tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50697137411104952432024-03-05T11:08:57.381-08:00Sheila Norgate, Visual Artist and Recovering Nice GirlSheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-53717345010357922562011-10-03T15:33:00.000-07:002011-10-03T15:40:39.125-07:00it's all in/on the tools<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdbUtdpiwJWLvJDOXdfSfhULoi9L9-4FmOWP9arwTdMj1Ec1cXCNt4NcpChkQ67yRUzVihJrunqSRRMKt6OHHqzNgkXwila4zMPKfunQJE6UhpugTY39VEB46GEv41OiVDXDPa-bacis/s1600/15+palette+knife.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdbUtdpiwJWLvJDOXdfSfhULoi9L9-4FmOWP9arwTdMj1Ec1cXCNt4NcpChkQ67yRUzVihJrunqSRRMKt6OHHqzNgkXwila4zMPKfunQJE6UhpugTY39VEB46GEv41OiVDXDPa-bacis/s400/15+palette+knife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659398430370570146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I would like to say that this magnificent image is a painting I'm working on.<br /><br />But alas, I will come clean and say that it's only what ended up on a palette knife just before I scraped it off yesterday.<br /><br />Inadvertent, accidental, beautiful, unfettered and completely outside of my conscious intention.<br /><br />The best art comes from that.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-27965656172506574622011-09-11T09:22:00.000-07:002011-09-11T09:34:58.322-07:00been gone so long<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlljoD22HmEuPSlmKovTBMQ0vhp06WwBg-W_aoexCQ9LoWojY6VNnYDLxj3eQAnhHotmleRBjhrfrwRpBUG_Er-SnVwHfhyphenhyphenxYvVinfNBOPy8kCA3CX-sE1BuRMCeqhnzK2-RW_gD1EJk/s1600/12+fingers+too+big+sept+11+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlljoD22HmEuPSlmKovTBMQ0vhp06WwBg-W_aoexCQ9LoWojY6VNnYDLxj3eQAnhHotmleRBjhrfrwRpBUG_Er-SnVwHfhyphenhyphenxYvVinfNBOPy8kCA3CX-sE1BuRMCeqhnzK2-RW_gD1EJk/s320/12+fingers+too+big+sept+11+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651140012938689250" border="0" /></a>I have been remiss in the blogging department. Experts say that one should really blog at least once each week to even HOPE to be recognized by the search engines. I could come up with many terrific excuses, such as....my fingers suddenly became so large that it was impossible to type. But that would only lead to skepticism in addition to not being recognized by the search engines.<br /><br />But I am going to make a concerted effort to blog more often.<br />It might be good for me.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-64928712973242587962011-05-23T21:05:00.001-07:002011-05-23T21:16:22.487-07:00show at Agnes Bugera Gallery in Edmonton<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sb63fekIVgCPHX9DcpEwjaPDPuB4K_QWx001gk4FMFP7-ujb1y4uo1TLj8u5_pHeWZuHSSoBSES4K8Mv59-OsDttIhRRDth2kn2z-11KzCOHRJER3KBW_P7UqBbzd1oy4ScYUIWq9Ng/s1600/12+bugera+installation+may+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sb63fekIVgCPHX9DcpEwjaPDPuB4K_QWx001gk4FMFP7-ujb1y4uo1TLj8u5_pHeWZuHSSoBSES4K8Mv59-OsDttIhRRDth2kn2z-11KzCOHRJER3KBW_P7UqBbzd1oy4ScYUIWq9Ng/s400/12+bugera+installation+may+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610129196755347106" border="0" /></a>I flew out to Edmonton this past saturday to attend the opening of my two person show at <a href="http://www.agnesbugeragallery.com/news.aspx">Agnes Bugera Gallery</a>. Thankfully, not everyone had left town for the long weekend, and there was a steady stream of people stopping by.<br />I met Janice Ryan who had written a great review of the show for the <a href="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/Eclectic+often+chaotic+works+Norgate+Hildebrand+featured+Edmonton+show/4810064/story.html">Edmonton Journal</a>.<br /><br />It was great to have some meaningful conversations with people about the work.<br /><br />A good time was had by all.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-33565007786511432702011-05-10T13:30:00.001-07:002011-05-10T13:40:25.712-07:00the best laid plans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewtVn5mPZtyRhKQhjURoab2LseYuXaf2CeFfGQooartlAi0tpjKvYcZYQ1W6AsIwc97tZ2Xry8Sw9JW5d13IwOmrwTVRBEAtQc8YUX6hwIJW1AH29b_hylg_6zFU7hyEzFde3HpxaziY/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewtVn5mPZtyRhKQhjURoab2LseYuXaf2CeFfGQooartlAi0tpjKvYcZYQ1W6AsIwc97tZ2Xry8Sw9JW5d13IwOmrwTVRBEAtQc8YUX6hwIJW1AH29b_hylg_6zFU7hyEzFde3HpxaziY/s200/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605188449745582626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv7J6n1WZBYA1NWCs-8sKrWFGYHmmORzJ_pNoFNITITPgjdO69b45J9h3sVfFBzJGeipRpbk6iEjNvB37O8OQYE_MDksJ31n8xkCmsLEBj-97lfgab4wmkP6vvumX29e0AYUqx1WFr8Q/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv7J6n1WZBYA1NWCs-8sKrWFGYHmmORzJ_pNoFNITITPgjdO69b45J9h3sVfFBzJGeipRpbk6iEjNvB37O8OQYE_MDksJ31n8xkCmsLEBj-97lfgab4wmkP6vvumX29e0AYUqx1WFr8Q/s200/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605188374988269650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLZWnai3-4UGnb5D0Xs27DEo4Oov4Aiq1ER1Svw_jQ0von34ICv5J5IxCK-ml6A-a6YMKAoAyf6N4Ded5RBqhysNdFO4At_Cm_muJEMarkQLpo1jGilgzubC31h8qT5-vF06FaojISE/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLZWnai3-4UGnb5D0Xs27DEo4Oov4Aiq1ER1Svw_jQ0von34ICv5J5IxCK-ml6A-a6YMKAoAyf6N4Ded5RBqhysNdFO4At_Cm_muJEMarkQLpo1jGilgzubC31h8qT5-vF06FaojISE/s200/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605188296936051810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyKHeGG6058xnVpdG1wBAIZq8JY-CmC3dhuqH2hV1rDzKA8mCHRecx7FqJ6K7xsSG2XeE4liXp67eoHUrIbq49p2kyV0Wjcmt_K5GipC0MyhV8tW2qAZZqDks306NDaIZdwz2n6IyrF0/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyKHeGG6058xnVpdG1wBAIZq8JY-CmC3dhuqH2hV1rDzKA8mCHRecx7FqJ6K7xsSG2XeE4liXp67eoHUrIbq49p2kyV0Wjcmt_K5GipC0MyhV8tW2qAZZqDks306NDaIZdwz2n6IyrF0/s200/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605188115367786610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM68a7U8kkKKjq7b-4E5lZ-UTh_QT1ItTKLoGsnE4S53WWzDhEg-ke9e_WQ0820to7moFHDKUF77NFSA0KADjuXUFd9qiFsn8_6RhnzbGVvkbujTp98vFcDICPb7fRVskQVmEot7TU3Yk/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM68a7U8kkKKjq7b-4E5lZ-UTh_QT1ItTKLoGsnE4S53WWzDhEg-ke9e_WQ0820to7moFHDKUF77NFSA0KADjuXUFd9qiFsn8_6RhnzbGVvkbujTp98vFcDICPb7fRVskQVmEot7TU3Yk/s200/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605187776294799378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Believe