Blog

Since my last blog, I feel like that old song, "I've been everywhere, man"--Australia, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Paris, all over South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and the Okovango Delta, Namibia, Scotland, Nice, and the Rockies. All of thoses highlights and a few lowlights around breaking my ankle stepping into a pothole on the sidewalk in Oodtshoorn, South Africa--which required changing themes for the rest of the long trip, from hiking in Scotland to driving (well, the good husband had to drive from then on) and seeing pubs, castles, islands and Highlands. Such amazing trips! One blog isn't enough to describe it all, there were so many amazing places!

Bar at Kido Lodge, Zululand Rhino Reserve South Africa

The beautiful nyala antelope, Southern Africa

One of the amazing places in the world was the Okovango Delta--if you ever get to Africa make sure it's on your list. We saw 4 leopards in one day, and another one crossed the road in front of us the next morning driving out. Camping on the bank of a creek with elephants going through, hearing hyenas and lions at night, more than made up for the bucket shower (in a private addition to the back of the tent!)

Back to civilization in Nice, France. This plaza is close to the oceanfront Promenade des Anglais where the crowds were mowed down on Bastille Day, just a month after I was there. There was so much security when I was there, in the leadup to the Euro Cup, that it's hard to believe that could have happened. Sometimes the so-called civilized world seems just as scary as places like Africa.

Once home I jumped right into the art again, with two successful garden events seeing my paintings going to new homes in Whitehorse and New Zealand. However I haven't been doing much painting, although I have a few new pieces like this little quail which is screen-printed onto paper dyed with natural plant materials.

And this little collograph went to collectors who are encouraging their grandchildren to become collectors, and starting them with birthday presents every year!

"Blue Moon"

So when I got going on my 2017 calendar I was relieved (as always) to find I had lots of pieces to choose 13 from, for your viewing pleasure. The calendars are here now, $12.50 plus shipping (lower rates for larger quantities).

Hope to hear from you if you want any--they will all be gone by the time I supply repeat customers, new ones from shows who have pre-ordered, and I am doing two big Christmas shows.

My next show will be Saturday October 1, at the Summerland Art Centre for Culture Days, and then I am returning to my favourite Coquitlam Christmas sale December 2-4 (same building as last year, with the happy addition of heating this time!). The very next weekend I was juried into a big show in Kelowna at Prospera Place, December 10 and 11.

Meanwhile I am happy to be back at home, painting with my wonderful Life Drawing group, and creating some new work for the Christmas sales (I feel some more birch trees coming on!)

I'll blog again soon, but if you want to keep more current with what I'm up to you can look at (& like) my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/eewatts/ . I post new work there fairly regularly and you can see some more travel photos there too.

Until next time, as I named my title painting on the calendar, "Jump On!" and ride the carousel!