Spring is Here! Painting florals in winter has been a great way to brighten my day and lift my spirits!

What has helped your spirits when the days seem so glum and grey?

With nose to the grind and being focused on my art practice, I managed to find inspiration through what has felt like a long winter. I worked hard on art assignments in an online composition course by Sally Hirst. Then on a totally different note, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in Cancun, attending a conference. I loved the ocean vistas, sea breezes, exotic green vegetation, foods and not least of all, meeting new people and enjoying conversations in beautiful surroundings. Who wouldn't shine with that! Here are a few pics to give you the idea....

Needless to say the time away gave me a chance to recharge, explore new ideas, explore shapes, colours and patterns that have since appeared in my art! I came home curious to do more... I wanted to work with different shapes, patterns, textures while the colours were now subdued. I love the muted blues.

Here are a few pieces in a recent series I have just finished. They will be available on my website today.

I am learning lots, not only in art, but in my approach to practice. I have been reading The Practice, shipping creative work. by Seth Godin. He writes, 'learning to trust yourself, your audience and your work is the core component of the practice. Whether your creative work takes the form of a painting, a song or a company, there is no formula for success. But there is a pattern, a practice all successful creatives engage in. The best way forward is to recognize it and commit to it'. The Practice is a powerful call to action for those who seek to make a difference. I think that refers to many of us, it's the journey we have to be prepared to undertake.
This attitude helps me on my journey, not striving but being in the moment, taking in the experience, being curious, exploring, reflecting and deciding what matters to me.

I wonder what has your journey been like over the past months? What inspires you? Have you taken any new, perhaps unknown paths? What's next for you?

Preparing for spring art shows: I will be at the The Don Valley Art Club Show and Online Sale opening April 27th in person at the Paper Mill Gallery at Todmorden Mills until May 8th, the show continues online until May 15th. This link will go live April 27th: DVAC online Show and Sale

I will be participating in the art show at the Withrow Park Clubhouse, May 28-29 with fellow artists from the drawing group I attend.

More news to come about spring shows. New work will be available on my website to subscribers first. Now to dust off the website ...

Here are a couple of the new paintings that are being added to my website today.

In Full Bloom, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 x 1.5 $450

A Splash of Colour, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 24 x 1.5 $550

Next blog, I will let you know of more places to enjoy art and to see my work as the weather warms. I will share more thoughts about my art journey and where it's taking me. Let's keep in touch.

If you have any questions or you are interested in any work you see here, please contact me. Also keep in mind that I do commissioned work.

In the meantime, please let me know what's putting a spring into your step these days.

Fall brings new beginnings...

I am working to finish a series in greens, all inspired by the greens in nature outside my windows. At the same time, I am looking ahead to what’s next…. The fall is here and the colours are beginning to change. New inspirations, I love the golden glow, reds, auburn, rust, lots of bold colour and muted, subdued tones I see when I’m out walking and maybe will translate to something more in my art?

I am about to start Lewis Noble’s course, interpreting nature in abstract landscapes. You can find him @lewisnoble_artist and his website: www.lewisnoble.com. I think the autumn will be the perfect time for this course … we’ll see!

I am thankful for the opportunities I had this summer to show off my art work, meet some of you and other art lovers at art fairs. We were able to meet in person, catch up, talk about art and hear personal stories about what excites you. I was able to catch up with other artists in person and that was inspiring too. 

Now that the weather is changing, I find myself settling into new routines, shifting gears and seeing where the journey takes me next. I am grateful for art classes and opportunities I have to paint and learn more, explore ideas, learn about other artists and take a dive into new possibilities. 

Maybe you are having some new beginnings too, things that you’re excited about ? I would love to hear what’s inspiring you and what’s getting the juices flowing for you!

I’ll keep you posted about where the next chapter takes me.

In the meantime, be well, look after yourself and those around you.

Bye for now,

Winnie