artist – Dear Liza

Fun with Acrylics

Dear Liza,

Ruthie Inman has done it again. On a chilly day after two very busy days, I was feeling tired and not terribly artistic. Not awful, but … blah. And sure enough, within ten minutes of our art group’s beginning, I was slapping paint down like an inspired ten year old.

Before we got together, I had started an alternate project, coating the photo side of old postcards with gesso so they would take paint better. My plan was to use the same paints from Ruthie’s project on my alternate postcard project. I pulled out a dark blue, lemon yellow, and white as my color scheme.

I started with my project, laying down colors in a pleasingly haphazard way. Wet but not runny, brushing to blend until I liked it.

Then, at an inspiration from Ruthie, I pulled out my impressions makers (an odd collection of Starbucks coffee cup holders, fruit packing sleeves, crumpled tissue and bubble wrap) to change the textures of my colors.

I made about eight postcards in all, and one even looked something like Ruthie’s idea, this lovely, opalescent landscape. Of course, following directions is always optional, but it’s good to try new things.

Anyway, with this pile of colorful backgrounds, I can think about what can go on for the next layer. Some more textures? Collage pictures or words? Maybe some handwritten sentiments or just pretty squiggles?

Who knows?

Love,

Grandma Judy

Granville Island

Dear Liza,

Today was our first full day in Vancouver, and we saw just as much as we could see.

After we were all up and dressed, we walked down to the water. This part of Vancouver is several narrow peninsulas that jut out into the Pacific Ocean, so we walked TO THE OCEAN.

We took a water taxi across the narrow inlet to Granville Island. About a hundred years ago, this was the shipyards of Vancouver, because fishing and shipping were the main industry here. Fishing is still big, but most of the shipyard buildings have been repurposed for Art galleries, shops, and restaurants.

The biggest building is used as the Granville Public Market. It has about fifty different businesses inside, from creperies ( where we got our breakfast) to ice creams shops, butcher shops, fruit and vegetable venders, and ceramics and other art shops. We wandered around with our eyes bugging out!

Outside, we wandered some more. Galleries with fine arts and others full of crafts kept our eyes busy.

We chatted with a guide about the sand and gravel silos that have been painted by the same artists we saw in London years ago into a unique set of “Giants”. We admired woodworking, ceramics, paintings and embroidery. When our eyes were full but our tummies empty, we stopped at The Keg for lunch. Ahi tuna tacos and a Guinness for me and cider for Grandpa Nelson, along with half an hour off our feet, put us right again and we continued on.

We found an artistic blacksmith shop, and enjoyed the work, but the smith wasn’t in. Then we saw these hands and a head out in the sun, with a coat of shallac drying on them.

We talked with the lady who was working on them and followed her back to the shop. Her name is Beth, and she works with wood artist Peter Kiss to make these wonderful characters.

We had walked around the whole island twice and seen so much, we were pooped. We caught another water taxi across the water and headed to our apartment for a rest. I will tell you about the evening tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Friday Night Out

Dear Liza,

After my long walk yesterday, I came home, read, and had a nap. About five, we all got spruced up to try a new place. Le Canard is advertised as a “Portland styled French Restaurant”, a more casual version of Le Pigeon, the high end French place next door, run by the same folks.

We eat early, so usually we have the quieter end of the evening. But what hit us as we walked in the door was the noise! Fifty conversations, along with glasses and dishes, made quite a din. We got a table, ordered wine, and enjoyed reading the short menu. Bridgett ordered scallops, I had risotto, and Grandpa Nelson, french fries. The food was good, although pretty small portions, and we tried to have a conversation, tossing around ideas for our next trip to Europe… but we couldn’t. We kept having to lean in, repeat ourselves, and even yell to make ourselves heard. Not a relaxing way to chat.

As soon as we finished, we paid our bill and headed out. The relatively quiet sidewalks of Burnside seemed relaxing, so we just walked along. There is a lot of new construction going on, so we kept having to cross the street to avoid scaffolding, but it was enjoyable, seeing things change.

We passed The Jupiter Hotel, where we three had stayed years ago for Auntie Bridgett’s first Comic Con here. A refurbished 1960s hotel, it has a funky charm. Now, just across the street, is NEXT, the new section of the Jupiter. It is brand new, modern, and beautifully furnished. We toured the lobby, went upstairs to a lounge, and checked out the patio, as well as the view of busy East Burnside.

Further along we found a pop=up art gallery, featuring the collage wonderful-ness of Andy Jenkins. I don’t take pictures of art in galleries, because Auntie Bridgett says it is rude, but his work is on line if you search his name. I recommend it. He has an abstract way of putting dry cleaning receipts, traffic tickets, and stereo instructions together that is unique and delightful.

We ended the evening by stopping at Forty Licks, the ice cream parlour that used to be just blocks from our rental and we don’t go as often as we used to. Their ice creams are made from natural ingredients and are extraordinary. Coffee, Ginger molasses, and a blood orange milk shake accompanied us on the last of our walk.

By the time we got home, we had walked almost two miles, which means MY total for the day was five miles, counting my trip to Clinton and back.

Good thing, too, with all that luscious food…

Love, Grandma Judy