Blog-free Week

 

It has been a while since I introduced myself. I am Kerstin Peters and immigrated to Canada from Germany more than 25 years ago. If you are interested in my immigration story, check out my immigration blogs. 

 

In the beginning, I felt like an outsider who could not communicate in a foreign country. Instead, I returned to art, my first love, to express myself and to find new friends. I enjoy the solitude of painting and felting in my studio as much as painting with friends in nature.


Community is very important to me. I aim to bring people together to create a supportive community of students to help my clients to see their potential and embrace their uniqueness.


If you have visited my website, you have noticed that I also teach German Through Art. I developed the programme two years ago when I realized that I could combine my art and language teaching skills to help people learn German faster and with more fun.


I enjoy the peacefulness of nature when I walk our dog (something I miss right now while I am recovering from my accident). It might surprise you that I have been a life-long Kiss fan.


If you want to connect with me, I would love to meet for a virtual coffee date. You can book an appointment here.

 

You can read my next blog next Friday afternoon. I publish them every second week.

 

In the Blink of an Eye

Blog 1

Last year, I was uncertain if I wanted to continue with my blogs. I shifted my focus, and I am now concentrating on needle felting and my Learn German Through Art programme. However, after I came home from the hospital, I realized how many people are in pain – physically and mentally. While my blog is not directly related to my day-to-day business, I hope it will inspire you to express yourself through art to find joy, hope and strength.

On December 14, 2021, my world changed in seconds when our dog, Shadow, pulled me down the stairs chasing after a squirrel. We both saw the squirrel, but I relaxed when he sat down. This moment of perceived safety was my downfall in the true sense of the word. All of a sudden, Shadow pulled to chase after the squirrel. I flew down about six stairs and over the walkway without hitting the ground again. I finally landed in the flower bed across from our house. It was a miracle that I did not hit my head on one of the many mature trees. I was also lucky that it was a sunny day, and a couple on a walk reacted to my cries for help. My husband was at home but on the other side of the house where he could not hear me. Shadow, true to his name, watched over me instead of leaving my side to fetch my husband.

I was in so much pain that I never consciously looked at the friendly couple. I never registered their faces. I only remember the pain and pressure when the gentleman and my husband carried me up the stairs into the house.

It did not take long until two ambulance crews arrived. They gave me morphine to put me on a stretcher and into the ambulance. I was so scared because I felt something was very wrong.

At the hospital, the ambulance team brought me to a big room. The space looked like a garage split up by dividers. I don’t know how much time passed until they rolled me into a section in the emergency department. I was so relieved when my husband finally came, a familiar face next to me in my helpless state. I felt panic in the unfamiliar and noisy surroundings. Through the gap between the curtains, I could see lots of security staff and police. People were coughing, moaning in pain and complaining loudly.

When I was finally moved to a ward a day later, I was happy to end up next to the window in a semi-private room. The view was not great, but at least I saw the sky. I was eagerly waiting for my husband when my nurse told me that I was in isolation for the day. At least, my husband was allowed to leave some personal effects. As soon as I received my art supplies, I started drawing. It was comforting to have something familiar I could control. Concentrating on capturing the image in front of me also helped to distract me from the pain. While I was in the hospital, I drew something every day. Looking at my images, I realized that even though I had a difficult road ahead of me, I still could enjoy and control some areas of my life.

 

Are you going through a difficult time right now? What helps you to get motivated to get through the day? You can leave a comment or contact me at info@KerstinPeters.ca.

Happy New Year

 

Winter Bouquet, watercolour, 9" x 12"

I hope you had a great start to the year 2022 and that you have gotten back to your creative activities. This year is the first time I have not started a Creativity Challenge in January. However, I started a daily drawing journal. I already miss some days, but that is OK. The healing of my fractures and the regaining of mobility is my priority at the moment. Four weeks after my terrible fall, I can finally move with a walker. I still have problems lifting my left leg, but focus on the steady progress. It is a big step to more independence. It was extremely challenging to be bound to the bed or wheelchair. At least I always have a great view of our yard and my wonderful nurses, Ingo and Shadow, around me. Aside from my daily physio exercises, I have discovered many exercise videos for people in wheelchairs which I do at least every other day.



Next week, I will start with blogs about how art has helped me in the previous weeks after the accident. I had hoped to have the blog ready for this week, but the pain medication, exercise and restless nights make me still quite tired. Next week, I will start with a blog about how art has helped me in the previous weeks after the accident.

 

I feel well enough to start my Felting Experience Winter Workshops at the end of January. If you register before today, January 14, 2022, at 10 pm, you can register for the early bird prices. While I want to invite you for the whole series, the Winter Combo, I also offer registration for the workshops separately. I am still working on the abstract piece. It should be finished by the end of the weekend. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.kerstinpeters.ca/product-category/registration/.

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.