Blog

June 9, 2010

I am very happy to report that my painting "Fall at Beckett's Creek" won the Viewers' Choice Award at the Galerie de la Rive summer show. Thank you to everyone who voted for my painting.

June 4, 2010

I was so busy in May that I did not even have time to write my blog.  I just realized I did not even have time to upload any new paintings and the blogs from February until April.

In May I participated in the Tulip Festival.  I was at the Commissioners Park at Dow’s Lake the very first day of the festival and the tulips were just breathtaking.  A photo of me painting "Queen of the Night" even ended up on the "Le Droit" website.  While I was painting a lady asked me whether her granddaughter could just hold my brush and paint a little bit on my painting so she could take a picture. I was not very amused and declined.  However, most people were very appreciative of my paintings which was nice.

The second time I painted at Major's Hill Parkat the on May 19.  At this point it was hard to find some tulips that were still well enough preserved to be painted.

Apart from the Tulip Festival, I was busy getting my paintings ready for the new exhibition at "Galerie de la Rive".  The biggest challenge was my painting "Fall at Beckett's Creek", a 30" x 40" painting - my biggest so far. I really enjoyed painting so large.

If you have time I can only recommend the new exhibition at "Galerie de la Rive" to you which will be on display until November 7, 2010. There are some wonderful paintings and photographs in the exhibition. If you have time this Sunday, come out and join us for the vernissage from 1pm to 4pm.

Tomorrow,  I will go to Gallery Old Chelsea for its 20 year anniversary where I will be participating in their paint-out.  I have become a guest artist of the gallery in February.

Yesterday,  I dropped off some paintings at the Queenswood Villa, 370 Kennedy Lane, Orleans.  The vernissage for the show will be on June 10, 2010 from 6.30pm to 7:30pm.

Well, school is almost over which means hardly any time for painting for me for the next two months.  I hope you will have a wonderful summer.

See you in the fall,

Kerstin

April 18, 2010

Tuesday was the Ottawa Art Association Award Show. I spent a pleasant evening among artist friends. I had finished my painting “Dog on Guard” just the day before the hanging. Like most of the times. Although I did not win a prize I am quite happy with the painting. It will be in the Ottawa Little Theatre until May 15, 2010.

Wednesday I spent a fantastic day at Petrie Island. It was so warm that we could take off our jackets. The light green of the trees was just beautiful. I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the birds while I was painting. I had a hard time leaving. It was just wonderful to be outside.

Yesterday was the painting demonstration at “Galerie de la Rive”. I was happy to see a lot of painters come by to see our artwork. I had fun painting with our group and started two paintings: one of a sunset over Petrie Island and one of a pair of cows (a birthday present for my son).

April 2, 2010

We were so busy in Charlevoix that I did not have time to write more about my trip.

We were able to spend one full day outside. The temperatures went up but without the sun and a high humidity it felt bone-chilling cold. Janis and I went to Port-au-Persil where we met others from the group who had all followed the recommendations from some artists who had been there the day before. I was cold the whole day and did not enjoy the painting as usual.  When we finally packed up at the end of the day the sun came out.

On the following day, our last painting day, we woke up to heavy wet snow. Janis and I decided to go back to the studio where I decided on the same view I had done on the first day. It was just amazing to see how fast the fog moved in and out of the area several days during the day. Around midday we went on a stroll through the town of Des Éboulements. We ran into others who had the same idea but also into some artists who had gone out despite of the weather: One painting from the inside of his car, and the other in his customized army tent. That's dedication to plein air painting! We went back to the studio where I decided to work from a photograph I took during my stay in Kamouraska in the fall.

Later in the evening we had the “show and tell”: The energy and diversity of all the paintings amazes me every time. I love to see how other painters looked and interpreted the sites I saw and painted.

It was another great painting trip with all the challenges the weather has to offer. I had a wonderful time with the group of painters. Everyone was very welcoming, and then we were lucky again to have the members of “Work in Progress” with us who entertained us almost every evening.

