Looking Ahead... But Remembering Back

Autumn drifted in with her usual colour fanfare... lifting eye and heart equally both here in Rockport and in Algonquin Park, where thousands of visitors arrive annually from around the world to view this unparalleled  fall colour pageant and spectacle. During this short time, hundreds of tour buses clog up both sectors carrying in camera-toting passengers to record this event on a quick tour. Then, suddenly and predictably... these tours cease at the precise moment that the colour drops down ... or disappears.

That seasonal shift in activity here  seemed to be accelerated by the unexpected influences of "Sandy." In a single night of high wind and heavy rains that autumnal splendour was clawed away... leaving only pockets of oak russets ... smudges of greyish yellow softwood colour here and there and the smoky remnants of what were only a day before... undulating... rhythmic waves of resplendent maple stands.

Overnight, the temperatures dipped drastically causing abnormally shallow marshy bays, low water creeks, ponds and puddles to skim over. Snow fell for the first time yesterday... flurrying here in Rockport... but vigorously enough in Algonquin Park last week to bring our last outdoor painting session to a quick and messy halt.

New faces replaced summer residents and users of our feeders. Raucous blue jays, bright cardinals, chickadees, rowdy maverick bands of tree sparrows, boisterous evening grosbeaks, flitting slate breasted juncos and a variety of woodpeckers now patrol the trees and our garden...fighting  for air and feeder supremacy. There activity and appetites ominously foretell winter's blustery entry

Deb and I officially closed the outdoor Gallery and have moved the paintings down into our winter quarters and studio space in the basement. We will offer come-by-chance visits, or appointment only visits from interested clients commencing next week. At the moment, we are readying the studio for our use and re hanging selected art in the two rooms designated to display my paintings during the winter months.

I joined the Thousand Islands Art Group and I will be a part of an upcoming exhibition opportunity...  The 1st Annual tiArts @ Eagle Point Winery event...  being hosted by the Winery on Saturday November 17th an Sunday, November 17 for the general public. A "by invitation only" Gala opening will kick off the event on Friday, November 16th and will be open to a limited number of invited guests... clients of the winery and the participating artists. It should prove to be a highly festive kick-off to the Christmas Season. Fingers crossed for a good turn out!!

We have been blessed to have enjoyed a very successful first summer season here in Rockport and we received a positive and welcoming reception by the residents and businesses of Rockport. We look forward to building upon our success and will dedicate many hours to developing new product lines, an entirely new inventory of of our combined works and a business plan which will advance our presence and grow our initial success further.

One visible change has just been implemented. We have had our talented and creative  web master design a whole new look for our web site www.thepaintboxgallery.ca Ms Brenda Stanley, owner of The Heart of Business has recreated a bright new "river feel" ...designing a unique new platform or template using new colour, visuals and text content to enhance our St Lawrence River business and residential presence.  We feel that it blends new technology to provide more linkage to many social networking sites... and that these changes add a fresh look and appeal. Do check it out... I'd like to hear your input!

 Do check out Brenda's Heart of Business web site www.heartofbusiness.ca  to further discover more facts about her creative business endeavours and more examples of her unique design capabilities!

During the next few months, I will be canvassing an number of business opportunities to explore placement of my art in a more wide spread fashion in the region. I will also be delivering the 6x12 foot quadriptych "The Magnificence of Algonquin Park" to its new exhibition place in mid January. It is an exciting venue for the work... and really matches my original raison d'etre for creating the piece. I will report back more fully when this installation is in place.

Deb has been commissioned to create a full memorial window for the quaint Church of the Redeemer Anglican Church here in the village. It will be honouring a past minister (now deceased) and was commissioned  by his family members who have resided each summer for well over fifty years in the Rockport and Islands region. They reside in Charlotte, North Carolina during winter months... but look to this area as their second spiritual home. It is a large and demanding  project for certain, but it is a well-deserved honour and privilege for Deb... and a tribute to her stained glass artisan ship   She has already created the design and the new window cherry wood frame has just been completed. Her new hand crafted work desk has been delivered as well... so that project will be under way soon. We'll keep you posted on its progress as well. She is very excited to get this piece under way... so that it will be ready for installation and the planned early summer dedication service.

So... we are looking and planning ahead... hopeful that our good fortune and success will continue into 2013. There are necessary changes to be implemented... hurdles to be gotten over... but our hearts and hands are "One". How can we fail?

We are doing what we both love... and love what we're both doing... together!
Life does not offer a greater gift to any man or woman. We are... "Home"!

And "We"... are deeply blessed...


Good Painting to ALL!!!


PS This is the advertisement for the tiArts at The Eagle Point Winery Exhibition that I will be a part of this upcoming weekend. If any of my blog visitors are from this area ... do drop by and say "Hi"... I'd love to see you!