Late February

Do you see the heart shaped patch of sunlight on the mountain?

I walked the dog this morning and though it is -17C the sun is warm, beautifully warm like the thermal blanket they through over me after the birth of my daughter, so comforting and embracingly warm. The Columbia river is filled with translucent ice chunks that crunch/tinkle as they move north following the current. The moment was so calm but promising, the river a milky dark pthalo green. How do I capture that feeling in a painting??

Fiona, my walking companion.

Monday night paint out

A beautiful Monday night....

some

friendly

painters.

Ok, I never claimed that my painting attire was pretty.

A good start..

Most important, painting and having a good time. Next time, bring wine.

Autumn

The temperature is dropping. There is fog coming from the lake until nearly noon.

Yesterday there was hoar frost on the landscape. You couldn't even see a mountain. It was crystal, grey

and cold.

But when I was walking the dog's Sunday morning the sun was out.

The larch are beautiful in the late fall sunshine.

To-do Tuesday

Windermere lake evening SOLD

I must get out and do some plein aire paintings this summer. I always say I will and the summer always zips by before I do it. I even have a companion for painting if I can just remember to pick up the phone and call. I really like the pink icing on the mountains when the sun is setting. And this year we still have LOTS of snow!

Columbia To-do

"Columbia To-do" 16x20 acrylic collage

This is one of the first paintings I made when I moved to the valley. It reflects what my life was like at the time...becoming aware of the colors of the valley especially the strange milky turquoise color that the lake reflects on a sunny day...magpies and bones everywhere and lists endless to-do lists. It received a dismissive review at one of the local shows. That is when I decided I no longer wanted critiques from other painters. I am not painting for them. There was (and still is somewhat) a prevailing trend to paint realistic mountain scapes. There are so many people that do it so well. I decided to become the "anti-mountain" and follow a different path.

And darn it, I still like the painting.

Wings Over the Rockies Walk

I only went on one Wings hike this year and it was with a local man, Grant Howse. Grant is metis and well versed in native lore and local history. He took us along the east side of Columbia Lake which is, thankfully, crown land and reserved as animal habitat. I hope it always remains so. It was a beautiful morning and a very interesting hike. Grant's grandfather was the Howse that Howse pass is named for.