Close up detail of Pinstripes and Plaid / Portrait of Jamie Wyeth by Lynne Gerard I was in my early 20's when I was first exposed to the works of clan Wyeth and throughout the development of my career in painting, poetry and calligraphy their artful dynasty continues to be a source of delight and wonder for me.   Larger than life patriarch, N.C. Wyeth and his dynamic, dramatic, dazzling paintings captivate my imagination by taking me into faraway conjured landscapes.  Paintings by his son, Andrew, imprint themselves upon me in a much different way - through their tensions of strength and subtlety, subdued colours, technical virtuosity, so adeptly capturing the essences of things, whether they be landscapes or humans, in a manner that resonates with the emotional responses arising within me through my own habitual roamings through windswept fields.  And then we have the grandson, James (Jamie) - what an astounding amalgamation of familial influences he has had which y...

Robby Colwell  Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island Wherever you may live or journey to, you encounter ordinary, special and exceptional human beings.  Each of them have unique faces - wonderfully sculpted through their comportment and mannerisms acquired from the physical and emotional responses to things they have experienced in life. In my long career in the arts, I confess that I have been more put off by people than inspired by them, preferring to associate with non-human beings and make them the subjects of my painting, poetry and calligraphy.  Though I have, on rare occasions, incorporated a human figure into a landscape or painted a portrait of an intriguing face, my work mostly reflects elemental things found out of doors. Awhile back the idea came to me to make a series of portrait studies, some from local characters on the island and some of people I have never met.  I accomplished a few renderings, but I was not ready to give the concept my full attention. Whether...

The Ravenseyrie Art Gallery has been open for sometime now, albeit on truncated hours as the Gore Bay Harbour Centre is following a cautious reopening due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Several of the shops/studios are closed completely until the virus is no longer a threat.  The marine museum is closed as is the lower level. Four of our tenants have been willing to be open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4pm. For myself, I have been keeping my usual hours (Tuesdays thru Saturdays, 10am to 4pm) all through the pandemic lockdown and am continuing in that manner even now, though the rest of the building may be a darkened cavern at times.  Should visitors come on one of the days when the Harbour Centre is closed, they may come around to my studio door on the 2nd floor lakeside of the building and ask for permission to view my gallery.  Facemasks and sanitized hands are part of our protocol.  I provide wipes I make using alcohol and tea tr...

A spot of lunch in my gallery on the bay Ravenseyrie Studio & Art Gallery Gore Bay / Manitoulin Island Outside is very wonderful today: If I am taking time for lunch at work, I typically might have just a handful of mixed nuts and an infusion or two (or three or four) of puerh sheng tea.  On a day with inspiring, rainy weather such as this day, a bit more sustenance is in order.  A glass of red and some Korean spinach salad puts warmth into body and soul, especially when lunch is taken in the gallery.  A great view out the window and a a lovely one inside as well. The gallery is still under the pandemic lockdown, but self-isolation means some wonderfully undisturbed creative time in the studio. Until the restrictions are lifted, hope you enjoy this brief virtual tour (above) and the spotlight on one of my handmade greeting cards (below).  Be creative, strengthen your immune system and carry on beautifully. "Stevie on My Balcony" Outsid...