Advent Calendar Days 20 - 24

 

Here is the final blog for this year. Thank you for reading my stories and the kind feedback I received on my social media pages.

If you are celebrating Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to you, your family and friends. All the best for a Healthy, Happy and Creative 2026. 



I will post my first blog of 2026 on the last Friday in January. 

Day 20: Grazing Under Autumn's Glow, 9" x 12", watercolour, CAN $250, unframed

I took the picture of this challenging scene, which we painted during one of our virtual Painting Buddies meetings. It shows the field off O'Toole Road in Cumberland, where cows were grazing, undisturbed by us and the many cars passing. Janis had tried to sketch the cows on location, but they moved too much. Capturing them from a photo was enough of a challenge.

Grazing Under Autumn’s Glow captures a herd of cows bathed in warm autumn light, grazing peacefully amid a landscape rich with autumn colours.This painting celebrates the quiet harmony between animals and the glowing landscape of autumn. It invites you to enjoy a moment of calm observation.

Day 21: Last Dash of Autumn, watercolour, 7.5" x 5.75", CAN $100, unframed

 

This watercolour painting captures a scene from my neighbourhood in early November, when I was searching for and taking photos of the last vibrant hues of autumn. As most colours were already fading, these final bursts stood out even more strongly, like a joyful farewell to the season.

These bright hues bring the painting to life, reflecting my love of colour and the happiness it brings me. I cannot imagine a world in black and white, and this painting is a reminder of how colour can lift the spirit, even on the threshold of winter.

 

Day 22: A Rainbow of Leaves, gouache, 8.3" x 5.8"

 

Due to rainy weather, I changed my outdoor painting plans and painted the view from my kitchen window instead. It wasn't plein air painting, but as close as I could manage. I started with tinted mixed-media paper and used gouache to capture this scene, which I enjoyed.

 

You can check out the videos I created about this experience: 

 https://youtube.com/shorts/ tvkBWQJ3Whg 

 https://youtube.com/shorts/ Qaox10yZPO. 

 
 

Day 23: Winter Fields, watercolour, 5.5" x 8.5"

 

My friend Janis Fulton provided the reference photo of the scene that captures the quiet stillness of the winter fields in Cumberland. A soft grey sky hangs low, hinting at more snow to come as nature settles beneath an ever-deepening blanket of snow. The landscape feels tranquil and untouched — a moment of calm where you can almost hear the silence of the snow-covered world. Unfortunately, I painted the new winter scene on the back of my painting, Spring's Floral Magic. 

The spring painting shows the beautiful flowers I saw during my visit to the Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens, a botanical garden in Meran, during my trip to Northern Italy in May 2023. It is a paradise for anyone who loves flowers and trees.

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Day 24: Hudson, wool and dog hair, 10" x 8", commission 

 

 

In October, I paused most of my needle-felted projects to work on the commission of another dog portrait. Hudson was a beloved family member who crossed the rainbow bridge earlier this year. After the client decided on the reference photos for the dog and the scenery, she saw the piece for the first time once I considered it almost complete. Usually, I receive some requests for minor changes because the owners remember a feature from their beloved pet that would not be noticeable to strangers. 

As this artwork is slightly smaller than the previous portraits I created, I had to cut Hudson's fur into smaller pieces before adding it to the top layer. It was challenging to capture the details of the eyes because of the small size of the portrait. 

When my client asked me if I could use glass eyes to make his eyes shinier and darker the way she remembered, I struggled to find a solution. Hudson looks to the side, so that the forms of the right and left eye are slightly different.



I thought of my acrylic gels and created a test eye. I applied two coats of gloss super heavy gel, followed by three coats of self-leveling gel gloss. At first, the eyes looked horrible because both gels are white and only turn clear after drying. As the final step, I painted the eyes black and added some zinc white spots for light reflection. If I had known about the wish for shiny eyes, I would have left the spots without wool, as the surface is not entirely smooth despite the gel layers. 

