May 2017 Newsletter

Joanne Thomson's May 2017 Newsletter
Oh dear, this email is going to be longer than usual. I’ll add pictures! We are well on the way with the Hampton Court Community Mural- before and in process photographs above- we hope it will make the space more welcoming.
 
I spent a spectacular weekend on Mayne Island with a couple of artist friends at the invitation of the Mayne Island Conservancy http://sjp.conservancyonmayne.com. Artists are donating works inspired by the land for a fundraising auction July 28 and 29 to raise money to save St John’s Point from development. It is a beautiful 60 acres of fir, balsam and arbutus along a rugged coastline. See sedge grass to the left.
 
Oh, and I did manage to get my store up and running on my website. You can purchase cards and posters on it. Paintings can also be purchased, however I don’t have them listed. If there is one you want, let me know, I’ll list it and you then can purchase it from the site!
 
If you get a chance to go outside this weekend, I recommend a wander up Knockan hill.  The grand camas’s are magnificent right now. Most are about 3 feet tall and in places they are as dense as the common camas were a couple of weeks back. AND the oaks have their bright and shining new leaves. It is beautiful even in the rain (though easier to sit and sketch if it is not raining).
 
June Workshop
Solstice Mandala workshop on Sunday June 18th from 1 – 5 pm at my studio.  Limited to 5 participants. Room for 2 more. $55.00. Waitlist being taken, if enough interest I'll run another workshop. 
 
Show and Markets
 
WOMEN WITHOUT BORDERS "CUT LOOSE" MAY 17 TO 28, 2017 at Coast Collective Gallery in Colwood.  This will be a group exhibition with artists from Victoria to Sooke, (always interesting, quirky and beautiful).  Well, they didn’t let me plan the opening, so there is going to be quite a spread of food!  Feel free to come by and join the party on Friday May 19th between 7 and 9 pm. Coast Collective http://www.coastcollective.ca is in Colwood at #103 - 318 Wale Road Plenty of parking out back.
 
SMALL WORKS at SOUTH SHORE GALLERY http://www.southshoregallery.ca in Sooke.  I have made some new mandalas, had some small mason jar paintings framed up and some other treasures new and not so new that I’ll be contributing. The show runs from May 27 – June 10, with an opening reception on May 27 from 1 – 3 pm. (I’ll be in Qualicum that day so won’t be able to be there).
 
Alcove Homegrown Living in Qualicum https://www.facebook.com/alcoveliving/ is hosting me for the day on May 27th.  I’ll be there demonstrating some painting and showing works from the Mason Jar series. Cheryl has a great little store and sells the most of my cards of any of my retailers!  If you are in Qualicum, or near by, please pop in and say hello.
 
May 28th will see me in Ladysmith (Cedar) at my old haunt “Wildwood Forest”. The land is now safe as an Ecoforest and managed by the Ecoforestry Institute Society. I’ll be participating in the open house with a show of my nature works and returning in August 12th to offer a weekend workshop for artists while we learn about sketching and selecting subjects art outdoors.
Here are the details of the Open House:  Sunday, May 28, 2017 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  2929 Crane Rd., Ladysmith  Wildwood is a 77 acre forest located in the Yellowpoint area just north of Ladysmith, BC It is the only ecoforest on the west coast of North America and is held in public trust by the Ecoforestry Institute Society. Come and experience ... • Tour of the Wilkinson Heritage Homestead • Timber Framers Guild demonstration
• Forest Tours
• Local artist displays and sale • Local Farms & businesses • Live Music
• Refreshments

MASON JARS at Government House Tea Room- A selection of my Mason Jar paintings will be on display at the Tea Room from late-May to the end of August.
 
Markets will be starting soon too. Here is the plan (yes, it looks ambitious, but one has to make a living! Or as they say in the country, make hay while the sun shines! )
June 3, Peninsula Country Market at Brentwood Bay Square ( 1st of the Season the at the Fair grounds)
June 10, Mayne Island Farmer’s Market (I’ll be there for the Mayne Island Ball!)
June 17, Peninsula Country Market on the Saanich Fair Grounds.
June 24, Art in the Vineyard, Central Saanich
July 1, Gorge on Art on the Gorge between Tillicum and Admirals – a great family event.
July 8, Peninsula Country Market
July 22, Peninsula Country Market
July 29, Mayne Island Farmer’s Market and Save St John’s Point Art Auction
August 5, Peninsula Country Market
August 19, Peninsula Country Market
August 26, Art and Music at the Horticulture Center of the Pacific
September 1-3, Saanich Fall Fair
 
FALL CLASSES:

Studio classes will start again in September.
Tuesday’s Sept 26- Dec 12 from 1 – 4 pm, 12 weeks, 36 hours.  $360.00 Class size limit 5.
Wednesday’s Sept 27 – Dec 13 from 0930 – 1230 12 weeks, 36 hours, $360.00
 
NEW Wednesday evenings 7 – 9:30 pm, Sept 27 – Dec 13, 12 weeks, 30 hours, $300.00 Class size limit 5.
 
I have scheduled weekend workshops at
UVic (Beginners September 28, 29, 30 and Not Quite a Beginner watercolour workshop November 17, 18 and 19. I’ll put the link for signing up in the August or September newsletter- as soon as I get it, or keep an eye on UVic Continuing studies.
 
Juan de Fuca 55+  October 14 and 21st I’ll be offering 2 separate workshops on pebbles.

As always email me if you want more information about any of the above. [email protected]
 
My art cards are for sale at South Shore Gallery in Sooke, at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria gift shop, Sooke Museum, at Alcove Living in Qualicum Beach, (and many locations further afield thanks for Lynda Yager of Pentacle Distributing).

Joanne