Painting Pieces of History

A few years ago, our local school and schools in three neighbouring 

villages/towns became the focus of an Accommodation Review.

 

Each school in the review had low enrollment and high maintenance costs 

so in order to best use funding it was determined (through a 3 year process) 

that all the schools would be closed and one new school would be built, 

bringing all the students together in one place and giving them all 

the educational opportunities afforded to schools with high enrollment.

I was asked by the principals to paint portraits of the four schools

- an honour I felt unsuited for, but eventually I accepted the challenge.

Now, most people who have followed my blog and are familiar 

with my 'work' know that I love it when my art "smiles back at me" 

- and school buildings don't smile.

So, it may be needless to say that I stalled out on these portraits,

I didn't know if they would ever come together!

I had a personal deadline I was determined to meet which meant 

I had to pick up the brush again and get busy, but how can I commence 

without the spark of enthusiasm that comes from smiling artwork?

I went to the one place I knew that I could get help

- I went to God in prayer!

I poured out my heart before Him, expressing my fears, 

acknowledging my difficulties, and my desire to use the abilities 

He had blessed me with to create paintings that would honour 

the memory of the much beloved schoolhouses.

I set to work with renewed vigor and you know what happened?

The schools began to smile back at me!!

The enthusiasm remained strong hour after hour, 

and day after day as I worked away on these four portraits!

 "Campden Public School"

- Built in 1874 -

(watercolour, approx. 11" x 14")

 "Jordan Public School"

- Built in 1944 -

(watercolour, approx. 11" x 14")

 "Maple Grove Public School"

- Built in 1944 -

(watercolour, approx. 11" x 14")

 "Vineland Public School"

- Built in 1895 -

(watercolour, approx. 11" x 14")

I love old buildings! Some have such character and charm that they practically sing

 with the time and talent that went into their construction and final aesthetic!

I didn't expect the emotion I felt when I knew that Vineland Public school 

was no more, but I soon realized that the memories of the school were not 

housed within those old brick walls, but carried about inside my heart and mind 

- going with me wherever I go in this world!  

So it is not with sadness that I drive by the school property 

- it is with hope for the future! 

Hope that many more generations of children will be 

blessed with the opportunity to learn within our community!

So I, for one, am looking forward to walking into the new 

school building and observing the beginning of this new beginning!

♥ Cath-

P.S.

 I have been told that these portraits will have a home somewhere 

in the new school and the new building is almost finished! 

The doors are to be opened for the students on September 8th 

for the 2015/16 school year! 

Hmmm, maybe I'll paint a portrait of the new school 

to complete the collection in my portfolio!   

The Adventures in Woodcarving Continue: Miss Penelope

 The Spring session of woodcarving with 

my Uncle Mike is about to come to a close...

This is the third year I've been carving with Uncle Mike...

(Some of my first carvings can been seen here)

It's always fun - especially when I have no idea what to carve!

A couple of months ago Uncle Mike handed me 

an off cut (excess wood cut off from the block when 

cutting out a shape) and said, 'Look at it until you see 

one of your characters in it, then carve it.'

"Sure, okay! Yah, I can do that!"

"Ummm, okay... let's see here...."

"Hmmmm..... "

[25 minutes elapse]

Uncle Mike: Why aren't you carving yet?

Me: I don't know what to carve - I don't see anything!

Uncle Mike relieved me of my quandary when

he suggested a character with a big sun hat... 

That could work! The odd shape of the off cut certainly 

would allow for it! - Okay, where's my sketchbook?

That was how it started and this is how it finished up:

Meet Miss Penelope!

Miss Penelope is just on her way to market after gathering 

a pail full of flowers in the nearby meadows...  

"Miss Penelope"

(hand carved, basswood, approx. 7" tall)  

Uncle Mike helped me a lot with this piece!

- Did you notice how I italicized, bolded and underlined that?? -

Oh yes, I needed a lot of help! 

There were a lot of tight spots and angles I couldn't get quite right -
have I mentioned before how nice and patient my Uncle is?
 

He also thought to use an old wooden thread spool for Penelope's pail!
 

I'm glad he helped me find Penelope in that block of wood! 

She turned out really sweet!

  

 

If you happen to see Penelope's booth at a local market

this Summer, be sure to stop and say, "Hello!"

♥ Cath-

Elderberry Hedge - Spring Woodland Wildflower Walk

Awww, Spring!

The temperatures may fluctuate and the rains may fall

but one cannot deny the renewal of hope that Spring instills in us each year.

The emerging emeralds, the charming chartreuses, and the soft celadons

awaken a part of my spirit that slumbers through the long Winter.

Each and every Spring my mind reacts to those delicious verdant hues

as though it has encountered something brand new and never before seen -

my impulse is to visually drink it all in, attempt to memorize it, and somehow,

somewhere in my mind, bottle it up so that it can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Yes, it's an impossible task, but maybe that is why Spring is so special!

