It’s March, so this newsletter will come in like a lion and go out like a lamb! Or is it the other way around? Either way, let’s jump in....
In this update:
3 Great benefits of cabin fever
Exciting events coming up this year
New work for your enjoyment
3 Great benefits of cabin fever
This morning, I shot six holes in my freezer | I think I got cabin fever…
— Jimmy Buffet, Boat Drinks
This winter was the first I spent at home in a while. It has been quite strange, especially when you consider this winter has also been the longest I’ve stayed in any single place since…I don’t even remember when.
Being in one place for so long makes me restless. I should be moving! But I also know that an extended period in one place can be good for the creative muscles.
Here are three positives I see in cabin fever:
It’s a great time to paint — I have done a lot of painting this winter, so much I don’t even know how many paintings I’ve created. Twenty? Thirty? Maybe more. If I were on the road all winter I wouldn’t have created nearly as many paintings.
It’s a great time to learn — Just because I know how to paint doesn’t mean I want to stop learning and improving. This winter has been great for that. I’ve taken two full workshops and have attended many, many online webinars. Most recently I took part in a weekend art retreat with Calgary artist Doug Swinton. It gave me lots of great ideas for future paintings…so stand by!
It’s a great time to daydream and plan — My long hibernation will soon end and I’ve been making a lot of plans for what to do when I get out (my poor husband!). Some of the things I’ll do will be creative, but others will be purely recreational, like the canoe trip I’m planning for September in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. Honestly, I have planned enough for about three or four years of activities…so I’m not sure I’ll get everything done this year. But I’ll try!
How about you? Do you suffer from cabin fever? Have you made lemonade from the lemons of cabin fever? Let me know!
Exciting events coming up this year
Speaking of plans, I have some exciting events coming up that you might be interested in.
Gallery show: In August, I will be holding a gallery show at the Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere, B.C. I’ll be showcasing original paintings from my Wild Essence series. I’d love to see you there and will be sure to bring you more details as the show draws closer.
Workshops: I will be holding two workshops in the near future at the Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere, B.C., in cooperation with the Columbia Valley Arts Council. The first workshop is March 7-8 and is titled Show Off Your Treasures in an Abstract Painting. It focuses on incorporating your little treasures (rocks, shells, buttons, etc.) into a piece of abstract art. The second workshop will be held on April 25-26 and is titled Capture Your Wild Spirit. As the name suggests, it’s all about painting a wild animal and bringing its wild spirit to the page.
You can find more information about both workshops and register by visiting my website at www.dianaskehorne.com/workshops.
New work for your enjoyment
As I said above, I’ve done a lot of painting this winter. Here are some of my most recent pieces:
My New Flock
Most of my first flock of little birds sold out, so it was time to create a new flock! This time I painted four Kingfishers (I love Kingfishers…they’re so expressive), a Hummingbird and, for the first time, a Yellow Cardinal. Each of them is perfect to brighten up a room with cheerful colour.
Each of these little birds is 8 x 10 and painted in oil on canvas board. On my website you can buy framed originals of each bird or order prints in a variety of sizes and mediums.
Pileated Pete
When I walk here at home, I occasionally run into a huge, Pileated Woodpecker that I have nicknamed “Pete.” Usually he’s hard at work turning trees into kindling. So of course I had to immortalize him in paint.
Did you know that the “pileated” part of the Pileated Woodpecker’s name refers to the red cap on the bird’s head? It’s true! And did you know that birds like Pete can be as large as crows? My question is how they do all that woodpecking without hurting themselves. But Pete seems quite happy to do it, so I guess it’s fine.
Pileated Pete is 10 x 30 and painted in oil on canvas. He is currently hanging at Radium Brewing in Radium Hot Springs, B.C. If you’re in the area, drop by and have a look. If not, the original painting and prints are available here, on my website.
For Real?
This one is a little different for me. If you look closely, you can see a lot of texture on this painting, both on the owl and in the background. He’s practically three-dimensional! And I love the owl’s quizzical expression, as though he were looking at you and asking, “are you for real?” Well yes, yes I am, Mr. Owl!
For Real? is 18 x 24 and is painted in oil on canvas. The original painting and prints are available here on my website.
Thank you for reading my update newsletter! Get in touch if you have questions, feedback or want to talk.
If you know anyone who would enjoy or benefit from the content in this newsletter please forward it to them. And be sure to visit me online:
Website: dianaskelhorne.com
Youtube: Make Art With Diana
Instagram: @dianaskelhorneartist
Comentarios