The sudden vacuum in my worry centre is quickly filled by the weather obsession. Manitoba is still in a state of mid-transition like a clumsy pubescent which is neither fish nor fowl. One day we wear our spring jackets and the next we are reaching for the down filled kind! But this is normal for this time of year. March will outgrow her temper tantrums and sulky mood swings and mature into spring eventually. I am preparing for it by starting garden seeds in the machine room in the basement. 

My 'grow-op' complete with shelving, lights, heater and fan is producing greenery at an alarming rate. The first thing I do each morning is water 131 seedlings planted in clear plastic party cups. The basil, tomatoes, thyme, marigolds and zinnias  are increasing in size daily, whereas the squash and pumpkins are leaping up in hourly increments. We are sure to be picking pumpkins through the air vents upstairs before it is time to plant them out in mid-May. The basil seedlings are about 4" tall as you can see in the paint sketch. I want to try as far as possible to put at least one new painted image on each post (a challenge to myself). I call them my quick-pics, fast little paintings to try and improve my visual interpretation skills while at the same time giving you an accurate portrayal of my surroundings. This is how I intend to keep a watercolour focus while discussing other topics. I guess I’m painting my life for you. You can't separate the artist from the person!

As the intense web building kerfuffel dies down (and while my plants grow up), my mind is circling around the next dog portrait. I'm loving this dog bender I'm on (my last 5 paintings have been dogs!) and I intend to milk the inspiration until those teets are dry. I'm thinking dachshunds with wooly scarves. In my next post maybe you’ll see what new thing this thought gives birth to.

   Cheers!

Captain's Blog, Stardate 03.27.2015. There is a possible confrontation with a hostile force though the Ambassador assures me of a harmonious encounter and that the unknown species is  friendly. Who knows. We can only hope that I'm heading into a stable wormhole and manage to avoid any catastrophic threats by foreign bodies. Beam me up then, Scottie. I am unarmed and ready for some recreational shore leave on what I hope is a neutral planet seeking a cordial relationship with the Federation! 

Thats kind of how I feel, launching into this strange and unchartered territory. It's as if a new and alien universe is waiting for me to explore, and I feel apprehension as to the life forms I might come across. Creating a new website and starting a blog, as I have referred to, is a  task of cosmic proportion. As soon as I have landed the Enterprise I want to be up and ready to swish my brushes in water and do what it is I really mean to do.

In my blog posts I will mostly be sharing things of a creative nature. The emphasis will be on my painting and things that inspire me, making the range of topics quite broad. I'll share the way I feel on any particular day and am open to receive your thoughts through the comment link. An opinionated person like me expects and even hopes for an opinion in return. If something here speaks to you I would love to hear a reply. I will share event information when exhibitions come up and at times there may be something instructional or tutorial, or something to inspire you. Tell me what you'd like to see!

I would love you to follow my blog posts here on the right side bar. I will send you e-mail links when I update. If you ever want to 'Un-follow', go back there and check the appropriate box again! 

In the meantime, re-editing each picture for the website galleries has reminded me of the journey I have been through since starting to paint about five, or is it 6 years ago. It's a visual documentary of progress and I can see some technique developing and some style changes. I am happy to see growth. Regardless of artistic quality, it is in truth a volume that chronicles the connections I have made with the world around me through the past few years. Meaningful moments and flights of inspiration - it's a little history of me and the things in my home, my garden and my life, that I have loved. This is why I paint.

It seems a good moment to muse over my Artist's Statement:
"Life gives us all kinds of gifts and surprises and it's in noticing the details of them that I feel particularly engaged. Engaging with the present makes me feel I am part of the world around me, and my paintings are a record of my connection with it."

May the Force be with you. And me..
Cheers,