​Explaining my art in just a few seconds is not easy.  Every artist needs to figure out what is called an “elevator” pitch.  How can I hook someone in a very short period of time so that they will be interested enough to go and check out my paintings?  It is not so easy to do.
 
Part of my challenge is that I like to paint such a variety of themes.  Flowers, birds and still-life’s make the top of my lists…but other topics sneak in randomly.
 
It took me awhile to codify my watercolour flower paintings to I ‘paint summer sunshine all winter long’ (as winter is very long in Yellowknife).  I think that works quite well to explain in a simple way what painting flowers make me feel like.   I am quite happy with that.

​Now birds are relatively new to my painting life and I have yet to come up with that perfect phrase that captures how I feel about painting these amazing creatures.  I love their antics and how sometimes we don't even notice them around us as they go forth creating new life and living their lives.  

Maybe you can help me to find the perfect phrase to explain my bird paintings.  Check out more bird paintings HERE and comment below what strikes you when you first look at them.   
 
Thanks for dropping by.  See you next week Friday.  

​A number of my watercolour flower paintings have collectors who lived far away!   This painting called 'Grandma’s Garden' was transplanted to Nova Scotia!   I love the frame and matting.  I love how each person makes the painting their own with the framing and matting choices. 

​I do my watercolour paintings on 140lb Arches cold press paper which allows the painting to be carefully rolled for shipping.  I can ship paintings anywhere in the world in a tube.  Makes transplanting my watercolour paintings so much simpler.
 
Now the frame that this painting was displayed in is needing to be filled at Visual Effects with another pretty flower painting.  Watch for that in the next few weeks.  Still working on the commission.  Got a bit stuck with it but I have figured my way around it.  

​Below is the step by step process I do to get to the final painting.  I layer very pale washes until the value is correct on each petal.  The lighter the petal the more careful I have to be and often they take more layers to get to where I want them to be.  This painting I did the background last...which is different than I normally do.  But it works. 

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next week. 

This was my very first show at Visual Effects since they started representing my work.  It was such a great experience.  For the first 5 years I held the show at my house, which meant that we had to prepare the space by moving furniture into other rooms which transformed our living/dining room into a gallery.  I have a great hanging system so that was very helpful.  I had to stop painting much earlier so that I could get everything prepared and be ready.  I had to plan everything and do everything except on the last day before the opening when my husband would take the day off to help. 
 
This year I brought my watercolour paintings to them by the end of September so that they would have time to frame them.  Though a few of the larger paintings  I still used my exhibition frames so that folks could choose their own framing.   I was able to continue with my acrylic painting right up until Tuesday, just before the opening on Thursday evening.  After my last painting was varnished Ian delivered it on Thursday morning to the gallery.    
 
My husband took the Thursday day off, like he usually does, but really, he didn’t need to this year.  As everything was all under control.  Peter and John did all the preparation of the show on their end.  We just came with food and wine at 4:30ish. 

Thanks to these two fabulous guys!  I really appreciate all the support they have given me since my work has been in the gallery. 

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next week.