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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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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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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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Bay of Fundy Blues
Bay of Fundy Blues is my first completed oil painting for 2020! Mussel shells have always been one of my favourite subjects to paint and I always come back to them. It seems like a rather long time since i posted last. I’ve been quite busy. I completed a few Christmas commissions along the way – which I am unable to share, then the holidays with lots of family and we don’t have to get into the never ending sinus cold/infection fiasco. So many reasons! But I am back at it once again. Mussel shells revisited It is interesting how I keep coming back to subjects that I thought I…
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Summertime Promises
Summertime Promises I completed this painting on the day of the Royal Wedding and also my husband’s birthday. All this just happens to coincide with the Victoria Day long weekend. All this is truly symbolic. The May long weekend heralds in the promise of summer and is filled with hope. Lazy long weekends, adventurous tours, putting in the garden… you know the feeling Warm enough to chill I don’t know about you, but my soul has been longing to be warm so we can just chill. Our season on the East Coast is relatively short. We wait so long for its arrival. So many happy plans and ideas – all…
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Special Supper
I choose to paint Special Supper because I felt I needed a challenge! Jeepers! Designing a poured watercolour around lobsters sitting on a lobster platter may not have been my smartest move. Wing and a prayer The thing is, I could see the finished painting in my mind. Which when you start a painting I think you you should be able to do. Breaking the colours out into layers in this case was very complex especially since the painting is basically monochromatic. And red. Once the values started to get deeper, I actually lost my roadmap. I was unable to distinguish between critter and platter. You see, both the real…
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Social Climber poured watercolour
Poured watercolour of a purple clematis I just had to call this painting Social Climber as there are so many blossoms growing over top of one another. So many rich shades of blues, pinks and purples. When to say when There are times when I am unsure to call a painting complete or not. I find this challenges me more with poured watercolours than traditional painting styles. The paint stains the paper quite heavily when you pour, often creating sharper edges than you intended during the masking process. Pouring makes it harder to edit the painting while balancing the tone and maintaining transparency of colour. When I removed the masking…
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Sunshine and Shadows floral painting
This sunshine filled floral painting makes me happy. It’s funny, whenever I think I am finished a painting I will often have self doubt. That was the case with this one. I decided to set it aside for awhile and went upstairs to start supper. When I went back into the studio it stopped me in my tracks. It was glowing as luminous as I had hoped it would be! The yellows so sunny and yummy. Poured or sprayed paintings I approached this painting slightly differently by spraying the paint onto the wet surface. I actually thought that it may be less messy. Boy, was I wrong. The coloured mist…
