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 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!

Many Parts Make a Dog

 

Blog 13


When I recently posted the above picture on my Facebook page, some people got curious about my needle-felted sculpture of Alex, a miniature version of our Australian Shepherd.

Alex was our foster dog. I picked him up from his former owner after neighbours had complained to a dog rescue organization that they had seen that the owner kept Alex in a crate in a garage at all times and dragged Alex back home on his collar if he managed to escape his confinement. I loved Alex from the first moment I saw him, and I am sure it was mutual.


It took me a couple of days to convince my husband that we should keep him because we already had a Golden Retriever. We live in the country, and space was no problem, but we had to figure out if we could afford a second dog. In the end, Alex's zest for life won us all over.


He and Candy were a good match. Candy was exceptionally laid-back, more a cat than a dog, and hated exercise. However, Alex's infectious personality brought out the dog in her. Both Candy and Alex lost a lot of hair. However, for many years we threw it out like probably most people. When I spent more time felting, I read about the possibility to needle-felt dog fur. I started – to my family’s horror – to collect our hair for future projects.


I was curious how the fur would perform for needle felting and began to create a model of Candy’s head. When she died unexpectedly, I put the sculpted head and the rest of her fur in a box in the basement where it still awaits further attention.


After Candy’s death, I started a sculpture of Alex. I stopped several times - either because I had to wait for Alex to lose more fur or because I got busy with other projects. Twice our cat, Miko, ripped my work apart when he kneaded the body to create a comfortable nest for a nap. Miko loved cuddling up with my sculpture, while he usually was too scared to search for the closeness of the actual dog.





The whole body is out of his fur. Most of it comes from his undercoat, so the felted dog is lighter than Alex. Only the nails, the dark areas around his eyes and the snout are wool. I formed his nose out of air-dry clay and gave him glass eyes.

I stopped counting the hours once I passed 100. I still worked on this sculpture long into the night before his death, with him lying at my feet. I cherish these last quiet hours with him.


The sculpture is a tangible memory of our beloved Alex. Whenever I pet his soft fur, it makes me feel at peace and happy. 

While I only create needle-felted sculptures of our family members, I accept commissions of needle-felted paintings of your beloved pet. To receive more information, contact me at info@KerstinPeters.ca.