When I Grow Up

If you are in the London area, check out this event!

The Trustees of TiC would like to invite you to When I Grow Up, a free event being organised by Trust in Children (TiC).

TiC is a small charity supporting children in education and non-academic development, including arts and sports, all over the world. This October we are holding an exhibition of art by children who have benefited from TiC support. It will be a unique event featuring paintings and drawings by children from Africa, South America and Eastern Europe, all themed around their ambitions for the future. It promises to be a really fun evening (with no pressure to donate!) and we would be so pleased if you are able to make it.

Some of the children's artwork will be auctioned by Lars Tharp, one of the longest running experts on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, so be prepared to bid!

Amu Designs has also donated a print that will be up for auction, in support of this great cause!

When I Grow Up will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, next to Bethnal Green tube station (zone 2), from 18:45-21:15 on Wednesday 21 October 2009. Drinks and nibbles will be provided and as part of the event you will be able to enjoy an out-of-hours visit to the museum’s collection (including some incredible toys).

If you cannot make the event but would still like to support TiC by making a donation or becoming a member (£25 a year) you can donate securely via Paypal or cheque by following the “Make a donation” link below.

Hoping to see you on 21 October.

Please visit the Trust in Children website – www.trustinchildren.org to learn more about this great organization!

Directions to Museum of Childhood - www.vam.ac.uk/moc/your_visit/index.html
Make a donation to Trust in Children - http://www.trustinchildren.org/support.html

New Painting

Coming soon to an empty wall near you!

The piece entitled "A Sacred Place" has been under wraps for some time.  Some of you lucky ones have caught an early glimpse of these giant red cedars, but for those of you who have been awaiting is official debut... here it is without further ado!

A Sacred Place

18 x 36

Available stretched on Canvas

as a framed 8x10

as an unframed 8x10

Shelf fungus...

I have been working on the piece of the shelf fungus (the winner from the spring idea give-away)
Here is a glimpse at the progress...

Fungi Fun

Here is the humble beginnings of a unique look at shelf fungi...

first stroke...

a little more...

the beginning of depth...

Celebrating Fungi, the planets best reusers... Happy Earth Day!

Original Paintings

We finally got a real spring day! I got caught up imagining what it might be like to live in a place where 15 degrees is as cold as it ever gets... I cleaned up the yard, fired up the BBQ, and enjoyed the embrace of the long forgotten warm air.

There is nothing like a walk through the neighborhood on such an evening, and a peak in the windows of the people I live amongst... I love to see how people live. I don't care to see what they are up to, I just want to know what's hanging on there walls.

Those funny figurines on crowded book shelves, refridgerators papered with family photo's, childrens artwork, and tomorrows grocery list. You get the classic velvet painting of the matador, and collectable plates hung with care behind the dinning room table, you even see the odd Pirate flag/window covering... What I like the most about all of this is knowing that behind each one of those treasures is a story, they are the things that remind us of what's important, of who we are, where we've come from, and the things we dream about... Then sometimes, you get a glimpse of something that really intrigues you, a piece above a mantle that gets your wheels turning, gets you dreaming of that place in your own house that has a story to tell. That wall that's waiting for something to hold.

If you have a wall with a story to tell I might have just the punctuation you have been looking for....The creative spirit bound to paint, and laid carefully with intention, to speak a truth unique you...

By popular demand.... I am listing a few originals!!

The three pieces you have seen in the last few posts, are available in their original unadulterated form... and there is one other too!

Spring Blossoms
12 x 9

Rainbow Fry
16 x 8

Segue
12 x 16

Chilean Dream
24 x 12

Mission Portobello phase one completed

It's hard to believe it was a week ago already!

The Portobello West Market was great! I had a blast... I learned a lot, saw some old friends and even made some new ones. I liked it so much that I can't wait to do it again, and will be there again at the end of the month with a few new treasures to share.

I have just realized that I was so caught up in being there, that I didn't get any pictures to show you... I think there maybe a few floating around out there though, so I'll see if I can get my hands on them...

