Happy Hallowe'en

We have to make sure Timbah doesn't get
out on Hallowe'en.

Do you know why all the black cats now have
a bit of white on them? Because all of the
pure black cats were killed in witch hunts.
Luckily Timbah doesn't know that story.

You say it's your birthday. It's my birthday too. Just had a super
day at school today. Candy, music, presents and
fun all day. Thanks everyone. We carved our pumpkins, handed
out candy to the kids -- what a treat. I just love the little kids dressed
up like faeries and ninjas at the door, and the big kids in their
"I'm too cool to dress up" black T-shirts, jeans and hats. Funny.
They think they're the first teenagers to go out as the with it
kids, but I remember doing the very same thing with my
friends in grade nine.

Tradition demands that we carve the pumpkins
just before we put them out.
Timbah approves.

In recent years the older kids keep Trick or Treating right up
to college age. That makes me happy. Sure they come out for the
candy, but who cares? In a world rife with trouble, there's
something innocent about moving around from door to door
asking for candy. We welcome everyone, so that the night
is about neighbourhood and generosity. I have always loved
the day.

Tonight when the kids were finished, some friends dropped in
for cake and champagne. We'll probably have a big party in
a couple of weeks. But this was just perfect for today.

All the guys in my family like the candy part too.

Have an enjoying-the-pumpkin day.

Quickly - what can I do with that little piece of watercolour paper?

Last night very late before bed I spotted a little piece of watercolour
paper that's been ready for a painting for a few years. Back then
I'd taped off an area and applied an orangey, coral ground.
Every now and then I'd see the piece of paper, but I had work to do.
I was using canvasses, I didn't really need it.

Last night the colour and size leapt out at me and said, "Woa girl,
I need a painting! Now!" If you don't paint you won't understand,
if you do this experience is all old hat to you. Thinking about the wonderful
work I've seen lately by painters who use a small canvas, or
board as their base -- I whipped a picture off my family photo
bulletin board and voila. The wedding.

The wedding

4.5 x 6.5 inches

acrylic on canvas

I've looked at this little photo of my sister-in-law Mary Lou and
her husband, John every day for years. There's something great
about it. The image seems to sum up the happy relationship
they have. The shapes are strong, their faces are radiant.

They had a very small private ceremony, no family, and it
was clearly a joyous one. I think that comes out in the picture
too -- that knowledge that they're in love, and it's their own
ceremony, not one controlled by wedding planners, and
videographers.

So here it is. I may change it slightly, but not by much.

Have a noticing-what-is-great day.

Praise be to the internet gods

I almost (that's a proviso) understand the primitive urge to pacify
the gods with foods, and wine and whatever it took to bring the sun
back and let the crops grow. Tonight the Internet is shaky here, so
if you've written to me today, I'll respond tomorrow to everything
when the system is not so blocked. It would wake the neighbours
up to chant and carry on. We did light candles at dinner, but I
don't think I could bluff the Internet into thinking that that was
more than our dinner time ritual -- more connected to warmth
light and beauty, than to getting the electronic world on our side.

On the terrace before the dance

24 x 36 inches

acrylic on canvas

I am not addicted to blogging, because my other rich life carries
on. For instance in two minutes it's time to go and watch Jon
Stewart. But I do love reading my friends' blogs, learning about
what and how they are painting, seeing what matters in their
lives. This means the world to me. Okay you're making me
nervous. I couldn't sacrifice anything except maybe my breakfast
cereal after I've had a bowl. Does that require special costume,
over and above a flannel nightie and thick socks? I've never been
too good at this. I wasn't even a girl scout. All that saluting and
formality made me nervous, and the uniforms were the wrong
colour.

Enough said, come back baby, come back. Forgive me Internet.
My modern mind suggests that it may be my American friends
Googling about the election (let's face it all of my Canadian friends
are enthralled and on edge about the American elections too).
Plus it snowed today, so weather may be spoiling my fun.
All I'm saying is I want the problem over with.

It was a superb day at school today, after negotiating the ice
in the parking lot with my healing but terrified ankle, I
loved every minute in the place. The teachers in my area
were in a highly jovial mood, the students were working hard
writing, and putting on excellent presentations. I felt lucky
to be alive and doing what I do.

The image tonight is one I posted earlier, but the photograph
was so poor that you couldn't really see what it looked like.
The model was Tia Reid, a former neighbour, who is off
at university now doing great things. She is a brilliant
girl, had frighteningly high marks all through high school,
and was an exceptional model. I'd like to get her back
sometime when she's in town. This painting is in a
weird way a homage to Richard Diebenkorn, even though it
looks nothing like his work. It reminded me of the
Californian light.

Have a keeping-the-blogging-gods-happy day.

