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.

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.

 

Creative Exploration Through Daily Art

Blog 11



Since my last blog, the milder weather has encouraged my friends and me to paint outside more often. I am so thankful for the many beautiful spots in my neighbourhood. We love Petrie Island because it offers lots of inspiration at any season. The changing weather provides different views of the same spot. When Bob and I went to Petrie Island, we witnessed how the wind blew the leaves from the trees we were painting until the trees were almost bare.


Two hours later, 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.


A trip to Mer Bleue was slightly disappointing because the beautiful golden tamaracks had already lost their needles. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the sunshine on the bog. 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.


On another trip to Petrie Island, the water was uncharacteristically low. We could access a spot that is usually flooded. While we painted, the geese happily and loudly bathed themselves. 

Additionally, we still met in our weekly Zoom meetings. We share a photo album and pick a new picture every time. Here are my images from our meetings since the end of October. 

Watching live theatre and musicals also gave me opportunities to draw. While I sit in the first row of the Ottawa Little Theatre, I often have enough light to see what I am drawing, but in the National Arts Centre, while watching The Lion King, we sat in the second to last row without any light. Therefore, I could only draw outlines and had to make many adjustments after the show when I realized that some body parts were in the wrong place. :)

Lion King at the National Art Centre

Guilty Conscience at the Ottawa Little Theatre

I created many drawings in preparation for the Cartooning and Comics courses I offer to children between 5 and 12 years old. Their requests often challenge me because they are out of my comfort zone. However, I enjoy learning about the characters they want to draw. This week, the students start their comics. I give them the first image, and they create the story and the additional panels. 

For my Learn German Through Art students and followers, I drew 24 images for the Advent Calendar with German Christmas vocabulary and traditions. To learn more, check out my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LearnGermanThroughArt/, starting December 1. 

 

I didn’t have much time to create daily art in my sketchbook this month (see image at the top of this blog). 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.


In the upcoming three weeks, I will publish a blog showcasing my artworks in my annual Art Advent Calendar. There will be one additional blog on Tuesday, December 24, the last blog for 2024.

Overjoyed and Inspired

Watercolour painting, Alfred Bog

Blog 10


October has passed in a flash. We experienced unseasonable mild weather, with temperatures reaching the mid-twenties at times. With the mosquitoes gone, it has been a marvellous time to paint en plein air. Janis and I went out twice to Petrie Island and visited Mer Bleue and the Humanics Institute Sculpture Park, all in the East of Ottawa. Our friend Bob joined us for the outing to the Humanics Institute, the only outing where I was glad to wear a winter jacket. We even could have worn gloves because, despite the sunshine, the wind was cold.

watercolour paintings (the top left one is unfinished)

At Mer Bleue, it was so hot at the beginning of this week that I removed my shoes and folded up my jeans while painting. Hopefully, we will catch further sunny days before winter arrives. Up to ten years ago, we went out even in severe cold. Now, we think twice about heading out in minus temperatures.

I also created quick sketches during my first visit to Mont Tremblant and the Alfred Bog.

pencil sketches

At the moment, we have another visitor from Germany. So far, I have shown her Petrie Island, the Humanics Park Sculpture Park, and the area around Rideau Canal. I feel blessed for nature’s beauty and the mild temperatures we have experienced during most of October, for fresh discoveries and visits to beloved places. Every time, the view is different; each time, I am overjoyed and full of new inspiration.

Romantic Comedy, Ottawa Little Theatre, pencil sketches

 

I drew many sketches during the recent Ottawa Little Theatre production, Romantic Comedy. I also met my Painting Buddies virtually for an hour each week to create art together. However, I fell short in my daily drawings because I was too busy spending as much time as possible outside. I will offer you the conclusion of my daily drawings project in my blog on November 29, 2024.

watercolour and watercolour pencil, unfinished except for the bottom right one

 

markers for the top left and bottom right one, watercolour pencils for the rest

 

 

I wish you a month filled with wonder and creativity!

 Check out my upcoming workshops on my website.