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Spring Thaw, studio oil, 18″x 24″

The weather and our wimpy souls have not been conducive to plein air painting lately, so our lovely new studio has been getting a workout. Andrew has been working on a portrait drawing and a few landscapes. I’ve been staying the course with landscape painting. Every so often the incredible portraits I see on Pinterest tempt me to sway off course but I am determined to grow and learn through landscapes this year.

I completed Spring Thaw (above), which is the largest landscape I’ve done in years, over a weekend and a few evening sessions in the week to follow. The piece kept my interest over that length of time, which is rare for me. I am terribly fickle. This one flowed from my brush so smoothly and the pattern of work that I had created kept me going back for more. The piece really came together so easily. And I really like it. But it isn’t the direction that I intended to go. That whole loose and painterly direction… remember that?

I am beginning to question whether I am trying to go against my natural style. Or am I trying to develop enough skill to be able to manipulate control that style into something more mature? Yes, I suspect I just answered my own question. My hero Roos Schuring developed from a realist into an incredible impressionist. It can be done! The lucky treat in this growth process is seeing these pieces come off the easel and hopefully on to collectors walls.

Exhibition season is approaching , with the TD Art Gallery Paint-In deadline fast approaching. Andrew and I will be off work then and have some camping/painting trips planned but will be in town for that special event – should we be accepted. The format is changing this year, making it an all-curated happening, which I prefer.

Here’s another new piece, created in a 3 hour-or-so session.

On the Coast
On the Coast, studio oil, 11″x14″

I’m not sure what to say about this one and it may need to sit on the shelf before it talks to me.

I have an extra long weekend coming up and am very excited about closing the outside world and obligations off to simply paint and paint and paint.

The Artist Matures