SeaRose Studio Newsletter, March 2011

 Hello to all on this fine March afternoon. Sun shines through my studio window as I sit here thinking about the last few months. It has been awhile since I have written, my apologies to any who were hoping to find something new here in the last six months. I can only offer the usual excuse; my techie friend was out of town... I note that the cyber world is changing so shockingly fast that I had better get with the program, step up to the plate , as it were and begin a blog instead of a newsletter. Stay tuned.

      For now... noteworthy news of the day is that Gilford Island’s cougar population seems to be expanding at a rapid rate as the presence of raccoon, otter, mink and deer is commensurately decreasing. The weather has been noteworthy for its fluctuations lately and Thursday morning I stepped out with my mail (Wednesday’s usual mail plane was delayed by high winds) to a soft fall of new snow. Right at the foot of the steps from my studio I spotted cougar prints in the snow. I tracked them along the path to the dock where they continued down onto the foreshore and across the rocks. From the creek in the woods I found another larger set that came along the pathway from the  generator and then down to the ramp. Here both cougars met up and carried on along the snow clad rocks  and under the big cedar to disappear into the woods. Bill Proctor checked around his foreshore and found prints from the same pair, I am surmising a mother and cub, along with a third much larger set as well. So we know for sure there are at least three cougars traversing their ‘beat’ along the edge of the land near our homes. Keeps us on our toes, that is for sure.

        I am pleased to say that in an on-line auction and vote with “Good Life Connoisseur Magazine” held through January and into February, my acrylic painting “ Chesterman Beach Gold” was voted the third most popular image. My work will be featured in the next issue of the magazine which is pretty easy to find with one of the search engines. All proceeds from the auction were donated to Rainbow Canada which funds surgeries for children with cleft palates. Again I want to thank everyone that voted for me and passed on the info to solicit more votes, especially my songbird daughter Theda Phoenix, who has been wintering in paradise Hawaii and is much more hip to social networking than I.

        Winter was late here but brutal and thanks to the efforts of two lovely young women, Anke from Holland and Julie from France, we managed to get in a massive pile of firewood. Not a moment too soon as E.G. (Engineering Genius in case you have forgotten) went for hernia surgery and is now recovering without having to concern himself with the firewood chores. Thank you so much lovely traveler angels. Look for the WWOOF Canada website to find out more about this wonderful pairing of organic smallholdings and farms with helpful travelers.

        September last I hung an exhibit of paintings at Seventh Heaven Art and Beauty Salon in Crescent Beach, near White Rock BC, inspired by our Cross-Canada trip in September 2009. Theda opened the show with a concert of songs and crystal bowl music that wowed the attendees. I really enjoyed seeing everyone that came to the show, even if you think I didn’t notice you because of the crush! Thanks to Luc who worked so hard on organizing the PR and hanging the show and Chloe who made my haystack hair look better than it has in years.

        My winter fun has been collage work. I remember how I loved cutting and glueing so much in school and took a few evenings to play with collaging theme images (such as birds, which I love or mermaids, also a beloved theme) onto various boxes I found around the house. See the “New Works” for some pictures of my efforts. I struggle with whether this is “art” but you know, If anyone else was doing it I would totally tell them that it was art! OK so it is then.

         The other work I am proud of is an acrylic portrait of my neighbor and friend Nikki, a really interesting person. If any of you reading this have met her, I am sure you will agree. You will find “Nikki’s Summer Dreams” in the New Works on the site as well.

        Spring is going to be here soon now, probably tomorrow. On our Bird Studies Canada Waterbird counts every second Sunday of the month Bill P and I noted that, after years of no presence here, we now have numerous sightings of Red-necked Mergansers. You can tell right away when you see them because first you think, Oh yeah, mergansers. Then you think..They don’t look quite right. The male has a noticeable light ring around its neck and a much spikier tuft of feathers at the back of its neck as does the female. There were eighteen swans in Viner River instead of the customary dozen and we used the binoculars to count them rather than running right up to the river mouth and disturbing them. It is hard enough for them to make a living in the cold weather when the lakes are frozen up, without causing them to take flight for our census purposes.

        My paintings are now on display (in the summer) at Nimmo Bay Resort, destination playground for anyone loving helicopter rides and salmon fishing and terrific scenery, service and food. As well my paintings depicting my other loved paradise, Tofino, Uclulet and Long Beach are showing in Signy Cohen’s Reflecting Spirit Galleries on the wet coast. Be sure to go have a look when you are there.

        So that is about it for now, I could go on but think I will leave some thoughts for next time! Three pages is enough to read anyway right?

        Come and see us if you are near Echo bay this summer. We love to show visitors around the studio and the pottery process and send you off with a bouquet of roses for your boat.

        Ta ta for now, Yvonne