Happy to be home again

On Saturday we decided to go up to Ottawa to visit my
mother. My mom lives on the Ottawa River, in a spot
that is spectacularly beautiful, especially at this time
of year. I love spending time with my family. Both my
mother and my brother live near our nation's capital,
and both have properties right on the water, on
two different rivers.

You can't beat the city of Ottawa for its beauty, and its
dedication to preserving both its buildings and its
wild spaces -- something we need more of in Toronto,
but I am always glad to be back in my own home,
sleeping in my own bed, and working in my own
studio.

In the studio
acrylic on canvas
still working on it
16" x 16"

Tonight I spent more time on my little painting of
the model relaxing in the studio. I'm still working
on it, but it's got the happy feeling I was trying to
create. There's nothing like working with a cooperative
model, and thinking about the painting
during the breaks. This model looked beautiful in
every light, from every angle. I think this is my
fifth painting of her this year, eventually I could
probably fill a gallery with paintings featuring
her image.

The same is true of most of the models
I've worked with. If they can set a mood, enjoy
being around my home, family and animals, can
relax and like the work -- of course I want to
work with them again, and I do. I always miss
all of my subjects when they go, whether they're
models or commission subjects. I spend so much
time with them, that before long they act and feel
like family.

I'm tired from the trip tonight, so I'll talk
to you tomorrow.

Have a there's-no-place-like-home-day.

A fine kettle of fish

The cast party was interrupted for most of the day, today when Steven fainted in the upstairs hall this morning, and we weren't sure if he was hurt or not. Another trip to emergency, our third in one week. It was as the title suggests not the way we'd want to spend a beautiful Sunday in July. I was thanking my lucky
stars that we live in Canada and all of this was free. We've been to the
hospital now more times in a week, than in our entire marriage -- not
counting the two births. Whew.

But we want to thank the EMS Paramedics, Susan and Brian
who were so kind and caring to us, Dr. MacDonald who gave
Steven the all clear, Josephine and Luigi who helped
us out big time. Steven's brother John bought Thai take out, and in
the end we celebrated that all of us are fine. Steven's brother Dave
and his son Andy, dropped in with a delicious dessert. True I've got a
broken ankle, but I'm getting better and the rest of the family is sleeping

peacefully.

Maybe you remember this painting from the first images I showed you. I worked on it tonight. It's not quite done. The jar with the teabags needs to be completed, and the background needs something. The kettle is almost finished, and I'm happy with how it's coming along.

Tomorrow I'll get back to working on my commission.

Have a take-it-easy day.

In the bag

A few weeks ago I was looking at the work of some wonderful
realist painters working on objects inside glass, and in lunch
bags. That Sunday I was attracted to apples in a plastic bag lying on the table when Steven and I were unpacking after our weekend shopping trip. I grabbed the bag and made off with it into the studio, promising to buy more, and began this little painting -- but I just couldn't get it to work.

I started the way I sometimes do with small paintings, drawing
with fine marker on a pre-painted ground. In this case the ground was orange for warmth. But the pen was
too harsh, the apples the wrong colour.

Tonight I went at it again, as a break from a formal portrait
I was working on, and it's almost done. I like the exuberance.
High realist it's not. And my friends who don't believe in
white will be certain there's too much of it. Maybe so,
and yet -- a bag of apples now and then is fun to paint.
What's the rule about the doctor. An apple a day?

Have a break the rules with passion day.

Small is powerful

I've painted Claudia so often, that she is certainly
one of my muses. Here's a painting I did for one
of the Little Art Show exhibitions. Claudia's
fresh, stylish face inspired a bold painting.
Even though it sold a few years ago, it remains
one of my favorites. In fact it's been a kind of
icon for me, and is on my St. Clair Art Walk
street sign.

Have a strikingly beautiful night.