March 27, 2010

Since yesterday I am in Charlevoix with the Plein Air Painting Ensemble. The weather for the drive could not have been better: sunshine all the way. However, looks were deceiving. When we arrived in the afternoon the temperature was – 18 degrees Celsius. My friend Janis and I decided to go on a little stroll anyway. Not that easy with the steep elevations and the brutally cold wind!

During the “wine and cheese” gathering we got to meet all the artists participating in this spring trip. Many of them have come for years. The group actually celebrates its 20 year anniversary.

Following the excellent the four course menu some of our also very musically talented artists performed for us for the rest of the evening.

Today we woke up to -24 degrees Celsius. Too cold for me to paint outside. Janis and I decided to spend the morning painting with some of the other less adventurous painters in the oil painters' studio.

I suspect many of the others painted from the inside of their cars as it was just brutally cold. After lunch Janis and I went out to do some scouting before we decided to give it a try to paint plein air at Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. It was cold but I am satisfied with the result. It's something to work with.

As Janis had problems with her paints and brushes freezing we decided to do a little sightseeing in Baie-Saint-Paul. It is just unbelievable how many art galleries we saw: Every third house seems to house an art gallery. However, there was not a single painting I really would have liked to buy.

Now we are off to today's “wine and cheese”. Let's hear how the others were doing. I am quite happy with the two paintings I have started. The first one was done from inside but also looking over the beautiful Saint Lawrence River.

February 21, 2010

Today is the hanging of the new show at Galerie de la Rive which will run until May 30, 2010. As I am on my way from a weekend in Toronto where I visited the “King Tut” exhibition at the AGO and the opera “Carmen” I will have to hang my paintings tomorrow. The grand opening celebration for the exhibition will be next Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. For more information please contact me or go to www.GaleriedelaRive.ca.

Having had not much opportunity to paint for the last three months I even had to take a couple of days off work to finish my paintings for the exhibition. At least I am almost ready now.

I also received very positive news from “Gallery Old Chelsea” were I was accepted as one of their guest artists. Super.

Now it is only one more months until the painting trip with the Plein Air painting group to Charlevoix. I am really looking forward to it, especially as I have not painted outside since early fall.

February 8, 2010

I spent an inspiring weekend at the Arteast/Golden workshop held by Andrea Warren. It was so much fun to experiment with all the great materials Golden has to offer. Now I have tons of new ideas. I just wish I had more time to paint.

February 1, 2010

Yesterday was the vernissage of our Kamouraska Show at Gallery Old Chelsea which runs until February 17, 2010. Each of us has a section of the room. The exhibition looks great. It is amazing how differently each of us interpreted what we saw. At the same time you feel like going back to these amazing landscapes to paint some more. Well, we have to wait until September when we will be going back for another time. Most of the group will go for two weeks but my friend Janis and I have to head back after one week as we both still have kids at home. I do not mind at all as I would miss my family too much otherwise anyway.

We were lucky with the weather and had lots of visitors which is a very good sign. Sure, we would all like to sell a painting but it already is very encouraging to all of us when people tell us how much they enjoy our paintings.

Hélène, one of my painting buddies was relieved that this was the last vernissage in a while and hoped she would finally have more time to paint. Well, she completely blocked out the fact that the next vernissage will be already in four weeks at Galerie de la Rive in Rockland. So we better grab our brushes and get painting. At least I do only have half of the paintings I need for the new show.

Next weekend, however, I am going to a GOLDEN paints workshop. I always wanted to try their large variety of acrylic mediums but so far I have never found the time. I hope it will be a very playful workshop giving me lots of ideas for further projects.

January 12, 2010

The Plein Air Ensemble has a show at the Gallery Old Chelsea which runs until January27, 2010. I participate with two paintings. The vernissage was last Sunday, and it was wonderful to see many of the artists from the group and the paintings resulting  from the trip. The Jazz group "A Work in Progress" provided the great background music.  They are getting better and better.

I have already registered for the next trip to Charlevoix at the end of March. I can hardly wait to go after I missed the fall trip.

