We have had the most beautiful and warm end of summer, early fall this year. Today, finally we are having rain which has been needed. I feel like it is getting me in the mood for Vancouver, where I will be going soon to take part in a 4 day painting workshop.

I haven't taken a workshop in a couple of years, and am really looking forward to this one coming up. The instructor is Alvaro Castagnet, a Uraguayan painter. It will be in watercolour, and, weather permitting, we are going to be painting outdoors too, around Granville Island. This looks like it will be great fun and a great way to get back to painting in watercolour.

This summer, very little in the way of painting was done. It turned out to be one of those where there was a lot of demand on my time because of things that needed doing to the house - lots of things needed fixing, replacing, painting etc. Now those are pretty well complete and with autumn definitely here, I start to look forward to painting more steadily.

To start with, I am now a new member of one of Saskatoon's long standing painting groups, the Artists' Workshop. I am in the process of setting up a web site for the group, so check back from time to time as I get information and photos added from the other members of the group. The group has met a couple of times so far and I realized how out of practice with watercolours I am. So this workshop will get me back into the swing again.

Also, our Escape Artists' group has begun the planning for our Third Annual 'Art by the Hearth' show in December (the 10th and 11th). Suddenly, that is only two months away. Deadlines are motivating though.

And then in November I am going to take part in a multimedia workshop being put on by the University through its Community Arts program. Miranda Jones is doing 2 consecutive weekends and will be doing collage and working with gold leaf, something I have been wanting to find out about for some time.

So now is the time for turning slowly away from summer, enjoying whatever autumn we get, and looking forward to settling in for the winter months and hopefully painting, painting, painting.

Well, the spring shows are done and dusted for this year. Thank you to all who came to our Prairie River show. The beautiful sunny weekend brought out lots of visitors. It was great fun talking to everyone and seeing all the smiling faces. Could you tell it has been a long drawn-out winter?

This was a successful show this year, both for the number of people who came out to see it, and for the paintings that were sold. Having a painting sell is really the icing on the cake. I really appreciate all those who have come by to see what I have been doing, and give me such positive feedback; and to those who have taken a painting home with them, I give a special thanks for your encouragement and support.

This winter I was focusing on still life works and some botanicals as well. Landscape in our environment is more than challenging in the winter, so I find that I tend to focus inward.

This summer I would like to try some plein air sketching and maybe painting. Once dust season is done it will be easier to be out and about. We still haven't had rain yet, as the snow is now almost melted, so it is a very dusty and brown place at the moment. Little bits of green are starting to show, so in a few weeks, we will be on our way to our short and intense spring/summer season here.

In the meantime, some spring cleaning of my little studio space is in order after the chaos of getting ready for shows. I have some things to try out this summer too - pencils, watercolour sticks, oil sticks, water soluble graphite. Playtime soon!

Today I am doing the final bits getting ready for the Prairie River Artists' show this weekend. This show marks the end of our year of painting together and is always fun to do. I enjoy seeing everyone come and look at what we have worked on and chat with the visitors. This year we are going to do some painting demonstrations and I think that will be another great opportunity to show people the actual process or making art works.

Here are some of the little ones that just had their coat of varnish done. Once they are dry, they will get their hangers. I have a couple of larger ones to frame and then I will be pretty well ready.

I realized in looking at everything (scattered all over the living room at the moment) that most of the paintings in this show will be oils. I have been focussing on the oils primarily over this past winter. When I started to work on a small watercolour this past weekend, thinking I might be able to do it for the show, I realized just how rusty I was! So definitely time to switch focus for a bit and get back to watercolours. I am signed up for a watercolour workshop this year, but it isn't until October. Maybe this summer I can get up the nerve to go out and do sketches around the area. Something to think about once the snow is gone and the paths are dry.

I hope lots of people will come out to the show and spend some time talking to us. Tea and cookies are free!

This is the card table. I have been printing up the cards I will have at our upcoming Prairie River Artists' show in about 3 weeks time. I have a lovely new printer (a Canon MX870) which is doing a great job. I like to get this done ahead of time as I like to add a 'chop' of my name to the back and because it is a kind of oil paint, it takes a couple of days to dry. You can see it below. I like it because part of my name has water lilies in it, one of my favourite flowers which I get to enjoy when I go visit Vancouver. It came in its own little silk covered box. The ink is also in its own box. A lovely little set.

I got the chop several years ago from a man who would make them on the spot, at the Lonsdale Quay market. I don't know if he is still there; the Quay is a great place to visit if you are in Vancouver. You take the Sea Bus across from Vancouver. Then you can walk around the lower Lonsdale area too - there's an Opus there for art supplies.

Then, yesterday I received my new set of Moo cards. This time I got the larger business card size. They are printed on recycled paper and are really nice. Last time I got the smaller mini cards, which I also like very much, but thought I'd try the standard sized cards for a change. If you come by the show, please pick one up.

Now I am just waiting for the order of little clear bags that the cards will go into. It is quite a process, but I enjoy doing it. I hope you like them too! See you soon.

Winter always seems like such an endurance test. Then February finally arrives and even though it is only a matter of a couple of days, it seems that much shorter, and passes more quickly. When March hits, even though it is still very much winter here, and will be for weeks yet, the brighter and longer days are more energizing, and I seem to get much more accomplished.

