'The Teds' help to bring a little Sunshine

I am currently working on two projects. One is in the planning stages but is a very exciting opportunity for me as an artist. It involves me designing and painting the illustration for the front cover of an important publication.  I will let you know more about this as the project progresses further.

The second project that I am working on is something that actually began back in November of last year when I agreed to help raise money for The Sunshine Foundation of Canada. The Sunshine Foundation of Canada is a national charitable organization that makes dreams come true for children with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. There was a local TV auction back in December and perso with the highest bid won the opportunity to work with me in developing an idea for my next Ted painting.  One of their own Teds can be used as my 'model' for the painting. I can also incorporate a selection of objects that hold a special meaning for them into the painting. They might even be able to feature in the painting too and help create its story.

My lucky winner Helen has been wonderful to work with so far.  Over the last couple of months we have been communicating by e mail and have met on a couple of occasions too. Over the last week she has loaned me some very special things to photograph that I am going to try to encorporate into  the painting. This is a quick photograph of the Teds and other objects just after I unpacked them.

Aren't the two old Teds gorgeous? There are two because Helen has a twin sister. You can see both of them as young children in the photo within the photo. The Teds are their two very well loved childhood Teds.  In the photo you can also see a heart shaped locket and a pocket watch both of which also hold dear memories for them. I can't wait to draw everything out so I can begin to bring our idea to life on the paper.

Don't forget to pop back or even better sign up for e mail notification on this blog so you dont miss updates on my progress with  this Ted painting and my other project. I am going to include a direct link to The Sunshine Foundation of Canada's donation page each time I post an update on the Ted painting.

If you enjoy the Ted series please donate a little to help dreams come true for these children, their Teds would be very greatful if you did!  So Donate here and be a dream maker!

Ona

Your Invitation to....

I have been busy getting things framed and exhibition labels made ready for  next month at the Skylight Gallery in Aurora, Ontario. I would love to see you at the Artists reception if you are able to make it.

  The theme for my section of the exhibition is 'Windows into the Soul'. Eyes tell such a story about a person or animal, what they feel and what they can see around them. I love painting and drawing them too. I am sharing the exhibition space with another local artist Patricia Duke  who will be exhibiting work based around the theme of the arctic.

Both Pat and I will be at the reception on Friday April 4th from 7-9pm and will be happy to talk to you about our paintings and drawings. I will also have my art greetings cards, Ted series trading cards and bookmarks for sale at the reception.

Hope to see you there!

Ona

Spinning a Tale is Sold

I had confirmation yesterday that Spinning a Tale has sold at the California Watercolor Association's National Exhibition. Its always lovely to learn one of my paintings is going to a new home.

The person that has purchased it actually wrote to me a couple weeks ago but I wanted the sale confirmed by the gallery before I announced the sale formally. The new owner was drawn to the painting because her family had an antique spinning wheel when  she was a child growing up in New England. Its even more special when a real connection is made.
 
I have also been commissioned by a large organisation to create an illustration for the front cover of a publication. Over the weekend I have drawn out nearly 40 different images so my hands have been kept very busy. I will let you know more about the project soon.

Ona

Taking Time

'A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.'

(WH Davies)

I finished the painting this morning. One of the things I most enjoyed creating was the contrast between the background and the child but playing with light is always such a joy when working in transparent watercolour too. I wanted to create the backlighting to add to the dreamy feel of the finished piece.

Ona

WIP 3

I started working on the child's clothes today. I still have a lot to do but thought I would share my progress.

I chose orange and a warm cream for his clothes because I want to make us feel as if he is really close to us in contrast to the blues of the background which recede away from us. I hope that this will help us stop and connect with the child and his curiosity.

Thank you for all your title suggestions. I am still open to more ideas if you have any

Ona

Progress made

I have really enjoyed bringing this face to life on the paper. I will have some minor adjustments to do once I have painted his hair and clothes but the face is broadly done. I wonder what he is looking at.

I used the same colours for his eyes as I had used in the background and have kept and will continue to keep the edges slightly soft focus as I felt it would enhance the dreamy feel to the painting.

I think I will work on his clothes next and leave his hair till last.

Any ideas for a title? the last two lines of the poem 'Poor is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare' sums up what I am trying to convey in this painting but its probably a little long as a title.

Ona

Work In Progress

Life is still pretty crazy here. I am still making multiple trips to the hospital to see dr's and to Emerg to help keep my PICC line open so I can continue getting the IV antibiotics to beat this infection. I am still painting when I am able though.

 I was recently inspired by the poem Leisure by W.H Davies and a photo that I came across of my son when he was small. I love how, unlike so many adults, children often just stop and stare at things around them when they are interested so I wanted to capture the contrast between the constant hurrying motion of life and the child like curiosity that makes children stop and stare. Over the last week or so I have been working on the background blurring it to suggest the movement of people. I wanted to leave a lot to the imagination though letting the viewer interpret the movement and the location in the way they wished.

I am looking forward to developing the sense of curiosity in the child. I am unsure yet what to call this painting so please let me know if you have any title ideas.

For those of you that do not know the poem by WH Davies I mentioned above, here it is:

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Ona

Watercolor Art Society Houston Acceptance

I was very pleased to receive an e mail yesterday to inform me that my painting 'Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future' has been selected by Juror Laurin McCracken  to be part of their 37th International Exhibition

 The exhibition will open March 11 and run until April 3.

Ona

Impressions of the Heart Exhibition Opens

I have three paintings that will be on display for the next month at the Richmond Hill Centre for the performing Arts. I hope if you live in the area you will go and take a look.

