Studio Tour Time! Version 2014!

Well, I've been remarkably bad at keeping up with the blog, and have failed to post about a couple of recent shows, but at least I'm not missing the studio tour.  The fall colours here on the Niagara Escarpment are is full swing, so it's a great time to take a drive to the country to see some artwork!  My neighbour Tina Newlove and I are a mere 500 metres apart on the same laneway, so catch both studios! It's a great place to start off the tour. 

For more information, please feel free to contact me, or visit the FASM website.

C'mon, Keep Up!

Apparently, that's something I haven't been doing.  I *do* have updates....really.  Everything seems to be keeping me busy enough not to get to them, however.  Some people do New Year's resolutions, but I find fall as appropriate a time as any to form new habits (haha...or attempt to).  Maybe it's all those years of going to school.  Seems as good a time as any to start something new!  Like, perhaps, posting regularly again?

Horses have been coming and going - yearlings off to the training centre for the next stage of their lives, two-year olds back for a rest after a bit of time at the track. Fall seems to be settling in a little too comfortably, but I guess that's inevitable.  It's dark when I get up to feed the horses.  Dark too soon after they come in for dinner. 

The two April foals, Moxy and Stella, were weaned last week, and are adjusting to their new life as individuals.  Well, mostly.  They still have each other, and soon they will get a formal introduction to Victor, so that the latest version of widgets can begin to entertain!

Fall will be a busy time for art as well.  The Milton Studio Tour is less than two weeks away, and the way the trees are changing colour, it should be a beautiful time for a drive in the country!  I'm back at my home location for the tour this year, so come out and see some artwork and get a glimpse of those 'kids' out in the paddock that provide my never-ending inspiration!  Dates are October 5&6 from 10am-5pm both days.

The following weekend, which is the Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada, I'm joining a group of artist friends to show work at the Erin Fall Fair.  If you're visiting, look for us!  There are five of us involved, and I guess you could call us the founding members of the Canadian Equine Artists Society.  So far we just have a Facebook page.  Join us there to keep up to date on developments!

Busy days ahead.  Hope you can make it out to one of the upcoming events to see my new work!

So Where *does* the time go?

I'm ridiculously far behind on this blog, with no valid excuse. Yes I've been busy, but what else is new? In the past month I've been to Saratoga for our annual foray, painted a new oil for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony's fundraiser, gone to said ceremony/fundraiser, and am now painting in preparation for the CTHS yearling sales this coming weekend.


The foals, as you can see, are tormenting their mothers - well, the two chestnut boys definitely are, while Sheldon remains more laid back (with a healthy respect for Twine!). Weaning time is very near! Today they get their vaccination boosters, so that will delay their weaning for a week or two.


I still intend to do separate posts addressing the visit to Saratoga, and the Hall of Fame painting. Naturally there will also be something more about the yearling sales. Fall is a busy time, with the Schomberg Village Street Gallery also coming up, September 17 and 18, and the FASM Milton Studio Tour, October 1&2. If you are in either area, maybe we'll see you out!

Week Sixteen - Wheeee!

At sixteen weeks, Baby Girl is looking quite grown-up. Her foal coat is just about gone, with just a bit of light hair remaining on her legs - such that I can't do her official registration photos yet, because she has some rather ambiguous markings on her left hind. I want to get them done before she starts to get fuzzy for winter!

This past weekend's show at the Schomberg Village Street Gallery was a success. The weather cooperated, and lots of people were out. In a week and a half it will be time for the Milton Area Studio Tour, so I'll be busy getting ready in the upcoming days!

Studio Tour, Done for Another Year

The weather was a bit up and down last weekend, but I don't think that put a damper on the Milton Studio Tour. Thanks to everyone who came out. It's always fun to meet some new people and see familiar faces from past shows!

For the tour I had a sale of sorts on many of my small originals, most of which you may have seen during the Thirty Horses, Thirty Days projects. Which reminds me, I need to update that blog with June's contribution, even though it was cut sick by some horse trouble. Some of those small originals still available are listed on my online Etsy store. I've also listed some of the more recent open edition reproductions.

The rainy, cool weather has continued this week, making for muddy paddocks and horses. The kids are in today, just to give paddocks and hooves a rest! It's supposed to clear up over the weekend...and it's a holiday weekend here in Canada, as we celebrate our Thanksgiving. Not that I get a holiday; in fact, my usual weekend help is off this weekend, so I'm working more instead of less! Anyone want to come muck some stalls? There may be pie in it for you!


I've been back at the easel this week, working on the piece I started during the yearling sales last month - an 8 x 10 oil on Signature linen panel. Still just loosely blocking in colour. I've also been working on finishing a pencil commission, which I'll post once I've got the final okay that it is indeed done! And this weekend I'll be working on my next email newletter, so if you're interested in receiving that, be sure to sign up - there's a link in the right-hand column of this blog, or to make it extra easy, click here and you'll be taken to the sign-up page. At least you should be!

Well, back to work, so that I can have more progress to post on that painting. I'm ready to start some new ones as well, and also have some more commissions to get going on. See you again soon!

On a Cheerier Note...

I know it's been rather sombre around here of late, so some lighter content is in order! A couple of weeks ago I went to Woodbine to see the return to the races of a classy fan favourite, Jambalaya. I painted this guy a few years ago, winning the '06 Singspiel Stakes. The last time he ran was when he won the '07 Arlington Million, and has since been on the shelf with an injury. The great news is, he's back, in fine form. You can read about it on owner/trainer Catherine Day Phillips' website. And that's my photo of him coming back to the winners circle after the race. He looks pretty proud of himself!


Our two babies on the farm are now weanlings. They seem resigned to their new life, and have become good friends. They do like to show their spunk on these cool mornings though!

Three days until the Milton Studio Tour, and there is plenty to do. These cool grey days don't do much for motivation, but there's no avoiding the final preparation. Hopefully the rain will give us a break this weekend. The fall colours have started, so it should be a great time for a drive around the Escarpment!

A Final Glimpse of Summer

With the trees rapidly changing colour now in this part of the world, it's time to admit that autumn is upon us! Right now we couldn't ask for more perfect weather - nice warm days, cool evenings (though I haven't exactly dragged out the winter coat yet, which is something for me!) and again, those trees. This time of year also means the Milton Studio Tour is coming up - next weekend, in fact, October 4 & 5. The brochure and map is online at the FASM website, and thought time is running out, I can always mail you one if you contact me!

I've been busy working on some paintings, doing some printing and getting things framed for the tour. The last landscape I did in my weekly challenge (not that I'm admitting defeat yet!) I pulled out earlier this week because it was asking for a few horses grazing. That's the painting I'm posting today. It's 8 x 10 oil on canvas, and I'm calling it, simply, "Summer Pasture."

I hope you can come out for the studio tour! The horses always find it interesting to see a steady stream of cars coming up the laneway!