Walking on Sunshine

Original Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 30

I'm walking on sunshine, and don't it feel good?! That's the song and sentiment that was going through my head when I painted this scene. Some days are just so beautiful and peaceful. This scene is a walk down the beach from Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, one of our favourite places to holiday. The gorgeous big arbutus tree, with it's unique red bark, hanging out over the sandstone shoals was picture perfect. I was quite pleased with my interpretation of the tree, until I browsed through Julie Davis' blog with her wonderfully informative tree studies, and I realized that I could definitely reinterpret this arbutus. However, not wanting to upset this sunshiney feeling, the fact that I could have interpreted differently, applied fewer highlights, created a more active/passive approach to my tree, is not something to feel bad about. It's something to look forward to! I can take Julie's pointers and do my own tree studies, and use that information to inform my next tree paintings. I'm still happy with my tree, I just know I could improve on it. But then Van Gogh felt that way about everything he painted.Speaking of which, I saw on Virginia Floyd's blog, that she is feeling frustrated with her painting process these days, and her husband said "You're not going cut off your ear are you?" I laughed out loud when I read that! We need to take ourselves less seriously, and just enjoy the journey, and keep learning from each other. I strongly believe that apart from a painters need to create, the fact that painting is not static, but a continual learning process, is what keeps all of us coming back to our easels each day. Smile and onward!!

Walking on Sunshine

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour

What a wonderful weekend and Studio Tour! The weather was sunny and many very friendly art lovers visited my studio over the two afternoons. One visitor was a great friend who I had lost touch with and hadn't seen in 15 years! I was so excited and busy talking that I forgot to take a picture! This is a photo of me in my dining room with some of my west coast scenes.


These two happy partons said they had just bought a new home and I'm honoured to have my paintings grace their walls.

I asked if people minded if I took some photos and they quickly scattered into other rooms and out of sight, so the following pictures are not animated with viewers, but it gives an idea of the show.

Here's the living room. It was a circle tour of the main floor of the house. Through the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway and back along to the entrance. Paintings were hung on all the walls throughout. In all there were just over 50 paintings, from 6 x 6 up to 48 x 48.



Where ever there was a small section of wall, I made a grouping of complimentary paintings.

You're now wondering just how many holes I have in my walls. :-) We've put picture rail in the living room and will soon have throughout.


It was a lot of work to prepare for the tour, because I always garden, pot plants, and mega clean, (my family wants to run and hide) but it's always rewarding. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the visitors include other artists who want to ask about my process, art buyers connect, and people who just plain love art, are thrilled with the opportunity to talk to me about my work and inspiration. It's a great well attended community event!

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour

Ford Cove - Hornby Island

Acrylic on Canvas  24 x 36  SOLD

 This is another scene from Hornby Island, but not from this past summer. This scene was painted from a photograph during a summer vacation full of rain. It had been raining all week, and finally it started to slow and I decided to go down to Ford Cove and visit the Art Gallery there. As I drove into the cove, the black clouds broke and the sun burst through. The contrast in the light was almost like a photo negative. Amazing! I'm tempted to try this one again in oils.

Ford Cove - Hornby Island

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour - Show All Ready!

 Arbutus at Saltspring  Oil on Canvas

11 x 14  $150

Free Shipping CAN and USA

Spring Greens  Acrylic on Canvas

12 x 12  $225  

Free shipping Canada and USA

These are the last two painting additions I'm making to my Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour Show. This has been a very busy week of framing and organizing, not to mention cleaning, but I'm feeling pretty good about how everything looks. My family are going to be my assistants throughout the show, so that should be a lot of fun to have them there helping me. The only stressful thing at this point is the weather. It's calling for snow! Now if you live in Victoria you will appreciate just how ridiculous this is. It rarely snows in Victoria! Anyhow, I'm sending out all my good Karma vibes so that if it does snow tonight, it will turn to sunshine before the first visitor arrives. :-) If you do live in the area, I'd love to see you! Remember to double click on the brochure in the right side bar for the tour brochure and map. Wish me luck!

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour - Show All Ready!