Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2015 

Lest we forget

Lest we forget. Not just today but everyday.

All of the freedoms we enjoy are because of the men and women, most of them still teenagers who served our country. I went to the service at the local Legion today as I try to do whenever possible and it was so wonderful to see such a large crowd. After the events of last month I think we are all more aware of our military. 

Remembering all who fought and lost their lives, remembering all who came home.

With gratitude, I remember my grandfather in law who fought and was wounded at the Somme in WW 1, my father in law who drove trucks in WW 2 through liberated Europe and who could never speak about what he saw. 

My parents, both still very active, served... my father in the Merchant Marines up and down the Atlantic Coast and my mother in the Womens Division of the Air Force, stationed on the west coast watching for enemy planes. I was fortunate to go to a reunion of these women a few years ago .... what a group, how young they were during the war  and how young at heart they were at the reunion, all of them well into their 80's. My mother's of her WD story is here 

Lest we forget is not just a saying but something we should hold to our hearts and honour every day. War on paper is one thing but the realities are very different. Our freedom is because of the sacrifices that were made.

To all our veterans from all the wars thank you!

Let our future be filled be peace. 

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our location during the Stouffville Studio Tour. We had great crowds and lots of positive feedback. A few paintings even found new homes.

These cards were extremely popular on the Tour. If you are interested please contact me

Another show in a few weeks ..... have to create some new work for this.

All ready

Hard to believe it is that time of year again ..... 14th Annual Stouffville Studio Tour
I am all ready ..... just have to hang the paintings put on the apple cider and we will be all set to meet you.

Here are some of the new work that I will have on display

Hope to see you
Map is here or you can pick up a brochure at all of our sponsors before and at all locations during the Tour
Three generations at our location ... My mother Grace and my daughter Allison ....... a little story about this here 

My Sketchbook

My sketchbook is in Toronto this weekend at the Distillery District

If you are down that way stop by and check it out .... there are many more to view also. I had a lot of fun creating this book and look forward to maybe another one in the future.

Details of my thoughts behind this book are outlined in this blog post 

The digital copy is here .... book number 14698 ..... but there is nothing like seeing the real thing!

You're Invited

Hope everyone is enjoying this summer weather. Little humid but at least there is no shovelling and polar vortex so that is a real bonus. I for one am quite happy.

I have 10 Sumi-e works at the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Municipal Offices in the lobby. If your in the area during business hours stop by and see the show.

Next week Take Three - new work by Allison Bullock, Diana Bullock and June Probert at the beautiful McKay Centre in historic Unionville.  Hope to see you!

You're invited

Very pleased

Very pleased that 2 of my paintings and 1 of my daughter's Allison are part of  The Colour and Form Society’s 2014 Biennial Exhibition and will take place on June 4 to June 24, 2014 at The Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre, 87 Pottery Road in Toronto.

Here are the paintings lined up and ready to be taken to the gallery. Mine are on the outside and Allison's is in the  middle 

Opening on Sunday ..... planning to be there and if you are in the city please stop by 

All ready

All ready for the Lemonville Show this weekend. Stop by and say hello!

Happy Anniversary

My parents 63 years ago. Happy Anniversary

A little story about my family

Grace MacPherson, Diana Bullock and Allison Bullock were the subject of a recent article in Good Life Magazine York Region Edition. For the complete magazine please visit here  and scroll down to the York Region edition at the bottom of the page.

Here is the article

All credits to Good Life Magazine

Picture of artists by Mary Cook  

All images of art (c) the artists

Sketchbook update

My Sketchbook is now on line.... Digital copy 
Please visit it.

Less than six degrees to William Shatner

Just before Christmas I found out that I have an almost direct connection to William Shatner of Star Trek fame.

 I have mentioned  before about my volunteering at the York Durham Aphasia Centre for over 24 years. I have done a wide variety of things from Board Chair for 5 years, to fundraising; organizing garden tours, raffles and selling all manner of items to raise money. I am also still a weekly communication facilitator working with clients in group settings.

I also developed and deliver an Art for Communication program to the clients in 3 programs. Through art, this program helps people gain another tool for communication.

It is not an art lesson; most people would not be interested in lessons. It is not art therapy; art therapy is a powerful tool used to make connections to deep thoughts and feelings .... for people who have a challenge communicating this could be very problematic! My explanation of Art for Communication is here.

With other volunteers, I have also used some of this art to create note cards or "Cheery Notes" for a fundraising and aphasia awareness. Over the years we have raised a significant amount of money for the Aphasia Centre.

In 2001 twenty four client paintings were shown at The Latcham Gallery a local public art gallery.  I worked closely with curator Maura Broadhurst to present these beautiful works of art and raise Aphasia Awareness. This show was displayed in many different venues over the years with the final exhibition at 19 on the Park in Stouffville during the 2009 celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the York Durham Aphasia Centre. Where possible each of these paintings was given back to the clients who created them. There were a few paintings that we couldn't return.

So what does all of this have to do with William Shatner?

In 2010 the York Durham Aphasia Centre became a program of March of Dimes Canada.  For more information about the York Durham Aphasia Centre, a program of March of Dimes please visit here.

William Shatner is the spokesperson for March of Dimes.

As a gift of appreciation one of the paintings that was not returned to a client was presented to him.

So my connection to William Shatner is the painting that was presented to him.
Pretty neat!

It is in the mail

My book for the 2014 Sketchbook Tour is on the way to Brooklyn, New York one day before the deadline of Jan 15th. I must confess that I had the book for over a year and just started to work on it last Monday. What can I say.

I am very pleased with how it turned out and even think I might have a few ideas for large paintings from this work. 

My idea started with some of my favourite music and how to portray these songs. I decided that Sumi-e or Japanese ink paintings would be the best way to accomplish this and I am very happy with the concept. 

I admit I was so happy with this sketchbook I wasn't quite ready to part with it, yes I sometimes get too attached to my work. This Tour will be coming to Toronto later this year so I will be able to visit with my book again. I did pay to have the book digitized so it will be online soon. 

All and all a very satisfying experience so I will probably try this again. 

I will post the link to the digital copy but in the meantime a sneak preview of the book.... The Music in my Life 

The Cover -Someone to watch over me

One of my favourite pages - Imperial March [Star Wars]

Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to everyone. 

This has been a crazy 12 days for everyone in the Toronto area. We now know what is really important ..... electricity! 

I was very fortunate with the ice storm, just a few minor outages. Christmas plans changed a little but that was okay, we were all safe and warm and it just kept everything in perspective. The ice was beautiful.

Happy 2014. Wishing health, happiness, peace and prosperity.