Here is the latest large (60" x 30") oil painting. New looser, contemporary style, but it conveys everything I wanted it to. Can you feel the uplift? My son, crossing a tidal pool in the red sand shore of Prince Edward Island, is doing his best to walk on water and not step on the myriad of life found in its depth. Past this tidal pool, home and night awaits. The reflection symbolizes this beautifully.
Canvas (Paintings)
You're an Art Collector and You Don't know It.. Yet
Above is the 18" x 24" oil painting I did for August's "Second Saturday Collectors" Special" at the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre , a centre of over 30 working artist studios & their galleries, plus a main art gallery in Glen Williams (Georgetown) , Halton Hills, Ontario.
Artist Carmen Hickson and I (Christine Montague) started an exclusive art event at the Williams MIll recently entitled "Second Saturday Collectors' Special" . Wait, you say. I am not an art collector and so this event must not apply to me!
But if you think about it, the moment you take that first step, and buy an original work of art, you are a collector. That may not have been your intent, but by making that commitment, you have done more than passively purchase an item to hang in a room, you have done something even better. You have bought something that you respond to emotionally and that speaks to your heart. You have also done something more! You have just supported your local entrepreneur -which is what being a visual artist is (they suffer all the same risks) - and have contributed to your country's cultural economy.
The event has already created a buzz among the other artists at the Williams Mill where I have my studio and this past Saturday, 5 other artist also participated. Congratulations to Simon MacDonald who immediately sold his painting of a regional scene, with another couple standing by hoping to make it theirs! Wow!
So here's what the buzz about "Second Saturday Collectors' Special" is all about -
- Purchasing art is exciting and special. We want you to experience that special thrill. So on the second Saturday of each month, a brand new art work is unveiled at 12 noon in the studios of each of the participating artists. The unveiled art is a surprise to all. This is even great fun for the other artists at the mill.
- While owning original art is as important as the air to breathe for some, we understand that to many original art is regarded as a luxury item. You may love a work, but you are nervous about actually buying it. SO, for that day only, the art work unveiled, is offered at a very, very special price.
- Owning original carries bragging rights! The moment you buy a Second Saturday Collectors Special, you have purchased a real work of art, you beat out others to get it, and you have immediately made an profitable investment. How so? Because at 5 p.m. that Saturday if the painting hasn't sold? The "Second Saturday" price label comes down, and the true value label goes up.
- Original art is an instant heirloom. It has provenance. Who throws out original art? Who puts it in a landfill? It will live on for ever. Hundred years from now, someone will be admiring that work and talking about you - who owned it.
- And last, but not least, you will have purchased locally. To be an artist at the Williams Mill, one can not be a hobbyist. This is a highly disciplined, entrepreneurial profession with long hours . Like farmers, artists are passionate about what they do, but artists never get to take a day off and every cent counts. We appreciate your business.
Second Second Saturday Spashdown
Today was the second of the "Second Saturday Collectors' Special" series offered in my studio and that of fellow Williams Mill artist Carmen Hickson.
Carmen and I each create a new painting that is not unveiled until the second Saturday of each month. For that day only, each of our new paintings are offered at only a fraction of their worth.
For example, this month's 18" x 24" oil painting one canvas " Study for Summer Fun" - completed just this morning - was only $100 plus HST. It's wholesale value is $300 plus tax.
Why was this work offered as a lost leader?
Visitors to our studio are always enthusiastic about our work, but through conversation, it would seem that many of these visitors have never bought original art.
So, we have set about to ease the struggle the potential collector may feel in taking that first step in buying original art. We sincerely want to help people experience the joy that comes from owning original art ...and it is a joy!
We also have the fun of challenging ourselves in what special work we will create for this special day.
And to add to the excitement - other Williams Mill artists have decided to take part in August's Second Saturday Collector's Special. Now we can hardly wait for August. What wonderful works and special deals will August bring?
Now You Know How the Mouse Feels
Finally! I finished the third in the series of "Big Cat" oil paintings. Although visitors to my studio especially love the Big Cat 1 painting and it inspires many a conversation, I have great fondness for the humour behind this work. Wouldn't want to be the mouse. I envision this painting in someone's dining room over the sideboard. It's really title should be " Who's for Dinner?"
Casson, Christine Montague, & the Contemporary Art Connection in Glen Williams
In early June, an A.J. Casson landscape oil painting "A Street in Glen Williams" sold for the record-breaking price of $542, 800. To see this Group of Seven Canadian landscape painting click here Do you know that Glen Williams - probably considered Ontario cottage country when Casson painted what was a contemporary painting then - is a hamlet only 15 minutes north of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada? And for travelers from Toronto, this cultural destination is only a 40 minute trip away. (It is also accessible by Go train and bus) This painting is not particularly successful in its depiction of a "unique" place - these little houses and fall colors could be almost anywhere in Canada. But then that wasn't Casson's goal. What is remarkable that "Glen Williams" is still a beautifully preserved hamlet of 1850's homes in a true glen, and that it is home to many, many present day artist studios! Glen Williams is protected by the Sheridan Nurseries farmland and the limited growth in the green belt around Toronto. This fabulous place with the Credit River running through it is protected from urban sprawl. But even more importantly, at Glen Williams's heart is the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre - home to a huge centre of contemporary artists' studios and where I have the good fortune to have my artist studio. www.christinemontague.com
The Williams Mill moniker is deceptive. The mill is only one of FOUR buildings which house visual artists and crafts people.
- The 1850's lumber mill is home to graphic artist, painters, sculptors and potters.
- The 1850's stone power plant is home to jewellers, a quilter, framing service, painters (including www.christinemontague.com) , and my studio mate found art assemblage artist www.theredpigstudio.com
- The courtyard has painting, woodcarving, stone carving (4 sculptors) . The gallery connects from the courtyard & represents the mill artists, and has monthly shows of other artists too.
- The last building is home to Glen Williams Glass Blowers.
So for those of you in wonder of this lovely bit of Canadian art history, or in sheer amazement at the price paid for this Group of Seven, Casson painting , appreciate the place this painting depicts as well. It is well worth the trip to visit this historic town - alive and well with a diverse group of award-winning contemporary artists. And you won't have to pay half a mil to enjoy their work. www.williamsmill.com
Cool Cat
Imagine this big Main Coon cat greeting you in the hallway when you get home or on the big wall at the stair landing! Well loved by all that visit my studio - even by those who aren't cat fans (as one woman stated "Imagine if it was a horse!") this cat would be a unique art work for the home. Painting #2 in the Giant Cat Series. 60" high by 40" wide. Black and white oil painting with gold and silver oil paint and oil stick. Next up - "Who's for Dinner" - the 3rd in the series is almost finished too.
Ten Little Cat Paintings
These ten little 5" x 7" cat oil paintings may, I am thinking, be the first of a series of 100. In this first set most are of cats and wallpaper. One is an "Es-cat -ment" (a play on the Niagara Escarpment) , and one is a "harlecat". Most have silver or gold oil paint.
New mini cat oil paintings
The Artist Studio - Big Cats "Spring Into Art"
[slideshow] Above are a few photos of my studio - all cleaned up for this past weekend's "Spring into Art" Open House - an annual event on the first weekend of May at the Williams Mill Visual Artist Centre. Lots of black oil paint going on it those giant paintings of cats! I changed the "wet paint" sign to the more effective "Warning - Big Wet Cat".
Artist Carmen Hickson supplied the tulips, and not seen, I had lilacs and crabapple blossoms. As an aside, lilacs are out in Mississauga, are simply buds in Halton Hills, and a visitor told me are not yet in bud in Ottawa. The coffee was ready to brew on the Keurig, and the chocolates were out. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by. I always appreciate your investing in my art.
Couldn't make it this time? My studio, as well as the over 30 others at the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre are open Fridays and Saturday 12 - 5 pm. The Williams Mill Gallery is open Wednesday to Sundays 12 - 5 pm.
The Williams Mill is in the western GTA (Greater Toronto Area). It is only 5 minutes south of Terra Cotta, and is 15 minutes north of Winston Churchill Blvd. and the 401 in Mississauga.
The Big Picture - Art & Land . Happy Earth Day to You!
American artist Andy Warhol sums it up exactly "I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anyone could ever want to own." Today I was reunited with a painting I feared had gone astray. On exhibit at an unknown location through an art rental service experiencing difficulty, I feared this was one painting I may never see again.
Read MoreTaking Shape: New Cat Painting Begins
A new giant cat is emerging from the dark in my latest oil and oil stick painting - seen here in my studio at the Williams Mill.
The Colour Shaper tool is again proving useful to both add and remove paint creating great fur texture. Read all about the Forsaline & Starr Colour Shaper & how to use it here.
New Found Joy at the Terre Neuve (Newfoundland) Gallery
The opening of an art show is always exciting and full of promise. Combine this with the opening of the gallery itself - especially one as well conceived as the new Terre Neuve Gallery in Aurora, Ontario - and I knew I was in for one special day.
Packed from the get-go the gallery stayed abuzz with positive energy all day long. I enjoyed chatting about my work with so many enthusiastic Aurora art lovers. In fact, the gallery was so busy, I didn't even notice that the "Jewel" 88.5 radio team, who had been terrifically supportive and complimentary to the art, had packed up and gone. (Ahhh, the keen eye of the artist)
I 'm honored to have made the acquaintance of Aurora's gracious and fascinating Mayor Phyllis Morris. Although my portrait painting of the Lorne Scots reservist, "Private Romeo" often garners a lot of attention, it's always particularly poignant to me, when someone with military experience, is drawn to it. Mayor Morris served in the military in the U.K., and was recently at the deployment ceremony for Aurora's Queen's Own Rangers Reservists.
I enjoyed meeting other Terre Neuve Gallery artists - Rebecca Last, & Christina Kerr. Of course, I have known the wonderful sculptor Mary Ellen Farrow, a fellow Williams Mill artist, for a long time.
There wasn't much time left over to talk to those who created this new gallery - Harold Hillier, Sarah Olson, Andrew Hillier, and consultant Karyn Lockhart. Their vision, has given me a place to share my vision, and for that I am very grateful.
Finished Big Cat Painting Today
I didn't want to leave the studio today until I finished this painting - I was so anxious to see it completed. Although I adore painting in oils, drawing was my first love, and so, it was exciting for me to both draw (oil sticks) & paint (oils) in this art work. This piece also combines my love of portraits, my love of animals and my love of black (I am only painting in black until they invent something darker). Equally as fulfilling was my use, for the first time, of silver oil paint as my "white" - although its reflective values proved a little trickier to photograph. My iphone camera, couldn't quite do the trick.
Do you know that many artists give a lot of thought to the placement & appearance of their signature on their paintings? Well, I am one of those artists. This new work called for a different look to my signature. Traditionally, on my carefully rendered, realistic paintings, I carefully print my full name in block lettering. I don't like my signature to distract from the work, and even will use more than one colour to print it so that the signature flows with the work. This painting called for something more expressive. Artist Carmen Hickson of www.theredpigstudio.com lent me a nifty colour pushing brush* ( a rubber chisel tip instead of bristles). It was perfect for carving out a cursive signature with values that suited the painting.
By the way, "Big Cat Painting" is not the official title of the painting...
* I don't know the official name of these rubber tipped brushes, and tried unsuccessfully to google them for this post. My son, who used to work at Curry's Art Supplies, informed me they weren't big sellers, but I sure found it terrific to use. Do you know what this type of brush is called? I did however find this new neat little cleaning gadget while trying to find the rubber brush name https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm?Category=A021B006823&Source=Search. I could have used this when washing piles of black oil paint out of about 8 brushes this evening :D
New Art - Giant Cat Portrait Painting Continues
Yesterday I mentioned I used Tri-Art's sludge as the preliminary step (the canvas was already gessoed in white) to starting this 60" x 48" cat painting. I was quite enamoured of the taupe, neutral colour of the sludge, and began the day by ensuring areas had the sludge show through. This was not my original vision for the painting. Sometimes it pays to go with one's instincts, but in this case it was keeping me from connecting with the portrait. If I don't fall in love with the face, I know something is wrong.
So back to the plan - Black and silver oil paint for this silver tabby. What appears white in this painting, or light gray is actually silver. The painting is not done yet. But the concept that one side of the cat disappears into the darkness, and the other side is awash in silver light - is becoming clearer.
This oil painting incorporates the use of oil sticks as well as oil paints.
New Painting Begins: Giant Cat Portrait
I just finished a series of 8" x 8" paintings - Scotsdale Farm: Snow & Shadows. I needed to stretch my wings after painting so small.
A larger than life portrait painting of a Maine Coon cat in silver, black, and white oil stick and oils seemed the natural next step.
What I have done so far -
- It is the first time I have used Tri-Art "sludge". I used it to cover the white canvas and add some texture.
- After applying the sludge, I saw a large cat eye, ear & head looking right in the swirls of the paint.
- Decided to go with my instincts. Found a photo of my silver tabby Main Coon cat to use roughly as a reference.
- & voila ... the painting begins. The face emerges some more out of the darkness.
Today's New Painting #6 in Scotsdale Series
Here is #6 in my series of 8" x 8" oil paintings about the shadows, snow & structures at Scotsdale Farm, a heritage site on the Bruce Trail, in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. The iron effigy of the horse head, stands silently, in shadow, by the empty barn. In the sunny background, a car drives by. More symbolism for such a small regional landscape painting? The horse faces left - representing reflection & looking back. The car faces right symbolizing looking ahead. That it has moved out of the picture frame symbolizes movement forward and leaving the horse behind in its dust..err..exhaust.
Today's New Oil Painting #5 in Scotsdale Series by Christine Montague
Painting No. 5 (please note: now sold) in my oil series - One Cold Winter's Day - Scotsdale Farm. Scotsdale Farm, a heritage property now owned by the province of Ontario, is a beautiful Bruce Trail farm property with American Colonial architecture just north of my Williams Mill studio in Halton Hills . Standing down by the barn, I turned and looked back across, what in summer I imagine is a lovely green lawn, but is now covered in snow boldly banded in shadow. One strongly edged tree stood directly in my line of vision . It stood out in the circle of trees. I have given this 8" x 8" painting the title "Centre of Attention" but perhaps "Poser"is more appropriate?
Today's New Oil Painting #4 in Scotsdale Series by Christine Montague
By 6:15 a.m. this morning, I was out of the drive through at Tim's and on my way to the studio. I finished this little 8" x 8" oil painting of the bird feeder at Scotsdale Farm by 11. Don't be fooled I did not get this painting done in just a couple of hours. Although, I paint with confidence and rarely go back on what I do - these 8 x 8's still always take 8 - 10 hours of solid uninterrupted painting to complete. This is the fourth in my series of 8 x 8 inch paintings based on my January 2nd , 2010 visit to Scotsdale Farm with the Ontario Plein Air Society (OPAS). It was - 25 degrees C. that day and we experienced everything from bright sunshine to grey snow swirls.
Scotsdale Farm is a heritage property on the Bruce Trail, just north of Georgetown and my Williams MIll Studio in Glen Williams, Halton Hills, Ontario.
Today's New Oil Painting #3. Scotsdale Series by Christine Montague
Finished this 8" x 8" oil painting of Scotsdale Farm, on the Bruce Trail in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. two Muskoka Chairs wait for summer time. Another of the interesting little white buildings to be found on the farm. The white clap board contrasts wonderfully with the dark trees, cast shadows and smooth snow. I don't know the significance of the bell? Decorative? An old school bell? Used to call farmhands to dinner? Can you suggest a better title for this work?
Read MoreToday's New Painting #2. Scotsdale Series by Christine Montague
Up and out early to my studio in the Stone Building of the heritage Williams Mill this morning, I was painting by 7:30 am. This little painting 8" x 8" oil painting of the stone silo at the province owned heritage site, the Scottsdale Farm. This beautiful old stone silo is on the Bruce Trail (a popular walking trail - part of the Niagara Escapement in Ontario, Canada).
I love the architecture of the American Colonial Buildings at this farm which I visited for the first time January 2 of this year with my plein air painting group OPAS. With three works of art inspired by this visit completed already, and other ideas lined up ready and waiting - I guess a Scotsdale Farm series is in the works! The photo below is very glossy as so fresh off the easel & it was still too dark out to take outside in more even light. Not a bad start to my day! And here is a better picture of "The Fourth Tree" - also a Scotsdale Farm painting.
