Thoughts, Painting & Prose By Imelda Frances

Thoughts, Painting & Prose

By

Imelda FB Maguire

1974 ~ 2013

Timeless Expression by Maguire Historical Website

Web Design by Catherine Hooch, Oshawa Ontario
2007 - 2011

Celebrate Life & Love

"It is the little things in life that mean a lot!"

Quote from Patricia Josephine Maguire

Thomas St. Studio

1971 ~ 1980 Oshawa Ontario

Art With Mel

 

~ Desk & Feather ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36 1974

Private Collection of Mary Haye
Oshawa Ontario

In Barter for a crochet navy handbag with a double wooden spool handle

~ Tiger Lily's & Things ~

Original oil on canvas 24 x 30 palette knife 1975

Private collection of Mary Haye

Oshawa Ontario

In barter for a crochet table cloth.

 

~ Lost In The Mountains of Mourne ~

Original oil on canvas 24 x 36, Northern Ireland 1974

Collector not recorded

~ Pool of Canopus ~

Oil on canvas 20 x 24, 1976
Collector not recorded

~ Castle Hoathe On The Irish Sea ~

Oil on canvas, 30 x 72 palette knife 1975

Collector not recorded

~ Bunratty Castle ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, 1974

Collector not recorded

~ Blue & Red Bouquet ~

Oil on canvas 12 x 14  palette knife, 1975

Collector not recorded

 ~Andrew Frank Maguire ~ Silhouette

 7th Lock

Dublin Ireland 1976

Oil on canvas 24 x 36

Private Collection of Brye Briggs

Oshawa Ontario

~ White Tulip ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 30, 1976

Collector not recorded

~ Bouquet for Mother ~

Oil on Masonite  20 x 26, 1977

Private Collection of Pauline and Wilfred Lindsey

Peterborough Ontario

~ A Touch of Old ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, 1977

Collector not recorded

A Touch of Old won Honorable Mention at the Art Gallery of Oshawa 1977

~ Swans~pool Bridge ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, England 1979

Private Collection of Pauline and Christopher Westwood

Oshawa Ontario

~ Swans Pool ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, England 1979

Private Collection of Pauline and Christopher Westwood

Oshawa Ontario

~ Hibiscus Study ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, 1979 

Collector not recorded

Hillside Studio

1980 ~ 1999 Oshawa Ontario

~ Baby Colt ~

Oil on Masonite 30 x 42, 1982.

Private Collection of Shandy-Lynn Briggs

Oshawa Ontario

~ Tara ~ Gone with the Wind`

Oil on canvas, 24 x 35  1982

Private Collection of Armand and Bunty (Lucille)

Oshawa Ontario

 

~ On the Beach with Janie Mac  ~

Oil on canvas, 24 x 30, 1984

Collector not recorded

Whitby Station Gallery

1976 -1982

 
Imelda Maguire, Marg Bird, and Marilyn Clack at work painting the Coach for the Gala ~ Orient Express Ball ~  Heydenshore Pavilion, Whitby Ontario 1982.

As a volunteer for the Whitby Station Gallery in Whitby Ontario for several years, I witnessed many wonderful artists unfolded their work revealing the ~ Grace ~ of their craft.  It was all one could do just sit there silently watching in awe.  During this time I was able to explore the dance of the Sumi brush as well as fall madly in love with the art of Sue Tabuchi who greatly inspired the mastery of the stroke; concentration on the freedom of the brush.

Unfortunately I could not find any work of Sue Tabuchi posted on the web as an example of Sue's brilliant mind.  Might you be reading this and know of any Sue Tabuchi work and  have a link please feel free to add your news in the comment box below the post, most appreciative I would be as would the other viewers of this site.

Many Thanks.

God Bless

~*LOVE ALWAYS*~

Imelda

~ Milk Weed Pod ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 48, 1980

Collector not recorded

 ~ Pink Lady  ~

Oil on Masonite 20 x 30, 1980.

Collector not recorded

~ Shamrock ~

Oil on canvas 18 x 36, 1980

Private collection of Leonard and Lori Manning

Oshawa Ontario

~ Geese Family ~

Oil on Masonite 12 x 24, 1984

Private Collection of Laura Manning

Oshawa Ontario

~ Trillium ~

 Oil on canvas 16 x 20, 1980

 Private Collection of Pauline Lindsey

 Peterborough Ontario

 

~ Calla Lily ~ Flower of Peace  

Oil on canvas 24 x 36, 1984

Collector not recorded

~ Purple Wood ~

Oil on canvas 36 x 48 1981

Private Collection of John and Julie Manning
 Oshawa Ontario

~ Angel Cocoon ~

Oil on canvas 26 x 38 1987

Private Collection of Len and Lori Manning

Oshawa Ontario

Angel Cocoon and Fantasy Flower were commissioned by my nephew Leonard Manning to help pay for my travel expense on the Go Train during my first year of the Ontario College of Art.

