Funky Flower Fun
9 1/2" x 8 1/2" Mixed media on watercolour paper   #20125102

This painting was so messy and fun to do! I took a photo of the painting in progress and the palette beside as they were both so full of colour, shapes, lines and messy looking. I started painting in the background in white then changed my mind and went with a colour I don't use much - purple, a deep, dark and rich purple. So nice to do something different and fun.

Day 5 was all about "Discernment and Refinement". What do you like and what do you want to let go of? Number 1, way to (fun but) busy, 2. need to simplify and see a subject 3. Like textures and layers and still want to see them. 
This workshop was enjoyed and challenging. Nicholas Wilton had an array of services on his website Art2Life.

"La Fruta"
​10" x 8", mixed media on water colour paper, #20107120 For Sale

I found a spot to park my car at the edge of a rural driveway and walked a bit to this view of what the high water left in this tributary. The sky was reflecting on what little water that was left. The contrast between the shadows and sunshine is what caught my eye as I was driving by, the time was right. Two neighbouring men, curious as to what I was doing and then the owner of the driveway I was parking beside stopped for a chat and to see what I was doing. All were very pleasant, friendly and interesting which I feel is all infused into this calm and peaceful painting.

"The Time Is Right"
8" x 10" oil on canvas panel, en plein air (painted on location), #20122020    $80 unframed

Lucky, lucky me! Due to the Covid requirements my friend Evelyn helped out Dany at the Beaver Lake Mountain Resort and in return was offered a 2 night stay in one of their beautiful cabins. Here is where the lucky me comes in...I was invited to join her and we both celebrated our birthdays with this get away. In our wood stove heated cabin named Otter, we cooked wonderful food, enjoyed drinks, laughter, walks, exploring the lake by fishing boat and evening board games were a real relaxing treat . I painted one afternoon while Evelyn read and Dany  dropped by for a visit. Oh, to be sooooo spoiled!, thank you Evelyn and Dany!!!

"Invitation To Relax"
8" x 10" oil on canvas panel, en plein air (on location), #20119020

Driving to Kaslo, I found a quiet spot by the old hotel (our next meeting place) and started a painting of the bay. The group rolled in so I packed up and joined them for a delicious cold beverage.

"Working Dock"
8" x 10" oil on board, plein aire (on location), #20118020 , For Sale

After another fun evening meal we said our goodbyes. The cyclists continued onwards the next morning and Gord and I toured around Kaslo. I went back to finish my painting and he biked all around the town. We bought a picnic supper and headed to Trout Lake stopping along the way to hike Fletcher Falls and to take photos. We stayed in the lovely Windsor Hotel (built in 1894). As we were the only guests for the evening (prior booking only due to Covid) we had a lovely evening with the owners Lisa and Brian. The next morning we went for a walk along the lake's shoreline before slowly enjoying our delicious breakfast. We took the ferry back to Revelstoke then drove back to Sicamous. What a wonderful getaway!

I only managed 2 water colour sketches on this trip. This first is of a memorial garden right beside where I painted and the second is a view from our Woodbury Resort hotel room.

The bike riders were on the road at 8:30a.m. I left as well to find a painting spot and pulled over on the Vernon-Slocan Highway viewpoint to paint. As I was finding it hard to store wet oil paintings on 16"x20" canvas panels, this time I painted an 8"x10" so I could put it away in my panel carrier. It was interesting as I had a couple of cars pull over and one man stopped to check out what I was doing and chat while his 2 dogs were eager to get out as well.

"Highway Blink"
Oil on canvas board, en plein aire (on location), 8" x 10" #20115020  For Sale

I quickly packed up and headed to our lunch meetup in the park at New Denver. I started a painting there, then the group pedaled in for a take out lunch. I continued my painting when they left to bike to Kaslo. It was so peaceful and quiet with very few people walking about.

"New Denver Park View"
8" x 10" oil on canvas board, en plein aire (on location), #20115020A  For Sale

My husband was invited to join in on a road bicycle trip with friends in September. As Bruce, Chris, Jean, Elaine, Ken and Gus were already travelling, we met them in Revelstoke B.C. My adventure was going in the car and painting the views as they biked over 100km per day. It felt like speed painting as they seem to arrive so quickly (in painting time). I painted near the Shelter Bay Ferry in the Arrow Lake Provincial Park. I had just packed up when they came rolling in and we all headed on the ferry together.

"Arrow Lake Provincial Park"
16" x 20", oil on canvas, en plein aire (on location)

"Upper Arrow Lake"
16" x 20" oil on canvas, en plein aire (on location)

After the ferry ride together I drove on while they biked and found a pull over with a view of the Upper Arrow Lake. I did not have a lot of time to get into detail and people that also pulled over were interested in what I was painting. I loved the feeling of the large expanse and chunky shape of the mountain but also realized that 16" x 20" canvases were to ambitious for the time I had. I packed up as soon as I saw the first cyclist go by.