Newsletter

Over the past couple of days, whenever I have a spare minute, I have been immersed in some of the music of my youth, namely all things Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. God Only Knows, Surfing U.S.A., Litttle Deuce Coupe … the list is impressively endless as is my ability to remember all the lyrics! Brian Wilson’s passing has allowed me to immerse myself in nostalgia and to revisit a time when listening to their music made the world seem full of joy and hope and endless possibilities even if at the same time, my friends and I despaired that London Ontario offered no opportunities to become a surfer. There were, however, beaches close by and many happy days were spent playing in the sun and the waves. Endless summer days, great music and even greater friends…sigh. I hope that today’s youth have music that gives them hope and joy and the feeling that there are endless possibilities ahead for them. 

These days early summer means gardening, painting plein air with the Gallery Painting Group, day trips with Brian and enjoying local rhubarb, asparagus and strawberries with my family. A gardener’s lot is one of hope as is an artist’s and a cook’s. Gardens and paintings and delicious food cannot exist without the initial hopeful efforts. Fac et Spero. My family’s motto. Do and Hope. In addition I found this the other day …Dum Spiro Spero…while I breathe I hope. I like it too. And also “ Art is the highest form of hope” attributed to Gerard Richter. I agree.

We recently returned from a three day vacation with our daughter and grandson. We stayed very close to Petroglyphs Provincial Park. We had wonderful weather and enjoyed our time together. I did some sketches that may eventually lead to paintings. 

I am going to say goodbye for now. I really have nothing more to say and the garden beckons. Take care and thanks again for your interest and support. 

Dum Spiro Spero.

Sue

 I am so grateful to all of you who came to my various art shows over the past months. It was a pleasure to visit with you.

This year was the first year since before COVID that I returned to the London Artists Studio Tour. What fun!! I met so many new friends and had the opportunity to renew old friendships. I am very grateful to have had such delightful visitors and to have had some of them give my paintings new homes.

Although I love taking part in shows and the studio tour at last I can return to the very best part, sketching and painting plein air. In the words of Irwin Greenberg, “ An artist is a sketchbook with a person attached. In my case I would add that an artist is also a garden with a person attached, growing and nurturing their own inspiration. I have been spending nearly every morning at daybreak welcoming back perennial plant friends and returning songbirds. In these difficult times, people need both places and pastimes to replenish heart and soul. For me they are my garden and my art. 
Thank you for your amazing and very much appreciated support.
Take care. In the words of Charlie Angus, “See you on the ridge, my friends.

Sue

This newsletter is early and very brief. I am involved in so many shows this month that I really can’t get my head around writing a newsletter. Instead, I am sending you a coupon that you may wish to use if you visit my studio during the studio tour. I am looking forward to seeing you!

For information and a map of artists’ locations click on the link.

http://www.londonstudiotour.ca

Thanks, as always, for your support.

Sue 

DEAR READERS:

I began thinking about this newsletter yesterday morning while marvelling at the morning’s marmalade sky which was soon followed by the comforting sound of rain falling on the roof and skylights of our family room. It was a truly wonder filled morning.

The weather this week past has been a sun filled delight and such a well deserved treat for the kids and teachers on March Break. The weather has been working its magic on our garden too. As I walked through our garden surrounded by snowdrops the air was filled with birdsong and sunlight and I felt quite giddy. Daffodils poked up here and there (more about daffodils later) and in my head I made lists of plants and other supplies to be purchased later. Skunks and raccoons are reappearing in the neighbourhood and pairs of squirrels and chipmunks play catch me catch me. The pair of cardinals exhibit mating behaviors, gallantly watching each other’s backs at the feeder and feeding each other too. Our houseplants, which until recently had looked very sad, are now thriving in response to the fabulous Spring light.

So, the Ides of March bring to mind the Romans, which reminds me of something I read recently. Daffodils, my Dad’s favourite flower, were introduced to the U.K. from the Iberian Peninsula. They used to plant them in memory of those who had fallen. 

