doodling my way from dark to light...

I am on the verge of creating some new work, probably continuing on the theme of motherhood or home life or something familiar and real right now. They say "paint what you know." Well, what I know right now is a big pregnant belly and three busy kids.

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...

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.

SO.

Until that gets processed into something positive...

I thought I'd catch up on the blog.

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!

Portrait of a young boy, Waterton National Park, Alberta.
18 x 24" Acrylic Painting on wood panel.

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.

One of the reference photos I worked with, alongside a painting by Monet.

Maybe you can see how my painting was influenced by this.

Detail of Acrylic Painting.

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.

One final quick thing to show you. Recently, Flagship Gallery 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! Here's a look at the page showcasing some of my work. 

www.flagshipgallery.com

Thanks for reading!

LS

Art Camp registration is Open!

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!

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:

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 :)

For all the rest of you eager artists, young and old, join me for a week this summer in Aldershot. I love teaching all the six year olds ;) but I also love the older classes and every age in between! You can find details and registration here: www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp

I have some solid updating and art-showing-off to do on this blog....that will have to come another time.

Until then!

LS

A year in 30cm of screen

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.

Art Camp last summer... 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 :)

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!

Check out the details and register for lessons with me this summer here.

(Psst....I really would like a high school class this time around as much as I love teaching the younger ones!...)

Plein Air study of Myrtle Beach, SC
Acrylic on Canvas, 8x10"  $195
(prints available $35 each)
© Lisa Smouter 2014 

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.

I also had ideas ruminating, left over from last winter's drawing on the theme of old/new creation. I snapped some pictures of my kids playing in the sand as reference for the painting below.

It took a few months (and a commission in between!), but this painting called "Child of the King" finally emerged.

"Child of the King"
Acrylic and Liquitex on Canvas, 14x18"
Please contact for pricing details. Prints not available.
© Lisa Smouter 2015

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 :)

Thanks for reading!

LS

And a Pundit on Motherhood Three!

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.

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.

Here are some images of my latest work:

Wonderfully Made, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.

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!

Expectation, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.

This was the image that essentially started the series. I hope the image feels genuine and sincere, rather than sentimental.

Mother and Child: First Moments, pencil drawing on Stonehenge, 5x7"
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter
Original for sale through Flagship Gallery. Prints available.

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. 

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. 

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. 

Blessings,

LS

For and by the kids

A while ago I started singing this little poem I made up:

I'm a Mom by day,
A Painter by night,
My hubby does the dishes,
And the family's alright.

Then we got a dishwasher. 

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 :)

So here's a little chalk drawing I did last week in between daily tasks.....

Little Baby Curls (Josie Amanda)
Chalk Drawing on Stonehenge, approx 4 x 6"

I'm thinking of doing a gallery style wall in my girls' room, along with this beautifully mysterious painting done by my daughter Anne: 

Eclipse, by Anne Smouter
Acrylic paint and Crayon on Canvas board, 9 x 12"

....This has me dreaming about the summertime, and Art Camp!!....hmmm....

Till next time!

Cheerful Beginnings

Hello out there!

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!

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24"  Copyright 2011 Lisa Smouter
Limited edition prints available in various sizes.

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.

times, they are a changin'

I realize this is not a forum for bragging about my kids, but...

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 not to do Art Camp this summer.

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.

one for the kids...

Don't you just feel for the little girl whose favourite companion is left hanging out to dry?

Hanging Out to Dry
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 24"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter
Original Painting For Sale: $450  |  Prints For Sale: $85 each

Poor little bear...

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'm finished! 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? :)

Good Old-Fashioned Portraiture

Annie, 2 years old.
Conte and pencil on Stonehenge, approx. 6 x 6"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter

Recently I have lost the motivation to draw from photographs. 

Yup. And I'm positive that my sister-in-law (read Kara Lodder Photography) is to blame. 

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. 

Unless the photo is not particularly beautiful, even when PhotoShopped.

Welcome to my new blog!

Having realized that my website is in dire need of updating, (and without the ability to do it myself!) I decided it was time to fill you in on what's been happening at home and at the studio lately.

Well, I guess I should let God have the glory for this work of art--Annie is a perfect little addition to the Smouter family. Right now her lungs are calling for cuddles and Daddy is getting some practice in that department (not that he needs it!). Annie is the curious type when it comes to easels, paint brushes and palettes; I will take that as a blessing, despite some paint on my living room floor. When she was only a few weeks old her clothes already bore the faint scent of oil paints. Now she's nearly 11 months, and all that crawling and walking is allowing for some serious paint exploration, if Mom doesn't catch her first....

"Reflection" oil on canvas. Approx 16 x 20"
Professionally framed. For sale $1800 tax incl.
Copyright Lisa Smouter 2010

As expected, Annie's arrival has really impacted my personal artwork. For me, the experience of nurturing an itty-bitty newborn was often like firmly supressing a huge adrenaleine rush. Calming the quick pace; willing the slowdown. It was my mind and body's urge to quickly get that load of washing in, when suddenly my heart would quietly remind me that this baby's beauty trumps dirty laundry every time. Besides, a newborn face is an obvious winner, but it doesn't stick around long enough to fight many fights--she sure grows up fast!

This painting came somewhat unwittingly from those feelings. When shooting some reference photos, I was fascinated by the many reflected shapes and by the pop of the orange leaf. I didn't even notice the small treasure  hiding  underwater  until later....hmmm, the irony. Is someone knocking on my head?!

I'm honoured to announce that "Reflection" has been accepted into the Bruno Capolongo Invitational exhibition. It was selected along with work by other emerging and established artists to be shown at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts from January 10 - February 5th, 2010. The opening reception is Saturday, January 15th from 5:30-8pm, where the awards will be given. Very exciting!

So if you are interested in seeing some high quality contemporary fine art, please visit HCA while this show is up. (Note: HCA is closed on Fridays and Sundays.) I know it will be a fantastic display!

Lisa

P.S.  Some of you might recall that I was awarded an Honourable Mention for my copy of Vermeer's "Milkmaid" at a previous BCI exhibit. You can see a photo of it and more of my previous work on my website.