St Andrews Winter Painting Spears Fishing Hut

St Andrews Winter Painting Spears Fishing Hut

orig. oil on canvas, 8x10in approx. $225

more info and purchase here

This one took me a bit longer to paint. I am determined to not give up with the sub zero temperatures the East Coast has seen lately. So I strapped my oil painting kit and tuckered off down to the wharf to do some paintin'. Smart thinking I was loaded with hand warmer pads, ski pants and triple layers underneath my down coat. I guess I must have looked like the Michelin Man wobbling down the street. I have to say I stayed warm until almost to the very end when the sun went down and my fingers and toes got nippy.

First session, laying underpainting down[/caption]

I couldn't quite finish the painting in one session, so I went down a couple of days later during similar weather. My hope is to see the various colours reflecting in the snow. Not just the dirty, brown snow, but the blue and purple-ish cast shadows, the yellowish snow reflecting the low angle afternoon rays and so on... it is a journey. The longer I am looking at snow (and white in general), the more I learn to see subtle colour variations in the landscape. I hope to continue observation this winter... sun is setting, time to finish the painting

Living the long winter

Making myself go out does my spirits well as they are lifted in the fresh breeze and with the sunshine. Winters are hard for me here, German winters are shorter and not as harsh, and I have to admit that I never really have adjusted to the winter climate here. My dear husband has just put in an order for a 'mood light' to help me beat the winter blues. It hasn't arrived but I'm looking forward to indulging in a daily dose of 'happy rays'. Only 50 more days til Spring, yey!
Hope to being able to share more painting with you soon! Thank you for stopping by!!

Feature on Girl Camper Podcast

This week your truly has been featured on the Girl Camper Podcast with my camper calendar!

Wow, what a great honour and surprise when Blogger and Podcaster and Girl Camper Advocate Janine Pettit dropped me a line, if she could feature me on her show! I was floored!

I have been following Janine on social for a while and enjoy her sharing of vintage camper photos, camping ideas, her travels in her camper- and every Sunday a beautiful photo of a country church.

Here is some info from Janine's website, www.girlcamper.com :

'Janine Pettit is a lifelong lover of camping who took a 25 year sabbatical when she married a non-camper!

She discovered that camping was still in the cards for her when she stumbled onto an article about a women’s outdoor adventure group that travels around the country in RVs, meeting new friends, checking off bucket list adventures and doing things she had only dreamed of.

Janine has become an Ambassador for the Girl Camping movement. She encourages women to go places and do things on her Girl Camper podcast, on her blog for Go RVing, and through her frequent public speaking engagements.'

On her podcasts, she shares news, trends and personal stories of her camping life. She meets people, goes to trade shows, and interviews specialists and camping enthusiasts. All, to provide important information to the girl campers out there. I learn a lot, and this week's episode is where she shares her insight from the great RV shows and her top 5 new trailer releases for 2017. I have to look up some toy-hauler trailers now, haha!

My Calendar makes a great gift for your glamping lover or a fun Secret Santa Surprise! Direct Shipping available, too- just leave a note at checkout!

On my end here, I have been busy packing and shipping Camper Christmas Gifts. I also was 'helper' to a 'Secret Santa' (see pic below). Also, I can only tell you this much, that there are some very thoughtful husbands out there- cannot say more...

We had a nice first snowstorm of the season here in the Maritimes. Kids were off school, too. So, I grabbed my oil painting stuff, got them in snow gear and we headed out. They had a snowball fight and I painted a picture of my neighbour's gift shop, the Crocker Hill Store (a treat for garden and dog lovers). Happy Advent to you all, thank you for stopping by!

