Women In Watercolor 2023

I’ve Got My Eye on You, Mr Sneerfulness, has now also received aa award from the Art of Watercolour Magazine in the 2023 edition of Women in Watercolor. With over 1800 submissions this is beyond a mere “That’s very nice”. The quality of the international competition is outstanding. In 2022 “Arctic Queen, Bee received an honorable mention.

For the full show of 2023 winners please go to

https://womeninwatercolor.com/2023-award-winners/

and scroll down to the five merchandise awards.

Pictures came before words. Depicting animals in art is nothing new, in fact it dates back over 17,000 years to the Lascaux caves. So what keeps me returning to animals as my subject? It’s the challenge of accurately depicting detail and texture of coats, feathers, skin and equipment in pricise glazed layers of pigments, without overworking a subject.

Muskoka Chautauqua 2023 Fundraiser

Every year Muskoka Chautauqua comes up with a uniquely creative fundraiser. This year’s a deck of cards of original Muskoka images. The originals will be displayed at the Gallery in the Woods, 1039 Golf Avenue, Windermere Village, ON P0B 1P0 Canada during the Summer Festival, August 4th-13th.

Come, See, Enjoy and take the opportunity to Purchase, one or more these very small original works.

left waterlilies watercolour, right "life drawing” a chipmunk on my knee graphite

Merriweather’s contribution, a watercolour and a graphite sketch of two iconic Muskoka subjects, water lilies and chipmunks.

FCA Small Exhibition, Federation Gallery April 4-16 2023

Small works are defined as “under 165 sq.in or 1065 sq.cm”. A physically small image can be a very big idea. Welcome to the world of small.

“LogIn” (12” x 12” watercolour) explores the interaction of a tree with the water’s edge. Is it falling into the surface or leaping from Lake Joseph’s water up onto the rocky Canadian Shield? Either Way it has been rewarded with an Honourable Mention in the Small Works Exhibition 2023!

The beautiful thing about small artworks? They invite the viewer to look closely, marvel at details and skill. Small works are intimate. They fit add a unique touch to a space that's lacking artwork, smaller spaces in your home or on the gallery wall. The Small Exhibition 2023 shows over one hundred pieces. It’s a small world after all. Invitation image Thomas Kero

A Clematis Trio at the Federation Gallery BLOOM 2023

At the Federation Gallery, Spring has finally arrived. What better way to celebrate than with an exhibition highlighting the buds and blossoms that are popping up all around us! You will find exquisite paintings, drawings and collages. Beautiful floral artworks are paired with breathtaking living floral installations created by the Vancouver Branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

A portrait trio of double white Arctic Queen Clematis float on a simple cool background. Is it Ice? Is it a Cold Sky? Is it Snow? Not likely as the flowers are at their best in July in Toronto. Their subtle absence of flashy colour, as translucent layers of off white petals create a complex physical structure, provide an annual challenge. Especially as a simple composition.

I've Got My Eye On You & I've Got Your Back

Pictures came before words. Depicting animals in art is nothing new, in fact it dates back over 17,000 years to the Lascaux caves. So what keeps artists returning to this inspiring subject? Find out in the Federation Gallery’s Animalis! The pieces show our close relationships with those animals that are part of the family and reflect on the many ways we can care for wildlife and the environment.

“I’ve Got My Eye On You” His portrait was awarded 3rd Place. An honour to be sure for Mr Sneerfulness and his smirk.

I’ve Got My Eye On You 14” x 11” Watercolour

Last fall there were many critters wandering about at Breadalbane Lane Farm. The Muscovy Duck, Mr. Sneerfulness was quite clear, “I’ve Got My Eye On You” I did not need to speak Duck. 14” x 10” watercolour on 140lb Arches Hot Press.

The RAWF has lots of subjects. The original graphite sketch of "I've Got Your Back, RAWF Poultry Show" is several years old. I redid “I’ve Got Your Back” on a left over, but still black, scrap sheet, 9.75 x 7.5 inches in Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils.

