a little painting in progress

I'm finally getting around to trying my new paints - proper oil paints - for the first time (if you can believe it!?) Since I didn't study painting in school, I just got started on my own with water-mixable oil paints, got comfortable with them, and didn't try anything else until now. The water-mixable oils are nearly the same as the real deal, but I've been told that regular oil paints have richer colour and are just generally nicer to use. I'm in the process of priming some panels to use for some 'serious' paintings (ie. more rocks), but while I wait for the gesso to dry, I'm having a little fun with this tiny painting of some hellebores I photographed last spring. I'm really enjoying the new paints so far! They are so smooth and luscious, and the pigment quality does seem better. And it's definitely refreshing to paint something other than a mineral specimen for a change.

most fragrant birthday

 

Friday was my 31st birthday. I was lucky enough to be treated to several days of birthday goodness. Thursday night, I celebrated with a lovely dinner at The Atlantic with Andrew. Saturday we had Andrew's family over for a visit (celebrating both my birthday and his brother's). The adorable mini cake above is courtesy of Andrew's parents. On my actual birthday, I had a coffee & cake date with my BFF Alissa and then took myself shopping. Major shopping.

Over the last month or so I have developed a serious obsession with perfume. I used to think that I didn't like perfume, but in the last couple of years after discovering Terre d'Hermes and OLO (thanks to my lady blogger friends!), I have had my mind and senses opened. It turns out that I really just didn't like cheap generic perfume. My recent descent into complete perfume madness started with an innocent visit to Holt Renfrew to sniff the L'eau d'Orange Verte at the Hermes counter, which I'd remembered liking when I originally sampled the Terre. That led to a conversation with a sales associate who lured me over to the Frederic Malle area. He showed me the Bigarade Concentree (because it is somewhat similar to the Orange Verte and was also designed by Jean Claude Ellena, who is the nose for Hermes). It was extraordinary. He also showed me some others from the line, which were completely fascinating and beautiful.

I decided that I needed to properly sample the Bigarade for a few days on my skin before investing in a bottle. They had no samples available at Holts, so I had to track down a sample on the internet. One thing lead to another, and after countless hours reading perfume blogs and reviews, here I am with at least 50 samples I've ordered from various places, a growing short-list of must-get fragrances, and a hunger to smell more and learn more. I had planned to treat myself to the Bigarade for my birthday, but couldn't just stop at that. I decided that I also *needed* the Accord Oud from Byredo. I fell in love with my sample, and find it particularly well-suited to cooler weather, so I just couldn't wait to buy it. Between these two bottles, and the bottle of Dark Wave from OLO that is on its way to me in the mail right now (Thanks Mom & Dad!!), I'm a very happy (and good smelling) girl. And, as evinced by this much longer than usual post, I'm eager to talk about perfume, so I would be thrilled if any of you would share your thoughts, feelings, favourite scents, etc. in the comments!

In case you are curious about what these things actually smell like, here are my completely amateur impressions:

Bigarade Concentree (Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle) - notes: bitter orange, rose, cedar, hay.

I've read a review that compared this perfume to the smell of a cab driver eating an orange. Not exactly the image it forms for me, but I can see where that comparison comes from. It is a dirty, earthy orange that really connects with the body. The opening is the most real and vibrant orange I've smelled in a perfume, more like the orange rind than the juice. Often, intense citrus perfume smells hurt my sinuses, but this just smells completely natural and amazing. As it dries down the other notes add layers of depth and really give me the sense that it is somehow amplifying some part of my own skin smell (in a good way). I get the feeling that this is the kind of scent that could have a very different effect depending on one's skin chemistry. For me, it is never too bitter or sweet, and becomes warm and woody and slightly spicy, with a hint of citrus keeping the memory of the initial exhilarating opening notes alive for a long time.

