Journal

Last weekend we had a visit from artist friend Margot Cormier Splane and Bruce. We had a great time talking art and enjoying coffee! So much to say! So much to share. Check out Margot's website and see her art for yourself!   https://margot-cormier-splane.net/

Take care,

 Suze

Greetings Friends!  

" Hello darkness my old friend. I've come to talk with you again." - Simon and Garfunkel

I wish I could be excited about this time of year. I am one who suffers from the lack of light and struggles through November, December and January - call it Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD) if you wish. The hours in the studio are cut short earlier in the afternoon by the dying daylight. Although I'm late to start this year, the lightbox will be turned on daily when working in the studio starting today! Given my ever optimistic and joyous outlook on life I can never be down or depressed - not even in November. It is only my energy that seems to drain in the dark months. Curling up under a blanket with a good book becomes a tantalizing wonderful idea! So enjoy the dark and hibernation - more alone time to work, read, experiment.  Keep well my friends.

xxoo, Suze

Winter Landscape I

Hello Friends,

"When I found the beautiful white bones on the desert I picked them up and took them home too....I have used these things to say what is to me the wideness and the wonder of the world as I live in it." - Georgia O'Keefe.

I have an intrigue with painting bones. My moose skull was given to me by an Indigenous man out of the blue one day - he sent it home with my husband for me to use in paintings. I originally started painting bones after long walks on the range in the Interior of British Columbia with the dogs and my artist friend.  For years it sat either outside or inside my studio but I knew I would eventually use it in paintings. I had collected skulls and bones for years. My skull, antler and bone collection lived outside the studio on an outcrop for years while animals both domestic and wild dragged them off or the elements caused serious deterioration. 

This one will soon be listed on the gallery page. 

Leave me a message. I love to hear from you! 

Suze

Dear Friends, Family, and Artists,

On this Canadian Thanksgiving the news is dire but there is so much to be thankful for! Nothing like counting your blessings on this day, and everyday. We have family, friends, and animals. Hopefully and importantly we have our health whether or not it is or has been a struggle at times. And there is always the hope for better days ahead! Most of us have food on the table and a roof over our heads humble though it may be. If you know some one who needs help with food or lodging please go and help them - it could be family or a friend. And help those poor animals sitting in the rescues too! 

We have nature that constantly surrounds us not only up north but also elsewhere in this great country. Nature refreshes the soul and brings hope for a better future. We as Canadians are so lucky.  

There is so so much to be thankful for! 

Enjoy your turkey! 

xxoo

Suze

Good Morning Friends, 

I hope your Monday morning is going as well as mine has. I started out with a morning walk with the dog (who happens to be an old rescue Golden Retriever), then my usual cup of coffee, and now off to the studio to dig in to the paints! Stay happy! Keep on the sunny side! xxoo 

Suze

Hello Friends and Artists,

It is another beautiful fall day. The leaves are not quite there yet in our part of the Boreal forest! A good day to walk about looking for interesting subjects and shadows! I was out yesterday and took a few photos (see photo above) trying to capture the sun, the shadows and the foliage for my 'faux' plein air painting experience. What is 'faux' plein air?  'Faux' plein air is a term I coined to describe my technique of going out and absorbing nature into my memory then coming back and working on the mental image in the comfort and facility of my studio. I allow myself a reference photo only to refresh my memory. No slavish copying! Altering perception and adding in my personal touch is encouraged!  What keeps this fresh and spontaneous? Limiting the time you can spend on the painting! And backing up from your easel! 

Have a great day and do touch base with me via email! 

Suze  

Hi Friends and Fellow Artists, 

It's another beautiful September day! My studio awaits and I am keen to get going again after a hiatus to get up and running with this website! The fall leaves are starting to turn! It might be time to get packed up and out of the studio for a foray into plein air painting! Well at least it is definitely time to take the iPhone out to capture some fall colour! The lighting is so interesting early in the morning and later in the evening! And of course the black flies and mosquitos are pretty much gone for the year! (Did I say 'yeah'? ) 

A word about the website. I plan to change the 'Collections' on a regular basis so do stop back often to see new 'Collections' and read the journal! Let me know what you think in the Guest Book and Comments section and please do sign up for the emailing list! Have no fear that you will be inundated with emails as I plan maybe one or two emails per year! I am far too busy painting to write emails and newsletters but I love to have a way to keep in touch with you! Have a great fall day! 

xxoo Suze ( Lately I've been signing off that way to all my friends - it's just a little "joie de vivre").  

Welcome Friends,

I'm pretty excited about the website! It went online today. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed learning the process and getting it all together! More work than I thought and it is not complete nor will it ever be. I am going to be adding collections and additions all the time to say nothing of my regular Journal entries! I hope you will visit often! Please let me know you were here by leaving a comment in the Guestbook as your footsteps fall lightly on the path!

Have a good day and always "be kind" (a quote from a friend!)  

Suze

Hi Friends,

So nice that you are here reading my journal. We had a busy weekend with the Northern Ontario Art Association arriving in town for the AGM and opening of the 67th Annual Juried Show! The show looks great with some very impressive work by the artists from Ontario's northland. My work "Silent Land" hangs proudly at the Museum of Northern History between two fabulous pieces with all three complimenting each other so kudos to the staff for that choice! The opening was held on Sept 8th at 6:00pm and it was packed! So nice to talk to everyone! Congratulations to the KL Art Club for hosting and doing a great job for the first in person show in a long time.

Keep on the sunny side! Sue  

Hello Friends, 

What a marvelous September day it is! Sunny and very warm in the Boreal forest. On this gorgeous day I am enjoying creating a long overdue website for my artwork! Even if it takes me out of the studio how great is that! If I knew creating a website would be this much fun I would have done it years ago!  Actually I did have a website and a daily journal but I neglected to update it by working too much and so I took it down. I didn't think I deserved it if I was not going to look after it. I promise you this time it will be different! I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment. 

Have a good day and keep smiling! 

Sue