Even More Flowers and a Horse

Hi there, dear reader!

So today's post is going to be an update of my second attempt at the daisies for my ongoing Van Gogh project as well as another older unfinished piece I dug out in an attempt to re-work. But first, the daisies:

Van Gogh project daisies, take 2. WIP
5x7, coloured pencil on Colourfix
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Up to this point I've really only filled in the base colour for the stem, petals and underside of the flowers. This is the same thing I did with the first daisy piece but I find now that I'm working on the Colourfix I feel less anxious about making alterations as I go. As I mentioned with the first daisies, Colourfix is much more forgiving than Mi-Teintes when it comes to layering and fixing mistakes.

That said, the only problem I can see at this point with this piece is the background and that expanse of blue sky. Seeing that Colourfix is a sanded surface it's worth noting that from time to time you come across little sections that have a bit more grit to them than other spots. As a result you get chunks of pigment that come off the pencil and aren't as easy to remove. I'm not sure how I feel about a sky that could be described as "chunky". However, I haven't gotten to that stage yet (it's slated for this week-end) so I'll just have to wait until then to see if I can pull it off.


Now the other piece I yanked out was a horse I started last year, sometime around June or thereabouts. I had a sampling of pastelbord at the time and was still getting comfortable with using it. I got the horse outline down and started filling it in and then...I got stuck. My steam for it ran out and I put it in an envelope and forgot about it. I came across it again last week and figured I'd take another stab at it and, of course, I forgot to take a pic of it before I started to re-work it. So this is the point it's at now:

Untitled (for now at least)
8x10, coloured pencil on pastelbord
Copyright Rita Woodburne

It needs colour and value and "oomph" (that's a technical term, I'm sure of it). I'm going to take my sweet, dandy ol' time with this one because I'm not really sure where I was trying to take it in the first place... but that's what happens when you squirrel a piece away for close to a year before looking at it again.

The weather is supposed to be less than accomodating for outdoor activities this week-end so I'm hoping to get some of the many works-in-progress I have on the go wrapped up or close to it. I've told myself I can't start anything new until I get at least 3 of them done so with that in mind, I'm off and art-ing.

Back later in the week with some more on the gardening front!

I'm In!

Hi there, dear reader!

Well, after my hectic week of creating artwork, gardening and framing I'm back with a post to share some great news. First, I'm pleased as punch to report that both "Mystic" and "Sun Seekers" were juried into the Quinte Arts Council's Expressions Art Show yesterday. This show can be difficult to get into because of the sheer quantity of entries (Quinte Region being very artsy fartsy and all) and also because of the high quality of work being entered. It's a difficult job for the jurors and I don't envy them one bit.

"Mystic"
8x10, coloured pencil on Colourfix
Copyright Rita Woodburne

"Sun Seekers"
5x7, coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

The show itself runs from May 1 - 30 and the opening reception is this Thursday, May 1st, from 6- 7:30. If you happen to be in the Belleville area during the month of May I highly recommend stopping by the John M. Parrott art gallery and visiting the show.


My next piece of good news is that I'm also happy to report that from May 15 to Jul. 3 my work will be on display at Greystones, the gift shop in Bon Echo Provincial Park. I'm very happy about this since my work will be there for not only the official season opening of the park, which happens during the May long week-end, but also for the start of the "summer rush" which happens as soon as kids get out of school at the end of June. Folks that know me are quite aware that I have a long-standing love affair with Bon Echo as it's one of my absolute favourite parks and also where I was inaugurated into the world of outdoor art shows.


So there you have it. I'm still working on my second set of daisies (as well as a host of other work) and later this week I'll be back with an update on that piece. I'll also be doing a gardening post later this week since the weather is getting warmer and things are growing left, right and centre. Until then keep on art-ing!

Thanks Earth

Daisies WIP on Colourfix, 5x7
Part of my Van Gogh project

Copyright Rita Woodburne

Happy Earth Day, dear reader!!

Being a tree-hugging, berry-picking, hippie Liberal this day is very important to me. Our planet is very special, we require it to sustain our lives after all. I was going to do a big post extolling the virtues of our planet and a whole host of other things (mostly having to do with art, gardening and appreciating nature in general) and then I realized that I have to get two pictures ready for jurying on Saturday and I haven't even picked out frames for them yet.

I need to get me a day-timer.


That said, because this day is important to me I'm still going to do part of my original post which was to include some things we can all do to help good ol' Earth:

1- It's been pointed out many times before but let me beat you over the head with it again: walk, don't drive, whenever possible. I know it seems obvious but it kills me when I see people driving from one end of a parking lot to another just because they're too lazy to walk. It makes me want to invest in spike strips that I can carry with me wherever I go.

