Lost…..

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Mama Cormier

…or just discarded

With so many masks being worn now it’s not surprising to find the odd mask on the ground. I’m sure I’ve lost one or two getting out of the car and parents are probably finding that children lose masks as often as they lose their mittens.

My husband thought it would be fun to photograph these displaced masks and post them on the blog. I agreed but as soon as I did it seemed like lost or discarded masks were not as plentiful as we thought. None the less I’ve been on the lookout and here’s what I’ve found so far.

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It looks like masks aren’t the only things that get misplaced.

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Water, Water Everywhere – #50

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Mama Cormier

…Thanks to Jez for hosting Water, Water Everywhere – https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2020/11/09/loch-lomond-water-water-everywhere-50/

On our little get-a-way last week we stopped at Albion Falls in Hamilton. I love waterfalls and Hamilton has over 100 of them tucked behind the trails of the Niagara Escarpment that cuts through the city. Albion Falls is one of the more popular ones. It is almost as wide (18 metres) as it is tall (19 metres) and is visible from two viewing platforms, but there is currently no access to the bottom.

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My Husband’s Abstracts – A Fan of….

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Jez for hosting A Fan of …. https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2020/11/09/flowering-cacti-fan-of-84/

This week I’m a fan of my husband’s abstract paintings. Back in August he finally started painting again after a 45 year hiatus. He was primarily painting with acrylics but yesterday he started to experiment with watercolour. Here are his first attempts in this new medium.

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This last photo is the first painting in a frame under glass. This one has already been slated as a gift to one of the nurses at MacMaster Hospital in Hamilton.

Repurposing an Old Church

Posted on November 7, 2020 by Mama Cormier

….some of the bigger ones in Toronto are being converted into condos

It’s not unusual for old churches that are no longer in use to be sold and converted into something else. Last week when we were in Niagara-on-the-Lake we came across a church that was repurposed into a brew pub. Craft beers have become very popular in the last ten years so it wasn’t surprising to see another one pop up in the heart of wine country.

The Silversmith Brewing Company was founded by two friends who purchased the old church in 2012. St. John’s Anglican church was built in 1894. It stayed that way until 1954 when it was deconsecrated. Trinity Lutheran church used the building from 1955 until about 1965. That would be the last time the building was used for religious service. From 1965 to 2012 it was a private residence and an antique shop (twice).

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The pub serves a variety of craft beers but they are specially known for their dark beers. You can order flights of beer so that you can try a variety of them before deciding on your favourite. The food menu is limited but the fried chicken sandwich was outstanding. The next time you’re on your way to Niagara-on-the-Lake stop in Virgil and enjoy a glass of beer with your lunch before heading out to do some serious wine tasting.

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Poppies in Watercolour and Ink

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Mama Cormier

….another painting using this simple technique with watercolour pencils and black ink

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Buckets of Colour

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Mama Cormier

I love autumn. The cooler temperatures appeal to me and visually I find the colours breathtaking. I also love the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and how people use pumpkins, peppers and squash to decorate their porches and storefronts. Here are a few of my favourite bursts of colour and some creative pots of plants in the neighbourhood and beyond.

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Two Abstract Studies

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Mama Cormier

…painting is good for the soul

I find painting small helps me get rid of any inhibitions I might have about the process. The process for abstract painting is varied, depending on the artist or teacher that you speak to. I find the best way to get started is to just lay down some random marks and go from there.

Here are the two studies that I worked on this morning.

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One Success and One Massive Failure

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Mama Cormier

….happy with the first one and not so much with the second

Painting for me is a process. I’m more of an intuitive painter. I put down a mark on the paper and go from there. Sometimes it works out well and other times it doesn’t.

Yesterday I put a heavy black stroke of black ink on my paper and I knew as soon as I did that it would overpower my subject but I continued painting anyway. After finishing the piece I showed it to my husband and he honestly told me that the black was too much. I agreed and I tried to calm it down with white paint and other marks but it didn’t help.

I’ve decided to wait a bit before doing anything with it but I will probably cut it up and use the parts that I like and collage them into another painting.

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Playing With Paints Again

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Mama Cormier

…it’s been too long

I cleaned off my art table yesterday. That was half the battle. Now I have no more excuses not to paint. On Hallowe’en I actually painted four individual cards for my neighbours but I forgot to photograph them. Painting is very therapeutic for me and I need to do it more often.

I’ve watched dozens of painting videos in the last four months and even though I felt inspired I just couldn’t get motivated to set up the paints. I want to enter an art show later in the month but I have to put my entries on line by November 6th. I’d better get busy. Here is my first attempt at mixed media ….mostly watercolour and ink.

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I need a title for this painting. Any suggestions?

A Drive By Birthday Party

Posted on October 24, 2020 by Mama Cormier

….for five year old Winnie

I wanted to post this 10 days ago but with my father’s demise the day after these photos were taken I was ……well you can imagine how my blog was not my priority.

Now that things are settling down but nowhere near normal I’m trying to find joy again in the little things, like taking photographs of autumn leaves and flowers and taking walks with friends (with masks on). I’m on the phone a lot catching up with friends because COVID makes visiting in person difficult.

This year for my granddaughter’s fifth birthday we were suppose to get together for a birthday celebration in our backyard on Thanksgiving Monday but our daughter in Hamilton (Winnie’s Mom) received a COVID alert that she had been close to someone who has the virus. Out of caution they decided not to come to Toronto.

On Wednesday they decided that a drive by birthday for Winnie would be okay if we stayed apart and wore masks. Before they arrived I put out chairs on the front lawn and placed her birthday presents next to the chairs and her cake on the wall next to the driveway.

It was different. No hugs and kisses. We stayed on the porch while Winnie opened her gifts and then she dug into a piece of cake. She loved having cake at 10:00 in the morning. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Then we blew her kisses through our masks and they were off to the Toronto Zoo.

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This last photo was sent to me by Winnie’s Mom. At the zoo they had these decorated hay bales and Winnie wanted to pose in front of every single one. This one was my favourite.