This is the little one from the studio on Friday. I was thinking about all the domestic themes and images I see all over the art world lately( chairs, birds that fly but also nest, house-shapes etc) and I am thinking its like we are envisioning a 'new way of being domestic'- We are still experimenting with how we relate to our homes , our kitchens, our living spaces- technology is changing so fast but alot of our basic human needs are the same- (do our needs change?) I can't remember where I read that ' new technology requires new customs, therefore new shapes and forms'- That really rang all the bells for me-( I wish I could remember where I read it)- Anyway, this is what J. is doing here- daydreaming what 'home' means to her-

Otherwise,I am supposed to be working like a busy bee, and I am just hanging out, looking at Flickr things, just siting and looking and sometimes walking and looking. Thinking, jotting in my journal, waiting for an aha! moment...(hi,hi moments come so much easier...)

Ok. I do have a good excuse for all this, I am doing research, I am planning the rest of the large acrylics that I need to have for autumn... Yes oh yes.... Look at that green plate I bought on Saturday( thrifting)( I bought a blue one too) I just totally love blue and yellow-green- My Flickr is full of these colours- It's called obsession-

And this is my paw sticking out in a spot of sunshine- we are having a lovely day today- coolish- (oh yes lets not get tooo summery afterall),the sea is wavy and green- but its sunny, and Lucy is at summer camp today(she will be going a couple days a week) so I could walk- take pictures- and do research... Things are happening, more shows have been arranged and I don't even know if I will be able to take any time off this summer- and what do I do?

I look up and take photos... You would think that this was taken in some scorching hot country...

What am I researching you might ask? Well, pattern, colour, shape, but most of all simplicity...

So take a look at Abigail MacLellan who has some of that longed for simplicity and an exquisite sense of colour and shape...

What have you done with your Monday?

My creative space- third week

I am running a little late with this, but I will post anyway- I want to share with you some of my inspirations- Do you see the little birds visiting ?

Looking and learning- which is one of my favorite activities and which I have been doing alot in the last couple of days- Do you come to these times when you feel terribly frustrated with your work and you don't even know exactly why, but you are actually going through an 'artistic -growth-spurt' and you are having 'teething' pains? Well I have just gone through one - So I send my brain birdies out to learn- I am looking at Jacob Lawrence, whose work I have loved for years- I love his sense of colour and pattern-I am looking at an artist called Kate MacKinnon- for pretty much the same reasons- colour and pattern- And Patrick Heron-and yes you guessed- its all about colour and pattern too- but his shapes are organic and very expressive.

The thing I am becoming more and more aware of though is that I need to use these elements in a story telling format- I could never really see painting as a totally formal exercise- I had at teacher once at OCA who told me my work was autobiographical (as if he was saying a dirty word)-...- but you know , I am still doing it...- this time shamelessly!

Have a lovely day and do take a look (if you haven't already) at all the lovely creative spaces here-Thank you Kootoyoo...

Litttle tiny illustrations?

So here they are - I've been playing around for a few days now with these ideas- I wish I had photoshop and could try a little more inventive stuff- but I don't , so there you go- I wanted to do something more like an illustration so I can make cards for the Ladner show.

What do you think?

Lucy's creative space

Lucy is one of those children who change their room around every couple of months-or so... This time she created one of the most interesting arrangements - her room now is 'subdivided' in four smaller areas, looking very much like an itsy-tiny apartment!-This here is the 'reading room', or alternatively the'big bear room'!(we actually brought this big bear over from Greece, it took a single Ikea box- the custom officer was kind of stunned!)- the patchwork on the floor I actually made for Rea when I was pregnant with her- My eldest daughter was only a baby herself, and after a busy day running after her it was comforting to rest my hands on my big belly and sew...- I had no book or instructions of course , its all totally crazy,crooked and wild!
Hope you had a good start to your week!

Dad's Day (at the boatyard) -the girls went shopping

ok- not the best picture, but still here's my new haircut- not the best haircut either- but even though my hairdresser is a tiny bit not terribly amazing at this particular type of haircut..., I still like chatting with her, and it seems that chatting wins over vanity at this point...- So this was our morning outing for Dad's Day- we then ooed! and ahhhd! at a Porsche get together- what else for Dad?- and as a final treat for him we let him .....free to go and fix his boat- which might sound cruel to some, but I promise you it's what this man really loves doing...-
And what did the girls do? You guessed right, they went shopping...

