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

 

2016 calendars are ready to make a SPLASH….and a giveaway

As we draw towards the end of another amazing year, it is time for me to get my 2016 poster calendars ready for you!  They make great holiday gifts — just roll up, tie with ribbon, and pass along with your love and best wishes for the coming year.  For the price of a couple fancy coffees (10 bucks), you have art you can enjoy every day of the year!

My calendars are big and bold (12 x 18 inches, with larger font this year, a win for those that have eyes getting older like mine) and printed locally on 100% recycled paper (good for you AND the earth).  Get them in my etsy shop or in a couple fun Gabriola holiday shows coming up….at Black Bird Studios on Dec 13th and at the Pier Gallery Holiday Sale here on Gabriola on the two weekends before Christmas (Dec 12/13 and 19/20).  Of course you can contact me directly to place an order.   Just 10 dollars each (I offer bulk discounts so let me know if you want a bunch).

2016 heart calendar - fill each day with love2016, a pear-fect yearLife is Good 2016 Year-At-A-Glance Calendardive deep 2016 calendar

I am so excited about this year’s designs and hope you are too.  In particular the DIVE DEEP whale tail makes my heart SMILE as I remember a magic day this September when I was surrounded by so many humpbacks!   Here is a photo I took of a whale called Yahtzee (can you see the spots on the underside of the tail?) getting ready to dive down for another mouthful of herring! (Please note the photo was taken from a distance and cropped and zoomed for this view).

Yahtzee diving!

A shout out to my friend The Marine Detective for sharing the magic on that special day and for continuing to do so much to protect our local marine species!  A great gift idea would be to pair my whale calendar with a humpback whale sponsorship — give a gift that supports the important research that the Marine Education and Research Society is doing! 

Here’s hoping 2016 is full of happy days for the ocean and for you and yours!

P.S. Which is your favourite 2016 design? Leave your top choice in the comments and I will enter your name into a giveaway.  The winner gets the calendar they love best! I will close this giveaway at the end of the month.

Update – congrats to Natalie who was the lucky winner and will be getting a calendar from me!