Accord Oud (Byredo) - notes: blackberry, saffron, rum, leather accord, clary sage, patchouli, powdery musks

This scent is rich and luscious and quite masculine. Even though the blackberry note is pretty dominant, I would not call it fruity. It reminds me of cassis liquor, leather and resinous wood. I find it hard to elaborate much on this one. The notes as listed are already pretty evocative. It is both intense and strong, but soft and supple. Pretty sexy.

Dark Wave (OLO) - notes: cardamom, vetiver, woods

This one is woody, warm and dry. Very dry. Dusty, even - in a good way. It smells ancient and deep and comforting. I love it.

new smoky quartz

The latest smoky quartz painting, soon to be shipped away to a new home.

little blizzard

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season. Mine was really great. I spent a week in Thunder Bay with my family, and enjoyed all the requisite visiting, eating, drinking, sleeping, knitting and Food Network TV marathon watching that have come to be my standard Christmas routine. I feel so fortunate that not only did I get to share a fun and restful time with people I love, but I also received some lovely gifts. This beautiful snow globe is one of my favourites. I think there's more snow in there than we've seen all winter in Toronto.

print!

I'm happy to announce that my first limited edition artist print is now available from Magic Pony. It is a full-scale reproduction of the painting I did for the Adam & the Amethysts 'Flickering Flashlight' album cover. The print comes with an mp3 download of the album. Just in time for the holidays!

September Mineral Show

 

Here is a pile of photos from September (months after the fact - typical me;) at the annual show held by the Gem and Mineral Club of Scarborough. This is my favourite show of the year. So many good vendors, and the swap room is fantastic. I can't wait for next September!

new

smoky quartz with inclusions  ~  oil on masonite  ~  9 x 11"

watermelon tourmaline  ~  oil on masonite  ~  8 x 10"

Some new paintings that are flying off to Miami with Narwhal at the end of the month.

nestled

Another successful bunny photo shoot with Sonja this weekend. Here's my favourite shot. 

Visit her at the One of a Kind Show starting this Thursday through Dec. 4th!

country weekend part 3: farm animals

The woman who rented us the cabin we stayed in also has a small farm on her property with the most beautiful and friendly animals.

country weekend part 2: in the forest

 

country weekend part 1: horse ride

This past weekend my BFF Alissa, her lovely friend Anna (who was visiting from Italy), and I rented a car and escaped the city for a few days. We started our little holiday with a morning trail ride at the horse farm where Alissa has been taking riding lessons. The morning started and ended with rain, but it miraculously stopped for the duration of our ride. It was my first time really riding a horse, and it was amazing. The misty countryside was absolutely breathtaking, with cool grey skies and the changing fall colours. I wish I could have taken photos during the ride! Riding was alternately calming and exhilarating, as I started to get comfortable on the horse and then we shook things up a bit (literally) by speeding up to a trot. We even did a little galloping - yikes. I really want to do it again!

This is one of the old retired horses wandering around on the property. She was really skinny and had burrs stuck in her hair, but she was still beautiful.

And this is Bear, one of the farm dogs. He was so sweet - aggressively affectionate (he even head-butted my camera when I was trying to take his picture because he wanted so badly for me to pet him). He followed along for our whole ride.

Flickering Flashlight

Photo by Celia Perrin Sidarous.

 Today is the official release of Adam and the Amethyst's new album, "Flickering Flashlight" on Kelp Records. I have actually been listening to it for many months already, since my brother gave me an early version when I was working on the cover art, and I absolutely adore it. Adam and I composed the image for the cover together, with various objects he and I have collected over the years. I photographed our composition and made a painting of it. Here it is:

The album (which can be streamed here or ordered here) has already received some great reviews and a cover story in the Hour in Montreal.

They will be playing here in Toronto tomorrow night, a few more shows in Ontario and the East Coast over the next couple of weeks, and in Brooklyn on Nov. 9th. The Kelp site has a listing of venues and dates.   

Aaaand... They also have a beautiful new video for one of my favourite songs (NSFW due to the skinny-dipping). It was made at Toronto Island by Yuula Benivolski.

ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS - Dreaming (NSFWish) from kelprecords on Vimeo.