it or not, this is one canvas having gone through an extreme makeover artist edition. I started in March with this great idea: a collage of a vintage image of a woman looking very sad, juxtaposed with a dog leaving the area. It made perfect sense to me. However, as you can see, somewhere it all got lost in translation, and finally, just today in fact, I ended up with what I feel is a really good painting.<br />Phew!<br />Good thing I have learned a thing or two about surrender.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-16548410163709849002011-04-27T12:29:00.000-07:002011-04-27T21:49:54.632-07:00too busy to blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin56T-SRIzT4Igr-lZV7KP1xuOm6sZAuhg3XNIy1RL5JaGgHLmdhHfBbSvDkFjhP69ZL5VuhM-bGmv9lIO3MICPTxl-7R1Qj9_p-OSQzVnM41ODRjZDZOhqFY8hp8rn7EpS6M0ZkO1oR4/s1600/11-07+around+she+goes.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin56T-SRIzT4Igr-lZV7KP1xuOm6sZAuhg3XNIy1RL5JaGgHLmdhHfBbSvDkFjhP69ZL5VuhM-bGmv9lIO3MICPTxl-7R1Qj9_p-OSQzVnM41ODRjZDZOhqFY8hp8rn7EpS6M0ZkO1oR4/s400/11-07+around+she+goes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600405877319223378" border="0" /></a>I suppose it's a really good problem to have...being too busy painting, to blog about painting. There's a great line in an even greater old movie (<span style="font-style: italic;">'the more the merrier'</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">1943</span>) where Charles Coburn's character says that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who write in diaries, and those who are out doing the things the other people write about in their diaries.<br />I was struck by this little passage, and even went so far as to write it down in my journal.<br />Oh dear, I suppose that makes me someone who writes in her diary about those who are out doing the things that people like me write in their diaries about. Oh well.<br /><br />I have been very busy preparing for a two-person show coming in a few weeks at <a href="http://www.agnesbugeragallery.com/index.aspx">Agnes Bugera Gallery</a> in Edmonton. That's my story about why I haven't been blogging more these past many weeks and I am sticking to it.<br /><br />Around she goes.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-20223825376842755982011-03-06T15:46:00.001-08:002011-03-06T15:51:12.039-08:00it ain't over until the amply proportioned woman sings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU72DRvGeQGQuRQqXZGqeFR8lUmcMnrZ-4rO9icmTi3VsnEeJ-AsCkUVxfpf6rkJl-DvjBTNp2dCIvq-lUzgJYRU_QGwAjQt793KiDKYb8mJjmZ8Eg7B1YqzYghb9Uj7iYtMX3sOzi4ro/s1600/9a+driver+error+%2528early%2529.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU72DRvGeQGQuRQqXZGqeFR8lUmcMnrZ-4rO9icmTi3VsnEeJ-AsCkUVxfpf6rkJl-DvjBTNp2dCIvq-lUzgJYRU_QGwAjQt793KiDKYb8mJjmZ8Eg7B1YqzYghb9Uj7iYtMX3sOzi4ro/s400/9a+driver+error+%2528early%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581117846613614082" border="0" /></a>Here's another pair of 'before and afters'. A lot of water under this bridge for sure. And time too. I started this one in January and it's now March. It's not that I work on them continuously, but more that they hang around in various stages of dress (or undress, depending on how well things are going) and I go back into them with fresher eyes. As I said a while back, I am always working on more than one canvas.<br /><br />I love how this one came out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qu7axSEpnXDEXaWtEYl4AIPSPL4UOClCsT__RMbeYQHw-nPhvH-uNb1QokJqCE0lkjJyWlDuHiDSH08HdoSt8wSd7bgqO-F9QKztgc-oRaOri8FLYmrWp6kghPqyVwXZpcjve7bRVJc/s1600/9b+driver+error+%2528finished%2529.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qu7axSEpnXDEXaWtEYl4AIPSPL4UOClCsT__RMbeYQHw-nPhvH-uNb1QokJqCE0lkjJyWlDuHiDSH08HdoSt8wSd7bgqO-F9QKztgc-oRaOri8FLYmrWp6kghPqyVwXZpcjve7bRVJc/s400/9b+driver+error+%2528finished%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581117738201485554" border="0" /></a>Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-41699137574588766672011-02-27T13:14:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:28:49.185-08:00Because she has a song<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97pWjOV-HNylJM2JXDmpxSScIWSaCqvksv_YWbp3t-cSNuZTdMCJlvCLzBbgnOtG2iNHYgonl0X1Rv8JuwlWxGu2wTa4eDXcfS-t60QvX1L3oik8Mds8q0hbtMj_f6tT1nHt2HgYTc4k/s1600/8a+early+because+she+has+a+song+feb+11.