I am honoured to have received an Award of Excellence in the Arts from Modern Luxuria, Edmonton’s luxury lifestyle magazine. It was a complete surprise and I couldn’t be more proud. It is a lovely read and features many individuals and businesses I am aware of and some not yet, but I look forward to discovering these Edmonton change-makers at a gala in October celebrating the recipients. Read the October Edition Here.
Exhibitions, Anthems and other news
My latest solo exhibition at Canada House Gallery was titled “Anthem” which I had decided upon while driving through the mountains and thinking about the paintings I had created, all of Canada, and how each one was like a musical phrase, which taken together formed a kind of anthem to Canada. The 51st state threats burnished my resolve to use the name, which as a-political as I try to be in my work, seemed too overt, too obvious. I grew comfortable with it as each piece was finished and titled, each title having a word or two from the Canadian anthem. I felt the need to express my deep love of country, and the best way I could do that is to paint the landscape. There are several pieces still available, please contact the gallery to inquire about shipping.
“Anthem, Mt. Assiniboine” Watercolour, available at Canada House Gallery, Banff.
I had the honour of being included as one of nine awards judges for the 6th Annual Women in Watercolour International Exhibition in June, where I had the privilege and challenge of adjudicating of 1730 paintings from 56 countries. It was uplifting to see the quality of work from around the globe in several different genres. It was a visual world tour of the sites, sounds, emotions, aesthetics, flavours even, representing many different cultures. I have had paintings accepted in four of the W.I.W. International Exhibition since 2021, winning first, second and third prizes, two honourable mentions and judge’s choice. I appreciate these awards even more now that I’ve been on the other side this time! Lastly, I also received my W.I.W. Signature Member Status this year.
To give you a shape of my upcoming studio practice this summer, I’ll be working on building my next solo exhibition to take place November 20 in Edmonton. On the adventure side, we have 2 backpack trips planned, which (fingers crossed) will provide interesting vistas and light with which I hope create new landscapes. Take care, enjoy summer and see you in the fall!
Royal Collection
'Tis Autumn
…but without the annual exhibition
After 30 years of presenting my annual one-night exhibition in November, I am taking a hiatus this year. Though I am keeping a steady painting schedule, the frenetic job of organizing and hosting the exhibition is absent, leaving some breathing room for other opportunities and experiences.
I am already missing many aspects of the show - the crescendo of excitement leading to the exhibition and the necessary focus required for creating both the paintings and executing the event. I’ve missed going to press check for the invitations at the printer’s and opening the box when they are finished a few days later (congratulations to Pioneer Press Ltd. on their 130th anniversary!) I’ll miss seeing my year’s work framed and installed in the lovely architecture of the Hotel Macdonald, and of course I’ll miss the moment when the show is finished and we celebrate with our volunteers and I can finally take my shoes off. Most of all, I miss prospect of seeing my collectors and friends, meeting new ones, and sharing my work with you.
The exhibition will resume in November 2025… Same time, same place, I hope to see you there!
That all said… I haven’t exactly been lazing around eating grapes from the garden and watching leaves dance to the ground while humming strains of ‘Tis Autumn. It’s been a busy and productive year, which on the travel side of life included several ski/ice climbing trips, two road trips to visit family and two extended backpack/canoe trips, all of which will inspire new work in the coming years.
"Brugge Nacht" | Watercolour | 21 x 14"
This year my work has been accepted into five international juried exhibitions and competitions. “Brugge Nacht” was accepted into the 99th Annual Open Water Exhibition of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor, opening at the Helson Gallery in Georgetown, Ontario, November 13 - January 12.
This piece will be available after January 12, 2025 - please contact us with your expression of interest.
“Windswept” was accepted into the 5th Annual Women in Watercolour International Competition and received Third Prize for Landscape and Judge’s Favourite. “Autumn Retreat” was shortlisted for the Art Renewal Centre’s 17th Annual Salon (finalists announced in January) and “Europe on Time” was accepted into the Almenara Art Prize online exhibition, Sept 7 - November 30, 2024. “Europe on Time" also received the 2nd Place Award for 2-dimensional work in the Federation of Canadian Artists "Artist's Choice" international exhibition.