Rea took Lucy and I to this vintage clothing store downtown Vancouver- it was great fun-maybe we should go again and take more pictures...

This wall was so perfect as a background for Rea's fashion shoot! (look in so many blogs proud mothers post pictures of their babies...but some of my babies are pretty grownup...and I am still a proud mom!)

Here it's all revealed, yes it was an apron- a crazy patchwork apron!

And obviously Lucy wanted some too!

What did you do for Father's Day?

On the run

I was so happy this morning to wake up and find all your lovely comments! and also I am so absolutely over the moon to see my little watercolor on the 'echoes- a collaborative journal ' site...Big thank you to the creator's of the site! Take a look- the site has some gorgeous artwork- and what a fun theme! This is a page from my sketchbook- don't you love sketchbooks?
Also definitely take a look at : 'at-swim -two -birds-', there are some wonderful images of Sonia Delaunays' work- and even a spread from her sketchbook....Brilliant!
Have to run-Have a happy weekend!

My creative space, second week

I am so happy today and so relieved- I will be showing my work soon and only last night I realised I already had forty something small mixed media/ watercolors completed- Its a one day thing, its called 'Gallery in the Garden', its an Annual Invitational Art Exhibition at Ladner Memotial Park- anyone in Vancouver that day? Phew..! I also have some much larger acrylics, so now I can concentrate on making some prints maybe and thinking about how I will display everything. So my creative space today is all about cleaning up and doing some thinking, and visualising- I want this to be fun- There's something similar coming up in August, so there is alot to consider. But don't you love it? Apart from the actual act of creating( which tops all charts), isn't it so exciting to actually show your work ( and sell some too...)

Enjoy your day...enjoy all the lovely creative spaces.... Thank you Kootoyoo

Mid week cooldown

Listening to the birds again- Another scanned image- finally I can enjoy the white! I learned a lesson yesterday, a lesson about whining- I am not only responsible for my thoughts and my choices but also for my emotions- the world is moving ahead , doing lovely artwork, getting things done, so if I chose to wallow on pointless self-pity, well ...

I guess its OK to air one's grievances with the cosmos once in a while- and the cosmos benignly nods and says : 'OK. girl, here's a tissue, now just get on with it'-

The rose is for you all-

Tuesday after the inner storm

The lovely thing is that you can choose your thoughts.. But here is the thing- lets say on Sunday I really focused on allowing joy into my life, all was lovely on Sunday, I chose my thoughts carefully, Monday morning I woke up with a horrific nightmare-the mind plays tricks- oh no you won't get out of my negative grip,..., every early childhood rejection will follow you till you are eighty and toothless (again)...Blasted brain... I know these tricks by now and managed to get out of it- I can choose what I think- and I can choose to celebrate who I am and who I was!

So I used my scanner this morning to make sure these images have no shadows.

This one is from the studio downtown, I love her earthiness and her strength, she is one who is not afraid to burn the bridges if the bridges lead to a mess-

And a last note with the girl with the perfect dress sense-

Have a lovely day!

Monday morning

What am I grateful for this Monday?
Well for humour definitely-
And please check out this adorable 'bearded lady'-
And look at this youtube that I found at Shash's blog.Just taking a peak at both right now made my day...What are you grateful for on this Monday?

slow weekend

I needed a slow weekend. I needed to let more sunlight into my life. I looked at my pictures on Friday and realised with regret I had let them become more and more dark. There are underlying difficult issues but I am determined not to let them get the better of me. I thought, yes, some time off, some effort to take photos that have more light, some effort even in my artwork to focus more on color less on grey- almost like therapy- and why not? I bought some lovely, handmade Italian plates, about fifteen of them, different sizes, for $4...
I am thoroughly enjoying them- particularly now when tomatoes are juicy and so yummy with a little olive oil, some freshly cut, aromatic, basil, parmesan and tortellini. We had this very thing for dinner, with sweeeeeet watermelon for desert. Definitely part of a take-better-care-of-one's-self-regime.

Lucy of course won't eat tomatoes yet, it's a far too dangerously fresh and healthy food! At least she likes her cucumbers and avocado, in sushi (of all things), and she does eat carrots in the winter. Oh well! When she plays basketball its obvious that somehow, from some magical source she does get all the vitamins she needs...