I will also participate in the following show at the Gallery Old Chelsea for the "Kamouraska Group" . The vernissage will be January 31, 2010 from 1pm to 4pm.

January 4, 2010

Happy New Year to you. I hope you all had wonderful holidays with happy memories, good food, wonderful walks in the fresh snow and certainly lots of great art gifts. I got a big canvas and a book about the multitude of possibilities acrylic paints offer. I can hardly wait to get my paints out again. I got really inspired to try some new mediums and techniques.

December was so busy with all kinds of events that I hardly found time to paint. Today I had to get some of the tasks for the Ottawa Art Association Website done but tomorrow is reserved for painting.

I just hope that our group of painting buddies will get outside soon. The white landscape looks just unbelievable especially when the sun shines. A couple of warmer days would be nice, however.

I wish you all a year full of exciting opportunities, fun creating and playing with your favourite or new mediums.

All the best,

Kerstin

I am too excited to go to bed yet. Tonight was the "Ottawa Art Association Fall Awards Show" at the Ottawa Little Theatre. It was a very nice evening spent talking with friends and getting to know other members while enjoying the excellent art and the delicious food.  The voting for the favourite picture of each category was certainly tough.

For me the big finale came, however, when President Sharon McKenna announced my painting "His Majesty Ringo I" as the winner of the "Mixed Media" category. I am so happy about all the wonderful comments I got.

Thank you for all the support,

Kerstin

November 14, 2009

Today I will bring my latest painting to a friend of mine who will take it tomorrow morning to the Ottawa Little Theatre for the Ottawa Art Association Fall Award Show. It is a painting of a Bernese Mountain Dog called Ringo who joins my friend Rebecca and I regularly on the walks through the fields.  He is a very gentle but proud dog which I captured in my painting.  Therefore, I gave the painting the title “His Majesty, Ringo I”.

Last week, I had to have all my paintings finished for the new hanging at “Galerie de la Rive” in Rockland. As I wanted to hang mostly new works I was quite busy during the week before the hanging, especially as I had been so occupied with work and my children's activities that I had done hardly anything except during my stay in Kamouraska. Being so under pressure to finish my paintings and succeeding gave me quite a rush. Did I mention that I was still busy attaching the hardware, naming and pricing my works in the early hours of the day of the hanging? I really have to make sure that I find time to paint daily, even if it is only for an hour. However, looking at my schedule until the rest of the year it will be hard to realize. I will try anyway.

I hope you will have a chance to see the new show which will run until February 21, 2010. I put up 12 works, 10 of them new. With a couple of new, well-known artists in the gallery the show looks fabulous again. We will do a painting demonstration December 5 from 10am to 4pm, and the vernissage is December 6, 2009 from 1pm to 4pm. There will be free portraits, door prizes, a silent auction, and music. Since September 2009 one of our artists is also sitting at the gallery from 10am to 4pm every Friday to Sunday.

I also put some of my works into exhibitions at Queenswood Villa in Orléans, and the Orléans and Gloucester Libraries.

Enjoy the nice mild weather and get outside,

Kerstin

October 11, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving! It is a very windy and cold day here in Canada's capital: You certainly have to dress warm to enjoy the occasional sun peaking through the dark clouds. It is probably one of the last days you can see the colours in the trees, even though the colours this year are not as great as in other years.

I went painting twice since my return from Kamouraska – both times to Petrie Island. The first time it was raining but I found shelter in one of the observation posts. Last Thursday, however, the weather was fantastic. I painted with my friends Bob and Janis. At lunch time we were able to enjoy our lunch in the warm sunshine.

Now I have to get painting. The next hanging at “Galerie de la Rive” is on November 8, 2009, and I hardly have any finished paintings to show. However, the two Petrie Island paintings are almost finished.

The paintings I finished in Kamouraska will probably go into a show at Galerie Old Chelsea at the beginning of 2010 which means I cannot put them into the “Galerie de la Rive” show which will run until February 28, 2010.

I would also like to finish a painting to participate in the “Ottawa Art Association” November Awards Show at the Ottawa Little Theatre on King Edward Street.

