HACKED AND BURNED -- STARS ARE BORN

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

THE OLD GUARD - 5.5 X 3.5 - AVAILABLE

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK - 5.5 X 3.5 - AVAILABLE

These two little gems are products of one of my soul searching periods that ended in a hacking and burning of a lovely picture.  I completed the original picture of my finches “Out for Dinner” in the spring;  it was well drawn (I thought so anyway) , lovely birds, great bird feeder and the composition was a bit unusual, almost symmetrical.  But it didn’t do it for me!!  I felt those little finches were not happy. 

Out for Dinner

 I have looked at that picture and mulled over it for months.  Suddenly in the middle of the night a few days ago it hit me, crop it tons, there is just too much empty space.  (I know I need to get a life and do other things at night but. . .that’s another story)  It took a day or two to get the courage but then I took my paper cutter and let her rip.   After, I added a few extra touches to give more sparkle and Stars were born.   

With Determination and Reassurance, I will start the weekend!!

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

DETERMINATION - 10 x 8 Available

Yes, this is a big weekend; I am part of The Langley Art Studio Tour. This is a very exciting event for me, my first studio tour.  No, I haven’t moved to Langley so it won’t actually  be in my studio but I will be with a group of 5 other artists at the Fields & Flower Farm, 900 232 St.  We will be one of the “Stops of Interest”.  The tour will have 43 artists, 17 working art studios, 6 ‘Stops of Interest’, a range of mini-workshops and demos, and plenty of art to see.  It really looks like it will be a great event.  Best of all it will be over two weekends to give everyone a chance to poke around a bit at their leisure.

REASSURANCE - 10 x 8 Available

Places I would love to check out are Susan Falk’s studio, she is a tiny lady and does huge paintings, her studio set up would be very interesting to see.  www.susanfalk.ca   Down the road from us is Flowers from a Country Garden, a u-pick flower garden.  This sounds like a really novel idea and I would like to see how it works.  She had flowers for our reception last night and the bouquets were stunning. www.upickcountryflowers.blogspot.com

The tour dates are Sept. 24 & 25 and Oct. 1 & 2, 10am – 5 pm.  This is a self-guided tour and all the details and maps can be found at www.langleyartstudiotour.ca  I will be doing one of the demos, “Drawing Animals in Graphite” at 2 pm each day of the Sept 25 & 25 weekend.  Of course my new pictures “Determination’’ and “Reassurance” will be there to greet you. 

I wish you all could come and check out the tour but for those that can, it will be great to see you.

AUTUMN DAYS AT THE LAKE

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

LAST DAYS OF SUMMER - 8 X 14

Oh, this was the September to be camping!!  We have just got back from our last trip of the season and it was the best!!  The weather was fabulous, often 30 during the day, the scenery was wonderful, and the fishing was great! What more could you ask?  My husband, Steve was busy each day arranging the tackle, getting worms and charging the electric motor and I was painting.  There was a surprising number of people camped at the lake with us so lots of company and stories and of course theories on fishing – Best Practices were the tale of the day.  The days just whizzed by, can’t believe we are home already.

SUMMER SUNSHINE - 4.5 X 6

Davis Lake is in the mountains, just south of Merritt.  It is just at the point where the forests are turning into the dry grasslands.  The landscape is so different from the coast, short pine and firs, lots of birch and poplar and huge areas of grassland.  Of course the fall colours were starting to show and on those sunny days everything just took on new life.  I know my photos and sketches just do not do it justice. 

Our Resident Loon

The trees and grasslands were beautiful

Often the water was just like glass on the lake, with the fish jumping, of course!!

A regular visitor to our camp, despite Rusty's efforts to chase him away!!

IT'S COFFEE TIME

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

IT'S COFFEE TIME - 13 X 22 - Available

Golfing, bulrushes, setting sun.  These are things I think of when I see the red-winged blackbirds.  I like to golf in the late afternoon and the blackbirds are abundant on the golf course.   As the sun sets in the evening, the colours glow on the water and fairways and the birds spur us along with their serenade. 

This group was gathered at the bird feeder and after cropping the picture I thought I would try incorporating the watercolour pouring technique with a highly realistic drawing of the birds themselves.  I found the picture quite a challenge it became a mixture of both working in the negative and the positive.  I finished the picture in the evening at our campsite and entered it into the Federation Juried Show as soon as we got home.  They made the cut!!  It’s Coffee Time is now hanging in the Surrey Arts Center, Aug 20-Nov. 13.  The reception is September 17, 2011. 7:30-9pm.  See you there.

It's Coffee Time - Step 1, after the pour

It's Coffee Time - Step 2, working on the negative