My friend Wyatt Wilkie is an amazing luthier. He is building me a custom mandolin. It is almost finished!

This is a portrait of Lou and Stan, the beloved dogs of my friends Wyatt, Emily, Jasper and Bunny. You can see in these snapshots the stages I go through in making the painting. The medium is fluid acrylic paint on a 9x12 canvas. Enjoy!

Caroline

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2012 brings you abundance, good health, creativity and joy!

True to my promise in my November blog entry I have been in hibernation over the winter. But now, like the sprouting bulbs and buds in my garden, I am emerging from the dark!

A few noteworthy news items to share:

November is here, arriving with a blanket of heavy rainclouds and a colder bite to the air. It's time to hibernate a little more, and infuse our lives with some creativity to warm us while the sun is farther away.

Two items are noteworthy in studio happenings.

This weekend is the opening of a show I am really excited about: The Nature of Island Artists at Goldstream Nature House. Sept. 17th to Oct. 10th, the Nature House at Goldstream Provincial Park will exhibit a beautiful display of artwork by local artists, including myself. The opening reception is this Friday evening, Sept. 16th, from 730 to 930 pm. Proceeds from sales and donations go towards funding the Nature House and educational programs in the park.

Dear art blog readers,

Today was really nice. It's the long weekend so it feels like Saturday on a Sunday.

Hi everyone,

my art students at the Saanich Adult Education Centre are wrapping up their school year. To celebrate their achievements in the art studio I have created an online art gallery for them. Please have a look!

tinyurl.com/SAECArt2011

Here are the links to previous year's art galleries.

Today Sarah persuaded me to get on my bicycle for the first time this spring. I was nervous about it but we got everything configured just right so I was comfortable. That bike is still new to me. I usually use my electric bike, not my pedal bike. We took Atkins road to the Galloping Goose. Wow! what a beautiful section of bike trail that is! I love the bridges and trestles!