new painting and a place to bark fundraiser

9" x 12" mixed media painting on canvas

Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,
Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Evangeline"

Does anyone believe in angels? Not really sure but I think I do. You sometimes hear people say that there's someone watching over you and I'd really never thought about it until a few years ago. I had two circumstances in my life that were potentially devastating. When the first one went down there didn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. In my dreams one night, a young man touched my shoulder and told me everything was going to be alright. It was so vivid to me. I woke up with a feeling that a weight had been lifted and eventually things turned out amazingly well.

The second time this happened was about five years later. This young man with dark curly hair came to me once more. He looked at me and smiled and delivered the same message as before. Right then it occurred to me that this man was my brother. My brother had died when he was three and I was a year old. I never knew him but I'll tell you flat out that I knew this angel was Daniel..... I felt it so deep inside. I'd never dreamt of him before and have not seen him since. He was here to give me a message...... he was my angel.

This painting was a commission piece for a woman that lost her mother. She wanted an angel. I hope she likes it because I know this painting is definitely out there....lol!


For the second year in a row Jill Beninato has hosted a project to support A Place to Bark. Jill has done a ton of work to put out a zine to raise funds for A Place to Bark which is a non profit animal rescue established and run by Bernie Berlin. Thank you so very much Jill!


zine cover by Jill Beninato

The zine is all color and 43 pages. It is professionally printed by Lulu Printing and all proceeds are going to A Place to Bark. 21 artists were invloved including "moi". Help support a great cause!

Lulu is the place to purchase it.


fill your heart with art

-manon

about renee

window to the soul
12"x 12" mixed media painting

Renee is my fellow Canadian, blogger and friend. I met her in blogland a few months back. She has stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer but that hasn't gotten her down.Renee tells us stories of her life, her big family and her treatments. She makes us laugh and at times makes us cry. She is an extremely strong, positive woman who I greatly admire.

The other day Renee left a comment on my blog about one of my paintings. She loved the heart and she thought it would make a great painting. I agreed. So I made a heart painting but not with a door this time.... one with a window because Renee is constantly showing us the window to her soul.

I'm sending this to my friend Renee because she inspired it. If I'm down about something I just think of her and realize that I have this one life..... and dammit..... I'm going to live it balls out just like her! Thank you Renee!

Check out her blog.... you'll love it!

fill your heart with art

-manon

textured journal page

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

Last week my good friend, Laura, gave me the nicest compliment. After showing her my journals she told me that she wished that all my my friends in blogland could see them live because they looked so much better in person. Wow! Thanks Laura!

The thing about the journal pages is that there's so much texture it doesn't show up that well when I photograph them. I'm so camera challenged..... lol! I like to believe I know what I'm doing but truth be told I know zip. Just believe me when i tell you that those pages are full of stuff.



I'm sometimes slow to realize things. I saw this roller on someone's Youtube video, (sorry.... can't remember who). I was painting all my edges with a brush until I discovered this little baby. OMG.... it's so perfect..... works like a dream on those edges. I picked up a bunch of them at the craft store. Well worth it!



fill your heart with art and rollers to paint your edges

-manon

anticipating love's sweet arrival

anticipating love's sweet arrival
18" x 36" mixed media painting on canvas

I took the long way on this painting but I believe I've arrived. I still need to fix the moon..... ya.... it's not the sun..... but overall it's finished. I'm so very glad that I deep sixed those flowers.



Trying to get a decent photograph of this was a nightmare. It's too big for me to get the lighting right. OK... I know some of you must think that this is hilarious considering I have no lighting and no skills at taking a decent picture but I tried. lol



When I was growing up, Canada had some pretty great home grown talent. Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Sarah Mclaughlin, and Bare Naked Ladies are just a few. I was a teenager in the eighties and Bryan Adams was the big thing. Yup.... he was so pop but we loved him anyway.

