Preview of Tremblant Exhibition

This is the launching of my new store as well as the online preview for the upcoming exhibition at Galerie 806 in Mont-Tremblant, QC which opens December 19th and runs until January 15th, 2014.
This exhibition is a celebration of an amazing year; meeting new people, traveling to new places and discovering the endless potential of this planet to reveal her beauty in new and invigorating ways. I am humbled and awed by the process of painting and the magical, mystery tour it continually takes me on. I feel it to be a great privilege to live this world as a painter. The paints not only guide my heart & hands but opens my eyes to marvels I would never have even noticed were I not stopping and taking the time to look as is necessary when making a painting.

Clouds, Rivers, Rain and Paint

Lac Ouimet in the Morning

 

In spite of very erratic weather with rain and sun exchanging places constantly throughout the week-end, the Domaine St Bernard managed to charm all who attended the annual Art Symposium.

 The shifting clouds and light created some of the most fantastic skies as a backdrop for the week-end.

 This was the seventh annual Art Symposium held at Domaine St Bernard, which is a beautiful land trust looked after by the town of Mont-Tremblant with acres of forested trails and the peace and calm of the former monastery which first created the domain.

 Having lived in Tremblant for almost 30 years, many old friends dropped by to visit during the week-end which made the event very fun and meaningful for me.

 

 Though each artist had only a small space in which to exhibit the informal nature of the show and the generosity of the organizers makes it a fun event! This is one of the few shows I attend where the artists are not required to pay a fee and we are even given a lovely brunch on Sunday as well as lunches and breakfasts throughout the week-end! A great group of artists participated and its always fun to share and exchange thoughts and ideas with other artists.

 There were sculptors as well as painters on location and many created fine pieces of artwork during the week-end.

 Several cash prizes were given at the closing ceremonies and I was most honored to receive one of the "Judge's Choice" awards which was a nice way to end the week-end.

 The next morning before heading back to the city I dropped in on my beloved river, La Rivière du Diable. The river was singing her lovely roar as I sat on a rock in the warm morning sun, absorbing her river energy.

 As always, I feel nourished and replenished by the rocks and river. I am now back in Montreal and heading to the studio to release that river roar onto canvas.

 It never ceases to amaze me when I sit with the river or forest, even for a short period of time, how much my awareness is elevated and opened to the abundance of beauty surrounding us everywhere.

 

Life is beautiful.

Erratic Behavior

 

A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. In the Adirondacks these rocks are also known as Wabeeks. These huge rock beings were pushed all the way from the Laurentians to the Adirondacks by glaciers. I find this fact most fascinating as I too have arrived with a car full of paintings from the Laurentians which feel like they have found their home here in the Adirondacks.

 

A more charming or gracious pair of hosts could not be found then Tom and Marsha who  welcomed me into their home and community with a natural warmth and generosity of spirit that seems to be the prevailing spirit in this part of the world.

A bronze sculpture of the elusive mountain lion done by local artist PJ LaBarge greets me as I pull into the driveway. I am thrilled to see where I will be spending my next few days, in the coziest guest cottage in the world, nestled into the hillside above Lac Saranac.

 

 

Held within this environment I begin to absorb the Adirondack landscape...feeling it's rocks and trees. Listening to its textures and sounds. Slowly getting to know its unique presence as I photograph and sketch for future paintings.

View of Indian's Pass across a lush meadow.

More to come in the next post on the Pop Up gallery held at this charming Adirondack home on Lake Saranac.