New 'old' painting

More than eight years ago, when I still lived in Sydney's suburb of Woollahra, Australia, I did a large painting in acrylics on paper. I liked the result but at 33"X49" it was a large and odd size so it took me a while to decide how to mount and frame it.

I finally worked up the courage to try this myself. It now hangs behind the oak writing desk in my home office.

Jewelry by a silversmith

My mum is one of the most creative people I know (right along with my dad who has been creating oak furniture from scratch since I was a kid). She has been taking a weekly silversmith course since 2006 and created some stunning pieces.

I am the lucky owner of a few and love wearing them. For her most recent birthday we created a book with only some of her beautiful pieces. You can view the images on this blog.

Here's a little taste:

 

When writing and painting come together

As an artist, I am first and foremost a writer. However, art is about expressing oneself and since 2005 painting has been a part of that for me. Two of my best friends in Squamish, where I moved two years ago, are painters.

One works in oil while the other tends to focus on acryclics. Check out the links to their beautiful artwork, Wanda Doyle and Michiko Splinter. When we get together it always involves checking out visual art at a gallery and often a visit to the art store. Invariably I come home inspired.

This year I've done very little painting, as the work on my books takes up most of my time. The few canvases I created are based on my poems, as published in my book Sunshine on a wooden floor. It's been great to combine my writing with my painting and I would like to explore more of that in 2011.

Here are the two results I like best:

Believe 16x20" acrylic and paper on stretched canvas
In private collection in Squamish, BC - Canada

"Flight" 20x30" acrylic and paper on stretched canvas
In private collection in Scotland, the UK

Read more on my website www.MargreetDietz.com

Drawing

This is a drawing I did in 2005 during an eight-week course with John Webb in Sydney, Australia, and I (finally) framed today. It's 16x20".

Tulip in oil workshop

During a recent visit to the Netherlands I took a 90-minute oil-painting workshop. Here's the result.

A small painting

One of my most recent paintings. Acrylic on canvas, postcard size.

Experiments with paint & poetry

This weekend I began experimenting with mixing paint & poetry. I had been thinking about a way to do this for a while and was recently encouraged by good friend and talented painter Wanda Doyle.

Using one of the 28 poems from my fourth book Sunshine on a wooden floor (publication June 2010), this was the result:

(In private collection in Chicago, USA)

(In private collection in Scotland, the UK)

My latest painting: Riding the Wave

My painting "Riding the Wave" was shown at the UpStares Gallery in Squamish during February in the group show titled "Water/H2O".

The painting is large, 32"x44" (acrylics on canvas).

As part of the show, each artist was asked to write what water means to them in 100 words or less. Here are mine:

Water means the harbour next to the house in the Netherlands where I grew up
water means the mix of fear and excitement as thousands of arms start turning together at the start of an Ironman triathlon
water means a drink at every aid station 2 kilometres apart in a marathon
water means the sound of a rushing river in Squamish
water means my dog’s excitement about swimming in the Howe Sound
Riding the Wave symbolizes the powerful and positive forces that move our lives if we allow ourselves to be open to them and never give up.

VISUALS ArtWalk Squamish Valley

My paintings are part of the 2009 ArtWalk Squamish Valley, a studio and gallery tour organized by VISUALS of which I am a member and board director.

These three paintings are large, at 34" x 42", and acrylic on stretched canvas, and were exhibited for the first time.
 

Display in Squamish Adventure Centre

Six of my paintings are on display at the Squamish Adventure Centre from July 21 until August 25, including two of my most recent ones.

My latest work

I love paint and exploring its qualities:

Artist donation to the 2014 Gala Fundraiser for the Foyer Gallery at the Squamish Public Library

Artist donation to the 2014 Gala Fundraiser for the Foyer Gallery at the Squamish Public Library

VISUALS Art at the Market show

My paintings will be part of the Art at the Market group show, organized by VISUALS, on June 27 and July 1 at the Squamish Arts Council building in Squamish.

Wild at Art Exhibition

Two of my paintings were accepted in an exhibition that is part of the Wild at Art festival in Squamish, BC. The theme of the art exhibition is Local Colour and runs from March 8 until March 14, 2009.

Available

This painting is one in my Squares series: acrylic on stretched canvas 36x36inches


Another in my Squares series: acrylic on stretched canvas 30x36inches


This is one in my Horizons series: acrylic on stretched canvas 36x36inches


I love its simplicity and energy: acrylic on stretched canvas 30x36inches


This painting was done in 2008 acrylic on canvas, 24x18inches.






This painting is acrylic on unstretched canvas. Large (exact measurements on request).

Preparing for Group Exhibition

One of my paintings was accepted in a juried group exhibition in my new hometown of Squamish, BC.

Here are the details:

“It’s Black + White "

Show dates February 3^rd – March 9^th

Foyer Gallery Group Show (Squamish Public Library)

37907 Second Avenue, Squamish

Opening Reception: February 5^th, 6:45 - 8:45 p.m. Dress code: black and white only.

Autumn Series

In private collection in Australia

In private collection in Australia

In private collection in Australia

Birthday Gift to Fiona

These two paintings were a birthday gift to a very good friend.

Square Series

In private collection in Australia

In private collection in Australia

This series was mostly done in 2005, and contains some of my favourite paintings. All are done in acrylics on stretched canvas. The one above is in a private collection, and so is the one below. The third is still with me.

Palm Tree Painting for Bondi Beach Home

This is the first commissioned painting I did. It is also the second-largest canvas I have completed so far and was done in May 2006. It's 91 cm x 121 cm (4 cm deep). The person who commissioned it asked for something with a palm tree and a beach. The painting now hangs the sun room in his house in Bondi Beach, Sydney.

Detail:


Detail of the top of the palm tree outline in the sky:

Series of Four

In private collection in Australia

This series of four painting is in a private collection in Australia. All are acrylic on stretched canvas.

Detail of the above painting:

Detail of the second painting in this series:


Third (complete) painting in the series:

In private collection in Australia

In private collection in Australia

Fourth (complete) painting in the series: