Detail Photos - With Sturdy Shoes: Hope

The figure's tresses form robins (new beginnings, experience, wisdom,) - 7 to the left (the past) and 7 to the right (the future); in her arms she cradles 7 houses (her community) while a fence holds an unsettled world at bay.


Upon the figure's apron a bluebird offers a berry (sustenance, advice) from its nest of 21 leaves (the days of the female cycle ripe with the possibilities of new life/beginnings).

New Sturdy Shoes work for my September show

Click on the link to Beadworks by Barbara (below on the right) to see my latest beadwork creations

Ta-Da!

I finished it at 7:00 p.m. tonight. The lower leaves will be completed one at a time as donors to Semiahmoo Family Place have their names and logos added to them.

Nearly finished

Getting closer

Today I sanded, primed, and painted over the repairs; worked on the larger figures and gave a third and final coat to the rooftops and doors. There are 2 more figures to be painted on the far right side.

Back to the mural

After a week's break, it's mural time again.
Today was the last day for working on scaffolding - hurray! I plan to have the mural completed by the end of this week.

A little more colour ...

We're working around the area that needs repair where the electrical outlets and conduit were removed.

A little more detail...

It's coming along nicely ...

Mural project for Semiahmoo Family Place

Here's my trusty assistant ready to get started on painting the foreground of the mural we started yesterday.

Thank you for attending last night's opening

Thank you to everyone who travelled so far on a miserable rainy night to view With Sturdy Shoes in Tsawwassen. I worked on this series for 9 months and so last night was very akin to sharing with all of you my newly produced 'baby'. I don't have the words to express how much I appreciate your support.

I've begun work today on a painting for the 'After Picasso' exhibition slated for February 2007, and I'll be posting images of those paintings as they are produced.

Enjoy your weekend!

Another gallery view ...

Winged Mother With Sturdy Shoes #6

Here's the last work I finished for the show.

For those of you living in Delta, look for me on Arts 'Round Town, DCTV Channel 4, 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 10:30 p.m. Fridays until the end of June; Patti McGregor asks me to explain my use of symbolism in the With Sturdy Shoes series, and I do my best not to stutter or bumble too much through the interview.

Here's a little bit of the show ...

With Sturdy Shoes at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre

With Sturdy Shoes opens today at the Tsawwassen Art Centre

I spent the afternoon hanging 20 paintings at the Tsawwassen Art Centre and, if I do say so myself, the show looks mighty fine.

I had more than enough works to fill the space, so the painting above with the cut out floating figure (one of my personal favourites) had to be left out.

The Artist Reception for the show is next Thursday night, June 8th, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. - feel free to bring your friends.

Recently completed ...

With Sturdy Shoes: The Volunteer
acrylic on canvas
30" x 24"

I've reached the 20 painting goal!

Here's the latest from my easel.
Community Volunteer With Sturdy Shoes
40" x 30"

Winged Mother With Sturdy Shoes #5: A Moment to Breathe

Here's a detail from the painting I finished today - this work was begun months ago and then set aside as I worked on larger paintings. It is painted on a small wooden cradle panel with the painting continuing over the edges onto the four sides. The figure is cut out of wood so that she appears to be floating above the landscape. Like Winged Mother #3, this figure is anchored to her house by her hair.

You'll find me in the studio ...

I am delighted to report that I sold two paintings from the Sturdy Shoes series today.

I'll be in the studio for most of the next week finishing off several canvases, including 7 wee ones and a 30" x 40" one that I started yesterday, (I was feeling energized yesterday!) and also the large one that I've been working on for a few weeks.

Wish me focus!