Pleine Aire Okanagan, Oyama

(Top, left to right, Kristine, Doreen, her Mom and Gayle. Centre, Gayle is pleased with her thumb nail sketches and Kristine bathes her paper in Kalamalka Lake).

(Group observing, left, setting up and demo in progress, right)

Sept 19 started off as a grey wet day and didnt look very promising for the planned Pleine Aire session in the beautiful setting of Kaloya Park in Oyama. As the time approached for our painting session weather improved dramatically and we were blessed with a perfect day, thanks for your prayers Carol-Ann.

Visit to The Barn Gallery in it's true country setting to view original Okanagan Art was a befitting end to our day.

ArtWalk 2009

A great display for Livessence, we had a very capable team .... 14 artists participated with a total of 64 paintings. Sales were better this year. "Collage Figure 2", (top left) was the piece I sold.

Saturday, 12 sept was a delightful evening as some members enjoyed a Mediterranean ambiance and meal at Greek House restaurant in Winfield (top centre).

Experimental Water Colours, Vernon

Elaine Turner (left to right), delighted instructor, Karen Wilkinson, Gail Hall and Mary-Eileen Johnson enjoying yummy lunch.

Duck Lake (top right) just beyond Kelowna Airport, one of the many beautiful sights I encountered (and was able to photograph) each morning on my way into stunning North Okanagan via Lake Country.

Five morning workshop of "Experimental Water Colours" concluded in Vernon (VCAC) yesturday. It has been a very productive session due to dedication and enthusiasm of the students, quality of works was superb. Well done girls, hope to see your works in shows soon.

At Gala & Auction - "Almost Famous"

Last evening Vertigo Art Gallery, Vernon, BC, was packed with art lovers and donating artists. Wine, yummy appies, live harp music, boas, hats, wigs, exotic outfits, highly witty celebrity auctioneer truly made the event a memorable one. Many thanks to Judith, staff and volunteers. Pics above, view of gallery, with mi amiga Irene, with Carol-Ann and Kristine and my donation piece "Ode to Van Gogh from the Okanagan".
Thanks to Carol-Ann for her generosity as she outbid her opposition at the auction for "Ode to ..........".

Well done Kristine for finishing the triathlone earlier in Kelowna and for your beautiful rendition of a Monet.

ArtWalk 2009 entries

"Again" (left), "Blue Trio", acrylics on canvas, 18" x 14", $ 420 (each). "Toil" (top right), pastels, 21.5" x 14.5", $ 400.
The above paintings are from my studies of extremely hardworking and highly talented Ballet Kelowna dancers and Artistic Director.

"En Pleine Aire, Tina", (left), "En Pleine Aire, Sandra", wet pastels, 21.5" x 14.5", $ 400 (each). Sommer 2009 is proving to be a productive season for "Pleine Aire Okanagan" weekend workshops. My passion for figures in sunshine was too tempting while watching Tina and Sandra engrossed in painting the beauty of Okanagan summer, I had to paint them.

Pleine Aire Okanagan - Bertram Park, 15 aug

Palette knives, mixing sand in acrylics, monoprinting ............ inspite of the intermittent rain on 15 august Pleine Aire at Bertram Park in Kelowna. Due to the rapidly changing weather conditions, true essence of Pleine Aire in Alla Prima were successfully achieved to the delight of the artists and those who stopped by to admire. Sandra indulged in monoprinting on 3 canvases, rain drops created interesting watercolour-like effect.

Mi Rancho

Wet pastels, 20" x 15"

Afternoon of 2 august, 2009, while we drove down Loon Lake Road, (southeast of Merritt), literally in the middle of nowhere was this mesmerizing abandoned ranch. Am sure, most of us have experienced places/locations that completely enthrall our entire beings. Well, this ranch did it me, it's charm and bewitching setting made me so restless, I just had to paint. Still very much spellbound. Truely a very special place .... surrounded by birch trees it is overlooking a pond, which may have been a larger body of water in years gone by. What a wonderful retreat for an artist for summer (after some fixing up with loving care).