Dog days of summer

It's been a long, mostly dry, warmer than usual summer here in southwestern British Columbia. For weeks, long stretches of lovely sunny days have been interspersed with the occasionally cloudy day and brief shower. As August draws to a close and we enter the last dog days of summer, the weather has begin to shift and oh-so subtle hints of fall are now in the air.

My old collie Riley has been enjoying many summer afternoons on the front lawn in the shade of my favourite tree: a honey locust that was planted by my mom nearly 30 years ago. Riley has become such a regular feature in the front yard that I've begun referring to her as my living lawn ornament.

Who are you calling an ornament? That deserves a cookie!

It's the perfect place for an old dog. It's breezy and cool. A great spot for napping...
 

...or for observing the goings on in the neighbourhood...

...or for doing more napping...

Throughout her life, Riley has always enjoyed spending time on her own outdoors most days, weather permitting. Now that she's a very senior dog, I think the front lawn is a better spot than our fenced and secluded back yard where I can't easily keep an eye on her. The locust tree where she likes to hang out is just outside my studio window so I'm able to watch over her, take her frequent snacks, refill her water bowl as needed, and chastise her if she gets too excited when the mail is delivered (for such a mellow dog with failing vision and hearing, there's something about the mail carrier that never fails to get her worked up).

The bird feeders are out there too, so the steady sound of squabbling chickadees and the occasional peeping nuthatch provides background music, interspersed with raucous squawks of visiting Steller's jays demanding peanuts and twittering flocks of tiny bush tits that swoop in for a snack a couple of times a day.

A red-breasted nuthatch at my bird feeder.



A coloured pencil portrait I created of my
neighbour's black lab some years ago.

Another nice thing is that Riley's neighbourhood dog friends sometimes stop to visit when they're out for their walks. There's the old black lab who's Riley's age and just about as lively (not). At one time Riley didn't much care for this dog but as they've both grown older Riley has warmed up to her.

Then there are the two spaniel boys who just moved in next door. They're a much more energetic pair who are adapting well to their new neighbourhood and have completely charmed Riley. No doubt they reminder her of her cocker spaniel friend Roxy.




Occasionally human passers-by stop to sit on the bench to pass the time of day with Riley. Our long-time nonagenarian neighbour (96 years young) often comes to visit. Riley was once good friends with his German shepherd who passed on a few years ago.

All in all, it's a pleasant way to spend summer afternoons if you're an old dog with a thick double-coat more suited to ancestral Scottish Highlands than BC's Lower Mainland. And I love seeing her there outside my window, sometimes observing her feet twitch as she dreams of the squirrels she used to chase with such enthusiasm, or of racing with her kin at a past collie meet-up.



Riley's the tricoloured collie bounding along near the back of the pack.

I introduced Riley to my blog readers just about a year ago in a post entitled The Ageing Princess. At that time I was noticing significant signs of age in my dear old dog. A year later she's still a happy girl but the physical deterioration has been steady. For the past six months I've had to carry her up the flight of stairs to the living area of my two-storey house several times each day (no easy feat, given her 50+ pounds). She can still mange to get down the stairs but only thanks to a harness that allows me to support her weight as I walk beside her. The harness also allows me to help her on other occasions when her old legs just don't work the way they should. We still go on very occasional, very slow strolls in Campbell Valley Park, and every day without fail we take a couple of meandering walks around our neighbourhood together. I know this is likely our last summer together and I'm treasuring every moment.

My coloured pencil portrait of Riley.

But for now, she really does make a lovely lawn ornament, doesn't she?

 

Have art, will travel

A few days ago I arrived home from Vancouver Island where I was presenting my work at the Filberg Festival - an annual outdoor event in scenic Comox, BC. It features a range of high-calibre artists and artisans, lively music, cheerful crowds, and is usually blessed with balmy long-weekend weather. This year was no exception.

Regular readers of my blog may remember my description of the chaos in my studio while preparing for last year's Filberg Festival in "Creativity Equals Chaos" (July 2012). This year I thought I'd change focus and talk about what it takes to physically get from Point A (my studio) to Point B (the festival site).

Packing for an outdoor festival the size of Filberg is always daunting. Not only must I consider the work I'll be presenting - the paintings, drawings, prints, cards, and other items - and ensure I have the right amount of stock on hand, I must also factor in the canopy tent, display panels, lighting, and all the odds and ends that comprise my mobile gallery setup. I have to get it right because a two-hour ferry ride and a couple of hours of driving separate my studio from the festival site, and that means there's no way to nip back home for any forgotten items. Not only that, but I must do this in a state of semi-exhaustion after long days of festival preparation. However, I've become a veteran of this type of work and have systems and checklists in place to help ensure nothing crucial is left behind. 

Before packing the car, the stuff to be transported was collected in various boxes and containers.
  

Calendars and other items packed for transport.

 

Precious paintings shrouded in bubble wrap and
carefully placed into sturdy boxes.

 

Display panels, containers of this-and-that,
and various other crucial items.

