Artisan Tour a big success

This years Artisan Tour was a big success.  I had two guest artistans at the Broody Rooster Gallery - Marci Leighton and Lesley Lorenz. This was Marci's "coming out event" as an artist and she sold a ton of artwork! Congrats Marci.  This is Lesley's second year with me and her artwork commanded just as many kudos from the crowds.

We had folks come through the cottage like other years, but this year, they were also able to head out into the barn to find more artwork upstairs. I think extra space was great, and I know people enjoyed getting out to visit a farm and the critters around the place.

The art tour is always so much fun. I get to see all kinds of folks that I haven't seen for awhile, talk art, sell it but most importantly, it helps me grow as an artist. I can see my own work change each year and having people comment on their favorites is helpful and appreciated.

Connected - SOLD

Thanks to our visitors and to those that bought our artwork. We hope you enjoy it for years to come.

My biggest canvas

This year my photography and painting took a bit of a break while I worked on my largest canvas ever - my new barn.  I have always dreamed of a new barn - a space where the sights and sounds of farm life abounds.  I love looking at century old barns on the landscape and wonder about what stories the walls could tell if they could speak.

Barns have been a treasured part of our landscapes for years.  Instead of castles and forts, the legacies of the agricultural history of our country belong in farm yards where the central piece was the barn. Larger than the homes on the property, these barns were often functional and beautiful. 

The old barn we inherited on this farm was built like so many of todays farm structures - cheaply and for temporary use.  It was a pleasure to burn it down and clear the land for a new structure. And now, after months of planning and construction, the new barn is what I enjoy first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

For a great story on the barn, check out the new Island Farm and Garden magazine where it made the front cover.  And, if you are available to come and visit during the Cedar Yellowpoint Artisan Tour - Nov 15-18, 2012 - come and see the art on the walls.

Cedar Yellowpoint Christmas tour 2012

Well it is almost upon us!  This year will be an exciting time for us as we open the doors to our cabin and also our new barn as venues for the studio tour. It has been a busy year for us around here but we are happy to host everyone here November 15 - 18th from 10 am to 5 pm.

This year I have visiting artists Lesley Lorenz and Marci Leighton joining me. Their beautiful art will complement the many pieces I have been working on.

What is on the tour at the Broody Rooster?

• Lots of artwork - farm inspired including cows, pigs, sheep, hens, horses, flowers and old trucks... scenery and more.
• Canning - Blackberry, Plum/Apricot, Spiced Pear, Saskatoon, Logan Berry, Cherry and Crabapple - all from fruit here on the farm.
• Painted wine glasses of horses - hot sellers last year that are added again!
• Sewing items from local gals
• Horseshoe art from Dan Gogo
• Photography by Davis Hammer
• Soaps by Surf Girl - Sylvia
• Art cards
• Magnetic Chalk Boards (sold out last year with these popular items!)
• Coat hangers (distressed with funky hangers)

So come by for some hot apple cider and enjoy browsing and buying.

Pastry Princesses Unite

I don't know about you, but perfect pastry has often seemed a mystery. Too tough, falls apart, sticks to everything... you know the drill. Thank goodness for frozen pie shells! Pastry making is definitely an artform...

Well not anymore! This afternoon four of us learned new skills - how to make perfect pastry by Mary Carr. When we entered her place, you could smell tarts cooking in the oven. She began by giving us a sample of what was to come - and asked us our issues with pastry. Well some eat it raw, others have pressure to live up to mom's, but clearly - we were all challenged (even to read the recipe!). She went over how she learned to perfect pastry - by experimenting and specializing in it at University and having to cook for hungry workers. After going over her tips (ah, you thought I'd share them eh? Not that easy! take a workshop because it's about more than the four ingredients!) we got to work making our own pastry.

We each made our pastry with enough for 3 pies each. Funny quotes during the process:

• "Take it easy!


• "Heh, don't be so aggressive"


• "Do you want some nutmeg?"


• "It needs embellishment"


• "Help!"


• "Nicole!"

