Is there nothing better than sitting out in your backyard eating summer ripe berries?  The sun on your back, and sweet delicious fruit...yup you can tell it is the middle of winter and I am beginning to dream of spring time. 

This painting is from photos I took way back in 2013 but I wasn't confident enough to try to paint from the images I got.  Painting glass is more than a bit intimidating. There is a lot on information in a very small space. I had to also develop my patience level because it also takes quite a bit of time to properly and carefully capture all the abstract shapes in the glass.  

Fear is a big part of what artists have to overcome.  Fear can hold one back, not allow one to expand and develop.  People are surprised to hear that I too feel fear.  Sometimes it slows me down for a bit, but then I find a way to get beyond it.  Mostly by asking myself "What is the worst thing that can happen?" The answer "the painting doesn't work!" Yes indeed it may not work but what harm does that have on me...none.  Every painting I find that I continue to develop and learn.  I have burned quite a few paintings that were not to the standard that I want in the world but as they burned I say "Thank you for what you taught me". :) 
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Above are some of the images that I took on that hot summer day in 2013.  I bet you can see a theme (beyond berries).  I adore black and white fabric.  I had an extensive collection when I quilted and I never ever made a quilt with it.  I just had a hard time cutting it.  So I sold the vast majority of my fabric collection in the fall of 2016 once we moved back into the house.  I don't quilt any more so why have my fabric collection take up so much space. Don't worry it went to a very loving home where the first quilt my friend made...was with the black and white collection.  I LOVE IT! :)  You can see how interesting some of the set ups are but some are not at all.  That is the joy of digital photos...at least you can through the vast majority of the images away.  

Step by step...day by day...my painting grows and so does my confidence.  I know I have been bitten by the painting glass bug!  Wow it really pushed me to render this as accurately as possible.  Below is the completed painting.  I am really pleased with the glass. 

"The Sweetness of Life" , 38x56cm (15x22in), Watercolour on 140 lb Arches Cold Press

What did I learn on this piece...strawberry seeds are crazy for the amount of time they take...each one had at least 3 layers on them. I am not sure I will want to take on doing another strawberry for a very long time.  LOL.   Creating a smooth berry turns out to be a small challenge.  One that I will have to work on to even get better.  The other big lesson was that I should never let impatience get the better of me...putting all the little dots of masking fluid got away on me because I was impatient...then at the end I had to 'fix' a bunch of unnecessary areas which added a fair amount of extra time. 

 I would love to hear what you think of this painting.  :) ​Thanks for stopping by.

I have been enjoying painting this winter.  The first painting I accomplished for the new year is 'Venus on the Shelf' 40x50cm Acrylic on cradled board.  I began with playing the various elements that I had collected. I ordered a range of used books with Venus in the title.  It was really hard not to order some of the books.  What great titles I found to use: Unearthing Venus, The Venus Fixers, Venus Prime, Venus with Bicepts and the list goes on and on.  I couldn't fit in some of the titles I got a kick out of like Venus Envy and Cruel Venus.   

Above are a few of the set ups that I did.  The bottom one is the one I finally decided on.  

​Then I began to paint!  Working back to front. 

I discovered that I need to have a tool to help me see the small details of the still life.  So after hours of trying to find exactly what I was looking for with binoculars I finally contacted an artist who I follow and asked where he got the ones I see him use.  Thankfully artists are so helpful and I received a response right away and had the binoculars ordered right away.  I can't wait to work on my next still life...that will be in March. It is a commission so I won't share until it has been gifted.  :)

It was a real challenge in a number of ways but I was able to stay focus and got through it fairly unscathed.  :) 

This painting is available and can be found HERE.  

I would love to hear what you think of the painting.  Thanks for dropping by. 

After such a busy time I thought I would start at the beginning...I will start with my 5th Annual show called Ethereal Whisper that happened at the end of October. I can't believe a month has gone past already.

When I started to paint 5 years ago in July 2012 I decided to do an annual show.  Well what a good decision that was, as it means each year I challenge myself in new ways.  This year my challenge was to work larger in acrylic and to continue to explore birds in a very realistic way.  I struggled with patience because these paintings both took longer than I thought they would (as most painters/quilters/metalworkers and so on know).  I had to remind myself that "it takes what it takes" and not be frustrated that I wasn't getting to the other boards I had prepped for painting.  In the end,  I was amazed and excited at how well the owls turned out.  So learning to be more patient ultimately turns out to be a good thing! :)

​There has been a couple of times in the past 5 year that I have seen a jump in my painting skills.  It is fascinating as it is a dramatic happening that presents itself from one painting to the next.  I can see more and I can render what I see at a new level.  The owls were that for me.  Now I am excited with that skill development because it is time to dream of new directions.  More on that another time! :)

​The show was a blast and it was so fun to catch up with all the folks who came.  The wine flowed, there was plenty of conversation and laughter and best of all, after months of being in solitude painting I got LOTS of hugs!  I needed those hugs.  :) I do love sharing my work with people and to have some welcome a piece of my art into their homes is a big honour.    Thank you!
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Thanks for stopping by.  I would love to hear from you.  Have a fabulous Thursday evening.

The month at NACC was really fun. I had an Opening on April 7th. ​

and I got to talk to a few of them! :)

So I painted Ptarmigans, an Eagle, a Raven (finished image below) and Snow Buntings!

I had quite a few people take time to explore my paintings

And after all the shows I had a spectator do the draw for the basket and Beth Collinson (one of my students) won the basketful of goodies. :)
It was a busy month and it was great to see everyone and to chat.  Now I am finally back to painting. I started a commission yesterday and also will be finishing the rest of the birds. I got the raven done before we went on holidays.

"Heedful", 6x6 in, Acrylic, SOLD
Thanks so much for dropping by!  See you again soon(ish). Have a great week.

I have been really busy painting in preparation for my show at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre for the month of April.  Ian and I hung the show yesterday...no photos taken!    I have to say I am pretty pleased with how it looks.  I tried to leave space for the viewer to really get to look without being overwhelmed.  There are some older pieces and there are 10 brand new pieces both in watercolour and acrylic.
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I continue to explore beautiful flowers and the new, never before seen acrylics are of birds!  :)  

Claim the Sky 2, 12x12in, Acrylic
I hope you will stop by for the Opening Reception on Friday April 7 from 6 to 7:30 pm at NACC!  See you there.