I was excited to learn that the utility box that I had painted in 2012 is included in the City of Airdrie's Public Artwork online map. It was an honour to refresh it 4 years ago and to see that it is now set upon a base. There are current plans to add a plaque as well. I'm a lucky gal!

"Now that the lilacs are in bloom,
She has a bowl of lilacs in her room."

​~ T.S. Elliot

I've been trying out my Travelers' Notebook for future travel journalling and, so far, am finding the paper to be very interesting. This particular insert is made of kraft paper and I'm surprised at how much I like the mid-tone. There was a bit more wrinkling when using watercolour, but it wasn't bad at all, and it is very nice for drawing on...my next test will be using the fountain pen for writing. Also, since it is a toned paper, it might be nice to use white gouache or gel pens for highlights. As challenging as it can be for me to try out new materials (at times), I find that just getting on with it and using them regularly makes such a difference. The more comfortable I am with my supplies, the more I enjoy them. 

After many years of visiting my daughter in Lethbridge, Alberta, I finally visited the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. It was so lovely...more beautiful than I had imagined. We enjoyed iced tea on a hot day, and even got to ring the Friendship Bell. I even took a moment to sit down and draw. :)

I've really enjoyed using my Travelers' Notebook for travel sketching. It has been compact and I've also created a watercolour sketchbook to pop into it, which is working well. It's been great to have this kit in my bag at all times so that I can stop anywhere to sketch. I'll continue to try out different papers until I find the materials that I cannot wait to use.

It is still so exciting to see the 'Nasty Women' continued to be featured in quarterly issue of 'In Her Studio' magazine since 2019. My daughter took this photograph when she was 18-years-old and it is still one of my favourites.

After many years of trial & error, I have finally landed on my perfect 'palette' which is, in fact, a group of palettes.

STUDIO:
Beam Paints (top right): butter, poplar, salmon, beach rose, cherry magenta, dreamers' gold, fireweed, turtle belly, strawberry, lilac, ice, robin's egg, milkweed, rainforest, Salish sea, Prussian blue, Mars violet.

Rosa Palette - Navy (left): cadmium lemon (Rosa), hansa yellow medium (Daniel Smith), ochre light (Rosa), golden yellow (Joan of Art)/potter's pink (Winsor Newton), quinacridone burnt orange (Daniel Smith), quinacridone rose (M.Graham), permanent rose (Joan of Art), magenta rose (Rosa), manganese blue (Winsor Newton), pthalo blue (Daniel Smith), Prussian blue (Joan of Art), sap green (Winsor Newton).

Rosa Palette - Turquoise (center): Joan of Art paint - pineapple, golden, yellow ochre, pumpkin, scarlet, hot pink, rose madder, cold pink, loganberry, violet, purple, chartreuse, pine, tree frog, aqua, woad, Prussian, cerulean, indigo (W+N), burnt sienna, burnt umber.

TRAVEL SKETCHING:
Altoids: Daniel Smith - hansa yellow light, quinacridone rose, indanthrone blue

Art Toolkit Demi (bottom right): lemon, burnt sienna, rose madder genuine, manganese blue hue, indigo, permanent sap green.

I keep the mini Altoids tin out of sentimentality but I do still reach for those colours. It was the first mini travel kit that I created using a tin that my husband gifted to me but I find the Art Toolkit Demi is so much thinner and lighter to pack. My art supplies have become very minimal, as has my packing list when I travel. Everything has to be small, light and easily accessible and, as I only pack a Fjallraven backpack with my clothing so it can fit under a seat on an airplane, I can only bring a small waist pack for my wallet, ID and art supplies. This works very well as it also allows me to paint anywhere, anytime so I tend to keep it in my bag at all times these days. I also love that the Beam Paints are natural products and an Indigenous female owned company while the VivaJoan.com paints are queer female owned and both are Canadian companies (east coast and west coast). I love supporting other women, especially marginalized women.

I was gifted the Inspire Easel by KraftGeek which I received serendipitously on my birthday and, since I've been simplifying my space and supplies, this has been a real treat. It is compact but sturdy and sets up/tears down quickly and easily. It works as both a tabletop and standing easel and I love the minimal design...it will definitely be my go-to easel. I'm looking forward to brings it to my demo at Framed on Fifth on August 6, 12-3pm. KraftGeek also offered a discount code for 15% off: FUNK2025. Thanks KraftGeek!

On the weekend, my husband took me to Banff to enjoy the mountains...my favourite thing to do. The first time I visited the Rockies, I was 4 years old and my father taught me how to use a camera. My first photo was of him standing in the snow in the summertime, something that fascinated me as I lived in northern Manitoba where our winters were cold and very snowy but the summers were extremely warm...no snow in sight. It was a special treat to enjoy a sunny day after all of the cold rain we've experienced and to see all of the wild roses in bloom.