Canada

Canada, 2018

My first artist retreat in Sudbury on Lake Charleston. We took a boat everyday to where we would paint all day. We came back for lunch to the cabins. Each morning I was awoken to the squirrels who were dropping acorns on the roof. It was very loud. I liked this way to wake up though. It was a reminder I was in a cabin in the woods. The cabin was well equipped so it was not a hardship.

I really enjoyed this adventure and it really set me on the painting journey I am pursuing today. We would return to the cabin and after dinner there was a very thorough critique of everyone’s paintings.

I learned of the Group of Seven painters that are famous to the area. The other painters and instructor were suggesting at one point I was channeling Carmichael, one of the seven. We were able to meet and speak to his grandson and visit the residence by boat while we were there.

The instructor post-impressionist painter, Keith Thirgood, shared with us the markers he uses and his color wheel. This has influenced my drawings and the color choices and paints in my work today.