Winter painting sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Snow creates a whole new world of light and shadow, with soft pillowy edges and sparkling highlights. But acrylics start behaving strangely below freezing temperatures. Too cold and acrylic paint gets chunky and can form a cottage-cheese like consistency. Gross. And hard to paint with. So what can you do?
Continue reading Winter Plein Air Painting with Acrylics
A lot of stuff has moved online lately, and galleries are no exception! Many brick-and-mortar galleries have added an online store to their website, but there is a new trend too – galleries and shows that are completely online!
Continue reading Online shows and galleries – are they worth it?
First off, a warning! Using a sliding scale isn’t recommended for your polished studio work. Most artists price by square inch or linear inch and maintain consistent pricing for their original work. So an 8×10 painting would be the same price, whether it is for sale through a gallery partner or your own website. It is rare for artists and galleries to discount polished original work, as most collectors hope their pieces go up in value over time.
But you can do creative pricing with your studies and sketches! And a sliding scale has advantages for both you and your new collectors.
Continue reading How to run your own Sliding Scale Study Sale
Studies are small, quick, rough paintings. They are typically done on thin panels or bits of paper. They are little explorations, often slap-dash and haphazard. They might be scribbled out in the middle of the night or hiked down from the high alpine. And they aren’t usually worthy of the gallery wall. So why bother?
Artists have to face a choice: do we paint to sell or do we paint to explore?
Continue reading Why I spent 30 days painting small studies.
It’s hard to believe fall is just around the corner, but the rain and cool temperatures are a welcome relief! We had a challenging summer in the BC interior with wildfire smoke, heat, and drought. I missed adventuring in the mountains, but found a lot more time at the easel.
If you’re local, make sure you check out Nelson’s 2021 Artwalk! This is an annual event that features the work of local artists in local businesses. Art is on display all over town as well as in a virtual gallery until early September. I’m one of the participating artists with my work up at Nelson’s Remedy RX.
I used the extra indoor time to redesign my website and complete some new paintings. Here are the pieces I’ve worked on over the summer. Many paintings are available at local galleries – check out my page of available originals for details on each piece.
Over the summer I auctioned off some paintings for the Legacy of Hope Foundation and Red Cross BC Wildfire’s Appeal. I also participated in “Art and Seek” which was a fun event to hide an original painting in Nelson for finders keepers. Make sure you’re following me on social media to keep in touch!
I am planning out new work this fall and will be releasing it to email subscribers first. That’s you! Thanks for following along on my art journey!
-Abby
Spring has arrived in the Kootenays and I’ve been working hard in my studio to create new paintings for the busy summer season. I’m also expecting a baby in June so I’ve put a hold on commissions and online events. The plan for the rest of 2021 is to enjoy painting, be flexible, and get the occasional sleep.
So much new work! I’ve created lots of paintings over the last 3 months. Most of my new work has been placed in local galleries or exhibitions, so check out my list of available work to find which originals are still available and where to purchase.
Did you know that I have a collection of small works where you can find originals under $200? Small paintings are a great way to collect artwork at an affordable price!
A lot of my work is available on Redbubble to buy as prints and other merchandise. Redbubble is a print-on-demand store that mails your order directly to you. Check out my Redbubble shop if you’re looking for a print, notebook, face mask, puzzle, or many other things featuring my artwork:
Another project that I completed this spring was a mural for the baby’s room! This was the biggest scale I’ve worked on, but it went very fast using house paint, large brushes, and a simple design. The mural features the view over Nelson, BC from one of my favourite hiking trails. I worked in the Big Orange Bridge as well as wildflowers and the peaks in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
Winter is in full-swing here in the Kootenays! With crisp snowy peaks and beautiful winter scenery, there is no shortage of inspiration out there!
I’m thrilled to be the Artist in Residence for the 2020-2021 season at Whitewater Ski Resort! Over the winter, I’m doing a number of outdoor and virtual events to share my work.
I’ve led 2 virtual paint alongs – find the recordings below and follow along with your art supplies from home!
Check out my Whitewater Artist in Residence Series to view the collection of paintings I’m working on as part of this program. I’ll also be plein air painting at the resort during the season – follow me on Facebook and Instagram to find out about specific dates.
Here are a few other pieces I’ve completed over the last few months. Check out my available work page to see what originals are still up for collection.
Looking back, 2020 was a challenging and unexpected year for everyone! The COVID-19 pandemic led to many exhibitions and events being cancelled. Although us visual artists kept working away in our studios, the opportunities for sharing our work changed in significant ways.
I challenged myself to adapt my art practice to give back to the community during the pandemic in the following ways:
I want to thank everyone who supported my art practice during this very different year! Thank to my collectors, gallery owners, local business partners, and everyone who continues to follow me on this journey and support my artwork and projects.
-Abby
I’m excited to share lots of new work for the holiday season, and the Kootenay Colouring book is back in stock at local stores!
One of the projects I’ve been working on is a series of ten paintings to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kootenay National Park. The series is available now at Touchstones Museum Gift Shop.
In addition to the Rockwall series, I’ve completed a few new paintings. Check out my available work page to see what’s still for sale.
Join me next Saturday, November 21st for an exploration of colour theory in partnership with Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History. Learn how to bring exciting and intentional colours into your projects with colour theory!
This will be a virtual presentation, followed by a demo and a colouring contest.
Speaking of colour, the Kootenay Colouring book is now available in local stores! The new version features 25 pages of mountain landscapes and makes a great holiday gift.
The summer went by with lots of new adventures and art! Many of my smaller paintings sold over the summer – thanks to Viewpoint Art Gallery and the Nelson Visitor Center for continuing to support my work.
I finished lots of paintings in the last couple of months, with plenty of smaller pieces. Check out the available listing to see which paintings are still looking for new homes!
I am leading a monthly free “paint along” on Facebook Live. The next one is September 24th at 6:30pm PT where we’ll be painting golden larches. Check out the online event for the supplies list and details.
The colouring book is coming back! Stay tuned for more details in October, but the plan is that it will be available long-term through local retailers. In the meantime, you can continue to download free colouring sheets to print at home.
Summer is off to a great start! I’ve been enjoying the warm weather to do more plein air painting and hiking. Lots of inspiration to be found in the mountains.
I completed a big 48″ x 36″ cedar forest painting which took several weeks and a long audiobook! These are all fresh off the easel and getting varnished. See my portfolio for details about sizing and prize.
Check out this exhibition of local artists at Viewpoint Art Gallery in Nelson from July 3rd to August 2nd. The exhibition is available online as well as an outdoor gallery (weather permitting). Find more details here.
Nelson Artwalk has also gone online this year for the summer! Check out the virtual gallery here. I have several paintings listed.
Join me for another paint along on Facebook Live. You tune in with your supplies and we’ll paint an old growth forest scene together. Find the event details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/308675166929385/
Thank you everyone who bought face masks with my artwork. I was able to make a donation to the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation with all of my artist profits!
Masks are still available through Redbubble. They are printed on demand and shipped to you, but note shipping timelines are delayed right now. It took over a month for mine to arrive.
That’s all for now! See you out on the trails!
-Abby
