I went paddling with the Sicamous Eagle Valley Dragon Boat early one morning followed by the usual group coffee at Joe Schmucks Road House. At the back of the property they have rental cabins and camping spots. I set my easel up at the edge of the river and happily painted the view in front of me (changing the chair colour). I was physically, mentally and emotionally filled up, what a great morning!! The painting below is currently hanging in the Sicamous, B.C. SASCU (Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union, Sicamous Branch).

I am the artist of the month for the SASCU (Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union) in Sicamous B.C. I love how my paintings go with the beautiful colours they have on the wall and chairs. These paintings are up until the end of August if you get a chance to go in and have a look. The poppies are from an en plein air study I did and photos I took in Rigmor and Ken's garden (blog write up here), the cherries and pears are from nearby yards and the lower painting is an en plein air painting I did from the back camping area of Joe Schmuck's restaurant in Sicamous, B.C.

Ujamaa Grandmas is an organization that is being supported by the DeSonus Fundraising Gala in Airdrie and Calgary this fall. My water colour painting "With Gratitude",  (below) is one of the silent auction items that will be in the Calgary Gala on Sept. 22, 2019. Ujamaa Grandmas is an organization that several of my friends are very passionate about and work hard at supporting. If you get a chance to check out their websites (click on their names in orange above), have a lively fun musical evening and support these wonderful soulful groups.

These beautiful cards were created in a FUNdraiser (for Eagle Valley Arts Council) beginning water colour class that I taught. Two ladies had to leave before I could get their 6 cards in the photo. The most interesting part for me is that they created the cards while learning the water colour language and different ways of working with it, BUT without having a final product in mind, it was process learning. That is very difficult as adult learners because we are so driven to get the final product right. These ladies were given as little direction as I could on using the colour and placement of their "objects" and I found it inspiring with how well they developed their cards. It was a very uplifting evening for me, thank you ladies!