In the mean time, to tide you over, I have refreshed my Etsy shop and my website too with 3 new pieces!

Chilean Dream

Chilean Dream
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March

This and other originals are on sale today for $100 dollars off!

Come to the Portobello West Market at the Rocky Mountaineer Station between 12 & 6 and get a taste of whats happening in art and fashion in Vancouver.

This is your last chance to get deals on paintings and prints, so come down and check it out!

Look for prints of Chilean Dream in my Esty Shop and on my website in the next few days!

Spring Blossoms

I think we are all ready for spring! I have had enough of wind and snow, sleet and rain. I am aching for sweetness on the air, and blossoms in the wind.

Spring Blossoms
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March

Prints and the Original are available for sale today (and tomorrow March 28 &29) at the
Portobello West Market
located at the
Rocky Mountaineer Station

Hanami

Hanami is the centuries old custom of enjoying flowers, cherry blossoms in particular. In Japan, it is celebrated each spring with feasts and sake beneath the blossoming beauty of the Cherry Tree.

Historically the cherry tree was used to divine the harvest of the year ahead, and to announce the beginning of rice planting season. People believed in the existence of Gods dwelling within the trees, and offerings were made at their roots. Afterwards they themselves would partake, in the offering with sake.

The flowers themselves were seen as a metaphor for life itself, luminous and beautiful yet fleeting and ephemeral.

Look for this print in my Etsy shop and on my website in the next week or so!

All originals are $100 dollars off this weekend only at the market!

Segue

segue |ˈsegwā; ˈsā-|
verb ( segues , segued |ˈsegwād; ˈsā-|, segueing |ˈsegwā-i ng; ˈsā-|) [ intrans. ]

To move smoothly and unhesitatingly from one state, condition, situation, or element to another.

This is the name of one of my latest paintings. Those of you in the Southern Hemisphere will appreciate the vibrant colours, that you will soon be seeing in your own back yards. For us in more northern locales, it is a reminder of how far we've come, and all that we have to look forward to.

I am infinatley inspired by the richness of fall, saturated and spent, still warmed by the earth, preparing to settle in for some well earned rest and reflection.

This piece is a representation of the Black Cottonwood, a beautiful and diverse contributor to many eco systems.


Segue
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March

The original and prints of this painting will be available this weekend (March 28 & 29) at the
Portobello West Market
located at the
Rocky Mountaineer Station
from 12-6pm

Look for it in my Etsy shop and on my website in the next few weeks!


Black Cottonwood
(Populus trichocarpa)

This tree was the first tree to have its entire DNA code sequenced, and it has shaken up what we understand about plant biology, and evolution.

In addition to answering specific questions about botany, this information has many industrial implications.

The tree has far less DNA in its cells than humans, but twice the number of genes. It was discovered that 93 of the genes are involved in making cellulose. Cellulose can be broken down into sugar, fermented into alcohol and distilled to produce bio-fuel. Making this information of particular interest.

The use of Bio-fuels has the potential to curb our reliance on oil imports, while reducing our eco-footprint.

Black Cottonwoods are hardy, fast growing, potentially large, straight trees which are easy to establish. This makes them useful in many ways beyond forestry and manufacturing.

They can be planted as windbreaks, shelterbelts, and screens along motorways, reducing noise, creating habitat, and increasing aesthetic value.

Cottonwoods are also effective soil stabilizers; their aggressive root systems make the species useful in the restoration of riparian areas. When used in this way, they provide protection for the aquatic environment, by providing shade and lowering water temperatures. The high nitrate uptake and extensive rooting of these trees also makes them useful for buffer or filter planting along streams in agricultural areas. This creates habitat for birds and small mammals, and reduces ungulate damage, increasing bank stability, and in turn improving aquatic habitat.

Hope to see you at the market! There will be deals!

Love Stampede

This piece was in the works for nearly a year before it reached completion.

There is more to a painting for me than just laying paint on a canvas... it all starts with a little muse.

Inspiration presents itself in many different ways for me, but it's not uncommon for it to arrive in the shape of a lovely person or two, as it did on this very special occasion.

