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.
Salute to a hero 17.4.20
Captain Tom Moore completed his goal of walking the 82-foot length of his garden back and forth 100 times before his 100th birthday on April 30th and in the process raised $23 million for Britain’s NHS. Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment formed a guard of honor and saluted him as he crossed the finishing line. Can there be a more uplifting moment for us all to be inspired by?
The great bell of Notre Dame sounded today on the one year anniversary of the Cathedral fire.
12.4.20
Spending time in the studio during this time of self-isolation I have been enjoying putting into action the word’s of Tony Smibert from his wonderful book Painting Landscapes from your Imagination. During the summer of 2016 I undertook all of the exercises in his book and some of you may have followed my progress at that time. Here is a re-post of one of them, which reminds me of how much fun I had during that memorable summer four years ago.
In Chapter 2 of Painting Landscapes from your Imagination Tony Smibert describes the Nature of Watercolor:
“The essence of painting in watercolour is to understand and work with the simple mysteries
of suspension, settling and drying, which takes place everytime we lay down a wash.”
He then adds perhaps the perfect mantra for watercolour painting:
“There are no rules in watercolour, only consequences”
Today’s exercises, which are full of “consequences”, some more successful than others, finishes Chapter 6 with more washes, dots, dabs and the addition of knife work to remove the dried paint creating white highlights from the underlying paper.
    
   
There are lots more great exercises to re-visit.
I wish everyone a peaceful Sunday but if you are working please know you are never out of my thoughts.
Today on World Health Day and National Caregiver Day we honour all healthcare workers and caregivers here at home and around the world. My little bouquet from the studio today is my small way of saying thank you to them all, not only today, but for everyday. You are the heroes of our time.
Today I am honouring all our residents, medical students and indeed all of our health care trainees, with my tulip field “army.” As we face each uncertain day it is so reassuring to know that the future could not be in better and caring hands. Thank you from one grateful generation to the next.
“Art is that which despite all gives hope” Frederick Franck 1981
Anemones 31.3.20
Since the 100 anemone bulbs I planted have yet to appear I used a bouquet that five years ago was the subject of Day 90 of my daily posts during 2015. I had been re-reading one of my favourite books The Zen of Seeing by Fredrick Franck that week. Here is the original bouquet together with my pen and ink drawing at the time, and if you would like to see the rest of the post and learn a little more about Frederick Franck why not visit Studio 365: Day 90
  
Anemones 31.3.15
Inspired by the memory of Vincent yesterday I spent the afternoon in my studio painting alone and thinking of all those struggling in isolation in hospitals around the world without their loved ones beside them. They are always in my thoughts. “What would life be” Vincent wrote, “if we had no courage to attempt anything.” The courage, sacrifice and love of so many will be the lasting inspiration and memory of our time. With this bouquet I thank and honour them all.
thechangingpalette 