Hot off the easel

Dashed to class tonight at Steven's urging. I missed my artist friends too
much. The model had a beautiful face, deep soulful eyes, brows that
arched into the center, a strong nose and a winning smile. He didn't
look anything like my painting, but he liked the work, so that's good.

Dominic
16 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas
still wet

I told him he was much better looking than what I could capture in
my short time there. I worked for an hour and fifteen minutes.
Sometimes my determination to fire something off inspires me,
sometimes I end up with nothing, and a sinking feeling. I knew
I was rushing tonight. Too much to do for school and the rest of
life. I've been forgiving myself for being too busy all day -- so why not
continue? The break was energizing, the other artists' work
exciting. I learn something every time I spend time with them.

Have a take-a-deep-breath-and-smell-autumn day.

Growing up is worth it

Some days I really feel for my students going through the rough
transition from teenager to adult. It isn't always easy. Tonight after
a day of teaching, I had work to do and couldn't paint. Searching
through a very old notebook I found this little painting of a
fellow I dated when I was my students' age.

Watercolour sketch of a young man

He was the strong, silent type, and at the time I thought that
was what romance was all about. I married a strong man,
but he is comfortable with conversation and has a great sense
of humour. Living with someone who can't talk would be far
too lonely for someone like me. But as you can see the silent
boy made an excellent portrait subject.

My students talk about love a lot. They're trying to figure out
what it is. When I painted this portrait I thought it was about
finding someone handsome. Maybe that's not a bad start, but
it won't get you through raising kids, making dinner, watching
Jon Stewart, or juggling busy schedules. And don't get me started
on animals. My cat is fishing things out of the recycling basket
as we speak.

I hope that wherever the portrait boy is, he is happy. The last
time I saw him we definitely parted as friends. He had
a little boy and a wife, but I don't know where the story went
after that.

Flowers and kitchen china

It's hard to explain to teenagers that love is more than romance,
but that doesn't mean romance isn't important. We always
have flowers and candles in our house. It's just that we have
so much more.

Have a loving-your-present day.

Capturing fond memories

Here's a painting of our friends in Nova Scotia, Ian and Marilyn
Fancey. Almost everything in the painting has changed. They are
sitting in front of their century old farmhouse, which they sold
a couple of years ago. Taking care of the large acreage got to be
too much of a hassle, and Marilyn was lonely out in the country.
Sometimes in winter the icy roads made it treacherous to venture
into town, only a fifteen minute drive away.

At the farmhouse
watercolour
14" x 16"

The kids reflected in the window are my sons, who loved to play
at the farm, and watch TV. We don't have a television at our
schoolhouse, so a trip to the Fancey's place was always a treat
for them. The little boy in the reflection in the window, is my
son, Sam -- who graduated from high school last week, and is
now 6' 3". All those Nova Scotia summers helped no doubt --
clean air and seafood.

The little dog, Tess, sitting on Marilyn's lap is no longer in
this world, and we miss her when we visit. Before we met
Marilyn and Ian, we had never really been card players.
But they are absolutely astonishing cribbage players. Now
any visit includes potato chips, instant coffee, and hours
of cribbage, punctuated with lots of laughter and endless
jokes.

I don't paint in watercolour anymore, although I think about
it fondly now and then. I just like the feeling of painting
in acrylic so much more. Someday when I have time, I'll
do both, but for now I'm sticking to perfecting my skill
in one medium.

Have a fondly-remembering-great-days-and-enjoying-the-present-one day.

Models of kindness

Before the Dance
(the first image)
6' x 4'
acrylic on canvas

One of my favorite models is Claudia. She has always been
beautiful, and at 19 is self assured and growing up quickly.
As a model Claudia is perfect, reliably on time, kind and
cooperative. Her face is almost iconic in my work.
She is one of the faces in my largest painting 6' x 4', that hangs
in the administration offices at Seneca College where I teach.
The other girl is Solanna, my friend, Carolee's daughter.
Solanna is another amazing young person. She's now in
second year university here in Toronto.

Claudia
At the Dance
7" x 9"
acrylic on canvas

Claudia is the face on the sign I put on my lawn each year when I
open my studio for the St. Clair Artwalk. She is kind,
funny, intelligent, and now as a girl taking a year off to
work before going to university -- very business like.

One of the great joys in my life has been watching my children,
and my friends and neighbours' children grow into exciting
young adults. Their talent and generosity, energy and
incisive wit make any time spent with them a complete
pleasure.

I'm taking off tonight to see the movie Happy Go Lucky,
with Sally Hawkins. It looks exactly right for a
Saturday night.

Detail showing Claudia's face in
the first Before the Dance painting

Have a loving-the-people-and-animals-in-your-life day.