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....

The Lake Huron Carolers

I'm happy to say The Lake Huron Carolers art cards were a big success this Christmas!  It was quite fun to watch these little cards fly across Canada to their prospective customers.  I was thrilled to think about how many hands would hold the image, and pondered over how far The Little Gull has flown since its creation.

Many thanks to Tall Tales Books, The Cadboro Bay Book Company, and the University of Victoria Book Store.  Your support was greatly appreciated!

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!

If Birds Read Poetry 2

Materials:  Acrylic and collage on 10 x 10 canvas.
Status:  For sale.

Notes:
Collage has opened a whole new world to me with my paintings. I have been dipping into my memory of poems and text I read twenty years ago as an English Literature Major at Trent University.


I have a little someday dream. . . to have The Little Gull Studio in a floating house at Fisherman's Wharf. I would sell paintings, cards, t-shirts, mugs, and host little painting workshops. It would be cozy and lovely and a way of life to make you happy. The best part? Aidan would work with me. And, perhaps if he wanted to, he could live on the Floating House.

Ah, to dream a little dream.

The Owl Swing

Material:  Acrylic paint and collage on 8x8 wooden cradle.
Status:  Gone to a very good home!
Note:  The text is taken from the Down Syndrome Creed. . . and is used in honour of my son, Aidan who moves beautifully at his own pace.

Our Family at Sea

Materials:  acrylic on paper.
Status:  Father's Day gift for my husband....SURPRISE!
Note: About a month ago, James mentioned he would like a painting like this one.  It was a lot of fun to do, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I put in a representation of our family into it;  can you see the 3 boys?  Can you see me and James?  Can you see both sets of grandparents? 

No?  Okay, here's the cheat sheet: 

• The 3 trees on the right are the boys in order from oldest to youngest. 
• The two houses on the escarpment are for the grandparents. 
• James and I are on the boat between. 

Not sure what Freud would say, but there you have it!

The Teacher

Materials: Acrylic and collage on wooden cradle.
Status:  Gone to a good home.

Sailor

Material:  Acrylic and collage on canvas.
Status:  Gone to a good home.

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.

Two in a Canoe

Material: Acrylic paint and collage on wrapped canvas.
Status:  A commissioned piece for a baby gift.

Notes:   It is so much fun to work on commissions because they challenge me to try different techniques, colours, etc.  It's a good thing to go outside of my own mind for ideas!  The name of the baby and date of her birth is collaged in the bottom left-hand corner.  I wasn't sure if the family would appreciate being "out there" on  the blogosphere, so I've censored it for now.  They haven't seen it yet, so after they do I'll ask what their preference is.

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! 

2 boys and a dog

This painting was a commission (thanks Jill!). The request was to depict 2 small boys and their dog.  One boy was to be on the trike, pulling the boat trailer out of the water, with the younger boy still in the boat, fishing.

It was lots of fun - I LOVE commissions!

Oh, I Believe!

Materials:  Acrylic and collage on wrapped canvas (4x4)
Status:  This painting was presented to Santa Claus while riding with him on his private jet. Really! Our littlest was invited by Telus Flight with Santa. We were so grateful for this unique opportunity, we wanted to give something back to the big guy :o)

And there in a wood, a piggy wig stood

Materials: Acrylic paint on 5 x 10 wrapped canvas.
Status:  Available.

Two Hoots: What is Love?

The Huron Carolers

Status:  Available
Materials:  acrylic painting and collage on 5 x 10 wrapped canvas.  Unframed....sides are painted, so no frame necessary

The Rustic Lighthouse

Materials:  Acrylic paint on paper;  painting knife used to give texture; 5 x7 painting in a 15 x 13 frame.
Status:  Going to a good home.

First Kiss for the Frog Prince

Material:  mixed media (acrylic paint, coloured pencils, collage) on 6 x 6 wrapped canvas.
Status:  Gone to a happy home.

Notes:  I have long had the princess and frog painting in my head, and I have always loved when other painters used bits of print in their work.  I am so pleased with this concept - I can't wait to do it again! 

My very good friend, Kat, said I might want to add some other skin-tones to my paintings...and so I did.  I love the mocha-latte coloured skin with the bubblegum cheeks. 

For the text, I opened a book about Emily Dickinson, and came to a poem with a prince in it....I had to do it...I cut into my book, with no regrets!

The Cottage

Note:  This is part of my grandmother's cottage.  My grandpa built it for her on a point on Lake Huron so that she could see the sun rising and the sun setting every day.  It was a magnificent place to grow up every summer. 

Material:  acrylic on canvas paper.

Status:  a gift for my mom :o)

Owl Love

Material:  5 x 5 wrapped canvas, acrylics
Status:  Available.