A fun process but I also learned a ton! I hope to now make pastry that gets compliments. Thanks Mary and gals - its always fun when sage ladies get together to swap secrets. Interested in another one - let me know and I will keep a list together of folks for another one.

Pet First Aid Course

Today, Kerri Lynne Wilson delivered a Pet First Aid course to participants at the Broody Rooster. These fun-filled, informative Courses are the longest standing in Canada. Pet lovers earn a Certificate while they learn and practice dealing with cat & dog emergencies including:
· Bleeding, broken bones and other wounds
· Choking, CPR and Artificial Respiration
· Learn to recognize early signs of illness
· Learn ways to help prevent illness and injury

They also receive an extensive, 2011 edition manual and a “quick guide” for first aid kit
and get a Certificate provided upon successful completion.

If you want to know more about upcoming workshops or want to organize one with instructor Kerri-Lynne Wilson (trained by WALKS ‘N’ WAGS PET FIRST AID ) call her at (250) 619-0352 Or e-mail reveille(at)shaw(dot)ca

More information is available at: http://www.walksnwags.com/

The Broody Rooster can be rented for workshops and events - $10 per hour or $100 for the day. for more information see http://www.broodyrooster.com/

Voila!

Well, today I thought I'd follow up with the outcomes of the workshop. Some of the best results yet - am sure you will agree.

Kim and Lynn met me a few years ago at the first Horse Expo event in Nanaimo. They wanted to come for a workshop before but the timing hadn't worked out. So, I am so glad it worked for them this time. They are a hoot. Both of them did an amazing job (giving the high five) on a portrait of their horse (Tara and Maddy). I hope they enjoy them on their walls and get a few bragging rights for years to come!

Astri is a creative with an impressive art background (PhD - oh man!). If she wasn't such a charmer, I'd have been intimidated. She worked on three paintings for the weekend - one that she had a draft of before she came and was struggling with to add colour. The next was an image that she wanted to get out that was formed in her mind (in the photo). And the last she was just getting onto canvas before she left. She excels in her understanding of values - and I just loved her outcome.

Tammy is my most loyal workshop participants. She was bold at this workshop and started a new painting of her youngest horse Beemer to add to a Triptych of her horses. We had talked about her choice of image and colours to complement the other two. In between the drafts of Beemer, she began a fun painting of her cat VK on top of one of her horses. It is such a great photo and is coming along so nicely - I know it'll be one of her favorites.

So, once again, we had a great time in the process and ended up with great products. Thanks Deb and Launie for your hospitality at Twincreeks and thanks workshop participants for your open, honest, hard working, willing and fun loving nature. I hope to paint with you and ride with you sometime again soon.

Starting out and making the tough decisions

Today we spent the day digging into the workshop. I went over equipment and supplies in the morning and then we ventured outside to spend some time with the horses. Getting inspired to paint is sometimes easier said than done. The night prior we viewed a number of paintings of horses that Kim and I had downloaded so that we could talk about what sorts of paintings inspired us. We piggy backed on this today by looking at our own images of horses. Lynn and Kim grabbed their horses and then brought them one by one into the round pen to move around. I think the horses enjoyed it and it gave me a chance to get some great action shots of them with my camera. We even staged a photo shoot with one of the horses and Astri on the ground to give her a source photo to work from for a painting that she had been coming up with in her mind (that was an experience)!

Once the gals downloaded or chose the image they wanted to work from, we headed downstairs to get the main composition onto the canvas. Usually in workshops I spend a long time going over basic sketching techniques so that people can get their composition right and onto the canvas. This can sometimes take a long time and I know that it causes anxiety in people who are worried about getting it right. Like most things, if you don't get the composition right, you will struggle with everything else as errors accumulate. So, to help move this along - I brought the new projector I bought. It projects the image of whatever you want to paint onto canvas and then you can sketch around the image. I haven't used it before as sketching is pretty old hat to me now, but I watched the students use it and they loved it.

So, with the hard work done on decision making - tomorrow will be about getting colour onto canvas with the intent of leaving with a painting done. Based on what I see so far, these paintings will be some of the best yet. Stay tuned...