I have only been on a horse maybe twice (even though I come from a long line of cowboys), but there are two lovely folks I know who hold these four leggeds near and dear and have the stories and scars to prove it. Last summer they decided to celebrate there union with some fine feasting, music, family and friends, and I thought this piece would be a nice way to honor their love and celebrate along side them as their passions ran through their own Love Stampede.

Love Stampede

Oil on Canvas

by Melissa March

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin Tuna
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March


The Western and Central Pacific ocean is the Worlds largest Tuna fishery, and it is in danger of being over fished to the point of collapse.

Take heart, there are measures being taken to conserve and manage this delicate ecosystem.

Coming into effect in 2009, is a plan to reduce fishing mortality by 30% (over 3 years) on Bigeye Tuna, and to reduce the risk of overfishing yellowfin tuna, by restricting the use of purse seine fishing and the use of FADs in these sensitive areas.

This year there will be fewer days to fish the high seas, in an attempt to reduce the number of tuna caught. Sensitive areas will be closed to purse seine fishing for up to three months, and the use of FADs will be prohibited from July to September.

The use of FADs results in the mortality (in great numbers) of juvenile tuna, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins, to name a few. It is the technique of using a float to attract sea life, creating an opportunity to net them in large numbers. The unwanted species are then discarded.

You can help the Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna, by reading the labels on the fish you buy. To ensure that it is caught in good conscience, look to see that it was pole or troll caught.

The Colour Blue

Mast

Oil on Canvas

by Melissa March

Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of the sky and ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives, and there for is recognized as calming and relaxing to many of us.

In addition to these common traits, the colour Blue has some other interesting effects on the body.

Blue acts as an appetite suppressant.

It is believed that this is the case, because blue food rarely occurs in nature (blueberries and a few varieties of blue-purple potatoes being the exception). Because of this, blue registers with a more primal aspect of ourselves as a potential warning sign that a food may be dangerous or poison, therefore making the combination of blue and food less appetizing than some other colours.

If you want to reduce your late night snacking try putting a blue light in your fridge, or try eating off a blue plate if you would like to feel satisfied with smaller portions. Some diet experts even suggest that you may benefit from putting a blue bulb in your dinning area.

You might also try painting the walls in your dinning room blue, or hanging art that has blue as a predominant colour within your line of sight.

Spring Blossoms

This is not my usual pallet, but I have been so ready for spring for so many weeks now, that these soft, fresh colours have managed to dance their way into the studio.

In Japan there is a celebration called Hanami, it is the practice of viewing flowers.

I think the world needs more events like this.

People gather for feasts and sake beneath the sweet scent of the cherry tree in full bloom. There are strolls amongst the laden branches, and it is considered a time to reflect and meditate on rebirth and renewal.

The flowers were seen as a metaphor for life itself, luminous and beautiful yet fleeting and ephemeral.

This piece is just wrapping up, and will be ready to make it's debut at The Portobello West Market on the last weekend in March.

Hope to see you (and Spring) there!

Rainbow Fry

Rainbow Fry
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March


Rainbow Trout

As a species, the Rainbow Trout is yellow-listed, which means that it is not at risk in British Columbia. However, many populations have suffered declines and even extinction as a result of habitat damage or over fishing. Maintenance of natural genetic diversity and the many life-history forms is a conservation concern.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• It is important to obey angling regulations and habitat protection bylaws, guidelines and regulations, since they were designed to protect the fish and their habitat. You should also Observe, Record and Report violations of the regulations by phoning 1-800-663-9453.

• Rainbow Trout are highly vulnerable to human activities, which alter stream flow, increase sedimentation, reduce cover or raise water temperature. If you own property bordering a stream or lake, try to protect or plant trees and shrubs beside the water to provide food and shade, and prevent the banks from eroding.

• Form a group of water stewards and volunteer to monitor local water quality or restore natural streamside vegetation.

• Be aware that what you dump into your septic tank or roadside storm drain may find its way into streams or lakes. Help keep water quality high by using detergents and soaps that are chlorine and phosphate free, and do not dump harsh chemicals, such as bleach, paint thinner or antifreeze, into drains.

