birches today.... like soldiers

All standing at attention. Bold and graphic...wait until the yellow hits! Wow will be really interesting to see the contrast.... wish the light was not fading so much. Will continue on my other painting for carm.

evolution of the birches...

working on two paintings today. I dont want to photograph the other quite yet as I want it to be a surprise for my friend Carm. This above painting was photographed recently when I started it and this is just a section of the entire piece not the whole painting as these trees are the most evolved. I am loving the yellow with the birches. Will keep this in mind for the next birches. Mother nature sure knows her colours to have made the fall leaves on a birch that vibrant yellow ochre tone. I bought a tube of it today.

back at it.....

Today is an excellent day! My dishwasher is being fixed ( no more hours bellied up to the sink doing dishes thank God!) and Im painting up a storm.... Its a cold and cloudy day today so the lighting is perfect! Too much sun and I get all kinds of glare and strange light/shadow.

Will post what I complete later today so stay tuned.

creative juices not flowing today....

not the most creative day, had to take the day off from painting . Sometimes its just too much to even push myself and nothing works so there is not reason to force it. Tomorrow will be another day so I need to just go with this. Dont like to feel unproductive but its all part of the process. I did finish my paper for addiction studies and feel really good about that......4 more to do for dec 15.

Its late and Im tired so better hit the hay and get some rest for a day back at the canvases tomorrow....

birch for julie

here is another to add to the bunch. Its large and these are the beginnings of the trees....there will be lots of yellows re the leaves and vibrant whites with black knots for drama.... exciting!

new birch

here is a new birch for commision.... I am working on 3 paintings at once and will start a 4th. I have to let the layers of each painting dry as I work so its perfect for me to pick up another while the other is drying......I will continue to post as the week goes on and show the evolution of the work.

shawnas painting completed

shawna... I went to the wine store and bought the bottle you love, Ive painted it and now I need to deliver the painting and the wine. We can share a glass and soak it all in.....

olive branch completed

The olive branch painting is completed and the new owners were pleased with the final project and they have successfully hung it in their home. Ive also posted this to my website www.michelleguitard.com on the gallery page.

my friends....

Im sitting here thinking tonight how blessed I am to have the undying support of my friends. They support my art so whole heartily and encourage me to continue to paint....it means so much to me to have them in my life and provide me feedback and critiques when I need them. I put my heart and soul into my paintings and what I put in I get back from the special people in my life... you know who you are !!!! thank you....

Cant wait to give Shawna her painting... the bottle below will change in shape and will be the wine she loves.
xo

for shawna.....

Almost done... painting for shawna....funky girl!

more sky.... branch

A few hours later....

the olive branch

the olive branch is dark and the sky around the branch is so much more blue than its reading however its very difficult to get a good picture in the space Im in. Working on the mountains and the branch today.... foliage will be interesting on the branch lots of green tones and detailed.

Back to work.....

few hours later...

what a difference a few hours can make.... Im realizing how slow I really am. Everything has to be perfect or it will drive me nuts.

the land and buildings...

I see land! The balcony is done.. the land is coming along I like it! the mountains will be fun and they will help to make the buildings pop it will be a good backdrop. Then, next is the sky and they the branch above....... what Ive learned today is every part of the evolution of this painting is so interconnected as are we.

my little Jack

How cute are you? Spending everyday laying by my side watching me paint.... good company.

more of the balcony

the rungs are almost done, the reflection on the balcony of light between the rungs. The landscape in the distance is now taking shape......

painting for Russ

Okay so today has been a long, long day..... I have got this railing just about where I want it. Feeling very pleased. Its funny how I feel so challenged with a painting and cant imagine how I will execute it and all of a sudden it just hits its stride and I overcome the challenges. Im sure there will be many more ahead with this painting but for today I am feeling very satisfied... thanks for my friend Louise for bringing me chicken soup and a cafe mocha as Ive been feeling under the weather. It was just what I needed to get a few more hours in. off to parent teacher interviews!

for carm....

Its getting close carm..... cant wait to see it hung..... Its a wonderful painting with lots of colour and character.

lots and lots of detail

this is a 4'x6' painting I started a while back... so much detail and layers and layers. However I can feel it will be a wonderful piece when it is completed. I hope to have it done next week but will update with pictures as I go.......

monday already??

Well today was a good day although Im feeling under the weather with a chest cold. Still got to my studio and painted a large piece for Russ and his wife, also worked on a painting for Scott and Carm. Had a wonderful time at the opera Saturday night with the Balinsons. We saw the Magic Flute, at Indian and enjoyed each others company. What a wonderful opera, Im hooked.

No photo today as I dont want to post any unfinished work. However I am taking pictures of the process of each painting and will post those when the painting is complete.

We dont have hockey tonight! Its a miracle. I love to just cuddle up to the boys, put on a good movie and relax its such a luxury........

I finished Lisas nude yesterday afternoon. You can see the difference in the image below as I had not finished the upper back and in this new image I have completed it. Im working on a few commissions today I work on 2 or 3 at a time so whichever one gets its last bruch stroke gets posted..... Ill post the painting in progress today before I start. Dont like to do this but thought youd like to see how the stages of the painting evolve.

nude for lisa

Working on this commission today for Lisa.... I have about three paintings on the go at the moment. Working in acrylics allows me to pick a painting up and put another down as I paint in layers so as each layer dries I can move along to the next image. I love doing the nudes as they are a great exercise in light and shadow. Not a great picture as its damp so its casting a glare off the paint. Oh well just wanted to show what I'm working on at the moment, its a few hours away from completion.

Ancaster Titans....