Indeed I explained to Len that he did not have to pay his Aunty Mel for his painting, a pleasure it would be to do this for him.  Insisted he did indeed, just like a true gentleman would. I am eternally grateful to Leonardo Da Vinci (my Papa’s nickname for my nephew Leonard) for always believing in the artwork.

Blue Madness

 Canvas #1 & #2

~ Blue Madness ~

 Canvas #1
Oil ~ 24 x 36 1986

Donation to the Women’s Safety Network Haliburton Highlands Ontario.

~ Blue Madness ~

 Canvas #2
  Oil ~ 24 x 36, 1986

Donation to the Women’s Safety Network Haliburton Highlands Ontario.

The concept of Blue Madness is taken from the view inside of the mind behind the lashes of the eye; a view that was brought on through a physical experience of the body when mind automatically blocked the mental and emotional pain suffered as a direct result from being rear-ended in an automobile accident. The image that manifested during the first few moments of shock was one of a very comforting sensation of the self floating on on an ethereal pond under the warmth of the sun as presence became that of being a wee fly or frog upon the leaf of a water lily bloom.


All reality of the outside world in that very moment ceased; it had been blocked by mind, or perhaps it was the soul to remove all shock and pain from the  unconscious self.

It was my thought that these two pieces hanging in the Women’s Shelter might bring some measure of calm to the families who visit there for a short while through their troubled times.  

Sometimes it is necessary to take a painful memory of the past from fully expressing itself in the moment by releasing those old fragmented stories of ours out into the universe in some healing creative way. 


It is up to us to decide when to let go of the grieving memories of a past.  Once released out from the inner depths of our inner soul in a loving sharing with the rest of humanity, or either privately within your own heart, such pain then becomes just that ~ a memory ~ the past.  I have discovered that it is alright to look back for a glance every once in awhile but only for a fleeting second to remind ourselves that what was, is now truly gone.  Our look back is only a reminder of our lessons learned.  Indeed we will eventually accept our personal part of that drama however large or small from beginning to end in that particular moment of time to heal our own soul, remembering always to forgive the self.

Remaining to be mindful of that moment of reflection will ensure us not to repeat our unconscious decisions again, painful memories released evaporate forever from our precious DNA by the simple choice of surrendering into the moment of now to heal the images of mind.  Be mindful to hold the thought that those memories are indeed truly gone.

Blue Madness was gifted with great respect to the services rendered to women by women in providing support as well as a safe environment for those mothers and children that have had to flee their home in order to find peace, comfort and care from the tyranny of abusive life situations that have run amuck in our life; out of control.

The Women’s safety network also acts as a liaison for those in need with the many Government financial and care services that help with affordable housing, trauma resource, legal and medical services for troubled families.  The many contacts that are opened to an individual are a direct aid to the mothers and children in the challenging effort to continue to look forward to their brighter tomorrow.

It is our choice to decide when we are truly ready to heal the imprint that comes from physical, mental, and emotional pain; simply release them into the wonder of nothingness.

~ Lily Pad Pond ~

 Study in color vibrations
Oil on canvas 36 x 48, 1987

Collector not recorded

~ Bowl ~

Oil on canvas 36 x 40, 1989

Private Collection of artist

~ Maiden Hair Fern ~

Pen and ink study, art board  1987

Private Collection of artist

~ China Lantern ~

Oil on canvas 26 x 30, 1997

Private Collection of Shandy-Lynn Briggs

Oshawa Ontario 

Study in Color Vibration #1

When the eye focuses on where two colors meet that definable line is called the line of demarcation.  When one stares at that line of demarcation long enough where the two colors meet and are equal in all regards, the eye will pulsate ~ creating the illusion of movement, the entry into the mysteries of universe through the creative self..

