tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51043063237135458932024-03-18T23:45:15.355-04:00Lisa Smouter: current art projectsLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-27199114857418734342016-11-09T16:49:00.000-05:002016-11-09T16:49:44.735-05:00doodling my way from dark to light...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am on the verge of creating some new work, probably continuing on the theme of motherhood or home life or something familiar and <i>real </i>right now. They say "paint what you know." Well, what I know right now is a big pregnant belly and three busy kids.<br />
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But first. I have to get over my real aggravation with Kathleen Wynne's sabatoge of the family. The sneaky, subtle and subversive attacks on the very thing that takes up all my time and energy--I'm so done with it. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, maybe you don't live in Ontario. Sigh...anyway...<br />
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No one wants artwork that oozes bitterness hanging in their home--much less do I need a reminder of that on my easel. Plus, whining under the pressure doesn't seem overly honourable. There must be a helpful way to think through the reasons why family life is beautiful, important, valuable. The honest truth is, right now I often have trouble seeing it myself. Maybe that's why people call this stage being "in the trenches" of motherhood.<br />
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SO.<br />
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Until that gets processed into something positive...<br />
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I thought I'd catch up on the blog.<br />
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This spring I had a wonderful opportunity to create a commissioned piece for a friend. Doesn't this just lighten the mood :) It was a joy to paint!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQ1oVHzjIBmgWpDY8E0QHERz-d5WfYrPmo8GC3G0IzzmoGZ2FjdlN-UQoGlICpN1gbnq1OHKh6st7sSouIDylnDwhs_41NomSTOdMZcQkTCIZ5wU-PFmXtYR7-GxLbyqvEh9R48nSKSc/s1600/ben-jonker-commission-watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQ1oVHzjIBmgWpDY8E0QHERz-d5WfYrPmo8GC3G0IzzmoGZ2FjdlN-UQoGlICpN1gbnq1OHKh6st7sSouIDylnDwhs_41NomSTOdMZcQkTCIZ5wU-PFmXtYR7-GxLbyqvEh9R48nSKSc/s640/ben-jonker-commission-watermark.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of a young boy, Waterton National Park, Alberta.<br />
18 x 24" Acrylic Painting on wood panel.</td></tr>
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I began by selecting the photo below out of a handful of excellent options. Then I felt I needed some inspiration as far as the colour palette and brushwork went, so I kept this image of a Monet painting beside me almost the whole time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi0BYpPT9mSj_bcdJ3fVQaa9RMDcGhTcCMKFWLHtrkJa3SdivmZF6crhtG6edrUuD16ClPMKXeNc2t8mgqy0ahLzKROokXZhrvH7zfNV0-vY_Nj1k-MKPZHQ5rah5AwzjvYO5akF9P7Y/s1600/photo-reference-comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi0BYpPT9mSj_bcdJ3fVQaa9RMDcGhTcCMKFWLHtrkJa3SdivmZF6crhtG6edrUuD16ClPMKXeNc2t8mgqy0ahLzKROokXZhrvH7zfNV0-vY_Nj1k-MKPZHQ5rah5AwzjvYO5akF9P7Y/s640/photo-reference-comparison.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the reference photos I worked with, alongside a painting by Monet.</td></tr>
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Maybe you can see how my painting was influenced by this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fuJfWxXe2JSZGP_qHVhw1qOvqgxAZkaWBsrl73jhG8ED7zccFUnXBMGCJ8R5m-lAoigUtqrxwLd35FAQZoU2_o1qEBR1gesZRRsJKk7DxAdm9jGVPhhh_OqT3hWzkeQbf7BXUL7tk0A/s1600/ben-jonker-commission-detail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fuJfWxXe2JSZGP_qHVhw1qOvqgxAZkaWBsrl73jhG8ED7zccFUnXBMGCJ8R5m-lAoigUtqrxwLd35FAQZoU2_o1qEBR1gesZRRsJKk7DxAdm9jGVPhhh_OqT3hWzkeQbf7BXUL7tk0A/s640/ben-jonker-commission-detail-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Acrylic Painting.</td></tr>
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Following this painting, I was busy with three weeks of Art Camp--too. much. fun! A separate blog post about that is in the works.<br />
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One final quick thing to show you. Recently, <a href="http://www.flagshipgallery.com/" target="_blank">Flagship Gallery</a> launched a new website which shows off a lot more artwork than the old site. You can also buy prints and originals, and support this fantastic group of artists I am blessed to call friends! <a href="https://flagshipgallery.com/gallery/tag/smouter/" target="_blank">Here's a look at the page showcasing some of my work. </a><br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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LS<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-80175342919959734722016-05-11T14:06:00.000-04:002016-05-11T14:39:40.296-04:00Art Camp registration is Open!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I sit and type, I have three little kids playing (and getting along!!) around me, and about 15 multicoloured hair bows placed meticulously all around my head. Fifteen. What a life, haha!<br />
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I'm sure there are a lot of weird "working-from-home" stories, maybe you have one to share too :) Since I'm on this tangent, I may as well commit and show you this video from 2012:<br />
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Needless to say, this girl has been waiting to be old enough for Art Camp for a loooong time. She has been messing around with paint almost as long as she's been alive. This is her "I can't wait for Art Camp!!" smile :)<br />
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For all the rest of you eager artists, young and old, join me for a week this summer in Aldershot. I love teaching <i>all </i>the six year olds ;) but I also love the older classes and every age in between! You can find details and registration here: <a href="http://www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp">www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp</a><br />
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I have some solid updating and art-showing-off to do on this blog....that will have to come another time.<br />
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Until then!<br />
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LSLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-73477887374929753072015-10-24T16:36:00.001-04:002015-10-24T16:36:43.216-04:00The time has come......to say hello, world. For precisely one month, October 9 to November 7th, I am waving a giant hello to the world down at Flagship Gallery with a solo exhibition called "Look, child". This likely won't happen for quite a few more years, so come see it while it's up.<br />
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I missed making the announcement about the opening reception here... sorry about that. I was busy painting until about 12 hours before the opening night, and even then my infamous yellow toolbox of paints was reluctantly tucked in the back room right before I did my hair. But don't worry, you didn't miss the wine because I discovered we're not licensed for that. Aw, shucks. (This world has become too strict for me.)<br />
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Right now there are twenty-some-odd paintings and drawings on display at 237 James Street North. Begged and borrowed from friends, family and former clients. There are a few for sale though, so please ask if you see something that catches your eye.<br />
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There is work from the past 10 years or so, including a drawing series called "Grace" which I did while still a student at Redeemer. It's surprising to me how readily people open up about their perspectives on deeply personal things. The drawings encouraged many responses that I thought were very revealing, and I was grateful to have these interactions!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Grace"<br />
Charcoal on Stonehenge, giglee prints each 18"x20" $950<br />
Copyright Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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The show is up until the first Saturday in November. Consider stopping in or get in touch with me to meet up at Flagship if you prefer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: "Sleeping Spirit Awakened" Acrylic and Liquitex pouring medium, 36x60" $1800<br />Top Right: "Sandwiches are Beautiful" Acrylic, 24x24" $425<br />Bottom Right: "Moving ahead, feeling behind" Acrylic, 24x24" $425</td></tr>
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These were the most recent paintings I did--painting basically every day for 2 or 3 months.... I hope it is an encouragement to others. Thematically these came out of the most recent paintings I did called "Your Kingdom Come" and "Child of the King", both exploring ideas and realities about the Kingdom of God. By the time I was done working on those two more metaphorical works (see below), I was ready for some tangible representations of what Christians often call "kingdom work".<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: "Your Kingdom Come: tear another strip off me" Chalk pastel, 16x20" Prints available<br />Right: "Child of the King" Acrylic and Liquitex pouring medium, 14x18" $425</td></tr>
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