Spring is a transition period between two strong and opposing seasons...

Spring is the peacemaker that gently coaxes us out of our huddled burrows,
 helping us forget the harsh cold days of Winter. It's warm days ease us toward
Summer's heat and refreshment is found in the still cool evenings.

Spring, in a word, is refreshing!

And we haven't even mentioned the flowers!

The joy of Spring is only increased by the beautiful colour 

that abounds in every garden, field, and meadow!!

That brings us to our most recent event held in Elderberry Hedge:

The Spring Woodland Wildflower Walk

Each year, the Elderberry Hedge residents are invited to take part in

this refreshing and informative walk through the nearby woodlands.

The walk is organized and hosted by the village librarian, Mrs. Robin Robins.

Mrs. Robins is always the first of the feathered residents to arrive back from her Winter travels 

and is always all a twitter about the beautiful things popping up in and around Elderberry Hedge. 
About a month after she arrives, Mrs. Robins has the flyers posted and the invites delivered for 

what she proclaims to be 'the most wonderful walk in the world!'

"Elderberry Hedge: Spring Woodland Wildflower Walk"

 (Watercolour, approx. 9" x 12")

 This year's walk was exceptional! A lovely group of Spring enthusiasts joyed in the

discovery of Woodland Hyacinths and the always pleasing periwinkle, as well as,
Johnny Jumps Ups, Jack-in-the-Pulpits, and the triumphant Trilliums!

Mrs. Robins beamed as she spoke of the history of each plant.
Her group would contentedly pause and observe the plants
with their unique flowers and ask questions that made
Mrs. Robins beam all the more as she answered each of them!

The walk continued on for about an hour and then everyone was welcomed back
to the library commons for a lovely luncheon and tea, where the happy hostess
flitted amongst her guests, showing them all kinds of books about wildflowers!

As the day stretched into mid-afternoon the woodland walkers, with full tummies
and happy hearts, began to take their leave but not before thanking Mrs. Robins
for a most wonderful day and assuring her that they would be back next Spring!

Mrs. Robins, exhausted but oh, so happy, quietly tidied up the library and
soon flew home, excited to tell Mr. Robins and her chicks all about her day!

 

  I hope during this season of transition that you 
make time to enjoy all that Spring has to offer! 

For, as Jane Austen has said, 
"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

♥ Cath-

Happy May Day!!!

It has long been a tradition 

in the pastures that border the village 

of Elderberry Hedge to celebrate May Day!!

The field mice take it quite seriously!

Well, as serious as a group of silly field mice can ever be!

They get together in March and begin to make plans...

 Throughout April they gather supplies,

and finally the BIG day arrives - May 1st!

After all their hard work and preparation the mice were thrilled 

to awake to a day that was sunny and bright!

The sky was a perfect blue and seemed to stretch on forever...

A few flossy clouds drifted by during the day - adding charm to the celebration!

 May Day for the field mice includes:

1) Flowers - everywhere!  

2) Fun - had by all!  

3) Food - a plenty! 

and 

4) a May Queen!

Can you guess who the field mice chose as their May Queen this year?

Ellie, one of their most favourite friends in all of Elderberry Hedge Pastures

was unanimously selected as this years May Queen!!

Let me tell you, those dear mice worked almost non-stop for several days 

collecting enough flowers to make a "crown" suitable for their May Queen!!

Ellie was SO honoured to be May Queen 

and to spend the day watching all the festivities!!

AJ was also an honoured guest, sharing with Ellie in the enjoyment of the day.

She was thrilled to find that the mice had remembered that her favourite colour is pink

when they made her a lovely and bright flower wreath for her head!

The mice had thought of every nice thing in their planning!

They had a parade complete with banners, flowers, and music...

They had a wonderful BIG cake that had to be carried in 

on a huge platter by six of the biggest, strongest mice...

And they had a Maypole!

A Maypole complete with flowers, colourful ribbons, and exuberant mice

who pranced around and around, crisscrossing at just the right moments, 

so that when they were done they had covered the pole with beautiful woven colour!!

Someone else was joining in on the fun - did you see?

a shaggy, golden Shetland Pony named Kimbly!!

  

Oh, the mice had so much fun adding floral garlands to Kimbly's mane

and dotting her long, flowing tail with pretty posies!

Kimbly even gave some of the more adventurous spectators

a "bird's eye view" of the festivities!

Fun was had by all! Much cake was munched on and the flowers were collected.

All of the flowers will be delivered to Newt's stationery shoppe in Elderberry Hedge, 

so that Newt can add the colourful petals to her paper pulp and create beautiful notecards!

Ellie, AJ, Kimbly, and all the field mice hope you had a lovely May Day as well!!

