Performance Art

PERFORMANCE ART

12 x 12

Our household has a few performers in it - a daughter who sings and studies classical voice and a son who lives for his guitar.  I've been to countless concerts, both choir and rock to nurture and support these budding artists of mine.  Music is in our souls and gives us joy!

Performance Art reflects the performers on stage with the audience captivated, absorbed and observing - very similar to the act of painting where the canvas is the stage for me and my audience is the viewers/collectors who are nurtured by the colors, forms and energy.

A summer tradition of ours is to go watch a Theatre Under The Stars performance in Stanley Park, Vancouver.  www.tuts.ca/  Shows are at Malkin Bowl and alternate each night.  This year you have the choice of The Music Man or Titanic to enjoy.  Which to choose..... hmmmm.  It will probably be both on different nights!

Eye Candy

Sun has been somewhat scarce here on the west coast this summer so when it's shining I'm motivated to get shooting with my camera so I have it to inspire me when the rains really set in!


I took a walk through Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/lighthouse-park/, where trails meander through old forest towards the rocky coastline and Point Atkinson Lighthouse.  I see I was drawn toward curving shapes, texture and contrast - all design elements that are showing up strongly in my painting lately.  I find it interesting too, that the colors I paint with mostly reflect an energy I feel as a response to something - not the visual reality of what I encounter.  Ahhh, I truly am naturally drawn to expressionism like the ocean is drawn to the shoreline.

Happy Hour

HAPPY  HOUR
12 X 12

I'm energized by this season, who isn't? - more daylight, sunshine, blossoms, birds, play, barbecues, outdoor adventures.  This piece just bubbled up out of me - a response to the earthly pleasures of summer.

One of my favorite summer indulgences is making pies to enjoy! When I don't have time to do that, I head to the next best place for pie in Vancouver: The Savary Island Pie Company, savaryislandpiecompany.com/.  Their pies are a feast for the eyes and stomach.  In fact, you'll be seeing me there tomorrow!  Who knows what inspiration that visit will give for future paintings.

you choose

YOU CHOOSE
30 x 30

A week in Southern Ontario driving through the rolling hills and long flats speckled with little and big lakes - we saw 9 different universities for our son to potentially choose from and found some amazing restaurants to try in each town.  We have priorities after all!

And priorities guide artists toward subject matter - the camera is guided to focus upon and the finger is beckoned to click to capture the choice - reasons for can be specific or unknown at the time.  In You Choose I depict the freedom of choice, the largest circle choosing my subject as though it's my camera lens deciding where to click.

Speaking of amazing restaurants, when in downtown Toronto, try The Gabaradine on 372 Bay Street, www.thegabardine.com, for some casual dining comfort food while on the road - the Ploughman's lunch, smoked trout salad, mac and cheese and black cod were fabulous..... Not all for me alone - we shared!!!

taking the plunge

PLUNGE
16 x 16

I've been working on a series based loosely on Movement in Nature and as I worked on this piece, Plunge,  I saw the common shapes appear - ovals, vertical line patterns - shapes that were in my more structured Fall 2011 Birdsong series.  


Only this time, there's more action and Plunge is my yellow lab Bella running across a field to take the plunge into the awaiting waters of a pond ahead - no dawdling, no meandering,  only pure abandon! 

keeping it real in Paia, Maui

i found relief from the wet west coast on a trip to maui in may.  the brilliant sunshine, coral flowers and aqua waters revitalized my creative process. sometimes that's all it takes - a change in venue for filling the inspiration tank!  

lucky me, i came upon this temple which is part of the Maui Dharma Center http://www.mauidharma.org/,  in the wonderful surf town of Paia.  

plus, if you want amazing fresh heirloom tomatoes, greens and goat cheeses,  stop in at Mana Foods www.manafoodsmaui.com/ to delight your senses and go back in time to the sixties!  well worth it!

luscious colors - Cobra Oils

today i was visited by a small chickadee inside my dining room!  luckily, it took flight right out the backdoor when it noticed me.  then, later while shooting the shot of the painting above, i heard the hum of a hummingbird's wings at my feeder directly over my shoulder!  the sun is shining  (a rarity lately here in Vancouver this summer....year!) and the birds are out to play! 


i played with Cobra water mixable oils this week as you can see in the above detail from a Birdsong series painting. I LOVE THEM! they pack a lot of color and blend amazingly well and best of all they clean up with water and have no odor!  happy happy happy!  


you can check out their colors at http://www.cobra.royal-talens.com/3/products.html.