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LS<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-58730293326328031342015-04-22T14:32:00.000-04:002015-04-22T14:32:01.794-04:00A year in 30cm of screen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wowzers! It has been well over a year since I last wrote a blog post! Here's a very quick visual tour of what's been happening in the creative side of life.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Art Camp last summer... </b></span>was only two weeks but it was jam packed with students. I returned to the smaller class size, which is much better for all of us :)<br />
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We had one adventure in plein air painting/drawing at La Salle Park, which resulted in a very soggy ride back to the studio---should've known by the clouds we were studying that a downpour was looming!<br />
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<a href="http://www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp">Check out the details and register for lessons with me this summer here.</a><br />
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(Psst....I really would like a high school class this time around as much as I love teaching the younger ones!...)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL5Ld1IfgcYLLldT6XrhYoAZ6YkH9mhjSYEfIZjITuI8JhG8c84NqYlVYN4O8HlLvxcNPMDcasCiqFZyX3K1osl0IikF8SgMV-7BF97vo4sFOoA0OH30M2VI6FjzTfWQ_CWcATaJV2_Q/s1600/myrtle-beach-plein-air-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUL5Ld1IfgcYLLldT6XrhYoAZ6YkH9mhjSYEfIZjITuI8JhG8c84NqYlVYN4O8HlLvxcNPMDcasCiqFZyX3K1osl0IikF8SgMV-7BF97vo4sFOoA0OH30M2VI6FjzTfWQ_CWcATaJV2_Q/s1600/myrtle-beach-plein-air-2.jpg" height="470" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: left;">Plein Air study of Myrtle Beach, SC<br />Acrylic on Canvas, 8x10" $195<br />(prints available $35 each)<br />© Lisa Smouter 2014 </span></td></tr>
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After Art Camp last summer we headed down to South Carolina for a holiday. I was feeling creative and worked on this little plein air study of the view from our condo's balcony.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLSDcdbhxhllZNLcaVCz4cS48nybOX5E45_oTegyZvJVlKZMUeZKAqsOmTHmmJPuiU1DnVCGACI5LWwvyLGhPGYVkr1pLezSUxLM1-nDTHLcLlkU5GxPwidoA6WGiiT9rRlD1_meL7ps/s1600/DSC05169-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLSDcdbhxhllZNLcaVCz4cS48nybOX5E45_oTegyZvJVlKZMUeZKAqsOmTHmmJPuiU1DnVCGACI5LWwvyLGhPGYVkr1pLezSUxLM1-nDTHLcLlkU5GxPwidoA6WGiiT9rRlD1_meL7ps/s1600/DSC05169-web.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a>I also had ideas ruminating, left over from <a href="http://lisasmouter.blogspot.ca/2014/02/your-kingdom-come.html">last winter's drawing</a> on the theme of old/new creation. I snapped some pictures of my kids playing in the sand as reference for the painting below. <br />
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It took a few months (and a commission in between!), but this painting called "Child of the King" finally emerged.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdywAFPg3PT1tnSckZeo_YlTIMAmiWyRwXn07SIWlG66LEEk1Q9ynpCMi9NvVaGcJV1Wm3DcCJLuQhe7X6vHnzhqBVwyZ7xAGOutTlk_MJPZQX400my3RLBwheKZcatecVV5yKuVDtM4/s1600/DSC05636-web4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdywAFPg3PT1tnSckZeo_YlTIMAmiWyRwXn07SIWlG66LEEk1Q9ynpCMi9NvVaGcJV1Wm3DcCJLuQhe7X6vHnzhqBVwyZ7xAGOutTlk_MJPZQX400my3RLBwheKZcatecVV5yKuVDtM4/s1600/DSC05636-web4.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">"Child of the King"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">Acrylic and Liquitex on Canvas, 14x18"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">Please contact for pricing details. Prints not available.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: left;">© Lisa Smouter 2015</span></td></tr>
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I hope to get some more painting done this spring/summer/fall....Would be nice to beat my "a painting a year" record, but slow is how I go for now :)<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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LSLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-36740793611445074882014-02-28T11:28:00.001-05:002014-02-28T11:28:28.488-05:00Your Kingdom ComeMany of you will recognize such a familiar phrase as "Your Kingdom Come" from the Lord's Prayer, and I am thankful it <i>is</i> that--a prayer-- because asking God to do it is much easier than trying to achieve it myself. I have recently discovered just how deeply personal this petition is, how the Kingdom of God exists right inside of each Christian, transforming fragile paper-like creations into strong, beautiful new ones as we grow in love and knowledge of God.<br />
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Sometimes growth and transformation is painful, like when you learn an unexpected life lesson that exposes how not-nice you really are. Not-nice is an understatement, the more you compare it to how we're designed to be.....how we will be, one day, living in a New City made of pearls and jewels and precious stones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_E2PHzn99CiBP3MnSbtaNQGY-2-7Da0u1rcEb3QdQRXAWOCuB62ArLAFoeI95xjvrOj_SW_PDE-RFoHlFhxNt7-0FgjVWERfY19iVFtyjYqoE2iahFn5N9jHIk2gKYBT40VbSMwZeIo/s1600/Your-Kingdom-Come.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_E2PHzn99CiBP3MnSbtaNQGY-2-7Da0u1rcEb3QdQRXAWOCuB62ArLAFoeI95xjvrOj_SW_PDE-RFoHlFhxNt7-0FgjVWERfY19iVFtyjYqoE2iahFn5N9jHIk2gKYBT40VbSMwZeIo/s1600/Your-Kingdom-Come.gif" height="640" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Your Kingdom Come: tear another strip off me"<br />
Chalk Pastel on Stonehenge, approx 16 x 20"<br />
© 2014 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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I think I will try more drawings on this theme. I liked the mass of white paper that takes up so much more space than the pearly texture behind it. All that "white space" makes it difficult to photograph well, though. Let me know if you're interested in a print, and I'll have it professionally done up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazdHEmKYw9aEEgyGPTJpMInnri6Klo5qSb96P8dPvess-H8_Bwvh25NB07D6LooNbY-6Qk_8U-JIN690uwBJekdCgGY4lEcXlKAETeYSWSBHeuxwn1EQTSy8ehXf3H0lIAFnvNva7Sws/s1600/Your-Kingdom-Come-detail.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazdHEmKYw9aEEgyGPTJpMInnri6Klo5qSb96P8dPvess-H8_Bwvh25NB07D6LooNbY-6Qk_8U-JIN690uwBJekdCgGY4lEcXlKAETeYSWSBHeuxwn1EQTSy8ehXf3H0lIAFnvNva7Sws/s1600/Your-Kingdom-Come-detail.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">detail of "Your Kingdom Come: tear another strip off me"<br />
Chalk Pastel on Stonehenge<br />
© 2014 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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If you'd like to see this piece in person, it's hanging at Flagship Gallery in downtown Hamilton (237 James St. North). It's part of a show called "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" which was in conjunction with this year's True City Conference.<br />
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Special thanks to Dr. Ted VanRaalte for <a href="http://www.cornerstonecanrc.org/site/services/29/4625/">this sermon</a>, which brought me from in-church sketches to this final piece. (Any other creative-types out there find that sitting in church is great for generating visual metaphors?) Hopefully more to come!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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LSLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-85928999753736850482013-11-14T16:07:00.000-05:002013-11-14T16:07:38.496-05:00And a Pundit on Motherhood Three!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCN1kw5rdHQ1GmC2M1v2ecioZUwpzWvOq86AB2AXMV9VnliMCOqJfWiSmRLuRLtJwTK-KL36sc0ajMYs-hyxwS8pYK-X8SGHNiwVktuUdOnfOy_nyy7MEzkCu8O4ERhFEkdJIssluAPU/s1600/Caleb+with+Annie+Josie+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCN1kw5rdHQ1GmC2M1v2ecioZUwpzWvOq86AB2AXMV9VnliMCOqJfWiSmRLuRLtJwTK-KL36sc0ajMYs-hyxwS8pYK-X8SGHNiwVktuUdOnfOy_nyy7MEzkCu8O4ERhFEkdJIssluAPU/s320/Caleb+with+Annie+Josie+hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Try singing that to the tune "and a partridge in a pear tree"... Christmas must be approaching... But YES! Kiddo number three has safely arrived, wisely keeping quiet except to be fed or changed, not causing unnecessary strife or chaos in the house. What a cute little man. (I really need a new family photo now!) Introducing Caleb, little brother to Anne and Josie, born just a couple weeks ago. He was a little guy.... WAS. If we all gained weight like he does we'd be perfectly snowball shaped by Christmas. How timely.<br />
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Speaking of timely, I have done some speed drawing in preparation for the season of gift-giving. Well, not actually--more like staying up all night drawing....since I'm up anyways. It only seems like speed drawing to my "shoemaker" husband who apparently married a magical and talented "elf". Baby Caleb will have the sound of pencils dancing on paper forever ingrained in his subconsience.</div>
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Here are some images of my latest work:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6yAGzUmqAeZE62nzJNEOLHLtRilHkyxqZ92l4KNgcJQjXBnUeyLQWw1xuwSgSTPbAkDm6BSAhj0xNJX1OdEJDiAAea8tIwFhSSdqhInFv2DJxOhqUfX8FwRDAAbXmes4pbkSHGJrQ1I/s1600/Baby-in-Womb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6yAGzUmqAeZE62nzJNEOLHLtRilHkyxqZ92l4KNgcJQjXBnUeyLQWw1xuwSgSTPbAkDm6BSAhj0xNJX1OdEJDiAAea8tIwFhSSdqhInFv2DJxOhqUfX8FwRDAAbXmes4pbkSHGJrQ1I/s1600/Baby-in-Womb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderfully Made, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"<br />
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter<br />
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.</td></tr>