Even though the black eyes were shiny, I was still unsatisfied with the look of the eyes. Luckily, I was able to add a layer of wool for the upper and lower lid to achieve a more natural look. I was glad that the felting needle went through the gel layers. 

After another consultation with my client, I added a bit more wool to the tail. I also felt that the fur around the snout needed a bit more of the darker brown. 

Looking for mats and frames, I immediately decided to use a white mat and either a white or black frame to pick up the colours of the dog. My client picked the black frame. She was very pleased about the unique gift for her son and his family, which will keep a piece of Hudson forever in their lives.



I hope you enjoyed my 2025 Art Advent Calendar. Which one was your favourite piece? 

Advent Calendar Days 6 - 12

Here is the second blog with images from this year. Most of them are watercolour paintings. My goal for this year was to finish ten artworks every month. I reached this goal during most months. It helped that I leafed through previous watercolour pads and discovered many unfinished pieces that still excited me. Finishing them felt very energizing. I started almost all of the following artworks during our weekly Painting Buddies Meetings, for which I am very grateful. We meet every week, except when I am on vacation.


While it is often challenging to meet on location due to busy schedules and unfavourable weather, everyone usually finds the time for our weekly creative collaboration. We share a virtual photo album from which we pick the reference photos. We have agreed that we all can use the images in the album for any creative purpose, which is crucial if one of us wants to exhibit and sell any of the works created during the sessions.


It is still amazing how different the results are despite us all using the same reference photos. I am glad for this uplifting group of friends.



Day 6: The Thaw, Petrie Island, watercolour, 7" x 10", unframed, 
CAN $210

I painted this image during a Painting Buddies Zoom session in February 2024. In early March of this year, I finally finished this winter scene of the ice thawing at Petrie Island. I love painting at Petrie Island, which always offers a beautiful retreat from daily responsibilities. Unfortunately, during winter, it is often too cold or wet to paint outside. 

 

The painting captures the change of seasons when winter loosens its grip, and the river breaks up. As the ice melts, it reveals the dark water with the subtle reflections of the surrounding landscape. These are the first signs of winter's end and the promise of warmer days ahead.

Day 7: Red Temptation, watercolour and watercolour pencils, 5.78" x 7.5", unframed, 
CAN $100 

I love the photo of the butterfly I took during my visit to the Palmengarten in Frankfurt, Germany, in April. It is another painting from our virtual meetings. I am delighted with the outcome of the blue butterfly on the bush with the red flowers. To make the wings sparkle, I used a layer of blue metallic watercolour. 

The warm red cluster of blooms attracts the delicate blue butterfly. The bold contrast between the butterfly’s cool, iridescent wings and the warm, inviting blossoms creates a sense of vibrancy, an invitation to pause and appreciate the beauty found in small, fleeting encounters.

Day 8: The Bay Awakens, watercolour and watercolour pencil, white ink, 6.7" x 9.4", unframed, CAN $150

On a sunny day in late April, I went to a bay of the Ottawa River, where ice still covered part of the water. However, I sat in the shade most of the time, and the wind was so strong that I got uncomfortably cold and left after only 45 minutes of painting. I finished the piece with reference photos in the warmth of the cottage. 

The Bay Awakens captures the quiet beauty of early spring as geese glide across a bay still holding onto the last remnants of winter. Pale green water reflects the soft light of early spring, while fragile sheets of melting ice drift gently towards the shore. This peaceful scene marks the subtle transition from cold to warmth — a promise of life returning to the bay.

Day 9: Spring Bouquet with Pink Tulips, watercolour, 7.5" x 11" , unframed, CAN $230

Janis Fulton provided the reference photo for this lovely bouquet. I started this painting in April 2024 and then put it aside because I worried about how to paint the delicate white blooms of the baby's breath.

When I finally went back to the painting this February, I struggled to create the impression of the delicate baby's breath against the powerful tulips and hyacinths. After I finished the painting, I cut part of the background because there was too much empty space. I love how the pink tulips, the delicate baby's breath and the purple hyacinth create a beautiful symphony of brilliant cool colours.