At the moment I have paintings in the Arteast exhibitions at the Cumberland, Orléans, and North Gloucester libraries as well as the Arteast Art and Photo Exhibition at Queenswood Villa in Orléans.

The current show at “Galerie de la Rive” is on until November 8, 2009.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my website. Please feel free to leave your comments in my online guest book.

I am looking forward to hearing from you,

Kerstin

September 18, 2009

Today is a rainy day, and it does not look like it will clear up. We will have to set up indoors. I am so glad we were out every day so far from early morning to supper time.

Tuesday was a very cold and windy day. We went into a small street with a private lot on a humongous rock. It was the first day to wear a scarf and gloves. Janis and I decided to warm up at the house for lunch, and went to a community room in a light house in St.-Germain for the afternoon where we were sheltered from the wind. We both did a wonderful study of the community around the church.

I felt so invigorated that I went for a long walk along the waterfront once we were back at the house. It was just wonderful.

Wednesday we went again to the rocky lot. As it was Janis' turn to cook we went shopping around lunch time. Back at the house we had a lovely lunch in the yard. It was very warm. Afterwards we went back to the rocky lot where we stayed until sunset. The colours were just unbelievable. I painted four scenes, and was quite happy with the outcome. The paintings are far from finished but have potential.

In the evening we were first treated to an amazing sunset, and then to Janis' coconut curry, and apple-raspberry crumble.

Yesterday, we went west to Roch-des-Aulnaies. The rocks in the park were unbelievable. We stayed there the whole day. I dared to do my second 16”x20” painting. I had a lot of trouble with the grass colour but after doing two other paintings I could finally fix the problem. The funny thing is that it took me hours to do the first painting but only minutes to do the second which I prefer to the first one. The third one was just some playing around with the painting knife. Let's see if I can turn it into a painting at one point.

As it was my turn to cook, I was glad I picked something easy: pasta with pesto and vegetables in cream sauce.

As painting is really exhausting we seem to go to bed earlier every day. Some of us are already in bed before 9pm. Well, we work hard.

Today, as soon as it stops raining so hard I will get my art supplies from the car but at the moment it is raining heavily. I wish I had not left my rain boots in the car. So far, we are testing the heavenly goods Bill got from the local German bakery, looking through art magazines.

September. 14, 2009

I am in Kamouraska with six painting buddies. We left in a caravan of three cars from Hawkesbury Saturday morning after my friend Janis had picked me up at my house. This time I decided to travel light, and left my oil paints at home.

The drive up was great due to the wonderful weather. We were all equipped with walkie-talkies and could communicate. We arrived just in time for moving into the rented house. The lovely old house is right at the waterfront. There is even a room for painting inside for a rainy day. I share the a room on the second floor with Janis.

Aside from the painting it will be a real vacation from housework. Everyone just has to cook supper ones, and we do the dishes together. The first night it was Sharon's turn. We had salmon with lots of vegetables. Delicious. Yesterday, we had a traditional “Tourtière” from Hélène. Today Leslie will treat us with a roast. Well, so far my report sounds like the description of a culinary trip but you are quite hungry after a whole day of painting outside.

As the weather was so nice and warm when we arrived we took the opportunity to take some pictures along the waterside.

Yesterday, it rained in the morning. So we had a really relaxed breakfast before Janis, Sharon, Bill, and I went first to Saint-Denis and then to Rivière-Ouelle to paint. The landscape is just phenomenal. Clouds and water are changing so fast that it is a challenge to capture the beauty.

Today, Sharon, Janis, Bill, and I painted at the banks of the St. Laurent close to St. Germain. I am not sure why but I felt really tense and rushed, not enjoying the morning too much. Maybe it was because I used a 16”x20” canvas which was too ambitious for the fast changing scene. The more frustrated I got the more I struggled with my painting. When it started raining I was almost relieved. Janis and I went back to the house where we met Hélène and Maria. When it stopped raining we went back out together to paint some fields just east of Kamouraska. I had a lovely time until it started raining again. As it was already late afternoon we just called it a day.

