Mixed Media Artist

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You Pick The Next Reproduction Give Away!

Here are the three images I am thinking about form the next give away but I would love your opinion! Go ahead and cast your vote!



[polldaddy poll=3827159]


AND THE WINNER IS…..

ARIE!!!!!!

The draw is complete! The girls were excited to to participate but I think a little stunned that it was over so quick. Anyway, congrats to Arie, you are the winner!

I am sorry to all that didn’t win, you are all so deserving! Next month there will be another chance to win, so don’t forget to stop by and leave a comment on the chosen reproduction! I have decided to have a little poll to pick the October reproduction give away. I will post three images to choose from in the next day, so please come back and vote!

(If your heart is broken and you feel that you just can’t LIVE without this OOAK fine art reproduction, it is available on ETSY in various sizes starting at $20 and going up to $60.)

Love to you all, and thanks for participating in my first monthly draw!


The Dior


This is a 18″x14″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are 1.5″ deep and are painted tangerine.
This painting is $400 and is available directly from the artist maria@mariapacewynters.com
Inspired by a Dior hat.


The Masked Harlequin


This is a 4″x5″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are .5″ deep and are painted red. This painting is $57 and is available HERE.

Having some Harlequin fun in the studio today.


The Butterfly Hat


This is a 20″x24″ mixed media painting on wood. The sides are 1.5″ deep and are painted coral. This painting will be part of an upcoming show in November. SOLD

This painting pays homage to Alexander McQueen. It is inspired by a Philip Treacy hat that was used in an Alexander McQueen show that, ironically, was paying homage to his muse, Isabella Blow, who loved to wear hats.
God, I loved this man’s clothes/art. When he died earlier this year I was so saddened by the loss of a true genius in our own time. Somehow, it was all too much for him to bare and even though he was loved immensely, I guess, it just wasn’t enough. It just couldn’t out weigh the pain he must have been feeling. So sad and such a waste. Suicide always is.

I hope Mr McQueen would like this painting. I tried not to make it high fashion. Just a girl, wearing a butterfly hat, what could be more ordinary?
Can you imagine if we all wore hats like the Royals or the fashionistas ? What could be better.

It makes me think about the young fifteen year old that gets a drive to school with Imogen everyday. Scarlett and I wait at the window to catch a glimpse of her ensamble as she gets in our car. Today she was wearing a day glow tutu, striped socks, kitty ears AND the tail. I laughed because last week Chris told me that she was all excited about the upcoming school events in celebration of Halloween. (ALREADY!?)
He looked at me, kind of amazed and said that he just couldn’t help wondering what the heck she was going to dress up like.
“A normal kid, perhaps?” he quipped.

(This from a man who once had black hair on one side of his head and white on the other – doesn’t batman have a nemesis like that? Just saying).

ANYWAY, I look forward to finding out what she is going to dress up like but, I have to be honest, it makes me appreciate the fact that I am still putting Imogen’s clothes out the night before. I know, that it is not going to last long!

ON THE OTHER HAND…
I am pretty sure that Scarlett is thinking; ” Hmmm, I love the way her ears match her tail.” She’ll be picking out her own clothes in grade two, no doubt, and I am fairly sure that the fashion show she is getting five days a week will prove to be extremely inspirational.


Monthly Give Away

I have decided to have a monthly give away of one of my fine art reproductions.
Here is the first one:

It is a 6″x8″ fine art reproduction on bamboo paper on a canvas stretcher. These are OOAK (one of a kind) as I work back into them. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog entry and at the end of the month I will have draw.
Yeah! This sounds like fun!


The Ring Master’s Hat


This is a 6″x8″ mixed media painting on wood. The sides are 1.5″ and are painted red.
This painting is available HERE.

She always wanted to try on the Ring Master’s hat
But now that she had
She wished
she hadn’t


Celebrate Alberta Art Days


This is photo of Imogen CELEBRATING ART at MOMA in NEW YORK….
I will be here today, celebrating Alberta Art Days in Edmonton.
You should come celebrate too!


