My father had a quote that he used to like to say quite often and it really was both a blessing and a curse.
Well, 2020 proved to be a clear reflection of the meaning of that expression. So much to be grateful for and yet so much uncertainty.
2020 clearly a year of many changes
Personally I made a number of changes in my world. I made the decision to leave my day job so I could dedicate more time to painting. This was truly one of the best decisions ever. Ironically though, with this decision, came the reality of isolating away in my studio. This was both by choice and by the weird reality of the times. At first I didn’t even notice. I was so productive.
A friend and I also made it a point to paint plein air whenever we could. As we live near the coast most of our adventures naturally took us there. These day trips became the foundation for a new body of work being created for a few art shows next year.
Goals are important
I made the decision that this painting season that I wanted to focus on painting the sky and the sea. The influence of the Fundy tides would help make this interesting. You see fog is a reality in these parts. You can leave home in the sun, drive a relatively short distance and be completely enveloped in fog. And then drive out of it again. Great for photo sessions. I collected so much reference material!
We had the good fortune to spend a week on a beach in PEI in September. I stayed true to my goal on focusing on sea and sky and added one more condition because, well I could. My plan was to sit in one location and look straight ahead to paint. This was interesting.
The first few days were classic, perfect beach days. Blue skies and gentle surf. The watercolours were quite similar – and I reached the point of painting a few each day. On the third day a few clouds formed on the horizon. A storm was building. So exciting and conflicting. The sky started to fill with clouds and the gentle surf gave way to angry seas and wind. Great for painting dramatic skies. Not so great for beaching.
The watercolours sketches may be found by clicking HERE
Back to the studio
Upon returning to the studio I made a plan. More goals:
1 – To use the materials I have onhand. Turns out I had 11 16 x 16” gallery wrap canvases
2 – To paint a series from this season’s experiences focusing on East Coast Beaches. above are the first 9 of 12. A friend provided me with an additional canvas the same size to make the series an even number. Three more to go.
May we live in interesting times
As a social person the limitations of 2020 could have caused so much frustration. My painting goals made all this much more bearable and productive. I committed to spending time painting daily in my studio. Should I not have art as my vocation, I may have become somewhat grumpy by now. Instead I feel accomplished and am most definitely looking forward to new adventures in 2021.
From my family to yours may your holiday season be full of joy and blessings. Oh, and good food!
Your new goals will certainly bring happy moments. You have such determination it’s wonderful. Keep moving forward with this new series it’s truly you.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you so much. Painting the East Coast has been a part pf my dreams for many years. I am so grateful to now have the time to work on the paintings. It is a beautiful place to me.
All the best and the happiest in the New Year
Love your birds!! Great work Helen. Also your news about going full time painting is huge and will be so rewarding, I promise!!!
Thank you Carole – really appreciated. Also appreciate your support, I know my big decision was the right one for me. Took me a long time to make the decision but I have never looked back.