Apple Blossoms

Now that spring has officially arrived I thought I would share one of my newest paintings. I was inspired by a wonderful up and coming photographer named Alexandra. I have added a link below for her site where her talent is showcased. It's worth a look!
http://alexlego.deviantart.com/

About the painting...I was intrigued by how the light and shadows play off the branch and the way the sun is reflected through the petals. The color of the almost cloudless sky also caught my eye. Can you smell the fresh spring air?

"Muzungu" Papa Normand

I know that it's been a LONG time since I've been here! There's no excuse!! Bad Blogger!! But there's no point in looking back...only forward and I plan to be much more consistent with my new blogs!

Here is a SPECIAL painting which is very important to me. There are so many people around the world that have been through so much turmoil and life altering events but can still see the world in a positive and happy way. The strength, faith and resiliency of these people have always amazed and inspired me. So I wanted to be able to help someone, in my own little way. When I heard about Ubuntu through Linda Doyon, I hoped that I could help raise some funds for their organization using my artistic talents. So, the story goes like this...

Ubuntu (meaning Humanity) is a charitable organization created to help improve the conditions of the women and children who were victims of the Rwandan genocide. The main objective is to bring them to self-sufficiency.

For the moment, Ubuntu concentrates its efforts in Kimironko, a community of 750 residents in the outskirts of Kigali. The strength of Ubuntu is its capacity to provide direct services to the residents of Kimironko.

The School Sponsorship program is run by Normand Doyon, a St-Albert resident who is dedicated to the Ubuntu cause. The sponsorship program, much like the Food Bank, is a program instituted to assist the widows of the village to regain self sufficiency. By sending their children to the daycare or school, the mothers have the opportunity to return to the workforce. By sponsoring a child, people are also helping his / her mother. Norm and his wife Linda and two children, Nicole and Steven have recently returned from volunteering their time in Kimironko. They were among the first to sponsor a child and finally had the opportunity to meet him and see what their efforts have been able to provide for him. Manu is now a young entrepreneur in his own right due to the efforts of the Doyon family and the sponsorship program.

Norm and his family have certainly made a world of difference to the families of Kimironko along with the other volunteers of Ubuntu. These children have a future and their mothers can be proud in their ability to provide for their families.

This painting is being donated to Ubuntu Edmonton in an effort to raise funds for their cause and to continue to bring hope to the women and children of Rwanda.

For more information please visit www.ubuntuedmonton.org

Innocence

My friend Linda, her husband Norm and their 2 children, Nicole and Steven went to Rwanda this past summer to volunteer their time with the widows and children that have been victims of the Rwandan Genocide. They spent weeks with the families helping them with their daily tasks but also spent some quality fun time with them. One day, Steven and Nicole were playing with some of the children and making faces and laughing and giggling and Nicole noticed this young boy peeking through a tiny hole in the wall. His name is Yvan and he is about 3 or 4 years old. He didn't smile much and didn't join in the fun. Nicole thinks he was too shy but when I look into his eyes I can tell that he really wanted to be part of the fun. I just wanted to capture that wistful look and wonder in his eyes. Maybe the next time they go back he'll be able to sing and laugh with the other children and Nicole can bring me back a picture of a smiling Yvan for me to paint!

Calla Lily for Brittany

My eldest daughter asked me to paint her a calla lily, her favorite flower for her new apartment. What's a mother to do? So I went through my own pictures and those that my photographer friends have so graciously given me but I couldn't quite find the one that I wanted. So I went to one of my favorite sites FLICKR and started searching for a good picture that could become a great painting for my daughter. I finally narrowed it down to 3 pictures, then 2 and then to the one that I felt was the right one for her. It had a very modern feel to it which I thought she would appreciate. I contacted the photographer and asked for his permission to use his photo for a painting, which he granted. I used a 12X24 canvas with a 45 degree angled edge, in keeping with the modern look.

