Spring

Vernal Equinox. Snow is melting. I love winter, but am freaking ready to see a crocus bloom, as my friend Holly says.

Been perusing the seed and bulb catalogues, too. I wonder what is already out there in my yard? No idea as I came here in late autumn. Hopefully tiger lilies! I do know there is a hedge of purple lilacs. Can't wait to get out there and paint that!

Canadian Music Week

Just back from Canadian Music Week 2005, a conference that I look forward to every year, extroverted schmoozer that I am. Unfortunately I got very ill and spent most of it watching the ceiling spin in my lovely room at the top of the Fairmont Royal York, and lovingly tweaking my iTunes library while listening to others' music on their computers via the hotel ethernet. So cool. It is interesting to see what folks have on their playlists. One obvious Dad had a whole section of Barney songs for kids beside his folder of Slayer tunes. I didn't listen to those, but to ones in his library I had never heard of; a novel way to discover new ear candy. Thank you, unknown hotel dj, and thank you, Steve Jobs!!

However ill, I did get to snap Manitoba's Driver on the Friday night, and talented BC singer/songwriterChristineEvans on Monday at her First Canadian Place show. Chris is so sweet and genuine!

Also took a series of pics of Erin and her charming bandmates in A Girl Called Eddy. I really connected with their live show. Considering the music-heavy weekend it followed, 'was great to see a good turnout at her Soundscapes in-store and Horseshoe concert.

I really regret not being able to see Japan's Guitar Wolf on the Saturday, and I missed Limblifter, too. *sulk*

Arun of Driver is gonna be a huge star. He has charisma charisma charisma!

.....

E's painting is finished! Off to the gallery for framing it goes.

On iTunes: The wonderful Ditty Bops. Tegan Quin introduced us to them, what a gorgeous sounding band.

Birthday

Here I am, spoiled brat Birthday Girl with "Happy Birthday Kitten" cake, and a wand and tiara compliments of Paul & Matt. To my left is one of our dear friends John Punter, who showed up for a surprise brunch thrown by Bobby at the Waring House. I am so lucky!

Wicked birthday. :-)

Madviolet

Working on Elizabeth D.'s painting, commissioned by her friend Claire. I have the most wicked new brush to try... a Davinci Maestro Number 18 from Germany! ***Homer Simpson drool***

:-) Sorry, no links yet... she has to be surprised!

On iPod: Tom Verlaine "Storm", into "Mockingbirds" by Grant Lee Buffalo, and some Madviolet is in the mix. I snapped them last week at the Mod Club, wth Ember Swift. Grrrrrreat bands, interesting, talented people! Brenley and Lisa are off to Australia to tour and record (and surf) for several weeks. Wheeee!!

Pinkie

I now have flamingo pink hair, thanks to Stephen! (Don't let the fancy schmancy web site fool you, he is pretty damn down to earth. Who designs this stuff?)

Early birthday present. This should be fun. Hee hee hee...

New Works Up

New work from Lake Louise is up at allaprima.ca.

Now playing on my iTunes as I type: Devo "Snowball", segueing into Tegan & Sara "City Girl"

In my glass: Carmen 2002 Reserve (Chilean Cab)

Blue Canadian Rockieees

Snowshoeing on my mind. Wistful song in my head is Wilf Carter's Blue Canadian Rockies. Busy documenting the works I completed at Lake Louise, they'll be online soon. Wishing I had picked up the arc'teryx softshell at Monod's. Rats! Like someone else I know, ;-) I do worship at the shrine of arc'teryx. It is timeless and lasts forever. Made in Canada. And paint splotches look good on it.

Live at Lake Louise!

Just returned from a trip to Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada to snowshoe and paint en plein air winterscapes for a week.

Dear to my heart, Lake Louise is where I had my epiphany to become a full time painter. After having ecstatically snowshoed my way to 7000 feet to reach the Lady Agnes MacDonald Tea House, (which was closed for the winter,) and its exquisite moraine lake, I have been back to my beloved, magical mountains every January for the past three years. Encouraged safely onward by our trusted guides, naturalist Bruce Bembridge and author Wendy Bush, my companion Paula and I, sometimes gasping from hypoxia! have seen, felt, tasted, smelled and listened to much of what the area has to offer. Some of the activities we enjoyed were organized by the fabulous Charlene Prickett, who along with the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, offers a Winter High Adventure package that is awesome. Charlene maintains an online Gallery where my photographic work from past adventures can be seen.

Plein Air Magazine

Picked up a copy of art collectors' periodical Plein
Air Magazine I am pictured in the December issue. Woohoo!

Sunrise at SMC

Painted the sunrise for Kimmy, thinking about how peaceful and hopeful the Cove's panorama looked this morning.

Now playing as I upload: Kraftwerk "Computer Love." My laptop, Lapzilla, approves.

Live at Niagara Falls

I was a registered participant in the International Plein Air Painters' Worldwide Paintout, September 10 - 12, 2004. I painted in Niagara Falls, Ontario, live! while everyone watched. Two of my works completed were exhibited in a juried show during the Niagara Wine & Food Classic, and I was very honoured to be presented with IPAP Founder's Award for my work, "Niagara Falls Away."

What a riot it was to meet artists from all over and paint together! Jacqueline and Charlie did a fantastic job organizing this worldwide event. (I am just aching to join Jacq in Monhegan Island, Maine someday to paint.)

Niagara to me looks like aqua and emerald coloured eels slipping lemminglike over into the foamy abyss. In my paintings that day, I tried to capture that and the rushing sound, and mist in the air. Watercolour was an obvious medium to use! (pic by Robert Gale.)