Sunny Boat

Yellow Fishing Boat, oil, 6x6, sold

(10$ from each sale donated to 'Let's hear it for Debby'

www.facebook.com/events/933751463305810/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming)

What a great day it was- the weather almost like in July! Great choir concert with the 'Voices of the Bay' (Sunday on Grand Manan and October 19, St. Stephen- if you can, treat yourself!) and morning fun at the anglican fall fair (lots of candy for the kids and fun games, thank you to all the volunteers and organizers!). Late afternoon painting at the wharf, today it was the yellow fishing boat. Had a nice visit from the daughter of the fisherman owning the 'All Done' (the turquoise boat I painted a couple of days ago). All in all a memorable autumn day! A blessed Sunday to you all and thank you for stopping by!           Simone

Welch ein schoener Tag es heute doch war- Wetter wie im Juli! Tolles Chorkonzert mit den 'Voices of the Bay' (Morgen, Sonntag auf Grand Manan und Oktober 19 in St. Stephen- sehr zu empfehlen)

und am Morgen viel Kinderspass beim Herbstfair (viel Schlecksach fuer die Kinder und spassige Spiele, danke an alle Helfer und Organisatoren!). Spaetnachmittag malen an der Anlegestelle, heute war das gelbe Boot dran... waehrend ich malte bekam ich dann noch einen Ueberraschungsbesuch von Jane, der Tochter des Besitzers des tuerkisen Fischerbootes welches ich vor ein paar Tagen malte). Alles in allem ein ereignisreicher und schoener Herbsttag! Schoenen Sonntag euch allen und Danke fuers Vorbeischauen!        Simone

Painting it with Live Music

Cottage Craft, oil, 6x6, 50$

(10$ from each sale will be donated to 'Let's hear it for Debby' for hearing aids

https://www.facebook.com/events/933751463305810/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Happy Weekend! I had a great time painting down at Market Square (as per Sabrina's request- she wanted to climb up the big tree there). So, here I set up and it was an entertaining spot, right near the 'Red Herring Pub' sporting a patio full of patrons and live music, my kids climbing above me in the tree (orangutang-style) or running on the green space around (and not the memorial area this time). There was quite a coming and going at the pub but quiet under 'my' tree, some older tourist couples walking hand-in-hand was very sweet to see... (hey, notice that rhymes, too!)

Anyhow, Saturday 2pm, Highschool St. Andrews: Voices of the Bay Concert and the Fall Fair at the Anglican Church Hall 10-2! Wonder what I'll paint tomorrow...       Simone 

Sabrina in the tree

Markus has Oktoberfest in the Restaurant!                                  

                                                                                

Schoenes Wochenende! Ich hatte einen guten Wochenendstart mit malen am Marktplatz (Sabrina's Empfehlung- sie wollte den grossen Baum hochklettern). So, hier malte ich dann unter dem Baum; es war ein unterhaltsames Plaetzchen, nahe am 'Red Herring Pub' mit voller Terasse und live Musik. Meine Kinder waren oben im Baum oder rannten unten auf der Gruenflaeche (diesmal nicht am Kriegergedenkmal!) Da war ein Kommen und Gehen beim Pub und eigentlich ganz ruhig unter 'meinem' Baum, ein paar ältere Touristenpärchen schlenderten vorbei, schön romantisch!

Morgen ist ein Chorkonzert 14 Uhr in der Highschool und Herbstfest bei der Anglikanischen Kirche gegenueber 10-2 Uhr. Was ich wohl morgen male...? Happy Weekend!        Simone

Day 15: Combined Effort

Wharf Hut, 6x6, palette knife, 50$

So, today is Monday, and it's a somewhat hard day after a beautiful weekend, right?
After we were back from Saint John and the groceries were put away, we- the 'gang' and I- headed out to paint and play by the beach. I set up by Cricket Cove Yarn to paint their sweet hot pink patio chairs and got started when I heard screaming from the beach. My kids were fighting over something and they screeched so loud that the store clerks were coming out to check what's up! I told them, that
it's a normal sound as Sabrina tries to boss the boys around and they don't want her doing it. After retrieving her and have her sitting besides Mama reading her book, the boys showed up wet all over!
There was a cold wind, so home I sent them to a warm shower. Returning back to the easel, the clerks closed up for the night and took the chairs in... and then as I try to finish the surroundings, an inquisitive tourist couple (very sweet) asked the inside scoop of life in St. Andrews year round and real estate and population and so on... I guess they are debating of coming to St. Andrews...
well, by the end of the conversation, the sun had moved too far and I just had to quit. So, here's my today's effort, half done (you get what you get, right?).
Lucky me, I had one extra done up a couple of days ago, and here it is as my 'finished' contribution:
St. Andrews Wharf Hut! Hope tomorrow will be a 'Tuesday' kind of day;-)                 Simone

Pink Deck Chairs, work in progress, colours are off due to poor lighting indoors....

