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Every once in a while a painter struggles to get to that special place you have to go in order to create.  I have been struggling for a while and needed a diversion.  I just wanted to lighten things up a bit...thought I would do something joyful.  What  gives more joy than watching little ones enjoying the day?

The only thing I drew on the canvas was "Sophie and her pail".  I had no idea where I was going from there.  Normally I would paint the background in first.  But Sophie wanted to be painted first.  Kids are funny that way.  I shaded around her and proceeded to paint her in.  Then I simply let my knife swirl in the blues of the sky, the water and the pinks of the sand.  Some of the blues hit her hair and dress but I did not correct it.  I let her melt into the atmosphere as only a child can do. 

For me Sophie's Red Pail" created its' own magic.  It just happened and she can never be painted in this way again.

She has had over 4K views- hundreds of likes and countless comments as well as four offers to buy.  However, my daughter called and said "Mom, I love Sophie's Red Pail."  Now what's a mother to do.....Sophie is going home with my daughter.

Old abandoned homes stop me everytime.  I want to know the stories locked behind the doors.  The many layers of paint...some faded with time but non the less beautiful, tell me this home was loved, enjoyed and cared for.  Then the doors were closed forever  and I wonder why!

My first reaction when viewing this door was "That is one awesome door".   Weathered in multi colors of rich blues with pops of red and green showing through.  It needed to be painted.

Anyone that is familiar with my work, knows I put a lot of thought into my titles.  This title was instant.

"One Awesome Door"  says it all. 

After viewing a post on face book featuring finger painting , I immediately wanted to try this as  it is always exciting to try a new technique.   You know pretty quickly rather this will work for you.  Like knife painting this is not for the faint of heart.  Working with so much paint can get a little messy.  I knew the very second I sliced my knife into a glob of oil paint - the knife was the way I wanted to go.  And laying on a glop (is that a word?) of oil paint to the tip of my fingers and dancing it across the canvas.....  it just felt right for me.  I am certain finger painting

will be a part of my art work.  After painting  "Taking a Chance" and two smaller finger paintings, I realized that I had to find my own way with this technique and I really do not like painting with gloves on....my fingers now look like I have been work in the coal mines.  I will have to give it another try or load up on nail polish.  

Any comments on this would be appreciated.  

The last few months, I have shared many of my childhood memories on 6 x 6" and 4 x 12" canvas.  People related to the small paintings of the little  pond I learned to skate on - toboggan hill where I slid until my toes froze and snow packed trails thru our own winter wonderland.  A  simpler time that we had tucked away and a little painting stirred up hundreds of memories.  As much as I enjoyed sharing them it now was time to move along with my painting.

I felt intimidated by the larger canvas sitting on the easel, naked just looking at me.  Sunflowers would fill the canvas and although I had painted them several times  these were looking tight.  I didn't like what I was seeing.  I stepped away and left it for a while.  Walked back into the room, switched on the light and wham, saw it with totally new eyes.  Picked up my knife and let it go...let it dance across the canvas as it is meant to do.  The knife can work it's own magic.  

Results:  "They're Playing our Song" 

Painting  a commissioned piece is a part of an artist life.  Most are comfortable with it but not too many love it.  It matters not that the client is familiar with your work and is confident you will deliver the piece he is looking for.  Some will share pictures with you of the room the painting will hang in while others will share memories with you of a place they remember.   And there are those that will want the art to match the couch.  So there is a little different feeling when you set out to transform your canvas into a piece of art.  

Early in December I was contacted by a lady from Minneapolis.  She expressed an interest in my collection of "Boats of the East Coast".  After exchanging a few messages, she decided to commission me to do a painting of one of the east coast boat.

"Feel the Silence" is a 36" x 48" knife painting that I hoped would touch Elizabeth with it's quiet dignity and reflect a bit of the laid back life style of the Canadian east coast.

After sending her a photo of the painting, her reply put a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.

"I absolutely love it"

I love commissions!!

I have been told I paint lonesome boats and that is okay with me.  Because for me it is all about the boats...no need for a wharf....no need for a fishing shed.....just the dory sitting in quiet dignity,  cradled by the great Atlantic. - Rene

My latest weather door - I completed this painting after a lot of scraping back, adjusting colors, changing the storm door, adding daisies until finally I felt I could do no more. Off to Mario's for framing. It hung on my wall for weeks and I just wasn't liking it. Back on the easel, heaping puddles of paint on the palette, I picked up one of my magic knives and let it go to work. Heavy textured paint danced across the canvas. The windows transformed into purple jewels. The back door is now weathered in multi colors of blues and the storm door will hold all the secrets inside - "Daisies won't Tell" is a 16 x 20" knife painting.  Remember a faint line no matter how well placed is not art.

Bright red and soft white poppies against a smoky sky,  doesn't sound like a difficult subject to paint.  However working these  cold and  hot colors into an pleasant blend was not an easy task.  At one point I was ready to give up on it.  I walked away and left it for a while and returned to view it with new eyes.  It took a lot of scrapping - re-doing  - and re-thinking to finally find that middle ground that would make these colors come together.  I knew I had a painting here and it felt good to see it finally materialize....a promise of summer that we on the east coast are longing for.

Added note - I delivered this painting on July 3rd......SOLD July 4th.

The area I have painted here is where I grew up.  They say you can't go back.  However, we can visit and let memories take you to a different way of life.  Summers spent swimming at the Arches and winters skating and sledding at Lily Lake.  Always in the company of siblings, cousins and friends that still share a special bond that will last a lifetime.  I have shared this special place with my husband and children and like me they continue to enjoy all it has to offer.

Every season has its own memories but autumn is my favorite.  A perfect palette of cerulean blue skies, deep  blue waters and the hot colors of foliage, create the perfect backdrop for the stark white birches.  The painting knife is the only tool for capturing the peeling bark and rough dark knots that are the trademark of the birch.

The park is one huge canvas where the painting changes every day….this one is my favorite.  Thru this painting, I am now sharing this special place with you.  It's a place that I am drawn to time and time again.....who says you can't go back.  Love it.

I considered this a finished painting - signed my name and set it aside to dry.  I was ready to take it off to the gallery,  looked a little more closely and was not too excited with what I was looking at.  Now it is not an easy task to make changes to a very heavy textured knife painting. However, I was going to give it a try.  Back to the drawing board.   Placed it  on the easel for a closer look. Decided to intensify the background with deeper blues...looking better.  Added more grasses around the poppies...um better still but still not quite there.  With nothing to lose,  I laid out different colors on my palette - scooped up a gob of juicy paint on the tip of my knife and flicked colors all over the canvas.  WOW I loved it -even re-named it.  This procedure is not for the faint at heart.  I had more paint on me than on the canvas.  I kid you not, it was in my hair...all over my face ...my neck  - soooo much fun.  Can't wait to do another one.