Yeah!! It's here... day 30.    Last day of the challenge.  Today's paintings is one of my favourite from the challenge!

So now that the challenge is over, you might be wondering what is next for me?   Well here are some of my tentative art goals

• Continue to work on my drawing skills via online courses through Watts Atelier
• Work on a series of studio paintings inspired by my recent trip to B.C. 
• Aim to go out plein air painting 3-4 times per month
• Start planning my next 30-day challenge for January 2017!! My tentative theme will be "My Drive to Work" - depicting the beauty I see in my every day drive to and from work.  

Thanks so much to everyone who has followed me along this past month!!! It is so, so appreciated!!

All the best,
​Kathy

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Today's painting was inspired by a trip to BC a few years ago - it depicts an evening sunset in Pacific Rim National Park.  This painting is currently on display at the Art Emporium in Port Stanley, Ontario.  

Well as it's day 29 - there is only one day left in the challenge.  While completing the challenge will be a weight off my shoulders - it is also a little sad for me.  I do enjoy sharing my art with the world! 

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

This painting was done on location at Fanshawe Conservation area, in London, Ontario 
(May 27, 2015).  Ok, so truth time - this is not a new painting.  However, as I have never shared/posted this work on my website, and since I am quite fond of this piece, I decided to include it in the challenge. A bit of a a cop-out I know... but after my week in BC, I have found completing the last week of painting a bit challenging (jet leg really gets the best of me).  

Till tomorrow,
Kathy

For today's painting, I am sharing a couple of quick sketches I completed.
I am a firm believer that hard work, consistency, and grit are essential elements to grow and develop as an artist. I have seen how practising sketching and drawing has led to growth and improvements in my work.   This sentiment is echo'd in one of my favourite art  quotes --  by John Singer Sargent - a great, great artist!

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

Today's paintings are two small plein air sketches I completed while in vacation in British Columbia last week. . While I had the best of intentions of completing numerious refined sketches while there, these are the only two art works I completed.  I am hoping to develop some larger studio pieces inspired by the trip.

Check out some photos of highlights from the trip!! 

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

Today's painting, a commission I recently completed, is a portrait of the beloved Lady LingSu.  Sadly,  Lady LingSu passed away a few months ago at age 14.  She will be greatly missed and will forever be in her owners'  hearts.  

Till tomorrow,

Kathy

Today's painting depicts a combine out on the field. I love the atmosphere created by the grain dust! 

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

Here's by boy Wylan in all his painted glory.  He is an expert sniffer (as are all hounds)!
While generally well behaved, his nose, along with his healthy appetite,  have gotten him into trouble.  Here a few examples of where his nose & appetite have steered him wrong:

• He stole a bag of large hot dog buns off the counter and ate the entire bag!  He was walking slow that night!
• He was drank approximately a cup of vegetable oil from our deep fryer (luckily the oil wasn't hot).  He definitely suffered the consequences of this!
• He broke into our dog-proof cat food container and ate over a pound of cat kibble.  Similar to the oil, his intestinal track payed the price for this!

Till tomorrow, 
​Kathy

This little painting features a dreary day, driving on down Eastport Peninsula in Newfoundland.  We visited Newfoundland a couple years ago - in May 2014.  Here are a few photos from our time on Eastport Peninsula!  

Till tomorrow!
Kathy

This painting features a landscape I have painted a few time - Race Rocks, off the coast of Victoria, BC.  Below I've included a previous watercolour painting I did, featuring Race Rocks.  I painted this while at the Stephen Quiller workshop last year.  

Till tomorrow,

​Kathy

Today's painting was inspired by a trip to Tofino, BC a few years ago (as always, with my sister Amy).  We camped at Pacific Rim National Park, which is truly a place of beauty.  

I can't share this painting without sharing some of my thoughts on camping.  Growing up, my mom, sister, and I did road trips every summer and camped much of the way.  At that age, I was pretty neutral about camping... didn't love it, but didn't hate it.  As I have gotten older, I have grown to dislike camping more and more - which is sad, because I do like the idea of camping.  This trip to Tofino was may last time I camped.  Despite the beauty of the park, the cold/damp night was not my cup of tea and I had a horrible sleep.  As I am sure my sister could attest, the lack of sleep did not bring out my best self (not to mention the incident where I almost lost the rental car keys in the middle of the night... sorry sister!!)

