We Thought You Were Dead?!

Alas, it is not so, dear reader. The last two weeks have been organizational and familial Hell. The show at Bon Echo has come and gone, I'll regail you with stories later, and a relative has fallen extremely ill right on cue with the chaos that ensues with summer.
First, I apologize for the lack of updates which is where the ill relative comes into play. I won't go into details other than to say it is an elderly relative who lives about 2 1/2 hours away and failed to mention that he's been living with cancer for about a year. Things have gone downhill...and fast, so the past two weeks have been spent trying to get him into appropriate care closer to my immediate family. So there you go...
Secondly, and on a happier note, I had my show at Bon Echo this past week-end and although I didn't come home with truckloads of moolah I did sell some things, mostly gift cards, as well as some ACEO's and an 8x10 original which I have posted off to the side there. He's called "The Sunbather" and was quite the popular little fellow. I also met a bunch of super friendly and helpful people. The green-ness of doing art shows must ooze from me since people were offering up advice, tips and hints left, right and centre even without me mentioning that I was new to this whole art festival/ show thing. I must give my kudos to the good people at the Friends of Bon Echo for putting together a great show and an awesome dinner afterwards on the first night (I really think a cookbook is in order).
On more art related news I also sold another work through the Belleville Art Association, another group that works very hard for its members. The chaos that ensued yesterday morning when I went to go pick-up my work was not worrisome but more amusing than anything else. I won't say anything more than that.
I've also been asked by a local television station to do an interview for a new program they're staring in the fall featuring local artists, musicians, writers, performers, etc. I agreed to participate so we'll see what comes of that as well.
All in all while it has been a hectic month I must say that July has been good for art. I'm tired and need to rest for the next show in September over the Labour Day long week-end. I also need to get more artwork together. I've lived through my first outdoor art show, surely I can weather another one. Maybe...

Oh, the agony!

It's just a background...that's what I keep telling myself. But the work that goes into the background is just as important as the subject itself because an overworked or a crappy background can make or break a picture.
That said, I just looked at a reference picture sitting right here on my desk and had an idea on how I may be able to pull this off but let's not be too hasty.
So here's the wee horsey. The horse itself is pretty much done aside from minor tweaking here and there. The background is what needs to be pulled off and then on Saturday it's off to it's new home. I have to say that I really like how this horse came out, being a chestnut and all, and I also realized something as I was in the process of completing this work. What was it? Well, I came to see some of what would be deemed as part of my drawing "style". It happened after I took a moment to review some of the work I've done this past year and, more specifically, some of the work I've done as of late. There is a method and technique that I seem to be using every time creating an appearance to my work that, to me anyway, is consistent from one piece to the next. So I guess I'm developing my style...or refining it. Either way I'm starting to notice consistency which is always a good thing.

My next update will probably be on friday and then I can't vouch for what will happen next week because of "the big show". I'm still trying to get stuff prepared and figure out what the heck I'm going to display my work on. The other half will probably be spending this week-end rigging something up for me...and I'm sure that's how he wants to spend his week-end. Oh well, the things we do for the ones we love...

Well, where are they?

(Please insert sheepish grin here)
So I know I promised some camping sketches and, clearly, the picture to your left is not a camping sketch. Perhaps I should explain...

You see, the trip started out innocently enough as the other half and I are driving along and we have to make a turn off to get to the park. Me, being the excellent navigator that I am, followed the map...without realizing that the map was from 1997. A little out-dated to say the least. Anyway, after driving around in the heat and getting a little grumpy we finally stopped and asked for directions and got back on our merry way. We arrived at the park at about 4:30 and checked in and set up our stuff. Keep in mind that this week-end was extremely hot, around 31 celsius and with the humidity it made it feel more like 40 celsius. 'Gadzooks, that's hot!' you say and I say 'No flipping kidding!'
Anyway, after a few beers and a big fat hamburger we just decided to veg out by the campfire. As we were sitting there a young couple, looked like university students, shows up and begins setting up there stuff. Some cursing ensues (you can tell they're rookies at the whole tent set-up thing) and we chuckle and just watch the show. Then a couple of hours later another couple shows up to keep them company...and provide us with entertainment again. These young folks were entertaining until about 1:30 in the morning when they still hadn't gone to bed and were getting louder. Good thing my coloured pencils hadn't been sharpened or there would've been trouble...
Anyway, long story short it rained for half of the second day we were there, I was tired, the other half got sun stroke or something while out fishing and all in all it wasn't the best trip. I did get some really nice pictures though that I'm going to use for a few pictures so sometime soon I should have some stuff to share but in the meantime the pic above is of my horsey WIP. I have to give it to the person this week-end so I need to get cracking tonight and get a big chunk of it done. I'll try and remember to take a picture of the different stages but the next time you see it, dear reader, it may be close to done or just plain ole' done.
Thanks for being patient with me..I need it. :)

Oops, I forgot...

