One of my passions that I don’t get to explore that often is art. I love to do art, and I really love going to art galleries. One of my bucket list items involves me having an awesome room that has a fantastic yarn stash and comfy chair for knitting but also paints, canvases, and all the supplies that would make a great art room.

I have imagined doing a piece that involves colours but also exploring different textures. I want to try using different size ropes on canvas using different colour blocks. Well doesn’t sound that fantastic with words but I can see it in my head and I like it.

I’ve been able to do some painting in the last year thanks to Social Art KW (http://www.socialart.ca/). Created by Rachel Rector Social Art KW allows people to come together to do their own painting that Rachel teaches as the night goes on. Usually held in a pub or restaurant it allows people to relax and have fun, unwind with a drink and some food, share lots of laughter and mostly have fun! The best part is that you come away with a piece of artwork to call your very own and display with pride. I have attended 2 sessions so far with plans to go again, I find that I may not be the best to “replicate” an image, I can draw pretty good but for painting my style is more loose, and abstract.

First 2 pieces done at Social Art KW

I haven’t been able to visit my local gallery in a long time even though I work really close so i don’t have any pictures of any current favourite pieces but please check out their website to see their current collections. If you live close you should go by and check them out. We also are lucky enough to have The Canadian Clay & Glass gallery which I think might be my favourite places even if I haven’t visited. Here are links to their websites:

KW Art Gallery: https://www.kwag.ca/en/index.asp

The Canadian Clay & Glass: http://www.theclayandglass.ca/

I recently heard that the Metropolitan Museum Of Art (http://www.metmuseum.org/) is starting to scan and load their collections online so you can visit them from the comfort of your home. They have over 400,000 pieces up on their site to view. I took some time tonight to pop over and look at a few, here are my favorite.

A dwarf (Un enano) Portrait of Sebastian de Morra
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
(Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux)
Artist: After Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez) (Spanish, Seville 1599–1660 Madrid)
Sitter: Sebastian de Morra
Date: 1778
Medium: Etching printed in black ink
Dimensions: Plate: 8 3/16 × 5 7/8 in. (20.8 × 14.9 cm) Sheet: 16 x 11 7/16 in. (40.7 x 29 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, Rogers Fund, and Gift of Theodore De Witt, by exchange, 1931

View of La Crescenza
Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)
(French, Chamagne 1604/5?–1682 Rome)
Date: 1648–50
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15 1/4 x 22 7/8 in. (38.7 x 58.1 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1978

The Trojan Women Setting Fire to Their Fleet
Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée)
(French, Chamagne 1604/5?–1682 Rome)
Date: ca. 1643
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 41 3/8 x 59 7/8 in. (105.1 x 152.1 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1955

This will not be my last post on this subject, as I continue to explore the galleries in my city and beyond. I also would love to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario located in Toronto. I visit Toronto frequently so eventually I will get there. I will do some sketches over the next little while and post them. If you want to see me draw something specific just leave me a comment. I had a bunch of pencils that I bought in high school but I wore those out so now it’s time for me to hit up a craft store or art supply store and replace them.