2- Turn out the lights (the party's over...) Awhile back many of us took part in an "Earth Hour" in which all we simply did was turn off the lights for 1 hour. The amount of energy that was saved was phenomenal. One hour folks, that's all it takes and think of what could be saved in 3, 4 or 5 hours!

3- Repair it, don't throw it away. Many folks adhere to the logic that if it costs more to fix something than to buy it brand new then do so. This is fine for things such as older appliances or vehicles, for instance, that probably aren't very energy efficient anyway. However, when you purchase an item and after a few months it's not performing as well as it used to or has clunked out altogether invest the dollars in getting it fixed or repaired instead of filling up landfills with "like new" throw-aways.

4- Make one or two trips, not eleven or twenty-two. For folks in the city this one isn't such a big deal because most amenities are within walking distance but for those of us that live in the country or in developing suburbs making a trip into town is making a trip into town. Make a list, check it twice and then check it again to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. Making multiple trips into town (assuming you're not Amish and travelling by horse and buggy in which case you're probably not reading this blog either) causes more pollution that we would care to take responsibility for. On the same token, make sure your vehicle is in good working order by checking tire pressure, getting regular oil changes, etc.

Lastly (and obviously)

5- Reduce, re-use and recycle. Consuming more that we really need is something the majority of North American society is guilty of. A way to change this is to figure out uses for things that you would normally toss in the garbage or recycling. Margarine and peanut butter container? Use them for storing other items such as screws, nails, elastic bands, twist ties, etc. Water bottles? If I do wind up buying bottled water (and it's not often since I have yet to grow a third eye or extra limb from tap water) I use them over and over again for carrying juice or more water, and why the heck not? Check yourself when you go shopping and ask yourself if what you were planning on buying is something you really can't live without and if it is something you need what type of packaging the items come in. Do you need to buy something that's been hermetically sealed then packaged in a 1/2" thick box with styrofoam peanuts? I think not, unless it's a vital organ.


So go forth, dear reader, and hug a tree and thank the Earth for letting us live here. Me, I'm going to go do some outdoor sketching and play in the dirt. Back later in the week with more art and until then have a Happy Earth Day!

Dishin' the dirt

Well, it’s a warm, sunny Friday and you know what that means? It’s time to talk about dirt. That is, it’s time to start thinking about your soil for gardening.

For those with existing gardens it’s not likely that you’ll need to do a whole lot in the way of amending your soil with the proper nutrients. For those that are starting a garden (and I’m referring to veggie gardens here) you may need to add some things to your soil to get a pH level that’s suitable for growing.

A wildflower seedling. What type of flower? Only time will tell...

Normal pH levels for growing are in the area of 6.5-7 and you can find this out easily enough by either purchasing a soil pH meter or taking a soil sample into your local municipal office to be sent out for testing. The plus side to having it done by a municipal testing centre is that they’ll also test for major trace elements in the soil as well as the 3 main plant nutrients, those being nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. In addition, these reports usually include recommendations for improving soil quality which is useful if you’re not familiar with measures that can be taken to adjust soil pH levels. For new gardens you’ll generally find that soil will be either too acidic, in which case you’ll need to add ground limestone to the top few inches of soil be spreading it and working it in, or it will be too alkaline and in that instance you’ll need to work sulfur into the first few inches of soil.

How do you know if you have good dirt? Well, I’ll tell you one way you can find out.

It's true! The first set of "true leaves" on a cherry tomato plant.

Although they might be icky to look at, in the case of gardening the earthworm is the best little helper you can have in the garden. Not only do they help loosen soil, they also deposit vital nutrients into the soil and keep root systems of established plants healthy. They’re also a great barometer as to the health of your soil. So here’s how you conduct an earthworm test:
Pick a day in late Spring or early Summer (early Spring if you live in a warmer climate) when the soil is moist and has warmed to about 50 degrees F. Dig out a section of soil equivalent to about 1 cubic foot. Spread out the dug soil and count the number of worms, being sure to return them to the soil and cover them with some dirt after they’ve been counted, worms aren’t big fans of tanning. A healthy soil sample of that size should contain at least 10 earthworms, any less than that and you’ll need to enrich your soil.


We’ve covered a lot with soil but before I sign off for the week-end (honestly, it’s just too nice to be inside on the computer) I wanted to touch on another bit of soil prep that can be done and will save you work in the summer when you’ll want to be tending to your plants and not the soil around them. This other thing I speak of is pre-sprouting the soil, that is pre-sprouting the weeds that are dormant now but with the onset of warmer days and nights will be more than happy to come up and take over your garden.