The most important part of my life is my children and family. Tonight we are off to an awards ceremony in Mississauga to award the boys with a first place finish this year in soccer. They are a great group of boys, coaches and parents and they are my social network all summer long. These boys are forging lasting friendships and accomplishments they will remember for the rest of their lives. Many of these kids play hockey together in the winter as well travelling all over ontario and into the states. So when Im not painting, and studying Im treking around with these great kids and their families..... go titans go!

path to art therapy....

Im always setting new goals for myself. Last year I decided I wanted to to a masters in Art Therapy. I began taking courses at mc master univ in addiction studies and counseling. I try to take 2 correspondence courses a semester and juggle my studies along with family, painting and other parts of my life. My children are at a great age that I can finally do a little more of what Im passionate about. I hope to have my masters by the time Im 43yrs old.... ( almost 40 ) this is something Ive always wanted to do and Im enjoying every minute of it even though its an interesting balancing act. Im not one to be idle for too long. So today is a study day for me, I have 2 assignments due the first of each month and Im organized enough to have them completed a week early, this has not always been the case, I have pulled a few all-nighters in the past, but trying to avoid that.

new photograph of birches do to

This image is the newest photograph taken of birches that I plan on painting for a commissioned piece. I will begin the sketches today and show the progress of this painting. Looking forward to finishing my other commissioned work which I will also be photographing as its completed. I love the yellow in this photo and the striking black and white, graphic birches. This will be a larger painting approx 3'x5' and going to my friend Julie.......

Sometimes you need to take some time to refuel. Having painted nonstop for the last few weeks I spent today creating a postcard handout for my next exhibits and worked on my website. I also organized some images I have saved online and just reflected on the last few days. I really do think this is all part of the process of creating. You have to pull back once and a while to fill those creative juices again and today was one of those days. I added this colour wheel I love its a great tool for finding inspiration to take some risks with colour. I have many commissions to continue working on this week and the weeks to come, booked another show tentatively for November, check my site for dates and location over the next few days.

gals from the valley tour....

I was just at Stephanies to pick up the last of my paintings and we both decided that we had too much fun this weekend. They are a great bunch of girls, from the left.... Stephanine, myself, Elaine and Louise. Thank goodness for good friends and all their hard work. So have we booked our flights to NY?????? Sure hope so. Cheers.

dundas valley tour....

Well the weekend is now over and what a great success. I have pictures of the show and the participants to post today and will do so once I find my camera!!! The weather could not have been more perfect, and the fall colours were an inspiration I'm sure for all of those who visited the studios and supported all the talented artists in the area.

For my first time on the tour I have to say it was a great experience. I sold a few paintings, and picked up a few commissions. However the best part was meeting all the people that came to view my art and had some wonderful comments and words of encouragement for me.

Ive posted the birch that seemed to be the most " talked about " painting and has convinced me to start painting more birches. So visit my site and blog often to see new paintings that will be posted and information on upcoming exhibits.

Thank you so much to all that visited the tour. Special thanks to all my friends and family that continue to support and encourage me to continue painting.

where I paint...

Its not the least bit glamorous..... I paint in our bedroom. Its a really big bedroom with good lighting. I can also shut it away so that kids and animals are not able to get into it. The cat has already walked through my palette of paints and then walked around the bedroom leaving paw prints all over in every colour. So Its a good enough space for now. I would love to build a small studio out in the back yard. There is lots of space and it does not have to be big. I joked with my family that if I had a cot and my paints, a little heater I would not come home..... so its a dream, someday.

my painting space

Ive started painting all my canvases black. I have

learned that I tend to work dark to light. I have to have a black surface to begin on . I was told they sell canvases in black. This would be a great time saver for me as Ive only ever bought white, pre-gessoed canvases. So now I will look for the black ones! I will be working on 3 paintings at the same time. I began doing this in preparing for my show and it was great. Working in Acrylics I tend to work in layers so while one layer is drying I can work on another piece and just rotate them. Its much more efficient and I find it easy to move freely between paintings. I hope to be able to journal this process over the next few weeks. Ill add another photo of my paints and then show the evolution of each painting, my palette and thoughts over the next while......

creative mind.....

the last few days have been time spent filling up the creative juices. I had been painting everyday almost 6-8hrs a day and this week and last Ive been spending time gathering images for paintings to be.... shopping at my local art store for canvas and paint, and just doing alot of thinking about what is next. I am beginning to book shows for August and December and coming up with images to paint. I am also beginning to work on my commissions that I took in from my last solo exhibition.

Part of being an artist Im realizing is acknowledging the time between paintings. This time used to feel unproductive to me but now Im seeing as part of the process. It cant be forced either, the act of creating comes in different forms and this period between paintings for me can last as long as a couple of weeks or just a few days. What I do notice is I am creating in other ways all of the time, whether its in the garden, in the house, or framing for friends ( yes Im a picture framer part time as well )

So the canvas is calling again and Im ready. I have 3 commissions to begin and will post their progress as I go along. I am also going to try to be less judgemental of my time between paintings when Im filling up....

Silver Birches

Well its been a while since Ive been consistantly blogging my daily routines as an artist. Im happy to say for the last few months Ive been planning my first exhibit in years. The solo show had its debut May 24th 2008 at the home of Jane and David Thompson. They are great supporters of mine both on a personal level and in my pursiut of painting. I am grateful to them for allowing me to use their home to exhibit my work and create awareness around my art making.

A portion of the sales that day went to help support the Mark Preece Family House and I think the day was a great success. So now I will continue to create my daily paintings and journal my successes and failures as I continue to follow my dreams! How lucky am I to be able to do this, with the support of my friends and family I am so grateful. The painting above Silver Birches sold at the show and received very postive feedback.