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Sunny Serenade, A Lilac story
Lilacs: More Than Just a Pretty Flower I was recently asked why I love to paint lilacs. I think because they evoke an emotional response when you see them. They certainly do for me. It’s like they transport you back to a simpler time. Lilacs are mood-setters. Their soft purples, lavenders, and lilac tones feel like nature’s way of giving us a big, cozy hug. In art, they’re all about springtime vibes, fresh starts, and a hint of nostalgia. Much like when you catch a faint floral scent on a sunny day. And this is an interesting that when I’m painting lilacs I feel like I can actually smell their scent.…
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How is it July already?
How is it July already? I am in shock at how fast this year is going. Please summer, won’t you slow down just a little for us? The moods of Lac Cameron, PQ We recently travelled to Ontario and then to Quebec to visit with our family and to help them build a deck at their lakeside cottage. The lake of course, is incredibly beautiful and ever changing. I did not paint on days when we had torrential rains (well, maybe before the rain started) and with high winds. I never really considered that high temperatures would also be a deterrent. Biting bugs I understand and I regularly hide form…
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Dancing With the Sun
I love it when paintings name themselves. Quite often as I am working on them, the name just comes to me and it almost always is the right name for the piece. This was one of those times. Dancing With the Sun. Just feels right Were you aware that sunflowers move so that their “face” follows the sun? I think that this was so cool. So the flowers really do a slow dance with the sun each day and I danced under the sunflowers. It’s no wonder this flower makes everyone feel so much joy. The beautiful complementary yellow flowers against summers cobalt blue sky – so beautiful. Here are…
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Colours of Ode to Joy
Often when you paint your love of painting shines through. I am so happy with the feeling I captured with this painting – it feels happy and joyful to me. Colours of Ode to Joy It feels like joy Yesterday, I completed this painting. I felt so happy when I looked up from my palette and realized there was nowhere left to put paint. I stood back to look at it and smiled and signed it. I am so happy with the feeling I captured with with this piece – it feels happy and joyful to me. Within minutes of signing it, I had a friend visit my studio. This…
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Growing Skyward
Once upon day in late spring, I happened upon a wild garden of lupines. I got down as low as I possibly could to take my reference photos. I love this perspective of how these lupins are growing skyward reaching towards heaven. Inspiration in a ditch Inspiration can happen literally anywhere. When I was out driving around looking for potential reference photos, I noticed a ditch full of lupines in all colours imaginable growing at the edge of a parking lot. Of course I had to go and take as many reference photos as possible. It didn’t hurt that the sky and the lighting seemed perfect to me. I have…
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Artwork, Helpful Hints, My Painting Process, Poured Watercolour, Product Review, Still Life - Florals & Much More
Red Hot Pink poured watercolour
Red Hot Pink poured watercolour painting with process and product review I was feeling adventurous so I experimented with a few new products – one product I love and the other – not so much. In the pink It’s been a rather long, cold and wet spring. I wanted to paint something that celebrates summer heat and sunshine. Something bold and beautiful. Also I wanted to painting something that develops quicker than my oil paintings. So I turned to my photos of last summer’s planters and found red petunias! I also took this an an opportunity to push it a bit and experiment with a couple different products. Dr Ph.…
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Artwork, Fauna - Feathers and Fur, My Painting Process, Poured Watercolour, Still Life - Florals & Much More, Travelling Colours
Ducks in a Row
Ducks in a Row is a 1/2 sheet poured watercolour painting of Ducks Unlimited nesting boxes hung in a row Summer memories Last summer we were in Prince Edward Island in the very picture perfect area of Annandale. We rented an old farmhouse that was situated on a old farm. On the property were many sun bleached barns. While exploring the property, we came across the back of a barn with a number of Ducks Unlimited nesting boxes hanging in a row. Hence Ducks in a Row! I knew immediately there was a painting in that series of photos. Most likely a poured watercolour! Trickier than I expected I had…
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Scent of Spring and some self reflection
Scent of Spring lilac painting in oils I completed Scent of Spring yesterday actually. I can tell you that I did a lot of self reflecting while working on it. There were some painting sessions where I literally spent hours working and you know, you could not tell I even touched it. It developed slowly. I knew it would and thought I was prepared for that. I stayed with it and am sure happy that I did. In one of those moments of when I was questioning myself, this quote found me: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” ―…
