A glorious autumn to all! I am in hopes this finds you all well, and taking time to enjoy the changing of the seasons. Here’s what’s new here— if you have any questions, just drop a line?
This tour is featured in ‘Arts Country’, the five-county annual catalogue which features the regional visual art tours and trails here,
the ‘Sand Plains’ area along Lake Erie. (Their catalogue is
online, and also there are printed copies distributed about. I should have some here as well during the show.)
On the Elgin-only tour, my show is #2. This encompasses St. Thomas, Port Stanley, and Aylmer. I’ll have some printed maps here and the description is online
here.
Arts Country also put on an art exhibit through July and August, hosted by the Norfolk Arts Centre. It is located in a wonderful old Georgian homestead on the Lynnwood Historical Site in Simcoe.
‘Wraparound Porch’ received an award there for ‘People’s Choice’.
If you feel like exploring while you’re in the area, the sights and aromas of the harvest season here are just glorious (we say we are in the Garden of Eden), and this year the local produce, and wine, should be wonderful on the
Culinary Trail.
Savour Elgin has the ‘
Elginlicious’ event on from October 12-21, and it looks like a delicious tour!
You may see various quilts hanging from barns on our ‘
Quilt Trail’; each design is symbolic of a local tale, which helps the history come alive.
This year is also the anniversary of the War of 1812, and we were right in the thick of things, here on the Talbot Trail. I like to wonder how my ancestors coped with the invasion 200 years ago. (I'm happy that they stood their ground!)
I plan to also have a map here of the ‘back’ way to Pinecroft (#18 on the studio tour), in case you want to go there for an enjoyable lunch. Pinecroft is a working pottery with a log cabin tearoom, (and a music program too) and has a fascinating history spanning the generations. (The owner, Brenda Smith, has just completed and published a book ‘
The Cabin in the Pines’ using her family’s documentation.)
Right down the road south of Pinecroft is the Howe Family Farm Market, where the produce (I can attest) is wonderful and the pumpkins and squash are especially abundant. It’s on my small map.
Clovermead apiaries is just north of town. It’s a great spot to explore (we buy our honey and maple syrup there and enjoy wandering—much to see).
East of town is
Heritage Line Herbs, where you can buy organic herbs, fair trade coffee, and much more. (Open Saturday 10-4) (I see there is a quilt there too!)
The
local map on my site gives some other locations and a link or two.
We’ve survived the two years of massive renovation of our 1880’s saltbox, and things are looking a touch more settled here. We’ve tried to keep the work in tune with the home’s innate style, which is likely British Colonial. The various saws and the joiner no longer grace the front room, and thanks to all visitors who kindly disregarded the sawdust and destruction. I did feel a certain kinship with my ancestors during our war of 2010 and 2011.
During my home show, I do try to greet my visitors, and then I tend to leave them alone to visually explore. Please know that I’m being quiet out of respect, not neglect.
There’s a physical reason for doing this. The dominant, chattering left side of the human brain, the static, has to be quieted down before we can slip over to the visual, wordless right side of the brain. (This has been called the ‘paradise within’.) Sometimes that’s difficult, but if you can achieve it, it’s very fulfilling and restorative.
(Artists call that happy state ‘in flow’, and it’s a great painting day when one can manage to stay in right brain for long easel time. Instrumental music (no words), helps to shift the brain over, so we’ll have some of that here too.)
I’ll be there for any questions, or if you do want to chat— just ‘holler’. Hope you can drop by.
After the ‘home show’ I hope to get back to the easel and have just dozens of ideas. Over the winter I hope to post new works here on the journal in a (more) timely fashion, so ‘come on by’ and leave a comment if you wish. I also have a
Facebook Page, if you prefer.
Best to all,
cheers, Judy
PS. I Dare Not forget the quotations—
Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do. ~ Edgar Degas
Life is not a support system for art. It is the other way around. ~ Stephen King
You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~ Mark Twain
We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the Beautiful Stuff out. ~ Ray Bradbury
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. ~ Nelson Mandela