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97pWjOV-HNylJM2JXDmpxSScIWSaCqvksv_YWbp3t-cSNuZTdMCJlvCLzBbgnOtG2iNHYgonl0X1Rv8JuwlWxGu2wTa4eDXcfS-t60QvX1L3oik8Mds8q0hbtMj_f6tT1nHt2HgYTc4k/s400/8a+early+because+she+has+a+song+feb+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578481925576338786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFRKr_78PjTCRi1lFVF3SQlS97stMSSMvOgSfT1vSUPMW7jrtouexZTXZ1cMXQkYCdxiwtRT3kI2a92FkoWAfJkHA8tO47mAH5aSiWfZfual3Aqr8Cw57oActg2nBHacB2gv1iw0mtIE/s1600/8b+because+she+has+a+song+feb+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFRKr_78PjTCRi1lFVF3SQlS97stMSSMvOgSfT1vSUPMW7jrtouexZTXZ1cMXQkYCdxiwtRT3kI2a92FkoWAfJkHA8tO47mAH5aSiWfZfual3Aqr8Cw57oActg2nBHacB2gv1iw0mtIE/s400/8b+because+she+has+a+song+feb+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578481803605295090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song" </span><span>(Maya Angelou)</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br />I've posted two images, an early one from when I was just starting out on this canvas a few weeks ago, and below it, the finished painting. As often happens, there isn't much from the first few marks that has survived the heat of the creative fire. But one thing that came early and stayed late - all the way through to be exact - was that singing bird.<br /><br />I expect she must have quite a song.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-16863570805023149192011-02-13T13:40:00.000-08:002011-02-13T13:51:12.624-08:00HEARTSPEAK event a lovely affair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Vvv6sanNn17Rd21WDXFgJpcZmbTl6sqmj21J-wm5cIzhPM5MoRslnLKHFZoq7a4189brwFKZCLRV8C2xP4MTUXPRM2tVSMyYwdnH2ucvLx26YjmBnRwzDB4_H65q1OaYag-gPoXzDA/s1600/7a+feb+2011.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Vvv6sanNn17Rd21WDXFgJpcZmbTl6sqmj21J-wm5cIzhPM5MoRslnLKHFZoq7a4189brwFKZCLRV8C2xP4MTUXPRM2tVSMyYwdnH2ucvLx26YjmBnRwzDB4_H65q1OaYag-gPoXzDA/s400/7a+feb+2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573294339602844306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB79yQ3lmVl5wfI4Eu9VndAqE1Lnqdqlzsi_xxnXWV1m41Z3bUpMqQGfalQ03SzUAzzuRHRoDWrWv0-CV2NmyBd8SwAXrpKAGqgBpVFMvxHIhUbPJvu8E9Niav71Tyic0PZEHCZ1SBPjw/s1600/7b+feb+2011.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB79yQ3lmVl5wfI4Eu9VndAqE1Lnqdqlzsi_xxnXWV1m41Z3bUpMqQGfalQ03SzUAzzuRHRoDWrWv0-CV2NmyBd8SwAXrpKAGqgBpVFMvxHIhUbPJvu8E9Niav71Tyic0PZEHCZ1SBPjw/s400/7b+feb+2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573294143235369954" border="0" /></a>Well, the weather outside was frightful, but the company was so delightful as those who braved the pelting rain yesterday found out at my annual <span style="font-style: italic;">heartspeak </span>event. We had a lovely time. Even the Barbies were into it.<br /><br /><br />I have posted the unsold work <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/small-works-for-sale/">here </a>on my website.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-37974430288756129902011-02-09T20:51:00.000-08:002011-02-10T11:36:45.301-08:00headed for winnipeg, ends up in saskatoon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkFxWb-sbR6gpghgE45-sAXlD1zcx_VXlkbVHnd7JSB4CIExHIKZVF9wSQAYiwco6vVaetu3mazY6P-PVFhYG-K7LKfYat-OpMfe_RQYiUwLH8PoEQp47f0FsVx3QVf6ijIcLqb0uqN0/s1600/6a+-+feb+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkFxWb-sbR6gpghgE45-sAXlD1zcx_VXlkbVHnd7JSB4CIExHIKZVF9wSQAYiwco6vVaetu3mazY6P-PVFhYG-K7LKfYat-OpMfe_RQYiUwLH8PoEQp47f0FsVx3QVf6ijIcLqb0uqN0/s400/6a+-+feb+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571920761937148962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDCUB1Nb27TO_vDvmhiEhUodpLH5U-TPmKTEe1cpozV2bAE8mxI4_0vGu7ZSR2GL4Hn_-9p91Cw_IcMygGK6eMpVXEweq8b_4roNG0sY7zfya4XFh5frDywpV9uEIzNY3Di1IQzaapVE/s1600/6b+-+feb+2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDCUB1Nb27TO_vDvmhiEhUodpLH5U-TPmKTEe1cpozV2bAE8mxI4_0vGu7ZSR2GL4Hn_-9p91Cw_IcMygGK6eMpVXEweq8b_4roNG0sY7zfya4XFh5frDywpV9uEIzNY3Di1IQzaapVE/s400/6b+-+feb+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571920629205357506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love it when the unexpected happens while I'm working; when I discover something willy nilly; when I set out for Winnipeg and end up in Saskatoon. Call it divine will, kismet, or a favorite of artists around the world - the <span style="font-style: italic;">happy accident.<br /><br /></span>I use a lot of stamps in my work and with the exception of commercially prepared alphabet letters, I make them myself. I make them out of cheap and cheerful and decidedly non-precious, neo-crude, peri-conceptual materials like styrofoam and cardboard.<br /><br />In the first image here, I used a large cardboard heart to apply paint early on in the process. The thing about stamps loaded with acrylic paint, is that after you've pressed them down onto the canvas, when you go to pull the stamp away, some of the paint gets sucked back off<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and out, away from the canvas and forms little peaks and valleys which when dry, remain as little peaks and valleys. Of course one could smooth it all out while the paint is still wet, but that would mean missing at least half the fun of the printmaking endeavour, which simply put, is that you never know for sure what you have until you have it, and no matter how many times you use the same printing block/stamp, the results will be different every time.<br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />This painting is called <span style="font-style: italic;">"heart in hand" </span><span>and it will be in my <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/upcoming/"><span style="font-style: italic;">HEARTSPEAK </span></a>studio event this Saturday. I've enlarged a section of it to point out the aforementioned peaks and valleys</span> effect which became very visible after many delicate washes of colour, rubbed on with a damp cloth. What thrilled me this time, is that I ended up with an effect which is very reminiscent of the systems of arteries and veins that course through and around the heart. I couldn't have made that point with any more poignancy if I had tried.