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This drawing combines my curiosity about ultrasounds and babies in utero with a more classical way of drawing. I referenced the figure of the baby from an old Leonardo da Vinci drawing--his drawings of babies in utero are incredible!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYITpBtHSO1I8tij4Feqnp_i_tGuz12ITdo09fDxEQC-Z5IbiU9ofl8f8Fd5KsjqQ1lLZ3xss-1nM4A6E0eyADHXCr3JqoSSzkHNy9n8sLAdi8YHZzRDXcmPGta41WHkPlq5i5RFqXars/s1600/Belly-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYITpBtHSO1I8tij4Feqnp_i_tGuz12ITdo09fDxEQC-Z5IbiU9ofl8f8Fd5KsjqQ1lLZ3xss-1nM4A6E0eyADHXCr3JqoSSzkHNy9n8sLAdi8YHZzRDXcmPGta41WHkPlq5i5RFqXars/s1600/Belly-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expectation, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"<br />
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter<br />
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.</td></tr>
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This was the image that essentially started the series. I hope the image feels genuine and sincere, rather than sentimental.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwjTkxD2T40U9MN2E-Ulc9qR5RGs-FKxjU_BuiPGxDZcHWTmBeQucfWKSuuuE2D4K0JTRmRg1rzW5GO2_oLVOv60iKFBpvNnBYkJ6fQk2VoKS6Sx3MASgQxtvdDT-PsZCJidmXAvuD5c/s1600/Mother-and-Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwjTkxD2T40U9MN2E-Ulc9qR5RGs-FKxjU_BuiPGxDZcHWTmBeQucfWKSuuuE2D4K0JTRmRg1rzW5GO2_oLVOv60iKFBpvNnBYkJ6fQk2VoKS6Sx3MASgQxtvdDT-PsZCJidmXAvuD5c/s1600/Mother-and-Baby.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother and Child: First Moments, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"<br />
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter<br />
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.</td></tr>
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This is the last one of the series, for now anyways. Although two portraits are visible I think it still has a fairly universal way about it, that it could be almost any mother and child. This is such a special moment--the first minutes together after a child is born. </div>
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The Christmas show at Flagship Gallery will open on November 22nd, featuring mostly smaller and affordable artwork from all the artists. These three drawings will be on display then as well, and prints will be available on request. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEpHE5ZVHajB-bDcBw5SKOKCPJvkFSfdB5ln9Dxnl1EVR0139VvVTMD67mLFbd7BK_jxLPYoTbCn5GUrn5_q6UPYoH3rk6Uvd_q5D7pUEvLnNZprqAGDMRB5wB8AqenKVA6dXMhXIu0g/s1600/Flagship-onWhite_OL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEpHE5ZVHajB-bDcBw5SKOKCPJvkFSfdB5ln9Dxnl1EVR0139VvVTMD67mLFbd7BK_jxLPYoTbCn5GUrn5_q6UPYoH3rk6Uvd_q5D7pUEvLnNZprqAGDMRB5wB8AqenKVA6dXMhXIu0g/s200/Flagship-onWhite_OL.jpg" width="200" /></a>One last thing, for anyone excited or passionate about what Flagship Gallery is doing for our community, please express your support! Whether through prayer, time or money, this gallery needs your love! Come visit the gallery, check out the classes we're offering, and consider donating to this artist-run gallery. </div>
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Blessings,</div>
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LS</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-62639855741755739212013-09-27T10:18:00.002-04:002013-09-27T10:18:54.478-04:00missing the sand and sun...Welcome back everyone--I hope you have had a lovely summer and a pleasant introduction to fall. I'm just now getting around to writing this post, as my life is starting to slow down in preparation for baby number 3.<br />
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I have to apologize for not letting you all know about SUPERCRAWL, which is an annual festival on James Street North. All the galleries are open late, vendors line up and down the middle of the street, and musicians from Hamilton and all over the world come to entertain. Did any of you make it there?<br />
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Next September it returns again, and in the meantime, you could always come experience a regular Art Crawl (2nd Friday of every month).<br />
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Here's my latest work, a large acrylic on canvas that has only taken since January to paint...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj1tPTuWmLy2pXYeNtCIbtQsoZ3T3rrAZbL0hyphenhyphenG2x5JxW9xpSRptMyXu7gbWL774W_2cWL5FigShN-I-HZVUpOVrsMcRF3PcoFdZ6kH8YllCGQEknc6H4HeQnXUzNJIAXy1KEbGjMHBo/s1600/McCormick-beach-painting-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj1tPTuWmLy2pXYeNtCIbtQsoZ3T3rrAZbL0hyphenhyphenG2x5JxW9xpSRptMyXu7gbWL774W_2cWL5FigShN-I-HZVUpOVrsMcRF3PcoFdZ6kH8YllCGQEknc6H4HeQnXUzNJIAXy1KEbGjMHBo/s1600/McCormick-beach-painting-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait commission. Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 30"<br />Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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I was very thankful that my (patient!) client chose this scene for this project. It's a portrait pleasing to a wider audience than simply this young woman's family, because although it captures her likeness, the absence of her face allows you to imagine her being any number of young women. There's also a serenity and simple beauty in the ocean view. It bridges the boundary between landscape and portraiture, making it easier to find an appropriate place for it to be displayed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIBmvJO959AHWFQwzRys8brWW_pNXSiqLfnqDcReHPdGYN3GVL1ope5AT4vELZwt9cLgTKDCQq8hOtuPC52fW8oN2B8WsT5aeUev-DiyLID1gnmSwUkQp-AaO4-HxM_FbJKNaCF89bI8/s1600/McCormick-painting-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIBmvJO959AHWFQwzRys8brWW_pNXSiqLfnqDcReHPdGYN3GVL1ope5AT4vELZwt9cLgTKDCQq8hOtuPC52fW8oN2B8WsT5aeUev-DiyLID1gnmSwUkQp-AaO4-HxM_FbJKNaCF89bI8/s400/McCormick-painting-detail.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of portrait. Acrylic on Canvas.<br />Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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The next thing on my project list is a small pencil portrait commissioned by another of my (long-suffering) returning clients, which MUST be completed as soon as possible. After that I'll be taking a break from commissions for a while.<br />
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A heads up for....dare I say it? Christmastime! The Christmas show at the Flagship gallery will be displaying an array of smaller, more affordable work from each of the artists. We're all busy coming up with some fresh work under the theme: "Gifts From the King." I'd encourage you to consider dropping by sometime in the next few months to check us out.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.semaphore.ca/">Flagship Gallery</a> is at 237 James St. N, Hamilton. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-5pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Remaining Art Crawls (12-midnight): October 11, November 8, December 13.</span><br />
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Some of you may be wondering how <a href="http://artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp/">Art Camp</a> went this summer--I'll post some pictures and video soon.<br />
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Till next time!<br />
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LS<br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-36205822920968429902013-06-11T15:05:00.004-04:002013-06-11T15:05:52.700-04:00Flagship: Under the Big Red Awning...<div>
Some photos from last week, before and after completion of 237 James Street North.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1GEivEsBd_-10c_23CI1zTY0yxWL_y1QCSwFFRT_qqHaP9rs79KeJxtgL1bimfO0vcYx3htMpqHl-yQ1qa4ig1kjM1BYPN2VDWT2iV44h61lkK1Gxl9pIb2gdojd4rH_hvHvrNlQLw/s1600/Flagship+collage+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1GEivEsBd_-10c_23CI1zTY0yxWL_y1QCSwFFRT_qqHaP9rs79KeJxtgL1bimfO0vcYx3htMpqHl-yQ1qa4ig1kjM1BYPN2VDWT2iV44h61lkK1Gxl9pIb2gdojd4rH_hvHvrNlQLw/s640/Flagship+collage+copy.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: a few good men, comtemplating how to tackle the gallery facade. <br />Bottom Right: Visionary and head of the Semaphore Fellowship, James Tughan, <br />catching some fresh air on opening night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BrNh1Ya83DZLVTygr6Ee_nZPnh9B4CqLQRFvtC7i1lgA0RbQsm-6Ep91Jzk-fUzQGZgFE9Db5EPbZ_-cRBT5j72kMyklZJQBWQT-GRXG981EDpknnzvbRR8WT_5uX0ycn1ze8koi4kg/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BrNh1Ya83DZLVTygr6Ee_nZPnh9B4CqLQRFvtC7i1lgA0RbQsm-6Ep91Jzk-fUzQGZgFE9Db5EPbZ_-cRBT5j72kMyklZJQBWQT-GRXG981EDpknnzvbRR8WT_5uX0ycn1ze8koi4kg/s640/photo+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The kiddos on Flagship's opening night.<br /></td></tr>
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The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 12-5pm, and Saturday from 11-5. Hope you can stop by for a visit sometime! The member's show--which anyone in attendance last Friday night can attest to is FANTASTIC-- is showing until June 26th. I have one piece on display, and plan to have some new work to show next time. </div>
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Art Crawl is this Friday night, so we'll be open LATE along with the rest of the galleries on the street---I think around 11pm.<br /><div>
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Cheers,</div>
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LS</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-51396076157987911282013-06-03T21:07:00.000-04:002013-06-03T21:07:40.874-04:00Flagship Gallery GRAND OPENING!<span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">[Yes, the gallery's name has changed. We like to keep friends on James Street, especially with Mixed Media's shop owner.]</span><br />
