November Photo Journal

Woah!  November ran away from me!

I've been happily busy, teaching art around town and keeping haus, as always.  Here are some discoveries and highlights from the past month, in the studio and out:

Winter may never come!  Spotted this lovely flower & herb bed nearby recently.

I was happy to be called upon to fill in for an art instructor at the beautiful Anvil Centre recently.  Happily, the 'handprint birds' the littles and I made were framed and hung in the gallery there!

Mr. Hausfrau and I left the hill for a short escape to Vancouver Island
mid-month with the littles.  The parliament buildings at night are spectacular.

Oliver and Charlotte and I spent a cozy weekend at my parents' house.

Whilst running errands in downtown Vancouver, we stopped into the lobby at the
Four Seasons hotel.  Isn't it lush?  I love all the natural elements and colours
used in the decor.

Students in my "Printmaking and Collage" class worked on some collaged ATC's
recently.  They lingered over the trading session for a long time.  Love it!

On November 11th, we honored those who have served to protect Canada and
remember those who have lost their lives doing so.

And finally, a single from the album I've got playing on repeat these days...

Now that my classes are all done  until the new year, I'm focusing on some new studio works which I will share here soon!


What's new in your world?  Reading, listening, eating anything fabulous you can share with us?  Post in the comments below...I'd love to hear from you!

David Suzuki: Hero, Inspiration, Hair God

Better late than never! I'm posting some pictures of a gallery reception meant to honor a local (national...a GLOBAL) legend, David Suzuki.  A group of about 40 artists (including moi, bien sur) represented his visage in their respective mediums.

I was interviewed as a participating artist too! (article here)

This was my submission - comparing Suzuki to Bond, the incomparable intellectual with integrity.

(and shamelessly, the red dot next to my name never loses it's thrill!)

All thanks go to the very special gallery owner, Chris Bentzen for hosting us all and letting us celebrate David with style and flare! 

Moo. Tunes. Pigeons.

New stuff I'm excited about!


My new business cards:

Eh?!  I *heart* MOO...they did a fantastic job printing these mini-artworks/business card!
(Citrus print can be found here)

Am rocking out (a lot) to this tune by Celia Pavey.  It's very happy/pretty/fun...

I feel so bad for pigeons.  They are are the underdogs of the bird world, no?

Ah, Ellie Goulding...this new track is lover-ly...

I've also been immersed in some movies and shows this week:  Mr. Hausfrau and I went on a date to see "The Imitation Game" (SO good!), and I'm almost all the way through "The Bletchley Circle" series.  Last month, I finished the Campion/ Hunter collaboration "Top of the Lake" which was CRAZY good.  I recommend all of these if you were also completely addicted to the "Serial" podcast last year!!

Hope you have an inspired week, wherever you hang your hat.

Fall Art Classes

Finally!

After nearly four years at home raising our young children and happily homesteading, I'm venturing off the hill this autumn to teach a few classes!

I'm beyond excited to be sharing art skills with interested locals.  Take note if you're in the Vancouver area, I would love to meet you!

The two classes I am teaching at the Anvil Center are going to be held in brand new studios overlooking the river.  Really, an amazing venue!

The sketch class is being held through the Shadbolt Center of the Arts at the local school here on the hill.

Anvil Center

University Highlands Elementary

Period Peace

A few things I'm loving during my down time, these early days of October...

It seems always to be autumn in London.  Or that the city was made for the season.  In any case, Call The Midwife is such a charming story about a sisterhood thriving among quite dire post-war conditions in East London.
 I rented it from my local library.

Some of my fave Fall 2013 pieces...I have not one but TWO of the mustard cardigans I was hugely coveting in "Call the Midwife"...despite the fact that I had to wear one as part of my school uniform and hated it then...

The best ghost story I've ever read.  I was really dreading nearing
the end knowing I wouldn't find another great haunt like this one.

A completely indulgent pre-war soap opera.  They really knew how to do cocktail
hour back then...I love it! (Listen it's fluff, but it's imported fluff for me, ok??)

You all must leave your own tips on reads/shows that are perfect for fall evenings!  I want to know!

The Art of Giving Art

If you were strolling along the sea wall at Vancouver's Stanley Park last weekend, you may have been the lucky and unsuspecting recipient of artwork!