I've found a live version of his song Heaven, which is my personal favorite Bryan Adams song...hee, hee. He's performing it with a young man named Charlie Siem, who is a very gifted violinist.



fill your heart with art

-manon

The Bella Sinclair Award

It is my honor to receive a new award from my friend Ces. Ces's award is dedicated to Bella Sinclair, a brilliant artist and friend. She continually inspires us all. The Bella Sinclair award honors friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring.

Thank you Ces.... girlfriend!! I look forward to stopping by your blog each day. You are an incredible lady!

There are so many of you that I'd like to pass this along to but I'll do a few today.....

Here's to sisterhood!

Sheila Tajima Besides being so very kind to all she comes in contact with..... she's one of the hardest workers out there. Sheila leaves the nicest comments on people's blogs.

Melissa Langer was one of the first people to leave a comment on my blog and we've been friends ever since. Another hard worker...... I don't think she sleeps. When she's not creating art she's creating bears and hats for the needy in Africa. WOW!

Nancy Medina makes the world more beautiful with her fabulous paintings. I'm always in awe of those flowers.

Lynne Hoppe is my mixed media sister. Terrific artist and person. Every time I see her prayer flags I want to cry.

Kelley MacDonald laughs at the stupid comments I post on her blog. She entertains me with stories of her new puppy and wows me with her work. We could seriously hang out at her next wine party.

R Garriott shares her techniques and tips for all and on top of that she's crazy talented!

Happy 4th everyone!

fill your heart with art

-manon

unlocking the door

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

“Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.”
jean houston

Obviously I was just a little frustrated with my painting on Tuesday so I just left it for a day. This morning I decided to work on a journal page and like magic I believe I know what to do with it now. I've unlocked the door and I'm about to walk through. Mmm... it's a wonderful thought for the day.... unlock the door. Perfect.

Listening to the live version of in a little while! Man...I love this song!

Have a great Fourth everyone!

OMG..... I'm totally laughing my butt off because I just realized that the woman in my journal page looks like Michael Jackson! Hee, hee

fill your heart with art

-manon

the painting that went terribly wrong

Occasionally I wake up thinking that things may not go my way. Yesterday was one of those days. I spent five hours in my studio creating this incredible mess. I don't even get why it took that long to come up with a bunch of blobs on my painting. When I stood back at the end of the day and looked at it all I could muster was ....... *!*#@!!!



Once I got over it I took it home I set it on the easel and covered it with gesso. I just purchased a bucket of the stuff and transfered some of it into a smaller container.

Now I'll be honest with you, my mom has always maintained that I've had a problem closing jars. As a child I didn't close the mustard container properly and when my mom took it out it of the fridge it splattered all over her new kitchen carpet. Did I mention that it was her birthday that day? oops! ( Who puts carpet in a kitchen anyway? lol)
So yesterday I started to fix this painting and I went to grab the gesso and guess what? It wasn't closed! !#@*& !! It was all over the floor and me...yikes! I hope my mom doesn't read this post because I'll be getting a call!



Time it took to paint that mess = 5 hours
Time it took to clean up that mess = 1 1/2 hours
How I felt at the end of the day ......... out of my mind

fill your heart with art

-manon

a bit of this and that

After disclosing my love of hearts the other day I thought I'd share the beautiful cuff that was made for me by jewelry artist Hoss Rogers. Hoss worked with me to personalize this piece. The red parts of the heart are pieces of glass from my studio that I cut for him. One side says fill your ...... and the other side say with art. So the middle is the heart and all together means fill your heart with art. That was probably the most ridiculous explanation I've ever attempted...lol!
It' a great piece and Hoss is a very cool guy! Check out his site.





I want to talk about my favorite fruit.....cherries! I can't seem to get enough of these babies. I told fellow artist/ blogger/ friend Kelley Macdonald about my obsession a few months ago when she painted a wonderful cherry painting. When I lived in Canada, my friend's family owned a fruit market. One day I bought two pounds of these red juicy cherries and as I drove home I ate every single one. Yup.... things haven't changed. Whole Foods have the best ones this year. I'm always sad to see them go at the end of the season.