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Tomorrow the storefront sign will convert--not magically, but by the mighty arm of some strong fellows--from a tired old grocery mart to the stunning and polished Flagship Gallery.<br />
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I am so excited!!<br />
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Dear husband et al sign-installers: thank you for your muscles!!<br />
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This invitation is extended to all members of the faith community interested in seeing some <i>fantastic</i> art.<br />
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Parking can be found on any of the many side-streets, or on James Street North if you're part of the special 2% who always seem to find a good space....<br />
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THIS FRIDAY, from 7 to 9pm. It <i>will </i>be good.<br />
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Please join me!<br />
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LS<br />
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P.S. the regular Art Crawl will be happening the following Friday, June 14th.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-49883691603718944772013-05-15T09:01:00.000-04:002013-05-15T09:02:00.062-04:00Spring Sketches "Wuff! Wuff" ... my 1 year old little girl was <i>very</i> excited about this drawing.<br />
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Chalk pastel is an easy thing to work with when kids are around. I am a GOOD sharer. Just don't touch my drawing--or you will see my authoritative side...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8rHvUR8e-sOQmZGYApcwvGzv8PA5YOa65MT9bXGc0Kty6sCP9oq_Vh4aW-0BeuOaT0lCdAVaNiEUGBmMZB6spIch4wKTSf37y4XjZiCDM3TFYlKikPedmOMiZcg4OOY6GVp8936BKk/s1600/tucker-drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk8rHvUR8e-sOQmZGYApcwvGzv8PA5YOa65MT9bXGc0Kty6sCP9oq_Vh4aW-0BeuOaT0lCdAVaNiEUGBmMZB6spIch4wKTSf37y4XjZiCDM3TFYlKikPedmOMiZcg4OOY6GVp8936BKk/s640/tucker-drawing.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucker (Portrait of a Boxer Dog), chalk pastel on mat board.<br />
Approx. 9 x 12"<br />
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhITdvLCqCTooYS73czgxyvtzAcvp00Q2hdVZHXJM4NUoEhR_SN_IXMgfHZbhBPk5RpHXSrxmFFoZi_2z4ePzXavuad8rkSbcUFpXNQMgH4KKGHth-H4CS-NDf0H1c4YXixTTXo1UNvH4/s1600/Day+at+the+Studio+flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhITdvLCqCTooYS73czgxyvtzAcvp00Q2hdVZHXJM4NUoEhR_SN_IXMgfHZbhBPk5RpHXSrxmFFoZi_2z4ePzXavuad8rkSbcUFpXNQMgH4KKGHth-H4CS-NDf0H1c4YXixTTXo1UNvH4/s400/Day+at+the+Studio+flyer.jpg" width="304" /></a>To gear up for summer, kids and teens are welcome to visit the studio for a few hours of drawing or painting. It's another Studio Day, which has been a long time coming! We'll get creative with a box of TimBits...or rather, with our hearts, minds and art supplies. The TimBits can just be some good old-fashioned fuel.... :)<br />
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Please spread the word to friends or family who may be interested!<br />
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Email me for details, or to sign up.<br />
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And of course, I'm still accepting registrations for summer Art Camp! You can visit <a href="http://www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp">www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp</a> for information or to register.<br />
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I'll be teaching at the Aldershot studio in July (2 weeks), and at Cornerstone CanRC church in Hamilton in August (1 week).<br />
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Lastly, some of you know I've recently committed to a new gallery on James St. N. The space is currently being renovated, and we hope to open in June. This means I'll be concentrating more on creating original work for sale.<br />
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This past week has driven me to my sketchbook out of need to creatively "vent" -- so perhaps something beautiful will come of it. The heart-breaking story of Tim Bosma has gripped so many of us for a week--metaphors for this injustice and pain have been piling up in my sketchbook....<br />
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Until next time...<br />
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LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-5885581117079238382013-02-08T10:15:00.000-05:002013-02-08T10:15:29.415-05:00For and by the kidsA while ago I started singing this little poem I made up:<br />
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I'm a Mom by day,<br />A Painter by night,<br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="il">My</span> </span>hubby does the dishes,<br />And the family's alright.</blockquote>
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Then we got a dishwasher. </div>
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Painting time is in short supply here, especially since my latest project is a very large acrylic--and the paint dries by the time I'm done changing a diaper :)</div>
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So here's a little chalk drawing I did last week in between daily tasks.....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zFQAEFZZAZHEdLS38yr7jl482SKeBK-1XAq_H9BTeyBmu1DQL4qTxrbuoLBNFnXtDb4Yi4yvD8EXsucJkXgr_zRjvEieQAiuNIWwJHB7Fj8c2bgaEWuVfb6aym2wifp-xjCjDQtO8_c/s1600/Josie-drawing-2013-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zFQAEFZZAZHEdLS38yr7jl482SKeBK-1XAq_H9BTeyBmu1DQL4qTxrbuoLBNFnXtDb4Yi4yvD8EXsucJkXgr_zRjvEieQAiuNIWwJHB7Fj8c2bgaEWuVfb6aym2wifp-xjCjDQtO8_c/s640/Josie-drawing-2013-web.jpg" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Baby Curls (Josie Amanda)<br />Chalk Drawing on Stonehenge, approx 4 x 6"<br /></td></tr>
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I'm thinking of doing a gallery style wall in my girls' room, along with this beautifully mysterious painting done by my daughter Anne: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M9vYpPWHm2FqfsmYW8Gh9mkQJlNkWje_G6al7ZlvkWT4dN3BESylp8uSWy-GCspYQB9DaMMCHlaGv7K2LMygV0Gmh7GVB5xzLkkjIi64YF_a1b23UFUqas-j2okEy9OjFyGqHweUIl0/s1600/annies-painting-2013-eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M9vYpPWHm2FqfsmYW8Gh9mkQJlNkWje_G6al7ZlvkWT4dN3BESylp8uSWy-GCspYQB9DaMMCHlaGv7K2LMygV0Gmh7GVB5xzLkkjIi64YF_a1b23UFUqas-j2okEy9OjFyGqHweUIl0/s1600/annies-painting-2013-eclipse.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eclipse, by Anne Smouter<br />Acrylic paint and Crayon on Canvas board, 9 x 12"<br /></td></tr>
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....This has me dreaming about the summertime, and Art Camp!!....hmmm....</div>
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Till next time!</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-22384040220978635292013-01-07T15:47:00.001-05:002013-01-07T15:47:20.702-05:00Cheerful BeginningsHello out there!<br />
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I hope you all enjoyed some festivities these past couple weeks! Around here, we've had our fair share of celebrations, as well as some significant reasons for reflection on life. So, knowing I'm not alone in that, I thought I'd post a few pictures to spread some cheer. I looked around my house and found a few things I thought might brighten your day and mine. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg2aedJpCjnT3un6CsC7rLCPsEuazVHCQuuidrNwyaSagJ6nhPoyLmKk9VPjtFDxqhqsdLrlJjNmw8MaK1Y2uhWVK1tbNp4y8-ZHH6p1jqSLg7x-8-vTDm3jlgR4vhzM7h8a5JxTTOCs/s1600/ultrasound-painting-no-frame-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg2aedJpCjnT3un6CsC7rLCPsEuazVHCQuuidrNwyaSagJ6nhPoyLmKk9VPjtFDxqhqsdLrlJjNmw8MaK1Y2uhWVK1tbNp4y8-ZHH6p1jqSLg7x-8-vTDm3jlgR4vhzM7h8a5JxTTOCs/s640/ultrasound-painting-no-frame-web.jpg" width="511" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"<br />Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24" Copyright 2011 Lisa Smouter<br />Limited edition prints available in various sizes.</td></tr>
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And now, here's a little something I made for a little fan of the Disney movie "Tangled" -- I think there are quite a few little girls out there who will recognize this image of Rapunzel and the floating lights.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It's borrowed from a mural which Rapunzel painted in her bedroom. Annie and I had fun one day with some leftover scrap paper from Grandma and some matte gel medium, ripping and sticking and getting overall quite gooey.<br />
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Annie said "Ssshhh--TICK! ... Sssshh--TICK! ... Sssshh--TICK!" ...<br />
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I don't think this will be my schtick, but it was certainly a lot of fun! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu143FlNND2UIAYioifEedGdT9_drYA7SzvIOsOYNmzTmDDctlM2cHepHSmc3hWLjeDK2nFscns5kGP6RfnseDJNT9bEzjLktstmWD7gHt_IvxufvgaoRxrVA-Ty9_mAoCmGap3JB_qI/s1600/rapunzel-tangled-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu143FlNND2UIAYioifEedGdT9_drYA7SzvIOsOYNmzTmDDctlM2cHepHSmc3hWLjeDK2nFscns5kGP6RfnseDJNT9bEzjLktstmWD7gHt_IvxufvgaoRxrVA-Ty9_mAoCmGap3JB_qI/s640/rapunzel-tangled-collage.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Rapunzel and the Floating Lights"<br />Mixed Media (paper collage, pen and ink)<br />borrowed from Disney's "Tangled"</td></tr>