~ Hibiscus ~

Oil on canvas 24 x 40, 1994

Private Collection of Pauline and Wilfred Lindsey

Peterborough Ontario

~ Flowering Almond ~

Oil on Canvas 32 x 48, 1993

Private Collection of Pauline and Wilf

 Peterborough Ontario

Mystical Garden ~ The Last Peony

Mystical Garden

Oshawa Valley Botanical Park
Peony Festival

2007 - 2010

Prepare to be Amazed

Publications courtesy of Oshawa Chamber of Commerce

~ My Peony ~

Work in Progress

A new peony was born this day! Just an ordinary peony, if of course a peony could be ordinary. It was a beautiful balmy afternoon in October with no appointments due to arrive, the phone unplugged, and the studio door was locked.  It was the perfect peaceful calm day. The hum of the ceiling fan oscillated away at a nice gentle rhythm.  The fire door was open allowing a wonderful flow of fresh fall scented air to circulate through the studio.  A low dreamy cascading rhythm of heavenly piano notes quietly resonated within the atmosphere of the studio. The background medium was down on the canvas creating pigment to flowing with ease.  A new 4” soft long hair brush (a gift from Newal my landlord) put joy into the sweep of the paint.  There is nothing like a new brush to begin a new piece of work.  It is there when flow enters effortless and mindless that there is endocept the beginning of one's own thought. Detachment arrived...  this place was not new to me yet somehow today was a bit different, today was the day to be a flower instead of the witness.   Entered then the pigment I surely did, becoming the cadmium yellow so deep, floating in a rich creamy violet mist grounded by a soft white titanium cloud of light passing through my petals, warm and fluttery like the gentle wings of a butterfly hovering for a rest. Flowing shadows of light and dark value fused through one another through the golden hues that whispered to the pale lemon of my flesh only to fuse into the nothingness of dreamy diaphanous blue white.   Hours passed, and then a whooshing sound more felt than heard brought back awareness, so subtle it was not quite there.  First thought was, could it be the rustling of leaves whispering the call of fall outside?  Yet there was not even a breeze; only the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the hurried world below could be heard.  I waited there for a moment, mindful of the different energy from the outside before returning to the quiet stillness within. To my surprise the gentle whisper that I heard was the flutter of an Angel’s wing, it was right there before me, forever in My Peony.

I returned to the easel where all was blissful, soft and full.

~ White Peony for Caira ~

Oil on canvas 28 x 36, 2008

Private Collection of Anna and Newal Morgan

Oshawa Ontario

Family devastated by teen suicide

A priest has spoken of a County Down family's heartache at the suicide of their teenage daughter Ciara Hanvey who died on Thursday night at her home in Ballynahinch.  The 13- year-old was a pupil

at St. Colman's Secondary School in the town.  Children there have been offered counselling following the tragedy.

Canon Gerard McCory said Ciara's family were absolutely devastated by her death.  She was a member of a local Irish dancing club. 

"Ciara was the youngest child - she was the only daughter and has three brothers", said Canon McCrory.

"They are in a state of shock.  There is quite a large family who have obviously been supportive in this situation."

"The high school in the town has done all it can in laying on counselling for those who might need it."

Canon McCrory said Ciara's school friends had been completely shocked by what had happened.

"Many people have said to me that if this was to happen to someone, Ciara would not have been the person they would have thought of."

Ciara's funeral will take place at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ballynahinch at 1300 BST on Sunday.

Ciara, my young cousin of just 14-years had passed away, she had succumbed to an accidental death by hanging.

Her brother Gerard who was 17 at that time would call on the phone to share his grief over the loss of his little sister and for his Mam and Dad who would never again find peace in their hearts with the senseless loss of their beautiful little girl. Young Gerard's lament would last for hours in the hope that he could find in him somewhere, a dream for a brighter tomorrow. Through our conversations, somehow in his young mind, Gerard thought he was responsible for Ciara’s passing.  

What could help Gerard from believing that he had anything at all to do with Ciara's passing?  How could this dreadful tragedy that tore the heart and soul from their family be made easier to bear?

Gerard shared that Ciara had a dream to see the Statue of Liberty someday, how could it possibly be that young Ciara would never have the chance to see this dream realized?

So the two of us, Gerard and I devised a plan, he was coming to Canada. White Peony is painted in memory of beautiful little Ciara.

It was through the sale of the Peonies for the 2008 Festival that Gerard would find his way to New York where he would release Ciara’s soul safely into the arms of the Heavenly Angels from the top of the Liberty Tower.

We never made it to New York or to the Tower of Liberty.

Gerard had arrived in Canada just before July 1st Canada Day.   

Three of us, Shandy, Gerard and myself set out for Ottawa to begin his journey of healing to New York and the Liberty Tower.  Just outside Ottawa, we passed under a double rainbow, then to our surprise we watched a third rainbow grace the sky.  In awe of the wonder of God's magnificent universe, we pulled off the highway to watch in grand delight.

We cried, all three of us as Gerard raised his arms high to the heavens and released Ciara’s beautiful soul to the right into the hands of God.

You see, Ciara herself had come to Gerard in that very moment, delivering a blessed beginning to Gerard's healing.

Nothing is so bad that it cannot be shared; indeed it is that very sharing that heals so many in due time.

Gabi always said that true love brings up anything unlike itself in order to heal ~ I will always remember… always.

Gerard’s Double Rainbow over Ottawa, Canada Day 2009

Photo of Gerard's triple rainbow is not available at the time of this publication.

left; Gerard Hanvey right; cousin Tyler Hughes, taking some healing Time on Maple Lake, Haliburton Highlands, Northern Ontario, 2008.

White Peony study #3 

 28 x 36, oil on canvas, 2008.

Celebrating the Oshawa Valley Peony Festival 2008

Private Collection of Anna and Newal Morgan
Oshawa Ontario 

~ Graduation Peony C1 ~

2009

~ Graduation Peony C2 ~

2009

Installation of Graduation Peony

~ White Peony #1 ~

2007

~ White Peony ~ #3

2009

~ White Peony # 2 ~

2007

~ White Peony  #5 ~

2009

~ Yellow Peony ~

2007

~ Path of the Peonies ~

2009

Scarlet O'Hara

The Peony Portrait

2009

~ Scarlet O'Hara ~

2009

I turned to look at the clock; It was 5:00 am on Saturday morning June 13 2010, the opening day of the Oshawa Valley annual Peony Festival.

I remember vividly my walk last year through the dense early morning mist in search of a flower to capture for the days painting, only to discover the weighted beauty of the dark crimson Scarlet O'Hara that lay there exhausted on the earth floor, heavenly laden with the rain from the downpour of the night before.  How beautiful this gorgeous peony must have looked before she succumbed to the unbearable pressure of the beating rain.  It was indeed the moment to pay tribute to her life of strength and grace by capturing her last dying breath; or so I thought!

I remember only too well how fast I had to work adding white and more white to my planned dark red palette until all the crimson had become the palest diaphanous pink.

It was all one could do to try to catch her essence throughout the day as she rose up so defiantly from the cold damp floor of earth.

~ Budding Scarlet ~

2010

The days and months of this new year 2010 seem to have just flown by like the timeless moments of ancient history and of course just like the memories of love that linger so hauntingly in the heart.

A definite sense of déjà vu filter through the final strokes of this flower that now rests on the easel.  Lost I have been in catching the memory of the scarlet spirit of this peony from last year's festival in the park.  This is her dying bud that will show for the first time in just a few hours, it is a vision that I will never forget.

Before I started my notes today of this year's magical festival, out of interest I searched Google for the word peony just to see what would come up;  I hit a listing called Peony in Love.  What unfolded was a beautiful tale of a broken hearted lovesick young maiden. 

Based on the true story, Peony in Love by Lisa See, a world full of richness with the magic of Chinese afterlife used to transcend death and explore the many manifestations of love bloomed before me;

“The trees are bare.  In the distance is the hum of morning bees.  If only my tears of blood could die red the blossoms of the palm tree, but I will never make it to the spring.  My heart is empty and my life has no value anymore.

When I came to the edge of our pond, I sank to me knees so I might see my reflection in the glassy surface.  Love-sickness had caused my face to grow thin and pale.  My body was less substantial as though it could no longer bear the weight of my tunic.  My gold bracelets’ hung loosely on my wrists.  Even my Jade hairpin seemed too heavy for the lightness of my frame. 

I wanted to be heard, but only by one man.”

Equally wonderful as well as Lisa's Last Peony, are the operas from the Peony Pavilion on YouTube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4T6Ic84AZI , which are very rich in entertainment as well as true romantic representation of Chinese Culture.

The story of the peony that unfolded indeed heightened the spark of creativity to begin the work on the easel in the garden today, celebrating the worlds strongest and most romantic flower in history.