Till tomorrow,

​Kathy 

Today's painting is one I completed on location at my parent's farm.  I entitled it "The Other Place", as this is the name we used growing up to distinguish which of our 2 family farm property we were talking about.   There was the "Farm" that referred to our main farm in which housed our home, the dairy barn and cows.  Then there was the "other place", a smaller plot of land my parents own, one road over.    . 

When my parents were first married this shed was used for machinery storage. Cattle were housed in the old barn (it was taken down years ago). It occurred to my parents that it would be better to have the cattle in the shed as it would make it much easier to clean out with the loader tractor. They cemented the floor and for many years the young cattle were in the shed. Eventually the livestock were moved up to my uncle Ken's farm. Now the shed is used for storing large round bales. The shed has seen lots of different uses.

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

Not for Sale

Todays painting was another done with the London Plein Air Group back in July.  This one was done at the beautiful farm of one of our members.  I gifted this painting to our host Violet.    

I have included a couple photos of some of the goats on the farm.  For more photos from that day, click here. 

Till tomorrow,

​Kathy

Today's little painting was completed on location at Waterworks Park in St. Thomas Ontario.  Such a lovely location...  has a real Monet feel to it.  After such a hot dry summer, the water levels were pretty low.  I will definitely be returning here for some future paintings!

Till tomorrow,

​Kathy

Today's photo features another flower painting; this one a gift for a wonderful colleague -  Dr. Liga Stare (she is the paediatrician on the eating disorder team in which I work).  

The photo reference I used for this painting was taken in the Butterfly Garden at London Health Science Centre.  As I was walking into work one day, I couldn't help but notice the morning sunlight dappling the lilies with golden sunlight.  Below I  included a few photos from that morning. 

  Today's painting's features two pretty ladies from my family's farm. 

Growing up on a farm, one learns that each cow has it's own personality, and like people, have various temperaments.  Here are 2 of the memorable cows of my childhood (sorry - I couldn't find any photos to share)

Cathy Red - as my name sake, I loved this cow. The "Red" in her name referred to the fact she was a red holstein. I used to sprawl out on top of her back when she was laying down in her stall.  She was a gentle, kind soul. 

Becky - If I ever wrote a book about the life of the Argyll Farm cows, Becky would be a strong contender for the villain.  Not a fan of little children... she would often try to bunt us with her head if we got too close to her.  Looking back now, perhaps she wasn't so bad... maybe spirited and misunderstood?

Till Tomorrow,
Kathy

Not for Sale

Today's painting is one I did awhile back in early June, at Full Circle Ranch.  I gifted it to Morrigan - the amazing therapist and owner at Full Circle.  

Till tomorrow!!

​Kathy

As many of you know, I usually made an annual trip to British Columbia to visit my sister Amy who lives out there.  Today's painting was inspired by a view from the B.C. Ferry between Vancouver & Victoria.  

In only 1-short week I will be heading back out to B.C. for a visit.  I fly out on Sept 18th.  You might be wondering..."Kathy, will you still be posting paintings when you are on vacation?".  The answer is YES!  Knowing I'd be on vacation part of September, I did some painting ahead for this Sept challenge - I already have some pieces ready to go and will continue to post daily all month.  

Till Tomorrow,
Kathy 

Today's little painting is one I did back in July at the Civic Garden Complex  at Springbank Park.  Want to seem some more photos from this paint out with the London Plein Air Group?  Click here. 

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

Today's sketch is my boy Wylan!  This is definitely his expression when he's in hunting mode.   Check out the video below to see him in "action".   And by action, I mean searching out rabbits & squirrels in our suburban neighbourhood.  

Till tomorrow,

Kathy

PS. Disclaimer...  No squirrel or rabbit has every been hurt by this dog.  If Wylan was to have a doppelgänger, people have said it would be Eor the Donkey (from Winnie the Pooh)

Not for Sale

I haven't painted a lot of flowers, so was presently surprised with how well today's painting worked out.  This painting was a special gift for my in-laws, John & Jen, for their 50th wedding anniversary (Happy 50th John & Jen!).  John is a very talented gardener - and has a real gift for growing roses.

Till tomorrow,
Kathy ​

Today's painting is one that I painted back in July with the London Plein Air Group.  The majority of this painting was completed on-site, however the final touches were completed at home in my studio. 

Till tomorrow,
​Kathy

 This little painting was completed 100% on location at Full Circle Ranch.  For a relatively quick painting (took ~1 hour), I was quite happy with my colours and the sense of light in the sky.  

Till tomorrow!
Kathy

Today's piece is a charcoal sketch (on newsprint).  As I am still working hard on improving my drawing skills - I will be sharing a few drawings throughout this challenge.