Pursuing Dreams

Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve – Wilfered A. Peterson

The above quote by Wilfered A. Peterson accurately describes the mentality of a young girl named Melanie, who came into my life many years ago. For a young lass she had an incredible work ethic, was committed to excellence, persevered through difficulty and was determined to excel.  I was blessed to teach her privately for six years and when working with an individual on a one-to-one basis, the accumulated time together enables me to get to know and understand a person’s characteristics.  From the get go, Melanie was a focused, disciplined and an eager student.  She worked hard during her lesson as well as at home during free time. She was the type of student who always wanted to do her personal best in any given situation and embraced challenges enthusiastically which allowed her to perform remarkably.  Melanie was a perfect pupil for any teacher to experience.

With my time with Melanie, her art skills soared dramatically. And it came to no surprise when she won numerous awards locally, nationally, and internationally.

I was inspired to do this drawing with Melanie playing the violin as a tribute to her character as well as to reveal the complexities of learning a musical instrument or anything that requires skill development.  To be proficient in any skill such as drawing , playing a musical instrument or sports, it requires an investment of time, perseverance and striving for constant and never-ending improvement.

She was a real gem to teach and a very rare focused girl at her age.

For Sale

Drawing size 21.63 x 15.5" plus frame and mat

Please contact susanne@lamorearts.com

Muskoka

Muskoka was a commissioned piece for a Christmas present that I completed awhile back. I did a few thumbnail sketches, some studies of the features and finally started the real drawing. I can honestly say while I was working on Muskoka's eye, I was holding my breath.  Sometimes I have had to scrap the  drawing in the past because the eyes were not correct. The eyes, in my opinion, are the most important feature on a face.   The rest of Muskoka's features were easier and everything went smoothly.  The framed picture above is hanging in the clients house and now decorates  their bedroom.  I am grateful to the person who commissioned me for this portrait and wishing them many years of happiness with their picture.

I have also been exceptionally busy with preparing for my solo show in March.  I have not posted my art work at this time because I want to keep people in suspense. (for a little while at least) Just to let everyone know, I have been working very hard, getting up early and  working long hours.  I have cut back on some teaching because I am a slow worker and need all the time I can spare on my art.  I have been doing many thumbnail sketches, studies (loads of them) and my pictures are a good size.  I may from time to time post some of my studies up in the near future. Tomorrow I start the whole day over again and hopefully I start working at six like I did this morning.

Muskoka
9x12"
Sold

Pixie II

Well I did get my vitamin N during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, however, I did not unload those branches after all.  I was somewhat disappointed when I came home to discover that my parents already completed the strenuous task. However, my father did leave one branch for me to contribute my effort on the farm.  Well on Sunday, my father and myself went for that walk across the field and I did indeed bring that branch and made my contribution to clean up the mess from the windy summer.  Although the weather on that weekend was not particularly good, I did manage to walk everyday and enjoyed the experience tremendously.  With my sister and her family, she brought her friend's dog to the farm and it was quite enjoyable walking with him alone in the morning.

The drawing above, Pixie II, has been completed for sometime now.  With this pose of Pixie, she is  sitting down across the sofa looking out a window and her attentive gaze is what inspired me to draw this portrait.  Although this pose is very similar (but not exact) to the previous drawing I did of her awhile back, I wanted to explore black pastels for this composition. This weekend Pixie will be in group show at City Hall in St. Albert.  I will be exhibiting four pastel drawings and five oil paintings.
Tomorrow, if there is time, I will be posting another drawing of a cat in brown pastels.


Pixe II
Pastel
For Sale

Ama II

My teaching schedule has been in full swing now for about a week.  This pastel drawing above is a person whom I photographed many years ago.  I was walking through the university library and I noticed her sitting in one of the cubicles studying.  Spontaneously (before I thought rationally), I asked her if she would pose for me.  I am currently working on another pastel drawing of her and am truly enjoying the process.  Her unique braids is a wonderful challenge to capture its texture. Ama II will be in a show towards the end of this month. (I apologize the photo of this drawing is blurry)

This past weekend, I went to a local historical park where I photographed another model.  Well actually she is one of my students whom I have been teaching now for 8 years.  Her gentle disposition truly lends to creating some style of drawings that I want to explore soon.  I also spent the weekend at this park sketching things as it was wonderful to be at this location after hours when the public has gone home and to really study the colours in the sunlight as it descends for the day.  The earth this time of year smells so fresh as some of the leaves have fallen to the ground and the compost effects have just started.

While doing art in my studio, I am listening to a program written by Richard Louv on the "Nature Principles" and how we are suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder due to the reason of not enough time spent outside in nature (something that I personally can relate to  with on my own situation by staying too long in the studio/teaching and not enough time outside).  There was one section in this 8 CD disk version where he talks about the good bacteria in dirt called M. vaccae.  This good bacteria activates certain neurons in the brain which releases serotonin( a lack of serotonin is believed to be a factor in depression and an imbalanced immune system) But by being immersed with nature and playing with dirt (gardening etc), participants breath in this good bacteria increases serotonin levels and the participants feel better, happier as a result.  I noticed as I was sketching this past week outdoors, I did not want the day to end and I could have stayed outside all day.  I also notice when I am outside at my parents farm, I do not want to come inside to work but rather be content mucking around in the dirt all day. Sad for me to say in this next part, but many many branches broke off during this past summer on my parents farm and I am looking forward to helping my father haul (his estimation 6 truck loads) of branches.  I will be definitely be getting my vitamin N this weekend.


Ama II
Pastel
currently unavailable

Watchful Gaze

Summer has come and gone and it has been quite awhile since my last post.  I participated in a local art walk, visited family, worked, and did art.  Currently I have four additional drawings on my wall and I am in process of doing another one.

“Watchful Gaze” was my third attempt at this composition.  The intense and curious look from this cat inspired me to capture the expression and essence of this cat.   With my other attempts, I took some experimental routes which caused much dissatisfaction on my part.  I tried different paper and surfaces but was not happy with the outcome.  The other methods were with charcoal and personally I am enjoying working with pastels as it is relatively fast and can be forgiving. This drawing  will be featured at an upcoming show in October.

Speaking of cats, while I attended the art walk and other summer events, I was very shocked to hear from people how much they “hate” cats when they looked at my art.  Hate is such as strong word and definitely something that I cannot understand why someone would feel such strong emotion towards an animal. Even this past spring at a local pet store, there was an organization attempting to adopt out a beautiful orange cat whose jaw was broken from human interference.  The cat had a hard time eating but I am thankful that in the end someone adopted him and would give him a wonderful home.  However, where there are abusive interactions, good does prevail through people.

Pastel Drawing

For Sale
Please contact susanne@lamorearts.com