The Moorhen

"The Moorhen"
11x14" mixed media on bristol

Moorhens are fun birds. They frequent marshes and canals in Great Britain and are a favourite bird to sight when visiting. Red-beaked head bobbers, long toed swimmers, and secretive gliders on sparkling waters.

Autumn Waltz

"Autumn Waltz"
11x14" mixed media on paper

This time of year the leaves waltz in the wind.
I listen to their tips tapping and their skirts swishing
 the autumn breeze twirls them about.

The Happy Duck

"Happy Duck"
11x14 mixed media on paper

They come flying and flapping onto the creek with chuckles and chortles and much splashing.
Our mornings begin with laughter when the ducks arrive!

Mother of Ukraine cards...

Mother of Ukraine art cards

An update on the sales of this 5x7" card image. To date, $350 has been donated to World Renew Ukrainian Relief Fund. 100% of card sales goes to this fund. Cards sell for $7 each and are still available.

Thank you to all of you who have helped during this time of war.

Isolation Series Cards: Second Edition

I'm happy to share images of 18 new Isolation Series paintings reprinted as 5x7" art cards.

Cards sell for $5 each or purchase all 18 for $75 and save $15. Message me for more information, or to make a purchase. Shipping is extra.

18 new 5x7" art cards

Crow in a Beech Tree, Potting up Sunshine, Red Berry Romp, Frog

The Gardener, Picking a tune, Mother of Ukraine, Finding Rainbows, Red Snowshoes

Hawk, Bluejay Day, Finding Rainbows, Porcupine, The Acrobat

Every cardback features the story behind each image.

                                        

As shown in each row:

Picking a Tune, Finding Rainbows, Bluejay Day, Hawk, Mother of Ukraine

           Porcupine, Potting up Sunshine, The Moon & the Heron, Winter Birds,
Local Branch Exchange,

  Winter Robin, The Gardener, Nuthatch in the Walnut Tree, Red Berry Romp,

Frog, Crow in a Beech Tree, The Acrobat, & Red Snowshoes

The Cardinals

"The Cardinals"
11x14" mixed media on paper

I spy crimson crescents in a cold, twiggy landscape.
 Blazing, red-feathered gifts for cold winter mornings.

Orange Juice

"Orange Juice"
11x14" mixed media on paper

Spring is pressing in, offering up cups of hope with sunshine. Winter whites and browns yield to fresh buds and birds. The change of view is refreshing, a juicy quenching of seasonal thirst.

"Mother of Ukraine"

"Mother of Ukraine"
11x14" mixed media on paper

It is International Women’s Day. My thoughts and creative expressions lean towards the women of Ukraine: honouring their courage, fortitude, and strength whilst praying for protection, and peace in their land.

Snowy Day for Ice Fishing

Snowy Day for Ice Fishing
11x14" mixed media on paper

The recent events around the world are cause for great concern. I write this as another winter storm obscures the view outside my windows. The blowing snow leads me to reflect on the global storms we’ve endured these past two years. I find I have to reach deeper for courage and peer longer for sustenance and hope. Can we put aside our individual rights for a moment and look together? Bow our heads together? Reach together? I hunger for a shared peace.

SKATER

"Skater"
11x14" mixed media on paper

Oh, those Olympic skaters!
Flamboyant, dazzling, and skilled beyond belief: magnificence in motion! 

The Blessing

"The Blessing"
11x14" mixed media on paper

I think we have forgotten ourselves, lost who we are, to whom we belong, and how far we’ve journeyed. Let us remember the blessing that surrounds us, that has brought us this far, and not destroy the gifts of one another.

Winter Robin

"Winter Robin"
11x14" mixed media on paper

I first heard the robin in December and thought it couldn’t be. Then on a snowy day, perched on a branch outside my window the telltale red breast and dark head were spotted, confirming what my ears had heard. Winter Robin sat hunched and sunk into a puffed up parka-like presence. I marvelled at this out of season visitor and surmised all kinds of reasons it was here: lost, a late bloomer, injured? It was seen on and off through some of our coldest January days. Yesterday, robin was spotted flitting from branch to branch, stopping once to peer in the window as I peered out, seemingly hearty and hale, and flashing a bright eye. What a reminder of endurance and hope of things to come!

"Local Branch Exchange"

Local Branch Exchange
11x14" mixed media on paper

When the days are cold the Junco’s congregate around the outdoor feeders. It reminds me of water cooler exchanges at an office. I wonder, are they like most Canadians discussing the weather? Catching sight of them softens the frosty vista of a winter morning.

The Invitation

"The Invitation"
11x14" mixed media on paper

It's a new year, a new invitation.

Crow in a Beech Tree

"Crow in a Beech Tree"
11x14" mixed media on paper

It is January 2022 and in Ontario we are in another stage of lockdown. It is a depressing, hard reality. A recent sighting of a crow amidst the flapping yellow leaves of a beech tree led me to ponder the gift of unexpected colour contrasts in hard seasons, the tenacity of nature, and the symbolism of both crows and beeches. A beech tree is an ancient symbol of protection, associated with knowledge and wisdom, a keeper of lore. While a crow has many symbols, one that resonates with my observations is that of trickery. Crow is a trickster and a gossip, cannot keep a secret, will always sound the alarm, and is incredibly clever and resourceful. While it is associated with chaos it is also known as an innovator, and can bring about change. So I scribble and paint a crow amid the beech leaves and pray for continued protection, tenacity, wisdom, innovation, and change for the world that frees us from pandemic tyranny.