Somehow it all gets crammed into my car - an amazing Honda Element which, with the rear seats removed, turns into a spacious transport van. It also has a handy roof-top rack that accommodates the canopy tent, card rack, and other bulky items.

 

Waiting at the ferry terminal

Even so, once everything is packed there isn't an inch to spare.

 

 

The popularity of these versatile cars among the artist/artisan community was obvious when I parked on site at the festival next to not one, but three other Honda Elements.

After being escorted to my assigned spot by one of the army of festival crew members (the majority of which are volunteers) who work tirelessly to ensure the event runs like a well-oiled machine, it wasn't long before the jumble of stuff crammed into my car was magically transformed into an elegant, outdoor mini-gallery. This is thanks in no small part to my "road crew" that consisted of my husband and also my sister and brother-in-law who happen to live not far from the festival site. As the saying goes, "many hands make light work", and when it comes to erecting canopy tents, assembling display panels, setting up tables, etc., this is particularly true and I'm grateful for their assistance and support.

Over the four days of the festival, my art was well received and a number of paintings and drawings found new homes. Among them was my award-winning silk painting "Urban Flock: Mallards":

And this coloured pencil drawing of a nesting barn swallow:

Four glorious summer days later - days packed with conversations about art, and animals, and all kinds of other topics, and enhanced by the live music drifting from the nearby stage - it was all over and it was time to pack again for the return journey home. The festival site, with its temporary community of artist, artisans, organizers and volunteers dissolved in merely a couple of hours. Goodbyes were said, hugs were shared, and pledges to "see you next year" were issued. Various vehicles, from rental vans, to veteran Volkswagen campers, to small hatchbacks and, of course, ever-popular Honda Elements were re-loaded and dispersed - some to locations just down the road while others faced lengthy journeys home to other provinces.

 

Happily my own journey home involved lighter load and more space in the car, not to mention a lovely coastal drive and a scenic ferry ride. However back at the studio the unpacking process has evolved slowly and I find, days later, I still have boxes to sort. The busy weeks of preparation, the packing and travel, the long days at the festival, and then the re-packing and return trip have taken their toll and I'm tired! I've been taking a bit of time to rest and recuperate, and then I'll regroup for the next summer festival: Arts Alive - a lively one-day street festival that takes place a few days from now, just down the road in my home community.

 

Every festival, large or small, near or far, involves sorting, packing, transporting, set-up and, at the end of a hopefully sunny (and profitable) day or weekend, the same process in reverse. It's tiring work but it's gratifying. It offers opportunities to share my art and the stories behind it, and to personally connect one-on-one with those who appreciate it. It forms an important part of my life as an artist - a life I wouldn't trade for any other.

 

My newest neighbours

For a few days I've been hearing a lot of unusual bird sounds in my back yard. The cats have been hearing them too, and even though they're confined to second floor, cat-proofed sundeck, they have been particularly interested in observing what's going on down below in the garden.

My shady, secluded back garden has a number of big, old rhododendrons and other shrubs of similar size, and at this time of year lots of foliage has grown up from below in the form of ferns, hostas and the like. It's a perfect habitat for birds who prefer the lower levels of the forest rather than being high in the canopy. This year, to my delight, I have discovered that a family of spotted towhees has taken up residence!

The first hint was the regular sound of this beautiful adult bird calling out to announce his presence every morning and evening.

I also observed him raiding my lone blueberry bush. It's a prolific one and most years it provides me with several pints of berries to enjoy with my breakfasts. This year, however, it seems I'm sharing them with my new back-yard "tenant", not that I mind.
 

Selecting just the right berry.

Looking at me as if to say, "You didn't want this one, did you?"

 

Then I began to hear steady peeping. At first I couldn't identify the source, despite lots of peering into the greenery. However, I could hear fluttering in the undergrowth and the adult birds were being very attentive so I suspected there was a family being looked after. Over the past couple of days I kept my eyes open and my camera handy, and I finally I manage to catch a few fleeting glimpses. Some not-very-good photos were the outcome:

 

In the cherry tree.



Under the shrubs perhaps wondering "Dare I venture out?"

Among the leaf litter below an old rhododendron.

And then this morning, as I was watering the garden with my camera in hand (trying not to water my camera in the process) I got this wonderful shot:

 

Baby towhee, full view!

Perhaps not the most beautiful bird in the world, but in my eyes, he or she is gorgeous!

 

I also captured this lovely interaction between parent and fledgling:

 

Watching and learning.

 

Rewarded!



A trio of tiny towhee drawings.

Towhees are common birds here in southwestern British Columbia, but not everyone's familiar with them. Despite the fact that they're a good-sized bird, just a little smaller than a robin, and that they have striking markings with their black, white and rust coloured feathers and bright red eyes, their reclusive habits make them less likely for the casual observer to notice.  However, I often see them when I'm roaming in Campbell Valley Park so they have found their way into my artwork more than once:
 


A small drawing of a spotted towhee.

 
And I even use an image of a towhee for one of the coloured pencil workshops I teach. It's a perfect subject on which to learn about birds and their textures.
 

