Firsts

Something new for me, in fact two firsts. My current painting is the biggest I have every done (18" X 24") and it is a triptych, so there are three parts.

Triptych literally means three fold; three panels that were attached together and could be folded shut, often the centre panel was larger than the other two, the three paintings sharing a common theme. I think it was first used in early Christian art for alter paintings.

My painting(s) are equal sizes and will not hinge.

This is the centre of the three paintings; it is a painting of a statue seen and photographed in northern Italy a few years ago. It is not finished yet because I can't do the background colour matching and finish the ivy until I have all three paintings almost done. I have more work to do, I hope to show you more next week.

 

I intend to varnish the paintings so that they do not need to be framed under glass.

 

For these paintings I have stretched watercolour paper over canvas stretcher bars, each painting uses a full sheet of watercolour paper (22" X 30"); I watched several YouTube videos before I made my first attempt. The end product will be lightweight and I hope vibrant.

 

 



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My camera lens found some beautiful flowers this week. First is an image of only one corner of my clematis, which is really putting on a show this year: beautiful and fragrant too.

 

There is a honeysuckle blooming at the same time popping up between the clematis blooms.

Next to some pink beauties, first lupines and then poppies.

There are lots of purple lupines in my neighbourhood but few pink ones.

 

I think this is only the second time I have seen pink poppies, and this time I had my camera with me too! Such delicate petals, slightly crushed by recent windy days, they almost look as if crafted from crepe paper. I took quite a few pictures, here is just a small selection:

 

 

Maybe a subject for another triptych?

 

 

And a splendid pair of tulips to end with:





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Here are videos I found for your enjoyment, both are David Attenborough focused:

 

 

 

 

 

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 Well that is it for this week, happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

 

Gillian

 

 

I appreciate your feedback!

Contacts:

 Art: GillianOlsonArt.com

Cards: PSWhimsy.com

Contact: info@pswhimsy.com 



 

Just Flowers

This time of year is all about flowers. My painting "Pretty in Pink" is the Cover Award winner of the "Just Flowers" show on now, until April 30, at the Newton Cultural Centre. It is on the cover of the April "Spotlight on the Arts" magazine published by the Arts Council of Surrey.

 

Here I am with my painting at the opening reception:

 

I also received an orchid, here I am with Newton Cultural Centre curator Leah McCullough:

 

 and now as promised, just flowers:

 

apple blossoms

 

Bleeding Heart

 

 

Camellia

 

Clematis

 

Grape Hyacinth 

 

 

Oregon Grape

 

Tulips

 

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So what do you think I painted this week?

 

Well a flower of course, in fact, an Orchid:

 

 

I haven't decided whether it is finished or not and haven't decided where to sign it.

 

Hope you have enjoyed this just flowers post,

 

Happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian.

 

 

This little light of mine

I know I have been gone for a long time, please forgive me I have not been feeling inspired. I keep missing Wednesdays so I am sending along a little Weekend Whimsy today.

This time of year it can be pretty dark so I find myself seeking sunshine, on a good day I sit and soak up all the rays I can, usually through the window. We are approaching the "shortest day" or day with the least amount of daylight hours in the northern hemisphere and thinking about that I was reminded of a song I used to sing at Brownies and Girl Guides many years ago: "This little light of mine".

Here are some pictures capturing some treasured sunny days and the lyrics of the song:

       

translated from English to English

 This Little Light Of Mine

 

Translation in progress. Please wait...

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna

let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Every day, every day, I'm going to let my little light
shine.

 

Songwriters: SCOTT, STEPHEN H. / DP,

 

 

 

Talk about light, this little Anna's hummingbird was taking a break

and then

 

 

before taking flight, he turned his head and "spotlight" below, sorry the picture is so grainy.

 

 

This picture just makes me smile:

 

 

Can you see the trail of water catching the light in this action shot:

 

 

The picture below is just begging to be painted, and will be!

 

 

...and one more time,

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

 

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

 

 

So I will end with lovely Stellar Jay, above, and

 

"sea monster" log below.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope I have brought some light and a smile or two to your day,

 

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I have been doing some painting. First, inspired by pictures taken in the summer here is a painting of an Arbutus Tree. I call it "Arbutus Sentinel", it is a watercolour:

 

 

This is one of the paintings on display at Image West, here is a link to the exhibit:

 

http://www.gillianolsonart.com/art-shows.html

 

 

My second painting is all about Christmas, which is sneaking up. This one is called

"There Otter be snow at ...."

 

 

Available following this link:

 

http://www.pswhimsy.com/seasonal--other.html

 

 

That's all for this week,  

happy Weekend, with whimsy,

 

Gillian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April -- No Fooling

This weeks post is brought to you by the letter "S" and the colour "Green".

Spring has definitely arrived in this part of the world.

"April, April, laugh thy girlish laughter, then a moment after, weep thy girlish tears."

 

Sir William Watson

 

This is a painting I did last year for the Brock House Society calendar, it is called "The Best Seat in the Park" and is a typical spring day in Jericho Park with someone enjoying my favorite bench.

This painting is for sale, all funds go to Brock House Society, let me know if you are interested in buying it.

 

SPRING, SPRING, SPRING!

 

The new spring growth is a very special bright startling green and is Springing up everywhere!

 

 

 

Green, green, green!

 

 

I love the patterns in this root.

 

 

 

 

Flower God, God Of The Spring

 

FLOWER god, god of the spring, beautiful, bountiful,

Cold-dyed shield in the sky, lover of versicles,

Here I wander in April

Cold, grey-headed; and still to my

Heart, Spring comes with a bound, Spring the deliverer,

Spring, song-leader in woods, chorally resonant;

Spring, flower-planter in meadows,

Child-conductor in willowy

Fields deep dotted with bloom, daisies and crocuses:

Here that child from his heart drinks of eternity:

O child, happy are children!

She still smiles on their innocence,

She, dear mother in God, fostering violets,

Fills earth full of her scents, voices and violins:

Thus one cunning in music

Wakes old chords in the memory:

Thus fair earth in the Spring leads her performances.

One more touch of the bow, smell of the virginal

Green - one more, and my bosom

Feels new life with an ecstasy.  

 

Robert Louis Stevenson    

 

  

The birds are busy too, pairing up, a spring in their step.

 

These Widgeons in step.       

 

  

 

 

Golden crowned sparrows I think.

 

 

 

And a lone Great Blue Heron fishing in the shallow water.

 

 

Spring Song

by Robert Louis Stevenson

THE air was full of sun and birds,
The fresh air sparkled clearly.
Remembrance wakened in my heart
And I knew I loved her dearly.

The fallows and the leafless trees
And all my spirit tingled.
My earliest thought of love, and Spring's
First puff of perfume mingled.

In my still heart the thoughts awoke,
Came lone by lone together -
Say, birds and Sun and Spring, is Love
A mere affair of weather?

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And with Easter just around the corner I thought some rabbits would be appreciated.

There were dark chocolate, milk chocolate and even white chocolate rabbits at the park.

 

 

These rabbits were stretched out, relaxing.

 

 Some were eating.

 

 

This one looked exhausted.

 

 

She seemed to be watching over this little brood of babies:

 

 

Please forgive me for including so many, these bunnies were small and so cute. My favorite is the grey one with the black nose. There were at least six of the little ones.

A few more plants, from my garden, beautiful greens, beautiful spring. 

  

Lots of paint being splashed around here this week. First of all I took a better picture of this one from last week so her is "Ready and Waiting: again:

 

Here are two new ones. First "Donkey Trio":

 

 

and second "High and Dry":

 

All are watercolours. The "Donkey Trio" is inspired by a photograph I took in southern France a few years ago. The "High and Dry" is from a photograph that I took when I was on Gabriola Island a couple of years ago.

That's my first post for April, no fooling.


Until next time...

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

happy Whimsy Wednesday,

 

 

Gillian.