The second morning I went to a wonderful little garden right on the edge of downtown, created in honour of -you guessed it -Mrs Walsh! The space that was originally slated for more t-shirt shops and condos was rescued by Mrs Walsh and turned into a public garden. There wasn't much blooming while we were there, but when I saw the turquoise of the sage-family plants lit up by the sun I was hooked. Each participant in the competition could enter one piece painted in the garden as part of the show, and it had its own ribbon and award. The photo above is not very good, as the painting was very wet and shiny when I took the photo, but I think you get the idea. I didn't win the prize, but the judge from the quick draw did chose my painting as her personal favorite of the show, so I was very pleased!
I began this piece that same afternoon. By this time the wind had begun to blow and I nearly froze painting under the shade of a huge, old ponderosa pine, while my hubby was getting sunburned sitting 5 feet beside me reading a book and waiting for me to finish. I only got half of the painting done that day and had to return to finish it another day.
You might be wondering how I fared with my foot in a cast! Well, it definitely cramped my style as I could only paint within a few feet of the car, but the biggest effect I felt was that I just didn't have the stamina to paint that I have had in the past. I guess I hadn't taken into account the effect of being handicapped for the previous 7 weeks, and what that had done to degrade my physical conditioning. I was very thankful that my dear hubby went to all my painting spots with me, carting my gear for me, and then he entertained himself by hiking up whatever was nearby or by riding his bike for miles on the very steep park roads. He got tired physically and I was wiped emotionally and mentally at the end of the day.
All in all I am glad that I went, but I only produced 7 paintings compared to the 14 that I did the previous year, and I went back more than once for most of them -something I don't usually do. I did discover that it is a good thing to do if you can catch similar weather and light, because on the return I tended to simplify things which ended up in stronger paintings I think.
NEWS FLASH!!! I have just posted my workshop schedule for September and October on the right hand side of this blog, and on the 'Classes' section of my website. Perhaps you will be able to join me for an art adventure?
Enjoy!
To purchase this painting, or commission your own painting, please email me at williamsdotsharonatshawdotca (insert characters for the dot and at!)
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