Journal

Hello art friends, artists and art lovers,

The North Forte Gallery is currently holding a two person show titled Fire and Ice which opened today in Sudbury, ON. This was a collaboration between Lauren, Elizabeth, and I. I took on the 'Fire' part of the title with my displays of fireweed. Lauren tackled the 'Ice' part with her icy interpretations. The work is complementary and the hanging of the show was brilliant.  From the reports I have people are loving it. The inspiration comes from the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost. Stop in and see the show and let me know what you think!  

Lauren will be there in person on the weekend of November 30th. Regrettably, I will not be able to attend. 

I will do my best to update the Fire and Ice gallery on my website  with more images from the show. 

Have a great day!  

Sue

Hi friends, fellow artists, followers,

Here is my thought for today.

Given that Kris Kristofferson just passed away I thought it appropriate to post one of my Me and Bobby McGee series. I've been working on this series for a few years and it seems to have stalled a bit as I have moved on to other series and other creative endeavours (but only for the time being). I will return and finish the Bobby McGee series at some point. This one is titled "While Bobby Sang the Blues". I painted it while listening to Janis Joplin singing " Me and Bobby McGee". This painting won the Anne McAllister Johnson award in an NOAA show.  I love, love, love the cobalt blue in this. And I was amazed at what appeared in the composition (quite unconsciously) that relates to the song. Do you see the windshield wipers slapping time? (Available)

Kris K was a great song writer and will be missed. 

Carry on all my creative friends, and those who appreciate creatives,

xxoo Suze

Hi Friends and Fellow Artists,

The Boreal forest has been busy outside the studio this week. The leaves are turning yellow and orange but still hanging on to the trees. Our resident chipmonks have been scurrying around doing whatever chippies do at this time of the year to prepare for winter. The migratory birds have pretty much taken flight although the loons are still on the lake. The weather has been warm to hot, and actually glorious. The orange waxing moon at night and the northern lights have really been spectacular. And look who showed up in the garden to harvest the sunflowers which were planted by the chippies last spring. I have a feeling that with all the reference photos I snapped, the blue jay family will soon be appearing in my art journal if not in a painting or two. I'm off to work in the studio now so have a great day!

xxoo, Suze

Hi Friends,

I pretty well took the summer off from posting art on social media but I am back! Don't let that fool you though, it has been a very busy summer art wise. I spent a week in Cobalt with the Cobalt Artist's Colony for the first time in many years, then the opening of the Art of Birds show where I told the story of "Crackers" the raven and my old friend and artist Jean Stoughton, who sadly passed away a few years ago, followed by a trip to Timmins for the opening of the Wild Alchemy show, along with many hours in the studio. I have become quite obsessed with working in my art journal...drawing and collaging scrapes and pieces of my life together. Here is a double page of raven drawings, all from my personal collection of ravens that I have encountered in and around the Boreal forest. It seems I can't put this journal down and it will eventually contain many aspects of my 'story'. I gave one of these sketchbooks to a friend and I think I inspired her to draw and paint her story and now she has inspired another friend to get started! Some of the pages in the journal will become paintings and others pages will remain as part of my personal journey. So much inspiration! Caution - drawing is addictive!

Have a great day!

Suze

Hello Artists and Friends,

Thanks to Laura's Art Shop in Cobalt, Ontario "The Deerhorn" has found its forever home.  Laura informs me that this painting has landed with people that have a real connection to the Deerhorn mine and that is so gratifying. This mine has some fond memories for me. We visited after it had ceased production and spent the day at the "Deerhorn" seeking out samples of silver and 'cobalt bloom' and having our bag lunch sitting on the waste rock. A special place for sure. Stop in at Laura's Art Shop in Cobalt, ON for other wonderful artworks by Northern artists. Laura is an expert on local art history and very willing to share. 

Have a great day painting, walking, enjoying the spring! :)

Sue 

April 20, 2024

Hello Friends and Fellow Artists,

Here it is already the 20th of April! Still cold in the Boreal forest but I am not complaining - I like the cold and the daylight has returned! It was a good week with a visit to Cobalt and a stop in at Laura's Art Shoppe. So nice to chat to Laura and catch up! I'm off to spend the day in the studio! Have a great day! 

xxoo Sue  

Take in Wild Alchemy and the Global Grove from April 4, 2024 to May 10, 2024 at the Assembly Hall Gallery in Etobicoke, ON. I was delighted to have had two works chosen for the show which promises to be a really interesting one! The opening is tonight at 6pm! Unfortunately I won't be able to make it due to distance and just digging out from a snowstorm. Have a great time! 

Suze

Hello Artists and Friends,

With all the excitement concerning artists visiting Cobalt, Ontario I thought I would include this painting in the Northern Heritage Collection. (It's not up there yet but is available). The Deerhorn headframe no longer exists and I worked from a photo I had taken years ago. Despite the negatives around abandoned mines, a headframe still has an air of romance about the memories of the prospectors, miners, immigrants and life in a mining town. It seems Cobalt has been on everyone's mind after the big Cobalt exhibition at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg. Cobalt has been a gathering place for artists since way back in the last century. Every summer Northern Ontario artists gather in Cobalt for a week of painting. The Cobalt Artist's Colony is where Northern artists look forward to re-connecting with old friends after a winter of isolation in their home community. This one is a little taste of Cobalt. 

Keep on the sunny side and have a good Easter weekend. 

Sue

Hello Friends,

Look what came in my mailbox yesterday - a gift from the author! "Toller Cranston, Ice, Paint, Passion" is a wonderful book about Toller's life, written by Toller's sister Phillippa Baron! I have only had a quick look inside but I already know that I love, love, love Toller's words sprinkled throughout! I was honoured to have my painting "Toller Come Float Over the Duck Pond" included in the book. I can't wait to get into reading more of this book for insights into the mind of this very special creative person who represented Canada so well!

You can see my painting, here on the website under Portraits North of Seventeen. I have a few more to add to this Gallery as time permits. The show was curated by Dermot Wilson. 

Take Care, 

Suze