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And here's my latest hobby--gesture drawing! As a kind of new years resolution, I'm trying to sketch more often--and what could be more challenging than drawing two squirmy kids? :) We shall see how this goes... :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtG_ZTM8AoQcClEiqCztHrYEDb2PE1Iv8xM8X9sYFcYTo-fj7jnS6JFBoOEWQWqqxhyxJ0NURoeIjq6BHaYl9t-ru-bwDo7SeBRxkGhhrKasu8trEIkFwejxyKy2uxIE7dfx7ua4nwq4/s1600/gesturejan2012anniesuckerweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtG_ZTM8AoQcClEiqCztHrYEDb2PE1Iv8xM8X9sYFcYTo-fj7jnS6JFBoOEWQWqqxhyxJ0NURoeIjq6BHaYl9t-ru-bwDo7SeBRxkGhhrKasu8trEIkFwejxyKy2uxIE7dfx7ua4nwq4/s400/gesturejan2012anniesuckerweb.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Anne and the Lollipop" pen and ink.<br />January 2013, approx 1 minute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSn7bw7cYAM4HrW-qHTRqMwHI-s3UIw0OWQpd5R6P8aWuuEtljwZEbr2DJJ7v9MBENlzesOPRi1Ae1Py_8uPK9juZ3Xq1I66qjACO2acCWNDI6s_m-oHts7PVw1R3oIbdiwC0Pu0K3A/s1600/gesturejan2012anniejosietub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSn7bw7cYAM4HrW-qHTRqMwHI-s3UIw0OWQpd5R6P8aWuuEtljwZEbr2DJJ7v9MBENlzesOPRi1Ae1Py_8uPK9juZ3Xq1I66qjACO2acCWNDI6s_m-oHts7PVw1R3oIbdiwC0Pu0K3A/s400/gesturejan2012anniejosietub.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Two in the Tub" felt marker, so there's no going back...<br />January 2013, approx 30 seconds.</td></tr>
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More to come! Happy 2013, all!</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-74860938797619085462012-12-11T10:29:00.000-05:002013-06-03T21:09:29.771-04:00Born to be...I'm blaming it on all the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk5aJ1v0sBo" target="_blank">thought-provoking things</a> I listened to while painting--this particular blog post isn't all fluff. Just warnin' ya :)<br />
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But first, I thought I'd give you a complete look at the finished painting for my sister. The Alumni show at Redeemer is all wrapped up--to my chagrin, there was no guest book so I have no idea who, if anyone, went to check it out!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k0ZwmPVF1gnDrcmWaneZAGwGAurl03JTpzVSgUgRuRsH9mk2NGy08S9oRRDUJ4WwObOOyJWGaP-fotPrSDdo1eFWh0BgYvj7F96UFDO-G7u1GpqlSk6MKUofiWyLx4EwgIG2ElRKk5E/s1600/Italy-painting-final-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k0ZwmPVF1gnDrcmWaneZAGwGAurl03JTpzVSgUgRuRsH9mk2NGy08S9oRRDUJ4WwObOOyJWGaP-fotPrSDdo1eFWh0BgYvj7F96UFDO-G7u1GpqlSk6MKUofiWyLx4EwgIG2ElRKk5E/s640/Italy-painting-final-web.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed painting of Italy, Cinque-Terre (Manarola)<br />
Oil on Canvas, 24x30"<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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This will most likely be my last painting I blog about for the year 2012, but I do have some crafty stuff and a couple whimsical paintings on the go right now :) This Italy painting was a joy to work on, and I could do it (mostly) in complete confidence--but whimsical, imaginitive things...well...I think it's probably good for the soul to let loose and say "I have NO idea what I'm doing!!" If I eventually sum up the courage, I'll show you some of those pieces. For now, I feel very strongly that my 2 year old daughter is doing a better job of it than I.<br />
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When I started out with this project I think I said:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkQ7f0X2u9pkFsbqH2BXdV_RmmYdCgFWgcOAaha3vXEwaJvYwYANP1KCFgwdGBMV7XdBp3BYPwJshj0qXB-oqQNt3IdT9MWXA2OAR6bO4IUErLPthDcdP5MgrGzhUPkoP6HbUgKvFwxQ/s1600/Italy-final-painting-detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkQ7f0X2u9pkFsbqH2BXdV_RmmYdCgFWgcOAaha3vXEwaJvYwYANP1KCFgwdGBMV7XdBp3BYPwJshj0qXB-oqQNt3IdT9MWXA2OAR6bO4IUErLPthDcdP5MgrGzhUPkoP6HbUgKvFwxQ/s400/Italy-final-painting-detail2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of painting, Oil on Canvas</td></tr>
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Eating. Those. Words.<br />
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But, look how textured I managed to make it--you can actually see the globs of paint sticking out off the canvas!<br />
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One of my esteemed professors from Redeemer says I should just embrace it. I'm a realist.<br />
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Maybe I have a complex left over from high school where I continually heard "loosen up!" -- anyone else??<br />
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Anyways, I've heard that your style continues to mature with each hour you do it. So, naturally, by now I must be well on my way.... I'm not bothered by that at all, but I do have even more respect for the apprentice plumbers and electricians out there with something like 9 <i>thousand</i> hours required to graduate! Yikes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP6z3Hf16UYKxbfmQjEMYgQweESI4wDAQ939Nh1X_VTtSAsc06m3KSVp_-5Qnd6kwuu56od0QzVtVZkzpY60Iw3l2DjcGnVLtZsz1M5dqtcucKsA99LUowcZAqDa9Z71oihmx4CK6O-k/s1600/Italy-painting-detail-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP6z3Hf16UYKxbfmQjEMYgQweESI4wDAQ939Nh1X_VTtSAsc06m3KSVp_-5Qnd6kwuu56od0QzVtVZkzpY60Iw3l2DjcGnVLtZsz1M5dqtcucKsA99LUowcZAqDa9Z71oihmx4CK6O-k/s640/Italy-painting-detail-web.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Italy painting. Oil on canvas.</td></tr>
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Below are a couple photos of my family--we spontaneously met at the school to check out the Alumni exhibit. There was a beautiful variety of work!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4xySVIm5_m1BTgPiUHXpGrJ13hg8HBMjiT5hGO6f74IsFyud8k4e3Rx9suJ4xp1BYBKVVwe27jEaTRX800fNkLkpzYW6cY_8orZ2qYcfCz4US8H69Km1Srmv1ivuwGoEr28SJaXXlxA/s1600/redeemerartshowweb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4xySVIm5_m1BTgPiUHXpGrJ13hg8HBMjiT5hGO6f74IsFyud8k4e3Rx9suJ4xp1BYBKVVwe27jEaTRX800fNkLkpzYW6cY_8orZ2qYcfCz4US8H69Km1Srmv1ivuwGoEr28SJaXXlxA/s640/redeemerartshowweb2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Look at </span><span style="text-align: center;">Annie on the far right. She's looking at an installation piece displaying images of Clocks--she already looks distressed about it! Haha, must be the Vanderwoude in her :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP_IaLbWXHJqwo2P-YReXtH0BnOUaNAjOJNIe52wxQPM2vVLacxXqz3KR3GF1LPS1aMqCMcKWFElpEDuBeOusFmBUKPOKxMpYlOArrSLrBcWwvliZ1RjyKOqKs09BnaX4QDEUkRCoPJc/s1600/redeemerartshowweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP_IaLbWXHJqwo2P-YReXtH0BnOUaNAjOJNIe52wxQPM2vVLacxXqz3KR3GF1LPS1aMqCMcKWFElpEDuBeOusFmBUKPOKxMpYlOArrSLrBcWwvliZ1RjyKOqKs09BnaX4QDEUkRCoPJc/s640/redeemerartshowweb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now on a more reflective note, here's something I'd especially love to hear from you on:<br />
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Sometimes when life gets<i> </i>a little hairy, at the end of it all perhaps you sit down, have a glass of Kool-Aid and get in a philosophical frame of mind. And ponder,<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Was I really born to be a [</span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">insert vocation here</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">]?</span></span></blockquote>
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Do you ever pause to consider it--your main purpose in life, which is supposed to impact every part of your day? WHY am I here, doing THIS?<br />
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I think I ask this is because balancing the nitty-gritty of multiple roles is difficult, and there is no instruction manual.<br />
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If IKEA made a life manual, it might be neatly divided into separate sections which, much like their furniture, are <b>never to be attempted simultaneously:</b><br />
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<li>1.1 How to assemble the <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HAHPI HUHBI HOUSE</b></span></li>
<li>1.2 How to make a <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MARI MUM + MINI-WUNS</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.3 How to put together a </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PURDY PIKCHUR</span></b></li>
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Some days, mashing these so-called instruction manuals together feels like--mushy instructions...<br />
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For practical reasons I've instituted a heirarchy in my To-Do list. Painting is about halfway down that list, but I don't think it's content to keep the peace there. As a result I find myself painting until 2am!<br />
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Which leads me back to my question--<i>why</i> do this? My mom told me I was "looking quite run-down", and she says <i>everything</i> nicely!<br />
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For now, I'm very content to be led to the One who was Born to be the Saviour of us all. I'm not born to <i><b>be</b></i> number one, I'm born to <i><b>serve</b> </i>number one. My own limitations have yet again pushed me to the limitless God, to understand my place and purpose within the context of His service. God has put me here, given me great riches, and will give strength and wisdom to manage it all! It's like a light goes on, and I relax.<br />
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<i>"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!" <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Philippians 4:13</a></i></blockquote>
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How appropriate for this time of year... Merry Christmas everyone--I hope you also find comfort in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ!<br />
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Lisa<br />
