Big Balls

For a long time I've had the idea to do something sculptural with one of the giant steel buoys that I've seen around from time to time, washed up on the beach. I put the word out to some friends, and it wasn't long before Mike Leblanc (welder, fabricator, all around great guy) had located two of them for use.

I entered a plan for one of them in the National Sculpture Competition at Kingsbrae Gardens, and was picked as an entry. All of a sudden, I had to get this thing done! So, despite the crappy May weather, under tent and tarp, it began to take shape.

These old buoys have a cool history. They were origionally created in WWII to moor convoy ships to, before they carried supplies to Britain. They also held up the submarine nets that protected our harbours. More recently, they were used by the aquaculture industry to anchor cage sites.

I wanted to pay homage to the past, while giving a buoy a new life. So I painted the buoy to look as though it had a big tear in it, and painted my 2 year old daughter inside looking out, holding flowers.

Everyone seems to like it!

The Kingsbrae staff helped wrestle it up to the garden to put in its place for the competition. They placed it in the pond at the bottom of the garden, a spot that I think suits the sculpture well.



 I look forward to the response from the public.

~Geoff

Line Paintings and Getting Away

Well this sure has been the summer for line paintings! I have three left, and there is interest in those ones, as well...

Ryan - The Bike Mechanic

I'm looking forward to things getting a bit quieter in town. Things need to settle down a bit before I can get into a productive working pattern again.

I've started working on the exterior of the house and studio. The house needs some paint touch-up before the winter, and the studio needs some siding replaced, then some painting. It is always better to get on these things while the weather is nice.

Our trip to Holland is only a month and a half away now, and that will come quickly. We are all really looking forward to the break.

I've been daydreaming about buying a 4x4 RV, loading the family up, and becoming gypsies for a couple of years. Funny thing is, everyone is into it! That is a good sign that all of us are hitting the wall.




When we return from Europe, hopefully our heads will all be a little clearer, and we won't feel so burdened.

If not, don't be surprised if the Mulder-Slaters go Walk-A-Bout!

Slats

Montreal - Wow

No time to blog. I've been busy with ArtsSmarts, Rock 'n' Ride, hanging shows at Sunbury and traveling to and from Montreal. Here, a quick entry with some photos from The Brush Off exhibition at Avenue Art in Montreal...

Peace,

Slats

Acrylic

I started the day up at the High School, working with some of the students on some creative options for a festival they are planning. I did a presentation to them on the planning process I go through to create murals. They seem eager to start... I can't wait to see some of the ideas they come up with.

In the afternoon, I went outside to paint. It was warm enough to do some work with acrylics, so I headed down to the point to do a painting of Passamaquoddy Bay. I set up looking east, behind a stand of evergreens. Sometimes I find it nice to paint through a screen of trees with the tangled branches and needles partially blocking the view of the main subject matter. It can make for a much more interesting painting, if you don't overdo it.

It was a clear sunny day, and the colours were really "popping". I painted from under the shelter of my truck's topper, so I could observe the colours, without the sun directly in my face.

It will take me a couple of paintings to get dialed in again to working outside with acrylics (it always does) but overall I'm pleased with the results.

Geoff