Art Advent Calendar 2024: Day 1 - 6

 

It is time for my annual Art Advent Calendar. For the next three Fridays, I will publish my blog featuring some of my 2024 artworks. There will be one additional blog on Tuesday, December 24, the last blog for 2024. As I concentrated on my daily drawings this year, I didn't create as many needle-felted paintings. I also hardly touched my acrylic paints - something I want to change again next year.

I will continue with monthly blogs on the last Friday of the month for 2025.

Day 1: Amaryllis, watercolour and watercolour pencils, 8.3" x 5.8"

This image is from one of the Painting Buddies Zoom sessions. I took the photo during my visit to Germany when my mother bought the flower for a friend on New Year's Eve.

 

Day 2: Scamp, 16" x 20", acrylic, SOLD

 

While I finished the painting of the beloved Scamp before Christmas last year, I didn't want to share the image before his family agreed to the finished painting. I used several of his owners' photos as references and struggled with Scamp's behind, which was covered by a toy in the pose they chose. Unfortunately, they didn't have a similar picture of him without a toy. Therefore, I studied many dog photos until I was happy with his shape.

It took many more steps between the fourth and the final image until I was satisfied, with many adjustments you would probably hardly notice.
When I presented the finished painting to his family, they loved the portrait so much that they ordered two additional prints.

If you are interested in a custom painting of your beloved pet, please email me for more information.

Day 3: Happy Elephant, wool, 8 3/5" x 11 3/4", custom-matted to fit a 12" x 16" frame, CAN $450 + shipping 

My first needle-felted painting of the year was the image of this adorable elephant. As I used several reference photos to create the landscape for my animal, I experimented with colours and added mountains in the back and grasses in the foreground. Many people believe that elephants bring good luck, loyalty and love. And who doesn't need that?

 

Day 4: Lady in Red, acrylic, 8" x 8", CAN 230 + shipping

I created this powerful image for the Petite Art Show. Let this Lady in Red paint your home with love and enchantment. Each scarlet petal ignites the senses with a fiery allure. By capturing the essence of romance and vitality, this enchanting bloom beckons admirers to embrace its beauty and indulge in the timeless charm of this garden jewel.

Day 5: Pink Tulip Bouquet in a Blue Vase, 14" x 11", acrylic, CAN 375 + shipping

By March, I am tired of snow and often bring some fresh flowers home to brighten my mood. The Pink Tulip Bouquet in a Blue Vase symbolizes springtime bliss. Each tulip, a testament to nature's artistry, dances gracefully within the confines of the sleek blue vase. The rich colour and timeless elegance of the pink tulips invite you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the moment.

Day 6 March: The End of Winter, watercolour, 8.3" x 5.8"

The last winter was milder than usual, with only a few frigid days. We hoped spring would arrive early when Janis and I painted on location during our March trip to the Whitewater region. I finished the painting later after I spent another morning at the same spot painting the peaceful scene with acrylic paints.

To bring a piece of permanent joy to your home, please email me for purchase information. All artworks with a prize are for sale. I also offer gift certificates.

 

Let Nature Inspire You

Pink Tulips in a Blue Vase, acrylic, 14" x 11", CAN $375

May Blog

I love sharing my passion for art with others to encourage them to express themselves through art, whether to capture nature’s beauty, tell stories, work through life events or relax. Teaching also challenges me to try different subjects because the participants are more engaged when I show them how to create what they want to capture.

Cartooning and Comic Courses for Children

 

Most of the time, I find a balance between teaching and my own creative projects. This month, the scale tipped towards preparing classes and administrative tasks. 

Drawing Classes in Collaboration with the Orleans-Cumberland Resource Centre

I taught three Cartooning and Comics children’s courses, a drawing course and two needle-felting workshops. I also hosted my Art Café. While chatting, we inspired each other while we created the fruity mixed-media artwork. 

Tulip and Beach Workshops

Fun Mixed Media during the Art Café

The schedule for the second half of the year is on my website. You won’t find the Art Café there because it is foremost a social get-together. Please email me to learn more about my next Art Café on July 27, 2024.


