Mothers day

Had a warm and sunny Mothers day with my children spoiling me more than they ought to. In the afternoon Gerald and I went on a birding picnic and watched shorebirds and geese at Murray Marsh while munching on a mouth watering lunch of homemade potato buns and meatloaf all to a chorus of frogs and varied birdsong. 

The trumpeter swans were feeding on Devils Lake, I took the photo from the duck blind at Immarie Park.

Saturday I found my first blossoms of the season, these were blooming in an abandoned garden beside a used book store, I was so happy to see them I had to capture them to share. There is nothing better than finding a flower where you least expect it, its like a smile that brightens the day.

Wishing Mothers a Blessed Day

Mothers Day is fast approaching. I wish each and every Mother the blessings of love and peace.

This painting was created with love in memory of a most wonderful loving woman, my Mother.

"Goddess In the Garden"

Each spring the smell of lilacs brings pleasant memories of my Mother lovingly tending her flower gardens that supplied sweet nectar for the butterflies and hummingbirds that visited. I can recall her sweet singing as she dug the soil and tenderly transplanted flowers to new beds. I believe her flower garden was a place for solace and  rejuvenation, which was probably sorely needed with raising nine children plus my grandfather.

The painting is acrylic on canvas, 24"x30" There are ten butterflies depicted to represent my siblings, myself as well as the eldest grandchild. 

White Pelicans

Good day, its a beautiful sunny day today. This trio can be seen at the Donalda Gallery For The Arts in Donalda AB. I presently have a showing of 32 bird related paintings hanging there. The gallery is open on the weekends only from noon till 5:30 p.m.  These three are waiting for their dinner to be discharged into the river from the nearby fish hatchery on the Bow River, hence the title "Take Out",  if you look closely you will see a pizza box wedged in the rocks giving the title a little twist.Take Out; White Pelicans, Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 30"

This little White-crowned sparrow paid a visit yesterday and brightened up my day. First he nicely posed for me then he flew under the bird feeder and gleaned a few sunflower seeds in exchange for his image before he flew off. A fair trade I believe.

Westlands Art Gallery

These cheerful  and bright paintings were sent to Westlands Art Gallery in Cochrane, AB last month and I am happy to say that the Goldfinch is no longer available.

The Savannah Sparrow below is available, it may be purchased through Westlands Art Gallery in Cochrane, AB.
Savannah Sparrow, acrylic on 12x12 canvas.

Racing Thoroughbreds

Went out to the farm yesterday to watch my daughter exercise the race horses. Its pretty amazing to watch her work these high-strung animals. 

On our way back we passed a pond full of ducks and shorebirds this was the only good shot I got of the birds flying closer to where I was, all the others were too far out for me to capture. 

hanging the Donalda Exhibition

Well its been a busy few days with finishing off paintings, wiring the backs of the paintings, making sure my name and titles were on them, packing them up, transporting to the gallery in Donalda, unpacking, sorting, figuring out what hangs where, putting up tags, whew, now I can relax a few days then get back to painting for my next show.  This is the historical bank building in Donalda where 32 of my bird paintings are on exhibition. 

All I can say is thank you to my wonderful fella who did the transporting and the hanging of the show, he has gotten to be quite the expert at this job. It was so good to see the show up.  People come through to view the art while we were hanging it and two precious young ladies about eight years old came through and had such wonderful comments about the paintings, they made my day so much fuller.A glimpse of the show. You can see the bank vault door on the left and the safe behind the desk. What a unique and wonderful building to be invited to have an exhibition in. The gallery is open on the weekends from noon till 5:30p.m.