Red is Best...

...and this is definitely me when I was a child,

I wore red everything - boots, scarf, tuque, mittens and once I managed to get into Mom's rouge as a four-year-old to complete the ensemble.

I use the colour over and over again,

and love all the variations of it.

It turns up in paintings,

and experimental pieces,

and in book after book.

I love how it looks with black and white,

and really, with any other colour in the spectrum.

Even when choosing a puzzle for John to work on, there's a strong likelihood it has a preponderance of red.  

In fact, a view of my studio shows so much red  (right down to my tool box in the bottom left corner) that one could think there is an obsession happening.

However, just in case you feel like this post is a little overdone in the red department, I'm including a photo of a 'pile of something' in the parking area of our across-the-street neighbour.  Isn't it the most delicious pile of blue one could view?  While I've no idea what it is, I'm definitely loving the rich colour!!

Hopefully, it's back to the studio for next week's post.  In the meantime, I'm popping over to your blogs to see what's going on in your world. Happy first week of June to you all. 😎🪻🌷🌻🔆

In 2019, . . .

... months before the pandemic started I was approached by Ruth Bieber, a local blind dramatist and artist, to assist her with a project.  She was eager to create a body of conceptual acrylic works in vibrant colours, and asked me, along with two other artists (Marnie Temple and Lisa Benschop), to help her with the plan.  She had painted before, eagerly followed the progress of other blind artists, and was passionate about painting.  And so, a collaboration began that I could never have imagined.

You can see here that Ruth is a woman of vision and determination.  In spite of the countless issues surrounding her, she's managed to create a body of work (some 22+ pieces) amidst one of the most difficult times in the history of the world; her show officially opens here on Saturday.

You can find other posts about Ruth's work in this blog by keying her name in the search bar on the right.  Suffice to say that the works are uniquely hers, driven by her concepts, utilizing colours she has chosen, and as much as possible, done with her own hands.

The working process was filmed by local Mark Wolfe of Westword Communications; you can view it here.  It's a fascinating video that goes deeply into Ruth's process and concepts around what she calls 'blind art'.

I know that many of you will be unable to view the show in person even as it tours, so I'm providing some photos that have not been shown here before.  All her works are textural to the max; just imagine your hands running slowly over the hills and valleys to get the full effect, and then do it again with your eyes closed.

'Undercurrents'  Ruth Bieber '  18" x 36"  2021

'Desert Storm'  Ruth Bieber 20" x 16" on canvas 2021

'Found a Feather'  Ruth Bieber  20" x 16" on canvas 2021

'Playtime'  Ruth Bieber 
 32" x 30" 2015 & 2021

'Red'  Ruth Bieber 16" x 12" 2021

'Blues'  Ruth Bieber  16" x 12" 2020-2021

I am excited to see the show, Beyond the Horizon, at the Tilted Brick Gallery on Saturday, knowing the dedication, passion and love for colour that Ruth has brought to this venture.  She is an amazing woman, and an ascending star in the world of blind art.  Many congratulations, Ruth!

This post is...

brought to you by the colour red, because I love, love, LOVE red. Whether it's paired with near neighbours on the colour wheel,

or dominating through sheer force,

it's a colour that just brings me joy.

It can be tinted and darkened,

mixed in with a host of other colours,

or part of  a high key piece;

 it just says energy and pizzazz to me.

 I love it for the range from cool to hot,

and for the 'thumbing my nose at you' intensity.

It truly says most of what I want to say, and so quietly too.  😉😉😉

Do you have a colour that really sings for you?  Share a link in the comments below to let us see some of your favourites!

Red is best.

With new camera in hand, I've been experimenting and getting to know it this morning...60 photos later, I'm amused to discover that about 99% of the photographs contain the colour red.

I've been a red fan since early childhood, and drove my mom near-crazy with the desire for everything red, so it's no surprise that my camera practice run was attracted to it.

From Andrea Revoy's fancy clay chicken,

to a scarlet-topped woodpecker by Liz Hale,

then a canvas of red flowers,

near a ribboned artist flag,

and even a  trio of dancing 'ladies',

the artwork around the house is bright with it.  And in the studio,

 it's everywhere, from the water bottles to ink jars,

and from paint colours,

to spray cans,

 and even in the discard pile,

it's impossible to escape.

I'll be curious to see where the next session of colour takes the camera.  At least it managed to pick a 'Christmas' colour this season!

Are you red for summer?

It happens every year in our back yard and local environs...a splash of colour that knocks my socks off (literally).

The Creston Valley summer is normally filled with red-hot beauty from the garden.  From flowers in abundance...

to vegetables

and fruit,

we see every shade of red in the book, and some that are not.

What colour is your summer?

Red...

As a child, I was obsessed with red - it was rare for me to wear or use any other colour;  I recall many disagreements with Mom over this obsession.  I had to have red shoes, red coats, red pencils, red shirts, and so on, to the point where the ubiquitous mid-August shopping trip for school clothes and supplies became a nightmare for us both.

My passion for red continues to this day, and I am always immediately drawn to the colour, although I have learned to curb it in my wardrobe (somewhat).  I repeatedly find myself painting with  it, though, and just finished a small mixed media piece.

Playing with Fire     5 x 7   Gallery Wrap Canvas

I know if Mom is watching over me she's shaking her head with bemusement, and no doubt wondering if I'll ever be cured!

On another note, I'm still looking forward to all your renditions of the 'Artist's Flag' See here for details!.