Making This Paris Lantern Glow

I’ve really been enjoying working with the members of the Artists’ Workshop group this year.

One of the best parts of our weekly sessions is learning more about how other artists approach their work.

I have long been intrigued by the way that colleague, Val Miles, incorporates foil work into her bird images.  You can see more of Val’s work by checking out ‘Val Miles Mixed Media’ on Facebook.

Val graciously offered to show me how she handles this process, and led me through the steps involved in adding foil to one of my watercolor lanterns.

Val uses a multi step process that involves: sketching your image, deciding where you would like to add foil, adding a background color in those areas, applying an adhesive, and then burnishing the foil into place.

Once the foil is adhered, you complete the rest of the painting in the normal way. In my case, this involved ink and watercolor.

Here are a few pics that show how the process unfolded on this Paris Lantern. You can have a first hand, up close and personal look at the end result at our Artists Workshop Spring Show & Sale, where this beauty will be putting in an appearance.

The show and sale takes place at Grace Westminster Church, 505-10thStreet East in Saskatoon. Friday, April 13 (7 – 9 pm). Saturday, April 14 (10 am – 5pm). Sunday, April 15 (Noon to 4 pm).

Thanks, again, Val for your patience and for sharing your how-to know-how with me!

  

Countdown To Open Studio – Four Days Out

In addition to the panorama format I described in yesterday’s message, I’ve also been experimenting this fall with creating images in a square format.

This was inspired when I began taking square photos to populate my Instagram account. That’s the only format Instagram accepts.

Once I started cultivating a ‘square’ point of view, I found it to be an interesting way to look at the world.

I will have eight images at the Open Studio Show and Sale that have been created and framed in the square format. I think you’ll find them interesting. I know I do. You can preview a few of them in the photo below.

Again, the doors will be wide open and welcoming at our Artists’ Workshop Open Studio event between 11 am and 9 pm next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10th Street East here in Saskatoon. Hope to see you there!

Countdown To Open Studio – Five Days Out

I’ve been experimenting this fall with the panorama format – long and narrow. It really lends itself to landscapes and in this instance, waterscapes.

The first of these panorama images – Autumn Along The River – was created on location along the South Saskatchewan River here in Saskatoon on a warm autumn afternoon.

The colors were strong; and the winds and rain had not yet dashed the leaves to the ground.

I used a black pen with a calligraphic tip to add line and form to the trees and shrubs.

The second of these panorama images – Emma Lake Sunset Bay – was inspired by a photo shared with me by my cousin, Wendy.

She and her family own a cottage on Emma Lake, and are lucky that they are able to enjoy scenes like this all summer long.

I enjoyed laying on the color in the foliage and the reflections on the water.

And I had a lot of fun using a stick pen and sepia ink to accent the reeds poking through the surface of the water.

You can see both of these panoramas and many more of my works at the upcoming Artists’ Workshop Open Studio event between 11 am and 9 pm next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon.

Join us for art and conversations about art with all 13 of our member artists. Hope to see you there!

Countdown To Open Studio – Six Days Out

As I mentioned in yesterday’s Blog Post, our Artists’ Workshop group will be holding an Open Studio Show and Sale next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon.

You’ll be able to enjoy art and conversations about art with all 13 of us that day.

As this week unfolds, I promised to tempt you with a few pieces of art in the lead up to the show.

Here are two of my images with a floral theme – each of them 12 x 16 inches in size.

The first image, Meewasin Leaves, is an autumn bouquet that was inspired by the colorful leaves and branches that I gathered on a September walk along the Meewasin Trail.

It is one of the first images where I experimented with this technique for creating a mottled ground.

 

The second image, Au Nom De La Rose, was inspired by a flower shop of this name in the Latin Quarter in Paris.

The displays outside this shop are always interesting – with their unique stands, brilliant colors, and petals that drift across the sidewalk in the breeze.

Watch for more blog posts with samples of pieces from the show. And let me know if something ‘twigs’ your interest.

Kristi’s Cottage Commission

Back in February of 2016, I celebrated the 30thanniversary of my business by inviting supporters to enter a draw for: a bundle of publications, a donation to a charity of their choice, and an original ink and watercolor sketch inspired by a photo of a place that mattered to them.