The idea behind the Papergirl project is to bring art and the public together in an exciting and innovative way by taking it out of the galleries and into the streets. This art movement, which has now gone global, was started in 2006 by Aisha Ronniger in Berlin, Germany.  (Find other Papergirl chapters.)

My friend Ginger and I both contributed to the Vancouver Papergirl project.  What fun to give to others in this way!

The Papergirl Vancouver opening reception.

Some art was original, some were prints...ALL were gorgeous!

The art was hung in such a creative way.
We ducked under clothes lines pinned with artwork!

Ginger played at photographer...I played her subject.
What a beautiful center the Roundhouse is!

Ginger and I at the vernissage!

Last Saturday in Vancouver, the volunteer cyclists handed out our donated art to the people...
among them, these unsuspecting brides!
(photo via Papergirl Vancouver)

Teehee...love it!
(photo via Papergirl Vancouver)

Thanks to Ginger, for letting me post the photos you took...and for being a great date for the evening...was fun!

Have you every heard of Papergirl in your part of the world?  Wouldn't it be awesome to be out for a walk and be handed an original piece of art?!

Toot Toot!

(that's me, tooting my own horn...)

They say to take advantage of every opportunity offered - that life is too short not to.

Recently, I did just that, and had my artwork featured on tv!

Me (centre) with the Vancouver morning news anchors and stylists!

I'm really glad that I took the opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone and agreed to be on the show.  The 'behind the scenes' look at the running of a news program left a big impression on me too...there are so many people - so many cool nerves! - that make live television seem so seamless!

The producer chose a few pieces from my portfolio...

Here's to seizing opportunities as they come our way!

(link to see the full news clip)

Wintering: Canadian Stylie

I feel we Canadians "winter" very well.   Some cultural highlights of the season in these parts:

1. Embrace the Flavours

They're all a delight...but oh my!  The maple-bacon donut (top right) is really the toast of the town at the moment.  
If you're in Vancouver don't miss them here.

2) Simple Sounds for the Soul

This Canadian husband-wife duo dubbed "Whitehorse" is on loop here while
I paint during these frosty months.  Am addicted to this one...oh and
 this one too...

3)  "Hey, did anyone ever think that maybe Sylvia Plath wasn't crazy, she was just cold?"
                                                                                                                              -Lorelai, Gilmour Girls

(Photo: Olwyn Hughes)
The only thing on my list of things to do this
week:  finally watch the movie!  

Hope you are all enjoying your winter days and nights too!

What new flavour/ sound/ story have you discovered lately?

From the Studio Desk

Between bath and bed battles, Oliver and I have been toiling at the art desk:

Fashion Maven

A Walk in the Park

It seems we're both experimenting with new mediums, happily led by our imaginations...

Put a Bird on It

After watching the very funny "put a bird on it" clip, I gave in to an immediate compulsion to put yet another bird on something...

Owl on Bark

Think I'm going to replace this piece of the forest for someone to puzzle over when they come upon it.  After all, what do I need yet another bird piece around the house for?

It'll be part of my 12-step program to de-bird my bird-ed house.

Studs, Stems & Spinsters

I'm trying to become more well-rounded in my knowledge of non-kid stuff in my time at home with my kids.  I'm learning new things and challenging myself to have good conversation topics at the end of the day - to know more than just O does NOT like his perogies touching his peas and C's naps are getting more regular.

What I'm learning this week:

Studs:  Kilian Wenger is Schwingerkönig


Photo: Schweizer Familie

Stems:  Tulips bloom in May in my neighborhood...two month after tulips everywhere else in the world, it seems.

Spinsters:  There ARE engaging shows on tv...just not shown here in Canada.  Thank you library!

Downton Abbey

This grab-bag of "info" is oddly making me happy.

Am working on becoming more well-rounded with chosing wines.  More on that fun soon...

Sick Soup and Honeybees

It's a sick day for Oliver today.

This usually means beaucoup-de-whining, fitfullness and general misery for everyone at this address.

Today is different; maybe this is a *new phase* or maybe it's my lucky day but he's actually my usual Oliver...just with a "runny on the nose"!

I fed him some "sick soup"...

...and then we played the honeybee game...

...watched some Mr. Dressup DVDs...and then he NAPPED!

Oh happy day!  I know I'm TOTALLY pushing my luck by attempting to make pain au chocolat now too!