So, heute ist also Montag, ja, ein etwas schwieriger Tag nach einem schönen Wochenende...
Nachdem wir von Saint John zurückgekommen und die Einkäufe weggeräumt waren, sind ich und die 'Gang' runter zum Meer zum malen und am Strand spielen. Ich baute meine Staffelei auf um vom Cricket Cove Wollladen die pinken Gartenstühle zu malen; als ich ein Geschrei vom Strand her hörte: meine Kinder hatten sich in der Wolle und schrien so laut dass die Angestellten des Wollladens rauskamen! Ich sagte ihnen, dass das recht normale Töne sind wenn Sabrina versucht die Buben rumzukommandieren. Nachdem ich sie dann neben mir sitzen hatte zum Buchlesen, kamen bald schon die Buben: pitschnass vom ins Meer hüpfen! Heute war kalter Wind, drum schickte ich sie dann heim zu Papa und 'ner warmen Dusche. Erneuter Versuch an der Staffelei- keine 5 Minuten und die Angestellten holten die Stühle fuer die Nacht rein und schlossen den Laden... so versuchte ich den Hintergrund zu malen, bis ein wissbegieriges Touristenpärchen kam und alles mögliche vom Leben in St. Andrews wissen wollte, von Grundstückspreisen, Wertsteigerung, Population usw... ich glaube sie überlegen ob sie hierher ziehen wollen... naja, als alles Beantwortet war, war die Sonne zu weit gezogen und ich warf das Handtuch. So, hier also mein heutiger versuch, halb fertig (man nimmt's wie's kommt, gell?)
Ha, zum Glück habe ich noch den 'Joker', den ich vor ein paar Tagen gemalt habe, so hier nun mein fertiges Bild zum Tage: Häuschen an St. Andrews' Anlegestelle. Hoffentlich ist morgen dann ein Diensttag wie er im Buche steht, haha!                                                    Simone

Day 14: Cummings Convenience Store

Cummings Convenience Store, oil, 6x6, Sold
















What an eventful day! Yes, Sundays are special for me anyway and so we began it with Mass, after which my dear friend Mary had her birthday today and we met up at the Algonquin Resort for lunch.
It was also kind of a 'good bye' lunch, too as they are heading for Europe for at least a half a year now and we'll miss them much... especially our Sabrina. After lunch I checked out my painting 'fire and ice' at the Algonquin pool, and it looked rockin' awesome (do I sound full of myself now?? Well, I am just so happy to see it in this beautiful spacious environment!)
I had a good visit with a man who survived a most horrible work accident, and talking to him and seeing him so humbly accepting and positively looking towards his future was deeply moving for me.

Afterwards I had a couple of hours 'free time' which I jumped at the opportunity to paint a subject I had eyed at for a while: Cummings Convenience. I inched myself along the main street into town to find the best painting spot and found it underneath a big tree on the opposite side of the street of the gas bar.
As car where zapping by I enjoyed myself painting, hoping the rain would hold off (and it did! In fact it cleared up later on). After I was done painting I pumped some gas and asked when the renovations would start and the clerk told me tomorrow morning!! What luck, I was able to paint the store with its vintage charm JUST before the reno trucks pull in- I felt like a million bucks! So, here it is, Sundays are special, they are the Lord's Day and I hope it was a blessed day for you as it was for me! Thanks for stopping by!                                                                 Simone

