Commissioned watercolor painting of a path of palm trees in Baja Mexico sitting on a studio workbench — Commissioned Painting on my Studio workbench

May in the Canadian Rockies brings with it the unpredictable yet welcome return of warmer weather, glorious green leaves, and long sunny days. My creative energy levels always crave the month of May and the return of summer.

I've been tucked away in the studio creating original watercolour paintings for my next collection: Pacific. I've spent the last week painting a 24x36" watercolour of a beach in Tofino that I'm still undecided how I feel about. Some paintings are finicky that way. Thankfully I've been doing this long enough to know that not every painting needs to be an immediate success and some paintings take their time to grow on you.

I'm excited to share this collection with you that I have yet to set a release date for. I'm carefully taking my time with each painting, resisting the urge to rush through the creative process.

I have already started to prepare for the summer market season. I'll be participating in the Banff Market again this year each Wednesday for the month of July. I would love to see you if you're going to be in the area.

I recently began reading “We Need Your Art” by Amie McNee and I am shocked at how intimately she knows the struggles of creative work.

One thing that surprised me while listening to this book was a returning desire to start teaching painting classes online. She talks a lot about how necessary the creative process is for everyone. That art is the missing pillar of self-development. Art is the gateway to truly knowing yourself. We each deserve some form of creativity that provides a way for the ability to process difficult emotions including stress, the capacity to heal, and the invitation for restorative peace. We all deserve the quiet ease of creativity!

I'd be interested to know if you have ever wanted to learn how to paint watercolour landscapes. Simply respond to this blog post to encourage me to get filming.

May’s Featured Original

“Meet me at Sunset”

The Southern California coast has a daily ebb and flow in the way the fog rolls in and off the coastline. I personally love to embrace the gloom of the morning fog and the way it softens the landscape, while also celebrating the warmth of the bright evening sunshine and the beauty it casts on everything, soaking the earth in a golden glow just before the sun dips below the ocean horizon.

I love to embrace the daily ritual of meeting at the beach as the sun sets each day. This painting feels almost like a journal entry, capturing a specific time and place, and the memory of being with the one's you love most while watching the sunset along the beach.

Ponto Beach, California original Watercolor beach landscape painting of soft sunset colours and bright foliage along the Southern California coastline. — “Meet me at Sunset” - coastal original watercolor painting

Collect "Meet me at Sunset"

May’s Featured Print:

“Peyto Lake”

I have a slight confession for you about this print. I released this print over a year ago, but I hadn't actually finished editing the digital file for reproduction. I thought I would finish it when someone actually purchased the print, but that meant I never actually promoted it. I literally never talked about it and I procrastinated it for over a year. Isn't that so embarrassing?! Well I have officially edited it, colour corrected it, and printed multiple copies and Dang Girl, she looks good!

The Peyto Lake overlook is such an easy little paved hike at the top of a mountain with the most stunning views of endless mountain peaks and this big beautiful turquoise glacier lake in Banff National Park.

Peyto Lake art print displayed in a green tiled bathroom above the bathtub — “Peyto Lake” Mountain Landscape Watercolor Print

Shop Peyto Lake Art Print

May’s Featured TV Art

“Big Sur Coast”

This image perfectly captures the colours reflecting on the ocean and the magic of the warm glow of sunset on the coast of California. Reflecting all of the colours of the rainbow in its waters. The feeling of the cool, ocean breeze and the warm light felt on your face as the sun turns to rose just before it sinks below the sea.

Adding art to your Frame TV is the simplest way to update the look and feel of your home.