"Elle"

Recently I was asked by the organizers of the Cabot Trail Writer's Festival to participate in their Artist's Gallery (10 Cape Breton Artists in all were asked)  to paint a 'cover' for my favourite Canadian book.  I accepted,was honoured to be asked and my painting was showcased along side some really great works by other Cape Breton artists. Below is a little bit about the terrific book I chose as well as my contribution. 
Many thanks to the Cabot Trail Writer's Festival for the challenge and the opportunity to have my work on display at their event.

Title: “Look at me - quatgathoma”

Inspired by the book “Elle” by Douglas Glover

Artist: Teena Marie Fancey

Medium: acrylic on wood

Size: 8”W x 10”L

Douglas Glover’s book “Elle” left a very visual impression on me, as did the character.  Marguerite is a young 16^th Century French noblewoman who is forcibly marooned on a desolate island at the mouth of the St. Lawrence in the Strait of Belle Isle with her lover, old nursemaid and an odd and lacking assortment of supplies. She is a quick witted, intellectual with a taste for sex and the grotesque and narrates her memoir in a ribald and thoughtful fashion. In it she recounts her life, abandonment, quest for survival and coming of age. She describes for us her observations, vivid dreams and spiritual connections to the wildness of the land and its inhabitants as well as the hard lessons she quickly learns as the Eurocentric misconceptions of the Colonists of her time have left her completely unprepared for her encounters in the wilds of the New World, Canada.

I’ve chosen to depict our protagonist in her barren surroundings. Above her is a black and clouded sky. She appears to be mildly amused at her predicament and slightly bored or put out as she waits for rescue or, perhaps, the moment when she will transform, rise up like a bear and show us the wild heart that Canada has given her.

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Shine a light...

So, I'm pretty sure the painting portion of my lighthouse lady painting is done now. I am letting it sit on the easel for a few more days within sight just in case I have to make any additions. It's always good to live with the work for a bit before calling it finished and of course, my gut has to agree too...and it is taking it's time mulling it over. I may be in possession of a found object that needs to be added. We'll see. Sometimes less is more.

Meanwhile, I will try and settle on  a title. Usually I have one early on but I'm a bit torn this time. I originally thought I would call it " Love on the Rocks" but now I'm thinking "Lighthouse Keeper"

Next steps will be to hand this off to my fellow artist Shari MacLeod. She has agreed once again to brainstorm with me and create a frame for my painting. I am excited about this! Shari has a a wonderful imagination and oodles of talent. 

So what will I work on next? I will start 3 new paintings so I can work on whichever I like, depending on my mood. Think: totems & forest.  Thieves. And Jellyfish. Hmmmm...

Here are the last 4 progress photos  for my lighthouse lady. I will photograph the piece again when it gets it's frame.  

Hmmm not quite done

Fin?

A Storm is Brewing - Progress

My painting is starting to really take shape. Skies and the sea and even the Lady herself, are exhibiting a bit more turmoil. "The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli!"

( to quote George Costanza). Stay tuned....and maybe next time I'll have chosen a title too.

A little stormier

A little stormier, yet

A change of expression

Summer Studio 2014: Here we go...

Finally the Summer Studio is set up and work has begun. I do have a goal of completing several paintings by Labour Day as I think setting a number helps me to keep the whip cracking. Last year I completed 18 paintings between July 1 and Oct. 25th. That number reflects paintings that were to my satisfaction and ended up on the walls of a Gallery. It does not include the half dozen or so that were scrapped at some point and faced the the electric sander. I have no plans of being so prolific this year in the Summer Studio, but will do my best to turn out a small collection.
 I prepped all the boards I hope to paint  at the beginning of the month, but a wave of heat prevented me from working further on them as the temps in my loft were quite unbearable no matter how high I powered my oscillating fan or how tight the blinds were pulled against the sun. A wall of windows over the work space, two on either side and two skylights behind me proved too much even when covered and threaten to cook me alive up there. So, darn, I had to go to the shore to swim instead. Poor me.
Temps have been cool in the evenings now and I'm back on the horse. Started a painting 2 days ago (no title yet) but will post the progression for fun. I started with a board which has been coated with gesso and it's been sanded and a transfer of an antique photograph has been applied. I have been altering the scene with acrylics. So far, so good.
 Take note: I have been asked repeatedly as to why I bother with using a transfer as I do demonstrate my skills as a painter and could paint from the photo. Allow me to explain. I do so because I'm in love with the photograph and I want to give that subject another 'life', as it were. The transfers are grainy and 'ghostly" -further motivation as I do like a bit of dark to come through in the work-, and they are used as an underpainting. Hardly a bit of the transfer escapes my brush, unless I feel it must stay as is...that's creative license. I paint on top and change (sometimes drastically, sometimes minutely) their expression, clothing, pose and even the twinkle in their eyes. Doing this is my 'schtick' at the present time. No doubt at some point I will paint portraiture of my own, and I do have the chops to achieve this, but right now, I wish to give these nameless faces an encore in a theatrical presentation painted by me. The guestbook at my last exhibit had a few direct and almost terse comments about my decision to work this way. A short response would be: because I want to.
A wordy post, to make up for lack of posts in some time. Here we go...

work by Teena Marie Fancey in progress #1

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #2

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #3

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #4

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #5

work in progress by Teena Marie Fancey #6

Teena + Tina = Inspiration

While visiting friends in Arizona, I had the good fortune to visit La Posada, the last of the Railway Hotels along the Santa Fe Line. La Posada, in Winslow Arizona, has been lovingly restored

 ( click here for a great story and history) by Allan Affeldt after he learned the property was in danger. 