Now, the first show of the year is in just over 2 weeks, and then our big group show is in about 4 weeks. Zoom! I have done another few small paintings, and a still life with an orange, a sugar shaker and a small copper pot. I haven't got to any beach paintings after all, and given the time, it may just not happen until these shows are done.

When I was at the grocery store yesterday I found a blood orange. I think they are called Moro oranges now - maybe people don't like the gory reference, but I rather like the original name. I think I will do a small one of the intact orange which has an orange and red peel, and then one of some slices that are backlit to show off their great colour. I also have an avocado. Love those colourful fruits and veg!

This year, at our group show, we are going to have people painting so that the visitors can see how we do it. I hope that they find it interesting to see how we actually create the works. Well, back to it!

Now that March is just a day away (will the sun come out tomorrow?), I am sure that time will seem to pick up speed as it always does this time of year. Gardenscape is only 25 days away, to be followed by our annual Prairie River Artists' show a couple of weeks after that.

I have been focussing on floral pieces for Gardenscape. I am not sure if I will get any more done, as I would like to do a landscape piece next, or more likely a seascape/harbour piece. After months of gazing upon the backyard full of snow I am looking at my photos from the coast, and thinking about the ocean and beaches.

Also, Redberry Art is now being hosted on a new server, and the migration over the weekend seems to have gone smoothly. A couple of images need fixing, but that is minor. Thanks to my wizard(s) behind the scenes who makes everything up front look good.

So, off to make a decision about the next painting, thinking of mild ocean breezes, instead of the blizzard that is whizzing by the window today.

This morning I put up the show of my own paintings at the Lavender Gallery, at Circle Park Mall. It will be there until November 20. If you are in the mall, or going to a movie, be sure to drop by and see all the galleries there.

Tomorrow, I drop off a couple of paintings for the Mendel members' show which will open at the end of the week. Busy days!

Yesterday, at our regular Prairie River Artist painting session, I did two small square oil paintings. I'll get photos up shortly. I was in the groove, or the zone, or whatever you call it, and everything just went so well. It has been a good weekend!

We have finalized the date for our Escape Artists' fall show - our second annual 'Art by the Hearth'. It will be held December 4 and 5 this year. The details can be found on our Escape Artists web site. All of our group members will be participating, although Linda will be doing so virtually - she is still in Costa Rica. I think this will be a good time - plus it is one of the few free weekends in the next while.

There is a bunch of putting up and taking down this week and next. Taking down at the Hilton Garden hotel, taking down the Prairie River Artists' group show at Circle Park and the same day, putting up my solo show there, in the Lavender Gallery. Then dropping off for the Mendel Members' show on the Monday after. You can check dates and times in the 'Upcoming Events' box over on the rights side. I do need to get some more bubble wrap! I don't know where it all went.

Here we are, officially into autumn 2010. In many ways it is my favourite time of year, particularly because of the light and the colours of fall. The only down side is that winter follows. Then again, winter is when I can really settle in to painting again. There are fewer distractions because winter here is cold and outdoor activities are limited. There are the usual routines to take care of, but gardening is put away for about 6 months at least. This year I have two full days without any commitments, so I look forward to that dedicated time.

Right now, our Prairie River Artists group has a show at the Magenta Gallery at the Circle Park Mall. When that show comes down, I put up one of my own in the gallery right next door. Also, our Escape Artists group is looking into a fall show again, likely at the end of November. We have our group show still at the Hilton Garden Inn until mid October.  Also, the Mendel Art Gallery is doing its Members' Show in October this year, instead of in the summer. I will put in a couple of paintings again to support the gallery. So there are a few activities underway for the fall.

I have added three new small paintings into the 'Gallery of New Works' - Bings, Bread and Cheese, and Summer's Best. With the new upgrade of the site, the paintings now are displayed alphabetically by title. I think I might do some rearranging of the pages over the fall, and rethink what pages I want. I have also been thinking about the possibility of adding the option to purchase, but know that will be more complex and will take some working out. Maybe this is something to consider for the new year.

So lots to look forward to for the next few months. And I will have some more art sites to share. Stay tuned!

Today is an odds and ends day, varnishing the little canvases that will go into the Gardenscape art show on Thursday, fixing the photos that will be going into the calendars I am making for the Prairie Rivers Artists' show next month, ordering my favourite Gamvar varnish from Opus (hadn't realized I was almost out! and will need more soon), and making a donation to the Saskatchewan Craft Council for the memorial fund for my friend, Gale Steck,  who died earlier this year. I also have to get my paintings together for Thursday and make the labels.

March and April are always busy months since I became involved in painting, and with Prairie River Artists, as April is annual show time. It is both an end and a beginning - an end to the winter, and a chance to show what I've been working on over the past few months, and the beginning of the outdoor season. Gardening begins in earnest at the end of April, and brings all the wonderful flowers that make such great subject matter. Also, a time to get out and travel.

Plein aire painting, that is painting outside on location is not something I have done much of. When I was in France, we did paint out along the lanes and fields and that was great fun. I just haven't done it here at all. So that may be something new to try too this summer. I have some new materials to experiment with as well. I have recently bought both oil sticks (Sennelier) and watercolour sticks (Daniel Smith). I haven't had the chance to do anything with them yet, so I hope that I can really get some playtime in with them soon.

So the changeover to spring brings ends and beginnings. Even the tulips are starting to poke out of the ground.