In the News

A little press about the Gallery at the Porch Door.  Thank you Katrina Geenevasen( who wrote it) and Rob Mooy for the photo.

Many visitors in the past 2 weeks came out to the gallery as a direct result of seeing this article.

The Marvelous month of May

Colours of Evening - Sally Chupick

 I love May.  It's the new-ness. Rebirth and re-awakening of nature.  Finding new ways of working with this painting language that conveys the things I want to say, and feeling excited when i learn something new as I work.

mixed clay - Sue Lyon

red clay - Sue Lyon

I have been greeting many new visitors to the gallery this month.  Lots of nice people I've not met before, stopping in to see what's new. Last week a gentleman came by specifically to see the pottery.  I was happy to show him Sue Lyon's beautiful pieces.  My favourite line of Sue's is the mixed clay; a line which is more or less a signature of hers.  But there is a nice variety of other pieces as well, red clay and blue glazes too.  Her clay buttons have been quite popular.

Listening to Your Song

Gateway - Sally Chupick

While painting these days, I've been trying hard to listen to the 'song' within me which feels like soaring about in a hot air balloon, floating, gliding or flying.  I dream about this experience often, so want to express it...what is happening is paintings are relating to a birdseye view of things, such as this one, Gateway.   I am concurrently working on a group of paintings that relate to this 'song', at the same time listening to an audio book while I paint in my studio by Susan Vreeland, 'Luncheon of the Boating Party'...a fictional work inspired by the creation of Renoir's painting of the same name.

Cosmos in Bloom - Sylvia Naylor

At the Gallery at the Porch Door, five small works by fibre artist Sylvia Naylor sing a different kind of song.  Sylvia is a nature lover; her happy place is enveloped by trees,wildflowers,wildlife, and birdsong.  Her work emulates her reverence for the natural world, intricatally embroidered in tiny colourful threads on fine silk. On close examination, the work breathes a lush alpine meadow, sings of sprightly zinnias in the breeze; rejoices in the quiet peace of light through the forest. Sylvia Naylor is an award winning fibre artist and lecturer of international acclaim, featured in several publications of Quilting Arts magazine and the book Adventures in Design by Joan Wolman.  Sylvia exhibits at the Algonquin Art Centre,Algonquin park, ON and Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB.  Sylvia's five fibreworks are exhibited at The Gallery at the Porch Door until August 31st.

Step Into My Gallery...

Here's  a little intro to the gallery...

One For Me and Two For the Gallery

I am the happy owner of a new piece of art. 'Luna' is by Toronto artist Janice Colbert. I bought it after seeing it and Janice while at The Artist Project in Toronto.   Janice's current works  represent the process of struggle that was required in the making of antique quilts...the struggle to assemble old clothing, to improvise and problem-solve when there wasn't enough fabric to sew a cohesive quilt pattern. She interprets why the limitations produced visually engaging works.  Scraps of colour rarely repeat yet remain visually balanced.  You can see 'Luna' there on the wall behind the reading chair in my kitchen in the picture. 'Luna' is painted in acrylic on a baltic birch panel,conservationally framed with UV glass, 8ply matting and a simple environment friendly frame.  I am a strong believer in this contemporary artist.  I really like what she's doing.  That's why I'm delighted to announce that The Gallery at the Porch Door is now showing two of Janice's other works May through August 31st.  They are quite beautiful. 'French Windows III' & 'La Pedrera' are two wonderful new additions to the gallery.  

French Windows III

You can see in this picture Janice painting in her Toronto studio.  She does many larger works, and is currently working on an exciting new series painted on antique ironing boards for supports, representing the traditional work surface of the culture of quilters past.

