A Plant's Eye View of The World; Part 3

Hmmm... What would the world really be like if all plant forms could fight back...?

When I look at this painting, I sometimes think of that song "He's a Lumberjack and he's - not-so - OK..."

Evil Greens: When Plants Get Mad - Treacherous Trees

This is the third in my series of oil paintings, Evil Greens, and this one is titled "Treacherous Trees".

In it, I show the trees subtly fighting back against two lumberjacks, one by gently lifting its root to trip one of the guys and the other by lowering a branch to swat the second lumberjack.

Otherwise, the setting is perfectly sylvan and benign!

My Evil Greens series is done on canvases of roughly 2ft by 2.5ft. I originally conceived them to hang somewhere like a dining room, as they make great conversation pieces.

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

A Plant's Eye View of the World; Part 2

In the first of my postings about my Evil Greens series of paintings, I illustrated how dandelions may feel about being cut down so callously.

Now, it's the turn of the rose bushes to share their thoughts.

The second in my series "Evil Greens: When Plants Get Mad -Vicious Roses" continues my exploration of alternative views, showing what happens when a zealous gardener goes out to prune the rose bushes. (Prune? What makes you think that doesn't hurt?)

In this case, the bushes fight back, terrorizing the gardener!

Some of the details in this painting can only be seen 'up close and personal', the scratches and blood trickling down various parts of our lady gardener for one.

Just a little something to think about, next time you are heading to the great outdoors...

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

A Plant's Eye View of the World; Part 1

One of the hallmarks of my art is presenting what might be called "alternative views". That is, the world as seen by species other than human.

I've often thought, with all the hue and cry about animal welfare plus the belief, by some, that we should stop eating meat and stick to vegetables, that the viewpoint of plants is not really being considered.

After all, plants are alive too! They are able to respond to light and sense what's going on in their environment.

It was in this vein that I painted a series of six canvases with the overall title of:

Evil Greens: When Plants Get Mad.

The first in the series is subtitled: "Defiant Dandelions".

In this work, I take the view that, maybe, dandelions don't like being cut when the lawn is mown. Maybe, just maybe, they can decide to take a stand for themselves...  As a result, the homeowner is in for a shock, thrown literally on his ass!

In future blog posts, I'll add the other five paintings in the series.

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

2011 Holiday Art!

Each year, for the past several years, I've made my own cards to send out my holiday greetings.

In the early days of this endeavor, I first used a cartoon I drew, then I used my oil paintings as the starting point but, as oil painting is time intensive, I eventually switched to oil pastels on paper.

Then, I have photos made of the artwork and paste these photos onto cards. It's fun but labor-intensive, meaning I tend now to only exchange these cards with friends and relatives who send me cards in return.

For everyone else I know, I am offering the online version and wish you all the best for the holidays and the new year ahead!

"Hey! At the North Pole, we hold our Xmas Party after Christmas!"

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

BRAin a.k.a. CereBRAl hemispheres

I've been dithering as to whether to post this entry on my art blog or my fashion/design blog but, in the end, I decided to do both.

The photos show my entry in the Artful Bras Against Cancer fundraiser at the University at Buffalo, in Buffalo, New York.  This is the third year there has been an Artful Bra exhibit at the University and it is undertaken to raise money for breast cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

My entry is partly a wordplay, using as it does the B-R-A in both the words "brain" and in the phrase "cerebral hemispheres".

I even researched the brain in my anatomy and physiology texts, to make sure I had some approximation of the differences in the gyri and sulci on the surfaces of the left and right hemispheres.  Although both halves of the cerebrum look pretty much the same, there are some subtle differences.

I also incorporated some of what we know about differences between the right and left hemispheres in the decorative motifs.  Above the right cup - which obviously symbolizes the right side of the brain - are motifs representing art (a crayon), music (a violin and a treble clef) and also in mirror and a heart.  And what does that represent?  The right side of the brain is where we recognize people, so the heart symbolizes people we love and the mirror the act of recognition.