So that was another weekend, eating, taking in the sunshine, pretending to clean the house, doing some ironing, taking lovely walks, watching out for seals , you know they look like puppies swimming, I have to admit I am becoming terribly fond of them.

I am truly a housebound person aren't I? But so be it... I have a Cancer ascendant , does that explain it all? But I am hoping, envisioning a small vacation. .. But really if you are an artist what do you want to do on your vacation? I want to run around and either look at art, or do some more painting, take time to draw leisurely in my sketchbook- So really, for me taking a vacation

(apart from eating lots of new fun stuff) means that I want to do what I do everyday but at a more leisurely pace. I dont' think my family will appreciate it very much...Maybe I am obsessed- does anyone understand what I mean?

So, in order to help positive things along, vacation or not, I bought something like twenty old magazines for next to nothing, dropped off Lucy to a birthday party, and went home, spread my loot on my bed, got some good scisssors and proceeded to cut images to add to my life-collage. I have had it for some eleven years, (imagine!), I brought it with me to Canada all across the Atlantic, its been growing and changing, and evolving like I am. But I have to tell you its quite an amazing tool for self knowlegde, focusing on one's goals and actually 'attracting' wonders into your life. An absolute must!

Have you ever tried it?

Rules of my studio...

Yes- these are my rules and I should really put them up on my wall, nice and big to bring me back to order when I stray and forget( really just to be gentle and not take myself too seriously)

Rules of my studio

1. Every painting doesn't have to be perfect

2. Paint good- paint bad- just paint!

3. Look for the bones (the composition)- Stick with the bones

4. Know yourself , you don't have to do it all...

5. Keep not what is 'clever' but what contributes to the whole (beware of ' cleverisms')

6. Love your brushes- wash them thoroughly

7. Simplify, then simplify some more...

8. You really don't have to say it all in just one painting

9. All mistakes can be turned into opportunities

10. Remember, this is just another painting in your painting journey.

Make some notes, take some photos, enjoy what is there to enjoy and move on....

So what do you think? Can you think of some more?

11. Janelle's rule: stop before you ruin it silly!

Thanks Janelle!

12. Christina added: remember you are your harshest critic...

Thanks Christina !

My creative space

I rushed to add these images from my studio, eventhough I have been posting many pictures lately about my creative space anyway. It seems that the more photos I take the more I become aware of my space in a ...new way. Has that happened to you? I seem to become the observer as much as the one inhabiting this space. The 'observer' makes new demands on my space- particularly when she wants me to be neat and tidy....It's still morning in Vancouver so the photos are a little dark- I don't mind- I like the day to start off a little dark and quiet- it's kind of meditative and serene. Around noon I start with some music and then I take a walk after lunch -I need to add some fresh visual images in my mind, sometimes a painting is resolved after these walks.I still haven't completed my 'Rules of the Studio' , I just impulsively entered 'my creative space',it seemed so appropriate...but I will post them later on today, promise.Have a lovely creative day in whatever creative nest you have built for your self...

Paintings finished and paintings in the making- busy times

I Woke up to find this lovely spot of sunlight and I just had to see how these little fellows would look there!

And yes! Another painting has left the 'process' room- Many more green, or greenish, or blue-green, or yellow-green, or purple ( yellow-greens' compliment color you see) paintings on the go. Some I have picked up from where I left them last year. I was still fond of them but not enough. It was so hard to 'sacrifice' paintings that had so many 'clever' bits and pieces in them.... So, I had to come up with some rules for my studio work. They are ten and they will be put up on my wall to always remind me. Sometimes I discover something, I have a moment of truth! a revelation directly from the fountain of wisdom it seems (hmmm), I rejoice , but you know what? A little while later, I forget it! And then time goes by, until suddenly I rediscover it! Oh ! so not productive... No, up on the wall go the ten studio rules.

And I will be showing you tomorrow- I am on the run now.

But do please take a look at Bibbi Forsman's

ceramic wall . It's a sight to see, she is very inventive with her shapes and patterns.

I took this photo yesterday at the end of a working day, not the beginning as usual. There are three paintings on the go these days, and I am still messing with yellows, violets and greens as you can see. I am also really enjoying this little card I found on Sunday. And these are my lovely girls getting the summer-bug...

Rea is eighteen, just finished her first year of university. Lucy is happy monkey as usual...

Am I a happy mom? You bet...

Don't you love those summer afternoons, the sun is softer, the air orangey, there's a light breeze, and you sit and draw hearts and a ton of silly things with huge, humongous , pink, yellow and light blue chalks. Is that a proper summer afternoon or what?

Last night I had meant to update my Etsy store, and write in here, but before I embarked on all these adventures , I thought I would just close my eyes for five seconds while Lucy was getting ready for bed. It was eight o'clock. I woke up this morning at five thirty and I have to admit I was quite refreshed!
The studio was dark and quiet and it struck me that this watermelon and this card we picked up yesterday, could be a great match, in a game of patterns- (afterall:' I art what I eat') I must explain though, why my weekend was so exhausting. It was these two partners in crime....

They made me walk and eat chocolate until I had to beg for mercy...

My painting is calling.

How was your weekend?

New produce from the art-farm

This is today's produce from the studio/art-farm- Lovely model- but I was in a terrible mood- I reaaaaly didn't want to do any work- you know these days? I felt so sorry for myself ...- then when I returned there was this comment on one of my morning photos on Flickr - about receiving flowers from friends and what a lovely morning gift that is- and then I felt ashamed that I forgot to appreciate what good I have already created in my life-( because I will , yes I wil, take credit for this-) So I am thankfull to have been brought back to my senses-

So in order to give my brain mater a good shake-I will end my week with a quick ten things to be grateful for:

1. breakfast, and all the people who love it too-

2. the color green- I am so into green lately-

3. the four (brave) women who have decided to follow my blog-

4. My sweet daughter Rea, who has tried to get me an art show at the very popular shop where she works- I am meeting the owner soon , so we will see how that goes-

5. acrylics- I had forgotten how much fun they can be...

6. roses- my grandfather was a dentist and he always smelled of cloves ( because of some dental medicine or other) but he grew the most aromatic, beautiful, blood red roses- I don't think I have ever seen roses as beautiful as my grandfather's roses- of course I could be an itsy-tiny-bit prejudiced...

7. birds- I looked up yesterday morning and I saw this bird siting on a wire above me and I swear it reminded me of this very same grandfather- He was pretty small, with a perfectly bold, round head, a big round tummy, and toothpick legs. And he laughed as much as he could ( which obviously birds do too), and kissed and hugged as much as he could much to my grandmas dismay- (nothing notty really, she just thought he should be more serious, you know dignified...)

8. a husband who gets as excited with his work as I do with mine...

9. miles upon miles of land and sea between me and people I love but can't be close to-

10. icecream on Friday evening....yea-

Have a lovely weekend!

I am going to make this short and sweet because I have to make some banana bread-
I woke up this morning with Pandora on my mind. Have you ever met Pandora- you know , the one with the box? I am sure you have-haven't we all? So at five am, when all was still blue and cool and quiet, Pandora and I exchanged some nasty words, and I said:"Pandora, girl, just get your sorry self and that ugly box of yours outa here..." Phew- she left-
And I came downstairs to the lovely smell of zucchini bread (with parmesan) that I made last night. I need to make some banana bread too- something savory and something sweet- I have school moms/friends come for breakfast after school drop-off this morning- And before I run off to do my baking, I am going to add this photo from the studio at five am. I know its dark- but I am beginning to love taking photos of life in the studio early in the morning- before the workday begins. Is it because its the time of all potential waiting ?

Yes, it must be-

What are your mornings like?

Guess what colors I was using yesterday for my painting?

Sometimes I think its crazy switching from acrylics to watercolors- I just don't feel I have the time to assist my brain to make the transition from one to the other- But as usual with things that are hard and seem impossible, its ...good for me... don't you just hate that?

Do you see this little plant? Its next to a window but its still crawling on its knees to get closer- This huuuge compulsion to reach to the light... WHY can't people do this too? Why do they turn the other way?

I don't know what to say, just that my heart is nearly totally torn- that I just wanted to stay under a blanket all day yesterday, even if it was the hottest day of the year-

but I will say nothing-

get myself out of bed,

paint an optimistic painting even if with bitter greens-

because when she returns or picks herself up-in one way or another -I will be here- be strong like the earth for her said the psychologist- that made me cry so hard- how can I be strong like the earth?

But I promise you I will-