Happy Anniversary

64 years ago .....                                          

To my parents Happy Anniversary!

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.

A Very Merry Christmas

Wishing you all the best of this holiday season 

A very Merry Christmas and a Joyous 2014

Jingle Bells 2014

Remembering

Holidays are a wonderful time of year. For many people it is also a time of great sadness.

Remembering all the people who have lost someone either recently or in the past.

Remembering all the people in my life who are now with me in spirit and never forgotten.

Remembering that life is wonderful and we should forget about the small aggravations of day to day living ... just enjoy each moment that we have.

Yikes

THREE WEEKS TODAY IS CHRISTMAS EVE!

I have to get "the penguins" painted for this year's card

Cards for the past 5 years  .... what will they be doing this year?

One Horse Open Sleigh -2012

Stay tuned!

Sumi-e Artists of Canada

Our annual show is this weekend. Always a great collection of Oriental art. There is a great tea room and lots of paintings. Stop by and have a look.

I will be demonstrating Sumi-e from 1 pm to 2 pm on Sunaday

6 Garamond Court, Don Mills (Toronto)  noon to 5 pm both days 

Lest we Forget

The eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour, a time to reflect, a time to remember. 

On this day I remember all of those brave men an women who served at home and abroad to preserve our way of life. We must never let their sacrifices be in vain. Lest we Forget are not just words that we say once a year but should be with us every day. 

My past blogs about Remembrance Day are here and some family stories are here.
and for a detailed story post about my mother in WWII.

Remembering all of our Veterans today and all who are still in harms way. May our future be filled with peace.

Another year

This was our 9th year on the Whitchurch Stouffville Studio Tour and our best year ever. Record crowds, lots of new and familiar faces. Great feedback.

The cats and I are exhausted! They are taking a morning nap after hiding all weekend..... their house is getting back in order and I hope to have it all done by the end of the day.... no naps for me, just coffee!

A few of my birds have flown the coup to new homes. The flock of 17 that I painted this summer were a big hit.

The Robust

 Here are a couple of them

On a branch

The Flirt

Stouffville Studio Tour

Day one of the Tour is over.

Record crowds in spite of the rain. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Preparation

Getting all ready for the Studio Tour.

Right now I am in organizing mode.

I don't like this side of things, deciding what is going to be presented how..... frames, mats etc.

I know a lot of artists just let a framer do this part and I can certainly understand why however I guess I am a bit of a control freak and want to do it myself, sigh!

Here is a new little painting that I did yesterday and it is all framed up .... just need a name!

Art for Communication

I did a workshop yesterday morning for a new group of people living with Aphasia.

Communication is not only the spoken word and for anyone who has Aphasia drawing can be another way to communicate.

I have created a program that seems to work really well with the group of people that I work with but it is always great to try it out with new people .... to see how they react.

More about the program here.

Everyone did really well and seemed to have a good time.

Here are their final paintings

And this was the best part for me .... someone handed me this drawing with the evaluation of the morning. Fantastic!

Fund Raising

Unfortunately we all have been touched by cancer. One person, Terry Fox,  33 years ago tried to make a difference and here we are all these years later still running, walking or riding in his memory to make cancer a thing of the past.

If you are so inclined donating on line is really simple. I just made a small donation.
For your consideration  Terry Fox Foundation

Flowers for Marie

And if you are interested in cards of this painting 100% of the money from the sale of these cards will be donated by me to the Canadian Cancer Society. Raised just under $500.00.

Details here

Make sure

We have just finished revamping our website.

Please take a moment to have a look.     www.alternativesinart.ca

Finishing Sumi-e Paintings

Painting Sumi-e work requires patience. I can't count the number of times I have gotten to the last stroke in a painting only to ruin it. This is a very unforgiving media, if you make an error you must start over. 

The next step after the painting has dried is to make the painting more stable by adding another layer of paper behind the work. This also improves the colour of the ink. You can dry mount it, which I have never attempted or you can wet mount it.   

There are places that will do it for you but  I prefer to do it myself. After many years I have got a system that works for me. Bear in mind that both of these papers are a little bit heavier than tissue paper. The "rice paper" that I use is strong if you know how to handle it when it is wet but it can easily tear especially when wet!

First you lay the painting upside down on a clean board.

After lightly spraying the painting with water you paste the back of the painting with an acid free rice  paste.

 

 
Placing a slightly larger piece of rice paper on the painting you gently rub the rice paper to the painting using a piece of parchment paper to protect the work from tearing. 

 
 Carefully lifting the work up it is now turned right side up and place on a clean support [some people use their doors, I don't]. The edges are taped down with packing tape [the worst part of this proceedure for me because I am always losing the end of the tape!]

 
You then have to babysit the work until it drys; sometimes the tape will break away and that can cause a ripple. 

My birds are now drying. Once they are very dry I will add my seal and sign them, all ready to be framed.

Back to blogging

It has been awhile since I posted a blog. No excuse why it has been over 2 months.
Anyhow I am back. I have been trying to paint a series of Sumi-e. Into my birds again with some success. I will post some of  them soon but in the meantime here is a painting that has a new home as of 2 weeks ago. 

Forever and Always  (C)

Time marches on

I have never understood how people can say they are bored or have nothing to do. Here it is the middle of May already and we are approaching the long weekend. Seems like not to long ago it was snowing .... oh wait Mother Nature had a bad day on Sunday and sent us all kinds of weather including snow, never mind.

Anyhow time for me just whizzes by. It has been an interesting few weeks. 

The show with the Lemonville Group of Artists was the first weekend.... big success and we had an opening evening that was packed. We had record crowds all weekend long so thanks to everyone who came out to see our work. 

Then on May 9th I was part of a team of three Stouffville Studio Tour Artists who created a collaborative painting in 30 minutes. I was nervous, not about painting in front of people but painting one work with 2 other artists. I think our painting turned out very well and I have a lot of fun!

In between painting we videoed our work ... Have a look..... Another time we might have a dedicated person taking the video.

The challenge was to create a painting representing York Region landscapes. We chose to depict a kettle lake in the bottom of the page with houses surrounding the lake and farmland behind. Collaged into the houses was an area map from the 19th century with all of the names of the farms from that era. 

Whitchurch-Stouffville Studio Tour  (C)

Thanks to the York Region Arts Council for inviting us to participate in this event and to the other artists, especially our team for a great evening.

Show Ready

So here it is just a few days until the Lemonville Annual Show and I am all ready.... go figure, no last minute paintings, framing or PANIC. I discovered a few years ago when I had way to much to do the week before the show [a wedding comes to mind] that if I get everything organized I can actually enjoy the event. Taken me all these years to figure this out, now no last minute paintings for me!

Here are a couple of paintings that will be in the show and the invitation... hope to see you over the weekend. 

Love (C)

Orange Splash (C)

Orange Crush II (C)

The Stance (C)