Canvas #241: Orlando Airport, Orlando, Florida, USA

Avery is one of Ms. Currie's students. I am so happy to see these canvases created by kids going so far in the world!

She writes, My name is Avery and I am in Grade 3. I painted this canvas at school. I knew I was going on a vacation to visit an aunt in Florida. So I colored a picture to say "Hi" to my friends in the USA. I'm from Canada. I left my canvas in the Orlando Airport in between the bushes beside a sitting area. It's not easy to see. I hope someday a bored traveler will discover my canvas and make them smile.

How awesome is Avery?! I am so thrilled to see these kids being the change they want to see in the world!

Canvas #298: a hospital, Lancaster, California, USA

 Dee Dee expresses an emotion I think a lot of Blank Canvasers feel: I have to say that leaving the canvas behind was much harder than I thought.  I wanted to have a hidden camera to see who took the canvas & what their reaction was.  I placed my canvas "Refresh" at a hospital water fountain.  I spend a lot of time in doctors offices & hospitals so I understand the great need to be "refreshed".  Hence, my reason for the canvas, as well as, the placement.  I hope it brings joy to whoever found it.  Sorry for the blurry picture. I was a little nervous:)

 What a lovely message I think a lot of patients and visitors at the hospital will be comforted by. Thank you for participating, Dee Dee!

Canvas #214: outside Barnes & Noble, Richmond, Virginia, USA

How strange the internet is sometimes, hey? Back when I was in high school and university, I kept a Livejournal, and met some very lovely people. Christine was one of them. After I abandoned Livejournal, Christine and I connected via Twitter. Isn't the world such a small place? I am thrilled Christine wanted to participate. Here's her story:

I had a lot of fun doing this project.  Your envelope showed up on the day after Valentine's day and I was on a mini vacation, had gotten engaged the day before, and I was really excited to see the canvas when I got home.  I knew it was coming soon, but hadn't really thought about what I wanted to do until V-day, when my fiance and I were both having insomnia in the hotel room.. haha.  As I lay awake an idea came to me of creating a starry mountain scene, but starting with a black canvas and painting around the mountains to create their shape.  For some reason I really liked the idea of the background being connected and flowing with the foreground, just one solid piece.  I also liked the idea of using spatter techniques to create a glitter-crusted starry sky.  I really like the poem, "The Lady of Shalott," one I actually recite to combat insomnia (still learning it) and I love the Lancelot parts where Tennyson compares his gear to the stars:

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
...
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, trailing light,
      Moves over still Shalott.

So I had all this in my mind when deciding what to paint.  The process was pretty simple:  paint the canvas black, block off the mountain areas with masking tape, and spatter away.  I used a paper box as a "studio" to keep things clean.  I messed up and ended up doing it all over, but since the background is black, it was no problem to do that.

I could *not* decide where to put this thing!  Finally, today, I just left it outside of Target.  I thought it was a good spot, but when I came out an hour later, it had fallen over and no one had bothered it.  I just couldn't leave it there.  So I took it back and tried the Barnes & Noble near by.  I found a little nook for it outside.  I watched for a little while, but no one really seemed interested in it.  Hopefully someone will come along and take it home.

 

 

I love the colourful splatters. Amazing!

Canvas #194: Starbucks, Peru, Illinois, USA

 I have to start this post with an apology. This canvas got lost in my e-mail and I forgot to post it. :(

Jill writes, Here's my Canvas #194.  It's dropoff location is at Starbucks in Peru, IL which is about 1 hour south of Chicago on Rte. 80.  Hopefully my little painting will give someone a smile and a reason for some endorphin-inducing chocolate indulgence. (-;

You can find more of my artwork at www.facebook.com/jillhejl, www.facebook.com/jujubeanart, or on my blog (which I just started!) at www.livedrawpaint.blogspot.com.

Thank you again for the opportunity to participate!

Please visit Jill's websites to see more of her art!

She also included this post script, one of the art groups I belong to, OAL--the Ottawa Art League (in Illinois, not Canada) is planning on doing the Blank Canvas project now after I posted that pic to my facebook page.  Hope they get in touch with you soon (thinking they may discuss it at the beginning of Jan. at their monthly meeting.)

Your project is a big hit!

Canvas #212: Gateway Church, Keller, Texas, USA

Madeleine from Texas writes, I still hadn't thought of an idea for my canvas when I got it in the mail. Then one night it just hit me! I remembered how when I was about thirteen I would draw this free-form music note pattern thing on like EVERYTHING! I was just so in love with it! So I decided to put it on my canvas!  To me, the the free-form music notes just seem like a perfect combination of art and music.  It draws your attention.

 
   
She says, I left my canvas in my church, Gateway Church, and I'm hoping it will draw someone out of a normal day and inspire them to do something different and creative!

    I really really love this whole project!

And I really really love your canvas, Madie!

Canvas #119: a grocery store, Portland, Oregon, USA

Look at Nicole's gorgeous canvas!!

Nicole says, I live in Portland, Oregon USA, and we are in the throes of our 9 month rainy season, so when I thought about making something to bring a little happiness into the world I quickly thought of Thailand. I was luck enough to spend most of December 2011 there and the thoughts of my days on Koh Pi Pi always make me smile. I figured sunny beaches and whimsical boats might brighten some other Portlanders day as well.


I had to stop by the grocery store today for a couple of things and it was just a madhouse full of holiday shoppers and screaming babies. As I walked through the holiday card aisle, I thought "what better place to leave my canvas?" So there it sits. I couldn't help but walk by on my way out to see if anyone had picked it up, but there it sat with shoppers on either side. Here's hoping it finds a good home for the holidays!

Canvas #13: next to Bela Lugosi, Hollywood, California, USA

[Editor's note: I know I shouldn't show bias, but I I think this is my favourite canvas yet!]

Kim says: I don't have much to say about this piece and where it ended up, other than  the empty canvas sat in my house forever, and I had no interest in it, nor did I have a clue what to do with it.  Until one morning, I woke up, grabbed a paint pen, and started doodling.  That night I met up with an old friend that I hadn't seen in years, who was visiting from LA.  Five minutes into seeing him, I asked him to take it and leave it somewhere for me, and the next day, it ended up next to Bela Lugosi!

Though Kim says she didn't have much to say, I think the placement of her canvas is a great example of serendipity!