Journal

Spring 2009

This Spring I painted in both oils and watercolours. I did a small watercolour of the Kingston Road Flower Market on location. Later I did 2 oils of the same scene in my studio using the smaller watercolour study. A small watercolour of the Garden Gate Restaurant was done on location followed by an oil in my studio. I remember my first outdoor painting this spring. On my morning walks I saw a patch of snowdrops in a garden on Lee Avenue. The first sunny afternoon I set up there and did a small watercolour.I kept in close touch with the changing spring flowers. I worked at the Spadina House near Castle Loma, The Ashbridge House on Queen Street east and Kew Gardens. The first painting at the Spadina house was a small study of the early spring growth. There were red and yellow tulips forget-me-nots and forsythia- a sea of flowers leading to the house. This was followed by a larger watercolour which appears on the front of my invitation. The pink tulips by the Gardener's cottage created a profusion of colour. On my morning walks I kept a watch on the magnolia tree at the foot of Leuty Avenue. When it was in full bloom I painted on location capturing a sunny afternoon and this magnificent old tree. As I painted many concerned people told me that this tree might not survive the proposed development on this property. Near the library in Kew gardens magnolia and other trees in blossom created a path of blossoms. I was lucky to get to High Park when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The blossoms fell all over me and my watercolour as I worked. When I returned two days later the blossoms were entirely gone- carpe diem! I painted brilliant coloured tulips that grow in the valley near the Riverdale Farm. Later in my studio I did large 36x48 inch canvases. I enjoy changing to the oils and working so large. The gingerbread facade at the Ashbridge House with a path of daffodils and narcissus was the subject of a small watercolour.

Neville Park Coyote

There was a lot of action on my street this spring. A coyote, later called Neville by the media, jumped a fence and ate someone's pet Chihuahua. The TV stations arrived and many of us were interviewed. We gave our opinions about what should be done with Neville. Should we coexist or get rid of him either by relocation or euthanasia. City animal trucks were constantly on the street, surveying the scene and setting traps. For a few months I saw him constantly in my ravine garden. I did a few paintings of this famous coyote. I think Neville was my inspiration and muse for my paintings of the animal kingdom: a friends cat Krissy, a cat called Beauty, an elephant at the Toronto Zoo and English sheep.

New England

In mid June I visited a friend who I met years ago on the tiny island in the Caribbean where we both spend some of the winter. She had told me about her country home in New England and I was excited to see her and finally see this home. An email from her daughter just before I set out informed me that the house is called Manderley. I grabbed my Daphne DuMaurier novel Rebecca to reread on the trip. The famous first line " last night I dreamt I was in Manderley again" Manderley in Rebecca was in Cornwall by the sea. My Manderley was in New England. Like the DuMaurier Novel there is a long drive from the main road to the elegant 18th century house with magnificent columns. We were going to paint together but the weather forecast was not good. It rained every day I was there. So we nestled inside and had only to look about at all the great old interiors to find subject matter. I found jugs and pots in the cupboards and we set up still lifes reminiscent of the French Painter Chardin whose work I admire so much. There was a burst of sunshine one day and we painted in the rose garden. A cat called Anna was our constant companion and appears in one of my paintings.

Summer Florals

I do like to paint poppies.: large early poppies, smaller field poppies, pink poppies in my garden, and large poppy oils in my studio. In June the lilacs and lupine were out at the Spadina House . White roses grow outside my studio window and I did a large oil canvas painting of them. I did a series of jam jar paintings. I gathered the June wild flowers and worked in my studio: daisies, clover and buttercups, cornflowers and sweet peas. I have numerous white jugs in my studio and filled them with daisies and buttercups. The ALS Society of Canada has the cornflower as its symbol. When the cornflowers were in full bloom in late June I did several paintings for ALS: studies of cornflowers, cornflowers in a jam jar, and a summer field of cornflowers. My paintings have been made into note cards which will be used to help their cause. I will have packages of these cards at my show. I donated the paintings to ALS for their board room. Fields of flowers were an inspiration.

The Boardwalk

I walk every morning along the boardwalk in the Beach. There is a great variety of dogs and their owners. Sheila who I see quite often posed for me with her small boxer dog called Rudolpho. I enjoyed meeting a hound dog called Molly, who made a good subject. I see that there is no limit and variety of dogs and owners to paint.

Pointe au Baril Early August

Out at Pointe au Baril in August, my host dropped me at islands quite near the open waters and other islands near Ojibwa. I set up my easel and worked on large watercolours.

Late August at Rosseau

Later in August friends dropped me for the day on islands in Lake Rosseau and the Three Sisters Islands in Lake Joseph. I worked on small 8x10 oil panels.

September Florals

The allotment gardens at Leslie street are particularly beautiful in Autumn. The zinnias and morning glories were outstanding. I painted them in both watercolour and oil.

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