The Ides of March also recall a skit by Wayne and Shuster, called Rinse the Blood Off My Toga. Do any of you remember, “ I told him Julie don’t go! Julie don’t go!”

Keeping with the Nature theme for a bit longer, did any of you watch the lunar eclipse? Brian and I stayed up to watch and were not disappointed. Rather than attempting to take phone photos we just silently watched as it happened. You can certainly understand how eclipses, both lunar and solar, were a source of mythology throughout the world’s history. There is something very primal and moving about them. The red moon is a memory I will hold on to for some time.

STUDIO NOTES:

Working and playing in my studio has been my salvation during these difficult and occasionally frightening times.

I have been preparing materials for the Westland Gallery workshops. 

I continue to play with painting watercolours on gessoed and watercolour grounded panels. Some of these will be for sale at the Brush and Palette Show.

I am working on a watercolour painting of a deer at rest (Thank you, Peggy).

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS:

I am preparing for a watercolour painting demonstration I will be giving at Paint Ontario on May 14th from Noon to 4.

Last, but certainly not least, I am getting things ready from The London Artists’ Studio Tour. Brochures will be available at Museum London, both Tourism London locations, and numerous other spots around the city. For more information go to http//www.londonstudiotour.ca

Brush and Palette Club Show

Lambeth Art Association Show

Ontario Society of Artists, Western Hub, St Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre

 Feb 22 to April 5, Closing Reception April 5, 1pm to 3pm

Thank you for taking the time to read this. As always I look forward to hearing from you. Take care and enjoy the Spring wonders.

Gratefully Yours,

Sue

Happy Family Day.

Just when I think that I have had more than enough winter, Mother Nature gives us a morning like this! Blue sky, a world filled with sunshine and sparkling snow patterned with blue and violet and green shadows, flocks of songbirds and rabbit tracks throughout the garden and even on our front porch.

On this family day I am currently listening to the late Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe and drinking tea while I write. In these disturbing times I have returned to McLean’s stories about Dave, his family, neighbours and friends. McLean’s voice is comforting as are his descriptions of the world Dave inhabits; there is something so very Canadian in the good natured humour relating the foibles of all its inhabitants and as their faults and mistakes are revealed, they are forgiven and ultimately celebrated. McLean made an art form out of laughing at ourselves, a truly Canadian trait.

Here in London two of the art groups to which I belong are busy preparing for our Spring Shows. As well, the artists involved in this year’s London Studio Tour are getting ready. I am happily very busy.

Work For Upcoming Shows

Before I end this newsletter, I have two reminders. The first is that I am presenting a workshop at Westland Gallery in March. The focus is creating the appearance of texture in a watercolour painting. There are some places left so if you are interested contact Westland’s Gallery at 519-601-4420.

The second is to remind you about the Ontario Society of Artists’ Exhibition at St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre which starts this Friday and runs until April 5. The Artists’ Reception is on April 5th.

I hope that you and your family enjoy today even with all the snow. We don’t have tropical beaches and weather but we do have sunshine and most importantly, each other. As I overheard the other day, “We can’t have everything. Where would we put it?”

All the best to you and yours.

Sue

Belated Happy New Year! I hope that your Christmas lived up to your dreams. We enjoyed our holiday very much, as this year Cathy was not working and Daniel was home from university so we were all together at Christmas.

I came across this quote a few days ago, “Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the Spring and ends in the Autumn is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.” So many good things begin with a dream. Our dreams serve as inspirations. They give us hope. Even in the darkest times they remind us of who we are. As the snow swirls around outside on this cold and somewhat dreary Saturday, I dream of sunny days spent in our garden or in fields of wildflowers and in turn dream of the paintings I will make of them here in my studio. I have to agree. The dream is the best part of both gardening and art making. Do you agree?

 As some of you may know. I am an elected member of the Ontario Society Of Artists. This Non Profit organization was founded in 1872 and is Canada’s longest continuing art society.

