Duck in Ink & Dishes In The Bathroom

Hi ya everyone...

How's is your day so far?

 

Before I rush off to my treadmill, I wanted to show you another drawing I just finished up.

I am so happy I've discovered a love for ink drawing and doing so in black & white.

I am really feeling very pleased about these inklings of mine

(even if my last one was so horrible, I tossed it in the fire, ha ha!)

I am so loving them mixed in with my usual super colorful work...

I am honestly surprised because I never expected my color-loving heart to so readily accept B & W.

I've even been adding these new ink drawings to my Creative Source portfolio,

that's how confident I am in them...which is just awesome.

 

 

Well amidst some big projects outside being worked on furiously still....

Amidst a kitchen reno on the go (doing dishes in the bathroom for a week was long enough for me!)

Amidst long hours being put in on my new website...

Amidst lots of headaches, pouring rain keeping us all indoors, bunny snuggling, etc...

I did manage one last update on my current site, do check it out www.BijousWhimsy.com

(but keep in mind it's a flash site & not available on tablets or phones, hence the new one coming!)

I feel a little sad about leaving it but excitement over the new site will make it easier to let it go.

 

I hope your having a wonderful Wednesday...

the bunnies are happy, the jazz is tinkling, the sun is shining, the leaves are falling!

& my honey & I are anxiously waiting to see if his work-at-home app will be accepted or denied.



East Coast Ducks...

Ahhh....Sunshine streaming throughout the whole house...Bunnies sunning themselves out on the deck and window bench...jazz tinkling away to the tune of a perfect day...all equals happiness for me today, ha ha.... ....anyhow, here is a brand new coloured pencil of mine. Another in realism done from one of my photographs. This photo was taken years back on our amazing East Coast trip...I am sure more coloured pencils from this trip are soon to come as I am really enjoying working from my photos lately....I've been working on them upstairs as I keep an eye on our Ella Bella. The original will be available shortly at the Art On Main Gallery but if your interested in purchasing it through me/my Etsy shop, let me know and I'll create a reserved posting just for you. It would be sold without the frame (to make for easier and cheaper shipping) BUT as you can see, it easily and happily slides well into any of your favourite 8x10" frames...

Prints and cards will be available shortly but the original is quite lovely I must confess:D It's living in our living room until it goes to a new home.

Till Friday...I leave you with this link to one of my new favorite songs by Priscilla Ahn, her voice is so lovely, I keep playing this song over and over whiles at work in my studio....

New Carousel Project & Some Inspiration

So the other day I had a meeting out at one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The meeting was for the new carousel project I've been invited to work on. The leader of all of North Bay's amazing carousel projects is very dedicated local artist Edna Scott and the meeting was out at her house and studio on the lake, all the carousel painters discussed the new project and picked out our horses and colour schemes.

My dear friend and talented local painter Arlington Hoffman (who've I've just recently blogged about) is the head painter and I am his under study and I am so pleased and happy to work along side him again and on such an enchanting project.

Here is the horse that we ended up with...it is to be a speckled grey and white kind...

Here are the other 3 horses that will accompany ours on this 17th century style push carousel...

After our meeting, we all strolled around the beautiful and immaculate grounds with admiration and awe...I wanted to snap abunch of shots of the house and studio etc but I didn't feel like it was appropriate to ask to do so...but I did ask if it was okay to shoot this beautiful creation which greets you as you pull in the drive (and you can glimpse part of the adorable studio in the distance)...

Edna's husband made this horse before he passed away a couple years ago and can you believe that it was his first try at cement fondue. As we strolled about the lakeside and took in more beautiful vistas and explored Edna's gourgues garden paths etc...I spotted this fella in the water...

He decided to come out of the water and follow close to my heels to rest of my visit there...I was so enchanted and wanted to bring him home to our own little garden and pond, ha ha. I never ever tire of ducks, they are one of my most favourite creatures and I am blessed to live in a place where they are pretty plentiful. I take tons of photos whenever I see them and I can never take enough...people seem to not understand why or how I can sit for hours on end just watching a group of ducks...I think to me they symbolize peace, beauty and the complex yet very simple connection to our substrate, the earth.

As we were about to leave, we heard this squeaky cry coming from the end of the dock...and just a few seconds earlier I had seen something long and lanky swimming in the water out of the corner of my eye. Well I snuck to the end of the dock, listening and interested in what was making such a sweet little cry and to my amazement it was a mink... He actually crawled up the side of the dock to check me out as I checked him out, and I felt so lucky to be able to snap this shot...my heart was just soaring at this point. Later on we saw him or her and it's babies running from the water into a distant flower bed. I wish I could have taken more photos to show you all...maybe next time. It's truly an artist's paradise with every step and every turn as beautiful as the next. A place where you never feel like you want to leave. So anyhow, after the Carousel meeting at Edna's place, Arlie and I drove back into town. I joined him at his place for coffee and a chat and again I was inspired and just feel in love with his garden...I couldn't help but take some photos...

Their Koy fish were plentiful and beautiful. There were little colourful benches and secret paths all over, just adorable and sweet little sitting spots which called to me and a pile of books for sure. Little sculptures were hidden all over and well the teapots were just my absolute favourite bit I think...they made this whole yard seem that more inviting. Thanks for inviting me into your enchanted and lovely worlds Edna and Arlie...I was freshly inspired with every blink. It was a wonderful day. You know, I was thinking and found it interesting to come to the conclusion that my artistic life in this small city of ours is so so so much more richer and fuller than it ever was when we lived in Toronto for 5 years. I think it's because life here is simpler for everyone, and artists draw on that and take advantage of that to create inspiration all around them, not just on their easels or drawing tables. The artists here welcome you into their worlds much more wholly and they share their trade secrets more readily. The artists here are also supportive of one another...it's like a close knit community with an open embrace and attitude that the more artists and more unique you are, the better. I just love that and as many times as I think about moving away from this home of ours, my heart just feels so happy and light when I come to realizations like this. Well that's all for today...my work (and garden!) are beckoning me. Be well and Happy Creating.