Next Friday, I will leave for a trip to Germany to celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday. Keep informed about my art and events by subscribing to my mailing list. Due to my vacation, I will publish my June blog on July 5.



I enjoyed participating in the Arteast project to create panels for containers for the Byward Market. Painting together was fun. However, to combine the different visions and styles, it is best if everyone has their specific tasks. Our team painted Spring in Ottawa with a view of the National Gallery and The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica with tulips from Major’s Hill Park in the foreground. 

 

Spring Panel in Progress

I also finished an acrylic still life of tulips in a blue vase (see above) and worked on several needle-felted paintings.


My friend Janis and I painted the stunning tulips in Major’s Hill Park. Even though we both have other favourite mediums, we brought watercolour paints because of their easy portability. The second painting is a very loose sketch because we ran out of time.

Blushing Pink, watercolour, 8.3" x 5.8"/Tulip Bliss, watercolour, 10" x 7"

Disappointingly, I couldn’t stick to my daily drawings until I went to the cottage for a week. However, my drawing journal for Germany is ready. I plan to create a visual diary. 

Stag and Doe at the Ottawa Little Theatre

At the Cottage

Flowers and a Visit to the National Gallery

Here are the paintings from our weekly virtual Painting Buddies meetings, which create an always anticipated creative break with dear friends.

Strawberries, Sunset at Presqu'ile, Sunny Tulips, Apple Blossoms

Do my images inspire you? I would love to hear about your projects.
 

Have a fantastic June!

Keeping The Memory Alive - Commission Painting of a Beloved Pet

 

 

Blog 36

I just received a new commission for a painting of a cherished dog who recently died. I feel honoured to help the family keep his memory alive with a unique artwork. Based on my experience, I know how a piece of artwork can help keep the memory of a beloved companion alive.

 

Jessie - Forever in My Heart, acrylic, 11" x 14"

When our first dog died, our deeply loved Jessie, painting her portrait helped me to deal with my pain. It was challenging, and I had to stop several times until I was strong enough to cope with the loss. Today, I still feel comforted when I look at her painting and remember the many happy moments we shared.


I painted our second and third dogs already while they were still alive. I also created needle-felted paintings of them because I liked the idea of their portraits in wool to imitate their soft fur. I look at them every day and feel happy in their continued company, even though both crossed the rainbow bridge.


Before I create an acrylic or a needle-felted commission painting of a family pet, I usually prefer to meet the dog or cat, observe the pet and take lots of photos. For a deceased pet, I rely on family photos. Looking for photos also helps the owners to relive the precious moments with their pet. They realize which pose is the one that reminds them the most of their beloved family member. I help my clients decide on the pose and a background for their much-loved family member, using several photos to create the composition of the painting.


My new clients decided they want their cute dog sitting in their garden. When they told me that a white butterfly had appeared several times since the death of their beloved dog, we agreed to add a white butterfly to the painting.

The first step of my painting process is to put the pieces of their garden, the favourite photo of their sweet dog and the butterfly together. I used pastels to draw the composition. When my client is happy with the drawing, I will add a layer of clear gesso to attach the pigments to the canvas. This step serves as my block-in.


At this point, I can still change every aspect of my painting because acrylic paints are very versatile. I can paint dark over light and the other way around.


Once I have heard back from my clients, I can make the adjustments and start painting. I am excited and will share updates with you.


To inquire about a custom painting of your beloved pet, please send me an email.

Mom

Mom, 11" x 14", acrylic

Blog 32

Today is my mother’s 85th birthday which I cannot spend with her. Therefore, I want to dedicate this blog to my mom, the strong person who was one of the first people who worked in a home office to combine career and motherhood. She worked more than full-time as a right hand to my father in building up his architecture firm. Nevertheless, she always had a warm meal on the table when my sister and I came from school and looked after the household all by herself.