See both at the Federation of Canadian Artists’ “Federation Gallery” Granville Island Vancouver, March 7, 2023-March 19, 2023 after that on line at the Federation Gallery

Benno's Fancy or Lily of the Blue Eye

Lily, aka Benno’s Fancy, has a blue eye. Her owner loves this distinctive feature.

I first saw Benno’s Fancy, in the junior division in the mid teens at a CornerStone Farms Dressage at Palgrave Event. She was a lovely pony, with a distinct identity, a blue eye and a very determined junior rider. She did not return. Instead she went on to a number of different careers, including western dressage and barrel racing, and the undignified moniker Bubbles. Now at a mature 17 years, with the name Lily which better suits her personality and maturity, she is back at Dressage. This time with a very determined senior citizen A/O rider who is finally getting her first experiences in the Big Rings of Palgrave and Angelstone. Good for you Lily doing what you do best with an owner who waited a long time to realize her childhood goals of horse ownership for herself.

Lily is actually a very dark bay, seen in the very subtle area around her muzzle and a warm tone to her “black” coat. Lily was a fun challenge!

Summer Pleasures

Growing up in Brackenrig close to Port Carling, now as a guest on Little Lake Joe I’ve always explored the shore in my kayak or rowboat to get up close and personal with the meeting of water and granite.

My Summer Pleasures ; “Six Inch Tsunami”, “A Rosseau Rowboat” and “Sister Island, Lake Joseph”. were on display from June 28, 2022 to August 4, 2022 visit the Etobicoke Art Gallery at the Etobicoke Civic Center

You are Invited

The Federation of Canadian Artists International Mail In Exhibition at the Federation Gallery, Granville Island

Yellow Fritillaria “For Ukraine” was used for the on-line invitation image.

The Bend

FCA Toronto celebrated Spring Thaw from March 17 to April 16 2022

About The Bend. My Studio is located at the top of the hill above the East Branch of Toronto’s Don River. While on a hike along the river I walked out on a sand bar just upstream for 4” x 6” pencil crayon, field sketch to capture the sun sparking through the emerging weeping and black willow leaves at the Bend.

Back in the studio I completed this 12” x 9” watercolour with a dancing square brush.

@fca.toronto

#fcatoronto

A Wonderful Person

Julie Tattersall and I first met at Ambercroft Farms in the 1960s. We connected through our mutual arts loves. Julie went on to a the professional horse career. Her career carried her all over. Julie was a legend in the Ontario horse show world. Always producing top quality competitors. Along her three daughters, Jane, Jennifer & Jacquie later Grandaughter Lola and many dogs, she part of the Canadian horse show world for over 50 years. We adventured together. I learned to drive a pick-up truck driving to the Kentucky Horse Park. Discovered you can hide a golf cart and forget it in the back of a trailer far from home. Had a wild Taxi ride to LaGuardia after see Leonard Cohen at Madison Square. Saw Canada Geese blacken the wet fields around Ottawa in spring breakup, and so on.

Julie passed in mid October 2021.

A Hockey Award

The Aurora Amateur Hockey Association has a loyal volunteer group of supporters. The AMHA decided three retiring leaders should have a unique reward to honour them for those many years of service. Each received a personal souvenir.

10” x 8” “GoodBye” Mr Di Nallo + Logos and commenorative plaque

Three original paintings were presented to the long standing volunteers that make the AMHA a valued part of the Aurora Ontario community. Please contact Heritage Sports Art to have your special work created for your team or individuals in your team

A Naturally Creative Project

Muskoka Chautauqua 2020’s creative paddle fundraiser was a paddle. Oh My Goodness! It’s a real paddle, full size!! I contemplate the paddle. It is intimidating. What to do? It’s an opportunity to pursue several different not usual methods and materials.

A watercolour trillium image in my files from the 60 blossom patch in my East York backyard became a transfer. It was a Learning experience. Thank you Muskoka Chautauqua for this adventure in Creativity, Experimentation and New Learning.

Please contact the Studio for a Step by Step of the Complete Adventure