<br /><br />Another happy accident. Another afternoon in Saskatoon.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-71011973533502104102011-02-04T12:46:00.000-08:002011-02-04T13:27:08.581-08:00what makes a painting a painting?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAG5RhgIZOxk2RTVXKMUddx1om8QhOmOWDa_04BiZVrKDsYTM5wDDmH1s94B0i5F5NEviDWZlXJyeM-cYJhyuHAyk3GLG_wkc2w8aYrYnGkWmepBidhAz4tx829yUZs5Epx9K3YVZG1mA/s1600/feb+4+2011++b.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAG5RhgIZOxk2RTVXKMUddx1om8QhOmOWDa_04BiZVrKDsYTM5wDDmH1s94B0i5F5NEviDWZlXJyeM-cYJhyuHAyk3GLG_wkc2w8aYrYnGkWmepBidhAz4tx829yUZs5Epx9K3YVZG1mA/s400/feb+4+2011++b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569940306017351570" border="0" /></a>I was working on this little piece today and I couldn't help but notice the sheer volume of paint on the backdrop surface. This is where I discharge excess paint from my brushes, or mix colours as I go.<br /><br />Since a picture is worth a thousand words, the second shot below, pans out to show the small painting imbedded in the backdrop.<br /><br />Looking at it, one might well ask just exactly how much paint is <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">not</span></span> on the painting itself. And then one might further ask, is the 'intentional' painting (the one I set out to paint) really any better than the unintentional painting. The intentional painting benefits from conscious effort, a trained eye, and a certain amount of discipline. But the other one, the one I didn't mean to paint, perhaps benefits from <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span></span> having those very same qualities.<br /><br />Over the years, I've had many offers from patrons wishing to buy my background wall(s).<br />Are they on to something?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TGe8AltlaHdQ7eYIAWgpmjYg0sBxBI-fqv6whA80qC1eJ6fdeuEYwdd0g63PrsveyW_iHcGr77nOrh3q8Zi1zSPV-hmyOr5c9MCn8_5neZx2rLfXlujpL-GNKPH_tYkohNczroKBDSc/s1600/feb+4+2011++a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TGe8AltlaHdQ7eYIAWgpmjYg0sBxBI-fqv6whA80qC1eJ6fdeuEYwdd0g63PrsveyW_iHcGr77nOrh3q8Zi1zSPV-hmyOr5c9MCn8_5neZx2rLfXlujpL-GNKPH_tYkohNczroKBDSc/s400/feb+4+2011++a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569939740405112642" border="0" /></a>Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-22609356104761880502011-01-31T10:25:00.001-08:002011-01-31T10:42:27.697-08:00a bedroom is a studio by another name<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo-EawYUuFAQgaFBIHtnwWbu1Ol6kg6KK0G7_904JWE8RdwsBvD8iIP6wTob4IjremIPyJzXLAOBG6h-szwgTTwKCurpfSPyqZ6lnxQGNrIEHnEmgI5k4orCv-ygDIPypD92lhsw2uEU/s1600/jan+31+underway.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo-EawYUuFAQgaFBIHtnwWbu1Ol6kg6KK0G7_904JWE8RdwsBvD8iIP6wTob4IjremIPyJzXLAOBG6h-szwgTTwKCurpfSPyqZ6lnxQGNrIEHnEmgI5k4orCv-ygDIPypD92lhsw2uEU/s400/jan+31+underway.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568418061306615042" border="0" /></a>Here's another painting underway. I always work on more than one at a time, sometimes as many as 4 or 5. And it's not like I have a big studio, you know, the huge manhattan loft fantasy with exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors, and controlled rent. No, I paint in a room in my house. A bedroom, to be exact.<br /><br />Years ago, one of my mentors, a Vancouver dealer, took me to the outskirts of the city to visit a painter in his studio. This fellow was very prolific, very professional, with a booming career. His work was courageous and cutting edge and filled with integrity.<br /><br />And yes, he painted in a bedroom out there in his modest suburban bungalow.<br /><br />I came across a great book a while back, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Inside-Painters-Studio-Joe-Fig/dp/1568988524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296498863&sr=1-1">Inside the Painter's Studio</a> </span>by Joe Fig. It's a series of interviews with, as you might have guessed, painters. This is Chuck Close:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"I can make art anywhere, any time....I mean, I know so many artists for whom having the perfect space is somehow essential. They spend years designing, building, outfitting the perfect space, and then when it is just about time to get to work, they'll sell that place and build another one. It seems more often than not, a way to keep from having to work. You know, once I have my back to the room, I could be anywhere. I could be in Sheila Norgate's bedroom."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br />OK, so I added that last bit. But really, I am so totally with Chuck on this one.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-52614900689542086952011-01-26T19:25:00.001-08:002011-01-26T20:29:34.221-08:00testing for done-ness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoD-RUFET9N3nWhkQy5c3kPOYsrThIPgpZ3LToSgIHiF1zMbD-D4HPFDRArivK1CrQndm19KJ887UjtzHXJdA5SBx8kOjZHAgFOIfq1YupK4i4j2MvTukHUW9KTaFPTXHWfKVvJhyphenhyphen_-Q/s1600/4-up+copy.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoD-RUFET9N3nWhkQy5c3kPOYsrThIPgpZ3LToSgIHiF1zMbD-D4HPFDRArivK1CrQndm19KJ887UjtzHXJdA5SBx8kOjZHAgFOIfq1YupK4i4j2MvTukHUW9KTaFPTXHWfKVvJhyphenhyphen_-Q/s320/4-up+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566701922634387986" border="0" /></a>Here's a painting under way. It's not done yet, and there's no telling what might happen as I stand there and continue to throw paint (and caution) to the wind. I won't know what will stay and what will go, until it's all over.