The OSA Western Hub is exhibiting at St. Thomas Elgin Art Centre from February 22 to April 5 with an Artists’ Reception taking place on April 5th. I will have two paintings in this exhibition. I hope to see many of you there. It is a wonderful opportunity to see fabulous art from across this part of our province.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS:

1. Workshop: Westland Art Gallery: Creating Texture in watercolour; March 4, 11 18, 25

2. London Artists’ Studio Tour Preview Exhibition: TAP March 3 to 8, Opening March 4, 5 to 8pm

3. Brush and Palette Club Annual Show and Sale: April 10, 11 12

4. London Artists’ Studio Tour: April 25, 26, 27

5. Lambeth Art Association Show and Sale: May 1,2,3

6. Demonstration and Art Chat, Paint Ontario, May 14th

More information concerning these shows and events will follow in upcoming newsletters. I am providing the dates so you can mark your calendars.

Thank you so much for your ongoing interest and support. Many of you subscribed to my newsletter when you visited my studio during one of theLondon Artists’ Studio Tours. I am one of the artists on the tour again this year so I hope you will visit. I have lots of paintings for you to see with many brand new ones.

Take care. Dream, hope and create. 

Sue

Merry Christmas and all the best to you in the New Year!

Thank you for your support and interest over the years.

The July flood of my studio, for all of the work, disruption and stress it caused us, has had the unexpected result of forcing me to take stock, to get rid of things I no longer use or value, to repurpose what I can and to clean and reorganize. My studio is now a wonderful place in which to create. I am very grateful. I am a participating artist in the London Artists’ Studio Tour 2025 so you may wish to see it for yourself.

November’s dark mornings and early evenings lend themselves to thinking, planning and reminiscing. I plan fall menus while cocooning under snuggly blankets and think about how the fallen leaves look like crumble toppings of oats and brown sugar and cinnamon. Fall has always been my favourite season. As John Burroughs said, “How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and colour are their last days.” Light and colour. Growing old beautifully. Goals to reach for.

Light and colour are both to be had if you visit the following:

The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Open Water 99 Exhibition where you will find the 40 selected paintings chosen by the jurors from 242 submissions from 9 countries. I am honoured to have had my painting selected. This is the fifth consecutive Open Water in which I have been selected to exhibit.

          Poppies In Birr , my entry

Christmas In Bayfield Nov.15to 17

Main Street Gallery has an amazing variety of art, some of which I am delighted to tell you, is mine! The Gallery will pay the tax on your purchases over $50 for this event.

Main Street Gallery, Bayfield

As always, thank you for your interest in my work and for your support. Enjoy the remaining soft quiet days befor the intensity of the Christmas season arrives.

Take care and happy creating.

Sue

I must be having fun, as the saying goes, because time has certainly been flying!

It’s hard to believe that it’s half way through September already. 

First of all let me thank all of you who travelled to Sparta to see my work at Gathered Gallery. It was fun chatting with you.

Autumn is my favourite season as I have likely shared several times before. Even though the days are still quite warm the fragrance of autumn is in the air of our garden in the mornings. It is accompanied by the perfume of the Sweet Autumn Clematis which has done very well this year.

It is time once again to take cuttings, let the amaryllis bulbs go dormant, plant bulbs and collect seed. Lots of opportunities for ther coming year. Hope springs eternal at this time of year as I prepare for next year’s garden.

This season also brings many opportunities in the art world.

The Woodstock Art Gallery’s Visual Elements 66 is on until September 21st. Brian and I enjoyed seeing the terrific art in this exhibition and also enjoyed chatting with Danielle Hoevenaars, who you may know from Westland Gallery, and who is now the Head of Collections at Woodstock Art Gallery.

My painting on the right, beside Kim Harrison’s work.

On Sunday September 22, the first Annual Main Street Arts Festival is taking place in Bayfield. Many wonderful events and activities are planned as well as several galleries to visit. At this time of year it is a beautiful drive to Bayfield from London.

I will be teaching art classes at Westland Gallery on Tuesday evenings in October. The classes are designed for those with some experience painting in watercolour and will not be suitable for beginners.

Sadly there has been virtually no progress on the restoration of my studio after the flood.  

Take care. Enjoy this fabulous season. Thanks for your ongoing interest and support.

Sue