February 2020 Newsletter

Moss painting in dry brush- getting ready for the workshop

Wow! It has been raining. It feels like every day I am emptying my rain gauge of an inch of water. Nice thing about the rain though is all the reading I get done.
I hope you are finding lovely warm dry places to enjoy yourselves and create. 

THIS MONTH: 
The Mason Jar Series will travel to the Old School House –Dorothy Francis Gallery- February 17 – March 15  2020. I'll be taking up 142 paintings up so it will be a lovely full room, reminiscent of the first exhibition being a small gallery full of paintings. I'll be offering a watercolour workshop there Feb 20 and 21 and there is still room to register. 
 
Wild Anticipation: Mosses and Lichens.  Friday, February 7, 10 - 4pm. All materials supplied and lunch provided. $75.00  We will meet in the morning at forest location and look at some of the wonderful mosses and lichens growing there, do some sketches, take some photographs, maybe pick up some samples that dropped out of the trees. Then we will meet at the studio for lunch and an afternoon of painting using dry brush techniques (see the moss above for a sample). Please email me to register. Max 6 participants. There is room for 2 more. NOTE: the earnings from this workshop go into a fund which will offer small grants to help community groups restore and re-create habitat for native species of plants, bugs, butterflies, birds and reptiles.
 
Feb 20, 21 (Friday and Saturday) Mason Jar workshop at the Old School House in Qualicum Beach. Here is a  link for more info and to register. 
 
MARCH:
March 6, 7, 8. (Friday - Sunday) UVic Continuing Studies Beginners Level 2 Watercolourworkshop: book with them here.  There is room in the class. I encourage those of you who are wanting more than the absolute basics to register. It is still a beginners class so don't select yourselves out too quickly. 

Wild Anticipation: Sketching the early wildflowers. Thursday, March 12. 1 - 4 pm We will meet in at a local park, learn some strategies for sketching outdoors, do some sketches and then come to the studio for cookies and tea and work one of the sketches up to a finished line drawing. Please bring a sketchbook and pencil or pen with you. NOTE: the profit from this workshop go into a fund which will offer small grants to help community groups restore and re-create habitat for native species of plants, bugs, butterflies, birds and reptiles.

Saturday March 21th, 2020  Easy mini watercolour paintings with a botanical focus Mayne Island Community Center 1230 – 5:30 (5.5 Hours) (timed so we can take the ferry over and back on the same day!) All materials supplied $70.00 NOTE: pre-registration required: contact Vicky Turay  [email protected] or 250-539-9946 
 
APRIL: 
Wood and Water: tranquil moments travels to Port Alberni at the Rollins Art Centre April 8 – May 2, 2020. I'll be revisiting wth large forest works on canvas and with some new ones of the sawmill. 
Artist Reception is on Saturday April 18, 1-3 p.m. 

Joanne

Where to find my artcards: I put a new category in the store: New Art Cards. 
South Shore Gallery in Sooke, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Gift Shop, Sooke Regional Museum, Eclectic Gallery in Oak Bay, Alcove Living in Qualicum Beach, Goldstream Nature House, Swan Lake Nature House, Laughing Oyster Bookshop in Courtenay and from me through my online store or call and arrange to come by to see cards and original art.  

my instagram address is #joannethomsonartist

Satin Flower- a page from the Wildflowers of Vancouver Island colouring book.