<br /><br />It's a little like how I used to test spaghetti noodles for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">done-ness</span> back in the 1970s when my hostessing skills were still rather rudimentary.<br /><br />I would throw it on the ceiling.<br />If it stayed up there, it was done.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-3333193747260193022011-01-21T19:08:00.000-08:002011-01-21T19:43:30.783-08:00rose red<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq_2O6ZxCvW4AgpUhXbO6opanhSTZxQEOx8yBfLQ8jVs4DxlRDVNr2MmmUhIHJ736MUgGMtBtPzPNcdHE_ctPTPt8oh8bBScosCjpG2YbX6-luClTbwk4YJLEcej-AaPfKa1fJnDL6co/s1600/rose+red.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq_2O6ZxCvW4AgpUhXbO6opanhSTZxQEOx8yBfLQ8jVs4DxlRDVNr2MmmUhIHJ736MUgGMtBtPzPNcdHE_ctPTPt8oh8bBScosCjpG2YbX6-luClTbwk4YJLEcej-AaPfKa1fJnDL6co/s320/rose+red.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564848895679597762" border="0" /></a>An artist I have never met called me the other day to say she was selling some acrylic paint and was I interested. I asked her what brand it was, and when she said <span style="font-style: italic;">Stevenson's</span> I decided to go over. That's my brand and I'm sticking to it.<br /><br />She had some colours I normally use and some I don't normally use. I try to keep to a fairly limited palette to start off with, and that way I can make things up as I go. I am a better painter because of this practice, at least as far as colour theory goes. Not that I have ever been asked at a dinner party, to name the analogous hue closest to yellow-green or explain the merits of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tetradic</span> colour scheme.<br /><br />But she had some of this one colour <span style="font-style: italic;">"rose red". </span>There was something about it that grabbed me and I brought home all three jars.<br /><br />The woman who sold me the paint is gravely ill. She is unable to walk. She is moving away to be closer to family. She will never paint again.<br /><br />There was something about it that grabbed me.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-59862824505035495742011-01-20T18:53:00.000-08:002011-01-20T21:34:17.661-08:00It's all about the painting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-XKlHkjHzY7V0oui1pTkT-eZ1ZnYl_kD9gIwtjsWMWD1dZMQTHk1QQgw3AADDQVdI0VcgV-Ph2_lDL0IY2w7pSO_p3Vqaa6USYIf87DUhmfXu2xZPmAAIBm2dfo2_IGA-fk20B3JezI/s1600/heart+struck.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-XKlHkjHzY7V0oui1pTkT-eZ1ZnYl_kD9gIwtjsWMWD1dZMQTHk1QQgw3AADDQVdI0VcgV-Ph2_lDL0IY2w7pSO_p3Vqaa6USYIf87DUhmfXu2xZPmAAIBm2dfo2_IGA-fk20B3JezI/s400/heart+struck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564468517022257314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have decided to put my eggs in one basket as it were, and limit my blogospheric musings to matters more directly related to my practice as a painter.<br /><br />I know many of my women readers (there must be at least six) will be aghast at this turn of events, because they have been counting on me to provide charm and beauty tips as I conduct research for my new book, <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/dangerous-curves-the-book/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dangerous Curves</span></a>. But I promise to do everything in my power to get this book published as soon as possible or during my lifetime (which ever comes first) and will keep you posted when any large developments take place. In the meantime, do the best you can with what you have at hand.<br /><br />So above then, is a brand new painting called <span style="font-style: italic;">"love struck", </span>part of a body of work I am creating for my annual <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/upcoming/">Heartspeak</a> </span>studio show<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> I was having a chat with one of my dealers the other day, and she posited that my work had perhaps become a tad too cerebral for the average art buyer. She was referring in particular, to my troubled attachment to Sigmund Freud and offered in as sensitive a manner as she could muster, that not everyone gets it. So I have decided to rest my psychoanalytical case for a while at least, and just throw some paint around.<br /><br />It's a serious lot of fun.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-57940694884325228532011-01-03T19:30:00.000-08:002011-01-03T19:48:20.799-08:00Dogs Replacing Drugs in Therapy for Stress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub1grDcX1lGeYUdj2DYxMP4uCJ-OtFc92YBs8gZWvgmz1FQsEcM83s6ymvqKUWcrbyOBzzrEW76mmMkzWnAldlXgRu7ZRtPd4WG1IDsOz0j8Stbl3-0BzaRlSQOQvDEpUfF082nWaURs/s1600/dog+as+therapist+180.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub1grDcX1lGeYUdj2DYxMP4uCJ-OtFc92YBs8gZWvgmz1FQsEcM83s6ymvqKUWcrbyOBzzrEW76mmMkzWnAldlXgRu7ZRtPd4WG1IDsOz0j8Stbl3-0BzaRlSQOQvDEpUfF082nWaURs/s400/dog+as+therapist+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558172559680958802" border="0" /></a><br />I was reading just the other day in the Province newspaper, that the US government is spending millions of dollars on a pilot program that provides trained psychiatric service dogs for war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. According to the home page of the <a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/03/04/35297-dogs-go-the-distance-program-provides-service-to-veterans-with-ptsd/">US Army website</a>, "Medication works 50 percent of the time. Talk therapy alone, works 30 percent of the time, and dogs work 84.5 percent of the time."