When I think about celebrating...

...my first thought is always about friends and family, because they are lighthouses that I return to all the time.

Alice Saltiel (linked to her blog) Marshall has been a friend (think sister from another mother) for many years now, so today I'm celebrating her, her artwork, and her extraordinary be-ing.  When you check out her blog, you'll see that she has been dealing with cancer for the past few years; yet she remains a vibrant light in this world.  Her generosity, kindness, and zest for living are incomparable.

Alice has been a long-standing mentor in my art world - her facility with a paintbrush is pure magic.  Some of my favourite paintings (and she has done, literally, thousands of them) by her include:

'Creation' 8 x 24 © Alice Saltiel

'Stem Dance' 6 x 6" © Alice Saltiel

'Dancing Queen' 5 x 7" © Alice Saltiel

'Fireweed at Grassi' 7 x 10 © Alice Saltiel

'Crimson Blush' 6 x 6 © Alice Saltiel

'Midnight Magic' 12 x 9" © Alice Saltiel

'Icicles, Claresholm House' 12 x 16, oil  © Alice Saltiel

'Lily Bright Light' 8 x 10" © Alice Saltiel

'Portes de Roussillon' 22 x 30 © Alice Saltiel

'Alice in Wonderland' © Alice Saltiel

'Market Sunflowers' © Alice Saltiel

'Red Hot Harmony' 18 x 24" © Alice Saltiel

From abstract to wild animals to florals to mixed media whimsy and still life, her passion for painting and life shines through.  Alice's life philosophy can be summed up with this Charlie Brown cartoon:

Do pop over to Alice's blog, check it out and give her some love!  She's just the best and would love to see your comments.

Colour drooling...

 is always part of my day, and it was a constant over the weekend.  With Alice Saltiel and Meg Nicks (along with their hubbies) in situ, I got my fill.

We got a foil demo from Meg as she worked on this piece

Meg's foil demo

Foil demo close-up

 and I turned my test blobs into flowers. 

Alice's request to start with (before Meg and Paul arrived) was a spate of paper painting.  I somehow missed getting photos of any of hers, so I took one of mine.  We were going to do this every evening as we finished for the day, but that plan flew south with the geese.

After long days in the studio, it was time for a glass or two!

Meg starts happy hour

Meg is the queen of texture as you can see from this work in progress.

I (again) neglected to get a photo of this lovely plastic wrap background when finished, but it was awesome.

A too-pale combination background of cobweb and plastic wrap begged for a redo, so I slathered on some paint and did a plastic wrap of my own.  I wonder what will happen with this background...

We leaf printed up a storm (Bill included),

Alice and Bill are leaf printing

Lear printing on top left - first print on the gel plate
Top right direct printing with painty leaves
Bottom centre - ghost or haunt print from gel plate

Had I been the least bit on the ball, I would have dozens of photos; the production was prodigious and the experimentation wild.  I'll be testing techniques for months as I integrate all that learning!

And on another note, I get to tell you that the winner of the draw on September 15 was Angela!  Given she's halfway around the world, I suspect that one of the 8.5. x 11" pieces will be on the way to her soon!  Thank you all for playing along, and feel free to send any more love quotes you find; they will come to a good end, I suspect!

Happy week all you artsy people - feel free to drop a comment and let me know what's up in your art world! 

I'm a sharing kind of person...

...and I thought I'd share some of my favourite artists with you today.  These are friends I've made over the past few years on the net, and firm friends because I LOVE their work.  Please take a look at their blogs and leave a comment if you're inspired to do so!

Alice Saltiel has been a fine artist friend for many years now, and her forays into the world of mixed media just thrill me.    Her painterly sense of colour and texture take this field to new heights.

Alice in Wonderland © Alice Saltiel Marshall

Deann at the Whimsey Asylum (Love that name, don't you?  Anything that playful has to be fun!) is a digital marvel, and I never know whether I'll be laughing hysterically or in tears at the beauty (and often both) when I visit her blog.

All You Need is Love  © Deann Williams at The Whimsey Asylum

Laura Leeder, a local artist and dear friend, is a delightful watercolourist, specialising in the rich florals she finds in her garden. Her fabulous patterning reminds me of William Morris' wonderful wallpapers.

Abigail Floral © Laura Leeder

Another great local friend Eileen Gidman, presently on a creative hiatus while building a new home with her husband, is a master with textiles and watercolour.  We've had some great play dates, and I just had to show you this apron she created at one of them.  She sewed aprons for the three of us (Laura, Eileen & Win) and this was her gorgeous finished project.

Apron patterns © Eileen Gidman

We're fortunate to live in an artist-rich area, and a recent addition to the valley is Lynne Mizera.  Believe me, she's a welcome one as I'm not the only crazy one now!  Lynne's a whiz at utilising throwaways and turning them into art pieces.

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith is a British artist whose work just thrills me.  Her layers and colour choices always have me drooling.

Journal spread © Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith

Tracy Woodsford's Sojourner blog is always a delight to visit, and given that she lives in Australia, it's quite the trip.  I so appreciate her thoughtful and considered take on life and art and am always inspired by her posts.

Calloused Heart © Tracy Woodsford

Susi (aka Frobelsternchen) hails from Austria.  Her eclectic pieces always please me, but I'm particularly fond of her teabag art!

I could go on and on, of course, but instead, I suggest you visit the pages on my blogroll to the right. These artists inspire me, make me laugh, make me think and generally lift my life to the max.

I'd love it if you would tell me who inspires you in the comments below (and do, please, include a link - we can always copy and paste!).  And if you visit the blogs noted here, please tell them you appreciate their work; I know I do!  

It was so much...

...fun that I'd like to do it all over again!

The opening of  'Students. Teacher. Play.',,,

last week at Centre 64 was wonderful.  With a host of attendees, dozens of mixed media artworks, a dozen artists and incredible refreshments, how could it have been anything else?

At the entrance - that stunning painting on the right is 'Alice in Wonderland' by Alice Saltiel

Here's Lynne Mizera with her Graffiti Roses

Judy Walker (l) and Gerry Forget (r), two of the artists

Alice Saltiel with her Alice in Wonderland

Judy Dahl with her Shifting Sands

Laura Leeder with her lovely stylized florals

Some of my work in the upstairs gallery

I'm toasting the opening (and the guests) in front of Midnight Garden V (yup - I think it's the last Midnight Garden - maybe)  Photo by Judy Dahl

Doesn't this spread look amazing?  The volunteers at Centre 64 did a terrific job.  Between this, the wine and the punch, there was nothing lacking at all!

The appies were amazing - photo by Alice Saltiel

Thanks to those of you who made a trip (short or long) to attend - it would be hard to express how much it was appreciated.  If you've not yet seen the show, it's open until September 24 - well worth the look!

NB.  All uncredited photos by John Dinn, unless I've really goofed up on my notes!