For more info see:
Ministry of Fisheries
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca

Beaver Lodge Forest

This is a photo I took of the forest at the end of my street. It is one of my New Years Resolutions to walk there twice a week.

Even though sometimes I have a hard time getting to it, I am always glad to be there once I take one deep breath of the earthy, fresh air.

The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands is 1028 acres of forest located within the Campbell River City Limits. The land was a gift to the City in 1931 by The Elk River Timber Company. They have been a valued natural playground for wildlife and residence alike ever since.

In 1993, The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands became BC’s first experimental forest to be protected under provincial legislation.

It is beautiful at all times of the year, and last fall, I was inspired to paint a slice of this inspiring space...

Beaver Lodge Forest
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March

The destruction and loss of natural habitats that support plant and animal life is a major threat to the health and diversity of our planet.

Protecting natural areas is one way we can preserve biodiversity and help to maintain some of the natural processes that will ensure we continue to have clean air and water, for many generations to come.

A mere 7% of Canada’s vast countryside is safeguarded against threats to its ecological integrity. Globally, Canada ranks only 61st in terms of the percentage of protected lands!

For more info see:
Nature Canada
http://www.naturecanada.ca

New Sail

New Sail

Oil on Canvas

Melissa March

For some years my Mom lived on a sail boat. A beautiful wooden explorer boat, designed especially for the West Coast.

It's pretty neat having your home with you where ever you go, but that luxury comes at the cost of some of the niceties most of us are used to.

It's volunteer simplicity at its best. Putting you immediately in sync with the seasons, and all that nature throws your way.

Spending time on the sea, gave me a new respect and appreciation for the immense power of the wind.

The wind really is always blowing, being harnessed and used wisely all over the world. Canada is no exception, as we move toward leaving a smaller eco footprint, wind power is becoming more widespread and accessible to everyone.

WIND POWER

The burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is, there are alternatives.

The use of Wind generated power is on the rise, and for good reason. There are many benefits to using this renewable resource.

THE BENEFITS OF WIND ENERGY:

The Environment
•Wind energy preserves water resources.
•Wind energy does not produce any harmful waterborne emissions, or
toxic solid wastes.
•Wind energy is completely renewable, highly reliable and very efficient.
•Wind energy offsets the emissions of other energy sources, thus reducing our contribution to global climate change.

The Community
•Wind energy is compatible with other land uses and can serve as a boost for rural economic development.
•Wind energy is good for employment and job creation: it is estimated that the Canadian wind industry employed 3,785 people in 2006.
•Wind energy supports economic growth: in 2006 the wind industry contributed $1.6 billion to Canada Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
•Wind energy generates tourism for local communities.
•Wind energy creates alternative revenues for farmers who lease their land.

The Consumer
•Wind energy is one of the most economical sources of new large-scale electricity generation.
•Wind energy is becoming even more economic to produce as economies of scale are reached and as electricity prices increase.

I get really excited about the progress we are making as we choose new ways to move forward. Wind generated power is only one great example. If you are interested in learning more, please see what the experts have to say:

Canada Wind Energy Association
http://www.canwea.ca

When you are on their site, look for info on "small wind" to see if it might be a good edition to your home or business.

Not Quite A Beginning Place

Not Quite a Beginning Place
Oil on Canvas
by Melissa March

This painting is wrought with meaning for me. It is the place my ancestors first stepped foot upon Canadian soil. This is a view of the vast water they crossed to get here, and symbolizes hardship, triumph, and a hardy tenacious spirit that seems to have lived down through many generations.

It also reflects a simpler time, when we were more apt to live in relative communion with our surroundings. It is a portrait of the beauty found in the day to day, and the ways we adapt and harness the wildness that swirls all around us.

I will touch on the topic of wind power in another post, but today I would like to leave you with a touch tone to the past, and perhaps also the future...

Home Made Laundry Soap

1 cup Vinegar (white)

1 cup Baking Soda

1 cup Washing Soda

1/4 cup liquid castile soap
 


* Mix well and store in sealed container.