On the strap above the left cup,which represents the left hemisphere of the brain, I have sewn symbols for the things the left side of the brain is best at: logic, mathematics, language and spatial recognition abilities.  This is why there's a small blackboard with both numbers and letters, an applique for handyman stools, a truck, et cetera.

If you want to see the bras in person - I have no idea how many entries they will have but they usually get a good number - they will be on display from September 26 through November 4, 2011, at the Center for the Arts, Amherst campus, University at Buffalo.  Hours are Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

You can also bid to win one of the bras.  Use the link provided to learn more and to also see pictures of all the bras submitted.
http://wings.buffalo.edu/org/artfulbra/

The 2011 entries will be posted soon so, if they are not there now, try back in a few days!

Opening reception

The 2011 entries on display

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Flipside/Behind-the-Seen

Time for another group show! In August, I've had a canvas accepted into the 9th Annual Square Foot Show at AWOL Gallery in Toronto.

The work is titled "Flipside/Behind-the-Seen" and tackles a theme I've tackled before: the ritual of the wedding or, more correctly, in this case, the wedding photos. However, to put a different spin on it, I've painted the scene from behind and onto the BACK of the canvas, no less. That's why you can see the edge of the canvas and the staples.

As with most of my work, this one is satirical and there's a lot going on when you get up close. The bride went to the washroom and didn't check her gown from the rear...the groom is very busy at the rear...so is the best man. And I wonder if the maid of honor is happy about what he's doing? And can you imagine their faces? All smiling happily, not letting on what's really going on!

I also had another revelation while painting this. Naturally, I've drawn on the wedding traditions from my own culture and upbringing. But I realized that, with most churchyards, when you sally forth onto the church steps for the pictures, you stand there facing the... gravestones! How cheerful! (I suspect this is one reason many couples choose to go to the park to have their photos taken!)

As the name of the show suggests, all entries have to measure no more than 12" by 12", so that is the size of this piece. Artists can only submit up to 3 works and there will be hundreds of canvases on display.

The show runs from August 6-21, 2011 at TWIST Gallery at 1100 Queen Street West. (near Dovercourt). (AWOL Gallery, on Ossington, is undergoing renovation).
Hours are Wed-Sat 12 noon to 7p.m. and Sun 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The opening reception starts at 7 p.m. on August 6 but be warned: line-ups of 1,000 people stretching round the block are common for this show! One consolation: this area of Toronto includes the hip Ossington Strip and West Queen West areas, so lots of great restaurants and bars if you find you cannot get into the show.

Post Scriptum, August 21, 2011: Just went and collected the canvas. One of the show organizers told me: "Actually, this work generated quite a lot of discussion among us, as to what was going on..." And a show visitor emailed me: "It is even cuter in real life than on the email."

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Undercover at Studio Vogue Gallery

Time for another group show!

This time, I'm taking part in a juried show at Studio Vogue Gallery entitled My Toronto 2011.

Undercover, Oils on canvas

Although I've lived in Toronto for many, many years, the city hasn't really featured in my work. This is the only painting I've ever done with a Toronto theme and it is set in the subway -  Underground or Metro to some of you folks overseas.

Ironically, the subway was merely the setting I chose to convey another idea (can you deduce what it is...?). It did offer the ideal setting for showing people, notably adults, in close quarters. Obviously, they are all traveling somewhere and, in this case, you can assume it's ON the way to work, NOT coming home in the evening.

Now, what are they wearing? Notice anything unusual? And, if it's unusual to our eyes, would that have been the case a few hundred years ago - and I'm not talking about the changes in styles of clothing, it has more to do with COLOR...

My Toronto 2011 will run at Studio Vogue Gallery from May 11 to 28, 2011. The opening reception is May 12 from 6-8 p.m. The gallery is at 216 Avenue Road, just south of Dupont, on the west side. (And yes, there IS a 216, if you see "210" a lot, don't think you've gone too far, there just seesm to be some confusion with the numbering.) The gallery can be reached at 416-459-9809.

P.S. Once upon a time, I used to worry that the fellow in the blue suit was disproportionately tall but then I met a fellow actor who is 7 ft 1 in tall, so now I know otherwise!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer