Back home in Pouch Cove now, after what felt like a very quick trip to Toronto and to my parents place in rural Ontario. I was shortlisted for the RBC painting competition and traveled to Toronto and Moncton, New Brunswick to attend receptions. It was a great trip; met a lot of wonderful people and had a bit of time to visit with friends in Toronto, there were many people I wanted to see but ran out of time. The other artists on the short list were a solid group of painters; I feel honored to have been included.
While in Toronto I gave a talk to the Painting thesis students at OCAD; I was nervous but I think it went okay. One student asked me what piece of advice I would give to those about to graduate and I think I said something like keep painting as your priority if you are really serious about it because "life" will always try to get in the way. What I should have also said was: to find inspiration in your other passions in life, sounds like common sense but, as an artist one often struggles with 'what do i paint?'. After school is done and a few years go by it is sometimes hard to figure that out; I have struggled with that question myself at times. The way out for me was to look closely at the things that I love and incorporate that into my work. Its those things that you will find in these pages.
This tree in Moncton had many varieties of lichen happily co-existing and looking gorgeous in their subtle colours.
Moncton has this huge pink silty river running through it that fascinates me; the locals I spoke with thought it was just a big muddy river, but I loved watching the patterns on the surface of the water as the tide coming in collided with the flow of the river.
I had an afternoon before my flight home so I went to
Kouchibouguac National Park; gorgeous warm day, wide sand beaches, and almost no one there but me! It was pretty perfect.
Here is my flight out of Moncton at sunset, that is the river I was walking along.
Clouds coming into the Bay of Fundy. More soon.
Yesterday, morning was gorgeous; this is the view from one of our upstairs windows.
View from the top of Noseworthy's Hill.
Just in behind town on my morning dog walk.
And this is how much Sasha loves the new place.
Cute alert! This is Mars, the cutest little dog ever; and he knows it:)
You are all that I have
Flashback
Now is your time to shine
Impulse
Went for a hike one afternoon, about an hour's hike from home I was on this ridge; in the far distance you can just see St. John's. Yes, you can see St. John's from Pouch Cove!
I haven't been writing about the artists that have been here this summer because that would be too much to write but who am I to write about them? I am merely an observer and sometimes a guide. To see who's been here go to pouchcove.org. A number of wonderful people have been through.
The weather has turned. One morning last week I stepped outside and the air had changed; it is that cool fall air that always feels so refreshing after a summer of sticky heat. Except we didn't have any sticky heat. I still love it. I think its my favorite time of year. Feels like new beginnings.
Tandem
Whisper To A Scream
No Turning Back
Something Had To Give
We all had tandem kayaks, Grant was in the front of ours. The front person sets the pace, while the back has control of the steering.
We traveled loosely with the group. There were many caves and inlets to explore.
Here's Mark and Sarah.
Me, in my new cap; given to me the night before by a local fisherman named Andy who met Grant that day and invited us over for delicious cod.
This is one brave fellow, the water looks inviting but it was cold; about 8 degrees celsius.
We saw many puffins and a whale but i didn't manage to get any shots of those. The puffins are very small; maybe half the size of a mallard duck. Super cute; they always look surprised.