Back from Madoc Art and Music festival

As an exhibitor, it was quite a fun 4 days, but too long! I suggested to the organisers that it should only have been Friday evening, all day Saturday and half of Sunday.
It was a shame that so few people attended despite the lovely weather.
Saturday was a bit better and the music was terrific! The quality of the art work was mostly good as well.
A couple of vendors went home early and disgruntled. They thought the project was too ambitious for being held for the first time in the Madoc area. Perhaps it should have been in a a small park, closer to the downtown area, although they did get the drop in traffic from HWY 7 between Toronto and Ottawa, and some overnight campers. The local Madoc folk did not seem to be the ones attending. Maybe because it was too far for them to walk to. There is also another Art show in the market in a few weeks.

Madoc Art and Music Festival

Tomorrow I am off to Madoc to show my paintings and fibre art at the Madoc Art and Music Festival. It seems like a very ambitious project for the organisers as it is on for 4 days -Thurs July 3rd till Sunday July 6th.

It will be held at the Fair Grounds on Highway 62 just north of Madoc. Come and check it out. I will be in the Old School House.

World famous sculptor, Paul Sheir will be exhibiting, as well as David Crighton, a well known Toronto artist.
I will let you know if it was a success or not at a later date.

Tweed flowerama

Today was Canada Day, so I donned by red and white outfit and headed for the park in Tweed with my paintings and my tent.
It was a lovely sunny day, and it is always pleasant sitting in the park, looking at the lake and the fountain. Best of all I sold a large framed painting of Chisholm's Mill, (see above)
The buyers were very pleased as they lived just round the corner from the view I had painted. BY the way, this is often how you sell paintings - paint something that people can relate to, or has some personal meaning or revives memories for them.
The "Flowerama" is put on to celebrate Canada Day by the Tweed and area horticultural society. There is also a flower show, as well as arts, crafts and plants for sale.

One of my latest watercolours

I am not quite sure why this is, but the photo does not do justice to the original in this case. Perhaps it is because the original was small -about 8ins x 10ins. Any ideas or tips about photographing artwork?

Lilac tea and art show

Along with several other Quinte artists, I was involved in a small art show at Tyendinaga Library in Melrose. Some of the proceeds were given to the "art for literacy" program. This gives children access to extra help with reading etc. during the summer vacation.
The quality of the art was excellent. Cynthia Guthrie did a good job of organising the show, and the library staff donated some wonderful home made cookies, but I had a feeling that most of the visitors had come for the tea and goodies rather than the art show! The same kind of people show up at funerals of people they hardly know just for the free sandwiches. Most people showed little interest in the art, although Joyce Empey-Smith managed to sell a painting, and the rest of us sold a few cards.

Llama had baby

Not really art related, but you might like to know that the llama in the painting had a baby recently. A beautiful, big, black and white girl. She was sold to a couple that had previously bought sheep from us. They bought her to guard their sheep from coyotes and wolves,and so the baby was a bonus! They were delighted. By the way, baby llamas are called "crias" and weigh between 20-35 lbs at birth. They are all long necks and legs.

Workshop at the Belleville Public Library

I was told that attendees really enjoyed my animal painting workshop at the weekend. There were 11 adults, one 12 year-old and a dog named "Maggie"present. Thank you MArg and Dave Ray for bring their Basset hound, Maggie to be the "sitter". The students learned how to draw cats, dogs and horses, and then spent the afternoon painting Maggie s portrait.
I learned that it is impossible to teach and paint at the same time, with the result that my painting did not resemble Maggie in the slightest! I went home and redid it.
Here it is.
Here is a collection of portraits-not finished yet- done by the students.
Many thanks to Susan Holland, curator of the John M Parrott gallery in the Belleville Public Library for letting us use the room.