Art! How it makes you a more "creative, innovative and imaginative citizen."

This is good stuff.  I know it has the words 'economic' and 'investing' in the title, but hang in there and read reason #3.  It's really about art.  This article is short and  presented in a very understable way.

Todd Hirsch (The Globe and Mail) - The Economic Imperative for Investing in Arts and Culture

Floral Field

After painting the mittens, I felt I needed to do something to hang on to summer for just a little bit longer.  I think this floral field does the trick.

20x20
acrylic on wide profile canvas
SOLD

A Special Flood Rose

by Arlene Westen Evans

Arlene Westen Evans, along with her husband Stephen, is the owner of Evanescence Art Gallery in High River.  The gallery is not scheduled to reopen.  Even after a month of cleaning, there is still much more work and many difficult decisions to be made by Arlene and Stephen. 

Arlene is also an artist.  Upon hearing of The Alberta Flood Rose Project she knew she wanted to contribute a 4”x4” piece depicting the Alberta Wild Rose.  The deadline was the next day.

But in the cleaned out, ripped apart gallery, it was obvious there were no suitable materials.  No paint, no canvas, no brushes.

But, there were cardboard boxes.  Nice cardboard!   We ripped off part of a lid flap and measured out 4”x4”.  Arlene had 3 pens – a green Sharpie, a black pen and a blue pen.  She selected the green Sharpie, sat down and slowly started drawing.  She called it doodling.  With her permission, I coloured in her green Alberta Wild Rose with pencil crayons when I got home.  This is her submission to The Alberta Flood Rose Project.

The Alberta Flood Rose Project     and     Evanescence Art Gallery-High River

'Ice Gold' Bubble Tree

She's a beauty!  I had to use many parts of my brain for this one.  I wanted to get a perfect balance between cool colours (silver, blue, grey) and warm colours (gold, cream, beige) and keep the essence of the whole painting quite light and fresh.

30"x30"
acrylic, gold and silver leaf on wide profile canvas
$1100 (+ shipping)

My 2nd Alberta Flood Rose

This 2nd contribution to "The Alberta Flood Rose Project" is done in acrylic and copper leaf.  It will join hundreds of other Alberta Roses produced by Alberta artists and auctioned off with proceeds going to help those in southern Alberta who were affected by the June 20th flood.

4x4
acrylic and copper leaf

Calgary Flood

This past Thursday, June 20 Calgary, Alberta was hit by the biggest flood in it's history.  Seeing rushing river water in downtown Calgary was surreal and a hush fell over the city. We are just now starting to dig out.  Photos of flood

Thankfully, Calgary is known as 'The Spirit of the West' and good deeds, volunteering, donating and digging in is nothing new.  When a call went out today for 1000 volunteers - more than 7000 showed.  Everyone is itching to help.

But hit even harder than Calgary was the small town south of us called High River.  Yes, really-High River.  The RCMP and military are still there and no one else is allowed in.  The whole town is under mandatory evacuation.  The photos show devastation.  While Calgary is cleaning up, High River is still under several feet of water - no electricity, water, gas or sewer.  It may be weeks before residents go back.  Photos of High River flood

This painting was to go into a show at Evanescence Gallery in High River in July.  The gallery owners do not yet know if there is a gallery to go back to.

'Sassy-frass'
10x10
acrylic and silver leaf on regular profile canvas, unframed
$199

Homemade Water Slide

Once again, members of 'The Optimist Club' are gleefully making lemonade out of lemons on a 'terrible awful' day. Why not make a homemade water slide for ducks?  Indeed, why not?

  - the 'terrible awful' - A secret revenge deed committed by Minny and delivered to Hilly in 'The Help'            

24x24 acrylic on canvas (31x31 including frame)
SOLD
This has a 1" linen liner and then a 2 1/2 inch shiny black frame.  It matches the shiny black boots.
by Connie Christensen

2 Cute Wee Hockey Snowmen

With pucks for buttons and hockey sticks for arms, these two are ready to roll.
'Right Wing' and 'Solid Defense'
10x10
acrylic on wide profile canvas
$299 each (+ shipping if required)

Between Ewe and Me (2)

20x20 on wide profile canvas
acrylic
by Connie Christensen
$700 (+ shipping)

Summer and Fall Bubble Trees

each 16x16
acrylic and gold leaf on wide profile canvas
by Connie Christensen
$410 each (+ shipping)
'Summer' SOLD
'Fall' available

'The Optimist Club'

Flippers and Boats
12x12  framed
acrylic
12R20 and 12S21
SOLD

Between Ewe and Me. . .

20x20
acrylic on wide profile canvas
SOLD

Downtown Show This Weekend

I'll be packing up about 11 paintings on Sunday and taking them downtown to the Scotia Centre for a week long show with Artistic Entities.  This is a great group of artists run by 2 energetic woman working hard to promote art to the public.  The show runs M-F Sept. 10-14 9:00-3:00.  700-2nd St. S.W.
Check them out here:   Artistic Entities

Framed Acrylic Paintings

I just had these 2 paintings framed and they look great!  It really makes 'It Was a Good Tobogganing Day' a substantial painting that would look good in a mud room or family room. It is framed in a very thick 2 1/4" black gallery style or floater frame.
24x12 acrylic on birch board
SOLD



'The Optimist Club' (series 10J12) is also newly framed in a black 1 1/4" gallery style or floater frame.  It's filled with colour on a dreary rainy day - hence the title!  10x10 acrylic on canvas  SOLD

Orchid Delight

Friends came over for margaritas last night and brought this orchid as a gift.  It is giving me lots of summery joy this morning sitting on my windowsill in the company of heart shaped rocks given to me by my kids.

Another Looking on the Bright Side Moment

10x10
acrylic on canvas
framed in black gallery style (floating) frame
SOLD

Gingersnap

Bubble tree series

36x36

SOLD

Ian Tyson & Corb Lund

We're going to see old and gnarly Ian Tyson and young and fresh Corb Lund tonight in concert.  What a relationship the 2 enjoy.

Step by step acrylic painting of a 'Funky Chicken'

Watch a 'Funky Chicken' appear on canvas.

The Optimist Club (series)

acrylic

12x12 wide profile birch board (12Z2)

$350 (+ shipping)

on display at Evanescence Gallery