• Events,  Fauna - Feathers and Fur,  Kudos

    Great News “Call of the Raven” Won an Award at the CPSWC Open Water Show

    Dear Helen, we are thrilled to inform you that your painting Call of The Raven has been awarded theD.L Stevenson Award, (Gift certificate award)…. ​Congratulations on this prestigious prize. Pretty exciting.  Especially since I embarked on a project to paint ravens with the CSPWC Open Water juried show in mind.  Last year when we visited  Yellowstone National Park there were a number of particularly friendly ravens in the parking lot at Artist’s Point.  They were walking around the travel trailers looking for handouts and cawing their hearts out.  One raven in particular was following me around and without being intrusive, I was able to get many really nice reference photos.…

  • Events,  My Plein Air Adventures,  Scapes - Coastal and Land

    Painting at the Nature Park

    Oxymoron alert Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I had to get outdoors and paint. Oxymoron alert –   Spontaneity like this requires a lot of thinking on my part.  Do I want to take my watercolours?  Or perhaps my Oils?  Or even acrylics?  As I pondered and gathered up all my stuff, I decided to bring both watercolours and acrylics. Ran through the usual checklist, water – check, paper towels – check, garbage bag- check, hat- check etc.  Finally felt I was ready to go with he car all packed up. Then another decision  – where to go?   I went to Meenans Cove Beach but was unable to…

  • Events,  Helpful Hints,  Lessons Learned

    What I have learned

    What I have learned while attempting to Painting 30 28 Paintings in 30 Days   Once I got over the initial fear of committing to a project of this magnitude, I made the decision to approach it with a few ground rules for myself: First – that I would not compromise on quality; and Second – that I wanted to use this challenge to explore new surfaces and mediums What I have learned: Usually I like to paint watercolors on larger paper 11.5 x 14, what is call ¼ sheet.  It only took one day for me to realize this size was not sustainable as it takes too long to complete a…

  • Artwork,  Events,  Scapes - Coastal and Land,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    30 Paintings in 30 days Finale

    Wow.  What can I say.  I really did stick with the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Only I painted 28.  Really 27 as my last painting was finished today – after the end of the challenge.   I am so glad I decided to do this challenge for a few reasons – it help passed this cold month and I wanted to use materials and subjects I do not always get around to.  And I learned a lot. I learned that I actually do like acrylic paint.  I just do not like to use it on canvas as I am unable to get the degree of detail I want…