I don’t know about you but I hate, and I mean hate, weeding. So, if you want to cut down dramatically on the number of weeds you’ll need to start by first removing any weeds that have already started growing. Work the soil by turning over the first few inches and lightly water. Keep the soil moist for about a week until the bed is covered with weed seedlings about 1-2 inches in height. At this point pull out as many of the shoots and perennial weeds as possible. After you’ve done this first weed removal and if you have time, do it again before you start your planting. This will help you get rid of tons of weeds and will save you time in the long run.


So there’s the dirt for Friday. To leave you on a happy note, enjoy this picture of a perennial favourite of Spring: Barfing Sunshine (aka- daffodils).

Have a super week-end! :)

"Lippizaner Stallion" sketch
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Howdy, dear reader.

Whoops, there goes the country side of me slipping out again.

So a couple of weeks ago I got my edition of Artists Magazine and in it was an article about not just the importance, but also the joy, of sketching. I must admit that while this article wasn't ground-breaking or that it shook my foundations of art to the core it was refreshing to read and, quite frankly, something that at this particular point in my art career an article that I needed to read.

Lately I've found myself particularly enamoured with the idea of sketching and I suspect it has something to do with my desire to get outdoors (as the onset on warm weather is wont to do) and also that I've been working a lot on people portraits lately which is something that always gets me excited artistically. Sketching people when they don't even know you're doing it is, I suspect, a secret joy of artists that venture out armed with sketchbook, pencil and (possibly) eraser in hand.

The above sketch, I must admit, was done from a photo a friend took when at a local show of Lippizaner stallions (I'm extremely jealous I couldn't attend) who were performing feats that most horse people only dream of their horse attempting. Although I would normally say that sketching should primarily be done from life, in this particular instance I was just so drawn to the picture that I couldn't help but try my hand at sketching it.


It took me about 15 minutes (that's right, I wasn't watching UFC) and was done in my sketch-book with graphite. If you get the chance to read the article on sketching in this month's Artists Magazine then that's fantastic. If not then I highly recommend visiting the blog of Katherine Tyrell who is an accomplished coloured pencil artist and avid sketching enthusiast. I absolutely love visiting her blog to see what she's been up to... and to catch a glimpse of her latest sketches, of course! She is a wealth of information and always seems to be current on the latest comings and goings of the pencil-wielding art world (and artists in general).


Sure, this was a shorter post, but a necessary one nonetheless. I guess what I'm trying to say is something that's been uttered many times before: draw, draw... and then draw some more. What's the worst that can happen? You become a better artist?

Heaven forbid! Happy art-ing! ;)

Sleepy-eyed Sketcher

Hi there dear reader!

Today's post isn't going to be terribly long as I'm quite tired today and as a result my brain isn't in full operation. Since I'm working on some commissions, most of which are gifts so I don't dare post them, I figured I'd share with you a page out of my sketchbook:

Western sketches
Copyright Rita Woodburne

These are a couple of sketches for two seperate works I plan on doing. Both were done in pencil and each took about 45 minutes to do. They probably would've taken much less time but I was watching UFC at the time and was working on them in between making sarcastic comments at the television.

So really, that's it for today. I think I need to go back to bed so I'll have enough energy to enjoy the warmer weather we're going to be getting later today.

I'll be back later in the week with more art and gardening!

When the weather turns warm it's time to start the outdoor chores...

So it's another gardening post today and Spring is surely here because I've started my eggplant and tomato seeds. The other sure sign of Spring is that the grocery stores are starting to assemble their outdoor garden centres. They don't have any stock in yet but soon enough I'm sure they'll have stacks of manure, topsoil and flats of flowers ready for buying. The last little bits of snow that are hanging around need to go... now.

Today's post is going to be for those that are starting seeds, although some of this will apply to those that have already started their planting (you lucky folks in the South!) The focus is going to be choosing good soil for starting and the type of care you need to give the seeds for the first few of weeks of growth.

I use peat pots for my seed starting because they're cheap and are biodegradable so when it comes time for planting outdoors I can just dig a hole, plunk them in, fill the dirt back in, water and I'm done. No popping them out of trays and handling them with kid- gloves and running the risk of damaging the root system. Also, because the peat pots are natural as they degrade in the soil they actually wind up improving the soil quality and water retention. Win-win, how can you go wrong?

The first signs of Spring...and finally some colour!

As far as soil goes I use Miracle-Gro potting soil with vermiculite. That said, any good quality potting soil will do, although if it doesn't already have any in it you may want to consider amending the soil with vermiculite to improve the water retention of the soil to avoid having to water frequently.

