2016 Best Nine

Last year I ran a search on the nine best liked photos of the year on instagram which was a fantastic reminder of some of the great experiences I had that year and so I decided to do it again.  Each year I alsodownload a terrific workbook that is offered online to review the year and to consider how I intend to spend the year ahead (available here).  So, this year I decided to go through my workbook and see if what I wrote about the top nine highlights of my year compare:

• travelled to the Okanagan with my husband...the first time travelling that far without our daughters - the big horn sheep that inspired the painting in the top right corner was inspired by photos taken while we breakfasted with them at Redstreak Campground by Radium prior to painting at Effusion Gallery in Invermere (absolutely love the Kootenay region)
  
• created a set of tarot cards which made two appearances on my best nine photos
  
• almost finished the year-long series of portraits (52 WEEKS::Heroes...also showed up twice)
  
• started university courses
  
• had so much fun with demos, workshops and artist residencies (no images)
  
• opportunities to speak to two amazing groups of high school students (again...no images)
  
• took much more care of myself...even though it was something I was forced to do because of chronic pain, I have learned to ask for help and to take advantage of specialists who know and do their work extremely well...not something I photographed (except for the cupping as that looked very interesting but, thankfully didn't end up in this grouping)
  
• fantastic exhibit openings at Effusion Gallery, Inglewood Fine Arts and looking forward to the upcoming Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium exhibit (no pics in this group but some of the work that was at the exhibits is shown)
  
• I spent much more time with friends this year which is something I haven't done in so long...I have missed that in these years of focusing on my family and my work