Wall Flower Studio Art

Piano Man and tickets for the Dan

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:17:00 +0000

Just take a wild guess at who is in this painting!

Let's just start by saying that I'm not a fan of fan art because it's just weird on many levels; kitsch even, yet here I've done the exact thing I've made fun of countless times. Oh the irony!

Suffice to say when I painted this, I had just gone and seen Steely Dan and had front row seats! Lucky me, (except for that credit card debt, but that's not worth mentioning here), and since they're my favourite band as anyone who reads my blog would already know, the debt was worth it, and I figure creating this image was likely inevitable at some point in my painting career. Plus, I just wanted to see if I was up to the challenge. Next time I won't be so judgemental of others now, will I?

Anyhow, here I am now, 2 long years later, trying to purchase tickets online to see Steely Dan, (for the 7th time, (no I"m not really obsessive compulsive, I just know what good live music is), in Toronto, and the worst happens... Picture this if you will; I'm on Ticket Master's website, credit card in hand, and what happens? Their site is down for maintenance. Now I'm panicking, but only just a little, ignoring the heart palpitations, beads of sweat, etc. and trying not to picture myself standing at the gates of Ontario Place, watching all the lucky people with tickets walk right on through while I'm standing there, left behind. That's almost as bad a feeling as that 'naked in the middle of the street' dream, lol.

Next, I had to audacity to tweet to Donald Fagen about it because he should be able to do something now shouldn't he...??!? ; )

Anyhow, I'm sure it will work out, so wish me luck and fingers crossed because I'll be the grumpiest of grumpy creative persons you'll ever not meet if I don't get my live Dan fix this summer, that's for sure.

By the way, the title of that painting is: "Piano Man" ... Not to be confused with Billy Joel who creates music I also admire and enjoy very much.
Thanks for stopping by!
~ KS

How to decorate a 'Home Office' in an artistic way. ; )

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:35:00 +0000

Home is where the heart is, and the home office, too!

One should always have cut flowers, an antique telephone, a comfortable chair, and a couple of houseplants there, too.

'Home Office' - 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas - SOLD

by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting. : )

The Essence of #Jazz - Musical #art on canvas

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:44:00 +0000

"The Essence of Jazz"

Acrylic on canvas - 11" x 14" - Available!

by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting!

Nutcracker Mask for Local Ballet Troupe - Papier Mache

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Nutcracker Mask

This mask was recently created by me for the Heritage Ballet, here in Haliburton. It was for the Nutcracker performance held just before Christmas and happily, the show was a sellout.

The mask was lots of fun to make!

My thanks to Julie B. for the commission. : )

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday season! All the best for 2013.

Take Five - The Art of Jazz

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:25:00 +0000

This was a painting I created last year in honour of Dave Brubeck's 90th Birthday.

We've certainly lost one of the greats of music, and of course, a musician who subscribed to the West Coast Jazz scene.

Tho' obviously not a quartet, (admittedly, I did get a little carried away with the amount of musicians), it was painted while listening to his wonderful and timeless music.

"Take Five" by Karen Sloan

Acrylic on canvas, 11" x 14"

Thanks for visiting.

Today we lost a #Jazz Great - Dave Brubeck

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:22:00 +0000

Dave Brubeck
December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012

We lost one of the true giants of Jazz today. Very sad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Brubeck

Bindweed - Macro Art - Flowers For Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:14:00 +0000

This floral painting started out as a Morning Glory and ended up morphing into Bindweed, quite accidentally!
I liked the addition of those tendrils which seem to connect the whole flower to the edge of the canvas.
"Bindweed" - 24 x 36 acrylic on canvas.
by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting.
Have a great week.

Art with an Anthropomorphic Point of View

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:59:00 +0000

'Room Service'
by Karen Sloan

We painted our kitchen yellow, but not quite the shade of yellow here in this painting, but a sunny soft butter yellow. We do tend to have somewhat long dreary winters here in central Ontario and it's a cheerful colour that suggests sunshine. But that's from the point of view of an artist who happens to be a gardener, and not someone who hits the ski slopes as soon as the snow flies.

Anyhow, our yellow kitchen was the precursor to this painting, With a blank canvas, one can excercise a little more drama, which is to me, the best part of creating art.

Furniture tends to take an anthropomorphic point of view. I like to instill a little movement on the canvas.. suggesting perhaps that when you leave your house, those ordinary everyday items might just be taking advantage of your absence by turning on the stereo and amusing themselves in a life all their own. ; )

Thanks for visiting!

Brass and Wind - The #Art of #Jazz in the #Haliburton Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:32:00 +0000

'Brass and Wind'

Here's a little bit of colour on canvas, just to add to what's already been a striking and vivid autumn season here in the Haliburton Highlands.

Wishing all my fellow Canadian friends a very happy, enjoyable & music-filled Thanksgiving long weekend!

Brass and Wind

Acrylic on canvas - 5" x 7"

Jazz Band - A little night music - On canvas

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:51:00 +0000

A little night music for the start of the week....

"Jazz Band" - by Karen Sloan

Acrylic on canvas - 11" x 14"

Thanks for dropping by. : )

Jazz Quartet - Musical Art Arrangements on Canvas at Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:13:00 +0000

Quartets are widely used in many genres of music, including jazz, rock and classical.

A standard quartet formation in jazz is an ensemble of four instruments, in the case of my painting being a horn, saxaphone, violin and drum kit.

I'm not sure that you'd find a violin in a jazz ensemble, but as an artist, I took certain liberties because I liked the visual arrangement better.

Jazz Quartet - 11"x 14" - Acrylic on canvas
Copyright © Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting!