August 25, 2009

School is going to start in a week. Although I missed not being able to paint during the summer I am still not ready to send my kids back to school. Somehow the summer felt really short – possibly because of the less than favourite weather.

Last weekend we had a very successful vernissage at the “Galerie de la Rive”. We were not sure how many people would show up due to the summer season but were pleasantly surprised which is great because we still put a lot of work into organizing the event. I was so happy that some of my friends came again to show their support. That means a lot to me.

In less than three weeks I will leave for my painting trip to Kamouraska. I am very excited. Hopefully, we will have great weather but I am sure we will have fun anyway. As I will participate in the “Colours in Colour” event in Vanier on September 27, 2009 I hope I will have some new work ready.

I will definitely keep you updated.

Enjoy the rest of the summer,

Kerstin

July 1, 2009

June 24, 2009

June 23, 2009

June 1, 2009

May 1, 2009

Today was the first day of the Ottawa Tulip Festival. It is my first year as one of their official artists. Yesterday my fellow artist friends Janis, Hélène, Sharon, and I went to deliver our paintings to the pavillon near Dow's Lake. Today we painted in Mayor Hill's Park , and on Wednesday next week we will be painting at Dow's Lake. I was a little nervous as it was the first time I was painting in a high traffic area. However, it went very well. First of all it is always fun to paint with the “paintng buddies”, secondly everyone who approached me was very friendly and supportive. I am sure next week will be even better as most of the tulips need a couple more sunny days to bloom.

I am also very happy that I finished my first commission outside of the family on time, and to the satisfaction of my client.

My exhibition at the Blackburn Hamlet Library is still on until the end of the month. My painting “French Hill Schoolhouse” did not win any of the prizes at the Ottawa Art Association Awards night but a got a couple of compliments for it. It you have a chance to make it to the Ottawa Little Theatre on Kind Eduard Street in Ottawa, have a look at the many fantastic works of the members of the Ottawa Art Association.

It is very fascinating to watch the fast changes of nature at this time of the year, and to get out and paint.

Take the time and admire nature,

Kerstin

April 7, 2009

Today it was time to go home again. It was sad to leave as I made some really nice new friends. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. I can hardly wait till the next painting trip.

Yesterday the day started promising. Therefore, we went back to the fields we had painted the day before in the afternoon. It was amazing to see how the colours had changed compared to the day before.

We eagerly set up to paint. However, about an hour later a snow storm hit us out of the blue. In a couple of minutes all the colours were gone, and we were left with a white mysterious landscape. At first we tried to spite nature by putting up umbrellas to prevent the wet snow flakes from hitting the canvas and palette. However, the wind shifted constantly so that we finally had to give up. I started lifting up the paint from the canvas instead of putting it on as oils do not work to good on water.

We were also soaked from the wet snow, even through snow pants. There was only one thing we could do: go back to the resort. Helene and Janis were already in our cottage when I came back, and we painted in our cottage for the rest of the day. John and Deborah came over to chat. We had a great afternoon.

At night was the big “Show and Tell”. Everyone was encouraged to show some of his/her work. It was just amazing what everyone had accomplished whether it was indoors or outdoors. It was also very interesting to see how other artists saw places we had also been too.

Later John's painting that he did during his demonstration was raffled off. I would love to have one of his paintings but did not win. There is always a next time.

The last highlight of my day was listening to the jazz band “A Work In Progress” who had already played at the Galerie de la Rive vernissage. What a treat!

The trip was a big success even with the bad weather. I learned a lot about what is helpful when you are painting outside in extreme weather conditions, profited from the experience of the established artists, and made new friends.

It was a very new experience for me to be the youngest of the group as I was the oldest child in my family, as well as in school. I have to admit I like being the “junior” for a change.

I like to thank the organizers Mette, Deborah, and Malcolm for putting together such a great opportunity for artists to get together, and all the fellow artists for their warm welcome.

I am sure hooked now.