'Fire and Ice' 

on display at the Algonquin Resort, acrylic on metal board, 8ftx8ft, 7800$

Welch ein ereignisreicher Tag es doch war! Ja, Sonntage sind was Besonderes- fuer mich auf jeden Fall- und so begann ich meinen Sonntag mit Sonntagsmesse. Anschliessend traf ich mich mit meiner guten Freundin Mary im neurenovierten Algonquin Resort zum Lunch. Es war heute ihr Geburtstag den wir feierten, aber auch ein Abschied, denn sie fliegen morgen früh wieder nach Europa, mindestens ein halbes Jahr und wir werden sie vermissen... besonders unsere Sabrina. Nach dem Lunch wollte ich natürlich in den Pool reinschauen, wie mein 'Fire and Ice' Bild aussieht, und ich muss gestehen: es sieht super spitze aus (jetzt höre ich mich aber aufgeplustert an! Ich bin super happy das es in dieser schönen Umgebung ausgestellt wird!).
Auch machte ich heute nachmittag einen Krankenbesuch bei einem Mann, der einen hoechst traumatischen Arbeitsunfall überlebte, und mit ihm zu sprechen und ihn so voller Akzeptanz sein Schicksal hinzunehmen und positiv sich auf seine Zukunft zu freuen was zutiefst bewegend fuer mich. 
Dann hatte ich zwei Stunden 'fuer mich', was natürlich heisst: ran an den Speck und Malsach' raus!
So dueste ich zu Cummings Convenience Store, die alte Tankstelle in St. Andrews die ich schon lange malen wollte. Ich lief entlang dem engen Grünstreifen neben der Hauptstrasse und parkte mich unter einem grossen Baum gegenüberliegend der Tanke direkt an der Strasse. Als ich fertig war, oder vielmehr meine Zeit abgelaufen war (kinderfreie Zeit um), tankte ich noch schnell und fragte wann denn die Umbauarbeiten anfangen wuerden. Die Angestellte sagte dass morgen frueh die Renotrucks kommen wuerden- wow! Ich fuehlte mich als haette ich den Jackpot gewonnen! Welch Glueck dass ich heute noch unsere Tankstelle malen konnte, am Sonntag, ich weiss Sonntage sind was besonderes, Tag des Herrn und ich hoffe dein Sonntag war auch so besonders wie er fuer mich war!
Danke fuer's vorbeischauen!                                       Simone

St. Andrews Cottage

St. Andrews Cottage, oil, 6x6in. plein air, 50$

Today's painting I just finished! After we finished schooling (happy weekend all;-), the kids wanted to go to the playground. They had fun running and climbing and I started today's painting. After I had blocked in and just gained ground I heard that noise which made me crinch... I knew what was coming: a lawn tractor! I was all set-up in the middle of the green space and knew I had to move.
My kids were kind and helped re-locate, but by moving the easel, the painting tipped and fell into the palette- yikes! So, this was a good exercise in 'keeping focus', after all I could finish it from a distance where there was a nice shady spot. I'm off not to cook dinner for the 'gang', while Markus is busy, busy in the restaurant.   Thanks for stopping by!                              Simone

PS: My big 'Pool Painting' will be going to the brand new Algonquin Resort Pool- will post pic's once installed..

Pool Painting, on display at the Algonquin Resort St. Andrews, $7800.-

Jetzt habe ich gerade das heutige Bild fertig! Nachdem wir mit Schule fertig waren (frohes Wochenende;-), wollten die Kinder hoch zum Spielplatz. Während sie Spass hatten mit rennen und turnen fing ich mein heutiges Bild an. Nach einem zügigen Start hörte ich ein gewisses Geräusch das mich zusammenzucken liess: Rasentraktor! Ich hatte mich genau mittig auf der Grünfläche positioniert und wusste dass ich umziehen musste. Meine Kids waren echt suess und halfen mein Gebündel wegzutragen, aber als ich meine Pochade Staffelei wegtrug, fiel mein Bild geradewegs auf die Farbpalette- hiilllffeee! So, was ich heute gelernt habe: Fokus beibehalten und tief durchatmen auch wenn's mal nicht ganz glatt geht (ich muss gestehen, ich hatte ein paar böse Gedanken). Trotz allem war's OK denn ich fand ein schattiges Plätzchen etwas weiter weg wovon ich dann ganz gut fertigmalen konnte. Jetzt bin ich auf'm Weg in die Kueche: Abendessen kochen fuer die Kinder- Markus kocht noch auf Hochbetrieb im Restaurant. 
Vielen Dank fuer's vorbeischau'n!                                                              Simone

PS: Mein grosses Poolgemaelde wird fuer's Marriott Algonquin Resort abgeholt- in ihren neuen Poolbereich

Church of St. Andrew Steeple

Today another steeple: the Catholic Church of St. Andrew. It was a beautiful late summer day, very sunny and hot, with white clouds drifting by here and there. Sabrina is back from her trip to NJ and it was so sweet how she brought me water from time to time!
Can you guess where I painted this?

