More Algonquin Inspiration

I have finally started painting postcards of our Wild Women's Algonquin Canoe Trip from July. I love doing these little 4 X 6 inch cards because it takes me back to the trip and all the great memories. I make one for each woman that came on the trip. I have 4 done, however, I gave one away today to the guy who came to clean my ducts. If I can, I try to make someone's day by giving them a piece of original art. So I still have 11 more to do.

Inspired by Paint Blotters

Today I was able to spend lots of time in my studio, having caught up on paperwork and had no other obligations. So I got lots of things done which feels good.

This week I also spent some time cleaning up a bit in the studio and came across a couple of sheets of parchment paper that I had used behind tea bags as I painted them. They prevented the paint from getting onto my counter. The liquid and the paint on the parchment paper caused it to scrunch up and create hills and valleys into which the paint had dried. The designs on the paper from the drying paint was really cool looking. I thought it would be a shame to throw it out so I had been keeping it not knowing what to do with it. One sheet was in blues and greens and the other was yellows, pinks and oranges. The green sheet made me think of water and waves and the yellow sheet made me think of sunrise and sunset. I thought, I can make some nice cards with this and proceeded to cut them up. I wasn't sure I could glue them onto card stock due to the nature of parchment being non-stick so I decided to stitch them to card stock. Then I went into my magazine word and phrase files to find the appropriate word or phrases and Voila! a set of cards.

SAQA Benefit Auction

If you can remember, I blogged earlier this year about a small square quilt that I made for SAQA's Benefit Auction. The Auction begins September 16. Below is a description of how the auctions works in case you are interested in purchasing one of these awesome 12" X 12" quilts. Mine was one of 8 that were sent in from SAQA Central Canada. See it below.

 SAQA's Annual BENEFIT AUCTION is fast approaching and there is so much to love and covet in this hugely beautiful collection of art quilts made by friends around the world!

The 2016 Benefit Auction will take place from September 16 through October 9. The Auction will kick-off at 2pm ET on September 16 with Diamond Day bidding - an early bird opportunity to purchase ANY quilt for $1000.  
The 12" x 12" Auction Quilts will be divided up into three sections for bidding purposes. Each week, a different section of quilts will be available for bidding, starting at $750 and further reduced throughout the week.  
At the end of each bidding period, remaining quilts will be available for purchase in the SAQA store. Unsold quilts will also be sent to Houston for the International Quilt Market and Festival (early November). 
Note: Unlike previous years, there will NOT be a separate section only available in Houston. ALL quilts will be available for online bidding in Section 1, 2 or 3.




Individual Art works and Artists Listing with descriptions for the quilts can be found here.

  
 DREAM COLLECTIONS I LOVE...
 (just click on the link above and see all of the posted Dream Collections)

My choices for innovative and exciting design concepts may appear soon in a collection I created and you can too! But the time is short - so have a look and create your DREAM COLLECTION today by using this link!

THANK YOU to our Central Canada Artists!!!

We are so pleased that, once again, many artists from Central Canada have donated work this year.... what an exciting opportunity to own the work of some of our very most admired Canadian Artists... do add them to your Auction WATCHLIST!

(Please alert me if I have missed anyone who shared artwork!)






BIDDING DETAILS

• The online bidding form will be live on September 16 at 2pm EDT for Diamond Day bidding. All quilts will be available for $1000.
• Starting September 19th at 2pm EDT, bidding starts at $750 - only pieces in the section listed will be available for bidding at this level. Each day thereafter, the price is reduced according to the chart below.
• You can bid on up to 7 pieces at a time - the first bid on each piece wins.
• Once the auction starts, any piece in an upcoming section can be purchased at the Buy It Now price of $1000.