My sister and I often complained about how much she worked, but as typical kids, we didn’t offer to help either. My mother is a perfectionist, and my sister and I would not perform the tasks to her standard, or so we told ourselves. As a mother of two now adult children, I can't imagine how she managed to keep going without taking any time for herself.

When I saw a picture of my mom as a young child in a photograph from the 1940s, I was intrigued to create her portrait even though I am usually not interested in painting portraits. I hardly even capture people in my paintings or the photographs I take.

I always feel that we see ourselves in a very different way from other people. We often are our harshest critics. We complain about our bodies but would never say the same about another person because we often look for our faults while others look for our best attributes.

In the sepia and soft white photo, my mother wore a beautiful dress and an oversized white bow in her bob-style hair to dress her up for a professional photo shoot. While I usually love colours, restricting my palette was as much a challenge as capturing the likeness of my mom.

I am still happy with the result after all these years. However, although I have sketched my mother various times, I have not painted her another time - probably, because it was easier to capture her in her past than in her present.

left: drawing from photo, right: live sketch during a trip

Today, I am thankful my mother is still part of my present. Many of my friends are already motherless. I cherish our time together even though we are physically apart, which is much easier in the area of virtual platforms.

I wish my mom the happiest of birthdays and many years ahead. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, Mutti!

Orange Lily Paintings

Orange Lilies, acrylic on gallery canvas, 8″ x 8″, CAN $ 200

 
Abundance of Colour: Orange Lily Paintings


I love the bright orange lilies that bloom at different spots on our property, probably because orange is one of my favourite colours. I love the shape of the petals and the colour variations inside of the flowers trumpet. 

When my children were small, I started created little paintings of flowers during the summer as I knew that I would not have the time for a large painting. For many years, I kept this tradition. I created the acrylic painting of the lilies first.

Orange Lily, wool, 8.5” x 11“, custom-matted for a 12" x 16" frame, CAN $ 375

One day, while looking at the painting, I was intrigued to create the same colour intensity with wool. The process is very different. When you paint, you can mix two colours to make a third one. By varying the amount of each colour, your mixed colour will be darker or lighter, cooler or warmer colour.

With wool rovings, you have to take the different coloured rovings. You put them on top of each other and start ripping them apart over and over again until you achieve the desired blend.

Are you looking to bring some colour into your house to lift your mood? Both paintings are for sale. You can purchase them from the comfort of your home by going to my website https://www.kerstinpeters.ca/make-a-payment/. All prices are in Canadian dollars, and you can pay by credit card, PayPal or e-transfer. The shipping fees are not included and depend on the destination. For questions, contact me at info@KerstinPeters.ca.

Art Advent Calendar - Part IV

Despite my accident, I finished my Art Advent Calendar. Here is the last part of the review of my 2021 artworks. My art helped me through another challenging year. May creative projects enable you to express your joys and troubles.

 

Day 18 of the Advent Calendar:

Nature’s Mirror, wool, 11” x 8.5”

Nature’s Mirror, wool, 11” x 8.5”

 

As I continued to felt all the images of my 2020 landscape calendar, it was the turn of another fall image with tree reflections in a bay of the Ottawa River. Even though I love the warmth and long days of summer, I cannot get enough of the breathtaking fall colours.

 

 

 

Advent Calendar Day 19:

 

The Rock, acrylic, 8” x 10”, CAN $250

The Rock, acrylic, 8” x 10”, CAN $250

 

This painting is from the 2019 Plein Air Ensemble fall painting trip to Lake Clear in Eganville. On October 6, the forecast showed a high probability of rain. In the afternoon, the sky got very dark. We had our lunch break and waited for the rain, but it stayed dry. Finally, we headed out to a side road, where I set up in front of a big rock. We had assumed that it was a quiet road, but many cars, an ATV and even a group of hikers passed us. It was almost 4:30 pm when the rain finally started. At first, I did not even notice it because I was so immersed in my painting. However, it was clear that the rain system had reached us. We had to pack in our painting equipment.

