Art Advent Calendar 2024: Days 14 - 20

 

Can you believe that tomorrow is the winter solstice? From then on, the days are already getting longer again. I feel the evenings are so long at the moment. I found this week of grey days depressing. Luckily, I have my art to transport me in any season I want. Hopefully, my art cheers you up as well. Here is the third part of my Art Advent Calendar 2024. I try to post the images according to the calendar months. Days 14 to 20 contain summer and fall images. Therefore, you will see more landscapes because my Painting Buddies and I spent more time painting en plein air in September, October and November.




Day 14: Otto, the Happy Otter, 9" x 11.75", wool, custom-matted for a 12" x 16" frame, CAN $450 + shipping

My husband, our dog, and I observed the otter and its family during a canoe ride at the cottage. I love how the canoe glides through the water, allowing us to watch animals we would never see otherwise.

 

When I created the needle-felted painting, I thought at first the animal in the photo was a beaver. After I filled the background and added the animal, it looked like a small bear. When I studied the photo again to see how to change the animal, I realized the cute animal was an otter.
 

 

Day 15: Black-eyed Susans, watercolour and watercolour pencils,
8.3" x 5.8"

My friends and I hadn't gone plein air painting throughout the summer because it was either too hot or rainy. Therefore, I set myself up in our yard to paint my husband's Black-eyed Susans. I worked on the image on two consecutive afternoons.

Day 16: Wildflowers, 9" x 11.75", wool, custom-matted for a 12" x 16" frame, CAN $450 + shipping

I started this painting inspired by my trip to Germany in June. Between the vineyards of Mainz-Laubenheim was a field of beautiful wildflowers and grains. I love the colour combination of the salmon red and the purple-magenta flowers. I just finished the piece this evening. All the details in the flowers and leaves took much longer than I had anticipated.

Day 17 September: Zinnia Bouquet, watercolour, 11.7" x 8.3"

 

During the Arteast studio tour in September, Janis and I demonstrated painting a colourful bouquet of zinnias from Janis' garden. The single chrysanthemum is from a plant I bought to bring some brightness to the dreary time the weather provided for our event. While I always admire Janis' decisive strokes, I am a slow painter because I love the meditative process of adding layers to my paintings. I always find it fascinating how differently we approach our artworks.


I painted most of this piece during the studio tour but still had to complete some of the flowers and create a more pleasing transition between the green tablecloth and the background when I could paint without disruptions.

 

Day 18: Little Creek, Humanics Institute Sculpture Park, watercolour,
10" x 7"

This lovely fall scene is from a September outing to the Humanics Institute Sculpture Park with my friends Janis and Bob.


I finally finished the lush landscape this week. It was challenging to add all the green land without losing the creek among all the foliage. If you have never been to this little gem in Cumberland, I can highly recommend this relaxing and educational path through the woods. You will find many sculptures promoting understanding of the world religions and the circle of life.

Day 19: Catching the Last Fall Colours, 5.8" x 8.3", watercolour

My painting friends and I love Petrie Island because it offers plenty of inspiration at any season. The changing weather provides different views of the same spot. When Bob and I went to Petrie Island on October 31, we witnessed how the wind blew the leaves from the trees we were painting until the trees were almost bare.


Check out my video from the location here.

Day 20: Brilliant November Afternoon, 5.8" x 8.3", watercolour

 

On October 31, the weather was so beautiful that my friend Bob and I went painting at Petrie Island again. In the morning, clouds and cold wind blew the leaves around. However, in the afternoon, we sat in the warm sunlight with temperatures in the mid-twenties, painting the blue waters and brilliant red dogwood shrubs. I am usually a slow painter, building up my paintings layer by layer, but within 45 minutes, I created a lovely sketch.


Check out my video here.

Are you still looking for a gift idea for yourself or others? You can also make an appointment with me or visit my website. I offer gift certificates for paintings and workshops. Art will enrich your life, whether on your walls or by nurturing your creative skills.



Have a wonderful third weekend of Advent! I will publish one additional blog on Tuesday, December 24, the last blog for 2024. I will continue with monthly blogs on the last Friday of the month for 2025.