It would seem that in my excitement of getting ready for camping that I forgot to take an update picture of my horsey. I'll wipe the egg off my face now.
On much more organized art news I've been juried into another big show up north. By "up north" I mean the Kawarthas. An area very, very fond to me since my parents used to have a cottage up there, "Little Yellow" and the "Eternal Fixer-Upper". Also, it's just really picturesque up there...good times. That brings me to the picture I'm sharing with you before I go on hiatus until next week. It's called "Sunset Over Big Island (Buckhorn)" and the reference picture used was taken from the Eternal Fixer-Upper kitchen window. Imagine having that view every evening as you're eating your dinner!
So at any rate I get to return to this wonderful area over the Labour Day long week-end for the Kawartha Arts Festival. It promises to be interesting I'm sure...
So, dear reader, I'm signing off for this week with fond memories of cottaging and an excitement for tomorrow and the big camping trip and the smells of trees and campfires...oh, and bug spray.

So here's Mr. Horsey with a bit more done to him and underneath him. Still looking good so far but it just hit me last night as I was working on this that I have no idea how I want to render the background. Problematic? Yes.
You see, the reference photo has a lot of fencelines and trees in the background which, to be frank, just doesn't work at all. My calamity is this though: Do I go for a full background covering up every square inch of this picture (it's 11x14, by the way) or do I go for a more implied background? Ah, decisions, decisions...
I guess you, dear reader, will just have to stay tuned for a few more updates to find out what I ultimately decide to do.

So tomorrow I have a gargantuan day ahead of me. I have to be out of the house at 8:30 to be up north by 9:30 to pick up my art (hopefully there won't be any more deaths in the family) and then I have to get back into town so that I can pick-up the last few camping items for this week-end. After all that is done I don't want to have to leave the house until friday afternoon to go on said camping trip. I'm also still at odds as to whether I should take my doggie camping with us since it's really a break from looking after other people's animals that I desperately need. In fact, it may just be a break from animals that I need period which is why I haven't decided on this matter. I'm a very indecisive person sometimes, can you tell?
I'm leaning more towards not bringing her since we're going camping again next month and I know for sure I want to take her to this next park since they have a doggie beach. Yes, a doggie beach and yes, dogs are slowly taking over the planet. It was bound to happen sooner or later since humankind seems to be on the scenic path to self-destruction.

Anyway, it will probably be thursday when I update again and then no more until next week. If you'll excuse me now I have to go cater to the upcoming four-legged rulers of Earth. Woof.

Taking it in stride

To your left you'll see a horse since, as promised, I am sharing yet another WIP with you dear reader. This one is for a friend as a gift (hopefully they aren't reading this and if they are...surprise!). I've done more aceo's and am finishing up a landscape picture and beginning another one as well as making my way through all the other works I have on the go.
As I'm doing this one something becomes plainly obvious to me and, as I've said to others before, I really don't like doing chestnut horses. For those that aren't familiar with horses or the odd colouring names horses are given chestnuts are generally a red-brown colour. They can be dark or light in shade and usually have a mane and tail of a similar colouring as their body. They're also a pain in the patookus for getting the colour matched properly when drawing them. That said, I'm adhering to the motto that practice makes perfect (or close enough to it) and am just going to plug along with this.
Despite not being a fan of rendering chestnuts in coloured pencil I must say that so far I'm okay with how this one is coming along. I'm not pressuring myself to get it done within a few days so I think I'm enjoying it more which, be default, just helps in creating great art.
So tomorrow I'll have another update since this week promises to be very, very busy for me. I'm busy with my other diversion (see The Lost Meadow), I have to go pick up some artwork from my display up north and this week-end the other half and I are going camping! Yay! I love camping and have been waiting for this week-end for a long time and the weather promises to be sunny and hot so I'm packing up my art stuff and taking it with me...that and some sunscreen SPF 55 or 60.
So that's the update for today and just wait until tomorrow, dear reader, when I'll have pictures of chestnuts aplenty.

