for the whales

It feels to good to paint again….to find an old canvas and bring it new life with layers of playful paint added over a period of weeks, with no plan in mind.  To then feel driven to paint something special and to use that colourful, multi-layered canvas to make something like THIS….

for the whales 10x10

I am so glad I made time to paint something FOR THE WHALES, for the amazing team of educators and researchers that are doing so much for the baleen whales in our waters! I hope this playful whale tail will help my friends at MERS (Marine Education and Research Society) keep doing their important work.  I hope it will also make you think about the whales and how you can learn more about them.  Do you want to help to?  Check out all the on-line silent auction items and perhaps make a bid (bidding closes 2 pm on June 26th).  There are raffle tickets for sale too and a fun event being planned for June 26th. Why not make a trip…

mers event

Of course, you can also visit the MERS website anytime and contribute by Adopting A Whale or making a donation.  Just by learning more about the whales and the work MERS is doing to protect whales, you will become part of the team.  The more we know, the more we care, the more we will help.

All this on the heels of an incredible string of World Oceans Day events and school programs I participated in.  I think this painting was infused with ocean magic after all those amazing events that were topped off by a school camping trip with my daughter to a whale filled bay on the West Coast! Which reminds me, I should go check the calendar to see when we can go back to visit the grey whales in Pachena Bay again this summer!

grey whale heart blow

 

mothers…..GRAND and GREAT

IMG_7832

Today is a day for mothers, I am missing my own mom of course, but I am also thinking of the mothers that came before….of my GRAND-mothers, one of whom is still alive….she is also a GREAT grand-mother.  Here is a painting (in progress) of both these women, mothers that came before me, without them I would not be here today.  Did they know, on this day that they donned their party hats, at the wedding of my parents, that all these years later I would be be here, another mother, with two more daughters (possible future mothers)?  I’d like to think that on the day of this photo they glimpsed how their love would grow from that moment. I’d like to hold my great-grand-mother’s hand today and tell her how much her love means to me still.  She is still here and yet I cannot reach her (she lives in Saskatoon, her mind is increasingly confused) but I hope that she can feel my love.  I hope all the mothers that came before me can feel my love.  I miss you Mom and I miss all the moms I never knew and I am grateful to them all.  I also honour the mothers who have come since (step-mother, mother-in-law) and all the mothers yet to come (oh I hope my girls might feel their hearts swell with the love of their own children one day).

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

waxing with the moon

Sometimes it is hard to look on the bright side of things, sometimes I get a bit down and start thinking about all the challenges I face and forgetting how truly great my life is!  Especially when my family is going through uncertainty and change, especially when that is layered on a lack of sleep.  And a moon reaching for full tends to affect my sleep in a big way!  So this week there have been some hard moments….

…but yesterday I found (made) some time to go for a walk in the sun with a friend. We strolled along the sea and waded in to the refreshing water.  Toes on white shells, water sparkling with tiny fish, and so many birds soaring overhead.  I felt lighter as we chatted and shared our woes (as well as our blessings).  Lighter and with it came a brightening.  Yesterday I also found (made) time to do some painting.  This image of an eagle and a full moon is coming to light on the canvas, waxing like the nearly full moon that has been disturbing my sleep this week.  After yesterday I feel that I too am waxing like the moon…brightening…

Here’s hoping that I can keep finding this shift in perspective when I need it.  Maybe the full moon can become a beacon to remind me to lighten up (rather than something that usually just gets blamed for sleep issues).  It really is all about perspective….

moon and eagle in progresseagle moon in progress

important note to self

after a very busy week, with extra days in the office, and a growing pile of post it notes on my work desk, I have the day off…..time for tea and art with my girl…..this very important note to self appears…..this one needs prompt attention!  might have to take it to the office with me on Monday….or is it better kept here….both places could benefit….maybe I will go make some more “fun notes to self” right now!

hope you are moving forward, moving on, letting go and opening up to the possibility of every moment….I am going to keep on trying!  and in the trying, at the very least, I will avoid getting stuck!

xo

not stuck

wings out S T R E T C H E D

Sometimes it pays to procrastinate!  I have been mulling over various painting ideas for an upcoming art show for months now.  Luckily, I had not started painting any of them over the holidays (as planned) because a photo popped up earlier this week on the internet that grabbed my attention.  Just as we were getting an unexpected snowfall on Gabriola, I was being inspired by this captivating image of a snowy owl in flight that was photographed by Transport Canada’s traffic camera along a highway in Montreal. Isn’t she incredible!?

snow owl swoops in for a selfie

Having spent too much time trying to decide on too many ideas, the snow outside the window and this snowy owl made the decision for me.  Another bonus to having delayed my start on this piece is that apparently the chocolate advent calendars from the recycle bins make excellent palettes!  Best of all is the fact that this image speaks to my creative heart like none of the other ideas had done.  So with these outstretched wings taking shape on the 6 x 36 inch canvas I was given for next weekend’s art show, I am almost ready to join nearly 50 other artists to get Stretched!

owl begins to take shapeadding more colour

almost

I just need to paint the eyes and finish the background.  I hope you will come see how she turns out!  Did I mention that my daughters are both putting the finishing touches on two of these extra long canvasses too?  They will not let me give you a peek just yet, so you really will have to come to the show on Gabriola next weekend (at the Women’s Institute Hall).  You will find us and our art at the opening Friday night from 7 – 9 pm (with wine & cheese).  Or pop in Saturday or Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.  Come see how each artist has stretched themselves!  In the meantime, check out the Facebook page for more sneak previews!

P.S.  Here is what this happy artist looked like when she got snow this week!  Now do you see why the snowy owl called to me so much!? snow day = happy girl