"Blue Vase"

This painting was inspired by the works of Annie O'Brien Gonzales. I love taking online workshops and decided to take a class in Expressive Mixed Media.  I certainly had fun and Annie really is inspiring!  Her work is amazing and I enjoyed adding some of her tips and techniques into this piece!  Although most of the original flowers I had painted on ended up disappearing in the end, I think the piece really is reflective on how passionate a simple vase of flowers can be!  I can imagine sitting at the table, mint tea in hand, and breathing in the beauty of this simple vase of flowers.  

 

 

  

"Blue Vase"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 16x12

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$350.00

Granny's Bouquet

"Granny's Bouquet" was simply a fun piece to create!  Sometimes the simple paintings can make the biggest impact.  Creating this piece certainly did that for me!  It was created on a 8x8 canvas and the texture in the painting was achieved by using handmade paper, rice paper and my own texture fiber.  This was completely an intuitive creation arising from my own imagination.  

 

"Granny's Bouquet"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 8x8

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$200.00

SOLD

The Golden Cross

Many of my paintings start off with an underpainting of handmade or hand painted/stained papers. I normally do not have a pre conceived idea of composition and like to allow the painting to become what it wants to be. In other words, I like to paint intuitively. "The Golden Cross" started out with monochromatic shades of hand painted papers in cerulean blue. I wanted to do a complimentary colour pallet so I used papers in shades of quinacridone gold as the complimentary colour. I tend to use the quinacridone gold as an yellow-orange and I love the way it makes the cerulean blue pop!

      
 

"The Golden Cross"

Mixed Media Abstract

Canvas, 20x20

Acrylic, hand painted paper, metal, texture paste, watercolour, ink

SOLD

  I also used an acrylic skin to create the circular, coin shaped emblem. I don't use acrylic skins a lot, but in this case, I wanted something to offset the grid composition that seemed to be appearing. As I was letting the layers dry, I noticed a cross had appeared. I decided to play on that and let the cross become the focal point. I also added some design and visual interest using handmade stamps and stencils. Over all, I am very pleased with the end result and think it turned out great!

Long Lost Update!

 
I know I have not been updating on a regular basis.  So today, I dedicate this post to updates! On a personal note, I've started chemotherapy again.  Radiation treatments to my right breast and foot start again tomorrow.  I'll go through 10 sessions of radiation, have a few weeks break and then start radiation treatment on the left side.  You might be wondering why it's being done in split treatments.  I have had SLE Lupus since I was a child.  We finally managed to get the Lupus levels into reasonable levels and radiation and Lupus are normally not friendly!  In other words, Lupus and light is not a good mix.  My oncologist and radiologist have decided it is too risky to do all the treatments as once.  I can't wait until it's all over and I can have some of my life back!  Between cancer treatments, not feeling good and lack of energy, my blog has taken back seat to everything else. When I don't feel well, it's hard for me to be creative.  I'm hoping that changes soon!  

 I entered the Fort Saskatchewan Art in Public Places 2015.  And I won!  Yipeeee!  My piece "Roots" won and was purchased by the city.  I have to say it was honestly a great honour and I really never thought I would win.  Abstract art is something you either really love or really hate and I wasn't sure it would be liked.  You can visit www.fortsask.ca for more information.

I've completed another painting titled "Hidden Layers".  It is a mixed media collage abstract piece.  It's done on canvas (16x20) and was create using my hand painted papers, acrylic and watercolour paints, watercolour crayons and texture paste.  I still need to sand down the sides of the canvas, paint the sides and frame it.  Once that is done, I will be listing it for sale.

 
 

I'm working on a tutorial on how I create and use my hand painted papers.  I hope to have it posted as soon as my radiation treatments are done and before the next set begins!  

I have been quite busy the past while with some really fun and interesting projects.  I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog posts but I simply haven't been feeling the greatest.  I have always said I did not want cancer to be the focus of my blog or my art, but having cancer of the blood really has affected how I feel and my energy level is not what is should be.  I am going to really try to post more often.

One painting I did want to share is an abstract, mixed media painting I created for my town's Art in Public Places 2015 submissions.  I wanted to enter this contest because I really believe in supporting our local artists and I honestly can not think of a better way to contribute to my community.

This painting was created using watercolour, acrylic paint, various acrylic mediums, and other various mediums.  I added Zentangle inspired elements, as well.