March and Finn Slough

     This is a painting that  I did a couple of years ago - of the end of Finn Slough. I did exhibit it then- but now I have made a few changes  to the colour so this is the one I will take this year for the Art About Finn Slough show. It is going to be on my newsletter but it will only show a section of it- so here is the whole thing. The Fraser River can actually look quite green at times - depends on the light and the weather. I like the challenge of sometimes working on a narrow canvas.
     I'll post the "March" matreshkas tomorrow.

Wanda, Finn Slough and more-

These are three minute ink sketches - colour added with pencil crayon afterwards- of Wanda being a 30's singer- lots of action and personality here. These were from the recent Drawing Marathon. Tonight I was over at the reception for Art About Finn Slough. If you haven't seen it yet, it runs Saturday all day and then Sunday until 3. It is a good show with lots of variety- maybe a little more  sophisticated  than some years. There is a nice tribute to Mary Gazetas there, owls by Shirley Inouye, some excellent models, photography and painting. It was also a relief to see that tracks have been installed on the walls so that paintings can be hung with chains- so we will be able to use them for the June show of Pots 'n Paints.

Art About Finn Slough

The Finn Slough Art Show is this week- always fun to see what others interpretations of the Slough are. Interestingly, there is always something different to see. The reception is on the Friday night and I'm looking forward to hearing Michael Kluckner speak - and, I must admit, also hoping that he does not go on too long. The problem with some speakers is that, while they may be interesting, it is just too long to sit - and even worse if the seats have run out! I painted a new painting for this year's show and had fun with the light and shadows. Also, it was different to have the fishboat not by the houses. Anyway, I hope people like it.

Finn Slough Art Show

The annual Finn Slough Art Show is on this week. We deliver our paintings for hanging on Wednesday evening and then the show runs through to Sunday afternoon. The reception is on Friday evening- with some entertainment and delicious goodies. This is always a fun show as it is not juried, will include photographs and maybe have some kid's art too. It is always interesting to see the various interpretations of this community. My entry this year is a winter sunset as viewed from the little bridge. Something I learned about the bridge is that the centre part can be removed for boats going further up the slough - and that this section gets chained in place for Hallowe'en! Most of the artists will be there on the Friday evening so that adds to the enjoyment too. Somehow the show keeps getting better and better all the time. You can find out more about this event and about this historical community at the Finn Slough website.

The Diva

Tomorrow is "delivery day" for the Finn Slough paintings. Then the exhibit will run Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday just to noon (pick-up time). As noted last post, the reception is Friday evening. On Valentine's Day, a number of artists were invited to a tea at Finn Slough. This was a very nice event and all of us who went, really enjoyed it. I was pleased to meet "Barbra", the subject of this painting. The cat is actually a male, but is a real diva. He looked so elegant sitting in the window, backlit. I was able to get a number of photos. (Cheers for digital when you can just keep snapping away and not "waste film" if the subject turns his head.) At any rate, this was fun to paint and will be something different for the show.

More Events!

Much is happening. I've finished two new paintings for the Art About Finn Slough show and will be taking them over next week to the lecture hall in Richmond Arts Centre. The reception will be on Friday evening, April 9th, from 7 to 9 pm. A lot of planning is now going in to the Federation of Canadian Artists Group Show in which I am to be one of seven selected artists. We are: Bob Araki, Sharleen Hartfiel, Etsu Inouye, Michael Knox, Larry Tillyer. David McHolm and me, Loraine Wellman. We are calling it Brushwork Variety. This will run from April 2oth to May 2nd in the Federation Gallery on Granville Island. We are having a reception on April 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm when the artists will be there and there will be refreshments in abundance. Bob is bringing sushi and I'm making butter tarts - and there will be lots more! ... and May will start with DoorsOpen May 1st and 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm, when I will have an Open Studio... more on this later. Last blog showed a Finn Slough painting- so this one will show one from Granville Island - not one in the Group Show, but one that is currently up at Omega Gallery.