Jubilee

Since painting means so much to me, I wanted to make a big deal concerning my 25 years of painting (from the awkward but enthusiastic baby steps in the first few years to the full-blown intensity of recent years), and, inspired by Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee in 1977, I've been using that name to commemorate this, my own Silver Jubilee.

My celebrations took on various forms, but I started with a bit of history/reminiscing over on my own painting blog:

In Part One I recount the very first steps of my introduction to watercolour painting and the artists that inspired me to explore this strange but beatiful medium.

In Part Two I talk about my growing interest in portraiture and I shared a couple of my novice paintings as well as some of my more current portraits to show that I've made some progress over the years.

Part Three is about the year I decided to get more serious about getting a better understanding of watercolours by painting one picture per week (spoiler alert: I ended up painting 63 that year).

In Part Four I tell the story of my accidental initiation into painting in oils and the medium's lasting hold on me.

Taking place on Facebook and also mentioned in Part Five on my blog, I gave away five watercolour paintings at random –because you're supposed to give gifts for an anniversary, aren't you?

Scheduled to take place during this Jubilee, I did another painting marathon in November which, after last year's marathon, I didn't think I'd do something like that again, but after my 33 on 33 project this spring, I felt I still needed to learn more about Prince Edward County, so County 101 was conceived.

Five years ago I did a big watercolour to celebrate my 20th Anniversary, so, because I love painting so much, I wanted to paint one large picture (featuring the same model) to mark the occasion, which, at the time of this posting, is about 75% done (detail below). Working in oils this time, this one has an element from my very first watercolour back in 1988 but does not, unfortunately, have any of my matrix patterning anywhere...

Detail of currently-untitled
25th Anniversary painting
(in progress).

When that's finished later this week, I'll attend to the four new paintings of my Tourament of Shadows series which are prepped and ready for painting.

Will I take a break after that?

No –in fact, I plan on kicking it into a higher gear –there's a lot of painting still to be done!

Scarecrows in the County

Last weekend we hosted our third annual Scarecrow Festival. We always hold this event on the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving because it is such a fun activity for people spending time with their families.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, sunny and warm, with brilliant fall colours all around us.

When people arrive at the farm they are provided with a cross-shaped wooden frame on which to make their scarecrow. We give them a little bit of instruction, and send them to the barn so they can rummage through mountains of clothes to dress their scarecrows.

Then they head back outside to dress and stuff their creations.

Before long, some wonderful characters start to emerge...

... Such as "Eunice", who apparently "works in HR"...

 And this dentally-challenged chap who, er, likes to get high...

Sure, there are your shifty types...

...And your basically beautiful big families...

...And all kids just look insanely cute against a background of straw...

...And then there's some families who just love their kids so much that even their scarecrows have to have babies!

All of the proceeds of this year's festival are going to Puppets Without Borders; a project that will be taking me and Susanne Larner back to Ghana in February 2014, bringing puppetry and art supplies to kids in rural villages.

Me and Brie, rocking the donation box

This Thanksgiving we were super-duper thankful for all of our friends and supporters who helped make this year's Scarecrow Festival such a success: Sandra Henderson, Brie Kaduc-Stojsic, Terry Veevers, Nell Casson, Kelly Roblin, Andy Sheath, Georgia Larner, George Emlaw, Picton Metro, Picton Home Hardware, and City Revival. 

See you next Thanksgiving!

The Artists' Trail

There is a path in our woods. We call it the Artists' Trail. 

Visiting artists and guests are invited to create a piece of art and leave it on the trail, and everyone is welcome to explore it.

It's hard to resist the call of a path cut through the trees.

Let me show you a few things along the trail. DUCK!

It's a bone mobile. Most people run into it.

We maintain the path, but let nature entangle itself with the artwork.

Wind and water take their toll on every piece in one way or another. This carving by Peter Paylor was a light golden colour when we installed it:

 Many have left their mark here.

And their bright ideas...

There are love letters...

Nests...

And a sculpture that you shake to make a wish...

If your wish *happens* to be finding a place to create a sculpture in nature, then you are in luck!

When you reach the end of the trail, there is a view so beautiful we can't show it to you here...

You'll just have to come and see it for yourself.

The public is welcome to explore our trails; just check in at the gallery so we know you're out there!