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2020-04 Welcome to YOUR Creative Life

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Hello Dear Art Lover. Welcome to YOUR Creative Life 📢

Spring is almost here. You can feel it in the air. Personally, except for getting my car snowed in, I think this has been a very easy winter. I figure once March has arrived, you can say that winter is basically over. So bring on the sunshine and the crocuses. And goodbye to boots and winter coats.

I have quite a few shows lined up for the coming season, but right now,  📢 this month, I have 12 paintings displayed in the Beacher cafe, 2162 Queen St E. It is a Beaches landmark and to thank you for coming out to my shows or for purchasing my art, I am treating you to coffee on Friday March 13, 10am -12pm. All art is for sale, and I will have some coasters there as well if you need a little gift for someone.

Many of you know that I find learning new technology a challenge, but I never give up. I'll find a way to get it done, even if I have to call a friend.😈. At present I am about to use an email service provider and hope to have it up by my next newsletter, so it will look a little different. Please be assured, I will NEVER give out your info to anyone.

On a personal note, my husband and I will celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss this month. I know..how can that be? when I am only 39! Time certainly does fly and I am feeling grateful for our good health and wonderful daughters and grandchildren. Here's to 50 more??

The creativity tip 🖌 for this time is about 'grisaille' It is basically a painting done in many shades of grey. It is a great way to learn shading and depth of field. One way to start, is to do a black and white photocopy of a simple still life. Using shades of grey, paint the image. Once it is dry, start adding layers of colour. If you are using acrylics, add to acrylic medium [matte] a very small amount of colour. Let each layer dry and add another layer on top with a tiny amount more of colour mixed with medium. If you want to invest in Open acrylics you can blend them more easily without letting them dry completely. If you have questions, please ask.

I am attaching a photo of a recently completed painting called...'We're Not in Kansas Anymore' . You can see I'm letting my child out to play. I had so much fun doing this one. It will be in the spring shows.

YOUR HOME. YOUR STYLE. MY ART

Til next time, ROCK ON💃

Gail

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2020-03 Your Home..Your Style..My Art

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Hello Dear Art Lover Welcome to YOUR Creative Life🖌 

Hope this February finds you in good health. So many people have succumbed to various bugs that have been making the rounds. 😷 Thankfully I have avoided the dreaded lurgy. And it's not because I've been hibernating. It's almost been as busy as the pre-Christmas party season.


We had a wonderful opening at the Artist Network gallery on Jan 23 at 1158 Queen St E. The show runs til Feb 23, so there is still time for you to check it out. There are a lot of very talented artists in the show.🖌


In building my art business, as well as showing my work in art shows, I keep my website updated. gailwilliamsartist.com Please check out my latest series entitled 'Stories'.📢 As you probably have noticed, most of my paintings evolve around a story. Sometimes I know what the story is before I start, but very often the story is not revealed until the painting is finished. Often the story unfolds much later. And the viewer also engages with the painting adding her/his own insights. Another thing I am asked, is how I name my paintings. What I do is make notes of phrases in the books I read or the music I hear. When I finish the work, I go through my notebook to find the title that resonates with what I have created. The most recently finished painting, which I have attached was called 'Looking for the next gig' while I was working on it. But when it was finished it just had to be called 'It's A Whole New World' 


I attach a photo of one almost done work and am puzzled about a name. Please help me with your suggestions.🤔

Many of you know that travel is one of my passions. Two years ago was a trip to Prague, Berlin and the Czech Republic. My BFF Dorothy and I are perfectly paired travel partners. She's shown enjoying the gift shop at Prague castle.

🖌My creativity tip for this week is to indulge your appetite for eye candy. Spend time perusing those expensive art books in Chapters or the library. Or perhaps, treat yourself to a book that makes you swoon. There are so many. I could spend hours and lots of dollars feasting my eyes on some of them.

I'd love to hear what artists speak to you.

Til next time, ROCK ON.💃

Gail

2019-12 - Check out my website 💓

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Hello dear art lover Welcome to YOUR Creative Life

It has been an incredibly busy time these last few months! I thank all of you who have taken the time to attend one or more of the art events I have been in. I had my last show on the weekend at studio888, 2359 Queen St E. It is up until Dec22, if you haven't had the chance to drop by yet. Now I can start to get ready for all the family and friends we see over the holidays.

My mother always made gingerbread men and women with us and I am continuing the tradition with my grandsons Fox and Theo. Last year we had a wedding with Mr and Mrs Gingerbread! What Christmas traditions do you have? 🎄

Many people ask me how I come up with my ideas and where do I start with a painting. I have attached a photo of the current painting I am working on. It will go through more changes until I feel it is completed. When I see this one, I know it needs some brightness and light. There are many layers here and much painting over and scraping back. I wait until I see the shapes that emerge. Sometimes the images appear easily and sometimes it takes a bit of contemplation. In any case, I'll just wait and see. Stay tuned for further developments.

I am also attaching some information about the tax benefits of buying original art for your home. You may not have thought of it, but I say anywhere you can get a tax break, you should take it. Especially if you want some of my art!:)💓

My Creativity tip for this letter🖌...Try some negative shape painting. Start with an underpainting of any bright colour.Let it dry. Paint on a watery layer of black paint. Before it dries completely, wipe off with a paper towel any shape that appeals to you. Use your fingers to pull some of the black back onto the shape. You can also use some isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel to remove some of the black. Play around with the amount of paint and different colours. I'll bet you will surprise yourself!

Rock on  🎄

Gail

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2019-4 - www.gailwilliamsartist.com🖌

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Hello dear art lover Welcome to YOUR Creative Life

Happy Summer Solstice🔆 But are we going to get some sun?! I may just have to go north to Thunder Bay for that this year. Actually I am going to Thunder Bay in August. Have to get my dose of inspiration and family. Maybe a bit of hiking and lots of laughs. And of course, sauna..I know..who gets excited about getting clean? But I do get to jump in Lake Superior at the end of it. What can I say? We Finns are a twisted lot. It's all that darkness.😂

If you haven't had a chance to see my painting in the Artists' Network Streetcar Exhibition, please drop by 638 Queen St E. The gallery is located behind the Dark Horse Cafe. There was a wonderful crowd for the opening and I met several of the artists. One of the conversations I enjoyed was about how artists see things some people miss.

Looking and Seeing is my Creativity Tip🖌 for the week. One of the things I spend time on is reflecting on what I notice. I would encourage you to take some time to notice what draws your attention. Instead of just looking out the window, for example, pay attention to what you focus on. Or page through a magazine and stop when your eye is caught on something. If you are looking for inspiration, it is usually right at your fingertips.

In addition to having my art🖌 at the Streetcar show and my chiropractor's office..OMA Chiropractic on Queen St E, I have some work at The 6 Oceans Gallery, 962 Queen St W, Toronto. Susan is a fellow escapee from Thunder Bay and has a lovely shop full of beautiful gift wear, accessories and of course gorgeous art. I attached a file of my work that is there. It looks lovely in the store but would enhance your space even more.😈

Enjoy the longest day of the year.


Gail