On the way home I drove with Janis. As we still had snow and rain we did not stop to paint but only took some pictures of some of the picturesque spots we passed on the way. I definitely have enough material for a year if I wanted to make use of all my photos. I am sure I will come back to the Petite Rouge Region.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend,

Kerstin

April 5, 2008

After a very rainy day yesterday, we woke up to light snow. The temperatures had dropped quite a bit and it was very windy. Nevertheless, I decided to go out with Bob. A couple of other painters joined us as we put up our easels at a near swamp. We stayed there until noon although it was very cold, even in extra layers of winter clothes. We had 1 degree Celsius – with the wind it was probably closer to minus 10 degrees. It took me a long time to finish my sketch as there was so much to see in the swamp, and you really had to simplify and cut back to the basic shapes.

After a hot tea in a small diner we looked for a new spot. Having done a lot of water paintings in the last couple of days we all decided to look for a pastoral view. We found a really nice area with great colours. It is amazing how much colour you can find in nature even at the beginning of spring when the trees are still without their leaves. I have to admit that I see so much more colours in nature since I paint regularly. I guess I just pay more attention to everything I see.

We painted from 9.30am to almost 5pm. I am quite tired tonight but I definitely cannot miss the gift exchange that will happen around 8pm. I have already heard so much about it from previous years that I am quite curious.

Kerstin

April 4, 2009

It's pouring rain outside. I am in Petite Rouge with the Plein Air Ensemble. I don't think we will get a chance to go painting outside today. I will stay at the residence and paint as the thought of painting the dreary scene from inside a car does not really appeal to me. I am glad I brought some material to paint inside.

Yesterday, however, we were very lucky. Bob, a fellowartist, picked me up for the painting trip, and after unloading the car we went directly to search for a good painting spot. We both managed to get two paintings done before the rain set in. The first one took me a couple of hours, the second one I did in fifteen minutes, and it is almost finished.

Later on we had “Happy Hour” where I met all the other participating artists. I knew about half of them already. I am very happy as I am in a cottage with my painting buddies Janis, Helene, and Tricia, and have the luxury to have a single room.

After dinner we had a presentation from Golden Paints on their Acrylics products. It was a great presentation but I assume that all the painters who have never worked in acrylics were quite overwhelmed as it was a lot of information to digest.

After the demonstration we even got a goody bag to try out their new Golden Open Acrylics line.

Just the right thing for a rainy day.

I am very excited to finally try the new line especially after I saw all the neat things you can play with.

Keep on playing – it is so much fun,

Kerstin

April 1, 2009

A very exciting weekend lies behind me. We had a two day event at Galerie de la Rive to celebrate the new exhibition. Saturday half of the artists did their painting and photography demonstrations. It was great to see that so many people were interested in the way we produce our works of art. I was especially happy to see some former neighbours, members from my church, and a good friend of mine. Jean-Pierre, one of our photographers took lots of pictures and videotaped us. Soon you will be able to see the result on our Galerie de la Rive website (www.GaleriedelaRive.ca).

Sunday was just phenomenal. The gallery was full of people, including some of the participants of our school contest, the jazz band “A Work In Progress” and Olaf Krassnitzky who did free portraits Saturday and Sunday made the event even more memorable. I am sure everyone had a good time. I definitely enjoy talking with the visitors and fellow artists. It feels great to hear their comments about the gallery and the paintings. It is definitely worth all the hard work we put into putting the gallery into the spotlight.

However, the excitement did not stop there as I hang my first solo show Monday morning at the Blackburn Hamlet Library. It looks very good. I would like to say a big thank you to the great help of the Arteast coordinators Lynda and Thelma. However, just before the hanging I ran into a big problem as I had left the framing of my latest painting to the last minute realizing that the standard frame was indeed not standard but a tenth of an inch too small. In slight panic I had to find a new frame at a store within minutes before I had to be at the library. I was very happy that the sales person was very helpful, and quickly put wire on the frame. I had all the hardware with me but preferred not to have to do this work at the library. The exhibition will be on until the end of May. I would love to hear from you if you have a chance to see it.

