Here are images of my current exhibition of paintings at Bear River Artworks Gallery, 1913 Clementsvale Road, Bear River NS.
April 15 – 23, 2017. Daily 1 – 4pm

Paintings can be shipped.  Interest-free payment plans available. No HST.
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I painted this from the shadows of the vegetable garden. I was startled by the strong light cast on the distant lawn and how it silhouetted the tree.

This building is our wonderful studio. I set up to paint outside, just behind one of my many enormous siberian iris clumps. Is there anything more glorious than the purple heads of iris nodding in the wind? I love this part of the yard where it changes from tame garden into a chaotic field of grasses, ferns and wildflowers.

This painting is once-removed from the original scene. First I made a large charcoal sketch at the edge of our pond. The reflections are both intriguing and confounding! The sketch taught me the value of painting from a drawing, rather than from a photo. Drawing simplifies the scene. Painting simplifies it even more and allows me to take liberties with the setting and to not get hung up on making a copy of what’s there.
This is one of my favorites in the show because of the feeling it evokes in me.

We are lucky in Bear River to have some stunning valley vistas on Riverview and Chute Roads.
This painting was started a few years ago before the field was fenced in for cattle. I sat in the field with my painting gear and looked across the river to the Bear River Winery. I’ve moved some buildings for composition’s sake and added some trees, but it captures the feeling of the setting.
And if you’re really lucky, the clouds will move while you’re standing there and cast moving shadows across the land.

The patterns, light and colour that appear in nature are inspiring. I was drawn in this scene to the tangle of willow branches and to the water that dances with reflections.

I see beauty and persistence in all the invasive weeds that grow on our land. Well, except not so much in the garden beds!
This painting was inspired by a snow-scene photo of an overgrown area of land. The absence of greenery and the light snowfall silhouetted the stems of plants. I tried to capture this movement in this painting.
The seed pod heads are inspired by memories of allium.

Rarely do I paint from a photograph, but for this painting I was forced to.  I stood in the middle of Lansdowne Rd looking towards the village on a wintry day. Thinking about that scene later, in my mind’s eye, I saw purples and blues and used them in this painting.

Next to Bear River, my favorite place in Nova Scotia is Brier Island. At the end of Gull Rock Road, before you fall into the ocean, fields of wild grasses and wild flowers stretch to water’s edge. The plant cycle is gradually creating a thin layer of soil over the rock. You can stand out there and see beautiful ocean in 3 directions including the Bay of Fundy AND the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve been there many times either camping with friends or painting with artists.
No painting can ever do Brier Island justice, but this one attempts to show the dark blue of the cold ocean waters contrasted with the warm yellow grasses.

There are many former apple orchards in rural Nova Scotia including this remnant of one at our place. The twisted branches on these squat trees remind me of illustrations I saw as a child in Fairy Tale books.
The setting with flitting birds and the smell of overripe apples is magical.
I set up my painting gear outside for this one and thoroughly enjoyed watching the changing light.

View my flower paintings in the show here.