October 6, 2010
A couple of weeks ago, I again had a marvellous
week painting on Long Island.
This
time the group of seven were Richard Rudnicki, Susan Tooke, Bruce Gray, Susan
Paterson, Margaret Boyle, Laurie Gunn and myself.
This year’s Long Island Bunch combined with last
year’s crew are going to do a group exhibition called; Long Island at Alderney
Landing Gallery next August. Every time I paint in a different location or
have the chance to chat with other artists, creative juices start to flow and
ideas happen. Sometimes it’s just a chance remark. On Long Island, I mentioned to Richard
that I had thought when I graduated from University that I would be a
sculptor (and a weaver, potter,
print, a writer, etc etc) . It was
a big surprise that most of my life I have just been a painter. Now that I am 60, I realize that if I am going to
be all of those other things then I had better get at it. I was lamenting to Richard the
high cost of casting sculpture. He
immediately mentioned a friend of his, Margaret van Gurp, and told me that she
had a way of making clay busts that could be fired in a kiln. I was intrigued. Last week I emailed Margaret and she described to me her
method. I couldn’t visualize it,
so this week my daughter Danica and I went to visit Margaret in Halifax. What a treat. Margaret is almost 84 and she had a solo exhibition of her
paintings in January. Several
times a week, she goes to Tim Hortons.
She doesn’t go to drink coffee.
She plunks her purse down in front of her to hide her paper and she
sketches all the people. She
has thousands of these wonderful sketches. Danica and I were both captivated. Margaret also has a few little video interviews on the
internet. If you are intrigued,
google her. She’s a gem.
I have been very fortunate this year to have had
two weeks away painting with other artists. Most of the year, I am working away independently. This makes it a very special treat for me to get to talk to other folks
who spend their lives being creative.
In July I painted for a week at Port Joli. My house mates were Richard Rudnicki, Susan Tooke, Bev
Hubley, Nelson Hubley, Heather Crout and Bruce Gray.