Not only was La Posada an interesting place to learn about and visit, but it houses the work of Allan's wife, Artist Tina Mion. My dear friends Nancy and David had orchestrated this stop in Winslow because they knew I'd love the location, the story but most of all Tina's work. They know me SO well...

(read more below)

The timing of visiting this wonderful exhibit of work, was rather remarkable. I had been in need of some inspiration and this was it. I felt a connection with the work, both with a lot of the subject matter and the artist's style and emotion. After wandering through the exquisite rooms of the hotel and taking in Mion's powerful, large and bold work, the sparks in my brain lit up the circuitry there and ideas came pouring in. I

I also came away with a sense of courage to take back into the painting studio with me this summer.

From one Teena to another Tina, I thank you! You can count me as an admirer of what you do.

Favorite Friday!

This week, my good friend Shari MacLeod (of Shari MacLeod Studio and the Rose of Cabot & Rose) gave me an early birthday gift. She had a 3D reel made for me using some of my favourite characters from my Altered Egos exhibit. Not only is this a fabulously creative gift idea but the company who makes the reels, Image3D, liked Shari's project and my work and posted the reel on their Favorite Friday page (with our permission) as inspiration. Thank you Shari and Image3D!

Spring. Watch and Wait.

Spring in Nova Scotia requires a bit of patience. It can be slow to show that it's actually arrived. I saw a crow gathering nesting material today, and Robins and Juncos foraging in the melting snow.  
It's here, Spring is. It's just taking it's time. 
There's a Lesson in here somewhere :)


Young bud, resplendent

fresh cheeked and tender green

not a worry

in no hurry...

Flora and the Hours
mixed media painting by Teena Marie Fancey
12"x12"
NOW AT THE CB CENTRE FOR CRAFT AND DESIGN

The Cure for a Slow-starting Spring?

After a successful showing at the Craig Gallery in November and a long winter's nap on my spare bedroom's walls, the characters from Altered Egos have now come out of hibernation to appear in the exhibition space at the
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design.

Once numbering 22 works, the exhibition is compiled of the remaining 16 works
( 6 works found new homes while they were on view at the Craig--thank you to all of you who made that possible!) and I am thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to show them to my hometown crowd!

If you want a bit of comic relief from this long drawn out winter or to take in some colourful characters as opposed to looking at the snow that just won't go, head down to the Gallery at 322 Charlotte Street. Gallery hours are 10am - 4pm  Monday thru Friday and Saturdays 12 - 4pm.

"Boundless" by Teena Marie Fancey
vintage ephemera,acrylic, paper and handpainted embellishment on board
 4" x 5"

Painted ladies...

well not the usual kind of painted ladies. These ladies were literally conjured with paint and are now appearing at The Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design Gallery Shop and are available for sale.

For information on purchasing my work, drop me a line at  tmfancey@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

from top clockwise: Francophile, Lionheart, Loose Lips Sink Ships, Rainmaker, You Missed
All paintings by Teena Marie Fancey 

What the Fox Says...

"So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight...." says Trickster Fox.

Today is the last day for Altered Egos at the Craig Gallery. Thanks to all of you who got in to see the show and meet the characters. Thanks also to all of you who have followed this blog and saw most of the show via your screen. BTW, for any information on purchasing any of the work you see on my blog you can contact me at tmfancey@gmail.com. 

"...until we meet again."

Trickster Fox by Teena Marie Fancey
mixed media painting
custom frame by Shari MacLeod

 

Trickster Fox Detail


 

 

Lionhearted

I had a lot of fun working on this piece because I'd finally found the perfect opportunity to use some fur that I was gifted and I knew it was a piece that could be looked at or petted...should the viewer need to pet something.

Lionheart was inspired by my oldest daughter, who is a Leo and is brave and strong but has heart so big, it could crush this town. The Strength card in the Tarot deck also influenced this piece, noted by the lemniscate floating above the subject's head.

Lionheart can be seen at the Craig Gallery in Dartmouth NS at Alderney Landing until day's end this Saturday, Nov. 30. Drop in and meet her and her 21 Altered Egos friends.

Lionheart by Teena Marie Fancey
8" x 10" mixed media painting
upcycled fur, vintage curtain pins, acrylics

She was framed!

This is Deerheart. She came about due to my interest in shape shifting characters and the Celtic mythologies about the Bean Si aka the Banshee. The Banshee has been typically portrayed as a screaming, wailing hag but further reading of lore proved to be quite enlightening. So the result was the shape  shifting Deerheart and her accompanying poem.