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So it's quite a heavy-duty thing to ask you to comment on... But I love to hear from you! Leave a comment, or send me an email :)</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-91341276541581073822012-12-11T10:24:00.000-05:002012-12-11T10:24:11.645-05:00Chalk it up to an EducationIt seems that all the flyers stuffed in my newspaper are announcing the return of school....<br />
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Why are they in such a hurry? Summer is in high gear, and as far as this blog goes I'm still stuck in June! Here are some photos of my latest assignment, a chalk pastel drawing commissioned by a School Board as a gift for a departing principal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTegxc06aTuovtntWKPuLnXc3KBdXATde5v2P3ppIKkyU4-CDIFN0aEwNot7L89qoPaKnyFG4xNd4g6OUp5fg-gswv2iutmfy37RoQISP-XfjpJL1ZBLKqL2umh3WeUS9wrgWZg45vq0/s1600/full-sketch-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTegxc06aTuovtntWKPuLnXc3KBdXATde5v2P3ppIKkyU4-CDIFN0aEwNot7L89qoPaKnyFG4xNd4g6OUp5fg-gswv2iutmfy37RoQISP-XfjpJL1ZBLKqL2umh3WeUS9wrgWZg45vq0/s640/full-sketch-web.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Life drawing<br />
Chalk Pastel on Stonehenge, approx. 14x16"<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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Remember those assignments where the parameters are so wide open, it consequently leaves your eyes wide open at night trying to figure out what to do?<br />
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This was one of those.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preliminary sketch.<br />
Chalk Pastel on Newsprint</td></tr>
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I received nearly complete freedom with this project, causing plenty of brain cramps and an overactive "will they like it?" reflex. I think that reflex smacked me in the head at least twenty times a day.<br />
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I wish I had the nerve to show you more of my brainstorming stage... This sketch was what I ended up settling on, just one week before the drawing was due!<br />
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Let me tell you, this project was good exercise on multiple levels. Creative stamina, lack-of-sleep stamina, take-out food stamina... Did someone say I already graduated university? Because it kinda feels like I'm still there.... :)<br />
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In the end I decided on this still life composition. It includes many things that I hoped would reference good memories for the man, right down to the location. It's set just inside the front doors of the school so you get a sense of the rural environment, the tiled linoleum floor, the big glass doors...If you spend 25 years walking through the same door, putting on the miles in these hallways, I thought it was quite appropriate to include. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of final drawing. <br />
Here you see references to French class, Baseball, music, and playing around at Track and Field.<br />
There is also a comedic reference to Abbott and Costello's famous <i>Who's on First? </i>comedy routine. <br />
The school's address is included like a play in a playbook.</td></tr>
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My trusted critics assured me that the Duplo sheep (see preliminary sketch) is <i>not</i> attractive or suitable for inclusion in the drawing. But I wanted to put one in, so I hunted down this perfect little guy, found appropriately enough at Scholar's Choice. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz6pOVyAbwiSbyPZmaQBwGgNk9GLlDHdMiuuH3yRzLJlnb_nmAl3pSsJlAy2ST0TuzX3wDVRA1IjNTXvNHuZtBZ43_gQTgM2_h8JmsXEB4wF1VOX8aDaEtwtPiTis_bADzIcGfNjYm_0/s1600/lamb-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz6pOVyAbwiSbyPZmaQBwGgNk9GLlDHdMiuuH3yRzLJlnb_nmAl3pSsJlAy2ST0TuzX3wDVRA1IjNTXvNHuZtBZ43_gQTgM2_h8JmsXEB4wF1VOX8aDaEtwtPiTis_bADzIcGfNjYm_0/s320/lamb-web.jpg" width="257" /></a>So....what's up with the lamb?</div>
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As you might expect, the Biblical reference to a shepherd and his sheep is intended. During my brain-storming period, I heard a sermon at church talking about how a (church) leader must first <i>love</i> the sheep, and <i>only then</i> is he instructed to lead them. (This was based on the conversation between Jesus and Peter found in John 21:15)<br />
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The drawing was for a principal of a Christian school, so I thought the Shepherd reference was good. Love the kids, and lead them.<br />
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One of the things I struggled with most was how to include a portrait of the principal. I've said in <a href="http://lisasmouter.blogspot.ca/2012/04/golden-hands-modern-portrait.html">a previous blog post</a> that a portrait can be much more than an actual image of a face. The things included in this drawing reveal a lot about the interests and personality of the man, but how do I adequately include his image?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNnPQFlw8QmvCk8SSJqqrvCPmjUkOn1pDivSW866WpcL2RfAI52NRPMTv-4Gm-Nybq0Ow5EA7AEx0ZCIcvAzcxYRYRCKgflSrer2QjzDV_sc1ERkGIo4dFPyG5WP5hN38E039_RIo0jM/s1600/papers-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNnPQFlw8QmvCk8SSJqqrvCPmjUkOn1pDivSW866WpcL2RfAI52NRPMTv-4Gm-Nybq0Ow5EA7AEx0ZCIcvAzcxYRYRCKgflSrer2QjzDV_sc1ERkGIo4dFPyG5WP5hN38E039_RIo0jM/s400/papers-web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newspaper article, school letterhead and notebook,<br />
a favourite book, and of course, a most patriotic tie!</td></tr>
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To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I accomplished that goal. There are two portraits of him--one in the Track and Field sketch, and the other is here in this newspaper article.<br />
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This was a published article which shows the principal getting his head shaved after the school raised over $10,000 for the Terry Fox Run. No, that's not a typo!<br />
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And the woman doing the honours?...his lovely wife.<br />
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Thanks again for reading!<br />
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LS<br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-74225725485331298532012-10-29T22:49:00.003-04:002012-12-11T10:23:54.579-05:00It Only Takes a Spark...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfTVsMWsb2d85qw6nnBbuwpFw8eKu8eVaFSTc32TuKEDjJBXt-JiGG9t42KiVOpv-ninUY332yuf3WVOg_Mfwyt8jrKLKdMIleXqe4iQ9nD7DQRO3w_MhVRHYCVKhOMgzfdyMI7OgHLc/s1600/Italy-Cinque-Terre-WEB-strip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfTVsMWsb2d85qw6nnBbuwpFw8eKu8eVaFSTc32TuKEDjJBXt-JiGG9t42KiVOpv-ninUY332yuf3WVOg_Mfwyt8jrKLKdMIleXqe4iQ9nD7DQRO3w_MhVRHYCVKhOMgzfdyMI7OgHLc/s640/Italy-Cinque-Terre-WEB-strip.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portion of a painting in progress. Italy, Cinque-Terre, Manarola. Oil on Canvas with acrylic underpainting, 24 x 30"</td></tr>
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You know how they say "it only takes a spark"<br />
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My old stomping grounds, Redeemer University College, recently held a match to the back-ends (ha!) of my paintbrushes and let them burn to nearly nothing. Just to see how fast I could complete a painting.<br />
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Their method was pretty effective, I must say.<br />
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In less than two months, a wedding gift for my sister suddenly materialized (I'm a bit ashamed...she's been married for over two years and also has a baby). I guess the oil painting is now a wedding-anniversary-baby gift all wrapped into one...<br />
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And, before I actually give it to her, it's being displayed at Redeemer for their Alumni show. This just keeps getting worse, doesn't it? Ah well, she can go see it anytime she likes--in Redeemer's gallery space. I don't think she'd appreciate you all coming for Opening Night to <i>her </i>house anyway.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Count this as your invitation for Opening Night--happening this Saturday from 7:30 to 10pm. </span>I'd love to see you there! Twelve other artists from Redeemer's 30 year history will also be displaying some work, so there's sure to be a nice party.<br />
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If you can't make it out to Opening Night, the show will be up for the month of November. The gallery is open anytime the school is open.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Lisa<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-68998930613667627402012-05-31T16:23:00.000-04:002012-12-11T10:24:44.520-05:00times, they are a changin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I realize this is not a forum for bragging about my kids, but...<br />
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Many former students have been asking about Art Camp for this year, and I'm hoping that if I post a photo of my little girls, you will better understand why I'm choosing <i>not </i>to do Art Camp this summer.<br />
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This summer I'll be happily embracing my role as a full-time mom and giving the studio a break. I will miss Art Camp as much as the rest of you, and it already feels strange not having a head full of planning and preparation for the summer. Please, take advantage of your time this summer and make lots of art! Keep in touch--I'd love to know what you're working on.<br />