The first two prizes were dispatched right away. However, it took the winner of the original sketch, Kristi Glover of Saskatoon, a couple of years to claim her prize.

Life has a way of tossing roadblocks in our path from time to time, but now Kristi has her prize in hand. I was delighted to be able to create for her an original sketch of her family cottage at Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park.  Read more….

Read More»

Commissioned Painting For CAPS

I’ve been a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers since its inception two decades ago. Over the years, I’ve attended and presented at conventions and chapter meetings, played roles on various committees, and served as the President of our National Board.

Last year, CAPS celebrated its 20th anniversary as an organization. In honor of the occasion, I was invited to use my skills as an artist to create something unique to mark this special milestone.

Since our 20th Anniversary aligned with the 150th anniversary of Canada, and our 20th convention was held in Ottawa, I was asked to create a painting that featured Parliament Hill and to include a special element that would reference the CAPS 20th.

The image you see here is the original painting that I created featuring an autumn view across the Ottawa River looking towards the Peace Tower and the Parliamentary Library. Cruising down the river in the foreground is a boat carrying the name, CAPS 20.

This original painting was presented to the CAPS National President, Suzanne Stevens at a special pre convention reception hosted on Parliament Hill. Here is a photo of Suzanne with the framed original ready to take a place of honor in her home.

In addition, each person who served on the planning committee, volunteered for special tasks at the event, or presented a session at the convention received a reproduction of the image, matted and ready to frame and display.

Print in Recipient Grant Ainsley’s Office

The paintings were a tremendous hit. Some declared it the best convention gift they’ve ever received! Many recipients have sent me photos showing their prints proudly on display in their homes and offices.

I was delighted to be able to use my skills as an artist to support an organization that has played such a significant role in my professional life. Special thanks to Rhoinda Scharf for the inspiration that led to the request and, ultimately, a throng of happy recipients.

 

PS – You can purchase your own copy of Celebrating Canada 150 – CAPS 20 through this online link.

 

Parliament Hill In The Snow

 

It’s dusk in Ottawa. The snow has been softly falling all day long.

You’ve just spent two hours roaming the salons of the National Art Gallery.

Inspired by what you’ve seen, your fingers are itching to sketch.

You sit down for a coffee in the NAG cafeteria.

 

 

 

As you gaze through the glass walls across the Ottawa River towards Parliament Hill, the lights begin to glow through the snow.

You only have ten minutes before you catch your cab to the airport.

You decide that’s just enough time for a quick sketch to capture the moment.

And so you do, and here it is!

 

See larger version of color image.

See larger version of shades of gray image.

Canada 150 Gallery Of Images Now Online

I hope you enjoyed the series of paintings of our ten Canadian provinces that I released over the summer as my Canada 150 art project.

It was such fun recalling my experiences with all of these parts of this great country of ours, and creating images to represent each.

All but two of the paintings have found new homes. Quebec and New Brunswick originals are still available.

If you are interested in either of those, you can contact me directly and the same special Canada 150 pricing will apply.

Many people have asked if they can purchase prints of one image or another, and the answer to that question is yes.

I have now posted all ten of the images to a Canada 150 Gallery on my fine art website. You can view all of them and their accompanying stories online. And you can order prints in sizes and styles that suit you best.

The Fine Art America service that hosts my online gallery reproduces images on paper, canvas, metal, acrylic and wood. So many options !

Here, again, is the link to the Canada 150 Art Gallery.

Happy browsing! And Happy Canada Sesquicentennial!

And thanks for all the kind words about the project and the paintings.

Canada 150 Art Project – Saskatchewan

Welcome to the last in a series of ten watercolor paintings to honor Canada’s Sesquicentennial – this one featuring Saskatchewan. Read on to learn more about the backstory behind this painting, and to find out how you can make this painting yours.

 

 

The Backstory: The final image in this Canada Art 150 series brings us to my home province of Saskatchewan. I know there are many who believe this place is one flat grain field stretching from horizon to horizon. Those folks might expect to see a painting of the great plains as seen cruising along the Trans Canada Highway.

