Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Paint Box Gallery, Rockport... Officially Launched!

We officially opened the Gallery to the public this past weekend to coincide with the annual "Up the Garden Path"Studio Tour." While we were too late this season to be one of the nine participating members of the tour... we none the less were very busy with the May 24th Holiday traffic that was drawn to visit Rockport and tour the Islands. The entire weekend weather was perfect... with temperatures reaching into the low 80's F each day! A perfect weekend for touring!

We were kept well busy meeting and conversing with the steady stream of visitors who paid us a visit and we were lucky enough to sell three more paintings and numerous smaller gift items and Rockport Series Card Sets that Deb had created over the late winter months. We were thrilled with and very much encouraged by this initial success.

I managed to sneak in a first Rockport painting session from the front lawn of the Gallery and sold the result directly from the easel to a friendly couple from Brooklin, Ontario. They have shown interest in possibly purchasing yet another larger painting that they were attracted to during their visit. I kept the first painting to a small sketch format... given my five week hiatus. I think you will agree... that it is hard to get back into the zone and to get a handle on one's palette after a lengthy span away from painting. I was pleased with the resulting 12x9 inch  oil on panel... depicting the Captain Carnegie/ Ed Andress century homestead. It is ... I feel ... fresh and painterly and captures the hot day and green landscape that now has transformed Rockport into almost full summer dress.

It was nice to have old friends from my earlier and youthful Rockport years come to visit and renew old relationships. Things to change... and Time does indeed move along... however, meaningful friendships and ties based upon good times shared do survive these aspects of aging. I am deeply blessed in this regard! AS well... we had our dear Hillsdale friends Rolly and Grace Hallyburton visiting for the weekend... and we were joined by Frank and Janet Genyk from Utopia. What a grand time we enjoyed chatting on the patio!

I hope that you enjoy the jpegs that I have added to this post to offer a flavour of the weekend and the changes that continue to enrich our new life and blessings here in Rockport.

 Dining with Friends Rolly and Grace Hallyburton at The Cornwall Grill and Pub in  Rockport

 Islesview gardens refurbished

 A lull in the action in Rockport's Harbour

 Church of the Redeemer, Est 1896

A simple but elegant  cottage home on Front Street

 Another summer home on Front Street

 Our own version of a Canadian Inuit Inukshuk stone landmark which Deb named "Deuce".... DE from Deborah and UCE from Bruce

 Facing on to Front Street
 Evening quiet on the River

 Male Cedar Waxwing visitor

Nesting neighbours... our friendly Gray Cat Bird residents


 Captain Carnegie-Andress Homestead - oil on panel 12x9 inches

 Back behind the easel... FINALLY! Feels good!!!
Good Painting to ALL!

14 comments:

  1. Oh that painting is just exquisite, Bruce. I'm not sure why, but it lands amongst my favorites. Maybe because of that charming house, maybe the trees, more likely the combination. Your hiatus did no harm, that is for sure. Congratulations on a fabulous kick-off weekend too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi there Sherry!... Thanks for the vote of confidence!

    Taking a break from whatever is your routine often leads to a fresher heart and eye... despite the immediate frustrations when you climb back in the saddle!

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning Bruce and Deb,

    Congratulations on the opening of the gallery and your sales. Happy to see you back in the saddle and painting again.
    Your photos were so enjoyable to see and thank you for sharing them, it was like a mini vacation to Rockport.
    You and Deb look so very happy, God Bless and enjoy.

    Warmest Regards,
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good evening Bruce, you certainly seem to have 'hit the ground running'. How exciting to have such a successful start to the season.

    I'm glad you've been able to get back into the groove again. The painting is super and I'm not surprised that you were able to sell it straight off the easel.

    Here's hoping that things continue as they've started.

    All the best,

    Keith

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congrats! It all looks beautiful. Paint on and have a wonderful summer!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi there Joan!... Thanks for your enthusiasm regarding my Rockport Village Photo Tour. It gives everyone a sense of why we are so blessed to be here!

    Glad to be back in the saddle painting as well!~ I surely missed that a lot. I finished one commission yesterday... and am on to the next today! Those behind me... and I'll be diving head first into the plethora of sites and subjects here!

    Stay tuned!... Thanks for visiting Joan!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good Morning Keith!... The weather continue to shine and I have been able to begin to paint my Hillsdale commissions from the lawn... with the River stretched before me. A paradoxical plein air session for sure! HA HA!!

    We are really encouraged with the steady traffic and the positive reception we have already received in the short time we have been set up here! IT augers well I think for things to come! Fingers crossed!

    It feels so good to be painting again. I really missed it. I'm surprised at how quickly my palette seemed to return. As you suggested earlier... that isn't usually the case when one takes a hiatus. The landscape is very inspiring ... and different in so many ways from the other location!

    Thanks for your kind compliments... visit and interest!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Kim for your visit and encouragement!

    It is truly exciting... and inspirational to be here.

    "Paint on"... I am!

    Good Painting... and Good luck with the workshop!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    Hi to Harry! Happy summer to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good on ya Bruce! A fine start boyo!! Paint fast the rush is yet to come. Thanks for posting those wonderful bird photos, us twitchers are liken it!!

    Jeffrey

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good Morning Jeffrey!... Thank you for the stirring comments of encouragement!

    I'm into my second of three "carried" commissions... and then... SHAZAM!!! Look out Rockport the rush will indeed be on!

    WE are really enjoying the varied songbird population that share our world and backyard here in Rockport!

    A Gray Cat Bird pair nesting under our kitchen window has taken ownership... for the present of our yard... but two Ruby Throat humming birds taxi to our feeder constantly and Northern Tree Sparrows serenade us in the early morning!

    Life has certainly gone to the birds! HA HA!!! WE are deeply blessed. Heaven need not wait for "Me" Jeffrey! Heaven is my Home... and "I" have already arrived!

    Thanks for your visit!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    PS More birds to follow! Stay tuned!....

    ReplyDelete
  11. So glad to know you have been back at the easel finally! Looks like a beautiful area that you have moved to and wishing you big successes there!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good Morning Karen!... Good to hear from you!

    It's really good to be back to the easel... and it's feeling more comfortable every day!

    So much beauty... not enough time... but I'll sure jump in and devote a lot of time to capture the beauty you mention! It's everywhere about us!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  13. Good to see you out and about, Bruce!! Wonderful painting!
    Thanks for the trip around your neighborhood along with the resident birds! You have indeed landed in a super spot, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi there Dean!... Thanks for dropping by and for the uplifting and supportive comments!

    The "neighbourhood" is a sanctuary really... with just the right blend of activity... and distractions! HA HA!!

    Painting will be so very easy here... the subjects and inspiration is endless!

    Stay tuned!...
    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete