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Getting ready for the summer show at Hycroft. I will be showing my arbutus trees and other tree scenes as part of the group exhibition. The event will continue from July 5, 2023 to Sept 5, 2023. The Hycroft Manor is over 100 years old and is the main activity center for the University Women's Club of Vancouver. Weddings and other events are held there and it has been a favorite of scenes from recent Hallmark Movies and other Hollywood films. The heritage house is kept up by fund raising through several different events including Hycroft for the Holidays and guest speaker engagements with the Hycroft Speakers series. Members enjoy the use of the building and the rental events help to fund the operating budget.

The gallery is currently looking to book artists for the 2023 - 2024 season and more information is available through the website
uwcvancouver.ca.

The opening for the summer gallery exhibition is July 5 from 6:00pm to 7:30 pm. Call ahead to reserve your free entry to this event which is open to members and the public.

Like the image, today feels like we are back to winter in Vancouver. Grey skies, temperatures back to 12C or 56 Fahrenheit. This type of weather is great for exploring new ideas but it is difficult to actually put paint to paper. The lighting seems to have an impact too. All I want to do is stay in my PJs and drink hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate and have warm soup. Last month it was a struggle to keep the watercolour paint drying too quickly because our temperatures were above 26c or 80 Fahrenheit.

There have been terrific events to be part of and now - it’s time to settle in to some new paintings and catching up of ideas for future classes.

I love the teaching because students get so creative and I don’t get lost in my own style of work. I also love the banter that happens especially with my senior group who really get along and I could leave the room and they wouldn’t even notice between their painting and chatting.

So more Oregon grape exploration for a show in October. Figuring out what to show at the summer gallery at Hycroft and then it is to the Culture Crawl at Portside studio in November.

Most important is to get my pallets clean and full of paint so that the inspiration doesn’t dwindle.

Happy Painting!

2023 and almost the end of January - is it really?

I have already completed my first set of instructing watercolour classes at West Vancouver Community Center. More classesare updated already for the spring sessions on their newly recreated website. As my old website is taken down, I am slowly rebuilding my blog from the past almost 10 years. This will be very interesting to work on!

What, where - when? Did it get to be Dec 31st already? Dec 15th I remember with all the snow and chaos and it's been a blur since then. Late nights enjoying the hallmark Christmas shows. Trying to get organized for upcoming art classes and suddenly the restful holiday season is over!

it's funny how easy it is to just look at the to do list and think "that's not too bad" and suddenly - oh - there are new shows and marketing info has to go out. Websites and social media need updating!

looking forward to 2023 and hoping that there will be a long stretch of Health and happiness so people can really rekindle all the lost relationships during Covid!

classes are full or filling up fast, new shows are in the works in a couple of weeks. Britannia Gallery show has come down today, but the Mahonia movement is still progressing!

Thankyou to all my valued clientele and students and fans! 2022 has been amazing year filled with art and creativity! Looking forward to more studio time and focus on series and ideas that have been stewing in my subconscious.HEre's looking forward to a healthy, focused and creative New Year!

Unprecedented warm weather in Vancouver! Great picture taking weather and enjoying the slow transition to fall without all the leaves going to mush with rain.

Lots of exciting things coming up so email me and get on my newsletter list.


my watercolour classes are full, but there will be more available for the winter sessions and a special class as part of a fundraiser for Portside Studios where I share studio space.

enjoy the weekend with family and friends or just relax in the wonder of the weather. Grateful to be able to put brush to paper and express my feelings and thankful for it all!

To all my patrons who came to chat and ask questions during my art residency at the Federation Gallery. It was a real privilege to be at the gallery during the signature show. The staff were amazing and I received some wonderful art products for being there and to use during my visit! Saturday had over 150 people visit and cards were a real favourite. Sunday - a much needed set of rain showers - dampened the amount of visitors but cards continued to be a big seller.