In two days I will go on my first painting trip with some of my regular painting buddies as well as some other established artists of the Ottawa area. I am very excited as I was just invited to participate at the beginning of March. Most of my things are already packed as two of my friends will take them already up tomorrow. I will follow with another friend Friday.

To be prepared for all kinds of situations I will take both my acrylic and oil paints. Shopping for all the extra stuff I will probably need if we will be painting for five straight days was already an adventure. I felt like most kids who enter a “Toys'R'Us”.

I will definitely keep you updated once I return from the trip.

Enjoy the first warm spring days,

Kerstin

March 3, 2009

While I am writing this it is bitterly cold outside. Hard to believe that spring will start in less than three weeks.

A couple of weeks ago I was painting plein air for the first time in winter, and I loved it. I was afraid I would be cold but with hot pads in my boots I did not have a problem. It was just wonderful to go into the woods on snowshoes and paint in the crisp air. However, I encountered some small problems while painting when the wind blew my canvas against my good coat a couple of times. At the end I looked like an abstract painting myself but thanks to the long drying time of oil paints I was able to get everything out in the washing machine. I think I need a special painting jacket for winter.

At the end of February I managed to finish a couple of paintings for the new “Galerie de la Rive” exhibition that will be on until June 22, 2009 – some of them really last minute. In these situations I am always glad that acrylics dry fast. However, I purchased the new Golden open acrylics, a new type of acrylics which are slow drying. I am looking forward to trying those out. They should be a great advantage in the warmer seasons when I was at times quite frustrated because my paints dried faster than I could put them on the canvas making a switch to oil paintings necessary during last summer. I will let you know how they will work out for me.

Hope to see you at either the painting demonstration or the vernissage at “Galerie de la Rive” on the weekend of March 28/29, 2009. For the vernissage we will have not only a jazz band, prize draws, and a free portraitist but it is a chance to meet all the wonderful artists of the gallery.

Kerstin

February 2, 2009

Wow, January passed fast. I finally managed to paint again – with the Blackburn Hamlet group and with my painting buddies. Usually we are a plein air group but due to Ottawa's cold winters we have met inside recently to do still lives. This is always a lot of fun both during painting and also at lunch we share together. Once a week I also go to class with Ottawa painter John Alexander Day. Especially when life is very busy it helps me to get painting . Once I have started a still life in class I feel the urge to finish it.

As you might have noticed already the website was updated so that you can enlarge the paintings by clicking onto the photos. I would like to thank my husband Ingo for helping me to upload all the photos again to make this new format possible.

I registered for my first painting trip, and I am very excited about it even though it will not happen until fall. One week of painting - what could be better than this?

With the next “Galerie de la Rive” exhibition coming up fast (start March 2, 2009, vernissage March 29, 2009) I have been quite busy with meetings and administrative work. It is great to work with such a wonderful team of people. It is a lot of work but we are doing it for ourselves which makes it fun.

If you are looking for a place to see and purchase my artwork and cards there will be a new place to go to: Café Resonance, 3417 Trim Road, Navan, ON. I am very excited about this new venue. Especially as there will be an Artist Day on February 28, 2009. For more information go to www.caferesonance.com.

Please feel free to contact me with your feedback,

Kerstin

Happy New Year to you! I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends, and fellow artists for their encouragement and support throughout 2008. I made big steps forward by giving painting a higher priority, and joining the comity of the “Galerie de la Rive” last year.

Although I have not painted for the last couple of weeks, I have used the time to reflect about my goals for this year. I can already tell you that my website will get an update which will allow you to enlarge the photos. To keep you updated I will start a monthly block.

With regard to exhibitions, I currently have paintings in the Ottawa Little Theatre, the Orleans and Gloucester Libraries, at “Galerie de la Rive”, the Queenswood Villa, and a private law office.

In March I will take a new set of paintings to the “Galerie de la Rive”, followed by my first solo exhibition at the Blackburn Hamlet Library in April.

Please visit my website again for monthly updates. I hope you enjoy your visit to my website, and I am looking forward to your comments.

All the best,

Kerstin

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