So much to be thankful for! The beauty of the season, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, family and friends to share all good things with.... I am especially thankful to my art friends, the Wet Paint Group of artists, and my students and drop-in artists. They keep me learning and loving everyday in the studio!
I am taking an e-course this month with Melinda Cootsona, a Californian artist whose art I love. It is entitled : 6 Approaches to Abstracting the Figure. Loving it! It is so what I need to push myself out of my 'realistic leanings' with figures and portraits. I am watching the Class 3 and 4 today --- Using Pattern, Distortion and Exaggeration.   
My Beginning Acrylic Class painters are awesome--- here are a few pics of their first 2 classes:

With September has come cooler days and nights- and this weekend some serious- and seriously needed - rain! Made soup today and am resisting the urge to light the wood stove!
The last days of August were busy, with our Wet Paint Group Art Show and Sale-- check out our pictures on the website-- and for me the beginning of a mural commission. The mural is a large indoor "man-cave" landscape painting to backdrop a serious model hobby. It is coming along - only a few more days I think- and I will post some photos when it is completed. I have learned a lot about this challenging form of painting- very large vertical spaces and quick drying interior latex house acrylic paint- yikes. Luckily it is a wonderful bright space and no ladders or scaffolds needed!!

​Am also setting fall classes: a full beginning watercolour session and a beginning Acrylics (a couple of spots left if you know someone interested). Also setting up workshops...
Ongoing drop-in afternoons continue M-W-F 1:30 - 4:30- and continue to be a supportive, creative time for us all. Last Friday a party broke out-- love these ladies!

The summer is more than half over- wow, where has it gone? In the studio, classes and drop-ins have been steady and fun- with people coming and going around their vacations and guests...
I have been getting ready for the Wet Paint Summer Show coming up in 2 weeks:  trying to finish up paintings, wire backs etc. and  get promos and publicity out,  and on-line.
wetpaintshowandsale.weebly.com 
I am excited to have signed up for an e-course with Melinda Cootsona- California artist- entitled 'Abstracting the Figure'. Love her work, and she works in oils and cold wax- perfect!!  Starts in October...
Here are a few pics of student works in progress: some negative paintings, using at the grid method to enlarge  drawings, a new painting in Cheryl's "India" series, a granddaughter visiting, a mystical city scape a-coming, some zentangling... ahhh what fun!
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While the temperatures soar outside, it has remained cool in the studio. Although many of the 'regular' artists are on vacation, there has been steady attendance in drop-in classes, with a few new artists, and several weekend workshops to keep me busy.
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A new beginner's watercolour class began this week- always so exciting! 
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Proud to be Canadian- yup, love my country. The sun is shiny on this Canada Day holiday and so everyone is outside soaking it up...


Back in the studio, on going drop-ins and workshops are happening. Had a great group of woman here on Saturday for an "Altered Spaces" workshop and am looking forward to another fun group this coming weekend for an "Introduction to Encaustics" 2 day workshop. It is always interesting how much I learn from these classes!

Hoping to begin watercolour classes soon- for beginners. Looks like I will be waiting until September to start a beginner Acrylic class. Dropping is still every M-W F afternoon and everyone is welcome!!

Ok, what happened to spring?? Wet and cold-- have lit the wood stove almost everyday for the last week!!
Keeping warn in the studio though with lots going on....
Finished up our Beginning Acrylics classes this week. Great work by everyone; lots of variety of subject in our last projects. We ended the day with some acrylics pours for fun...
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This past weekend was the opening of our Wet Paint Group show at the McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) in Parksville. It is on from June 9th to July 14th. CHECK it out!!
In the other gallery at the MAC is a show by Will Millar (of the original Irish Rovers) called My Irish Rovings-- oil paintings of everyday life in Ireland- awesome!
Here are some pictures of the opening:

Last weekend was the Central island Studio Tour.
Pauline Anglin and I welcomed almost 100 people to chat art and view our work--- and even buy a few of our pieces! it was a great time- perfect weather, gorgeous flowers and enthusiastic visitors.
​Here are a few pics:

The studio has also busy busy with the new acrylic painters; they have taken only 4 classes and are producing some fabulous art! Here are some of the work , in progress---

A wonderfully busy time of year; with the great weather comes spring clean-up, gardening and yard work. It also ushers in the spring and summer art shows that seem to be a reliable venue for showing and selling art for many emerging and established artists.
Coming up soon is the Central island Studio Tour- a free self - guided tour of over 100 studios in the mid Vancouver Island, from  Parksville to Campbell River. An amazing array of genres, media and styles are showcased in many fascinating studios and often gorgeous gardens. Brochures are widely available. See the web site centralislandartsguide.ca to map our your route. A mobile app is also available -- download it for the map data free.-Ondago

Back in my studio, the beginning acrylic painters are really taking off---here are a few of their first works of pears. this week we will be doing a closeup floral- stay tuned!