My painting 'Craft-Ted with Love' won the Framing Depot Gold Award for Best in Show (Middle painting in the photo below)

My other two paintings that are on display are 'Baby on Board' and 'Re Unite-Ted'.

The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is situated on Yonge Street. parking is available behind the theatre on Wright Street.

Ona

IWS Juror

I am honoured to be selected to represent Canada as a juror in the International Watercolour Society Youth Contest along with Jean Pederson and the founder of IWS Atanur Dougan.

The contest is open to all watercolour artists worldwide from the ages of 16-35 and the jurying will take place next month.

Copyright-Ted

I had to go back into hospital for a while because I contrated an infection during the procedure a week or so ago and it was getting worse. While there I couldn't resist painting this little Ted painting to take my mind off things.

I thought it would be fun to have it instead of a plain copyright symbol in the Ted book I am going to be creating later this year. What do you think?

All too often people use an artists work without their permission because they are just not aware that an image, even though it has been put on the web or in a magazine, still belongs to the artist. I have encountered this many times, especially with my Ted paintings so I thought I would create a Ted painting to help raise awareness. Ted says

' Please enjoy looking at the artwork. Share it with your friends if you would like but always ask first and give credit to the artist because we are Copyright-Ted'

Ona

Paws for Thought

 I have been trying to get the pen and ink drawing of Harry my Labrador when he was a small pup finished over the last few days. It has been a good way to take my mind off not feeling well and my operation tomorrow. 

 I love Harry's dreamy expression. I wonder what he was thinking. I have just added a touch of watercolour in his eyes. I felt it gave him a much more far away feel.

Honouring the past, Shaping the Future

I am really happy to have finished this painting before next week when I have to go back into hospital for an operation. 

The title just seemed fitting for not only this painting but my life right now. Not only is this my first painting of the new year but I remember when I won my first ever international award in 2011 John Salminen telling me that he measured his progress and success in art in blocks of 5 years not individual awards. With the end of 2013 and the start of 2014, I have now just finished my first 5 years of painting in watercolour (It's been a great ride! ) Now I am just beginning my second block of 5 years. This painting therefore not only represents the blacksmith honouring tradition while forging a new creation but me honouring what I have learnt so far about watercolour and trying my best to put it into practice while looking ahead as I begin my next set of 5 years wondering where those years will take me not only in art but life. I wonder what I will be creating in the next 5 years? This is a good question to think about over the next few weeks when I know things are going to be tough.

Ona

The Framing Depot Gold Award for Best in Show

I am very pleased to have won The Framing Depot Gold Award for Best in Show  in the BWS Impressions of the Heart Juried Exhibition for my painting 'Craft-Ted with Love'. 

The exhibition will take place at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts from February 3rd to March 2nd 2014. Thank you to the Juror Karin Isenburg for selecting my painting as Best in Show and to Steve Morkotinis from The Framing Depot for kindly donating the award. Congratulations to the other artists who have also won awards. I hope that if you live around the Greater Toronto Area you can stop by and view the exhibition next month.

Happy New Year

I have had a great start to 2014. One of the miniature Ted paintings 'Mist-Ted' sold yesterday and will be on its way to his new family on Monday morning.

I have been working away at both the drawing and the painting over the last few days. Neither are finished yet but with the painting I am getting close. I am still really enjoying developing the feeling of light. Tight curly hair takes an AGE to paint though which is slowing me down at the moment.

For those of you that thought I would finish the drawing first I am sorry but developing the really dark areas in pen takes a long time. The nose was also quite challenging to create. One benefit to doing a watercolour and a pen at the same time is that it makes me seem quite quick at the watercolour.  Working in pen is just slow. I have lost count of the number of hours I have been working on this already. Its very relaxing though and fun to see a puppy emerge out of the white paper as you work.

Talking of Puppies. I thought you would all enjoy some New Years Resolutions from my faithful furry friends Ella and Harry. Do any of these remind you of things your pets do?

1. We will try our best to NEVER interrupt our artist’s creative flow ….UNLESS…..…she has become so absorbed in her work that she has forgotten to eat. Interrupting her is then our duty as her furry companions, isn’t it? After all a healthy creative spirit must be fed … and we are healthy and very creative if allowed to be… and if we don’t remind her to feed herself then we don’t get fed either.

2. We have noticed that our artist sometimes likes to paint in the company of others... So if a tube of paint comes within reach, we will try harder to grab it and use it. Our artist companion can keep the brushes, as she seems to be very attached to these furry ended sticks, sometimes putting them in her mouth and even occasionally stroking it against her cheek but they are small and puny not like the big ones we find when out and about. Of course our tails and paws and mouths work much, much better at covering a large surface area very quickly but we won’t let on just how effective they are or we might become her latest art tools and not just her companions!

3. If we see our 2 legged mom place her painting or drawing on the mantelpiece… We have learnt that this means she needs to walk away from it and think about it for a while. If she stays nearby there seems to be a huge temptation to fiddle. As faithful hounds we will therefore try harder to distract her. We will fetch our leads or balls and take her outside and let her breathe in some fresh air.

4. When out and about… We will be more alert to her observations especially when she has that thing called a camera with her because these seem to be the times she finds things really interesting. We both struggle at the moment to understand what exactly it is that’s so intriguing even though we look very hard too. Maybe with some extra effort and practice this year we will ‘see’ better. It’s obviously something transient that our mom sees because she seems to ‘move to somewhere else’ and look there shortly after we have arrived at the first place.

Any other ideas would be very gratefully received by Ella and Harry

Happy New Year from us all

Ona