April and a half Newsletter. OUTSIDE TO PAINT, DRAW, LISTEN, SIT, BREATHE... 

This is an early newsletter since time seems to be moving so slowly and there are some freebees that you might enjoy this weekend.
 
I have added another video for drawing for relaxation, and will continue to add them periodically, posting the links on my website home page. Thank you to those who have sent me images of your efforts. It is gratifying to know that you enjoy trying the methods. VIHA's COVID-19 response team has put the videos on the staff bulletin board for employees to use! Feel free to pass them along too. 

FREE Colouring pages: The Victoria Natural History Society is hosting my colouring book pages for free download. So many of us are missing the wild flowers this year and this is a virtual way to enjoy them. Please feel free to share this link. I have also posted the link on my website home page for one stop shopping:-)

Later today, Habitat Acquisition Trust will be launching an artistic challenge open to all.  The invitation is to create works inspired by selected wildflower drawings contributed by me (from my colouring book). Any medium, any size. Join and help spread artistic messages of relaxation, engagement, and appreciation of the natural world. Links on their facebook, blog and instagram sites  twitter   facebook  or website. 

I have been going outside and using paper that I was saving for reasons that no longer make sense. A friend took me to a secret pond last Saturday (thank you Marcia) and propelled me into pleine aire painting again. I recommend it. There are plenty of excuses for it not working out, so you can paint with more freedom and less concern about outcome. Another friend who works in restoration of wild places invited me to join her at Matson Conservation area (thanks Wendy). Examples at the top of this blog. 

Mentoring: This can still happen. If you want to consider having me mentor you in your art making evolution I'd be happy to talk and see if I can help. I take a maximum of 4 students at any one time. How it usually works is once a month we have a phone meeting (about 45 minutes) to discuss images sent digitally. I offer feedback and suggestions in line with your artistic goals. We do it again the next month. Minimum 4 month commitment. ($60.00 a session). 

Take care my friends, 

Joanne

You can Rent my art through the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Art Rental program. They have a limited selection, but a good one. 

I am often asked about making prints of my work. I don't like to do that myself. However I have partnered with Artfinds.me and they do like to make and sell prints. They have a small selection of my images however, if there is a specific image you are interested in ask and we can likely accommodate you. 

Where to find my artcards:
DURING THIS TIME OF PHYSICAL DISTANCING ONLY MY ONLINE STORE WORKS 
It is always wonderful to get mail. If you order art cards from my website, I'll sent them two for one. Order one and I'll send two. IF YOU LIVE LOCALLY- send me an email and arrange to pick up the cards at my home or have me drop them off to save shipping costs. Same deal applies. Buy one get one. This is a great time to send your friends and family members messages. 

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

TO PLANT A GARDEN IS TO BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE. 
I have been spending hours this past month drawing and watching plants grow in the local parks and planting plants to grow in my allotment garden. 
A few days ago I planted some cosmos seeds that I collected last fall. They are already breaking ground indoors in a small pot. If you would like some free seeds to plant with hope of a beautiful future - and a captive subject for contour drawings- let me know. I'll make generous little piles and mail them out to you until I run out of seeds. 

All classes have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely. I was a bit knocked off balance (and still am) however I really believe in the power of art to help in times of crisis. It certainly helped me cope with the pain and change of circumstances  when I broke my left wrist.  I have put together a little collection of drawing for relaxation videos. Please have a look, try them and feel free to forward them to anyone you think may find them useful. I was thinking of people still working in stressful situations who might need a bit of decompression time. I have kept them short. Between 5 and 10 minutes so they can be watched and tried on a coffee break sort of timeline. 
Here are the links. 

Mirror Drawing with Joanne Thomson
 
Blind Contour Drawing with Joanne Thomson
 
Contour drawing with Joanne Thomson

Contour drawing demonstration with Joanne Thomson
 
Mentoring: This can still happen. If you want to consider having me mentor you in your art making evolution I'd be happy to talk and see if I can help. I take a maximum of 4 students at any one time. How it usually works is once a month we have a phone meeting (about 45 minutes) to discuss images sent digitally. I offer feedback and suggestions in line with your artistic goals. We do it again the next month. Minimum 4 month commitment. ($60.00 a session). 

Painting with Thread. 
The image at the top is a return to an earlier passion of mine. Embroidery. I did hours and hours as a teenager. I was planning to show these little works in an exhibition this summer, I'll find another venue at some time in the future. 

I encourage you to return to the things you like to do but have not made time for in recent years. You'll see them in a whole new way. 

Take care my friends, 

Joanne

You can Rent my art through the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Art Rental program. They have a limited selection, but a good one. 

Also, I am often asked about making prints of my work. I don't like to do that myself. However I have partnered with Artfinds.me and they do like to make and sell prints. They have a small selection of my images however, if there is a specific image you are interested in ask and we can likely accommodate you. 