<br /><br />I could have told them this for the price of a handful of biscuits.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-24300305046470724912011-01-02T16:40:00.000-08:002011-01-02T16:58:06.168-08:00Wiener Dog Fills in for Baby Jesus in Bizarre Creche Incident<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSNrtg3YKH2_O40zfcztvNJd1KVDi5h-XPeXL4gyNFeiJMymS_iUw_UyQMkjImsh9QdJ5OusV_QYJeLVz08ktzHvcyxp9ZPmmhF3KBJM4DVX6WpOd9qcw8_o9ffgu4BDgUhW79V7t1rs/s1600/baby+jesus+substituted.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSNrtg3YKH2_O40zfcztvNJd1KVDi5h-XPeXL4gyNFeiJMymS_iUw_UyQMkjImsh9QdJ5OusV_QYJeLVz08ktzHvcyxp9ZPmmhF3KBJM4DVX6WpOd9qcw8_o9ffgu4BDgUhW79V7t1rs/s400/baby+jesus+substituted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557753471078359570" border="0" /></a>I had a New Year's Eve party at my house the other night, and among the many mysterious and wondrous things that happened, was the deliberate alteration of one of my carefully and artfully placed decorative scenes. Yes, at some point in the revelry, someone committed a creche infraction.<br />The weiner dog was there when the party started because this set of vintage wise men did not come with a baby Jesus. But the scene took a whole other turn when a mystery guest placed the dog on its back nestled in a tissue bedroll, and placed a ripple potato chip between its front legs.<br />You can dress some friends up....<br /><br />Photo by Laura Lasby who assures me that she merely documented the result and was in no way involved in the actual alteration.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-15493711579755435732010-12-13T15:48:00.000-08:002010-12-13T16:51:23.187-08:00Seasonal Balls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NgjJ1wU2J26iLdQEX0dZlS429n01QeoplpAQ8Wbda9xBW78GNa7cGJv7Rs2emQf9Utg7PNyurPV74OyyhyQuIZSJBfCMyD0Fu8CKzmxAtHGUBvPEC5sVTQiimU5AMa0Q6k_XzhBP4zs/s1600/xmas+balls.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NgjJ1wU2J26iLdQEX0dZlS429n01QeoplpAQ8Wbda9xBW78GNa7cGJv7Rs2emQf9Utg7PNyurPV74OyyhyQuIZSJBfCMyD0Fu8CKzmxAtHGUBvPEC5sVTQiimU5AMa0Q6k_XzhBP4zs/s400/xmas+balls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550319208161377106" border="0" /></a>Nothing says Christmas like seasonal balls I always say. And since I just had my annual holiday studio event, I thought it appropriate to offer up this cheery set of colourful rotundities.<br />It was a lovely affair in the studio, with many paintings finding homes and almost all of the snacks also finding corporeal domiciles.<br /><br />The remaining new works have been posted to my website. Go <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/small-works-for-sale/">here</a> for small works, and <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/larger-works-for-sale/">there</a> for the larger ones.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-46300077999334443362010-12-10T18:35:00.000-08:002010-12-10T18:46:25.531-08:00Too Little Too Late<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqvyZzvRP5HUFE7aufLWy0SgFaxtfd7PhXVq48lNVjV0pl-1l0fVB83SFvl-AOm71ODlVRI74NEycPX9eoCn8v5kXyh1cwzxzmEDJ257D3C1PYQxXldBjsd0rfU-X3ZeS0XCyoO3zta4/s1600/cow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqvyZzvRP5HUFE7aufLWy0SgFaxtfd7PhXVq48lNVjV0pl-1l0fVB83SFvl-AOm71ODlVRI74NEycPX9eoCn8v5kXyh1cwzxzmEDJ257D3C1PYQxXldBjsd0rfU-X3ZeS0XCyoO3zta4/s400/cow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549250324033742562" border="0" /></a>According to Carlotta C. Greer, author of <span style="font-style: italic;">Your Home and You, </span>a 730 page homeconomics tome published in 1955, <span style="font-style: italic;">"A quart </span>(of cow's milk) <span style="font-style: italic;">a day, either as a drink or in foods, may help send a girl on the road to popularity". </span>p. 52<br /><br />This news comes tragically late for me, a recently committed vegetarian with strong vegan leanings. I can only hope that all my years of drinking milk will stand me in good stead in the popularity department, as I soldier on in the social trenches without benefit of bovine assisted esteem.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-87904357928737761572010-12-06T18:58:00.000-08:002010-12-06T19:04:37.975-08:00Camels File Class Action Libel Suit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceeF5yiu6KfYizwOgn4_v00PAZ4Yy2zQm0Zvwovf8Nu2vfb0iHUxR2jhNU-m-8tlWC3gJLZOF4IMUUaCO-cqnc7Gkv_Iryfqgpb7eTt1CE6VqEA-mAD9fzeSdotMl0wg_9Np7X8fUqoU/s1600/camel.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceeF5yiu6KfYizwOgn4_v00PAZ4Yy2zQm0Zvwovf8Nu2vfb0iHUxR2jhNU-m-8tlWC3gJLZOF4IMUUaCO-cqnc7Gkv_Iryfqgpb7eTt1CE6VqEA-mAD9fzeSdotMl0wg_9Np7X8fUqoU/s400/camel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547769926212146226" border="0" /></a>This is from a 1947 book on women's posture called <span style="font-style: italic;">Your Carriage Madam </span>(John Wiley and Sons, New York)<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />"If you've been sitting in a very low seat or on the floor, don't get up like a camel, hind end first. It's hard work and it's unbecoming - even to the camel."</span><br /><br />Really.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-71709531569808963392010-11-25T15:23:00.000-08:002010-11-25T17:15:16.246-08:00Girlfriend can you spare a dime?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nomzl13xb9PsCqtByx73kRjSd8yDIqrUyL0BAINTLMrb_zOp0wJypsYsDFX1cvnZ_rNHlfqcJz8XhemgxnL1jhZU1i7maM09OPT4i6xfM6jLVl-zIYaw4i4HIaVK7nPFIsC-ZleouHA/s1600/kotex+machine+72.