Salt with my foot would be fine, thank you.

Methinks I spoke too soon.

So, apparently this week we're getting nothing but snow, snow and more snow. I guess you folks in the USA are tired of looking at the white stuff in places it shouldn't even be (no, not there... get your mind out of the gutter!)

ACEO WIP- Unnamed as of yet.
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes

That said, after the wonky weather we've been having who knows how long it'll even stay on the ground. :/

So I've started a few more ACEO's and some larger pieces. Now, if I could just get around to completing one of them that would be super. I think I'm in one of those phases where I need to start a whole whack of art, realize that I have 53 pieces on the go and not one of them is done and then go through a period where all I do is complete pieces.

Yup, that sounds about right.

"Touch of Colour" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

So, having said that I believe I should go work on some of said pieces. Back later this week with more art... providing we're not buried under 9 feet of snow.

Toodles!

I Just Need A Little Nudge

How I spent my Monday Afternoon...

So it's almost Friday and when the week-end rolls around it'll be time for working on some more art and, hopefully, posting more works.

Lately it's been difficult to get art done because, as many of you know, life tends to get in the way of doing fun and enjoyable things and, as I mentioned in my previous post, because of the weather.

I hate to say this given the lousy Summer we had, but I'm kind of wishing we would have a rainy day or, even better, a snow day. While I generally enjoy getting outside in the cooler weather, for the most part this time of year always feels like a time to hibernate indoors and (for me anyway) work on oodles of art. Small pieces, big pieces, still life's, equestrian pieces or even reading some art history books. I've started on some pieces, the WIP's I'm planning on posting soon, and even started re-reading one of my art history books from university.

"Dramapple" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

It's all very good and well, but I think I need that little kick from Mother Nature where she says: "Hey! Look at what I brought you... a snowstorm! Go ahead, stay inside and drink ridiculous amounts of hot chocolate and play with your coloured pencils. Have fun!

Oh, and tell your husband to get the snowblower warmed up because this one's going to be a doozy!"

Yup, that's what I need. And to remind the Other Half to get the snowblower tuned up. :p


Back this week-end with more art!

Art and alien space pods

Nope, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth... at least not yet anyway.

The past couple of weeks have been hectic and as the last of the lazy, hazy (or in our case cool and soggy) days of Summer come to a close I realize how much prepping we still have to do before Winter. After all, the paddocks won't seed themselves and firewood isn't going to cut and stack itself.

The Women's Art Festival went well and the weather held out despite some dark, threatening clouds that rolled in mid-afternoon. Then last week-end the Other Half and I were off camping with friends. Getting any amount of art done has happened at a glacially slow pace, although I do have this to share:

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

There's a weird glare at the bottom part of the picture which I apologize for, I'll need to get a better pic of it later. I also have a couple of WIP's on the go and I hope to post them this week-end since it's a long week-end and I intend to be as lazy as possible before the Fall rush of chores begins.


Also, because things aren't weird enough for me on a regular basis here on the farm let me share with you with my story of discovery...

So last week Rosebud and I were walking through the woods. It was a nice sunny day and we were enjoying our morning constitutional and as we wandered here there and everywhere I can recall thinking 'It seems quiet... too quiet'. After all, it's the woods, there's usually leaves rustling, birds chirping and crazy squirrels chattering away as we walk past them.
As this thought crossed my mind I remember feeling somewhat anxious, as though something wasn't quite right. So, with that feeling of uneasiness coming over me, Rosebud and I started to head back. We were on the homestretch and as I rounded a corner approaching the surface ponds I saw something that darn near made me require a change of pants. It was this:



Oh yes, a scary mylar balloon. Except this balloon (which measures a good 2 1/2 feet in height I might add) still had enough helium in it that it was standing upright.

So there I was, standing in the woods with my heart pounding and face to face with what I initially thought was some type of alien space pod. Then I realized it was a smiley face mylar balloon and I was even more frightened because, really, who the Hell expects to see a sunshine smiley face balloon staring at them in the middle of the woods. Not me, that's for sure.

After I figured it was safe to approach the balloon and there weren't any booby traps set out to ensnare me I picked up the balloon and took it back to the house with me because I can only imagine how the horses would've reacted had they seen this horse- eating monster in one of their favourite snacking spots.


So there you have it, the fun and weirdness just never ends for an artist living on a farm. I like to think of it as my own little 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' experience. Better a mylar balloon than a Coke bottle, 'cause the balloon makes for a much better story. ;)

Back on the long week-end!

Just Another Day in Paradise...

On the weekend we were hit with a Winter storm, lots of snow, freezing rain, more snow, ice pellets, wind and as such it was the perfect day to stay inside . . . and watch the Other Half snow-blower (that’s gooder English, right?) the driveways.

For me it meant working on art because my only other option was to do laundry and, really, who wants to do laundry? Not me, that’s for sure.

Working on art and waiting for the snow to melt...
both being tasks that require the the highest level of patience one can muster.

I have a few projects on the go right now: a handful of commissions, some personal work that I’d like to have done for the upcoming show season and I’ve volunteered to do the artwork this year for the Lilac Tea Art Show that will be used for advertising and nitty-gritties like name-tags and place-cards for the show. So even with the daily chores and such that come with living on a farm it’s quite fair to say I’ve got a few things on my plate and on top of all that now I’m getting geared up for gardening season.

Did I mention we had a snowstorm here?

I tell ya, there’s nothing quite like two feet of snow, the end of Winter and cusp of Spring to get one thinking about planting zucchini and lobelia (not in the same plot, of course!) This past weekend I pulled out my seed supply from last year and the seed catalogue I was sent back in October and started mentally planning how my veggie garden and planters would look for this year. I also looked over floral ref pics I have stored on my computer because in the vast expanse of white that covers my front lawn and garden I was wont to recall the colours that were there back in the Spring. And Spring is coming...mark my words.



I do love the ever-changing variety that weather in Canada provides but to be honest, I’m quite sick of Winter now. The snow can melt. The Spring flowers can come out. The solar-loading can begin. In fact, if my nostrils freeze together one more time I’m just going to throw myself in the snow and have a temper-tantrum simply because I can. So there.