MLH Art Board prep ...

In answer to those who have asked: no, I don't paint on canvas, generally. Rather, I prefer the stability and texture of painting on mahogany or oak G2S 3/4" plywood. Painting on the undulating grain patterns connects me to my furniture and wood-working roots. It's an Earth 'tree' thing, that makes sense to me, and I really like how the wood grain pattern glimmers through when the painting is done.

I'll spend several hours selecting out the stock from the local lumber yard and then they will trim it down to my specifications.

Later, in prep, I sand the boards with coarse grain paper, do a prime top coat to see where and how the grain 'bleeds', sand it down again with fine grain paper, apply another prime coat, sand again, and then get on with it ... PAINT.

Serious Fun.

The Sun Rises over Lake Ontario

Without a doubt one of the never-ending delights of living on one of the Great Lakes of North America is the perpetual daily interaction with a 'straight line' horizon. I've been shooting, painting and interpreting this phenomenon for several decades now. 

Every day, every sunrise, is different. It is a constant reminder of not only the often startling Beauty of the Natural world, but the Majesty. 

The fiery orb of the Sun not only illuminates our world, but heats it. Through photosynthesis, most life, as we know it, survives and thrives. From a distance of 150 million km or 93 million miles away, sun light travels to our home planet, Earth , in a breath-taking 8 minutes and 19 seconds ... 93 MILLION miles in 8:19 minutes .... Wow.

It's relative size is deceptive to the naked eye. If, for example, the Sun was a door, the Earth would be the size of a nickel.

'Awestruck' - oil on board, by m.l.holton (2007)

I remain in awe.

Infinite Daydreams: Reflections on the Sublime Imaginary - Art Gallery of Burlington

 Delighted to be included in this Group show 

at the Art Gallery of Burlington.

My interpretation of the sublime ... 

a gentle sunrise on the lake  ...  Lake Ontario, Burlington

Exhibit 15: Art in the Workplace - Hamilton

Thrilled to hear that I've been chosen again for the group show at McMaster Innovation Place.
Opens August and runs until November.

Delivered the works for hanging yesterday, July 10th, and was gratified to both hear and see the delight from those people receiving the items. These very small moments affirm what I do daily. It is gratifying to see that they were visibly moved by what they saw - it pleased them - made them happy for just that milli-second. And that pleased me.

Joy is an underestimated human emotion that radiates throughout our being.
It fills us with the sanctity, wonder and awe of Life.
What more could we possibly want? - - - Come See!

Grand Opening Gala - Thursday, AUGUST 7th, 2014 

7:00-9:00pm 

at the Atrium in McMaster Innovation Place 

175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton. MAP/Directions.

 

Exhibit: Artists

Artist Statement

".. Sometimes you just can't take yourself too seriously ... The following selection is from a recent series called, 'Regression' ... Playful patterns emerge from careful placement of dollar store decals and cheesy rhinestones. Serious Fun. Google Margaret Lindsay Holton to learn more about this award-winning, mid-career, Golden Horseshoe artist, or contact the artist directly, at 'mlhpro' at 'hotmail' dot 'com'. "

New Paintings, Spring 2014

The first was inspired by a painting I saw done by local artist, Claudette Losier, (she's a great painter!) Trying a new technique, of 'rollers', I did several 'grounds' then painted over ... Lotsa fun!

Frozen Lake by m.l.holton

 The second was a return to 'my way' with brushes and metallic gold/silver pens ... This photo repro doesn't quite do it justice, but it will give you all the sense of where I'm going with this ...  Entitled: 'Dreamtime'

'Dreamtime' by m.l.holton

If interested in purchase, contact me for size, price and availability. (Both of these are LARGE canvases.) The first one is framed in a silver wood frame, the second is going for framing and I haven't decided yet if it will be 'black' or 'silver' ....

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

I'm totally besotted. Went last weekend to the local Kite Festival and spent four hours enchanted by the mechanics of 'flight'. Aside from that, there is sheer pleasure in just holding a string and playing with the wind - and watching wonderfully colourful, often exotic, kites soar upward. Pure Deight.  Photo essay ensues ...