I gave this painting to Brittany as her college graduation gift. She worked very hard and is now an amazing esthetician. She reminds me of this calla lily as she begins her adult life with her new career, just beginning to open up to all of the possibilities out there. I'm very proud of the woman she is becoming!

Cornflower Blue

Although my style of choice is realism, I have wondered what it would be like to paint in various other styles such as impressionism or abstract. This cornflower gave me the opportunity to integrate a little bit of an abstract feel to it. I absolutely loved working with these brilliant blues and purples...it feels rich and fresh all at once.

To Melina, Love Mom XO

Meet Melina. She is my youngest daughter and will be turning 18 this week! Where has the time gone? As a young child I remember her playing in the pool, learning to ride her bike, reading her first words, her multiple karate classes, birthday parties with icing on her nose and so so much more!! Where has the time gone??

I painted this picture of her as I don't get to see here everyday anymore as she is in Quebec and going to college. But now, this painting hangs on my wall and I see her smiling face everyday and I get to smile back and think back to those days and look forward to the future memories we will make together.

I almost signed it "Love Mom XO".

New Season - New Paintings - New Events

Well, as I said goodbye to "Bright Future" I embrassed some new challenges over the past couple of months. I have completed 4 new paintings and have 2 others on the go. Three of the 4 completed ones have been entered into the 2010 Gamblin Torrit Grey Competition so I will keep you posted on how that goes although the results aren't usually out until the new year.

I also have created a business card for myself so that I can feel and present myself as a truly professional artist. Exciting!

And I have also been jury selected to show 2 paintings at the Fall Art Gallery Walk by TU Gallery on 124th Street. It will be a group show of artists from the St-Albert Artists Colony. I am VERY excited about that opportunity! I hope to see many of my friends and co-workers there to show their support (hint hint!!)

So stay tuned for some more paintings in the next couple of weeks and don't forget to comment to let me know your thoughts and ideas!

The Evolution of a Painting - "Bright Future"

After many more hours of adding darker darks and lighter lights and continuous tweeking, this is the final result. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this piece and was very nervous about showing it to Gavin and Trisha. But their reactions were very rewarding and the butterflies went away quickly after they saw it. It will be leaving my hands and hanging on their wall by the end of next week.

I decided to call this painting "Bright Future" as I truly believe that Gavin and Trisha will have a very blessed and happy future together.

To Gavin and Trisha...thank you for letting me be part of your special day as well as part of your daily lives. Lots of love to both of you!

The Evolution of a Painting - Part Three

Finally, back to Gavin and Trisha after a long awaited break. After working on the background from Part Two, I started working on the skin tones. Trisha was so tanned after being in Punta Cana for almost 2 weeks that I actually had to tone down her coloring (pun intended!!) At this part of the process I was still struggling to capture Gavin's far away look. I tinkered with just about every facial feature right up until the end. Oh, and for those of you that don't know her, YES, Trisha's eyes are that blue!! Gorgeous, isn't she?

Gallery shows

I know, I've been neglecting my blog and there is no excuse...just a few reasons! I have been busy with getting some paintings ready for various gallery shows happening right now and in the next couple of months. I'm showing 5 new pieces at Capital Ex from July 23 to August 1st including the final version of my last few posts showing the Evolution of a Painting. So if you can't wait for me to get my butt in gear and back to blogging, go check it out.
I also have some other paintings showing at the Spot Light Gallery in St-Albert. Come and see us do some live painting and great works of art Wednesday evenings from 6-9. I'll be there working hard on some new stuff. I've also been completing 2 other paintings which will be submitted as entries in the 2010 Gamblin Torrit Grey Competition and starting on a 3rd one as I write.
And I'm also REALLY excited about being one of the chosen few who will be showing 2 paintings at the TU Gallery in October during the Fall Art Gallery Walk. This is quite an honor and I'm so unbelievably stunned to have been jury selected. I need to start a list of invitees for the big VIP night. So let me know if you want to come and I'll add you to my list. It will be in mid October. More details to come!! So keep checking up on me. I will have part 3 of Evolution of a Painting next week.