“Autumn Retreat'“ Watercolour 26 x 39”
“Europe on Time” Watercolour 26 x 40”
In the spring, I painted a new body of work for my introductory exhibition at White Rock Gallery entitled “Travelling Light” and am preparing for a group show there opening this December 7. I completed a large commission (“Autumn Retreat”) for Canada House Gallery and will have new work at their annual group exhibition in Banff this November 23. Then, I’ll dive head first into two major solo exhibitions in 2025, one at Canada House Gallery in April, and my 31st Annual Exhibition in November
at Edmonton’s Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.
Thank you for reading!
I hope you have a lovely fall, with time to savour the colours and fragrances, Thanksgiving and Halloween and gifts from the garden if you are fortunate enough to have one, because
‘Tis Autumn.🎶
“Windswept” Watercolour 19 x 29” (Sold, Private Collection)
A Visual Ode to Jasper
In response to the devastating fires in Jasper National Park, I have compiled a portfolio of paintings inspired by my experiences in the park. Over the years I have been fortunate to have skied Marmot, mountain biked many trails, learned to rock climb in Hidden Valley, ice climbed Maligne Canyon and many other routes, backpacked the Tonquin valley, Skyline Trail and Maligne Pass trails, and canoed Maligne Lake. As many Canadians have, we’ve supported and enjoyed many of the restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, lodges and private lodgings. I am grateful for each experience and the resulting memories and paintings.
I know I speak for many when saying Jasper is our happy place.
I send my heartfelt condolences to the people of Jasper who lost homes and businesses. It seems there are no words that are constructive, and I’m sure many people feel helpless. It may be small comfort now, but the landscape will endure, the town will be rebuilt, and eventually the families and wildlife will return.
For today though, I hope you can take solace in these few images.
Canada House Gallery has set up a Fundraising Initiative to support relief efforts for the town, and I am pleased to donate “The Jasper Towers” to the initiative. 100% of the proceeds of the sale will be donated directly to the fund through the gallery.
Featured
CKUA Radio
"Travelling Light"
With the arrival of spring comes new beginnings, new growth and fresh opportunities. My debut exhibition for White Rock Gallery entitled "Travelling Light" opened on May 2nd in White Rock, B.C. Visit the gallery website for more information or to acquire a painting.
Legion Paper Featured Artist
News for the New Year
There is much to catch up on, so of course my strategy is to procrastinate until I can’t possibly write it down in one blog post or newsletter. A vicious cycle of “oh I should share that bit, but added to other things to share it will be too much to share, so I’ll share it later,” and somehow I convince myself of that “logic.”
A New Corner of the Old World
We have just returned from 4.5 weeks of travelling; elated, exhausted, inspired. It has been 6 years since I’ve done a European working trip for research/reference photographs for my paintings, so I planned a pretty cramped itinerary in a new-to-us corner of the old world (don’t worry, I know the world doesn’t have actual corners…) with as many cities as we could reasonably fit in.
February... Already?
It seems as if everyone I know has the same impression, that time is speeding up somehow. Maybe it’s that we’re making up for the time lost during the pandemic, or that back-to-back-earth-shattering world events seem to accelerate perception of time, but egads, I can’t believe it’s February already.
Gratitude, Decompression, Gingerbread
29th Annual Exhibition
And we’re off: 2022
The 28th Annual Exhibition: Postscript
Some Unexpected Positives
Federation of Canadian Artists: a Long Story.
Creative Isolation
Tradition and Tacking
27th Annual Exhibition Update
The show will go on - just differently.
After 26 years of holding the exhibition at Edmonton’s Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to change the format of our one-night show for this year
to protect the health of our guests, volunteers and staff
during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An online opening will be followed by an in-person exhibition
at Annesley Studio over 11 days by appointment.
“Age of Steam” Watercolour | 25.5 x 40” (39.5 x 54” Framed)
The paintings will be unveiled and available for purchase
on our website commencing at
5:00 p.m. November 5th.
The paintings can then be viewed in-person by private, timed appointments at
Annesley Studio | November 6 - 15, 2020
Curbside pick-up, private studio visits or shipping
will be arranged for collectors.
Our first come - first serve / no pre-sales policy is still in place.
Though we won't have the pleasure of being together at the lovely Fairmont Hotel Macdonald for the first time in 27 years, we are looking forward to accommodating our valued patrons by presenting the new paintings in a physically distanced and safe manner while keeping as much consistency in the show as possible.
As always, the invitations will be mailed in early October. The next online preview will be on October 5th.
The 2020 exhibition model is a work in progress,
and details will be announced here
and on social media platforms as they are confirmed.
As with everything 2020, this is all new for everyone and hopefully some creative ideas and new opportunities will be the result.