SAQA 2016 Benefit Online Auction Pricing
prices change at 2 pm edt

	$750	$550	$350	$250	$150	$100
Section 1	Sept 19	Sept 20	Sept 21	Sept 22	Sept 23	Sept 24
Section 2	Sept 26	Sept 27	Sept 28	Sept 29	Sept 30	Oct 1
Section 3	Oct 3	Oct 4	Oct 5	Oct 6	Oct 7	Oct 8

* All quilts will be available for a buy it now purchase of $1000 for the duration of the auction (even if their section isn't open for bidding). Unsold quilts will be sold in Houston (November) and in the SAQA Store (through December 28). 
Additional Notes:
NO BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED BETWEEN 1:45pm EDT and 2:00pm EDT. Any Bids placed during this time period will be ignored. 
The shipping and handling fee will be a flat rate for up to seven pieces at a time on any given date. If you want to bid on more than seven pieces or you want to bid on more than one date, you will be charged shipping and handling each time.
Shipping and handling within the United States -- $15; International shipping and handling -- $30. Shipping will be via USPS Priority, insured mail.

Purchase will be by credit card only. The bid form will be time-stamped and sequentially numbered - if more than one person submits a purchase form at the same time, the lowest numbered form will be the accepted buyer.

Selfie

A few weeks ago I posted a number of unsuccessful selfies. Today I worked on one with pencil first so I could correct any mistakes before I inked it in with pen and painted it. This one was more successful but I still had to do some correction even after I had inked and painted it. This one will replace the selfie I use for my instagram portrait that has me dressed in a thick cowl for the winter.

Vacation Inspiration

Vacationing with at least 6 other adults and 7 grandchildren doesn't afford much time for art, however I've become creative with making or finding the time for it. When my grandchildren see me getting out my pen and sketchbook they want to join me. I'll sit them down beside me with their own sketchbooks and they'll use whatever supplies I've brought with me to make their own creations.

I also take my sketchbook to the beach where I'll do some small quick sketches. I always leave a sketch or small painting for the owners of the place we rent as a thank you for letting us enjoy their property and surroundings.

Inspired by the Passing of Time Continued

In February I posted about a calendar I am working on. It is for the year 2017 and has various themes for each month. January was Winter, February was Love, March was Creativity. In February I was ahead of the game having already finished the first three months.

Well, now it is August and I am still working on June. The April and June pages are done on watercolour paper with watercolour and May is again a fabric piece.

April is Early Spring with Forsythia and Pasque Flower. I think I need to add something to this page as it looks a little plain yet. Also, I did this one on the wrong size. It should be 14"X14" but I cut out a 14"X16" piece of watercolour paper by accident and didn't notice until I had gotten quite a way into the project. I'm not sure if I'll do a completely new page for April (since May is also Spring) or just cut it down and make it work.

May is Later Spring with Tulips, Bleeding Hearts and Blossoming trees done on a dyed silk fabric using painted tea bags for the flowers. I'm noticing as I am blogging that I haven't stitched in the date numbers on this one yet. 

June's theme is vehicles, both modern and older. I am just starting to paint the cars. I still have to add the date numbers and a few other embellishments.

I'm still interested in more themes if you have some ideas for me.

Inspiration Frustration

I started this day out with high hopes on getting a few great art things accomplished. Well, just so you know, not everything an artist sets out to do works out perfect. I know you think that's how it works but that is not reality. You usually get to see only the artist's BEST work.

Just so you know I am human and make mistakes, I'm going to post some not-so-good stuff I did today.

I had noticed that my Instragram profile picture, which is a self-portrait done in a cartoon style, has me dressed in winter clothes and so I thought I would do a summer one. I also just got my hair cut and thought I should update the picture. Well, I tried, tried, and tried again but I could not get the self-portrait right. The eyes are too big, the nose is too small, the face is wonky. Oh so frustrating! Take a look.

They don't even resemble me in the slightest. Although I am frustrated, I'm going to have to keep trying. I think part of the problem is that I am not using a pencil so I cannot adjust any errors as I go. Art teachers say not using a pencil lends itself to a more spontaneous drawing. In a way they are right but I would really like a self-portrait to look like me. Oh well, practice makes perfect they say.