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I heard from several students about scholarships and awards they've received for their work, as well as many portfolios being accepted to college and university programs. I also love hearing about how students' work is proudly displayed in their homes, and sometimes a young artist will even be commissioned. This is wonderful!! I love hearing about these successes, from artists of any age!<br />
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Keep in touch and let me know what projects you are working on--blessings for the upcoming summer!<br />
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Lisa<br />
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P.S. for all you artists out there, young and old, I just wanted to share this quote that got me in front of my <span style="font-family: inherit;">easel pretty quickly...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b></span>I have observed that many of my artist acquaintances find<span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">all kinds of excuses NOT to paint:</span></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span>The studio is untidy, the preliminary sketches haven't been done, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>[</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">or from a young person's perspective,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">I don't remember where my art stuff is, <b>I just have to reply to this text,</b> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">I'm too tired from swimming in the pool, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">I don't have any canvases, my</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">sketchbook is almost full and</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> mom won't drive me to the store and...</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>]</b></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">...What is lacking is a source of motivation.</span></blockquote>
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My call to artists is to <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b>get off your excuse couch and create</b></span> what you are skilled to do.<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> excerpt from "No Excuse" written by Karen Burnette Garner</span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-85843184079363033402012-04-12T12:40:00.000-04:002012-12-11T10:25:29.455-05:00Golden Hands: a modern portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This may sound strange, but sometimes I look at my hands and nearly do a double take. My hands are becoming my mother's hands, or at least my childhood memory of them. Cutting bread into fours for Annie, pulling on the girls' hats and mitts, stirring the soup...they actually look exactly like my mom's.<br />
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Anyone else ever see startling familial resemblances in places other than the face?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Jlet97U9R8ZqcjzQJJhbbyW6isa5pgcuPWoSZOF_WNzV_20P16lmlUJVl9nfyE3_vtVvveyXP72hGbUquMuBYgKuwxmjpCLtjYjNYT3K2SlQqMFBaDEekzq3CQXcCNYGTUJ9GDR5Svs/s1600/gramshandsapril2012web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Jlet97U9R8ZqcjzQJJhbbyW6isa5pgcuPWoSZOF_WNzV_20P16lmlUJVl9nfyE3_vtVvveyXP72hGbUquMuBYgKuwxmjpCLtjYjNYT3K2SlQqMFBaDEekzq3CQXcCNYGTUJ9GDR5Svs/s640/gramshandsapril2012web.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Hands<br />
Oil on Canvas, 9 x 12"<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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This is a portrait of my Grandma's hands. It is a fresh take on portraiture in that it doesn't include her face, and yet for those who know her it's undeniable. Without a doubt, these digits have but one sole owner! Hands can be as unique as faces, and they tell many stories. In this case we included some props to help the story along, but really you could have as powerful and interesting a portrait without the needle and thread.<br />
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As for her jewelry...this is a fantastic example of how people, ideas and memories can be included in a painting without actually being outright portrayed. I try teaching my students this concept as well, which I learned from RUC professor James Tughan years ago. It's a way to enrich a painting without unduly cluttering it up. Precious gems as message-bearers, in a way. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZeYVz4-OrY-vQG4feg3tuxS0TcyiWHj80oRcqPhUqSR_TSLxbYtKCb3S8P3nsbYPSgiGdJMDbS1I05o06bGDfwO9j_3-FhPOmXKJpMLrm6T6ihWiU1ZOdKSG2FAt-eCDpXqZTClgt5g/s1600/cameo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZeYVz4-OrY-vQG4feg3tuxS0TcyiWHj80oRcqPhUqSR_TSLxbYtKCb3S8P3nsbYPSgiGdJMDbS1I05o06bGDfwO9j_3-FhPOmXKJpMLrm6T6ihWiU1ZOdKSG2FAt-eCDpXqZTClgt5g/s200/cameo.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The little gold ring was my great grandmother's wedding band, a woman who was notorious for giving her things away. Grams had little diamonds set into it--one for each of her own children. The cameo ring is something I've never seen Grams not wearing. It carries with it a whole other story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn2YovPanWPBbJ31yxVazFQpuRwGUOqYE7-2hhETkTUaVmNcG6MTvlrPcymdoVDuesORxGJLkEXPaxIhyphenhyphenpQZw1ctpMpZoncAx2VtDRephzEG_kT19kXeHIWz7rm87XxVRI8_ZOtqmKR4/s1600/pearls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn2YovPanWPBbJ31yxVazFQpuRwGUOqYE7-2hhETkTUaVmNcG6MTvlrPcymdoVDuesORxGJLkEXPaxIhyphenhyphenpQZw1ctpMpZoncAx2VtDRephzEG_kT19kXeHIWz7rm87XxVRI8_ZOtqmKR4/s200/pearls.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
It has occurred to me as we approach Mother's Day how amazing hands are as an example of a mother's love. They do so much, take a lot of abuse, bear the "battle scars" of raising us, or--if that's too dramatic for you (dear Annie and Josie)--then at very least they reveal signs of keeping life clean, orderly, peaceful and content.<br />
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Mother's Day is fast approaching so I wouldn't make a deadline like that, but if you have any ideas of something you might like to have done, please email or call me to chat about it. This painting already has a happy owner, but if you would like something personal like this I'd be delighted to work with you!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Lisa<br />
905.570.3913<br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-71136304245356011472012-03-07T18:03:00.000-05:002015-10-06T21:07:23.000-04:00one for the kids...Don't you just feel for the little girl whose favourite companion is left hanging out to dry?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3_p5bpXanE_Dh8mBxGpwgbkOpuYIIQCmytSZvXQRdiVvswvkIbWMT5MFTBvk-4qx4MBlYNHN3FxpHrOX9sSr4x67MLLTrcHK8I8cWOSz7GzeDuM1nIhnfUpC7lmXvywBs8X4UjjLGIc/s1600/laundry-painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3_p5bpXanE_Dh8mBxGpwgbkOpuYIIQCmytSZvXQRdiVvswvkIbWMT5MFTBvk-4qx4MBlYNHN3FxpHrOX9sSr4x67MLLTrcHK8I8cWOSz7GzeDuM1nIhnfUpC7lmXvywBs8X4UjjLGIc/s640/laundry-painting.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging Out to Dry<br />
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 24"<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter<br />
Original Painting For Sale: $450 | Prints For Sale: $85 each</td></tr>
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Poor little bear...<br />
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I'm actually a bit nervous to let this painting go, because it has given me many a headache! An artist rarely knows when a painting is finished, but with this one I'm saying <i>I'm finished!</i> In the end it was kind of fun, as Annie's own sense of humour inspired me to add fun things like animals in the clouds and an airplane with a banner ("baby on board!" was Arie's suggestion since I was expecting Josie at the time). Having a two-year-old in the house has made me lighten up a bit. Maybe some of you can relate? :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">detail of Hanging Out to Dry<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter<br />
Prints For Sale: please contact the artist</td></tr>
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This painting has been hanging in my girls' bedroom for quite a while now. It's the perfect colour tones for their room, going nicely with these alphabet cards I have individually framed in their room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKM7ajB1dxBg6EM_j08NefSba8aTqeVzWgjwMayEAiNLeuZndHnKdQiYf-BT2uE6T0VT94AfFp4Wmeravt4gwYxpY_q_YacCJa2wjJODSj08h-p0pT_mP6Pn6tbxljyIHVdrz__JseRc/s1600/cache_500_500_WalCard+All+aroundtheland+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKM7ajB1dxBg6EM_j08NefSba8aTqeVzWgjwMayEAiNLeuZndHnKdQiYf-BT2uE6T0VT94AfFp4Wmeravt4gwYxpY_q_YacCJa2wjJODSj08h-p0pT_mP6Pn6tbxljyIHVdrz__JseRc/s400/cache_500_500_WalCard+All+aroundtheland+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful alphabet cards by eeBoo,<br />
purchased from Citizen Kid on Locke Street in Hamilton.</td></tr>
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Midway through my painting struggles I started studying these wall cards for inspiration and direction on colour choice. My own reference photos were taken with a poor camera, and so of course I was left with many problems to solve regarding lighting and colour. I like to think that the cards helped me, although they're not "realistic" in style.<br />
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And since I'm talking a bit about my kids' bedroom...The following bit doesn't merit a post of its own but I'm bursting to share it with you all anyway.<br />