Day 10: Arlo, wool, wool and dog hair, 12" x 9", commission

The needle-felted painting of Arlo underwent many changes. I started the piece after picking one of the reference photos Arlo's owner provided. Unfortunately, colours often vary depending on the light, the camera and the screen settings. When I finally met Arlo two months later, I realized that his fut was much lighter. 

 

After the next grooming, Arlo's owner sent me some of his light fur and a new photo of his face, with his eyes not covered with hair. Unfortunately, it showed Arlo from a different side. However, the changed expression made him look even cuter and happier. I added a layer of his fur on top of the previous wool layers to get a perfect colour match. For a long time, I struggled with the changes to the eyes and mouth. Once I was satisfied, I sent the update to the owner, who loved it. 

We all think of certain poses of our pets that we cherish the most. When I create a pet portrait, I want to capture the pet's personality in a pose the owner cherishes. 
 

Do you want me to capture your beloved pet in wool or acrylic? Please send me a DM, and I will gladly give you more information.

Day 11: Pink Hibiscus, watercolour and watercolour pencils, 7.5" x 5.78", unframed, CAN $100

I started this painting in August 2023, using a reference photo provided by Janis Fulton. I added layers of paint to make the flower more brilliant and filled the background. Hibiscus plants bring so much joy because they continuously bloom from spring to fall, often with several flowers at the same time. The painting is a celebration of the radiant beauty of a single vibrant hibiscus bloom. The vivid hues draw the eye toward the flower’s luminous center, capturing a moment of pure botanical wonder.

Day 12:  Flaming Bloom, watercolour and watercolour pencils, 7.5" x 5.78", unframed, CAN $100

To rest my eyes from computer work, I leafed through a pad with unfinished watercolour paintings and finished this one of a wide-open poppy I love how the open red poppy glows like a flame against the deep, dark green leaves. Janis Fulton provided the reference photo for this artwork.

Have you fallen in love with any of the paintings? You can still save with my Christmas promotion. Please contact me for more information.

 
Have a wonderful  day!

Art as a Guide Through Life

 

Snack Time, wool, 7.5" x 11.25, CAN $450

January Blog



Art has always been my way to capture the beauty of nature. After I immigrated to Canada, it became my means to express myself without words in difficult and memorable times, a personal retreat.


I came to Canada in April 1995, following my then-financé Ingo back to the country he had lived in since childhood. While I had a degree as a foreign language correspondent in English and Spanish, most of my practice had been in the artificial space of a classroom. I felt overwhelmed when communicating in English, especially in group discussions.


After exploring the country on our route from Toronto to Vancouver, we finally settled in Ottawa. For the first year, I only was here as a tourist and had to leave the country at least every six months. I also could not get a work permit.


Wanting to meet people, I signed up for a painting class at the Ottawa School of Art. At first, I was shocked at how rusty my drawing and painting skills had become within a few years of hardly touching my tools, but I slowly regained confidence. While I didn't understand every word the instructor said, I understood enough to follow her directions and slowly found my way back into painting.


However, our growing family soon limited my creative activities again. In 2006, I entered a budding artist exhibition and won a prize for my painting, Jessie - Forever in My Heart. Creating the artwork of our beautiful Golden Retriever, who died the day after her 10th birthday, was my way to keep her memory alive and deal with the pain of losing her so suddenly. Creating the painting cost me a lot of strength. I had to stop several times when I was overwhelmed with pain. Therefore, I started a second painting, Princess Christine, a portrait of my young daughter. I submitted both paintings to the Arteast Budding Artist Exhibition. Both paintings achieved high scores, but my dog painting won in its category. Winning the prize encouraged me to get serious about painting again and develop my art beyond the hobby stage.


Fast forward a couple of decades, and I have the privilege of teaching others, and the vision for my business has become much more than providing beauty with my art. It reflects my experiences of using art to cope, explore and capture my surroundings.


