Two Ways to Play
Recently, Ann was looking to correct some previous green marks with a new red colour and wrote me: “Well, turns out there isn’t a way to (easily) get rid of those old green lines using red paint.. so I’ve pumped up the blue in the foreground forms in the hope of distracting the eye from them. Any better?”
Magically those remnants of the old image were much reduced!
A fine example of there always being two ways to correct a problem: work on the area itself or change the context. In this case the problematic marks now don’t catch the eye because of the more vibrant colour adjacent. In fact, the old marks become just a bit of of painterly variation, and even better, give a sense of the evolution of the image or “hand of the artist”, adding intrigue.
Workshops and Courses
Kicking off February in style, we had a wonderful workshop themed on Lawren Harris and J.E.H. Macdonald, two leading lights of the Group of Seven. Coming soon, we shift to the vibrant Montreal Art Scene of the 1920’s with the Beaver Hall Group – including many female artists – not least of which: Prudence Heward, Emily Coonan and Lilias Terence Newton. There’s a Group of Seven connection too, with A.Y.Jackson and Edwin Holgate also being card-carrying members. Join us for portraits, figures, the urban and the pastoral:
Modern Montreal: The Beaver Hall Group (B) | All Levels | Sat + Sun | Mar 1 + 2 | 9:30am-4:30pm: https://registration.artottawa.ca/course/detail/11613
David on Daytime 2024
Sadly, the Rogers TV Daytime Ottawa show is not airing this year. I’ve compiled a few memories from last year – check them out on my YouTube channel:
Watch this space for future video events – plans are fomenting!!
Local Art Stores
Shopping locally invariably makes sense (good for the community, good for the environment, etc.) and I’m sure we have all been into DeSerres and/or Wallacks. Here are a couple of other stores worth checking out:
Gatineau: A l’Echelle du Monde, 74 Boulevard Gréber, Gatineau, QC, J8T 3P8: https://www.alechelledumonde.com/
Orleans: Select Fine Art Materials, 2208 Saint Joseph Boulevard Bay 109, Ottawa, ON, K1C 1E8: https://www.selectfineartmaterials.com/
Renfrew: Live Love Art Factory, 11 Bridge Street, Renfrew, ON, K7V 3R1: https://liveloveartfactory.com/
Many home and craft stores also carry some supplies: The Papery (on Bank), Michaels, Winners, Homesence, etc…plus the ubiquitous Dollar stores of course. Let us know about your favorite and we will circulate the good news!
In the wider world of art:
Inspiring drawings still on display at the National Gallery: https://www.gallery.ca/magazine/exhibitions/confessions-from-the-drawings-vault-new-and-hidden-treasures
Cool snow moose (no he did not use GPS, just good art planning): https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6638884
February Sunrise and Sunsets
Throughout February, perhaps more than any month, I recall one of my favorite life-quotes:
“The sun will not rise or set without my notice, and thanks.” Winslow Homer
Break-a-Brush!
David & France