Art by David Dossett

Bidding is up to $100! Bid now! Auction ends tomorrow at 12:01 p.m.

The Martello Alley 2020 coin has arrived! Thanks to Specialty Trophies and Engraving who did a fantastic job! There is so much detail in the design! This coin i...s based on the painting Martello Alley Snowman and it’s bright, beautiful and a great collector item! Plus, it’s accepted at its face value of $20 at Martello Alley and Martello on Brock. What a great way to support our local business as well as local artists and makers. And for a limited time we are giving away a print of Martello Alley Snowman, which retails for $25, free with each coin! Get yours today! Click on the link below. I forgot to add: we gladly ship! Shipping is calculated at checkout. And we offer curbside pickup or free local delivery. https://www.martelloalley.com//martello-alley-collectable-

Digital drawing version of the original Leaning Lady. That’s what Wendy called it. I called it Indian Summer. Black and white line drawing included for colouring.

This has been a tough winter so far, hasn’t it? We could all use a break. Unfortunately, many of us are living through lockdown 2.0, and were wondering when we can emerge again. We are dreaming of the day when we can start getting back to a more normal life. Since I can’t make the winter go away, I decided to dust off some of my winter pictures that represented some of my fondest memories. I decided to share them with you. I hope that they bring back some warm memories for you too. Stay safe, and we will see each other when this is done. And remember that although Martello Alley and Martello on Brock are closed to the public, they are open online 24/7. Remember them when you are thinking of a locally made gift for that special someone.

Now more than ever, it’s so important to recognize those moments when the din of our lives ebbs and we are free to feel happy. Like the sun on our faces with a ...break in the clouds. We all stop and let that warmth cover us. All the while, closing the vault on our thoughts that had just filled our consciousness. As artists, it is our mission to capture these moments. The ones that made us stop the car or sit quietly observing our surroundings. And then, it is our joy to share those moments with you. The new COVID restrictions accompanied with a traditionally stressful time of year can be taxing on us all. So we encourage you to seek out and hold on to the moments that bring you joy, calm and peace. It is a wonderful practice that promotes you to discover that there are more of those moments than you may realize. Artists in this video: David Dossett, Lori Kallay, Carla Miedema, Meg Muirhead, Valerie Spence Hounsell, Julie Kojro, Joanne Gervais, Bonnie Humber. Art by David Dossett, Art by Lori Kallay Studio by the Pond https://www.facebook.com/Meg-Muirhead-EncausticMixed-Media-1083096281731743 The Artist's Studio - Valerie Spence Hounsell Colebrook Studio, paintings by J. Kojro Joanne Gervais Bonnie Humber

Since 2015 we have brought Froid’Art, a free outdoor ice art exhibit, to Kingston. But because of the pandemic, and the tightening of COVID-19 regulations, Froi...d’Art 2021 is postponed. We hope that the restrictions will be lifted soon. Until then, please stay safe, and share with your friends and family this look back at 2015, our first year. Artists represented in this video: @dossettd @seguin_art @michaelbruneau @yessicariverabelsham BJ William Mcdonald Natasha Walsh @tashasflashes @atelieroflauraleemoreland @cmurph21 Sara Baxter @found_and_lost_art lorikallay

Lockdown 2.0 activity: finishing some paintings I had set aside. The first I call Zihuatanejo and the second is Harvest. They are both done in a naive style inspired by French Canadian artist Jean-Paul Lemieux. The first in the series is called Indian Summer. All three are portraits of my wife Wendy. Can’t you see the resemblance? ;) Do,, what are you doing to keep yourself busy during Lockdown 2.0? BTW looks like in Ontario we are heading toward Lockdown 2.1. Yikes!

Kicking With Grace - A commission piece I finished before Christmas about a little girl on a walk with her grandparents. They had to stop often and wait for her because she would often stop to kick the apples that had fallen on the ground. This image, and the story behind it made me pause and reflect on how I used to be more like Grace, enjoying the simple things all around with wonder and amazement. As we rush through life, focusing on our goals we can often miss the little... things that bring joy. As bad as these lockdowns have been they have forced many of us to realize what is important what really matters: Our health. Family. Friendships. And simple joys. During this lockdown take the time to remember when you were like Grace. Think back to when you were young. What brought you joy didn’t arrive on your doorstep in an Amazon package. Take time from your busy schedule to kick an apple or two. Stay safe. We will see each other after lockdown. See more

The lake is warm and the white wine spritzer is cold! Perfection! Gotta live Canada in the summertime! Where is your piece of heaven? Cheers! @ Kingston, Ontario

Enjoying a white wine spritzer in my 393 cubic mile pool.

Water is even warmer today! Welcome back summer! White wine spritzers in Lake Ontario. Paradise! @ Kingston, Ontario

First dip in Lake Ontario in 2020. And first white wine spritzer. Happy Father’s Day to me! Those dark days of COVID-19 lockdown are now just a bad memory. Happy Father’s Day and have a great weekend everyone! . .... . . . . . . #fathersday #ontario #canada #martelloalley #martelloonbrock #ygk #lakeontarioliving See more

Wow! Thank you so much The Kingston Local! https://www.thekingstonlocal.com//meet-the-creator-of-th/

We're glad that hair salons are open again! Aren't you? Oh, and if you're downtown, stop in to Martello on Brock for that unique gift for dad. Remember, Father's Day is coming up! We're online at www.martelloalley.com

Although finishing touches at Martello Alley are still to come, we decided to do a soft opening. We know that a lot of you are curious to see how it looks. So here’s a peek. Come on down and visit! Note: COVID-19 protocols are in effect. Please observe the limit of four customers in the store at a time.

Follow-up to my previous post: it seems that cats are so unique. Each has its own personality. Latte demanded to drink from the shower - often several times a day. With her strange habits I was reminded of those lines between Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert: in that CBC TV series Anne of Green Gables- to paraphrase I couldn’t help thinking that she was sent to us for a reason. We needed her. Even with those quickly little ways. I loved her for them! Rest In Peace Latte.

Yesterday we said goodbye to Latté. She was going to be put down by her previous family because she was growling, hissing, threatening and aggressive. We penned her in our daughter’s room, where she stayed in her travel case for about three days, growling and hissing every time we opened the door to check on her. I was worried that she could never change, and that we would have to find a farm to adopt her because she was so wild. But by the end of the week she had calmed dow...n, and she became the friendliest little cat I have ever had. She seemed to love being around people. When my oldest son moved to Toronto she went with him. She came back to us last summer because my son and his girlfriend were planning to be away for a month. But because she was very upset in the car during that trip, and because she had developed arthritis which required expensive treatments, it was decided that we keep her. For some reason, and I don’t know why, it really made my day to see that little kitty cat in the morning and the evening. I miss her so much. See more

Lori Kallay, one of our artists is offering 10% of her sales for June to go to Black Lives Matter! She is a wonderfully talented artist and a person with a heart of gold. She's also my friend! Take a look at her beautiful paintings!

Martello Alley renovations are almost done, and we will be reopening soon. Are you excited?