On the announcement by Jacinda Ardern the Prime Minister of New Zealand of her decision to retire I thought I would post my painting and words from March 2019 after the heartbreaking tragedy of the Christchurch mosque attack:
“Compassion, strength, comfort, and humility: true leadership for leaders of the world to learn from.”
After yesterday’s post, in a New York frame of mind today, and a look back to 2015:
Studio 365: Day 266 – September 23, 2015
City of the Imagination I – VIII 23.9.15
City of the Imagination began on Day 261 in response to this week’s Photo Challenge: Grid. Variations VII and VIII were posted yesterday for Day 265, so today I thought I would put all eight together as a final City of the Imagination grid. Look for more to come in the next day or two that will definitely now be off the grid.
Last week I received Tony Smibert’s new book, Turner’s Apprentice, A Watercolor Masterclass and started on his watercolor exercises in the studio today.
I learnt so much from his previous two books, Tate Watercolour Manual: Lessons from the Great Masters and Painting Landscapes from your Imagination that I already know the next few weeks will be another inspiring and memorable journey. Once again I thank my dear friend and wonderful Australian artist and teacher Debi Riley for introducing Tony Smibert’s books to me.
…to be continued.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park I – 25.5.20
Four years ago I posted From Yardwork to Artwork and was honoured to have it featured as an Editor’s Pick on WordPress Discover, which I posted about in a day like no other.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park II – 25.5.20
To celebrate this special anniversary for thechangingpalettte, yesterday and today in the studio I continued to create Art Works from our daily Park Walks in the beautiful Pacific Spirit Regional Park, which as you know I have featured regularly in the last few weeks since the pandemic started with photos and paintings.
Here’s a look back at the post that WordPress Discover featured for those of you who may not have seen it.
From Yardwork to Artwork: The Photinia Story Part One May 24, 2016
Photinia I 23.05.16
Today’s post is all about learning to find beauty and inspiration in the mundane chore of yard work on a holiday Monday.
Yesterday was Victoria Day here in Canada, the perfect time to prune the photinia and clean all of its dried leaves from the studio roof and gutter.
With the concrete cleaned and swept the afternoon was free for painting and photography in the studio with a rescued photinia branch making for the perfect subject…
and a few of the trimmed branches new tools for drawing with.
Now all I had to do was put the two together. What could be better than an ink drawing of the photinia created with one of its own branches?
Well, perhaps some additional watercolor to complete the picture…
and we’re almost there…
So ended a very satisfying day turning the hard work of yard work into art work.
to be continued…
Venice 22.5.20
Five years ago today I was also in a Venice frame of mind.
Studio 365: Day 142 22.5.15
Venice study I 22.5.15
Painting this watercolour and ink sketch in the studio this afternoon allowed me to re-visit our magical trip to Venice in July 1999, a visit documented in a precious journal that I kept throughout our Italian travels that year.
Pacific Spirit Canopy 3.8.15
With our daily walks in the Pacific Spirit Park it seems like a good time to look back to some of the paintings that walking in the Park inspired five years ago.
Studio 365: Day 216
Pacific Spirit Park Variations I – IV 4.8.15
For National Dance day
Inspired by the always sublime Maria Khoreva, first soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet.
Also an opportunity to revisit a post from three years ago
Dance Studio July 25 2017
for the love of dance continued in the studio this afternoon
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul” Martha Graham
Five years ago today we visited Antelope Canyon in Arizona. My paintings and photographs from that never-to-be-forgotten visit have taken on new meaning today, as we continue to grieve for Nova Scotia.
Here is the original post from 5 years ago. Enjoy our visit to Owl Canyon
and learn about the feather on my studio wall.
A treasure in Owl Canyon
Who would have thought it could get any better, but today was another magical day with unforgettable visits to Owl, Rattlesnake and Upper Antelope Canyons. Here are a selection of more amazing images to share with you, and many thanks for all your comments and visits.
The feather from a great horned owl from our visit to Owl Canyon will indeed be the treasure of the trip. It will take pride of place in the studio back home and I can’t wait to use it for more pen and ink drawings. I did ask our Navajo guide Kim, from Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours, if I could keep the feather and she very graciously gave her permission. Thank you Kim for a day we will never forget.
On to Bryce Canyon tomorrow.
Nova Scotia Strong
As I post my second painting inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Spirit Park I am learning of the tragic new from Portapique in Nova Scotia. I send my thoughts and condolences to all those grieving the loss of family, friends and colleagues. Tonight we are all Nova Scotia, from the Pacific to the Atlantic.🇨🇦
The Pacific Spirit Park came to the studio this afternoon after our walk in the woods on this beautiful Saturday in Vancouver. A moment to reflect, as I do each day, on the dedication and Spirit here by the Pacific of all of our Front Line Healthcare Workers and Volunteers. They are all amazing and we say thank you each and every day.
thechangingpalette 