Spring is on the horizon – although now might not quite be the time to put away those winter boots. These boots, believe it or not, took me trekking through Wales in the early 70’s!
Announcing the announcement – David’s Second Book
As many of you know, I spent the summer of 2022 plein-air painting along my local segment of the Trans Canada Trail. Searching out new locations to paint in my area was supremely fulfilling. In the fall, I was able to exhibit 60 of the paintings at the Ottawa School of Art.
I’ve now put my paintings and experiences into an upcoming book, my second. “One Summer along the Trans Canada Trail – Plein-air Painting in Ottawa-Gatineau” will launch this month at the Ottawa School of Art and the National Gallery of Canada (both stock my current book).
We are just finalizing details with our excellent printer and will be ready for pre-launch orders in a couple of days. Watch this space!
Weekend Workshop at the at the Ottawa School of Art, Shenkman Centre, Orléans
Two of Seven – Lawren Harris and J.E.H. MacDonald – 18 &19 March
Whether inspired by Harris’s stark landscapes of the Canadian North or the more lyrical style of MacDonald, join us for a weekend in the company of the Group of Seven!
Register with the Ottawa School of Art: https://artottawa.ca/ Tel. (613) 580-2765
Claudia Dennis “Pandemic Paintings” at the OSA
A display of 11 paintings at the OSA, 35 George St. – 1 March to 15 March
“Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment” at the National Gallery
“Uninvited celebrates a generation of extraordinary women painters, photographers, weavers, beadworkers and sculptors from a century ago. These innovators opened up new frontiers for women artists in Canada, as seen in this cross-country snapshot of female creativity during the dynamic interwar period.”
In the wider world of Art:
Different strokes: the forgotten women of abstract expressionism: “A new exhibition highlights 80 unsung female artists from the grouping that made stars of Rothko and Pollock. But does adding them to the canon deflect from the sexism that stymied their careers?” https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/feb/16/women-abstract-expressionism-whitechapel-gallery-krasner-sobel?CMP=share_btn_link
Joan Mitchell Foundation Issues Cease and Desist to Louis Vuitton Over Use of Paintings in Handbag Ads: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/joan-mitchell-foundation-copyright-claims-louis-vuitton-handbag-ads-1234658446/
Break-a-Brush Tip: Reusing old canvases
Sandra asked recently “I’ve decided to try a larger canvas…..unfortunately it’s a pretty old canvas and I noticed some blemishes….. Not sure I can get this out.”
I paint on old canvases and over existing paintings quite regularly. Some have very distinct marks on them. If it’s grid or geometric shape this can be a problem, or a sharp straight line of thick paint, however generally I don’t find they worry the new image and can indeed add something (mysterious). It’s a judgment call. Old marks are hard to remove and if you feel they are prominent you could add some additional to create a more consistent pattern underlying the new image – that’s something else I do from time to time.
Break-a-Brush!
David & France