Initially, there was a lot of 'trial and error' ... 

Mothers & Fathers worked tirelessly 

to get their children's kites' air-borne ....

The satisfaction of staying aloft was an unbeatable feeling ...

Wonderful whimsical Full-On-Spring day. Blissful. 

Published too now on Raise the Hammer, with some helpful links.

DVSA - 44th Annual Auction, April 12th, 7pm

44th Annual Art Auction

Dundas Valley School of Art

Saturday, April 12, 2014 -  7 pm

Presenting over 1200 original works of art from established and new artists. 

 Oils, Pastels, Watercolours, Sculpture, Pottery, Jewellery.

Free Previews:

Thursday April 10 & Friday April 11, 9am – 9pm

Saturday, April 12, 9 am – 4 pm

Silent Auction bids accepted during these hours

Auction Admission - $25 in advance

$30 at the door

21 Ogilvie Street, Dundas, Ontario

MAP & DVSA Website LINK

** I'm in with a photo-collage this year:  'Silk & Satin' - - Find it! :)  **
Update: The Hamilton Spectator story

 

Regression: In Four Parts - (Mixed Media)

Regression: Part 1 - Time & Tide - Mixed Media

Regression: Part 2 - Whirlwind

Regression: Part 3 - Spiderboy

Regression: Part 4 - Circle of Pooh 

Fun one. Mixed media and YES, those are dollar store stickers & stick-on rhinestones

 mounted on painted canvas ... framed ... 

Sometimes you've just gotta PLAY & stop taking yourself so SERIOUSLY.  seriously. 

Alternate naming for this grouping could be 'Cabin Fever'
... it's been an exceptionally LONG winter. 

I haven't decide to sell the originals of these at present. 

But might make high-quality prints available when they come back from the framer.

Interested? Let me know. 

(Would be GREAT for a kids room ... or an 'innovative office' enviro ... )

Fine Art Society of Milton presents - 'From Heart to Hand'

The Holcim Gallery at the Milton Centre for the Arts 

will host this annual members show from the Fine Art Society of Milton,

'From Heart to Hand'

Opening Night Reception: 

Thursday, April 3rd, 6:30 to 8:30pm. 

Expect a diverse mixture of new art works crafted over this exceptionally long winter!

Admission and parking is FREE at the Milton Centre for the Arts.  

 Holcim Gallery in the Milton Centre for the Arts

ALL WELCOME! 

1010 Main St E, Milton, Ontario, Canada - 

(30 minutes from Toronto or Hamilton, off Hwy 401)

For additional info, phone:  1-905-875-5399

See you there!

Update: Great night. Lovely food, music, turn-out and ambiance. 
Plus, The Milton Champion did a story on the show. 

Puttin' on the Ritz @ Grimsby Public Art Gallery

Puttin' on the Ritz
Fundraising Auction ** & Gala Event
Saturday March 29 @ 7pm


Hey There Daddy-O!
Get yourself all dolled up and put a wiggle on for an evening of art, music and a swanky good time! Tickets $35 available now at the Gallery! * Silent & Live auctions * Live musical entertainment  *Hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar *Door prizes & much more!

Puttin’ on the Ritz is the Grimsby Public Art Gallery's biggest fundraising event of the year; proceeds from the auction will support our educational programs and care of the art in the Permanent Collection. As always, there will be an exciting array of items up for  auction - art, collectables, gift certificates, floral arrangements and more! Regional artists will be lending their talents to the cause, as will the many generous individuals and businesses in our community.

Auction Preview Friday March 28 @ 7pm
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
18 Carnegie Lane, Grimsby, ON
905-945-3246 v gpag@grimsby.ca

**I have two items in this FUN fundraising event - Rob Ford's iCloud (hee!) and POW-WOW: A Winter Sunrise - complete with lotsa 'hot air' - and glistenin' embedded rhinestones ;) - See you there!