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nomzl13xb9PsCqtByx73kRjSd8yDIqrUyL0BAINTLMrb_zOp0wJypsYsDFX1cvnZ_rNHlfqcJz8XhemgxnL1jhZU1i7maM09OPT4i6xfM6jLVl-zIYaw4i4HIaVK7nPFIsC-ZleouHA/s400/kotex+machine+72.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543632458655909970" border="0" /></a>I was in Victoria last week for my <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/performance/blank-canvas/">Blank Canvas</a> presentation at <a href="http://www.vancouverislandschoolart.com/about.html">Vancouver Island School of Art</a>. I know it's not ladylike to blow one's horn, but the show <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">did </span>sell out.<br /><br />But that's not the subject of this blog entry.<br /><br />The VISA carries on its business in an old elementary school which has been left pretty much untouched from the days when it served the young boys and girls of the area.<br /><br />I have a real fondness for old institutional buildings. Perhaps in a past life I was a caretaker in a castle.<br />Anyways, I found the girls bathroom to have a particularly charming patina about it. For one, the stall doors are so short, you could carry on a complete conversation over them. I suppose it's not so much that the doors are short, but that everyone I know is tall.<br /><br />But it was the Kotex dispenser that really caught my eye and warmed the coggles of my heart and other regions too intimate to mention here.<br /><br />It brought back a rush of sentiment for the days when we would strap on these huge and unruly pads, and then go about our business trying to ignore the fact that something the size of a compact car was wedged between our legs. And to think it only cost 10 cents. You can hardly break wind for that price anymore.<br /><br />But that was before pads had wings.<br /><br />Maybe it's the wings that pushed the cost up.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-35859071438681593772010-11-24T20:47:00.000-08:002010-11-24T21:29:25.959-08:00Turning of the Table<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXLVpENoZyX3QPxCx_LSJ0jlTSUEY7bRULr_gMldMO6MlZbYYBMjUEWL0s2wLJZvUSVXEroISJzuqEBiiFPA_9AFsNQQdz2VyYkHE9eoyMzleKvWwXOGFMxicREZzORiRlifzxcx774M/s1600/turning+of+the+table.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXLVpENoZyX3QPxCx_LSJ0jlTSUEY7bRULr_gMldMO6MlZbYYBMjUEWL0s2wLJZvUSVXEroISJzuqEBiiFPA_9AFsNQQdz2VyYkHE9eoyMzleKvWwXOGFMxicREZzORiRlifzxcx774M/s400/turning+of+the+table.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543344713739604322" border="0" /></a>I have been busy working my way through my plethora of vintage tomes aimed at women as I continue research for a new book <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/dangerous-curves-the-book/">Dangerous Curves</a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span> and I came across this description of a practice that used to be known as the "Turning of the Table". It is from page 197 of Emily Post's Etiquette (1960 Funk and Wagnall's, New York) and it goes like this:
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The hostess would turn from the man on her right to the one on her left, and each woman at the table was supposed to notice this and switch at the same time."</span>
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<br />Well, clearly something has gone awry in the photo above. Our hostess in the forefront has turned to her right but apparently the signal was missed by the other two female guests who are continuing on in a blatant disregard for the protocol established by the lead woman.
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<br />We can be thankful in today's modern world, where women have come such a long way baby, that the demands on a hostess have been scaled back so that she is no longer responsible for the conversationally directional tendencies of her dinner guests.
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<br />Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-15049451949914237322010-11-11T14:06:00.001-08:002010-11-11T14:34:07.058-08:00cover girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaW-CDz8x_5KmeFsUlqrOJz7a2f1gx_ZOeryZekNJdMXsrRlB2je5i6J3tXrt_PLADj3a9fQ6QEAYcPbkNNkKHejiLKLWoTOwE6sEZCir37MaRsBRwOC4R80QlcPdXWngTIwMc02_nOo/s1600/focus+magazine+cover+72+dpi.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaW-CDz8x_5KmeFsUlqrOJz7a2f1gx_ZOeryZekNJdMXsrRlB2je5i6J3tXrt_PLADj3a9fQ6QEAYcPbkNNkKHejiLKLWoTOwE6sEZCir37MaRsBRwOC4R80QlcPdXWngTIwMc02_nOo/s320/focus+magazine+cover+72+dpi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538417112662550210" border="0" /></a>I am very thrilled to say that I am now, finally, officially, a cover girl. The rag in question is FOCUS magazine (Victoria BC), and I am Miss November, which I suppose is better than misbehaving, although I might rather be misbehaving.<br />The occasion that sparked my appearance in/on the magazine is my participation in a group art show at the <a href="http://www.vancouverislandschoolart.com/faculty.html">Vancouver Island School of Art</a> called "<span style="font-style: italic;">Rare Birds" </span>which<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>opens in Victoria tomorrow night (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">friday</span> Nov 12) and runs (or flies) until Dec 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>. The other avian-obsessed artists are Roy Green, Dianne Kremmer, and the dynamic duo of sculptors Kimm Nightingale and Joke Mensink.