Tag Archives: Toronto

Summer on the road

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Stone Table and Benches, Gould Farm Carbon Pencil on Paper 18" x 24"

Stone Table and Benches, Gould Farm Carbon Pencil on Paper 18″ x 24″

We travelled a lot this spring and summer, in North America and later in Britain. Here are some of the highlights of our trip as recorded in my sketchbooks. In June, I visited Gould Farm, in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts where my friend Rose is a volunteer. She wrote and edited a wonderful cookbook to celebrate the farm’s 100th anniversary as a healing and rehabilitation centre – and to raise money for this marvelous organization.

Barry planned three workshops for the summer: Toronto was first, in July.

12" x 16" Watercolour

Doctor’s House Pioneer Village 12″ x 16″ Watercolour

8.5 " x 11" Pen and Ink

Gate, University College U of T 8.5 ” x 11″ Pen and Ink

Next, we travelled to Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, in the Bay of Fundy.

Light keepers House Swallowtail Light, Grand Manan 8.5" x 11" Pen and Ink

Light keepers House Swallowtail Light, Grand Manan 8.5″ x 11″ Pen and Ink

Seal Cove Sheds and Spools 18" x 24 "Charcoal with Watercolour

Seal Cove Sheds and Spools 18″ x 24 “Charcoal with Watercolour

Early in August, we moved on to the Cotswold District in England.

Broadway Village, Cotswolds England 9" x 12" Pen, Ink and White Charcoal on Toned Paper

Broadway Village, Cotswolds England 9″ x 12″ Pen, Ink and White Charcoal on Toned Paper

Stanway House, Cotswold District England 9" x 12" Pen, Ink and White Charcoal on Toned Paper

Stanway House, Cotswolds England 9″ x 12″ Pen, Ink and White Charcoal on Toned Paper

When the workshops were over, we visited Cornwall for 10 days.

Porthgwarra Village View 8.5" x 11" Pen and Ink

Porthgwarra Village View 8.5″ x 11″ Pen and Ink

Mevagissey Harbour, Cornwall 8.5" x 11" Pen and Ink

Mevagissey Harbour, Cornwall 8.5″ x 11″ Pen and Ink

Low Tide, Mevagissey Cornwall 8.5" x 11" Pen and Ink

Low Tide, Mevagissey Cornwall 8.5″ x 11″ Pen and Ink

Watercolour with charcoal pencil

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I joined a Sustained Saturday watercolour class taught by my partner Barry Coombs for the afternoon, after a space opened up at the last minute.  These studio days run from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. several times each term.  The still life subject was predominantly brass and we were encouraged to compose our image by employing a very tight crop. I admire people who work in watercolour, and even though I’ve been working at it for about 18 months, my results are very unpredictable. That’s partly what makes it fun – and terrifying!

My original idea was to spend the afternoon drawing in black and white with pen and ink. Working on hot press paper, I sketched the subject lightly with pencil. Then, inspired by the work being done by others around me, I changed my mind and used watercolour to block  in the key shapes, adding some secondary washes to form the shine and shadows. Next, returning to my comfort zone, I  added value, structure and depth with charcoal pencil. (So much for planning!) I was surprised by how the charcoal seemed to melt when it touched the still-wet paper as I worked. I liked the effect, and for a while worked back and forth between the dry and wet mediums.  If you want to see more about the class, see Barry’s blog post about the day. 

Watercolour and Charcoal Pencil study 12" x 16"

Opening Night at Core Realty

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I’d like to thank everyone who came to the opening night of my exhibition at Core Realty and to thank Core for its generous hospitality and support. The turnout was excellent and I had a wonderful time! 

The show is open for viewing seven days a week from 11 am to 4 pm and continues until February 16.

Solo Show January 19 to February 16

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I’m really pleased to be showing a collection of my Oil Pastels and Pen & Ink drawings, at Core Realty, 747 Queen Street East in Toronto, from January 19 to February 16.  Please drop by for the opening on Thursday January 19, between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.  And keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

Dark Harbour Camps: two versions

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As a subject, I’ve always been drawn to the landscape and boats at gritty Dark Harbour, on the west side of Grand Manan island, where the dulse pickers keep their dories. Many also keep camps on the shore and rocky sea wall. While we were there for a two-week vacation following the workshop at the beginning of August, I worked in pen and ink as usual, and in watercolour too, after overcoming my inhibitions in Barry’s class last year.

Dark Harbour Dulse Camp

Dory and Camp

Sketch Group Exhibition at Heliconian Club

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I’ve been participating in a regular life drawing class on Mondays, at Toronto’s Heliconian Club and have found the experience very valuable. We spend the mornings doing brief gesture drawings and longer poses up to 20 minutes.during the afternoon, the model holds one pose for two hours. Every year the sketch group mounts an exhibition of participants’ work. This year’s show runs from March 1 to April 6, 2011, at the Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. There’ll be an opening reception on Saturday March 5 from 1 to 4, or call 416-922-3618 to drop by. I’m exhibiting RED JACKET, FUR COLLAR, an 18 x 24″ drawing in black and white charcoal pencil on toned paper.

Red Jacket, Fur Collar