Blooming Tree by the Sea

Materials:  Acrylic on 6x6 wooden cradle.
Status:  Gone to a good home.

Notes:  This little painting was a lot of fun to do - I used a paint knife to get a smooth effect for the sky, but thick texture for the lighthouse, hull of the boat, and the blossoms on the tree.  It had to be completed over several days as I waited for thick paint to dry, and added layers of colour.  Each time I sat down to work on it, I felt like I was returning to my happy place.  Ahh....

Camp Goodtimes

Materials:  acrylic paint and collage on wrapped canvas.
Status:  This painting is on auction at Eagle View Elementary School.  Bids close on October 7th.
Notes:  Our friend, Alvin, is one of the riders in this years Tour de Rock (Cops for Cancer).  He is biking 1000 kilometres to raise money for pediatric cancer research and Camp Goodtimes.  Watching Alvin train for months - riding up Mount Washington, dyeing his hair pink, then shaving it off at a school assembly - and seeing the enormous commitment and support of his wife and family has really opened my eyes to the depth and breadth of this endeavour. 

Our school has a goal of raising $5000 by October 7th - the last day of the ride.  Our two oldest boys, Kieran and Liam, shaved their heads to show support for Alvin and the Tour de Rock team.  I am so proud of them!

Lemonade for Superheroes

Materials:  acrylic paint on high-quality watercolour paper with collage.

Notes:   I have donated this painting to Tall Tales Books in Victoria to use to promote their Superhero Society.  It is first prize to the member who names the Superhero Society Newsletter.  

So - if you've joined the club - enter your choice of newsletter name!  Contest ends on July 31st.  Hurry, hurry!

For more information, contact Drew and Kate at Tall Tales Books.

Charlie de Gull

Material:  Acrylic paint and collage on 5 x5 inch wrapped canvas.
Status:  Gone to a good home.
Note:  I would like to dedicate this little guy to my Grandmother, Irene Wilford.  She had a playful spirit - and would get us excited about spotting the gulls at her cottage on Lake Huron. The text was taken from a book about Emily Dickinson.

Sailing to Africa

Material:  Acrylics and collage on wrapped canvas.
Status:  A commission which has gone to a beautiful family.

Notes:  This was so much fun to paint!  It is the first time I really got into collage - first with the tea tab as the flag on top of the mast - then the vintage map of Africa for the sail, and finally, the Canadian flag.

This painting was a commission for my dear friend`s sister.  The family is moving to South Africa in the new year, and she wanted to give them a very special gift.  I hope they like it!