But wait, as they say, there’s more to Saskatchewan than that. For example:

  • the Big Muddy badlands with its rough terrain and sandstone outcroppings
  • the grasslands and the Cypress Hills with their Ponderosa pines
  • the Great Sandhills with their shifting sands and desert topography
  • the parkland with its rolling hills, sloughs and willow bluffs
  • the Boreal forest with its lakes, spruce and aspen
  • the northern shield with its rock, muskeg, and moose

So, what did I choose to share with you? A country road. And not just any country road. This one runs past NW 17 33 26 W2 – the farm where I grew up eight miles south of the village of Viscount. The rise of land looked north to our home quarter on the right and to our land on the left.

This scene was my ‘coming home’ greeting at the end of a daily 40 minute school bus ride. The road was designated Thoen Road in 2008 in honor of our family, and in particular my Dad who drove the snow plow that kept this road open through all the winters of my childhood.

 

How You Can Make This Painting Yours: In honor of our country’s 2017 anniversary celebrations, I’ve created one watercolor painting to honor each province.

One unique provincial landscape, seascape or streetscape will be featured each week throughout the summer. Ten paintings are up for grabs – one for each province – and one each week.

Each original painting is 8” x 10” in size and each one will arrive mounted in a double white mat bringing the outer dimensions to 11” x 14” – ready to pop into a standard frame of your own choosing.

The price for each painting will be $150 (taxes included) plus $15 for shipping to anywhere in Canada.

If you are looking for a unique remembrance of Canada 150, and you’ve always wanted to buy an original watercolor from the Pauseworks Studio, here’s your chance.

Just send me an email message ( to pat@patkatzart.com) with the words ‘Canada 150 – I’ll Take It’ in the subject line. The first reader to call dibs on each week’s masterpiece takes it. Good luck to all!

 

If you wish to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to notifications from the Pauseworks Studio Blog,

you can do so in the Let’s Keep In Touch area on any page of the Pauseworks Studio website.

Canada 150 Art Project – Quebec

Welcome to the ninth in a series of ten watercolor paintings to honor Canada’s Sesquicentennial – this one featuring Quebec. Read on to learn more about the backstory behind this painting, and to find out how you can make this painting yours.

 

The Backstory:

I first visited Quebec to attend Expo 67 in Montreal. That experience opened my eyes to the world and seeded my lifelong interest in travel. The Expo extravaganza was something this prairie girl could never have imagined – even in her wildest dreams.

I’ve since returned many times to explore more of Montreal and Quebec City. I’m always delighted to have a chance to: converse in my sadly lacking but serviceable French, enjoy the amazing food, and soak up the European atmosphere.

I’m especially enamored by the Vieux-Quebec area with: the Chateau Frontenac, the funicular, the Breakneck Stair connecting upper and lower town, the shops, stone buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. La Fresque des Quebecois near Place Royale is a massive trompe-l’oeil mural that is definitely worth a visit.

This restaurant, Aux Anciens Canadiens, sits on Rue Saint-Louis. It operates out of one of the oldest houses in Quebec, which was originally built in 1675.

One of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life as a Canadian was the night of the 1995 sovereignty referendum when (thankfully) Quebecers voted to stay in the confederation by a narrow margin of not quite one percent. I did not then and do not now wish for a separate Quebec. La Belle Province is most definitely a part of my Canada, and I look forward to exploring more of it in the years ahead.

 

How You Can Make This Painting Yours: In honor of our country’s 2017 anniversary celebrations, I’ve created one watercolor painting to honor each province.

One unique provincial landscape, seascape or streetscape will be featured each week throughout the summer. Ten paintings are up for grabs – one for each province – and one each week.

Each original painting is 8” x 10” in size and each one will arrive mounted in a double white mat bringing the outer dimensions to 11” x 14” – ready to pop into a standard frame of your own choosing.

The price for each painting will be $150 (taxes included) plus $15 for shipping to anywhere in Canada.

If you are looking for a unique remembrance of Canada 150, and you’ve always wanted to buy an original watercolor from the Pauseworks Studio, here’s your chance.

Just send me an email message ( to pat@patkatzart.com) with the words ‘Canada 150 – I’ll Take It’ in the subject line. The first reader to call dibs on each week’s masterpiece takes it. Good luck to all!

If you wish to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to notifications from the Pauseworks Studio Blog,

you can do so in the Let’s Keep In Touch area on any page of the Pauseworks Studio website.

Copyright © 2016 - Pauseworks Studio - Patricia Katz, Optimus Consulting
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