Thank you

Hello dear reader,
This entry will be short since 1-the week-end is upon us and 2-I don't have any "real" update to post.
I'm feeling oddly sentimental and reflective right now so I feel I should get this out of my system. Over the past week I've had the opportunity to reflect on my return to art and I have to say that it has been successful and well-received (so far). I have many fantastic people to thank for this, and a few people in particular who have offered encouragement and revelations to me without even knowing it. If there were more people in the world like these aforementioned individuals I suspect that the youth of today wouldn't be so damn angry and jaded and that, by and large, the world would just be a more pleasant place to be.
I am forever indebted to these people, some of you know who you are, and hope that I can continue doing my art without the interruption of close minded individuals and the political bull-poopy that seems to plague just about every human endeavour.
For my own remembrance I have posted the image above and I record two dates: Aug. 29th, 2005 and July 2005. I love everything about my art and creating it and I will never lose it again.

Why do you mock me Colorado?

My efforts at organic gardening are becoming frustrating. If it's not powdery mildew trying to destroy my squash plants it's giant ugly green caterpillar things eating my tomato plants. And now? Now Colorado's worst export, the potato beetle, is demolishing my potato plants. Why Mother Nature, why must you continually punish us?

So, due to the lack of spined soldier bugs and predatory stink bugs in my neck of the woods I resorted to a "green" pesticide spray and sprayed the crap out of the little bastards this afternoon. I have a much larger potato crop this year and, by golly, I'm not going to lose it to some bugs that think they can out-do me. The funny thing? I'm really only growing this many potatoes for the rest of my family. I'm sick of eating the things and would just as soon plant zucchini or corn in place of the humble potato.

So you may have noticed the little wee birdie to your left. He's another ACEO that I've completed to make myself feel like I'm actually getting some work done. I've got about 8 works on the go right now and, at the risk of driving myself absolutely nutty, I've decided to refrain from doing a WIP right now. Maybe next week when I get more new paper in (yay!) and start fresh on something I'll post it as a WIP.

At any rate that's what's what right now. Gotta stop typing and killing bugs and get back to doing more art!

PS-I should note that I tried posting this yesterday and it didn't work. So it's here today.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

This is early in the morning for some people and for farmers the day started a long time ago. Just thought I'd share.
This post is going to be completely non-art related so just sit back and enjoy the ride. Today is a busy day what with celebrating the birth of our nation and all. The little wee people are out of school and many families have packed up their children and taken them to relatives houses for family festivities or, in a real Canadian way to celebrate our land, they've taken them camping.
Without question the landscape of our country is one of the things that makes us unique. Also, being the second largest country on the planet, it means that we have a lot of it to look at. Sadly, there are a great number of people that don't and instead choose to lock themselves up in their homes or apartments or condos or offices where they can look at nature on their t.v., computer or other little beeping and blipping tidbit of technology. After all, deer flies can't take a chunk out of you from the comfort of your den.
To those people I say go outside, visit some natural spectacle, either local or non-local, and find out why our country is so beautiful and why people are kicking up a stink about the B.C. rainforests being decimated or why it's imperative to the Newfoundlanders to retain their fishing culture and everything in between! It's not just a matter of preserving what we presently have, it's about making sure it's around for a good long while for others to enjoy as well. Sounds cliche-ish? Yup, but it's the truth.
Many countries and their people don't get to enjoy the liberties and benefits that we do and, although it's been said a million times before, I think we take that for granted. I know I do from time to time but then I also get to have times like this where I can reflect a bit and remember how lucky us Canucks are. We don't have to worry about being bombed when we step outside our door (although in T.O. they may argue otherwise...), we enjoy relatively free health care, our PM for the most part seems to have his head screwed on right and knows how to pronounce most words in the English dialect, our dollar is rising, we have Timmies (thank you Iced Cap), we have trees, lakes, mountains, wildlife and a multitude of different cultures to make up our population which is probably what makes us such a gosh-darn friendly country.
This week-end us Canucks get to celebrate our awesome country and be thankful for our quality of life and a few days after that our neighbours to the south get to celebrate their country. I'd argue that Canada is waaaaay better than the States but then again, I'm a bit partial. They'd probably argue that they're better than us but what it really comes down to is this: Who has the better beer? Us Canucks. Game over. HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!