 

This fall, I finally found my way back into the painting and finished it once I used painting knives to add some texture.

Advent Calendar Day 20:

 

Fall Splendor, wool and embroidery thread, 11.75” x 9”

Fall Splendor, wool and embroidery thread, 11.75” x 9”

 

I got stuck while working on this needle felted painting. After taking a break for a couple of months, I finally finished the challenging fall landscape with trees reflecting in a lake. To create a more interesting foreground, I added embroidery thread for the grasses in the foreground.

 

My goal for this year was to recreate all the images of my 2020 landscape calendar. I was very close to achieving this goal when my accident put me in the hospital.  

 

 

 

Advent Calendar Day 21:

 

Big Rock, Lake Clear, acrylic, 8” x 10”, $250

Big Rock, Lake Clear, acrylic, 8” x 10”, $250

 

This painting is also from the Plein Air Ensemble trip to Lake Clear in Eganville in October 2019. Many painters in the area have painted the rock that is truly impressive in its size. 

 

I was with my friends Hélène and Janis when I painted Big Rock. It was a very windy day, but in the sunshine, temperatures rose to 15 degrees. We had so much fun that we did not mind that we were late for Happy Hour that day.

Advent Calendar Day 22: 

 

Flaming Tree, acrylic on board, 11" x 14", CAN $375

Flaming Tree, acrylic on board, 11" x 14", CAN $375

 

I created this fall painting during a painting class with the participants of the group homes. I signed it afterwards, but somehow I was not satisfied with the outcome, especially with the sky. I found it too busy. A couple of months later, I picked the painting up again and made some changes, as you can see. I am happy with the result this time.

 

I post both images so that you can see the differences for yourself. The second one is the finished painting.

 

 

Flaming Tree, acrylic on board, 11" x 14", Stage 1

 

 

 
Advent Calendar Day 23:

 

Felting with Vegan Fibres

 

Felting with Vegan Fibres

 

I had hoped to present one more new felted painting, but I did not finish the last piece yesterday. I will show you my new felted artwork to you next week.

 

Instead, I want to emphasize that we have to keep exploring and learning new things to grow. This year, I learned a lot about vegan fibres. Even though I love needle felting with wool, this option is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, I experimented with a couple of vegan fibres. If you want to learn more about my experience, check out my November blogs.

 

 

 

Advent Calendar Day 24:

 

The Pink Rose, wool, 7.5" x 7", $380

The Pink Rose, wool, 7.5" x 7", $380

 

I felted a version of the rose that we also picked as one of the images for our Painting Buddies meetings. While the original pre-felted background cloth was only 6" x 6", I wanted to enlarge the artwork to give the rose more space. I achieved this by adding another piece of pre-felted material that I attached by densely covering the top with wool roving.

 

I picked the image today because it reminds me of the popular German Christmas song Es ist ein Ros entsprungen. The English version is called Lo, how a rose e'er blooming. There are two explanations for the symbolism of the rose. It is either a symbol for the Virgin Mary (catholic church) or Jesus (protestant church).

 

 

I am back home after my bad accident. I am still bedridden. I have to concentrate on my healing for the upcoming weeks. Therefore, I will postpone all further courses until I walk again, at least until February. I will also take a break from publishing my newsletter, blog, and regular posts on Facebook until the second week of January.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

 

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope my posts about art inspired you to express your creativity.

 

I wish you joyful holidays surrounded by loved ones. Enjoy the time together, celebrating the joys with gratitude.

 

Art Advent Calendar - Part III

If you wondered what happened to the blog last Friday, I had a bad fall that landed me in the hospital. I will do my best to finish the Advent Calendar in time. Please have patience if you contact me. I will try to answer emails as soon as possible. However, my recovery is the number one priority. Here are the days 11 - 17 of the Advent Calendar.


Advent Calendar Day 11:

Summer at Mer Bleue, wool, 8.5” x 11.75”

 Summer at Mer Bleue, wool, 8.5” x 11.75”, custom-matted, CAN $400

 
I recreated my acrylic painting Summer at Mer Bleue, which was challenging because of the dominance of greens. Mer Bleue Bog is in the East of Ottawa, Ontario. This scene is from the boardwalk through the bog with a stunning variety of plants. 

