Sustaining an art practice in difficult times
This winter was a time of huge transition but also a season of blessings. It took awhile to set up and adapt to having my studio at home. But now it feels very accessible. But however would I paint consistently without the encouragement of other artists around, and while the world went a bit crazy? One of the best things about the season was sitting down most days to work on a large commissioned painting. Even better, it put me in a summer mood. My task was to paint a St. Albert backyard much loved by the homeowners. Every day, I thought about the greens of summer, the bright pink and purple petunias and the lush tomato plants getting ready to fruit. And by February, ta-da, winter was almost over, including the Polar Vortex, and my summery painting was done!
"Summer Afternoons" Watercolor, 22 x 30
Winter Light
It's January. I find words don't come as easily. Everything slows down to a dark candlelit burn. I sit with inspirations differently. My creative energy shrinks along with the daylight hours. But if I really listen, the ideas are there. The urge to express them still calls. Even though we will experience real winter yet this season, so far this is one of the warmest on record in our part of the world. In spite of our collective confinement or maybe because of it, neighborhood walks take on a greater importance in so many ways. I do have a thing for winter light. I have a thing for that low afternoon sun, that backlights spruce and aspen trees, and casts those long lovely shadows. In my first small quick painting of 2021, I turned to warmer colors. Hope you can feel the winter sun on your face. For an encore, I chose the beautiful winter sky over the Lacombe Park Lake dog park, where I walked almost every day.
Larose Park Afternoon