The Leopard Helmet

This is a 6″x6″ mix media painting on wood. The sides are 1″ and are painted coral.

I love the hats that Katie Burley creates AND I love leopard print.
Pretty much a no brainer
Paint what you love ….right ….


What Do You See?

This is a 18″x 24″ mixed media painting on wood.
The sides are 1.5″ deep and are painted red/coral
This painting is $600 and is available HERE.

I sit here with my morning tea
The steam tickles my nostrils
It wakes me
It wakes my senses
Adventures awaken with in me
Anything is possible
Everything is possible
It is a new day
But just one more sip
Sometimes
The possibility of a dream is as sweet as the realization of one
So let me linger here
Just a little longer


Tattoos and Lace

This is a mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are 1.5″ deep and are painted red. This painting is SOLD

Having a little fun in the studio today. I was thinking yesterday about fun and play and how perhaps I am OVER thinking everything. Deadlines can do that to you. So ***raspberry*** to deadlines and guidelines. This one is just for fun!


Red sky for Courage …

THE NIGHT TOTEM

This is a 6″x36″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are 1.5″ and are painted red.
This painting is SOLD


Mug Shots

This a 4″x6″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are red and are.75″ deep. Available HERE

I stumbled across this website documenting mug shots of unknown people of New Orleans during the early 20th century and I was intrigued. The faces that looked out at me were haunting. Ghosts form the past saying
‘Hey, I was here before you. Look at me’.
It was really moving and I wondered who these people were. I always think these thoughts when I look at old photos but these really struck me because they were not taken of these people in their finest hour. You can see that in their eyes. It is like they are saying
‘See me, remember me, but not like this, not now, not here, not for this. Remember me for who I really am but do remember me.

So I painted one. She is nameless and her offense is unrecorded. Most likely petty. Reasons for arrest were often vague even if they were written down. ‘Immoral purposes’, ‘huckstering’, ‘flim-flam’ even.

Perhaps my way of honoring her. I am not sure yet. I am torn about leaving the number painting on the left hand corner. For some reason I feel that this is disrespectful to her, something that she would rather forget.


Feeling Grown Up


This is a 6″x8″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. This sides are .75″ and are painted tangerine. This painting is $73 and is available HERE.

I wrote this yesterday, Scarlett’s first day taking the school bus to school:

She is excited for the adventure but nervous too.
Is this normal mama?
‘Yes, my darling’, I try to answer but she is already moving up the stairs of the enormous school bus.
‘Hey’, I think,’ I am not ready yet.’
But she is.
This morning as she put her clothes on for school, she announced ‘I feel grown up today’ and then later, waiting for the bus, she said proudly ‘ I am four’.
I have tried to say ‘I am forty two’ with as much pride but I think I need a little more practice.


What Big Eyes You Have …


This is a 4″x6″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. This sides are .75″ and are pained red.
This painting is is $60 and is available HERE.

Red pushes the hood back, off of her head. Was it blocking her light or did Grandma look odd today? Was here nose larger than normal? No. Her eyes perhaps? No.
Her teeth?
Yes!
Her teeth were definitely bigger!

Poor Red.


My Path…


What Do You See? 18″x24″ work in progress (mixed media painting on wood)

This is my path …

I was recently dropping off some art to Kaleido, a local festival and was struck by the amount of really good art. Like, REALLY good. I haven’t been working for awhile -boy summer DOES get in the way- and I had grabbed the few painting that I have left so, I wasn’t really feeling GREAT about my offering.

(YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS HEADING, DON’T YOU?)

ENTER MY FRIEND … the ego …

When I look at some artist’s work I feel kind of envious because their art is ‘cool’, ‘hip’ or ‘modern’. I think, ‘ I wish I did THAT’. I am sure that we all feel that some time or another, it is a sucky feeling isn’t? I hate feeling envious of someone ‘s life or art. I really try not to, but sometimes it is hard.

So I went home and I was feeling kind of icky in my belly. Bothered. Uneasy. I am sure that some of these feelings were coming from other things as well. I have a show in November that I have to paint …entirely … yikes …and I have several festival shows to get ready for … a lot of work … lucky I have so much spare time …ha, ha, ha!

But you know, I am getting good at kicking that ego out the door. I started thinking about the art I was liking and about my art and I realized that I couldn’t paint those paintings because they weren’t on my path. I am on my own path. Maybe my path isn’t as cool as a twenty somethings path but you know what is even less cool? Painting something that isn’t authentically you. Staying on coarse and painting honestly is always the right choice.

Today, as I work up in the loft for the first time in what seems like absolute ages, I feel really happy. I have all my textures and patterns, ripped up papers and images around me and I feel that even though I didn’t know I was filling the well while I was away, maybe the well was being filled. I have images of the west coast in my head, childhood memories and smells are a little closer to the surface and Emily Carr keeps stopping by. So this is good. This is very good.

I just want to express my gratitude at this turn in my life two years ago when I decided that I was an artist and I better start proving it. As I sit in my studio, I really have accomplished my dreams. How lucky am I? I get to be an artist. Life is good. I can’t tell you all how much I appreciate your support. You allow me to realize my dream to be an artist. Thanks.

I better get back on that path now …


Waiting For Braids


This is a 6″x8″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are .5″ and are painted red. It is $67 and is available HERE.


Braids For Bed


This is a 3″x4″ mixed media painting on wood. The side are 1″ deep and are painted turquoise.
This painting is $40 and is available HERE.


En Plein Air

During this visit to Victoria we have found our way to painting en plein air. I have to admit that it has never been my favorite pass time (painting outside, that is) it attracts way too many people. I have found, however, if I am not actually painting, it is fun for the kids to get that attention.
They were pretty happy when people commented on ‘the artists’ painting. The four of them have decided to call our excursions ‘art camp’ and are happy to paint anywhere any time. YEAH. There have actually been whole moments of silence!


Scarlett sketches flowers

Dylan

Jacob, Imogen and Scarlett

Art Camp Four


Braids


This is an original 4″x4:mixed media painting on wood. The stretcher is 1″ deep and is red.
This painting is $70 available HERE


The Moon To Light Your Way


This is a 8″x10″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are 3″ deep and are painted turquoise. This painting is $190 and is available HERE

As a mother, I often feel like the moonlight. Trying to light the way for my children in a very dark and unknown environment. How can I know the best way through the forest? Clouds consistently block my light and make it impossible for me to catch those carefully placed bread crumbs even if the birds have missed them. ‘The blind leading the blind’ comes to mind. I am sometimes as childish as my children, as doe eyed, caught in the light as frequently as in the dark. I stumble around not knowing which way is up. Not exactly comforting for any child. I have yet to figure out how to ‘act’ like I know what I am doing and I think my girls see right through me. Perhaps you can fool them for a little while but after the age of four they start to realize that you are clueless as they are. Perhaps this is why they are always asking me ‘why?’. They realize that I don’t really know why and that I am just on auto pilot, which makes that question even more exasperating. I swore that I would never say ‘because I said so that is why’ …. uh, yeah that was when I was twenty and was fifteen years away from having kids. Sorry, twenty year old self, I haven’t just said it once either and don’t you dare ask me ‘why?’ because I really don’t know why this question is so hard to answer. Maybe it would mean stopping for a minute and thinking and who has time for that?

So, the idea of being the moon and lighting the way for my children is kind of silly but the dream is that I can do this and that I can protect them and guide them. And the even bigger dream is that they might just listen. So I paint my dreams and perhaps that will help them become a reality.


Upcoming Group Show…

…Please go and support Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts!



The Red Hat And The Gerber Daisy

This is a 9″x12″ mixed media painting on paper covered canvas. The sides are and are painted red.
This painting is $180 and is available HERE.

Trying to have fun in the studio. I find circus imagery always brightens things up for me. I just love the saturated colours that I can use (oh, and of course, sparkles).


In The Wink Of An Eye


This is a 4″x5″ mixed media painting on wood. The sides are 1″ and are painted turquoise.
This painting is SOLD