Abstract Lily Pond - Nature Art @ Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:37:00 +0000

"Abstract Lily Pond" by Karen Sloan

24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

(Sold)

Thanks for stopping by!

#WordlessWednesday @ Wall Flower Studio - #Musical Still Life

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:44:00 +0000

Wordless Wednesday - Haliburton Highlands, Ontario - Landscape

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Flowers for the Dirt Farmer

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:34:00 +0000

Rest in Peace - Levon Helm - 1940 - 2012

Flowering Friday @ Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Well, spring is in the air, so it's time to offer up some florals. Can't help but feel more alive when the sun is higher in the sky, and the birds are arriving from their winter sojourn in the south.

Here's an offering of an Azalea from my easel. One of my favorites, and ironically, one plant I can't overwinter here in Haliburton's zone 4a (zone 3 USDA).

Azaleas differ from rhododendrons since their flowers are generally smaller. Both are beautiful examples of flowering shrubs, and I'd be pleased to be able to grow either in my yard, not that I'm encouraging global warming, mind you.

So... Happy Spring, (almost), and happy flowering Friday!

"Azalea" - 30" x 40" acrylic on canvas

by Karen Sloan

Tulips for Wordless Wednesday - A Bouquet of Botanical Garden Art

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Cool Blues & Hot Jazz Art @ Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:24:00 +0000

A Hot Jazz Trio Playing some Cool Blues @ Wall Flower Studio

Music sure is colourful!

"Hot Jazz & Cool Blues" - 8" x 10" - Acrylic on canvas - New!

Thanks for stopping by. : )

Toad and Terra - Papier-mache Theatre Masks come to life!

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:34:00 +0000

Introducing Terra and Toad - Their first introduction to the public.
Not the best photos, I admit. Apologies for that. My camera was not exactly conducive to the lighting at the Dominion Hotel Pub here in Minden, Ontario, but it was sure a great night, and we had a very receptive audience.

It was a real thrill for me to see the Papier-mache masks I created come to life on stage. Much credit is given to Lila who portrayed Terra, and Sebastian who played Toad, with much enthusiasum and energy, I might add!
This performance was offered to an audience on the basis that they help with character development by involvement and suggestions, which will garner the direction Toad & Terra's may take in future performance.

Our vision of these "mythical" characters from Haliburton County is an experimental journey, and this evening's presentation was very much an ad-lib performance, but it was a throroughly enjoyable learning experience for all involved, (at least I think so), especially for me, since I had really no idea before-hand just how people can be totally transformed by the use of a mask. Sculpture is one thing, but wearable sculpture is a whole other ball game. A real revelation to this artist for sure!

Thanks for visiting. : )

Lounge Singer - Artful Jazz @ Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:14:00 +0000

Lounge Singer - 8" x 10" - New!

Thanks for stopping by.

Floating Furniture - A Somewhat Surreal Interior

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:23:00 +0000

A little ode to Alice, or perhaps even a nod to C.S. Lewis, for all the inspiration over the years.

"Floating Furniture" - acrylic on canvas - by Karen Sloan - Sold

Thanks for drifting through my wee bit of cyberspace..!

Introducing Terra ~ A #Papier #mache #Theatre #Mask

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Meet "Terra"! She's made from papier-mache. I built her by hand with recycled newspaper. Her hair is made of spun flax, (my thanks to Bev for the donation). I can't believe how natural the Flax looks. So organic, which was the basis for Terra, as she is to depict a nature goddess of sorts. (My friend Wendy said she looks a bit like Cher! I thought that was a wonderful comment! Perhaps Cher in drag? ; )

Just can't wait to see her in action. Looking forward to the theatre performance, and the actor bringing her to life by adding their own take on what Terra's personality will be.

It's still just amazing to me how a mask can bring a person out of their shell. I've witnessed very austre adults put on my masks, and they change dramatically before my eyes, playing it up with child-like abandon. Such fun!

Again, my thanks to Michael, Fay and the rest of our County Conjurers, to whom I'm indebted because they allow me to push artistic boundaries. The process of creating a mask is so enjoyable.

Thanks for visiting!

Can you spot the Ladybug?

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:05:00 +0000

Ladybugs (aka, Ladybirds), are a favourite insect of children. Their distinctive spots and vibrant colour is a magnet for people of all ages.

From a gardener's point of view, I just love them! Not just because they're pretty, unlike a lot of other insects, but due to their voracious appetite.

Ladybugs will eat any Aphids who might otherwise ravage the plants in your garden.

So... Next time you see a Ladybug, don't forget to thank her!

Suns and Foxes - Acrylic on canvas - by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting!

All artwork and images on this site are copyright to Karen Sloan. Thank you.

Song Bird Art & Low Brow Humor

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:11:00 +0000

"Note To Self" - acrylic on wood - 12 x 12 - copyright Karen Sloan

Okay, this is totally kitsch, and doesn't reflect the bird you see above at all, however, my Nan used to recite the craziest "poems" to me when I was a kid.

I still remember a few of them very well, especially the ones that seemed most rude at the time, way back then.

This was a particular favourite of mine...

"Birdie, birdie in the sky, dropped some whitewash in my eye, Gee, I'm glad that cows don't fly"

Isn't that just shameful?!... Still makes me chuckle when I think about my Nan's "poetry". It's no wonder I'm a painter and not a writer. All those visuals dancing around in my head.

Thanks for visiting... Of course, after reading this post, you just might not want to return. ; )

All images and written content Copyright Karen Sloan. Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday - Abstract Art @ Wall Flower Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Wall Flower Studio) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:19:00 +0000