Back to the Drawing Table

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Mama Cormier

…it’s been close to a year since I’ve pulled out my art supplies

I’m at my daughter’s cottage for several days and since she’s working up here we both thought it would be a good time for me to start putting some marks onto paper again. I gathered up a few supplies and my mixed media art journal and started with baby steps towards continuing my art journey.

It’s the perfect setting. Quiet and restful with wonderful views of the forest and the falling snow. Here’s my first piece after playing with collage and mark making.

Japan and Beyond

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…Myra Evans’ solo show at the Ruth Upjohn Gallery

After a month long trip to Japan, Myra was inspired to create these beautiful works of art.

She is a Toronto based artist and currently a member of the Women’s Art Association of Canada.

Myra integrates her own photographic images, along with digital technology and collage materials to create evocative and multi-layered paintings.

If you’re in Toronto, the show is on till September 20. Myra will be in the gallery Saturday, September 16. Gallery hours: 11:00 to 5:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.

23 Prince Arthur Ave., Toronto, ON

More Work in my Needle and Thread Series

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…two more small pieces and two larger ones

A while back I told you about wanting to honour my past with art that reflected my family’s influence on my Joy of Making. My great great aunt and her family on my mother’s side used to own a very successful business where they made and sold ladies leather gloves in the early 1900s, in Germany. Old photos of my great, great grandparents clearly depicted how important fashion was to them and of course looking one’s best at all times.

My mother taught me how to hand sew, make clothes, embroider and knit. Later in life I worked for a needlecraft company in my spare time and taught other women the art of needle crafting, like cross-stitch and needlepoint and I worked at the community school teaching people how to knit.

The following works are collage and mixed media with some hand stitching or implied hand stitching.

C6004081-405-C-4-F08-B22-E-6-BDF8980-DE45-1-201-a — *“Stitched With Love”, 8″x10″ matted and framed*

73-B745-EB-59-DA-431-D-AC4-B-333-C66-B9-B8-FD-1-201-a — *“A Stitch in Time…”, 11″x14″ matted and framed*

4-D7-FC0-B4-B601-45-C4-B144-9-ADBEA9-C0-B5-B-1-201-a — “*Tante Paula, 1910″,11″x14″ matted and framed*

0-E6-DD20-B-1710-4891-9-C30-C41-C55-EF31-E8-1-201-a — *“Brocade”, 8″x10″ matted and framed*

RDP Friday – Wise

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to the Ragtag community for hosting RDP https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/rdp-friday-wise/

Today’s word is ‘wise’ and I feel I made a wise decision. I’ve been thinking about doing this for awhile. As some of you may know I am preparing for my second art show and I’ve been busy making new work. I feel, however, that I might have to use some work that I’ve already shown in the past year but I’m feeling pretty confident that most of the pieces will be new.

Having said that I painted a floral abstract that I’ve put in three shows already and it’s never sold. It was part of a series of paintings and all of the other paintings sold. Today I decided it was time to make a change because I have to admit that over the past several weeks I’ve been dreaming about how I might change it. This afternoon I had the courage to do just that. I’m glad I did because I’m liking it much better.

I think I made a wise choice.

Here are the ‘before’ and then the ‘after’ shots.

58044033-49-A6-40-B6-852-D-6-D445-FCB3-D84-1-201-a — Before

0-A90-D8-D5-61-E8-4-B6-E-A119-5-C68-ECEBA235-1-201-a — After

Following My Instincts

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Mama Cormier

As I prepare for my solo art show I get so obsessed with the number of pieces that I don’t always think about the impact of the finished piece. This happened last night or should I say over several days where I’ve been stewing over one piece that just didn’t sit right with me.

Just because I signed it doesn’t mean that I can’t make changes. I was unhappy with the bottom third of this painting and with the hair around the face. Last night I dove in and completely changed the bottom and almost completely eliminated the hair. I like it so much better.

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The large painting on the bottom of the above grouping is just the beginning. It is the largest piece that I have ever attempted (15″ x 30″) and it will go through several transformations before I’m done with it. Stay tuned.

On to the Next Project

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…now that my series is done I’m ready to go back to painting on canvas

Similar to what I’ve done in the past but I added a new twist. I think I’m close to calling this one done. Now for a name…..Who’s Watching? Garden Eyes Watching Over the Garden

12″ x 12″ on stretch canvas, mixed media

73-B26-BBD-56-B1-4136-AF51-1-E506-E1-E3-F87-1-201-a

Finished the Last Three of my Six Part Series

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….now I just need a name for the series….any suggestions?

13-A45546-8-EE0-4-B5-B-8087-603-D8-AE691-CE

AE7-E2184-9-DB5-427-E-BBCB-6-ACE0073-DA93

E60-F7-F61-9564-47-F5-8-A6-B-B25-ECE4-A49-B8

Here’s all six together.

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DE0986-B8-0979-4388-AB2-F-B7-E4-F20-EBD03

ED3-C6-DAE-0101-4491-A384-80-F51-D63-A49-A

Three Paintings Ready for Framing

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…and hanging in my next show

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30-B3-C01-D-796-E-4-FA6-ABE2-FB522-A6-C82-D0

BF3-C7-B24-A670-4-C89-9-E36-D3-DF1-C4-DE4-E4-1-201-a

Getting Ready for my Solo Art Show – June 29th – July 9

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….I’m about 90% ready

I’m very excited to promote my solo art at the Ruth Upjohn Gallery at the Women’s Art Association in Toronto. I’ve called it Before and After Paris, simply because some of the work was created before my trip to Europe and more after I returned home. Here is the flyer that I designed with the help of my daughter, Andrea.

Most of my work consists of abstract florals and landscapes but I have also included some of my photographs in the form of cards. Here is a quick preview of some of my work.

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D90727-E5-CD71-48-AA-88-F8-E4398520-EF79-1-201-a

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C6399-D1-F-FE36-42-DB-9-C27-E55683-EE6-DD5

A Gallery of My Husband’s Art

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Mama Cormier

…..Kevin only started painting again seriously last summer

Over the winter Kevin brought his paints back inside and worked on smaller pieces from his home office. He paints almost every day and some days he may do three or more paintings. Recently he started matting them and took lessons on how to photograph his work. I asked him to send me his favourite paintings. They are mostly mixed media and all are abstract. He likes to use watercolour, acrylic paints, pastels and inks.