Last year I was fortunate to be involved with Jill Beninato's project to raise funds for Bernie Berlin's A Place to Bark. Somerset Studio Gallery Summer 2009 edition has featured all the artists involved. It was a great project!!



Tank, the Bulldog, has become famous! I hope his mother, Mary Monica, doesn't let it go to his head!!

fill your heart with art

-manon

my heart

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”
-judy garland

I just love to put hearts in my work. You can call me a romantic and I'll most definitely agree. I know I should stop but honestly I can't. They always seem to fit.



Progress report...... not much progress! I got frustrated with this piece today so I decided to work in my journal for a couple of hours. I put countless coats of gesso on the face area and the canvas is still coming through. Ugh! I'll clear my head tonight and get back to her tomorrow with love in my heart...lol!

fill your heart with art

-manon

pics from Ottawa

I just thought I'd show a few pics from my Ottawa trip to all of you!

On Friday my mom, sister and I decided to visit the National Art Gallery of Canada! It's really an amazing structure full of windows that lets the light through everywhere you walk. A nice guy was kind enough to take a pic of us in front of the building! Gotta love that huge spider sculpture!!



We ended up seeing this exhibit first and it was truly amazing! The sketches and paintings were from the 1500's and the 1600's. The preservation of these pieces was truly astonishing! We weren't allowed to take any photos......they watched us like hawks.



This was the quote going into the Canadian art exhibit! Love it! I got to see works by the Group of Seven which were incredible!




I had to pop by and see some of the work of Yousuf Karsh. He was a very famous celebrity photographer that my dad knew. His most famous portraits were of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and Georgia O'Keeffe, (just to name a few).



An incredible piece by Karsh capturing Ernest Hemingway. Karsh recalled Hemingway as "a man of peculiar gentleness".



My dad gave me his book when I started college and this is what Karsh wrote to me.



My friend Jo and I. It was great to see her.



Two little angels...... Nathalie and I. Even though we live far from each other she's always in my heart.



So long Ottawa....... I'll be back soon!

Can't wait to start painting tomorrow!

fill your heart with art

-manon

going on a little vacation

7" x 10" journal page

I was painting this journal page yesterday while listening to this. Ain't life sweet!

I'll be leaving for Ottawa, Canada tomorrow to visit my family and friends for a week. I'm not lugging my laptop with me but I'll have access to my parent's computer so I'll keep in touch. I hope to visit the National Art Gallery while I'm there so I'll act like a tourist and get some good pics.



Sending everyone positive energy for the week!

fill your heart with art

-manon

journal page and start of a new painting

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

"A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face. A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same. But all the miles had separated, they've disappeared now, when I’m dreaming of your face."
3 Doors Down



This is the new painting I'm working on. Today I put down some initial color. It looks pretty bad but I thought I'd show it anyway. I'm using canvas but I really do prefer wood or board. You'll probably notice that the moon was done with crackling paste and the rest of the piece has a ton of molding paste on it, (everything except the face). I'll post a progress picture soon!

I just love this song by Damien Rice! Check out 9 Crimes if you've got a moment!

fill your heart with art

-manon

just chillin

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
-ansel adams



Today I just want to chill. I've done a little work but it's gloomy out and my body just wants to hang out and do nothing. It's not easy to reveal to people that you don't want to do anything. Honestly, I'd rather not come across as being lazy but a mental health day is great sometimes. So... the rest of the day I shall put up my feet and relax....lol!

fill your heart with art

-manon

feeling something new

mixed media journal page

Made up my mind to make a new start. Going to California with an aching in my heart. Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
-Led Zeppelin
(Goin' to California)

Last night I had a dream about mixing two art forms together. The feeling stayed with me all day. Ok ..... I'll tell! I know I've told many of you that I'd never do another mosaic...lol! After four months with the Brutus Buckeye mosaic.... burnout set in. I won't be doing a 6' 2" statue any time soon but I was thinking about breaking out some smalti. My idea was to do a painting and incorporate some mosaic into it. I'm working on a fairly large piece right now but when I'm done this will be my new project. It's either going to work or it's going to crash and burn! Stay tuned!

fill your heart with art

-manon

Are you stuck?

7" x 10 " journal page

“I am like a book, with pages that have stuck together for want of use: my mind needs unpacking and the truths stored within must be turned over from time to time, to be ready when occasion demands”
- seneca quote

The truth is that sometimes I feel stuck. It can be that I'm stuck with my artwork or even myself. In these moments I have decided to step out of my comfort zone and find another way. Sometimes it's hard......... really hard..... but there is no other way that I can grow if I don't. I resolve to find a truer way.

fill your heart with art

-manon

texturizing

7" x 10" mixed media journal page

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says........ I'll try again tomorrow.
-mary anne radmacher-hershey



I had a few people inquire about the texture on the painting I did a few days ago. This what I did.....



First I took molding paste and smeared it on the dress. Then I decided on a stamp I liked and stamped it all over while the paste was still wet.



This is what it looks like when I'm done. Let it completely dry and then you can paint it. So easy.... fun to touch ...... interesting to look at!

fill your heart with art

-manon

life ladder

11 1/4 x 15 3/4 mixed media painting on watercolor paper

i am climbing my ladder of life
one step at a time
if i look back
i can see how far I've come
there are rungs of opportunity
i will seize them
any chance i get
-manon



Like success, failure is many things to many people. With positive mental attitude, failure is a running experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.
-w. clement stone

fill your heart with art

-manon

painting with the big brush

11 1/4" x 15 3/4" mixed media painting on 300lb watercolor paper

to be a star,
you must shine your own light,
follow your own path,
and don't worry about the darkness,
for that is when the stars shine the brightest.

For a good part of this painting I forced myself to paint with a two inch brush. I actually liked it. Painting a little looser was the goal and the brush was the key. I was inspired by Judy Mackey who does a lot of her work with just her palette knife. Her pieces are incredible and she has inspired me to let loose. I may have to use a bigger one next time.

Thanks to Michelle Burnett for giving me the Splash Award. It is for being " alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring". I know Michelle is all these things but I'm not sure if they all fit me. I will say that I'm definitely amusing....... I seem to amuse myself all day long..... not quite sure if anyone else is amused. lol

fill your heart with art

-manon

signs

mixed media journal page 7" x 10"

I absolutely believe in looking for signs. You may think I'm a nut job but I can't help it. The signs can show you the way.... or so I think! Honestly, I'm a little bit of a sign junkie. I suppose I'm looking for meaning and direction in my life. Is it real or not? I can't answer that question but I like to live in my own little bubble and trust that signs do show up. If you pay attention you may see signs of your own. Beware! LOL!

fill your heart with art

-manon

all of me

mixed media 7" x 10" journal page

i stand in a field of flowers
dreaming
hoping
that i will always be
happy
carefree
i wait for the day
to be by your side
showing
giving
you
all of me



I think I've got to stop painting these little faces in my journal....lol! They're driving me crazy! I feel like I'm working in miniature. Good thing I've got a steady hand or things would get out of control! : )

I would love to thank both Tweedles and Liz Holm for the Nobless Oblige Award. I am very honored. I will try to blog about it when my month settles down a little!

fill your heart with art

-manon

my star

-mixed media journal page

I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.
-amy tan



This weekend was my daughter's senior prom! May has become her month this year. Prom was last night, her 18th birthday is on Monday, graduation party is next weekend followed by graduation on the 30th. Yikes! Oh.... I forgot ....... the wisdom teeth come out on June 2nd. I'm exhausted just thinking about all this. Just breathe! She is my little star that is growing up.



I had to stand on my tippy toes! Check out her shoes! Believe me ..... they didn't last long!

fill your heart with art

-manon

explore. dream. discover

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-mark twain

This quote rings true to me. I think of all the things that I let slip by me because I was frightened and it saddens me. Not that I haven't done many great things but somehow I feel like I could've done more. Now that I'm a little older and a little wiser, things will be different! I've got to jump off that cliff...... ok.... not the cliff..... but you know what I'm saying. I have nothing to lose. I feel like that eighteen year old again ready to take on the world!



I had some old watercolor journals that had been sitting around gathering dust so I decided to try them out as a journal. I love my Moleskin so much but I needed something that was spiral bound. These are 7" x 10". They're a little smaller than when I use two pages of the Moleskin. I'll have to adjust. LOL!

fill your heart with art

-manon

new life to an old work

9" x 12" mixed media painting on cradled artist's board

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death.
-Robert Fulgham

Today I took a page from my friend Ces's book! She reworked a painting the other day so I decided to do the same. I did the practice piece below awhile ago and I I hated it so I cut the figure out, (she was on watercolor paper). The next step was to glue her down to the artist's board. I used Golden's Heavy Gel and I have to say that this stuff rocks. It would adhere me to the wall if I tried...lol! I then fixed her and painted a background. I used one of the stamps I made months ago but you can hardly see it. Anyway, I think I like this piece much better that the original!



fill your heart with art

-manon

true friendship

11 1/4" x 15 3/4" mixed media painting on watercolor paper

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”



Friendships have come and gone in my life but I have those special friendships that will always remain a constant. My first true friend was in fourth grade when I'm moved from Vancouver back to the province of Quebec! Nathalie and I had an instant connection and we were joined at the hip pretty much for the next ten years. We went through a lot together including the death of her parents when she was twelve years old. She was a sister to me. I don't actually remember what happened but we kind of grew apart in our early twenties and I always felt a sense of loss after that. Fortunately we've reconnected in recent years and I can't really describe how wonderful that feels. I could tell her my heart. She won't judge or be critical. She'll offer her ear and support me as I would do the same for her. True friendship never dies.

I think this painting looks a little like three bridesmaids....lol! Maybe I could have done without the flowers. Oh well...... I'll just go with it!

fill your heart with art

-manon

bare your heart

11 1/4" x 15 3/4" mixed media painting on watercolor paper

bare your heart to me
show me your soul
i will sit quietly and listen to all you have to say
speak what's in your heart
i will not judge
i want to know what moves you
what makes your soul sing
what you love
bare your heart to me
-manon

For this painting I used Arches 300lb hot pressed watercolor paper that I've had for years. I used four coats of gesso on each side. Now, I know that all of you watercolor artists are cringing that I used such good paper and coated it with all that gesso...lol! The thing is that this paper works really well because it is so thick. The bonus part for me is that I have quite a bit of it on hand! Yay!

fill your heart with art

-manon

new painting

18" x 24" mixed media painting

You may recognize this painting. It was a journal page I did weeks ago. I made a few changes but for the most part it is the same. I've realized that cradled art boards or heavy watercolor paper work best for my purposes. I will still use canvas but with the amount of pressing, sanding and everything else, I think that something with not much give is a better option.



On Saturday I received a gift in the mail! A beautiful painting from my friend Lynne Hoppe. I was so excited that she thought enough of me to send me the Happy Joy Bird after she read one of my posts about joy. Lynne does amazing work! Please check out her wonderful blog! Thanks Lynne!

fill your heart with art

-manon

sisters of the sun

I feel that I'm painting are imperfect figures. Something is always a little off. Maybe the nose is wrong or the lips are too big or even the body is out of proportion. We're all imperfect and there is no other way I'd want to be.The women that I paint in my journals and my paintings are trying to convey something. I want my women to be strong, fierce, determined, yet still loving and compassionate. They are seeking their own truth just as I do. They are celebrating their power to have faith, to believe, to heal and to hope.
I am calling these women Sisters of the Sun. The sun is an emblem of glory and brilliance and the setting sun is a symbol of hope. We are all celebrating our feminine energy. We are Sisters of the Sun.

fill your heart art

-manon