Artist Trading Cards

Just have been introduced to the idea of Artist Trading Cards. Which are miniature artworks that are traded between artists. I am going to be participating in my first trading session in about a week.  It is at the gallery in Salmon Arm that is presently exhibiting my solo art show. Looking forward to seeing how this all works.

Just spent the morning creating my offerings of barn mice. The barn is full of these little fellows and it seemed the perfect fit.

Solo Art Show

I would like to extend you an  invitation to my solo art show coming up.  The opening reception is at 7:00pm on Nov. 13 at the Salmon Arm Public Art Gallery in Salmon Arm, BC. The show is “In Nature’s Footsteps” and will run from Nov 14 till Dec 12. It would be great if you have an opportunity to stop by!

Interconnecting Art

It is funny how life and art is so wonderfully interconnected. Years ago I read the most wonderful short story called Jonathan Livingston Seagull...it was beautifully simple but profound. Today I painted a painting that my husband looked  at and without a pause named "Jonathan." When he said it ....it just felt  so simple and so right.
Here is my painting titled "Jonathan."

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Kamloops Game Farm

Most of my photos come from meeting animals in the fields, mountains and woods.  It is the best experience to meet wild animals in their own homes. But I also sometimes take advantage of the opportunity to study creatures up close.  

This last week I stopped by the Kamloops Game Farm and took 2 1/2 hours to walk around and see the animals. These animals are either lifelong occupants of the park because they can not be released or simply healing from injuries and scheduled for re-entry into the woods. It is always hard to see wild animals contained in an environment that is not their own but the Game Farm works hard to maintain a good home for all these animals.  

It was amazing to see how well the 3 legged bobcat has healed from his injuries, because of the severity of that injury, he will now have a permanent home in Kamloops. In less than a few minutes he had found all the hidden chunks of meat hidden all over his habitat and was roving to see if there was any more. 

The grizzly had beaten a large barrel into a twisted bear toy and was grinning as he played with it. 

Here are some of the photos. 

Paintings inspired this years trip to the SEA

Every year I can't wait to go to the ocean. And every summer we make the trip and for me it is a bit like a pilgrimage home. As a child I lived within sight of the ocean till I was 14.  When I return to the waters edge it feels like I am greeting a family member. To walk the beach, dig my toes into the sand listen to the waves, I just savour it.

 To be exposed to all the life in the sea is an endless adventure, the tidal pools are full of creatures, the sand is crawling with life and the water both conceals and reveals so much life with each pulse of waves.

Here are the paintings that this year has inspired. So this is my Orcas flying painting. Love to see these immense beauties rise up out of the water. We were so lucky to see a full pod of killer whales playing along side the ferry and have a grey whale swim right past us while boating in the Broken Island waters.

Working on this sea lion painting right now and will post the completed painting on website when it is done.

My mind's is full of the sea.....I am letting wash out of me on the tip my paint brush. 

Off to the Stampede

Three of my paintings are headed off to the Calgary Stampede. Just finished boxing them up and a great friend is dropping them off to the Western Art Salon.

It is the wild west...and the buffalo are roaming with the pheasants and the lynx....mmmm....might not make sense but thats wildlife for you.  Watch for these three paintings if you in the Art section at the Stampede....Yippee Ki Iii Aaaaa

Teaching how to create natural textures

Well this weekend Saturday June 13,  I will be at Opus Art Store in Kelowna sharing how I create the illusion of the  textures of nature in my paintings. My demo project will be a half finished painting of Killdeer and their chicks.  It is a painting with rocks, sand, dry grass, feathers and wonderful bird feet. That should give us some textures to work with. Hope to see you all there. :)

Lift Off & Soar

Yesterday May 11, was the accumulation of allot of work. It was installation day of a painting named Lift Off & Soar. This is a painting that is celebrating flight and the Canadian goose. The painting is 33 feet long and steps up twice to accentuate the feeling of lift off and flight.  It features a small flock of nine Canadian geese.

It is on the feature wall in the departures queue before security in the Kelowna international airport.  It will be there for six months, please let me know if you have a chance to see it.  It is for sale and will be available mid December 2015.

Here are some of the progress shots along the way of creating it.