Have you ever been to a bog before? Summer is not a great time to visit because of all the mosquitoes and horseflies. However, the landscape is breathtaking at any season.



Advent Calendar Day 12:

A Single Sunflower, acrylic, 12” x 24”, CAN $450

A Single Sunflower, acrylic, 12” x 24”, CAN $450

 
On the September long weekend, I spent time painting the only sunflower in our garden. All the ones my husband had planted did not survive, but the single one that grew from a seed that the birds had dropped inspired me to create this year’s sunflower painting. 

Sunflowers always make me think of my mother because they are her favourite flower. I always feel close to her when sunflowers surround me. This year, even more than at any other time, I needed to feel the connection while painting because it has been almost two years since I last saw her and my father.



Advent Calendar Day 13:

A Single Sunflower, wool, embroidery thread, 9” x 12”, CAN $400

A Single Sunflower, wool, embroidery thread, 9” x 12”, CAN $400

 
I started the felted version of the sunflower later than the acrylic painting with the same title (see Day 12). However, the easy access to the wool with no cleanup makes it easier to work on the needle felted artwork, whether for a long or short time. Therefore, I finished this painting first.



Advent Calendar Day 14:

Ottawa River, Whitewater Region, wool, 11.75” x 9”, CAN $ 400

Ottawa River, Whitewater Region, wool, 11.75” x 9”, CAN $ 400

 
I had a lot of fun with this river scene that I had already captured a couple of years ago in my acrylic painting with the same title. I love the three-dimensional impression of the rocks.
Is there not something fascinating about rushing water?

Advent Calendar Day 15:

Low Tide at the Monadnock, Route de la Grève, acrylic, 11” x 14”, CAN $375

Low Tide at the Monadnock, Route de la Grève, acrylic, 11” x 14”, CAN $375

 
I finally finished the painting from the September 2019 trip to Kamouraska. The scene is from the site of our favourite monadnock. We have returned to the place on each of our trips. It is one of our most visited spots to paint and have lunch.

I love the light colour of the rocks in contrast to the purple foreground with the algae and seagrasses. It is a great spot to walk around, but every time, it amazes me how fast the tide comes back in again.

Advent Calendar Day 16:

Flamboyance, wool, 9” x 12”, custom-matted, CAN $400

Flamboyance, wool, 9” x 12”, custom-matted, CAN $400

 
This year, I also recreated my acrylic painting Blushing Sunset in wool. I used the beautiful colours of wool rovings that I had ordered. It was exciting to build up the image layer by layer.

Advent Calendar Day 17:

Variety of 2021 Watercolour Paintings

 

2021 Watercolour Paintings

Instead of the needle felted painting I wanted to feature on Day 17, I post a collage with the best of my 2021 watercolour paintings from the Zoom meetings with my Painting Buddies. Usually, I did not finish the artwork during our one-hour session. I continued the work after the meeting.

For the past two years, I have created more watercolour paintings. The paints are easy to carry and clean up. I love how fast I can cover the different areas of my paper and find them very useful for sketching.

Please send me an email to info@KerstinPeters.ca if you are interested in purchasing the artwork. The shipping fee is calculated depending on the destination.

Art Advent Calendar - Part II

Welcome to my blog. For the remainder of 2021, I present you with a review of twenty-four of my artworks included in the 2021 Advent Calendar. If you cannot wait for the weekly summary, I invite you to visit my Facebook page. I will publish a new Advent calendar post every day at 10 am.


All artworks are for sale. The shipping fee will be added depending on the destination. For more information, contact me at info@KerstinPeters.ca. You can pay by e-transfer, credit card or PayPal.