Time disappears quickly during the festival, eight hours feels like five minutes.  I lose myself in the silent conversation between light and color that so gloriously presents itself during that moment in time.  Very difficult it is to pull the attention away from the radiance of all the beautiful blooms that enchant the spell of the moment, everything appears like misty apparitions floating in and out among the splendor in the garden that overflows in timeless beauty.

This year in particular festival day will be even more memorable, more special than all the others to both Mam and I...

Patricia Maguire ( Mam ) enjoying a moment with the beauty of the flowers
Oshawa Valley Garden 2010
Photos by Stephen Cormack

The Peony Festival came to mean so very much to both Mam and me,  she loves all the flowers so much.  When I was asked to paint at the festival it was Mam who encouraged the day there in the park.  Had it been up to me I would have easily shied away.  Always we were there together every year at the Oshawa Valley Gardens to witness the many people that came to pay tribute to one of the oldest and most beautiful romantic flowers on earth.

The hours of the day spent there to capture the essence of the morning light that rested on the bloom was the search for the beauty found in the light of the palest hue transparent of the day's conscious evolution of the sun brilliant with ray.  The dance of light filters down through the folding depth of the multi-petaled flower.

Lost we would be Mam and I in the magical scent of the peonies.  Always she was there, waiting and watching patiently to see what would manifest onto the canvas as the hours of the festivals first day flew by.  

After a mastectomy in 2007, Ma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease of the brain resulting from medication prescribed to treat breast cancer.  It is the journey of the light leaving the Pineal gland until finally it glows no more.  She is now a resident in the full care facility of Winfield's Retirement Home in Durham Region where she is in the final stages of dementia.

Somehow the Peony Festival will not be the same without her very presence there which truly made the day there so very special.  The Last Peony painting is in memory of Mam's love for every flower in God's beautiful garden.

~ Mystical Garden ~ The Last Peony

 C1 & C2

 Celebrating Oshawa Peony Festival 2010

  Private Collection of Linda Cormack, Oshawa Ontario

March 17, 2013

Celebrating the 87th. Birthday of

Patricia Josephine Neate Maguire

~ Nana ~

  

  

~ Patricia Josephine Neate Maguire ~

Photo by Seamus

Nana with Great Granddaughters Amanda and Mackenzie

 Granddaughter Shandy and Nana

 ~ Kathleen Sweeney ~

Good friend from Winfield's to Mam and all our friends in the home as well as to our families.

Kay celebrated her 91st. Birthday this year by securing independent living outside Winfield Full Care Facility breaking history for the first time at the home for a single adult to leave the full care for private living.

Congratulations Kay on your new home and a very Happy 91st. Birthday to you!

May you always be as free as a bird!

~*LOVE ALWAYS*~

 Wee Seamus, Amanda and Nana 

 ~ Kaelham ~

Great Grandson 

 ~ Kaelham ~

~ Mother Julie and McKenzie ~

Great Granddaughter  Amanda and Papa Johnny (Grandson)

Shandy & Nana

Mommy Leah with wee Seamus and cousin Amanda

 ~ Lady Ayden Sloan ~

Great Granddaughter

~ Ray Van Schyndell ~ Shandy's handsome Beau

 ~ Lovely Leah ~

Uncle Lenny ~ ( Leonardo da Vinci )

 Grandson

 Wee Seamus ~ doing an Irish jig for Nana & Goggy

 Seamus trying out  Mommy's camera

Lady Ayden and Lovely Leah

 Granddaughter Laura ~ Miss Biss

 O'h, oh... Miss Biss ( Aunty Laura ) showing Seamus how to use Goggy's camera

Shandy reading Nana's beautiful card from first daughter Pauline

~ Wee Seamus ~

~ Mommy ~

Photo by Seamus

~Aunt Shandy ~

 Photo by Seamus

 ~ Aunt Lori ~ 

Photo by Seamus

~ Uncle Len ~

Photo by Seamus

~ Aunty Paul ~

Photo by Seamus

~ Aunt Shandy ~

Photo by Seamus

~ Uncle Johnny ~

Photo by Seamus

Happy Birthday Nana

May the winds behind you keep you in a forward direction

May the brilliant Light of the sun moon and stars always

Shine your way through the shadows

May the rain always refresh your palette

May God's Angels deliver you safely into the arms of your God

May you always know that you are loved and never alone

Always remembered you are Nana for your beautiful Spirit

That filled our heart with so much Love

From one moment to the next

Without end

A Little bit o Heaven you are Mam

A`midst your forty shades of green

~*LOVE ALWAYS*~

Your Family

~ The Last Peony ~