New Horizons Collection (Paintings 1-7)
The first paintings in the collection – and their stories
The New Horizons Collection is a collection of twenty-two original paintings. They capture the beauty and variety of the light and weather of the coastal landscape I now call home.
How do you get to know a new place?
I love getting to know somewhere new – and reconnecting with familiar places – by walking (new collection sneak peek!)
Walking is nearly always how I first get to know a new place. It allows me to experience it in different light, weather, moods, and seasons. I notice its people coming and going, its homes as their lights turn on for the night…
Celebrating the beauty of darker, shorter days
A few recent paintings that capture the deeper blue colour palette of winter light on Nova Scotia’s coastal shores
The mornings are dark and quiet as I feed the cats and put the coffee on. I watch as daylight slowly emerges while writing in my journal next to a crackling fire. First, I can see – just faintly – the tall slender silhouettes of poplars against a deep midnight blue sky. Then, gradually, the gardens and woodlands begin to take shape in the muted light of dawn.
Paintings of Coastal Skies
Capturing the endless varieties of ever-shifting cloudscapes
My house has a large porch and I spend most of the warmer seasons out there… One sunny Sunday afternoon, I found myself mesmerized by the fast-changing clouds. So, I got out my brush and paints and had a delightful time rushing to capture the colours and shapes.
Living by the Sea
Finding a new sense of place
It’s astonishing how far the sound of the ocean can travel. My home is tucked away on a back road, but I can hear the roar or hushed swoosh of waves almost all the time. The ocean and its big open skies have become a living presence in my life.
Stepping Out of Your Creative Comfort Zone
Expanding your skills by exploring an unfamiliar subject
In taking steps toward a goal, you will find that new steps reveal themselves to you, as you go. Sometimes they are simply next steps on the same path, other times they are a surprising new direction, a different perspective on your work, or an unexpected creative challenge. I share how to step out of your creative comfort zone, why it’s important to fill your toolbox with new skills, the importance of embracing mistakes, and how to incorporate your new skills into your unique creative style and voice.
Moody Paintings of Interiors
The curiosity & excitement that comes when your work takes on new directions
I’ve been working my way through a self-directed online painting class. It’s supposed to be a landscape painting class, but since it’s been snowy and cold outside, I’ve been painting any and every scene I can find around our Montreal condo. It’s been an unexpected treat to have these paintings to remember our place by when we move to our farmhouse in Nova Scotia.
Spiralling Upward: Finding the Motivation and Courage to Keep Going
How to keep going when doubts, fears, and wobbles take hold
Making big life changes can be very overwhelming. It can be hard to keep track of who you are and so easy to be afraid of all that you cannot see about where you are going... It can be a struggle to stay motivated, remember why exactly you are trying so hard, and keep your vision for yourself and your work fresh. Take heart, you are not alone.
Farewell and Thank You, Montreal
A collection of painted memories of our time in this city
It has come time to say farewell to Montreal. I will miss the couple who sit on a bench in the park gently plucking their banjos, the people who ride or walk down our street singing (it happens so often we call it ‘the singing street’), the patchwork of houses and shops, frequent coffee shop windows, the tumble of gardens and green laneways…
A More Manageable Way to Set Goals: Quarterly Summits
Increasing your chances of sustainable success by setting goals four times a year instead of just once in January
Setting smaller goals, more often, creates momentum that carries you forward. Each quarter is like a new year. You take stock, reset, and create new horizons. A quarterly pace allows you to pivot and adjust as you go while still having enough time and focus to achieve your goals. Setting goals each quarter gives a new burst of energy and allows you to set a smaller number of goals that are both more focussed, more manageable, and more likely to be accomplished.
From the Painted Stories Instagram feed
