The Crevice

I thought I may as well post the last of my fungi paintings (to date)... it won't be seen at my show, so it may as well be seen here. I thought it would be fun to post the photo I worked from, as well. The picture was taken at my favorite painting location, Spruce River, P.A.N.P. and I had wanted to tackle it for about a year. This summer when I was at the Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus we had a couple of rainy days so that is when I found my chance.

These glorious little fungi were growing down in the crevice of an old rotting tree stump near the river's edge. It was like a little enchanted world of it's own... a fairy land. I wanted to shrink down and go exploring! I painted it with acrylic on a canvas measuring 10x24 and for the first time I worked on a gray underpainting. This gray was the big colour mixing revelation of the week at the class for me. One of the other students said that mixing alizarin crimson with phthalo green (and white) made the best gray. Up until this point I had never used my phthalo green... I had no idea what to do with it. Well, she was right, it can make a great gray and it was a good base for this painting. If anyone reading this has other tips on ways to mix phthalo green I would love to hear them. I think the fungus on the lower left side is a bit bright  and maybe pulls the eye down too much, but I like how the brush strokes look in person, so I think I might leave it. I haven't varnished it yet, so any feedback on this piece would be appreciated.

I'm posting a sign I found along the roadside that follows Spruce River for awhile before it winds back into the forest. It's one of many poetically written signs throughout the national park. (Click on the image to see the words). 

Well, my little partner in crime has been a very good boy for me while I was hunting and pecking away at this entry. Mr. Potato Head was a helpful source of entertainment, as was the animal hospital we made for Tommy's stuffed animals, but I do believe it is now time for some of mommy's undivided attention. Thanks to those that look in today and please leave any helpful tips... I love to learn!

The Fun-Guys Didn't Make It

I'm still feeling under the influence! Ha ha. It actually put me in a precarious position last night, too. The day had gone well, I was tired, but felt okay. At 7:00 I was expecting the curator to drop by to have a look at all of my paintings so we could discuss the vision of the show and what to include/not include. Just as I heard her footsteps on my porch I was wracked with cramps. John wasn't home yet and the kids are not allowed to answer the door if they don't know who it is so I ignored my discomfort and welcomed her whilst in a cold sweat! The meeting went very well, but again 20 minutes later the cramps came! Yowsie! I sat down and pretended I needed to make some notes so that I could hunch over without her realizing... I knew I'd feel better if I could get to the bathroom, but I had no idea how long I'd be gone if I went that route. So I muscled through. It wouldn't have been terribly lady-like of me to disappear for 15 minutes. Then again, it is probably not too lady-like of me to be writing about this!

 Forest Magnolia

7x7

acrylic on canvas

sold

In the end the meeting was extremely helpful and I can see her vision much more clearly and it really makes sense. We grouped pieces together, moved them around, talked about which pieces could bridge one section to another. It was really helpful and interesting. We decided my fun-guys (fungi) are not going to be in this show. She liked them a lot, but felt that they wouldn't be as cohesive as other paintings in the context of this show. I'm a little sad because they were definitely painted with the intention of including them, but I do see where she is coming from and I trust her expertise so I am okay with it. The painting I am posting is a little fungus that my friend Debbie showed me at the Kenderdine campus this summer because she knew I was interested in them. It was at the base of a tree along a path by the studio building and it looked like this delicate, glowing flower with these "petals" that curled up. I'm calling it Forest Magnolia and it is 7x7, acrylic on canvas. And it won't be in the show. :(

Now, onto blog business. I have a baker's dozen! Yup, thirteen followers. I clicked on my newest follower to see who she is and it looks like she is new in town! Welcome to Saskatoon Gen! I don't know how you found me, but I am glad you did! And then when I was reading my comments from the other day it looks like Janie, another follower, has an award for me on her blog. Thank you! How wonderful to have new friends! I'm supposed to "go get it" sooooo......

Now to the rules for this Award:

This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming.

These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.

They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Deliver this award to other bloggers who must choose others to pass it on to and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Okay, so I've collected the award and the text that goes with it, thank you again Janie! And now I am supposed to pass it on, so I would like to give this award to these bloggers:

Tammy Hext
Art In Oils
Barbara Muir Paints
Suzanne Berry

Have a great day! It's beautiful here in Saskatoon!