La Pedrera

Art Connecting Artists

'Reaching For Spring' -acrylic on gessobord- 12"x 9"  Yesterday I had the pleasure

of meeting Kingston artist Rebecca Geoffrey, when she came out to the gallery to bring me some of her lovely jewellry pieces. It was such a fun visit. It's funny in this computer age how we can see someone's work online, follow them because we like what they make, and in a way that piece of them, their art kind of gives us a clue about the artist, their personality and their outlook on life...well yesterday that was exactly what unfolded.  I had never met Rebecca, but really loved the look of her jewelry, and so invited her to show some of it here at the gallery....hence, the meeting....hence, the connection.  It was a real joy to discover we had much in common on our outlook on art and life.  Rebecca is such a professional, has work in several galleries, I am just delighted to be able to show some of it here at the Gallery at the Porch Door. She works with sterling silver, hand pigmented resin, polymer clay and semi-precious stones.  The work is simple, colourful and contemporary. I know you will love it. I do.

Opening This Week: Wed May 2nd

'Flower Shop on Queen E' - oil on board - 12"x9"  The pansies and dianthas in the window boxes by my porch gallery entrance have added a touch of spring this week, although I confess I've been running them indoors at night when temps have dipped below freezing on several occasions. So far they seem to be thriving.  I love spring flowers in these cooler temps, they hold such promise of the gardening season to come...when the weather gets much warmer i will change out the window boxes for summer planted ones, probably hot pink hanging geraniums this year for a wee change.  I'm noticing the weather forcast this week is for rain, rain & more rain....darn! that is exactly what it was like when i opened my gallery last year too!  I guess i should think of it as a 'christening'...but sunshine just makes the space more inviting...ah well , I guess there's not much I can do about that!...refreshments (tea & cupcakes) will be available anyway to all gallery visitors throughout the week to celebrate the opening of the season...regardless of the weather forcast! 

What's in the gallery for opening week?  Well, first there's my paintings, of course, you knew that didn't you? heh heh... but there is also fibre art by Sylvia Naylor, silver jewellry by Rebecca Geoffrey, handpainted scarves by Amelie, handmade soaps by Latimer Soapworks, iron art  by Robert Aucoin, whimsical 6"x6" acrylic paintings by Terry Culbert, hand carved birds by Jan Fitch, fused glass pendants & earrings by Kevin Kapler and etchings by Rebecca Cowan.   That's for starters.  There will be quite a few other artists bringing works throughout this month and next to add to the mix...to find out who else...just click on the 'gallery artists' page. 

Iron Art at Gallery

 By the Dock -oil on board, 12" x 9". Last year Dave and I went for a paddle in Frontenac provincial park, it's quite close to here. The place, and the pace, is something worth savouring. Above is a new painting, available when i open up the gallery May 2nd.

Yesterday I met Elginburg artist Robert Aucoin and his wife Lisa, who own Iron Art Canada. Robert is a seasoned professional; his website(click above link) shows an impressive body of commercial and residential work. I'm thrilled to include a selection of his beautifully handcrafted belt buckles and other items (left) this year at the Gallery at the Porch Door.

Gallery Opens May 2

Soaring and dipping like these kiteboards by the boardwalk in Toronto late last summer echo my mood this week, hopeful anticipation. Last week I went to see Amelie Konig, an artist from Prince Edward County. Amelie makes glorious handpainted silks, (oooh, i just love gorgeous fabrics!)and I am very delighted to say that I will be featuring some of them for sale at the Gallery at the Porch Door. Thats some of them in the picture. See what I mean?...Gorgeous! yes?!? I love the quality of the silk, I bought my first one 10 years ago, and it is as beautiful now as the day i bought it. I can not say that for other silk scarves I have. ...Some other additions too; 'Lullaby Lavender Bath Bliss' bath salts ...a little aroma therapy for the senses.

Gallery opening soon

After a busy wonderful Easter weekend, I'm thinking about painting again. yay! Dave has made me a super multi-display board/shelf, which i have finished in gallery white paint. It's for showing small unframed paintings. It shows up to six 12"x9" boards best, but also fits smaller sizes nicely too. I really need to be inventive with ideas for displaying as many works as possible in my small gallery space. The painting above is inspired by a view driving down highway 10 from Perth to the village of Westport, On.
In about three weeks it will be May, and that is exciting because my gallery opens: May 2nd!