Preparing for a Painting Trip

Nature's Mirror, acrylic, 12" x 16" CAN $400

 

Blog 17

When this blog is published, I will already be on the way to the cottage, where I will spend some days with my painting buddy Bob and friends from Eganville. It is the first painting trip since October 2019, when I went to Lake Clear in Eganville with the Plein Air Ensemble.

Hopefully, the weather will be in our favour. Rain, snow and high winds would stand in our way of painting en plein air, but we will be ready for bad weather by bringing some reference materials to paint indoors. While this is not the best time for painting outdoors, as many of the trees have already lost their leaves, there is still plenty to paint.

While I get organized for my trip, I realize how much less I pack now than when I started painting en plein air.

In the beginning, I had a list that was one-page long. These days, I pack much lighter. When I probably won’t have much time to paint during an outing in the neighbourhood, on travel abroad or with family, I usually only pack watercolour pencils and a travel watercolour set, a 9” x 12” and a 5” x 7” watercolour pad, brushes, a water container, a small water bottle and paper towels. All these materials fit easily in my backpack. As I like to sit when I am painting, I also take a foldable chair with a side table when painting with my friends. If I am not sure whether I have an opportunity to paint or not, I will pick anything that can serve as a seat for a quick sketch.

For this trip, I will also pack a small painting box of Golden Open Acrylic paints because I enjoyed my time painting in our yard so much. I usually limit my palette to Titanium White, Hansa and Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red and Quinacridone Magenta, Cobalt and Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Sap Green Hue, a small bottle of gel medium and brushes. The box also serves as my easel. I use a travel watercolour palette that I use as my palette, a water container, paper towels and 11” x 14” boards. I carry everything in a backpack. Open Acrylic paints have a longer drying time, so I also bring a carrier for my paintings.

Aside from the painting equipment, I need warm socks and hiking boots. Even when the temperatures are still above zero degrees Celsius, your feet get cold fast when you don't move for some time. I will take my winter painting coat, light gloves, hat, scarf and rain pants because it is easier to take things off than to be outside freezing.

I will share our painting adventures with you in the upcoming blog.

Blog-free Week

I can hardly believe how fast it gets dark these days. While this is disappointing on the one hand, it also gives you more time for indoor activities. Are you picking up unfinished projects or planning to engage in a new hobby? If you have been intrigued by my felting projects, I invite you to join me for one (or all) of the following workshops:


Felting Experience – Poppy Pin

Saturday, November 5, 2022, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, Zoom

CAN $35


Felting Experience – Winter Landscape

Saturday, November 26 and December 3, 2022, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Zoom

CAN $150.00

CAN $135 Early Bird Price until November 1, 2022



Felting Experience – Santa Figure

Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Zoom

$70.00

$65 Early Bird Price until November 11, 2022



Material Kits are available for all three workshops for Canadian destinations.


For more information and to register, please click on the workshop title.

Candace's first needle-felted painting

Here is what Candace S. had to say about her experience during the fall workshop:


"This was my first needle felting experience. I wanted to do a ‘picture’ as opposed to a felted object, so the workshop Kerstin was offering was both a good fit and good timing.


Kerstin’s calm, relaxed, patient manner in leading the workshop, as well as her encouragement to follow my own artistic instincts, was most appreciated.


I am happy with my first needle felting work, but moreover, I am excited about continuing this new artistic outlet.


For a wonderful experience, don’t hesitate to sign up for one of Kerstin’s workshops!"

Melting of Traditions

Gourds and Corn, Acrylic, 11" x 14", CAN $375

Blog 16

Last weekend, on the second Monday of October, was the Canadian Thanksgiving. Many people already celebrate with family and friends on Saturday or Sunday with a big feast of either turkey or ham, potatoes, fall vegetables and stuffing, followed by a dessert of pumpkin or apple pie.

My husband and I spent the Sunday with our children, sharing a ham dinner with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts. We ate apple pie made fresh by my son and his girlfriend. More than the shared food, we enjoyed the time together during a long walk through the fall foliage and a hot game of Dogopoly.

Erntedankfest is the German Thanksgiving. It is not a statutory holiday but celebrated in Catholic and Protestant churches on the first Sunday in October to thank for a good harvest. The church altar is decorated with harvest foods, and you can find parades in some mainly rural communities. The tradition of Thanksgiving family celebrations is unknown. For many Germans, it is a Sunday like any other.

Thinking about Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season made me reflect on how our family celebrates the German and Canadian holidays.

When you live in a foreign country, you want to hold onto your traditions to keep the bonds to your home country. Our family is no exception. At the same time, we have also embraced many Canadian holidays.

Luckily, the major German and Canadian holidays are similar. Some public holidays have lost their importance and are nothing more than another day off work for many citizens, like Labour Day. Others are not statuary holidays but are very important to part of the population, like Nikolaustag (St Nicholas’ Day) for German children.

My husband and I decided to expose our children to both cultures. It was very important for me to remind them of their German roots. However, as our children have dual citizenship, we also wanted them to celebrate the customs of their home country.

Our biggest challenges were regarding the December holidays, St Nicholas’ Day and Christmas.

On December 5, our kids put their boots out. We told them St Nicholas would know they were German and would therefore bring sweets and little toys in the night from December 5 to 6. Which kid would have protested about a holiday like that?

According to German tradition, we continued opening our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. Many people from different nationalities in Canada don’t celebrate Christmas. Children realize early on that there are many ways to celebrate the season. I know some friends who don’t celebrate Christmas and still put up a Christmas tree and give each other gifts. The future will show what our children will decide for their families.

We always have incorporated Canadian holidays, many of which are celebrations of community. What is not to like about spending time with friends or family, eating delicious food and maybe watching fireworks? It reminds me of the activities on the day before the German labour day, when many communities organize a “Tanz in den Mai”, an evening of dance to celebrate spring.

I love the exchange with various cultures. You learn so much about other traditions, and the knowledge opens your world to new experiences. While the mixing of traditions might be even more evident when you immigrate to a new country, it also happens whenever people from different families get together. Most merge their customs. Do you make any compromises during family celebrations, or have you added new experiences to enrich your holidays?

Blog-free Week

 

Pumpkins and Plums, wool and mixed fibre, 7.5" x 11.5", $400

October is an excellent month for pumpkins. First, they make wonderfully bright decorations. Secondly, they are versatile vegetables for dinners and even sweet pies.


I wish all Canadians a fantastic long Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy the time with your loved ones, share meals and walk through the colourful landscape.

What is your favourite use of a pumpkin?