Saturday I wasn't able to paint as much as I was interacting more with guests - many who were out of country. Sunday I was able to try my high intensity Qor product. I don't often use this golden watercolour product except for their neutral tint. There were six colours included - Quinn gold, magenta, teal, green gold and one more -intense purple. I played with them in a sunset on rough arches paper to demonstrate with photos for the federation.

I was able to work on my newer Mahonia piece and apply some of the greens and darks on the Sunday when there were quiet moments.

Thanks to my "peeps" Louayne and Elys for their support in taking some amazing photos and keeping me energized with coffee!
Thanks to all your support both sessions at the Roundhouse are full for the fall and have a waiting list. If you haven't been able to get into this program there are a couple of other options.

I have classes in West Vancouver starting up on Sept 15th. The cost is $240 for 8 sessions. These are more costly than at the Roundhouse because they are not funded by the older adults art initiative sponsored by the City of Vancouver.

I also have self instructed sessions available via my Youtube demonstrations. For $25 an image - you receive a link to my youtube demonstration on the specific watercolor image, a step by step emailed writeup as well as and emailed tracing, reference photo and reference regarding material information that is needed to complete the session. You can also email me with your questions and I can provided feedback via email.

Not sure what 2023 will bring as new projects and ideas emerge. However, I am getting excited for my mini residency at the Federation Gallery on Sept 3 & 4th. Drop by and ask me questions on my watercolour processes and the use of winsor newton materials. (winsor newton is a generous sponsor of this program).

After that is the East Side Culture Crawl and I will be showing my new extension of my foliage series with more trees such as the arbutus. My oregon grape series keeps taking on new colour and creativity and will be displayed at Britannia Gallery in December 2022.

Aug 16 is registration day at the Roundhouse. The next watercolour class starts Sept 21 (Wed) 9:45 - 11:45am for 6 weeks.

April 17 registration starts for the West Vancouver Community Center - two classes begin September 15 and go for 8 weeks. Beginner class is in the morning and Intermediate is in the afternoon on Thursdays.

The beginner class is great if you want to start this medium and feel no fear. This class will be great for anyone who finds it a challenge to get motivated to practise watercolour basics - washes, brush strokes, learning about materials, starting to understand the colour wheel and colour mixing. We cover things like urban sketching basics and where you can find lots of inspiration to help you play with this medium! So excited to be instructing this class in person again!

the Intermediate class will have 8 different subject matter - tracings for those who don't want to draw - and video references of the demos that will be completed in class so you can go back and follow up anytime. We will explore some of the following - seascape and water, negative space, composition, colour combinations, colour mixing, trees, painting loose, foliage and more! Each class includes a step by step write up and reference photos that are sent via email ahead of time.
Well, I had anticipated being at Harmony Arts festival enjoying some time between the Silk Purse Gallery, The Art Speak tent and some of the music. Unfortunately, a family health incident took over and changed my plans.


Rather than being able to put new cards for sale at the Art Box shop, they will have to wait until my mini residency at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island at the beginning of September.

it has been strange to see so many memories appear on Facebook for this wonderful artistic event over more than 11 years! So it feels different, but I get to enjoy it when I have a moment at look at all the social media feeds. Not only that - friends went and took pictures - how great is that!

One piece of my watercolour sold already through the Art Box. 'The Dark side of Mahonia" my colour and light series that I am continuing to explore is in the Group Exhibition and is ready for its forever home!


Is wonderful to see other new and familiar faces on the events list at Harmony. Elizabeth Cox instructed a beginner class today. Surnoor Singh is demoing at the Silk purse today and Friday. Alfonso Tejada is demoing Sunday from 3-5pm. The Grand Prix plein air is on Saturday and it's always so much fun - I've always been a participant, but being a spectator can be exciting because you can watch the development of all the paintings - right to the framing and competition results - all on the same day!

The weather is certainly cooler today - I'm getting in some work that was to difficult to do during the heat! I hope to catch up on doing more reels and other videos on Instagram and you tube, so keep an eye out!