♥ Cath-

P.S. My original painting was too large to scan completely into the computer and the above photograph of it does not show much detail... here is the most complete scan I could do:

"May Day in Elderberry Hedge Pastures"

(Watercolour and gouache, approx. 10" x 14")

 

My 3rd Blog-iversary!!!

Well, much to my surprise I realized that today marks

the 3rd year of my adventures in blogging!

The bunny on the left was featured in my very first blog post.... 

the mouse on the right was featured about a week later.

                           "Springtime Joys"                                              "Springtime Joys Too"

When I was switching out my Winter themed home decor/paintings

for lighter Spring-ier designs I went through the paintings my Mom 

had made for me over the past several years and selected this one:

  

My Mom painted this for my birthday 2 years ago.

She chose the following Bible verse to go with it:

"The flowers appear on the earth... 

The time of singing has come."

Song of Solomon 2:12

Look at what Mom wrote on the back of the painting:

"The Joy of Spring"

The Lord gives nature a time to brush away the old and start fresh

We both loved the transition Seasons - Spring and Fall.

We both readily used the word 'Joy' to describe our feelings toward Spring.

I love that!!

I hope you all feel the need to smile as you experience the joy of Spring!

The warm sun, the brightening colours outdoors, the birds singing!!

Many blessings, many joys surround each one of us!

Open your eyes to them, thank God for them,

be filled with joy!!

♥ Cath-

 

 

Having a Hoot With Hot Press and Sneak Peek

I have finally had opportunity to try hot pressed watercolour paper!

Hot pressed paper is satiny smooth - but not glossy...

Very similar to bristol board or poster board on it's surface

and the ability to lift colour off the paper is very good.

I and my favourite fine-tipped pens are rejoicing!!

I've been dragging my poor 

0.005mm Sakura Pigma Micron 

and 0.05mm Staedtler pigment liner pens

across the toothy dimpled surface of cold-pressed paper 

for the past few years as I add finishing touches on my illustrations 

and in so doing I have drastically shortened their normally decent lifespans!

 

The following illustrations are some fun "trying the paper out" doodles:

 

I love that the colours look richer/stronger on the hot pressed and the 

pen work can be so much bolder without fear of damaging the pens!

Woo-hooo!!!

I'm in the midst of a couple commission pieces right now

but still making time for doodling (as seen above) and

working on a big illustration just for fun...

Here are a few sneak peeks of my soon to be finished 'just for fun' illustration:

 

The field mice are up to something! Whatever could it be? 

...Flowers? ...Banners?  Hmmm.....

And is that a resident of Elderberry Hedge that you have not yet met?

All questions will be answered in the coming weeks!

♥ Cath-

  

 

 

Further Adventures With Ellie

Every time I draw Ellie,  I just think "Spring"!

Emerald blades poking up out of the soft earth...

Flowers unwrapping from their dark bulbous cloaks

and slowly stretching upward after a long Winter nap...

Little animals, full of excitement, playfully prancing everywhere!!

Aww, Spring! What a beloved season of transition!!

- - - - - - -

After introducing Ellie, it was suggested that Ellie should have a friend.

A friend with which to have many adventures!

A friend who, with the help of the field mice (of course!), 

would plan Ellie a big, beautiful birthday party!

A friend who would share in Ellie's love of the outdoors and sunshine!

Ellie has found that friend in AJ!

 ~ Angelina Joyce, to be precise! ~

But everyone just calls her AJ!

Even Angelina, um, I mean AJ, prefers 'AJ' because she is always running

between one fun adventure and another and stopping to say her whooole name, 

well, that would just take waaaaay too long!

Ellie and AJ love going on outings in the nearby pastures.

They, each in their own way, document their day...

Ellie, usually with pen or brush and AJ just with memory!

For example, Ellie will sit and wait for a butterfly to land on a nearby flowering 

bush and quickly and carefully sketch it and add colours to her drawing before 

it flits away.  Whereas AJ will simply play Follow-the-Leader with a butterfly, 

until one of them runs out of energy - and that's usually the butterfly!!

There are some big celebrations coming up in Elderberry Hedge and the surrounding area!

Springtime is always busy around the Hedge! So many birthday celebrations and parties 

to get everyone out and about and reacquainted after the long winter!

In the Springtime, many of the hibernating animals gather at Town Square 

to hear of all the Winter happenings from the grey squirrels and the Town Crier, 

Baxter, the blue jay - What a ruckus! All that chattering and calling! 

Some have learned that they can simply stay in the comfort of their own home

 and still hear the highlights that boisterous bird recites!

Well, there are puddles to be jumped in (or over) and many things to do!

So stay tuned for splashes of colour and celebratory scenes 

from around the Hedge in the coming weeks!

♥ Cath-