As an entrepreneur, I represent my business. What I offer reflects my personal values. My core values give you transparency of my focus and whether your expectations align with my values when you consider working with me.


When I think of my values, there is one more that I could add: Inspiration. Over the years, I have experienced the power of art to celebrate life's beauty and to get me through some deep valleys. I want to share this gift with you so you experience the freedom of creative expression, which will enrich your life.

This year, I have picked a different challenge for myself. I still strive to create art every day. However, I want to complete ten unfinished projects every month instead of creating a new drawing or painting daily. I reached my goal this month. Here is a collage of the finished artworks.

 

 

To read more about each piece, please email me, and I will send you a copy of my latest newsletter. I will publish my next blog on February 28, 2025.

Art Advent Calendar 2024: Days 21 - 24

 

 

 Day 21: Following the Path, 5.8" x 8.3", watercolour

On a sunny Wednesday in early November, Janis, Bob and I spontaneously decided during our Zoom meeting to paint at Mer Bleue after lunch. Even though the tamaracks had lost their beautiful golden needles, we enjoyed the sunshine on the bog. It was so warm that we painted without jackets.

I painted the boardwalk and quickly realized there was still a lot of colour in the shrubs on both sides of the path. Sometimes, you only need to take the time to observe your surroundings.

 

Watch my video from the outing here.

 

 

Day 22: Last Colours of Fall, watercolour pencils, 7.5" x 5.25"

 

This image is one of my daily drawings. It shows a view from our bedroom window towards the street. 

At the beginning of the year, I challenged myself to draw something daily into my sketchbook. I wanted to capture things I appreciated or saw daily. However, I was sometimes too ambitious in my drawing project to finish in a day.

At the end of the year, I realized it was too ambitious a goal to make a drawing of the day aside from other creative projects. In the future, I will count all paintings and drawings, not only those in my sketchbook. However, I drew many different subjects, which was a great practice - and I had lots of fun capturing something from my daily activities. Plus, I still drew more than I would have without the intention.

Check out my monthly 2024 blogs for more details on my trials and triumphs.

Day 23: Dramatic Sunset, watercolour, 8.3" x 11.7"

This painting is another one from our Painting Buddies Zoom meetings. I saw the bright red sky during a walk with our dog, Shadow, but couldn't get a good shot because of the trees and houses in our neighbourhood. However, my friend, Janis Fulton, got a clear view and shot the amazing photo we used as a reference.


I love the bright late fall and winter evening skies. When we were children, my mother always told my sister and me that the sky was red before Christmas because the angels were baking cookies. Did you hear similar stories during your childhood?

 

 

Day 24:  Shadow, wool, 8.75" x 11.75", wool

Even though I love our dog Shadow and have sketched him several times, this is my first needle-felted portrait of him. I started this painting in early 2021. It shows our dog Shadow, who was just a little puppy then. Part of my reluctance to finish the painting was the background I chose for the painting. Instead of the uninteresting background of our kitchen counter, I added a van Gogh sky in the background but was unsure about it.

 

Early this year, I added hearts to the swirls in the background. Swirls and hearts symbolize the love and excitement Shadow brought to our lives again after we lost our beloved Alex and in a world of physical isolation. I like it and have started adjusting the little guy's body, noticing mistakes in his posture that I had missed. Creating an image of a mostly black dog is challenging because you can hardly see the eyes, snout and shadows. Creating another artwork of him should get easier because he gets more and more white hairs. I can hardly wait to paint him at the prime of his life with acrylic paints.

 

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays! 

 

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year. I usually create my art without an audience, and it brings me joy to share my world through paintings with you. May my art inspire and uplift you.

 

Wishing you a joyful and creative journey in 2025!
Embrace the opportunities to grow and enrich your life.

I will publish my next blog on January 31, 2025. 

 

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.