<br /><br />But wait. There's more! I am presenting my slide show <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/performance/blank-canvas/">"I Never Met a Blank Canvas I Didn't Like"</a> </span>in Victoria on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thursday</span> November 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span>. Details about both events can be found <a href="http://sheilanorgate.com/upcoming/">here</a>.<br /><br />Victoria's poet laureate <a href="http://www.lrogers.com/">Linda Rogers</a>, a regular contributor to FOCUS magazine, and brilliant Canadian scribe, has written a fabulously insightful article about me and my artistic/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">performative</span> antics. You can download the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">PDF</span> and read all about it <a href="http://focusonline.ca/sites/default/files/Focus_2010-11_November.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />I am on page 12. Not too far in, but in decent enough.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-74383998799945248632010-11-07T15:03:00.000-08:002010-11-07T15:13:11.938-08:00Check your face at the door<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEb7Pqs21XeYsHUDi4aIr3o4fNoqMmJiX6_nDKxAuE4X_HkqK69J3WPRWx0YtJ5OZmY-FCZu3Bbj3ikSJeAWlgmL94ZCkrnJIEMOqx-msPTV9T8AAc_yFnxQX204zcUBwJjCVvz9hDGk/s1600/scowling+woman.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEb7Pqs21XeYsHUDi4aIr3o4fNoqMmJiX6_nDKxAuE4X_HkqK69J3WPRWx0YtJ5OZmY-FCZu3Bbj3ikSJeAWlgmL94ZCkrnJIEMOqx-msPTV9T8AAc_yFnxQX204zcUBwJjCVvz9hDGk/s320/scowling+woman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536948389953647234" border="0" /></a> This is from p. 231 of <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>Family Circle's Complete Book of Beauty and Charm </span>(1951)<span style="font-style: italic;">:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic;">"Check your facial expression as many times a day as you can. Then make the effort not to return to a frown, a worried look, a displeased expression, or whatever you have been wearing instead of the pleasant, expectant look that is the mark of a charming woman".<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />All I can say is, our girl pictured here is in trouble. Clearly she has not been checking her facial expression as much as she ought to. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span>Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-85665437298386528112010-11-04T08:24:00.000-07:002010-11-04T08:41:07.793-07:00tooth fairy refuses pickup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6T87c5rX5DjOnnEq9mvfTEj8KcmsT1j-wcVhYadI_aS6sJHpcWHYfIVS95uxfNKPaMPbcfSKLkRU4aZCczBmLc84-HK5N0HDS_G87uwFlgO9wNIjdbH9CWNIz8azNL7s3ikL5ADBDtk/s1600/tooth+and+pill.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6T87c5rX5DjOnnEq9mvfTEj8KcmsT1j-wcVhYadI_aS6sJHpcWHYfIVS95uxfNKPaMPbcfSKLkRU4aZCczBmLc84-HK5N0HDS_G87uwFlgO9wNIjdbH9CWNIz8azNL7s3ikL5ADBDtk/s320/tooth+and+pill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535719494470235762" border="0" /></a><br />I was at my dentist a while back and she reported to me that one of my upper rear molars was in need of crowning. As it is, I have more crowns than the entire British Royal family combined (not counting the corgis). Further, the tooth in question had been operating more or less in a decorative capacity for some time now since its corresponding lower berth companion was removed a few years back.<br />My dentist reluctantly agreed to extract the molar, and thus it appears above, alongside a regular strength tylenol tablet for purposes of illustrating scale.<br />I tried to put it under my pillow last night, but it was so bulky I had trouble sleeping. The tooth fairy left a note...something about excess weight/height and union regulations.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069713741110495243.post-53558138935783165192010-11-02T21:07:00.000-07:002010-11-02T21:19:53.444-07:00The Homemaker and Nervous Strain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioPrm8WTVE-RSYuap4D7Uok_589CW-2HwpLS52oPY2XXxgPTrwtxIPPzhoWkoXmYKhKQSHoTbTmKwbMQSUVPiwywcYv8TZM1rzBQhE-3jyXbH5VZzs0NGSP2FuYBj-zNhqERXXFV6gU0/s1600/housewife+in+kitchen.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioPrm8WTVE-RSYuap4D7Uok_589CW-2HwpLS52oPY2XXxgPTrwtxIPPzhoWkoXmYKhKQSHoTbTmKwbMQSUVPiwywcYv8TZM1rzBQhE-3jyXbH5VZzs0NGSP2FuYBj-zNhqERXXFV6gU0/s320/housewife+in+kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535170975618346322" border="0" /></a><br />In <span style="font-weight: bold;">Family Circle's Complete Book of Beauty and Charm</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>from 1951, there is a chapter called "Special Beauty Problems of the Homemaker":<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The beauty problems of the woman in the home fall into four general categories: hands, complexion, diet, and nervous strain. Surely the homemaker has a variety of tasks to perform. If you let them get the better of you, you are inclined to be tense; sooner or later the marks of this tension will show on your face. A great deal of the beauty of the homemaker depends on her attitude toward the important job that she does."</span><br /><br />Speaking for myself, I make it a habit never to let my household tasks get the better of me. It's an integral part of my beauty regimen.Sheila Norgatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13538303479857917054noreply@blogger.com1