* I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stir in the washing soda, then the baking soda, then add the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure
 the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding).

This soap makes the laundry feel like it is fresh off the line. It's easy, it's economical, it is good for the environment, and great for anyone who has sensitive skin.

Happy Washing!

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout. Beautiful. They are what I most often catch. I was surprised to find that they can look quite different from one another, depending on what river they live in, even if they are from the same strain.

Here is a collage of a custom piece, done from photos. The pictures were taken in a magical place, that will remain undisclosed...

Cutthroat Trout
Oil on Canvas by Melissa March

Cutthroat Trout

The coastal cutthroat is a blue-listed species, which means the species is considered vulnerable in British Columbia. Several populations, particularly those on the East Coast of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, are in serious decline, and many runs are already extinct. Their dependence on small streams for
spawning and rearing makes them especially vulnerable, as small streams are easily altered or destroyed and their protection is often overlooked in planning residential, agricultural, and industrial developments or during forest harvesting

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Since cutthroat trout are very susceptible to over-fishing, using a barbless hook and practicing catch
and release are recommended.

• It is important to obey angling regulations and habitat protection bylaws, guidelines and regulations, since they were designed to protect the fish and their habitat. You should also Observe, Record and Report violations of the regulations by phoning 1-800-663-9453.
• Cutthroat trout are highly vulnerable to urban development and agricultural practices that remove the vegetation that creates streamside shade, captures excess nutrients from fertilizers and manure, and prevents erosion.
• Form a group of water stewards and volunteer to monitor local water quality and other habitat changes in lakes or streams.
• Be aware that what you dump into your septic tank or roadside storm drain may find its way into streams or lakes. Help keep water quality high by using detergents and soaps which are phosphate and chlorine free, and do not dump harsh chemicals, such as bleach, paint thinners or antifreeze, into drains.

For more info see:
Ministry of Fisheries
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca

Brown Trout

Brown Trout
Oil on Canvas by Melissa March

The play of light, the hidden life, the grace, and the fascinating inclusions of colour, are just a few things that make fish one of my favorite subjects. Their beauty is really something to behold.

There are only a few places on Vancouver Island that these creatures dwell, and I have never caught one.... which might be why I like to paint them so much. Painting them allows me to inspect them closely, and marvel at their arresting magnificence. It's a way to stroke their glimmering flesh, and dive deep into the vivid, speckled patterns, laid with precision across each scale.

I am in awe of them.

Brown Trout are a species that were introduced to Canadian waters around the turn of the century.

They are incompatible with native species such as Cutthroat Trout and Gila Trout. The protection of native species requires segregation of them from Brown Trout.

WHAT ARE THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES?

Alien species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss and degradation. When alien species move in, native species' populations often decrease in parts of their natural range. In the worst-case scenario, the native species become extinct. The number of plant and animal species may remain the same in an area, as common or widespread species replace unique, local species, but the integrity and vitality of natural ecosystems is damaged.

Alien species affect native species through: competition for limited resources including space, light, moisture, food, breeding sites and pollinators; predation.

For more info see:
Ministry of Fisheries
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca

the work of dreaming

Since my inauguration into the world of fly fishing, I have come to understand, there is a common dream... a goal shared by young and old alike. It seems there is a mecca for anglers.

Chile. Home of the elusive Brown. (among others)

It's not at all difficult to understand the appeal. It has all the components a great adventure should, an alluring destination, a quest of the heart, the promise of triumph, and just a hint of prestige... I will confess I hope to share in this dream, and make the journey someday (hopefully in the company of my favorite angler, He's been busy dreaming big and showing me the way).

For me, the journey is a way off, so in the mean time I've been busy painting the picture, and engineering a clear vision. I like to think of dreaming as important work in it's own right... I like to call it manifesting.

Here's a glimpse of a journey I've been on, over the past few weeks, as I build my foundation for the pilgrimage that awaits.

Stay tuned for a look at the finished Piece!