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

It was a great wet day for the inaugural workshop to raise money for the Thomson Understorey Foundation (TUF). A brave group of artists came with me to look at mosses and lichens and they showed all their colours to us in the soft rain. We collected samples that had fallen from the trees and returned to the studio for tea and cookies. Then set about studying and painting the samples, creating strategies for translating them to images on paper. I could hear the synapses developing! We broke for a hot lunch and then returned for more painting. Below are the pieces I created to get ready for the workshop and another after it (the demonstrations done during the workshop didn't amount to much as I cooked, taught and was generally engaged in things not directly related to creating my own work! The student work though, was fantastic! All these works below are for sale with proceeds being split along CARFAC recommendations between me, as the artist, and the TUF foundation. They are all works on paper and come without frames. 

PS I first posted this on March 1, 2020 but in a place that wasn't visible and couldn't figure out how to move it. So here it is again, hopefully easier to find.  J
​

THIS MONTH: 
September 11 - 29, 2019  Island Illustrators presentevery.day.art at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre 
‘As human beings we all create culture yet when we put a capital in the word and call it Culture most of us deny having any part in it. This show is to debunk that myth’
Featuring work from theIsland Illustratorsand an interactive public art project as part of the National CULTURE DAYS event September 27 - 29 weekend. Above is a detail from a work that took about 15 years to complete! Mainly because it languished in a drawer for most of those years. It is my take on why we go to galleries and watch performances. I'll also display a self portrait and a piece from my Bottled Women series. You'll find the work of the other illustrators completely different and absolutely inspiring. Please come down and make a card for the mobile and one to take home. I'll be there Sept 20 from 2-5 , Sept 27 from 11- 4, also most of the 28 and 29th along with other illustrators. 

South Shore Gallery's25 Year Celebration. September 14 - 28. Gallery artists have been invited to contribute small works that celebrate growth and time. I'll be participating. (Sooke is great for a day trip, if you haven't been for awhile you'll notice a positive change, good restaurants, wonderful ocean side walks and a great little gallery!) 

Culture Days September 27 - 29. You can use the interactive map on the link to see other events in the province and the events at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre hub.  

OCTOBER 
October 22 - November 10, 2019.  
Wood and Water: tranquil moments 
My exhibition at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre Gallery
I'll host a reception and give demonstrations on Saturday November 2nd between 1 and  5 pm 
The theme has been developing over the summer as I explore why I am painting. The exhibition will feature a number of paintings from the Mason Jar series and since finishing the series at the end of June I have been quietly thinking about what is mine to tell now. I find myself in yet another period of transition. I seem to be seeking and then painting about tranquility. It has been a joyful summer with much time in studio, in the forests and on the waters. I hope that will be apparent as you wander the exhibition. I'll be welcoming guest artists from amongst my students and former students who have been busy creating work related to the theme. I invite you to come to the show and enjoy some tranquil moments in the gallery. 

FALL CLASSES
Fall studio classes are full and start the last week of September. The studio will be ready and I'll have cookies baked. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again and welcoming some new students too. 

The dates for UVic Watercolour for Beginners Workshops are: October 4th weekend and October 25th weekend. Registration is open just click on the link to go to the UVic Continuing studies page for more information and to register. NOTE: the first weekend is full, but there are still a few spaces in the second weekend. 
We have a Mini painting workshopscheduled too on November 9th- all materials supplied for this one.

As always email me if you want more information about any of the above. [email protected]

Thanks again for all the support you offer me. It allows me to do the work I love. 

In gratitude,

Joanne 

Where to find my artcards
South Shore Gallery in Sooke, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Gift Shop, Sooke Regional Museum, Alcove Living in Qualicum Beach, Eclectic Gallery in Oak Bay, 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. ​

Clearly there was little improvement in my posting frequency in 2018. Maybe this year?Here is a photo of class demonstrations for the Fall 2018 session.  It was a great session, challenging me in many ways and providing rich learning for all. 

( I just see that I have been forgetting to post on this site!  Sorry I resolve to do better in this new year of 2018!)

I hope you had a great Christmas Season and are having a wonderful start to the 2018 New Year. I spent a cold Christmas in Terrace with my Mother in her lovely home playing cribbage and eating far too well. Then yesterday was gifted some local lemons and enjoyed a musical evening with friends. Today a great walk in the forest. Not sure life can be much better. I hope yours is full of great moments too. 

YES it is here. What you have been anticipating!  WILD ANTICIPATION begins on Friday January 5th with the opening celebration on Saturday January 6, at 7 pm! (above is a sneak peak of my painting of St John's Point on Mayne Island- The Wind Blows from All Directions Here.) 

The show runs from January 5 to February 1, Tuesday to Saturday 10 - 5 pm. 
at the Martin Bachelor Gallery 712 Cormorant Street in Victoria.
(NOTE: daytime parking on the street can be difficult due to nearby construction, however, just across the street is Centennial Square and the City Parkade (and you can check out the murals in the stairwell!)

Join me for some special events: 
Opening January 6th 7 -9 pm
Demonstrations Thursdays January 11, 18 and 25,  11 - 1pm
Talks Saturdays January 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2 - 4 pm
Walks Saturday mornings January 13 and 20, 9:30 and 1030 a walk about at Francis/King Park. Join me for a slow wander of discovery, meet at the Nature House.RSVP for January 13. RSVP for January 20.

Wild Anticipation is about the wild places that wise people recognized the need to preserve for those of us now on the planet, and those to come later. The paintings in this show are my experience of those beautiful wild places, some nearby and some far away. My hope is that the works will inspire you to an even deeper appreciation of wild places near and far and perhaps even become involved in preserving them.  

During the exhibition there will be information displays from a number of great organizations I have worked with (HAT, VNHS, EFI-wildwood, St. John's Point, Wild BC and Nature Saskatchewan- the force behind the creation of Grasslands National Park!).

LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS

Winter Studio Classes. DAYTIME CLASSES ARE NOW FULL. $360.00 for 12 sessions. 
Wednesday mornings: 10 am - 1 pm beginning January 10, 2018
Tuesday afternoons: 1230 - 3:30 pm beginning January 9, 2018
 EVENING CLASS? I have had some interest in an evening class. If this interests you let me know.  I could do a Monday or Wednesday evening class.  

Watercolour for Beginners weekend workshop at UVic. February 2- 4, 2018 This is a great introduction to watercolour painting. It is a full weekend being Friday 7 - 9 pm, Saturday 9 - 4 pm and Sunday 1 - 5 pm. The weekend flies by as we move through activities and if reminded I will schedule coffee and lunch breaks too.

Not Quite A Beginner Weekend workshop at UVic. February 23 - 25, 2018. This is for watercolour painter who want to explore composition and style in greater depth. More one to one instruction than the Beginner workshop, with emphasis on challenges participants bring and want help with.

As always email me if you want more information about any of the above. [email protected]

PUZZLES: I don't have any puzzles left.  They are available on line at Cobblehill Puzzles and it looks like shipping is free as I write this. 

Where to find my artcards
South Shore Gallery in Sooke, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria gift shop, Sooke Regional Museum, Alcove Living in Qualicum Beach, The Tea Emporium on Saanich Road, Goldstream Nature House, Chemanus Theatre Gallery, South Hollow Gallery in Courtenay and from me through my online store! and at the Open House on December 9th. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

Joanne 

It has been another wonderful month.  I have found more time to be out in the forest with the trees, bird, bugs, mosses, squirrels, orchids etc.  I have committed to doing an exhibition about wild spaces in January 2018 at the Martin Bachelor Gallery in Victoria. I am calling it “Wild Anticipation”. It is a celebration of the wild places I have been able to visit and paint because wise, hardworking people anticipated the need to protect them for present and future generations. It is time to claim and share my fascination with the wild natural environment and going through my stacks of drawings, and paintings I found a richness that has never been shown that I look forward to sharing it with you along with the new works I am creating this summer. I have a new website dedicated to the exhibition and the preparation of it.  WildAnticipation.ca. I hope to involve other likeminded individuals and organization. Have a look and see what I mean. 
 
AND a new development: Salish Sea Summer Art Camp. August 14 - 18 on Mayne Island. There is a little website with more information.  It is a real bargain this year as we are late starting and want to entice you to this magical island to enjoy art making with us. Have a look and register soon.  Class sizes will be small. 

Summer continues with markets and courses too. 
 
August Workshop
 
August 13 and 14 at Wildwood Ecoforest. Come and enjoy this wonderful place and learn a bit about art making at the same time!

AND August 14 - 18 at Salish Sea Summer Art Camp! Beautiful, quiet, joyful spaces for making art and friends. 

Shows and Markets
 
July 28 and 29, Mayne Island Conservancy  Artists are donating works inspired by the land for a fundraising auction 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.
 
MASON JARS at Government House Tea Room- A selection of my Mason Jar paintings will be on display at the Tea Room to the end of August.
 
July 1, Gorge on Art on the Gorge between Tillicum and Admirals – a great family event. ( in getting the link I see I am poster girl again. I'll have to remember to wear a different dress this year!

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 12 and 13 Workshop at Wildwood

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:
Watercolour painting for Everyone- don’t be shy, the more experienced painters are friendly and always learn from beginners as you will learn from them.
 
STILL ROOM for one more- Tuesday’s Sept 26- Dec 12 from 1 – 4 pm, 12 weeks, 36 hours.  $360.00 Class size limit 5.
FULL- Wednesday mornings Sept 27 – Dec 13 from 0930 – 1230 12 weeks, 36 hours, $360.00- FULL
 
NEW- Wednesday evenings- 7 – 9:30 pm, Sept 27 – Dec 13, 12 weeks, 30 hours, $300.00 Class size limit 5. Let me know if you are interested.  I have two names. We run with a minimum of 4.
 
At UVIC
I have scheduled weekend workshops at UVic (Beginners September 29, 30, Oct 1 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.
 
Campbell River Recreation,
Creating Illusions Watercolour workshop Saturday December 2, more details closer to the time.

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, Goldstream Nature House, Eclectic Gallery in Oak Bay and  at Alcove Living in Qualicum Beach.

Joanne 
  

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