SOLD

The opening saturday for the Emmaus group exhibition at The House in Calgary was fantastic. The art presented is of high caliber. Sharon has done a wonderful job of instructing new painters and inspiring all to excel. An added treat of the day was Naomi singing which was delightful with spectators being moved to tears, her voice is so strong and melodious.  Emmaus members put on a wonderful spread of fruits veggies and treats, there was abundance.

Here is the surprise back of the Retablo titled "Life Preserver"

This is what the front looked like when finished. With the doors closed the tree of life dips its taproot into the red center of the door panel, but of course in getting ready to go I forgot to get a finished shot with the doors closed. This piece garnered a lot of interest and was sold during the two hour opening.

Next Weekends Emmaus group Exhibition

The Emmaus Fine Art Group

is proud to present our big show of the year    

 “From Death to Life”   

 at The House, 126 10^th Street NW

 Calgary, Alberta

  403-283-7879

 March 25 to early May, 2010

 hours:   9:00 am to 10:00 pm daily

 live music evenings Fridays and Saturdays

 open mike night Thursdays

 All Welcome to an Official Opening

 Saturday  Afternoon, March 27, 2010    

2:00 – 4:00 pm

 Artists in attendance           Snacks served

 Music vocals provided by Naomi Derksen

 © copyright 2010 detail of “Life Preserver”  by Teresa Stieben BA with distinction

Seasons Red still Lingers

A couple of images snapped this afternoon. Mittens atop a melting ice pile in the lane and christmas balls still hanging from a tree down the street. I like how the street reflects from the ball, and if you look close I can be seen down the street. The shot was taken with a 300m lens.

sign of spring?

Ladybugs are they a hopeful sign of spring?  I spotted 5 in all scouring amongst last seasons decay which is this seasons fertilizer. Nature is the best recycler ever. I got so excited that I went back for my camera to share them here. The next shot of the leaf on icy snow was taken about four feet away from where the ladybugs are. The Merlin is back, I can hear the call as it flies by. Is he, or she advertising for a mate or declaring territory?

 Seeds and leaf on ice.

While photographing the ladybugs this chickadee flew in to check me out. Its mate kept at a distance but this one bounced around for a few minutes between the branches stopping to pause and cock its head. Chickadees are hardy birds, I am so glad they are year round residents.

Charity

Last friday a friend took me to a  Society of St Vincent de Paul charity sale where I picked up this tiny bird frog. I paid $4.00 for it which I feel was overpriced, but felt it would be cute with spring violets in it. The vase sketch was done a few years back. My sketchbooks are getting full so I'm now drawing on pages not previously filled in.

I used to enjoy going to church sales for an outing and to purchase reasonably priced knick-nacks. I find now though that greed has overtaken and items have become overpriced. When I mentioned prices to a volunteer the attitude was if someone really wants it they will pay for it, after all its for charity. How sad. Charity sales that used to serve dual purpose of raising funds and selling items at low cost so low income people could have a few nice affordable items are now only looking to sell at overinflated prices.  I discovered to my dismay Loonie store items at triple their costs, ouch! needless to say my purchase was tiny. 

Anyhow regarding the expensive purchase I figured I had best draw it seeing as I keep telling my children that I collect trinkets to use in paintings and about now they are starting to wonder if I am rather too easily influenced by pretties as I really have not been drawing or adding them to paintings that often. My daughter called me a hoarder, ouch! Really I do have good intention to use the pieces in paintings.

Yellow warblers and a touch of spring

A new start.

Yesterday afternoon was a pretty good day for me, I finished my Oriole in the cherry blossoms painting (photo to come later) and started roughing in another floral with yellow warblers. I worked from sketches that I previously played with in watercolor pencil. I find when working up onto canvas that I refer more often to the watercolor drawings than to the photos which I compiled the drawings from. As the canvas is larger than my sketches I also allow the floral to grow and fill the space; after all my sketches and photos are only a guideline to refer to for color and structure.

I had bought small hinges for my "John" doors at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store which is a wonderful recycling place to buy items others have removed from homes, anyways, I had not counted accurately when I peered through the taped package as its short one teeny tiny screw. On the weekend the search for a miniscule screw will be on, wish me luck. Once I have the doors attached I will photograph the completed project and post for all to see.

I realize I still have a waxwing piece to complete thats been sitting patiently to the sidelines, but as its a fall landscape and I am excited for spring it may have to wait a bit longer. I have another piece I wish to start with a lovable black-capped chickadee nestled amongst blossoms.

Angels where least expected

Playing with images in Pages. Another compilation of my images of Alberta. The photos were taken last summer and fall.

 This angel caught me off guard in a spooky kinda way seeing it just inside the forest at the side of the path. I found out that the angel is a memorial to a young woman who had worked at the Lesser Slave Lake bird observatory. The trail named after her is the Sara Scobie  Songbird Trail at Lesser Slave Lake Boreal Center.  Realizing the purpose of the angel it seemed fitting to be placed with the image of the heart shutters. When we were there the birds were too high in the tree tops to be seen but they filled the forest with song. Ahh my winter memories of a delightful summers day.
Hugs to all, may your day be filled with heartfelt warmth.