Art Advent Calendar 2024: Days 7 - 13

 

 

Here is the second part of my Art Advent Calendar 2024. Going through my images, I realized how many floral paintings I created - especially during spring. The awakening of nature always inspires me. Each year, I eagerly await the signs of the first flowers after the long Canadian winters.

Day 7: Rocky Shore, watercolour, 5.8" x 8.3"

This plein air sketch is from my April trip to the cottage at the Ottawa River. First, I wanted to add more detail but decided against it to keep the impression I captured fighting against the fierce wind that blew my watercolours several times onto the sand.

 

 

Day 8: Pink Hibiscus, wool, 5" x 5", framed 10" x 10", CAN $200 + shipping

 

Fortunately, we have a winter garden where many of our plants bloom even during the colder seasons. Our hibiscus plant inspired me to create a vibrant portrait of one of its bright blossoms that, unfortunately, only lasts for a day in nature. I used a variety of reference photos for this bloom.

 

Day 9: Blushing Pink, watercolour, 8.3" x 5.8"

This painting is from the outing to Major's Hill Park in Ottawa in early May, where the tulips were in full bloom.

Janis and I painted before the official start of the Tulip Festival. To make it easier, even though we have other favourite mediums, we both brought watercolour paints because of their easy portability.

Some visitors to the park approached Janis and me to admire our paintings. They gave us lots of compliments and kindly asked before they took photos of us painting. It was lovely to chat and get immediate feedback on what we create.

 

 

Day 10: Belle of the Ball, wool, 8.5" x 12", custom-matted to fit a 12" x 16" frame, CAN $450 + shipping

 

I saw the image of this spectacular tulip when I went through my photo albums and knew I had to felt it. The bloom reminds me of an upside-down ball dress. I had abandoned the artwork after my return from Germany because the season and my focus had changed.

While reviewing my unfinished projects for pieces I could still complete until the end of the year, I realized that this artwork was almost finished.  It still took me two days of felting to finalize it, but I am happy with the result. 

 

Art Advent Calendar Day 11: Strawberries, 7" x 10", watercolour and watercolour pencils

Even though objects for still lifes are readily available, I don't paint many. However, my mom had left this bowl with strawberries on the table. It caught my eye, and I took a picture I shared with my Painting Buddies. A year later, we finally picked it for our Zoom painting sessions. I continued my work after our one-hour meeting.

Does the image make you long for fresh strawberries? When I look at the painting, I remember eating my mom's strawberry tarts whipping cream in my parents' garden. Isn't it amazing how images capture so much more than what you see on the surface? I love all the memories my art captures.

 

Art Advent Calendar Day 12: Mutti's Pink Hibiscus, watercolour, 5.8" x 8.3"

 
This image is the only watercolour painting I created during my visit to Germany in June. My parents have a garden full of flowering plants, a place of endless inspiration. I made a lot of sketches in my travel journal but mainly focused on nurturing human connections during my stay. While I still have regular contact with friends and family through emails and weekly video calls, they are no substitute for in-person meetings with actual hugs.

My mom would have made a great florist. She loves to create flower arrangements. With her green thumb, she cares for many hibiscus plants - some of them are still from my childhood, others she grew herself. She loved the painting, and I gladly gave it to her.

Day 13: Summer Bouquet, watercolour, watercolour pencils, 11.7" x 8.3"

 

I always bring some unfinished paintings to the cottage to finish them while I have some quiet time. However, this summer I forgot my paints at home. Luckily, I brought watercolour paper and watercolour pencils so I could start with the still life of the summer bouquet my husband picked for me.

I added the background after my return home.

Check out the videos of the creation of Summer Bouquet:

https://youtube.com/shorts/0HXntQgohi8

https://youtu.be/mszqiAFHODM

https://youtube.com/shorts/unDsoEQLyQQ

 

To purchase any artwork listed with a price, please email me. You are welcome to visit my studio to see the pieces in person. I typically don't sell my watercolour paintings, but talk to me if there's a piece you love.