My Art in 2024
I am proud to share my 2024 art collection with you! I really believe that my style has evolved and will continue to grow in the years to come. I hope you enjoy this video montage.
We Have a Painting Giveaway Winner!
I am thrilled to announce that we have a winner in my Autumn Original Art Giveaway! After running for the month of October, there were many entries. The lucky winner is: Lynn MacDougall of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia!
Lynn is stay-at-home mom to two lovely boys. She doesn’t really have a connection to visual art “other than appreciating others that can do something amazing.”
Here’s a photo that she took enjoying time at her parents’ new place overlooking beautiful St. Mary’s Bay.
Congrats, Lynn!
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A Wild Rose Among the Thorns
I started using Meta’s Threads early on, wondering if I’d find value from it. Well, I haven’t gained much traction for my own posts yet, but I did discover some amazing photography.
One photographer blew me away with her images: Katrina Thompson Photography of Nova Scotia, Canada. I’ve been to that the province three times, first when I was 16 to work at a summer camp in Lunenburg; next on my honeymoon; and later with kids in tow on a motorhome trip. Each time, its beauty took my breath away.
The photo that inspired this painting focuses on a white wild rose.
Ranging in colour from white to deep pink, wild roses exude a delicately sweet scent, and are blessed with an important survival strategy—an armour of thorns, so guard your nose when tempted to sniff!
https://www.saltscapes.com/home-cottage/264-rambling-rose.html
According to the website, there are about a dozen different species growing in wild abandon in fields, sparse woodlands, mossy swamps, wet thickets, bogs, marshes, and salt-splashed seashores in Nova Scotia. Four of these—Rosa carolina, Rosa palustris, Rosa nitida, and Rosa virginiana—are true native species. Evidence suggests that the Acadians, New England Planters, English, Scottish, and United Empire Loyalists brought roses from their homelands and planted them in versatile kitchen gardens.
Like everything else a century or two ago, the roses were put to good use. Not only were they beautiful and fragrant, the petals and foliage were edible. In fall, the brilliant red hips, so rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamins E, B and K, were used to flavour tea, make jellies and jam. They were also eaten right off the bush or dried for winter, to ward off scurvy and other ailments.
Thanks to Katrina for giving me permission to paint her photo!
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Hot Summer Sale 2024
It’s hot in North America and what better time for a HOT SUMMER SALE than now! Why such a discount on my art?
My storage is overflowing with paintings, so I decided to lower my sale prices on older pieces to help move my inventory! Now, you can buy my original art for great prices!
Go to the Art Gallery and click on the sale tab to discover the many affordable options. Free ground shipping in Canada and the U.S. still applies.
And, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar of this page to stay up to date on my art including promotions and sales – like this one!
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My Excitement Shows at the Herberger Water Exhibit
There’s nothing more exciting for an artist than to have a gallery showing! OK, selling a painting is a close second. 😉
For the month of March, 2024, my painting, “Atlantic Outlook” is on display at the Herberger Art Galleries at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix. March is a big deal in the Phoenix art community as it kicks off Phoenix Art Week on the 1st, and the Annual Art Detour – a month-long celebration of the Arizona arts and culture community.
The opening reception saw a steady stream of visitors checking out both the Water and Barrio themed exhibits. It was an excellent opportunity for me to meet other local featured artists.
My thanks go to the Herberger galleries team and the curators who selected “Atlantic Outlook!”
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My Biggest Canvas to Date
Someone was selling his former girlfriend’s art supplies through Facebook Marketplace, and so, I bought them all for a great deal! With that, came two canvases of 36″ x 48.”
I had never painted anything this large before and yes, I found it intimidating. I had to take the top off my easel to accommodate the canvas on the easel shelf.
I chose to paint this gorgeous photo of Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona taken by, and used with permission from, Jeff Maltzman.
Although it took a long time to fill the canvas and its sides, I am so pleased with the result. In fact, I’m going to keep it, at least for now.
If you like it, and you want an art print of it, feel free to check out my Saatchi Art shop for options.
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Saguaro Against a Purple Sky My Largest Canvas to Date
“Saguaro Against a Purple Sky” is the largest canvas I’ve painted to date! I admit that the size intimidated me at first, but after a little while, things flowed.
The painting is inspired by a beautiful photo taken by David Dubé of Surprise, Arizona. Check out his Instagram @soapboxinthesky.
Although I took a realistic approach, I experimented with a stylized version. For example, I painted the cactus teal rather than the dark green of the original photo. I also made the mountain range less detailed.
I feel gratified with the result and hope you like it, too!
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Tree by the River Sparkles
I used to be intimidated by blank, large canvases. So, I decided to buy more and fill them up!
I am so happy with the way this 22” x 28” painting turned out. I tried to let myself go more, and not always follow the realism of the photo. Yes, it takes longer to paint more space, but it’s been so gratifying.
The tree looks like it’s at the beginning of the autumn season, with hints of red and orange. The shadow it casts extends to the right edge and the foreground and river display the sparkling reflected light.
“The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Beach Paintings to Remind You of Summer
Although this summer has been excessively hot, I still wanted to capture a series of beach paintings to keep us warm and relaxed during the winter months ahead. There’s nothing like the waves, squawking seagulls, and sand beneath our feet to make us go, “Ahhhhh.”
Each of the five paintings in this series comes on a canvas panel, 8” x 8”. Check the art gallery for them.
I also wanted to dedicate this series to the victims of the Maui fire who have experienced the worst forest fire in U.S. history. My husband and I were there in September of 2016, enjoying all that Lahaina and the island had to offer. What a tragedy. I hope the people and town can recover soon.
Here’s a shot of the famous Banyan tree in the center of Lahaina.
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Flowers on the Sill Still Life
Every once in a while, I get an urge to paint a still life scene. I mean, what’s more traditional than a painting of inanimate everyday objects?
When I saw the image that inspired this painting, I liked how the window displayed a brick wall next to greenery, giving the scene variety. However, I didn’t like the white lillies in the vase, so, I decided to change up the flowers using a combination of common yellow and white ones. I actually think these give the painting more depth and interest.
This one took more time than I had anticipated, as I paid copious attention to the details. But, I really love how it came out – and I hope you do, too!
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