Wow - July - Harmony - Sun - Fun - plein Air- Summer is in full swing.


i'm staying cool and out of the heat working on new ideas and my continuing journey into colour and light foliage.


working on all sorts of Oregon Grape in all of the seasons. The plants that I have been using as a reference are in front of the parking area of the Music Box - the headquarters for the Harmony Arts festival! They are a constant inspiration and this week the berries were turning a beautiful ultramarine blue from a lovely light turquoise.

have fun out there! Don't forget - there is a plein air challenge at Harmony on Aug 6th. It is separate this year to paint on the mountain. 12 artists were chosen and will be painting the first weekend for a chance to win prizes.

lots of great events from 'July 29th to Aug 7th. The opening for the group Art show is July 29th at 6-7pm. There are more of my art in the Art Shop at the Silk Purse right near the tent. I will have art cards available from the original on show. I'll be volunteering in the Silk Purse a few times so why not drop by!
Listening in the distance to the rhythmic drumming as the Dragon Boat festival is going on. Great weather, lots of activity and it's so nice to see people participating in large events again!

The Gallery at Hycroft will be showing works from a few member artists including myself. July 6 - 6:30-7pm is the opening on the 2nd floor.

I am also busy getting ready for my next set of classes at the Roundhouse. There may be one opening still available ... not sure. We will be painting patio umbrellas in summer settings, exploring a few nature scenes and trying some plein air. Let's hope the weather stays this way!
One show finished, next classes tomorrow. Great attendance at Mid Main - thank you to everyone who came to the one day event. Sales were good and pedestrian traffic was really good since Covid!

Finished the display for the week celebration for the 25th anniversary of the Roundhouse and " Older and Creating a life we love". It's amazing when a student who has been taking classes with me since I started teaching at the Roundhouse last year - asked to help with the display - it made it so much better! Shout out to Kathryn Ayres and her help with the hanging of the show. Up until Friday - it's going to be a lot of fun activities!

I am demoing "Oregon grape" and water droplets for an hour after my regular Wednesday morning class.

don't forget Opus has lots of great plein air activities and possiblities to win so check out the create flyer and their online community page. Their display of materials has some new and interesting things!

I had a great opportunity to meet Theresa - the owner of Rath Art Supplies on Main Street just below broadway. She has a wonderful set of reasonably prices=d watercolour supplies including Fabriano paper, brushes and a great little pallet for plein air - you have to go check it out - just try to get there on foot or public transport because it is really busy with the broadway changes. There's great coffee shops just around there - so lots to do for a weekend.
Just two weeks away - time to select the paintings to show - looking forward to seeing everyone again!

New classes start June 1st - for 5 sessions at the Roundhouse.

Working on my colour and light series again and a few more ideas. Got to get back to work.Well, I thought it meant that every tube of that particular paint was of the same consistency and colour and you would never have any problem to match it if you were using more than one tube for a large painting.

Not really - it actually refers to the the lightfastness of the paint. Watercolour medium as other mediums over time may change colours due to light sensitivity. Depending on the organic or particulate size of the materials in the paint - they can have a more or less "fugitive" quality.

Take for example - Alizarin Crimson - over a number of years, it may change its colour especially if it has sunlight shining on it and the glass does not have any UV protection when sitting over it. However, "Permanent" Alizarin Crimson has a slightly different set of properties which makes the paint longer lasting when its on the watercolour paper.

The best thing is to try the colours out and not be concerned between their lightfastness. The most important is to be creative and as your practise grows you may wish to take these types of concerns more seriously. Its another learning aspect of painting and will help to strengthen your understanding of how the paint reacts to the paper and the water.

My next show will be June 5th and I will be at Heritage Hall 3102 Main Street. 11-6pm I will have my watercolours, colouring pages, cards and a few prints, please joing myself and 16 other artists in a great event with a terrific variety of styles and mediums.