Untitled art in progress

Paperwork

2012-02-03T18:28:00.001-08:00

Been playing with paper for awhile, whether it be die cuts or embossing - it's all interesting to work with such a simple item such as paper and get some amazing results.

I am also having fun with the camera system used to take these photos

Friendship

2012-02-03T18:21:00.001-08:00

Friendship is such a beautiful thing to have in your life. I have been corresponding for years with a wonderful friend who is a singer/songwriter from New York. Allie is a kind and gentle soul and inspiring. She is blind but she can play guitar, write songs and she is also gifted with the written word penning a book. She was the first blind person to graduate with a Masters from Fordham University. She lives her dreams and her dreams are unstoppable. I am honored to call her a friend.

She will soon be moving to Spain and you can follow her adventures at http://www.allisonabroad.com

Thoughts on paper

2012-01-24T17:36:00.001-08:00

Color

2012-01-24T17:15:00.001-08:00

When I paint I love to incorporate as much color as possible. Sometimes I do a series of "blue paintings" or "red paintings" or just go with what I am feeling that particular day. Color can make you feel energized or calm you, stir up memories, refresh, renew and the list goes on. I just know that I am drawn to color and my eyes are always looking at something whether it is a colorful object or a painting or nature.
I fell in love with this glass piece while visiting a gallery in North Bay and during the drive home couldn't get it off my mind. It was exquisite and breathtakingly beautiful. Why did it resonate with me? There was a vibrancy and energy about this art that was unexplainable just felt. A myriad of colors that made me feel something. Oh the power of color! Thanks to the artist Sergio Golod for creating such a wonderful piece and it now sits on a table across from my piano and inspires me.

Thankful

2012-01-17T19:02:00.001-08:00

I remember spending hours upon hours sewing clothes and entire weekends devoted to creating new outfits during my youth. I made my very first dress when I was twelve years old! My girlfriend and I each decided to venture into sewing and we wandered into the most exquisite shop called the Uptown Silk Shop. Row upon row of the most gorgeous fabrics could be found there and it was one of my favorite past-times hunting for that unique piece of fabric.
To this day, I still love textiles and color and making something from nothing. I have made hats, pillows, curtains, dresses, skirts, quilts etc.
My Grandmother was a seamstress and made me the most amazing dresses when I was little and to her I am thankful for such great inspiration!

Mary Szeto and I, and my handmade dress

Pink Pillows!

2012-01-16T18:55:00.001-08:00

Made these wonderful pillows from a fabric that I found in Peterborough.

Beauty of Winter

2012-01-12T19:59:00.001-08:00

It is snowing today, big fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky. I love to go for walks in the snow and find inspiration from nature.

With camera in hand I will take some pictures of trees. As much as we complain about winter it truly is magical if we can see past the cold and find the beauty that is bestows.

Art Room Revamp

2012-01-10T16:47:00.001-08:00

Today I am rearranging my art room and clearing the clutter to make room for new projects.

There are too many paintings, frames and miscellaneous stuff enveloping this space. Since I paint/sew/design/write songs etc. this room has to be multi-functional. Ideally would be nice to have a bigger space but thankful to have a room to express my creativity!

Now I have a designated area for painting supplies and paper, an area for sewing and design and an area for music.

Getting there and seeing progress!

I love this quote.

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. - William Morris

Caramel Walnut Banana Torte

2012-01-06T18:08:00.001-08:00

Been on a cooking wave lately maybe due to the fact that I have had family home for the Christmas holidays.
I decided to make this wonderful cake with my brand new KitchenAid mixer - a different type of creative tool. It's a real pro-style mixer, powerful but easy to work with. Certainly a new tool to learn how to work with.
Little did I know my entire morning would be consumed making this lovely creation but sure was worth it!
I have never made a cake from scratch and have to admit was proud of how this one turned out. Now everyone here is worried I am going to become a pastry chef...lol.

Each day my goal is to do something creative in some shape or form.

Doors of France

2012-01-05T17:36:00.001-08:00

There is something beautiful about the doors we saw in France. They are colorful, mysterious and intriguing.

Who lives or once lived behind these doors?

I found this photo from our travels to Paris in 2005 and had it printed into a 13" x 19" format and framed it today.

Quelle beauté!

Each day do something creative

2012-01-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

As if I haven't had enough desserts over the past few weeks, I decided to make crème brûlée.

Why not?

I have to admit it is a bit of a process, not difficult by any means, but it takes time. Simmering the cream and sugar, using real vanilla (scraping the seeds from a vanilla pod), blending the cream with the egg yolks and than adding 'la pièce de résistance' - GRAND MARNIER

Then adding the orange zest equals heaven.

Here is a photo (taken by Robert) and the look of it is very visually interesting also - the back vanilla seeds with the orange peel mixed in the cream color and then the brownish caramelized sugar topping.

Everyone enjoyed the dessert and I felt as though I did something creative today!

My recent art sales

2012-01-01T12:32:00.001-08:00

I am so thrilled to have sold 6 of my paintings at the annual show/benefit "Nouveau Louvre" http://www.gn-o.org/

I am honored and thrilled about my work being shown in others homes.. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

There are pictures of the paintings in my gallery ...http://goo.gl/uXzfn

This is "Musical Soul"

A new year coming

2011-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Soon we will be ringing in the New Year.

Time to reflect on the past and think about the future.

Time to embrace a brand new year full of possibilities.

I have decided to create a new website, paint like crazy this year, sing and write songs, take photos, capture beauty in the big and small things and continue on this artistic journey.

Welcome aboard!

Looking at 3 trees: the Christmas tree,

the outside snow covered tree,

and the cut glass tree design

"Tree Trees" - lol