Boys in a Boat

Details: Acrylic and collage on 10x10 wrapped canvas. Status: Going to a good home! Note: This was done on a whim for my Father-in-Law for his birthday. Trouble is, it is still on my bedroom wall, and his birthday was in March! (I didn't say I was a good daughter-in-law :o).

Two if by Sea

Material:  Mixed media on 6x8 wooden cradle.
Notes:  I find great comfort in combining my love of the sea with whimsy and poetry.  The text in this painting comes from an old book of Emily Dickenson.  I pour over the pages, looking for the right snippet of words to match the images.  It is a meditative process for me - and I love the peace that comes along with the process. 

Very Fond of Tea

Materials:  Acrylic paint and collage on 5x10 wrapped canvas.

Status:  This piece was a commission for a baby shower. 

Notes:  This is the first fox I've painted - and I must say it is my favourite part of the piece.  The text in the house and on the tree trunk is taken from a book about Emily Dickinson.  The text above the group is a quote from Alice in Wonderland. 

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 Teacher

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

Little Blue Bird

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

If Birds Read Poetry

Materials:  Acrylic and Collage on wooden cradle. Text is taken from a book about Emily Dickenson.
Status:  Gone to a wonderful home.

Owl do as You do

Status:  Gone to a very good home.
Material: Acrylic paint and collage on 6 x 6 inch wood panel.

Notes:  This is the first time I've used a wooden panel, and I'm definitely looking forward to painting on them more often. 

The text in this painting is from the poem:  Down Syndrome Creed by an unknown author.  I wonder sometimes if the author is aware of how popular this poem is in the Down syndrome community?  I hope so....it speaks to so many of us. 

This painting is dedicated to my son, Aidan, who is bringing out the best in all of us. 

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!