Les Tomates

Tomates.

                                                               

                             









We've had a few.

 

August in Ontario
(by Anne Renouf)

Corn. Tomatoes. Peaches. Beans.
Come. To. Papa. Baby.
(Or Mama).
Enjoy them while they last, cause soon
The frost will kill them, (say we).

(Bad. But you get the drift.)


So, in the meantime...

                                                                       
                                     

Oven-dried Tomatoes

Slice. Arrange on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Add a grinding of salt.
Dry in moderate oven (250F) for 3 hours.
(I did them in the wood-stove on a cool morning.)
Flavourful. Oily. Salty. Yummy.

Walk in the Woods

Early May.
While missing the South, and yearning for the sea,
I decide that a walk in the woods is my northern equivalent.
(At least as far as inspiration goes.)
But not just any walk in the woods. The deep dark woods within our land.

Four years ago, I began a series of workshops entitled 'Art and the Creative Spirit'.
These centred around a contemplative walk in the woods.
A walk made in silence.
A time for listening, watching, sensing.

We gather, photograph, remember.
Back at the studio, we begin.
It is quite lovely to see such renewed vigour for art-making after an hour in the woods.
Materials are at hand.
Paints, pencils, pens, chalks, boards, paper, mixed-media supplies, found objects.
Spiritual reading, meditative music.
Some solo time for gathering thoughts.
Inhibitions vanish.
And the creation begins.


These woods refresh. 
Not paved or safe or planned. 
But uneven underfoot. 
Creature sounds. Tangled branches scratch. Insects ever-present.
Bird song.
"I am alive", they sing.










Walk in the woods.
(Good advice.)
And for four years, my mantra.

Central to my art. My creative spirit.

A step.
Not just into the woods. Into living the Creative Spirit.
Thinking of my work and art as a way of living.

That, but also,
A way to communicate ideas through art.
A way of connecting.
A way of giving (rather than taking, getting, accumulating).
A way of seeking (solitude, quiet, peace).
A way of simplifying (focusing, clarifying).

Making a way to develop an art practice.

Beginning with a walk in the woods.

Seeking a Muse

The dog days.
It's an in-between time.

In between the crazy frenzied prep for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition,
                                                 and
the crazy frenzied prep for the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour.

I have several new pieces (almost) completed - works on canvas and panel.
And I have (finally) wrapped up the 59" x 53" canvas
'Easter Morning (Cloister Light)',
(four months after Easter Sunday).

I have, (for the summer), been putting most of my energies into art-making with a five-year-old.
A five-year-old boy with  ideas.
An ideas machine, in fact.
We have gathered materials, collected cardboard, studied outer space, the undersea world.
Unearthed neon paints, paper, brushes, markers, pencils.
Incorporated found objects - ribbon, string, cardboard tubes, sticks, buttons, beads.
And used roughly a mile of masking tape.
All of this.

And, I've become addicted to Lego.

The 'Ideas machine', (only here for part of the summer), has now left us to return to his far away home.
Left us with plans, drawings, paintings, sculptures, murals, mobiles.
And left us with a large painted cardboard 'cat-trap', a roomy box fitted
with roof, ribbon-covered window, functioning door, and which can hold (when not in the business of catching cats) four children aged five and under.

 

I am missing his bright chirp-like conversation, his endless ideas, his sunny eagerness, his need to create. His musings.



I am missing his quick rough sketches as he explains an idea.

His use of colour.










He has given me a fresh perspective.



And so, I spend time with the complete freedom of a five-year-old.
Drawing with my wrong hand which, (for me, being left-handed), is
my right hand.


Right-handed Drawings

Aubergine

Aubergine.

 Eggplant.

(But sounds so much lovelier when called Aubergine.)

They both can become 

Caponata.

 

Yes.

Caponata.

Caponata is Summer.

A beautiful blend of earthy colour and texture.

It's (one reason) why we love Aubergine

 (Hereunder referred to as Eggplant).

Here's what we do:

Wash large eggplant. Cut into half inch dice. Place in colander and add one tablespoon (tbls.) salt. 

Toss and let sit for half an hour.

Meanwhile, 

toast 1/4 cup walnut pieces in a small frying pan for 1 or 2 mins. and set aside.

Dice 1 sweet onion, 2 cloves garlic and 1 red pepper, (to be ready for the next stage.) Set aside.

Rinse eggplant cubes and pat dry.

Cook in 2 tbls. olive oil in wok for 5 mins., medium heat, until golden (in 2 batches).

Remove eggplant to platter.

Add 2 more tbls. olive oil to wok and add onion, (cook 5 mins), then add garlic and red pepper. 

Cook over med. heat 5 more mins.

Add eggplant back into wok. Mix.

Add 2 tbls. capers, 12 chopped olives, 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (or both), 

 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tbls. sugar, s&p.

Simmer over low heat 5 minutes. Add walnuts and 2 tbls. chopped parsley or basil. 

(If you love heat, add 1 tsp. dried red peppers.) 

Stir well and cool.

Store in sealed container for up to a week.

Serve as a salad, side dish or relish.

Great with cheese and crackers too, AND even over pasta.

Or eaten directly from the container while standing in front of the fridge. 

Caponata.