 

Advent Calendar Day 4:

 

Rural Village Houses, acrylic, 8” x 16”, CAN $350

Rural Village Houses, acrylic on board, unframed, 8” x 16”, CAN $350

I started this painting last year on the very first outing with my painting buddies. It was the first meeting after the first COVID lockdown. I always wanted to paint these colourful houses in our rural Cumberland Village. However, I struggled so much while I was on location that I do not consider the painting a plein air work.

When I finally continued the painting, I saw the image appear clearer stroke by stroke. After struggling with the right green for the left house, I concentrated on the blue one and the surroundings. Suddenly, I was able to mix exactly the colour I had in mind.

Once I had my house painted, the rest started to flow easier. I am happy with the result.

Advent Calendar Day 5:

 

Along the Rideau Canal, wool, 9.5" x 11.5", CAN $400

 

Along the Rideau Canal, wool, 9.5" x 11.5", custom-matted, CAN $400

I was very excited to create the felted version of my acrylic painting which had been challenging. Creating the felted version, I had the advantage that I had a clear picture of the composition.

This time, I had no problems with the reflections in the water. However, I struggled with the cherry tree and the fir trees on the right side for a long time.

It is always fascinating to compare the different mediums and the effects I can create with them.

Advent Calendar Day 6:

Spring in Ottawa, 11.75” x 9”, CAN $400

 

Spring in Ottawa, wool, 11.75” x 9”, custom-matted, CAN $400

Spring in Ottawa is my first felted painting that contains a couple of buildings. If you are from the Ottawa area, you can surely recognize the building on the left. It took a long time to finish the details of this piece. I left some of the buildings in the background out in the felted version because the painting got too busy.

Advent Calendar Day 7:

 

Three Red Tulips, acrylic, 10” x 8”, CAN $250

Three Red Tulips, acrylic on board, 10” x 8”, unframed, CAN $250

As I could not paint the tulips at the Canadian Tulip Festival for the second year, I set myself up in our front yard and painted these three red tulips. It felt so good to be painting outside. It also made me realize how much my confidence has increased when I paint where others can see me. I can still remember when it felt very uncomfortable painting in a public place because I worried about other people's judgment.

While I was painting my tulips, people passed with their cars or walked by with their dogs. Those who stopped complimented my painting. Usually, people don’t judge us as harshly as we critique ourselves. They are in awe that we put ourselves into the spotlight. They admire our talents, thinking that they could never do the same, even if we are not satisfied with the outcome.

Advent Calendar Day 8:

Primadonna, wool, 11.75” x 9”, CAN $400

 

Primadonna, wool, 11.75” x 9”, custom-matted, CAN $400

 
Once the first flowers peeked out of the ground, I started a tulip painting. The yellow tulip in the front is the primadonna. The others have important roles as supporting actors.

It was not easy to create the illusion of separate pedals. In general, I find it helps if I already spend time with the composition of a piece in a previous painting. This image I did not paint before. However, I feel tempted to create an acrylic painting with the same reference photo to observe the diverse challenges I experience with the different mediums.

Advent Calendar Day 9:

 

The Pair, wool, 11,75” x 9”, CAN $400

The Pair, wool, 11,75” x 9”, custom-matted, CAN $400

Sorting through my photos, I found the image of the two irises I took at the Ornamental Gardens in Ottawa. I was immediately inspired to create the image in wool. It took a long time for the final details. However, my timing was perfect as the irises in my garden were blooming when I finished the piece.

Advent Calendar Day 10:

Daring to be Different, wool and acrlic fibre, 10" x 11.75", CAN $400

Daring to be Different, wool and acrlic fibre, 10" x 11.75", custom-matted, CAN $400

This year, I was especially attracted to flowers. The pure beauty and bright colours of flowers cheer me up when I feel overwhelmed by all the negativity in our society.

I had taken the photo of the flower at the Ottawa Ornamental gardens a couple of years earlier. This bloom fascinated me because it was the only one with a couple of purple petals on a peony with otherwise white flowers. I have used the photo already for the second time. The first time, I created a square acrylic painting of the subject.

Have a great week! I will post the following seven artworks next Friday.