Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

20x20"

Mixed Media on Canvas

Painting #52 - Another mixed media painting inspired by a pattern on some paper. I'm not "real" happy with this one. I was in a rush to finish it for my show this Saturday and thus, the colours are not quite working the way I would like them to.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

20x20"

Mixed Media on Canvas

Painting #51 - Another fun painting. Again, I was inspired by the patterns on a piece of paper and collaged it to my canvas. I used coloured gesso to express the lines of an anniversary celebration and used colour to unify the piece.

Marry Me?

Marry Me?

20x20"

Mixed Media on Canvas

Painting #50 - This was a fun painting. I used a small piece of paper as my inspiration and collaged it onto the canvas. With coloured gesso I created a line design to depict the happy emotions that come with the union of two people. I was quite pleased to see two abstract forms which could be people appear within the design. Do you see them?

A New Journey

A New Journey

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting # 49 - I enjoyed painting this bridge, which can be found on Prince's Island in Calgary. The base of the arch bridge gave me some difficulty and I'm not happy with my tree in the foreground. I look forward to more practice!

Incoming Messages

Incoming Messages

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #48 - Well, I've completed my third painting using size as a focal point. I enjoyed thinking about what colours and what size of shapes to place where. I find it difficult to paint straight lines and to keep all the shapes from looking like they are slanting upward or downward. I'm going to continue with my abstract series based on messages we receive through technology.

International Women Celebrate Exhibition

Opening night for International Women Celebrate was a huge success. Pictured at AyrSpace Gallery in Ontario are (from left to right) Donna Kaminski, The Honourable Sheila Copps, me and in the back row Jeanette Obbink - coordinator of our book, International Women Celebrate - 100 Women Artists Reflect. The Mayor, Council and over 88 guests were awed by the work of 106 artists.

To date over $3500.00 has been raised for Haitian relief from partial proceeds of the sale of the work and 100% of the contributions at the door. Please consider buying a painting to help us raise more money. All paintings can be viewed online. I purchased a painting called, Motherhood by Padmaja Madhu. To purchase a book please email Jeanette at jeanette@obbink.ca or Jill at art@ayrspace.ca

AyrSpace

44 Stanley Street

Ayr, Ontario

519-632-9030

Inner City Power

Inner City Power

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #47 - This was a fun painting! Who knew there were so many details up there on those posts - how exciting. I look forward to painting more power lines with a variety of birds relaxing up there.

Skating at Prince's Island

Skating at Prince's Island

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #46 - Besides the stairs, this was a fun painting to complete. I had fun painting the people and organizing them on the ice to make a balanced composition.

Driving Past Canmore

Driving Past Canmore

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #45 - Not the best composition to paint. The painting needs something interesting in the foreground. Too bad a couple big eagles weren't flying around!

Tranquility off Banff Avenue

Tranquility off Banff Avenue

5x7"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #44 - My second daily painting while on my annual painting trip. I did this one quite quickly, which I think was beneficial because I didn't get caught up in all the details.

Bow Valley

Bow Valley

5x7"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #43 - I decided to paint a few small landscapes while on my annual painting trip with Kristina. I need to work on my trees and achieving more values in my mountains.

Outgoing Messages

Outgoing Messages

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #42 - This painting was a little easier than the last one - as it should be when we do something the second time around. I enjoy the process of being in the moment when making decisions about the colour and size of the shapes. Additionally, I take pleasure in focusing on design fundamentals - in this case, using size to create a focal point.

Information Processing

Information Processing

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #41 - My daily paintings have become a little bigger that usual and they are taking more than a day to complete. I've decided to produce a body of abstract paintings for the following reasons:

- to motivate and stimulate my creativity

- to further develop my artistic skills

- to develop my own style, originality, individuality

- to invoke my feelings, intuition, spontaneity, inventiveness and feeling for colour, shape, composition, etc.

- the process will help me learn how to interpret reality better

Dress Shoes

Dress Shoes

9X12"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #40 - I'm happy with this painting - lots of different textures in these shoes - leather, metal and stitching. I like the little green leather straps and the brown leather heel pads. Improvements could be made on the beige cloth of the shoes - I wasn't sure how to solve that problem but I'll get lots of practice as I work my way through my closet.

Jubilation

Jubilation

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

If you look at my blog it looks like I didn't paint all of December. Let me tell you - that's not true. I decided to submit a painting for the 100 Women Show - International Women Celebrate in Ayr, Ontario and I ended up painting frantically to have a piece ready. I completed five paintings in all and Jubilation is the piece that I submitted. We also had to include a written submission with an introduction about ourselves, our views about being a woman and about our painting (see written response below). The exhibition is from March 8th to April 10th at http://ayrspace.ca/ . A book will be published with our work and our narratives. One hundred women from around the world participated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

Jubilation

My name is Tammy Watt. I am 48 years old and live with my husband in Calgary, Alberta. I am an Art Educator and own a small art selling business. My appreciation of art arose from admiring my grandmother’s paintings.

Growing up I had to search for a mother figure. I found the Creator. Consequently, I view myself as a human being before viewing myself as a woman. Thankfully, I do not remember a time when being female has inhibited me. To be a woman means to be strong. I am physically powerful, emotionally resilient and mentally able.

Within me is a mysterious energy that wants me to keep growing. My painting is a tribute to six females who nourish this energy with love, wisdom and fun. I used a predominately primary colour scheme to suggest cheerfulness, vitality and health. I want the energy in these colours to transmit to my viewers, thus sharing the gifts given to me.

Kindred Spirit

Kindred Spirit

12x12"

Acrylic/Gold Leaf on Canvas

Painting #38 - I'm playing around with ideas for the, International Women Celebrate, exhibition. My final painting will include six females who are influential in my life - this is my niece - she is one of them.

Stampede Boots

Stampede Boots

9x12"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #37 - I thought it was time to paint my cowboy boots. They were custom made for me so they may look a bit different from what you would normally see in the stores. They were quite easy to paint, however, I struggled with decisions about the background. I decided to paint swirls and floating shapes to bring a rhythm to the painting, which I hopes captures what these boots do during the Calgary Stampede - they dance.

Stylish Year-Round

Stylish Year-Round

Acrylic on Board

9x12

Painting #36 - Well, white patent boots are difficult to paint - or maybe its the medium I'm using. I find acrylic paint so difficult to blend - especially in Calgary's dry climate. My paint dries immediately after it hits the board. Next painting I will try using a glazing gel - I'll let you know how it goes. I had fun with the background in this painting - the red is so lovely and rich. I really like the circles in my foreground as well - I'm not sure how they found their way in there - I almost want to name them!

Green Patent Bootlets

Green Patent Heels

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #35 - I thought I'd have a little fun with the background - I love swirls and they appear often in my work. The patent was a challenge. I find it interesting that one pair of patent shoes can be so much more difficult - or easier, than another pair. Perhaps its my lack of experience painting this material? My closet is full of patent so I'll be getting plenty more experience!

Waiting for a Night Out

Waiting for a Night Out

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #34 - I bought these shoes within a half an hour of my first visit to New York City - and we explored the night life together! They are easier to wear than they are to paint. Despite my efforts, this painting does not show the true beauty of the shoes.