 
With this delightful little family living right on my doorstep, I'm sure there will be more towhee inspired artwork to come. In the meantime, the cats and I will look forward to being serenaded by the towhee's evening song tonight.
 

 

A forest grows... in a chair?

For the past week or so I've been fully embroiled in an out-of-the-ordinary project. It's an unusual one but I've loved it! I have been painting an Adirondack-style lawn chair as a fundraiser for the Critter Care Wildlife Society.

My chair, and those painted by a couple of other local artists who also volunteered their time, will be sold at Critter Care's upcoming Open House, hopefully bringing in a bit of much-needed money to support the Society's charitable work of rehabilitating orphaned and injured wild mammals. The wildlife shelter is tucked away in Campbell Valley Park, and it is there that they take in everything from orphaned baby raccoons and skunks to bear cubs, fawns, bobcat kittens, otter pups and other wild youngsters. Injured/ill adult animals also find a haven at the shelter where they receive medical care, a quiet place to rest and recover, and ultimately a second chance at life. One of few organizations of this nature, animals are sometimes sent to them from the far reaches of the province. The goal is always to release the animals back into the wild once they're ready. It's valuable work and even though the Society operates on a shoe-string budget, the commitment of those involved is unwavering. Needless to say, the support of volunteers and public donations is crucial to the Society's existence.

My relationship with Critter Care goes back a few years to when they approached me about another volunteer project - to illustrate a children's book that would be sold as a fundraiser. Of course, given the work that the Society does, I was glad to lend a hand. The result was this little book entitled A Day by the River, recounting the exploits of Bradley Bear and his forest friends. It was a labour of love, and a successful one. I believe there are no copies remaining until the Society can find the funds to print more.

This year's project of painting a chair has proved to be another labour of love. I started with just an idea: a green forest with, of course, an animal or two. Another volunteer at Critter Care graciously gave the chair a coat of green primer paint to save me some time (thank you, whoever you are).

As my readers, friends and acquaintances know, one of my favourite local haunts is Campbell Valley Park - a green oasis where I find much inspiration and enjoyment. My favourite time of year is spring when the wildflowers bloom and the forest comes to life. Given the park is also home to Critter Care's wildlife shelter, it seemed only natural to me that my chair take on the theme of "Springtime in the Forest".

There are trilliums...

... and salmon berry blossoms...

 

... and bleeding hearts, and ferns.

A native Red Squirrel looks on from a vantage point on a tree trunk (not a European grey squirrel; they are invaders in our parks, neighbourhoods and wild spaces).

Of course, springtime in our local forest would not be complete without my favourite bird: a little Winter Wren singing his song.

And so from the chair grew a green forest carpeted by wildflowers and inhabited by cheeky creatures.

 

 

Soon another volunteer will pick up the chair and transport it back to the shelter, and over the weekend when the Society opens its doors to visitors, the chair will go to a new home - one that I hope will pay generously to have it adorn their patio (all proceeds will benefit the shelter).

As for me, I'm already thinking about ideas for next year's chair!

____________________________

I'm pleased to report that the chair earned more than $2,000 at the silent auction held during Critter Care's annual Open House in July, all of which will benefit the animals in the society's care. To learn more about Critter Care Wildlife Society and the work they do, please visit www.crittercarewildlife.org.

A perfect day for an open house

A few days ago I opened the doors of my home studio to host an Artist's Open House. Despite some very early morning showers, the skies quickly cleared and I was able to use our shady front lawn, just outside the studio door, as an outdoor gallery where ferns, hostas and other vegetation could provide a lush, green backdrop.

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

Visitors began arriving promptly at the start time of 11 a.m. and the flow of guests continued steadily throughout the day. Some seating in the dappled shade of our honey locust tree made a great place to relax and enjoy the ambiance. If you're an old collie dog tired from the effort of greeting visitors, it provided a good spot for a nap.

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

 

Indoors there was more to see in my mini-gallery ...

 

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

 

...as well as samples of work in process in my studio for those interested in learning more about it.

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

 

Some new paintings made their public debut, including this silk painting entitled A Girl and Her Dog:

A number of drawings and paintings were purchased by visitors. Among them was this little coloured pencil drawing of a wren fledgling that flew away to a loving new home on Vancouver Island:

 

 

And this sketch of a wind-blown grey mare is now residing north of the Fraser River:



 

This cheerful pink silk scarf, decorated in a motif of pawprints, is now brightening someone's wardrobe:

 

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

Copies of the children's book I recently illustrated proved to be popular, and now its important message about preserving the Earth's precious water supply will be told to children around the region.

 

 

Those who visited me that day will be interested to know that "Song of the Rainforest: Winter Wren" was the favourite chosen by most:

 

 

All in all, it was a perfect day but a tiring one - even for those of us who spent part of the day napping!

 

Photo courtesy Lydia Steer

 

I'd like to offer warm thanks to everyone who visited, and particularly those who lent a hand to help make the event a success. I look forward to doing it again next year!

 

PS: The prize winner of the day will be announced in my next e-newsletter.