When it comes time for starting the seeds I've always found the easiest thing to do is fill the peat pot a little over half full and then gently pat the soil down. Place 2-3 seeds in the pot (depending on how large they are) and top off with more potting mix and then gently pat the top layer down. Leave a bit of space at the top to allow for more soil to be added as the seedlings get bigger.
Most of the watering can be done with plain ol' water but it's advisable that once a week you treat your seeds to a dose of compost tea. A weekly watering with compost tea is like super-food for your seedlings and it's something that you can continue to do even after transplanting to the garden. Your plants will thank you for it, trust me.

In order not to over-saturate your seeds, and possibly cause rot, try to avoid using a watering can or water bottle. Instead, head of to your local dollar store and invest in a small spray bottle. This way you can just mist the soil and prevent drowning your seeds. I was fortunate in that this was passed onto me and it has been one of the most useful gardening tools I have:

Sorry 'bout the crummy picture.

Oh yes, a watering spout on one end and a sprayer on the other. Does it get much better than that!? I think not.

To end off this post I'll be posting a recipe... for compost tea.

Compost Tea
(Adjust the amounts based on your own needs)

Place a shovelful of compost into a burlap bag, large sheet of folded over cheesecloth or old pillowcase and tie off the end(s). Steep it in a bucket of water for 2-3 days. Take the sack of compost out and, if necessary, dilute it to the colour of weak tea.
Transfer the compost tea to whatever watering implement you're using and empty out the contents of your "tea bag" into the garden.

You just made compost tea!



So there you have it, a gardening post and a recipe. Although consuming the compost tea yourself is a no-no. (Really, I could just picture someone reading that and trying it out as a mixer at a party or something... I mean, I've heard of people doing stupider things.)

I'll be back later in the week with another art post. I just received some more art supplies in the mail today and I'm itching to start using them. So if you'll excuse me, I have some new toys I'd like to go play with. :D

Yes, I used Yellow Chartreuse

It’s done!!

Yes, the experimental daisies are done and, to be honest, I’m quite relieved that they are. About half-way through working on it I remember thinking: “Damn...why didn’t I do this on Colourfix? I can get way more layering on Colourfix...and it’s easier to hide mistakes.” Alas, I didn’t do it on Colourfix and I also couldn’t bring myself to scrap this one and start over. So I just kept on trucking through it and I’m glad that I did. Without further ado, my Van Gogh Project experimental daisies:

"Sun Seekers"
5x7, coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes

Copyright Rita Woodburne
(Sorry 'bout the shadowing on the right side, I'm working on my photography skills...)

Bright, sunny and cheery, the perfect picture to be working on at this time of year. Reminds me that some of those wee daisies are hiding under all that manure I’ve been scooping and they’ll be popping up soon enough.

I’m happy with the way that this one came out and I think that I did as much with this one as I could. Now that it’s done and I’ve had a break from it I can see things I would’ve done differently and most of the issues I encountered were ones that could’ve been avoided if I had given some more thought/ planning to the piece prior to actually starting on it. However, I’m more of a “jump in head first and hope the rocks are small and deep” kinda person so planning was not at the top of my list of things to do.

I decided that since I was working with a solid colour background I would play around with using complementaries in the daisies themselves to add some interest to the piece and satisfy my need to play around with the colour. The nice thing about working with white is that you have some fantastic options for adding colour and with this being a bright piece I felt comfortable adding colours like Yellow Chartreuse and Parma Violet... right next to each other!


I know, I’m just so wild and crazy.


Anyway, here’s a close up of one of the daisies and you can see some more of the colour I’ve played around with:

"Sun Seekers", close-up

Copyright Rita Woodburne

So there you have it. I’m really open to comments and crits for this one because, like I said again and again, this was an experiment. What do you think of the colour? The perspective? The subject matter? The price of tea in China?

I had fun with it. So much so, in fact, that I’ve started another daisy piece. I know, I'm such a glutton for punishment.

Until later this week, keep on art-ing! :D

A close- up of the experimental daisy piece.
You didn't think I'd show you the whole thing, did you!? ;)

Just dropping in quick to say that I’ll be back on the week-end with a post!

Over the past few days we’ve had some serious melting of snow going on, about 3-4 months worth. Anyone that has horses or has had a horse (heck, even someone that has a dog) at home can appreciate what kind of... *ahem*... treasures one will find after the melting of that much snow and the sheer quantity of said "treasures". I’ve been scooping and shovelling and dumping... and then scooping some more.


Priorities folks, priorities.


So, with that in mind and to lure you back this week-end I’m tickled to announce that the VG experimental daisy piece is done and I’ve started some gardening. Isn’t it great what a few warm, sunny days can do for one’s energy level?

So be sure to check back here this week-end and until then keep on art-ing...or shovelling.