Travels with Lucky Part one

I left the Ottawa area on May 22nd. I promised I would blog but somehow did not get not get organized with my photos, wifi etc. until now. It was late afternoon before I did all the last minute things, picking up repaired eye glasses, buying a new bed for Lucky etc,  I was so exhausted after moving all my stuff into storage, that Lucky and I made it as far as Renfrew and I booked into a hotel and had a long sleep. We then went on to Algonquin Park where I stopped to paint at  ( I forget which lake) I wrote it on the back of the canvas, I hope. It was very buggy, I was eaten alive by black flies so put on my bug screen hat. Then the wind came up so fiercly it took my hat right off my head, bug screen and all. Also took the bugs but that was enough for me so we packed up and went to Huntsville to stay with my friends Carla and Joel. They made us feel so welcome we stayed for days! About 5. Here is a picture of me with Tom Thompson.

Leaving the Ottawa Region

I'm getting ready to leave.  I'm purging my home of all the clutter I don't need. I've given my landlady ( the best I've ever had) my notice and she has put the house up for sale.  Everyone is asking me why I am leaving and where I am going. I didn't plan this and the plan has and is evolving. Originally I planned to meet my sister in Nakusp B.C. in mid May to clean up my late uncle's house and put it on the market for sale. We thought it might take a couple of months, then we planned a memorial service in Banff where we all grew up and where there is a 'Beattie' family graveyard plot. I have not seen nearly enough of my daughter Terra, who lives near Olds, Alberta and planned to spend some time with her. It's time I met her horse. I'm also really looking forward to spending some time with my sister, Sandy. Then in August my oldest daughter Michelle is having her second baby. Michelle and her family are living in Pennsylvania (she married an American). Madeline was born last summer so they will be 13 months apart. So I told her I would help her out for a month or so. So since I would be away around 5 months, it didn't make sense to be paying rent, plus I needed the $ for travelling. I needed the car to get around once I got to B.C. So I planned to drive out with my dog .

A lot has changed since then. The neighbors in Nakusp  have made an offer on my uncle's house so my sister has gone to take care of all that. I am organizing the memorial service so just have to get to Banff for June 20th or so. I really feel the need of another adventure, so since I don't need to get there right away, I'm taking my tent and my art supplies  and will stop and paint my way across the country. I really don't enjoy camping anymore but just in case I can't find a dog friendly motel. If I start to run out of money I will have to get to Terra's faster.
    The other thing that has changed is that Michelle, her husband Troy, baby Madeline and the new baby (Penny) are planning on leaving for Africa as soon as they can get a passport for the new baby! They did this last summer, Madeline went to Africa when she was a week old! Troy works in Uganda.
  So I will not spend as long as I planned in Pennsylvania. My paintings are hanging at the Greystone Grill in Constance Bay  and the the Herb Garden outside of Almonte so I must come back to deal with them at the end of the summer. My daughter Nicky and my grand daughter Charleaze are here in Constance Bay so I will definitely be back. I just don't know where I will live. Kanata? Ottawa? Constance Bay? B. C.? Alberta? Who knows, I'm sure things will unfold as they should. It is so freeing not to own a house!
  There is also a feeling of insecurity to be homeless. I am leaving behind so many good friends and wonderful people! And I have worked hard to find a place in the art community in this area, I just might have to come back to this area....
  I will try to blog now and then on my journey so watch for my posts if you are interested.

Videos about Painting Trees with Watercolor

Trees are such an important part of landscapes that I decided to do a series of tree videos;

3 Common Mistakes Beginners make painting trees

How to Paint Trees - Deciduous Trees

How To paint Trees - Evergreen Trees

Next I plan on painting a group of trees then trees in snow.

Latest video, How to Paint a Stormy sky

How to paint a stormy sky
Click the link to watch the video.
This video was created at home a couple of weeks ago and I published in while in San Francisco.
I brought my paints along for this trip but am only finding a half hour here and there while looking after my 6 month old grand daughter, Madeline May. My daughter Michelle is here for a conference so I came along to look after the baby.
 San Francisco is a crazy hilly place. I knew it was but until you actually see cars climbing these steep steep hills you don't really get it.
   I picked up some postcards which were reproductions of paintings by an artist name ThIbault. lovely!

Happy New Yeatr

Happy New Year Everyone! I wish you many blessings and a creative New Year filled with Joy!

I will be away most of January so my classes will resume in February. I will post them here as soon as I get more organized. In the meantime you can check out my videos.
I created 3 video about painting your own Christmas Cards and 2 videos about making miniature paintings for Christmas ornaments. I am now starting a landscape series. The first one is about painting Cumulus clouds, the next will be stormy skies. Right now i am just creating video about watercolor painting, but who knows perhaps I will branch out into acrylics in the new year as well.

My YouTube Channel

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 I will I am sure have to paint snow soon as well. Happy Painting!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I took this photo in Algonquin Park on Friday. Too bad it's warm out now!

I wish you all the best. Enjoy your time with family and friends. I better go make 

breakfast now, I think Santa has been here!

Paint Your Own Christmas Cards - my latest video