Once the painting and poem were done, I tasked my good and talented friend Shari MacLeod to create a frame that would serve my bean si well. The results, as you can see, were fabulous! Hand woven with dyed rattan, some cane and embellishments of driftwood and feathers, Shari managed to build a housing that is a true extension of the painting.

I present the finished Deerheart (completed poem to follow below). Deerheart is part of my exhibit Altered Egos.

 

 

Dear Hearts

By Teena Marie Fancey

 

 

Gather you gentle ones,

where the boney birches stand

Where moss and lichen soften steps you take across this land

 

Gather you gentle ones,

you creatures of the wood

Stay shy outside the fairy ring as you have learned you should

 

The keening sounds to summon us, and echoes through the trees

And shakes them with its sadness and moves them like a breeze

 

Inside the ring she changes skins and shows to us her youth

While sobbing with the knowledge that she sees the bitter truth

A fellow soul will fall this night,

a dear heart in our midst

By means of claw or teeth or jaws, or arrow in their breast

 

Blood will stain the forest floor and mingle with the dirt

Their bones will end up underfoot, their soul will wait rebirth

 

Once death has taken what it claims, she’ll wipe away her tears

She’ll step outside the fairy ring and show to us her years

 

Off you go, you timid ones,

and take your leave at morning

She’ll come again with a breaking heart

 

and cry to us her warning

 

Sparking an Idea Pt. 2

A while back while working in the studio, I posted Sparking an Idea--a work in progress inspired by some paper cuttings and vintage welding glasses my friend gifted me. As you can see, the paper made it into the piece but the glasses did not, even though they inspired the composition etc. That is not unusual...sometimes things just need to be added or not.  There is no doubt that the glasses will make a future appearance and the paper cuttings will appear again and again, I'm sure.

So I give you the finished work: Static. She will be appearing for the rest of this week in at the Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing in Dartmouth.  

Alchemy revisited

A while back I wrote a post called "Studio Alchemy". I talked about stream of thought and how pieces come together. Here is the finished piece I was working on at the time.

She is Hot Head and she is appearing in Altered Egos at the Craig Gallery right now.

 But she'll be leaving soon...show closes Dec. 1st. So if you are in the Halifax/Dartmouth area, check out the Craig Gallery at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. It in the same building as the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal.

 

Hot Head by Teena Marie Fancey
16"  x 20" acrylic painting, vintage ephemera, electric stove element, lite brite pegs

 

vintage ad from 1960's magazine and a stove element

 

Identity Disc-Tron
 

 

The Seer

Why is it, that some people can see what others do not.

Even when it's as plain as the nose on one's face?

I'm not necessarily talking about seeing the future...just seeing the way it is.

This is the Seer. She is appearing now in Altered Egos, at The Craig Gallery in Dartmouth, NS until Dec.1st.

 

"Seer" by Teena Marie Fancey
 6" x 12" mixed media, found embellishments
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Observers

Did you ever wonder what happens to all the stuff your kids forget to take with them after a day at the beach? Colourful pails, shovels, inflatable toys, that kind of thing?

 

Meet "The Observers". They will be appearing in Altered Egos for a limited time at
 The Craig Gallery at Alderney Landing.

After Dec. 1st they will go to their new home, as they are SOLD.

 

The Observers by Teena Marie Fancey
8"x8" mixed media painting, starfish

 

Make 'Em Laugh

The sad clown, the fool, the trickster: bringing you comic relief, whatever the cost. 

 

The Comedian by Teena Marie Fancey
12"x12" mixed medium painting, glitter

 

She loves me...not?

Meet Daisy. She's plucky. One look and you know she's figured you out.
She's not to be trifled with.  I mean it.

 

 

Daisy is one of the many Altered Egos appearing at the Craig Gallery  in Dartmouth, NS until Dec. 1st!

 

 

Flora and the Hours

Young bud, resplendent

fresh cheeked and tender green

not a worry

in no hurry

The Hours grow long, easily

charming us with dappled light

no rush,

no rush

 

 

Shadows stretch out, drowsily

gathering moments on their way

time and time

again

 

 

Bud to leaf, blossom

to flower and gone to seed

back to the ground

Slow down!

 

Flora and the Hours--poem and Painting by Teena Marie Fancey.

This Mixed Medium Portrait is custom framed by Shari MacLeod and is part of my latest exhibit Altered Egos. Show runs until Dec. 1st at

The Craig Gallery at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, NS

For more information about the work, click the mail icon below!

 

 

 

 

She's A Believer

Promises, promises.

I posted a sneak peek of this piece last week. It's entitled Believer and is an
8"X 8"acrylic painting with vintage ephemera from a 1960's ladies magazine and some found bits and bobs added for embellishment. Note the glint in her eye, diamonds in the sky and the smooth look on his face. Why, you can see a big city skyline in that glass of champers! Drink UP!
 This is just 1 of 22 pieces you can see at Altered Egos, my exhibit at the Craig Gallery at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, NS. Show runs til Dec. 1st.

Oh, and this one...is SOLD!

 

Here is the BEFORE

 

 

 

 

And the AFTER

 

 

Believer by Teena Marie Fancey


AND some DETAIL