My birthday came and went without much hoopla. I was called into work on the eve and didn't get home until 5:00 AM. My poor patient son with whom I share a birthday, was expecting to do something fun and I was too tired after working all night.

Good news! A couple of great friends bought me canvases and another great friend took me on a fun day in Vancouver on Saturday. We spent hours at the Vancouver Art Gallery in the Group of Seven exhibit and I was blown away. Of course I have studied their art in books but to see it for real was WONDERFUL. I was so inspired by Lawren Harris' work that the next morning I got busy on the first of my 52 paintings. I am continuing with my birch tree theme - I've been painting birch trees for about a year and a half - and this time I'm including a beautiful background of sky, mountain, and light done in smooth strokes reminiscent of Mr. Harris' landscapes. The trees, of course, are done in my own true lumpy -bumpy, thick- paint style. I just really want to see that smooth, sharpness in the background and experiment in using more light coming from the sky. We'll see how it works for me soon.

One particularly interesting thing I realized while I was at VAT was that these famous works of art were not necessarily "better" than mine or more "professional". Whatever that means anyway because art is so subjective there really is no better or worse when it comes to art. But to me these paintings looked and felt as though they were executed with total confidence. Even if something was a bit "funky" or "wonky" the artist allowed it to be that way and carried on. That is what I am promising myself. No rubbing out of wiping off or painting over. I will just allow myself to paint and feel confident in what appears. I have to admit that I have gone back to the way I was painting a few years ago with more traditional themes. A couple of summers ago I was pushing myself to paint with a more modern edge, experimenting with abstract patterns and drips. With little success.
I really tried to notice in VAT what I was attracted to as a viewer of art instead as an artist and I was definately more attracted to images in which I could relate to; houses, towns, farms, water, clotheslines, flowers, and trees.

Aside from working on this painting I am in pursuit of a new and much better job. I have applied at Vancouver Island University as a cashier in the cafeteria - not exactly what I want to do but hey, it's a foot in the door. I hope to take some government funded courses and upgrade my office skills. There are regular posting for office support staff at the University and that is where I want to work. As a soon-to-be-single mother of three I need to be on a medical/dental plan. I need a good if not great income for someone who hasn't finished a degree yet and this is the direction I feel will be the best for me for now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm waiting on a phone call so I'll throw on a load of laundry and get busy painting.