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On a craftier side, here's my little foray into the world of crochet....I needed a break after that painting, but I never guessed that I would get so addicted (Thanks Mom!) As if I don't have enough projects on my to-do list! :) This one was made using a slightly improvised-upon pattern found online. I copied the colour choices from a wonderfully talented woman from Holland. Her blog is www.willewopsie.blogspot.com. By the way, this monkey is almost as tall as Annie herself!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjZ5CqZhPZqMLwQcVeIu4cYf30SAVaBvxfbFRDRI5lZ_8X1mG3LAMeNe-_6usua1_62IvfUv4nSdTV1xIxyqRkKQWofhAdQ1MVN7xlxHxL_MeTntVKt7SplwDAwMzbfWDB6nDWXEERpg/s1600/annies-monkey-closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjZ5CqZhPZqMLwQcVeIu4cYf30SAVaBvxfbFRDRI5lZ_8X1mG3LAMeNe-_6usua1_62IvfUv4nSdTV1xIxyqRkKQWofhAdQ1MVN7xlxHxL_MeTntVKt7SplwDAwMzbfWDB6nDWXEERpg/s1600/annies-monkey-closeup.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocheted monkey--whom Annie has named "George" of course. </td></tr>
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Crocheting with a little baby in my arms is much easier than painting with one (Annie never went unscathed), but this theme of "kid-friendly" art and craft is so fun I hope to make more. In the meantime, if you would like to purchase a print of the above painting please let me know and I'll be happy to chat about different composition and size options.</div>
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Till next time!</div>
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Lisa</div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-91824649126891405272012-02-21T21:48:00.021-05:002012-12-11T10:26:36.193-05:00Good Old-Fashioned Portraiture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie, 2 years old.<br />
Conte and pencil on Stonehenge, approx. 6 x 6"<br />
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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Recently I have lost the motivation to draw from photographs. </div>
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Yup. And I'm positive that my sister-in-law (read <a href="http://karalodderphotography.com/blog/" target="_blank">Kara Lodder Photography</a>) is to blame. </div>
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Her photos are so gorgeous, artwork in their own right. The proliferation of fantastic photos of my children has temporarily discouraged me from putting all the effort into sketching from photos. </div>
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Unless the photo is not particularly beautiful, even when PhotoShopped.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo snapped on my phone and PhotoShopped for reference.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Da Vinci's portrait--source of inspiration</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">And maybe if I can glean some inspiration from Da Vinci's beautiful portraiture...</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I've always loved the old-world look, and while I'd love to sketch from life, I haven't quite mastered the art of getting a two-year-old to sit still....The above photo, along with this inspiration were enough to get me started. </span><br />
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Hence my latest sketch and the old-fashioned speak. I hope you enjoy this freer, tea-stained look. It doesn't really suit a light-hearted kid's bedroom, but I know it will look great in my living room. If anyone is interested in commissioning a portrait in this style I would gladly comply.</div>
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Some of you know we welcomed our second baby girl--Josie Amanda--about a month ago. You'd think I'd be doing a drawing of her in my "spare" time, and I'm sure she will get her turn. Maybe once Kara's photos of her start looking a little out-dated (which in babytime is NOT long) ...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josie Amanda, photo by Kara Lodder Photography</td></tr>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-57302050690230907272011-10-24T14:43:00.000-04:002011-10-24T14:43:50.901-04:00Slideshow from Art Camp 2011Hello all! Please enjoy this slideshow of images from the studio this summer! I know I've missed a number of you.... (some things were inadvertently erased from my ipod :( ) I would love to share everyone's work, so if you would like to include yours just let me know! <br />
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The music on this video is by Brooke Fraser, a musician I love. Check out her stuff on itunes. <br />
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Comments and compliments for and by students are welcome!<br />
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Cheers, <br />
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Lisa<br />
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</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-70397395590412964682011-10-14T15:25:00.000-04:002011-10-14T15:25:05.211-04:00Plein Air!It has been forever since I've done a plein air painting--someone was just asking me about it too, and I hoped I'd get a chance to do one or two while up north for Thanksgiving weekend. <br />
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I have a rickety outdoor easel--(a Costco special, anyone?)--that now needs my hubby's trusty Leatherman to set up properly. But no amount of mechanical frustration could surpass the beauty of this place and the excitement of capturing it in the moment. <br />
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The weather this past weekend was incredible, and this gorgeous landscape was literally in my lap that whole time. My husband might testify that I was a somewhat neglectful mother while working on this. Annie spent far too much time "napping"...or chit-chatting to herself the tent trailer behind me... Hopefully she thinks the painting was worth it! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"By the Boat Launch" Sandy Beach Resort on Balsam Lake, Ontario. <br />
Oil on board, approx. 12 x 14" For Sale $275 tax incl.<br />
Copyright 2011 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-41363735308142714252011-10-12T14:03:00.001-04:002011-10-12T14:03:42.442-04:00Happy Fall!It has been a while since my last post--Art Camp was a hit, and I'm thankful that it ran so smoothly! I'll be putting up a slideshow of student artwork soon, so you can see what we were up to. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snapshot of Annie, behind the couch, getting into my paintbrushes that I thought were safely hidden away!</td></tr>
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I've also recently completed a large pencil drawing in collage style which I hope to show you soon. Thanksgiving weekend spent on Balsam Lake also gave me opportunity to do some "plein air" painting while Annie napped. A photo of that will be up asap.<br />
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LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-53558347026928121532011-05-06T20:26:00.001-04:002011-05-06T21:13:20.146-04:00Art Camp 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.artandmusicstudio.com/ArtCamp2011"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG1LDokqyTW0hrdZk9tEM8NTntIoZz6pswyW-5tOJH-F9QXlIR5s_sQsdIzWgDUwopgMB9twxNd7iciRY0DXLVndhF5sPoozaYabo8bqjAid4sgrPuVz_LSleIRSquWNHyWdKDNfAw5M/s1600/Art-Camp-2011.jpg" /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-58071199004948569042011-03-16T10:55:00.000-04:002011-03-16T10:55:57.085-04:00art that gladens the heart...Isn't this little guy just over-the-moon happy? His expression of glee is super contagious. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphite on Stonehenge paper, 8 x 10"<br />
copyright 2011 Lisa Smouter</td></tr>
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Capturing babies at about the one-year mark is great because they're developing many characteristics unique to them--both in appearance and in spirit! On days spent conjuring a face like this out of soft white Stonehenge I really, <em>really</em> love my job.<br />
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Who can resist that glint in his eye? My Annie certainly couldn't--she giggled and waved at him any chance she could while I was sketching him out. To her, I think he became like a character in a book. <br />
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And doesn't he have a great story to tell! <br />
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Have a cheery day,<br />
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LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104306323713545893.post-68016283383058376902011-01-15T13:42:00.000-05:002011-01-15T13:42:19.128-05:00Tonight's the Night!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4SKeufNF4kvX60xmFSj5AeOrta65fXYwKSiaDjEBbUlC_rili8YFT7Empmbo6TCE8a_eqfqLlF8gvZomC8L7Uxz_XjRxVcNt6nQQTaLvlfPFPb020gbNetYp5CY7iHjcDkg1k2Dj08/s1600/BCI_INVITATION%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4SKeufNF4kvX60xmFSj5AeOrta65fXYwKSiaDjEBbUlC_rili8YFT7Empmbo6TCE8a_eqfqLlF8gvZomC8L7Uxz_XjRxVcNt6nQQTaLvlfPFPb020gbNetYp5CY7iHjcDkg1k2Dj08/s320/BCI_INVITATION%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The official reception for the BCI show is tonight! It's pretty snowy out there, so hopefully we still have a good turnout without any accidents on the roads. <br />
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If you can't make it tonight, the HCA is displaying the show until February 5th. Their hours are:<br />
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9am-9pm Monday-Thursday<br />
9am-5pm Saturday<br />
CLOSED Fridays and Sundays.<br />
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Cheers, <br />
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LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15355788249198000288noreply@blogger.com0