Church of St. Andrew Steeple, plein air, oil, 6x6, 50$

Heute nochmal ein Kirchturm Bild: Die katholische St. Andreas Kirche. Es war ein wunderschoener Spaetsommertag, sehr sonnig und warm, mit vorbeiziehenden Schaefchenwolken. Sabrina ist auch zurueck von ihrem New Jersey Urlaub und war so suess- hat mir kaltes Wasser zum trinken gebracht waehrend ich malte! Weiss jemand von wo ich das Bild aus gemalt habe?

Plein Air Painting the Eastcoast

Summer is here and with it lots of opportunity to go out and paint!
last week was the opening of our annual paint out with the 'plein air painters of the bay of fundy' in Eastport, Maine. it was misty, but magical. i had so much fun painting!
here are some of the paintings i have done...

Eastport Fishing boat 5x7approx. watercolour

 Sold

downtown Eastport, watercolour, 5x7in approx.

Sold

the exhibit is up at the NextDoor Gallery at 8 Boynton Street until july 13th, 2011, if you are in the area- stop by it would be a great pleasure!
from July 27th- 30th, 2011 i will take part in our annual art show and sale at the Fairmont Algonquin Ballroom. It has been a well received art event drawing locals and vistitors alike to view a variety of
one-of-a-kind crations. Fellow artists of our 'Fundy Five' Art Group include: Barbara Neilson,
Pat Staples, Paula Cooper-Bertke, Bertha Day, and Morag Walsh and guest artists this year:
Lydia Five, Bernadette Cunningham, Joe Hunt.
For the first time i have collectors contact me prior to the show for a pre-view of my works and so i have had collectors stop by and choosing framed and even unframed works! what an honour!

thank you!














Docked at the Wharf, watercolour 5x7in approx/  13x18cm
watercolour/ aquarell
available at Fireball Beeds Gallery in Deer Island

Now i have to head out- my dear hubby Markus is taking me out for lunch to Kingsbrae and the kidlets are in daycare today!

Painting workshop with Michael Chesley Johnson

Field of gold $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

summer is always hectic around here with the inn and restaurant running full blast. my three little ones enjoy this time of year with swimming lessons and lots of outings to the beach.

for me it was very special as i took one week for me, a full week of painting with Michael Chesley Johnson trying out oils. it was my first week-long course in over 4 years! needless to say i was mega excited because he's a very skilled artist and patient and knowledgeble teacher- i have taken in the past a couple weekend courses with Michael painting soft pastel offered atSunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center.

we had a fun group with students come as far as Texas- and good painting weather.

here are my pieces done during the week.

I am wishing you all a great late summer and thank you for stopping by!

Minding the Store $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

Die Sommer sind immer hektisch bei uns mit unserem Restaurant und Pension voll gebucht. Meine 3 Kleinen geniessen diese Jahreszeit mit Schwimmkurs und vielen Ausfluegen ans Meer.

Fuer mich war letzte Woche ganz besonders, da ich meinen ersten 5-tage-Malkurs in ueber 4 Jahren belegt habe ausgeschrieben vom Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center. Natuerlich war ich voller Vorfreude auf eine Woche malen mit sehr talentiertem, mehrfach ausgezeichnetem Kuenstler, und geduldigen und erfahrenen Lehrer Michael Chesley Johnson.die Woche habe ich dem Oelmalen gewidmet, hier meine Ergebnisse.

Einen wunderschoenen Altweibersommer wuensche ich euch. Vielen Dank fuers vorbeischauen

'hey, come over take a rest'

$400 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

16x12in/ 41x30cm

High tide at pottery cove $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

Little Red Shed $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

outgoing tide at pottery cove $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

Georgiana's Tea House $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

8x10in/ 21x25cm

Sunny umbrella $225 framed

oil on board/ Oel auf Malplatte

palette knife painting

8x10in/ 21x25cm