"The Hidden Beach"
8" x 10" Oil on canvas  board, framed

So excited that this painting has been juried into the FCA "Small" exhibition and can be viewed at the Granville Island Gallery in Vancouver from August 2 through 15. Click H
https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/2021_small_exhibition/3155

Opus is a B.C. art store that has an outdoor painting/sketching/drawing etc. fun day annually. This challenge encourages all ages with every level to get out and enjoy plein air for the day. In the past it has been a one day event where you register, get a free panel and off you go in a wide physical designated area (Kelowna for me). There is a display of the art created at the end of day and door prizes are randomly drawn with amazing art supplies. It is a very fun and celebratory day with people walking around watching art being created, talking to artists of every level and age and lots of laughter is heard.

This year they had a week long online event. It was a wonderful excuse to get outside and enjoy myself without worrying about the outcome. My sketchbook, pencil, pen and watercolours were my tools. Thank you Opus for a wonderful excuse to be outdoors creating. #opusopc2021

 One day I tried sketching the vehicle in front of me while my husband drove. This works well on the highway but not so much in town as the cars turn, stop, pass etc. This really surprised me as getting car-sick was a frequent and "wreck my day" event. I certainly could not read or look at a map etc. Keeping my eyes on one thing at a time (the vehicle ahead or my sketch book without moving my eyes side to side worked! I felt like I had a super power!

​My preferred way to sketch in the car is in one continuous line/per vehicle using an ink pen A roll or gel pen (black Dollar store variety really works well) as it glides nicely and doesn't skip of get stuck. Without taking my pen off the page kept my place even on bumpy roads. I also like the look of the squiggly lines and having to go over some lines multiple times. We had to travel from Sicamous to Kelowna and back today so it really helped pass the time. With all the forest fires, the normal beautiful view was a smoky haze and I wanted to concentrate on something else! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

#continuouslinedrawing #fundrawingchallenge #expressivedrawing @karenoliversfineart #opusopc2021 #karenoliversfineart #travelinkdrawings

Ending The Call, Piece By Piece
Oil monoprint on CP Railway 2002 calendar page, 9" x 11", framed
#20107221

 This is an Annual International Open Call Juried Exhibition and Competition. This show is at the FCA Granville Island Gallery in Vancouver B.C. from July 12 to August 1. Sculptures are also juried into this exhibition! The FCA description of this show "Fueled by powerful emotions, Artists push their creative practices to the edge to stir the hearts and minds of a global audience. The FCA has established this exhibition as a open space to form new connections with the arts community."
Rarely do I paint for an exhibition but this one, "On The Edge" really had me thinking. ​Travelling to see family and friends in the 1 1/2 - 2 years has been via Zoom, Facebook or a number of other computer programs. Our daughter was pregnant with our first grandchild and I really felt the absence of her presence and the growth of her baby belly.
​You can see the show HERE

#artist #canadianpainter #canadianartist #vancouver #federationofcanadianartists #federationgallery #gallery @federationgallery @fedofednartists @karenoliversfineart #oilmonoprint 

While we were waiting for the call for our first grandchild's birth, our friend's generously let us stay at their home in Sidney B.C. so we could be close to our daughter and son-in-law on the island. With Covid protocols we knew we would not be able to visit in the hospital but wanted to be in Courtenay when they came home. During this relaxing and fun mini-holiday for us, I was able to sketch the views and activities from the deck. I am a little behind in posting as I have been enjoying being a Grandma to baby Jack Wilder (aka Booboo for now). 

Hallmark Movies came and used the public decking for an upcoming movie. It was all set up as an outdoor restaurant. It was fun to sit on the patio, sketch the set up and watch all the activities, very interesting!

#sketchinginsidney #urbansketching #relaxingonthepatio #gratefulforgenerousfriends #inthemomentsketching @karenoliversfineart #landscapesketch #oceanviewsketch