Springtime Inspiration

The spring is a delightful time when everything outside comes back to life. It is the only time of year that I have some problem getting work done because I would rather be gathering inspiration then working. All of a sudden you can see the green of small leaves just thinking about unfolding. The air smells different and full of life. The sunshine calls to you and there are birds everywhere.

Today was such a day....and I had to take some time and just go out sit under the huge evergreen in my backyard to listen, watch and feel springtime coming. Small chickadees were very curious and hopped down the tree to a few feet of me to see what I was doing.  But I was still, just observing and listening to the grass grow, the leaves unfurl and feeling the changes that spring brings.


Here are a few paintings that I have done to celebrate spring.

Bald Eagle swimming

This last weekend I was lucky enough to see an eagle swimming for the first time. We were out fishing (catch and release) on the lake. My husband released the fish with a quick twist of the hook and as he was putting the rod back into the rod holder...when a bald eagle dove down from the top of the lakeside trees and grabbed at the fish that was just starting to retreat down to the depths. Totally startled by the splash we watched in amazement as the eagle laid with wings completely spread out on the waters surface. He was still.

It wasn't clear if he was injured or fighting with the fish below the water.  While we waited, so did he. After a few long moments, he started to swim in great big butterfly type strokes toward the shore, which was quite a distance away.  It was amazing how he easily and steadily swam to shore.  I was worried that perhaps it would be too much for him and that we might have to perform a rescue which I was cleverly devising as we watched. I have heard that eagles can not remove their talons when they sink them into the flesh of a fish and therefore can not release the prey to fly.

About 15 feet from shore he climbed up on a log but rather than rest there he hopped right over it and continued the swim to shore. When he arrived he only gave one big shake to throw the water from his feathers and then went to work eating his lunch. This eagle never seemed to be distressed by his swim and was only annoyed by the arrival of ravens that hoped to share his lunch.

When I arrived home a quick check on line proved that eagles can in deed release their talons and it is a reluctance to let their prey go that necessitates the swim.  Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me ....but the image is in my mind and may become a painting. Always so incredible to see wildlife in action!

Photo of bald eagle from last year, alas not the swimming/fishing one. 

Spring time and Squirrels

It is March and it is starting to feel like spring. Some days still pretty cold but everyday it is getting closer to warmth. This morning the Canadian geese were in the barnyard....telling us that they are back looking for nesting ground. Robins are definite back also....lots of birds at the feeder. Pheasants are here...but the real sign for me hasn't' happened yet....that is when the squirrels are back at the feeder. That is when I know for sure that spring is here and not going to be recalled in a snowy flurry.
So I am watching but no sign of those clever little fellows yet.  Here is a painting of one of our wonderful yard squirrels.

Art Goals

Hey there, what are your art goals this year? What are you going to learn, improve and share? How better to accomplish the sharing of story in each of your painting?

I am always thinking about those things all year long not just at New Years. How to improve my techniques and share my story? Which is more important to me and to the viewer.  I always love to work on improving my techniques and skills. It is an ongoing plan, with varying goals, workshops and time frames. But I think that my story, my emotion, the what and why I paint each creature in their wilderness home is perhaps more important to the viewer than I give it credit.

This year I am going to put more focus on improving my skills of communicating the wild stories that live within my paintings....bring more of the experience of meeting these sometimes illusive creatures to the canvas.

In this painting I wanted to share the deep quiet of the winter snow, the contemplative stare of an unafraid Canadian lynx in his still pose just waiting for whatever opportunity comes his way. That is this wild tale that I wish to share.

Winter Wise
16x20
Acrylic on Board

Discussing Art

 I love to discuss art, why we create it, how we create it and what it says about who we are and what is important to us.  It is an endless subject that grows and changes depending who you talk to. Everyone has a different opinion of what defines art, how it should be made and how to judge the quality of the art form.

Take time to ask everyone what art form that speaks to their heart. It could be music, calligraphy, paper folding, dance, writing, painting, drawing, cooking, woodwork or any number of other forms of creativity. How about making a point to ask everyone you meet over the next few days what art form is the most important to them.  It will be a great reminder of how important creativity is to the human soul.