it used to be my grandfather's home. This time I used India ink, pen and water.

The Art Exchange Miniature Show

I just finished the last of two paintings which I will enter into The Art Exchange Miniature Show. This is the 7th annual juried show and will run from Jan. 30th to Feb.18th. with the Opening Reception on Feb.3rd.   I can hardly wait to see the entries this year. Every year there are some really exciting and surprising pieces in this show and many fine miniature paintings too. If you are running short of wall space, this is a great place to find some wonderful original art that can be a great addition to your collection without demanding a large place to display it !

Playing With My New Pen

A few days ago I purchased a new pen and have been having a great time trying it out. This is what I have done with the new pen.

This sketch was started in my car on a street in the Woodfield area of London and then finished at home.

While my husband enjoyed watching a hockey game, I sketched this part of our family room.

This was my first effort with the new pen. It's an ornamental cabbage that was one of the flowers in a bouquet from my sister and her husband.

Backyard View

The  wooden fence marching haphazardly along the border of these backyards seemed to point to the roofs asking me to look up and see this. And so, once again I was attracted to roofs! This time their assortment of shape, size and direction is what interested me and made me want to paint this happy place. The garden shed, although not the most important building, nevertheless, is the star of the show, as is only fitting as far as myself and other gardeners are concerned. 

Home On Elmwood

I have both driven and walked by this home on Elmwood and have always been intrigued by it. One beautiful sunny day I had my camera with me as I passed by and took several photos. I used these as references to paint this. The shadows created by the strong sunlight seemed to highlight the features of this home which make it both unique and enchanting.