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

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

missing 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.

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?

Next September it returns again, and in the meantime, you could always come experience a regular Art Crawl (2nd Friday of every month).

Here's my latest work, a large acrylic on canvas that has only taken since January to paint...

Portrait commission. Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 30"
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter

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.

Detail of portrait. Acrylic on Canvas.
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter

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.

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.

Flagship Gallery is at 237 James St. N, Hamilton. 
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 12-5pm.
Remaining Art Crawls (12-midnight): October 11, November 8, December 13.

Some of you may be wondering how Art Camp went this summer--I'll post some pictures and video soon.


Till next time!

LS

Spring Sketches

"Wuff! Wuff" ... my 1 year old little girl was very excited about this drawing.

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...

Tucker (Portrait of a Boxer Dog), chalk pastel on mat board.
Approx. 9 x 12"
Copyright 2013 Lisa Smouter

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.... :)

Please spread the word to friends or family who may be interested!

Email me for details, or to sign up.

And of course, I'm still accepting registrations for summer Art Camp! You can visit www.artandmusicstudio.com/artcamp for information or to register.

I'll be teaching at the Aldershot studio in July (2 weeks), and at Cornerstone CanRC church in Hamilton in August (1 week).

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.

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....

Until next time...

Lisa

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!

Golden Hands: a modern portrait

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.

Anyone else ever see startling familial resemblances in places other than the face?

Golden Hands
Oil on Canvas, 9 x 12"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter

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.

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.