KARLENE BLAND FINE ART - MY BLOG

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!

2/5/2025

Creating slithering snakes with kids in community centres and income sensitive community...
These sessions allow me to bring out my inner child to play... 😆
Kids wishing you a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! 🥰 🧧 🫶#happychineseyear2025 #yearofthesnake #arthousehalton #lovejoyfanart #havingfuntogether

I was humbled...

1/31/2025

SOLD-Catching Up in the Garden
When picking up her painting...
She reached out to give me a hug:
"Thank you for your paintings, they bring me so much peace and comfort..
I look at them before I step out into the world each day"
They reminded her of her beloved Mom & Dad who had passed away within a short time of each other..
"They used to love watching birds in their backyard"
This is the second painting she's bought from me.

This is the prayer that goes out with each of my painting:
May you feel comforted
May you feel inspired
May you feel hope again
May you feel cheered up
May you feel love warmly wrap around your protected heart
May you feel a smile brush away your tears

I was very humbled by what she said.. 🥰 🙏🏼 ☀️
#birdsandflowers #birdsandblooms #birdsandbloomsmagazine #colourpassionjoy #homedecorart #mothernature #acrylicpaintingsoncanvas #birdtalkmagazine #birdlover

Only 13?

12/19/2024

Painting with kids at a community centre...
My heart was broken to hear in the news..
One of the teenagers caught at the last violent home invasion is only 13!
Instead of being let loose to commit crime..
He could have let loose his imagination to create funky portraits with his peers...
I have 13 year olds come paint or volunteer...
You would have stayed out of trouble if you were in a class doing something that excites you more than doing crime..
Praying for all these teenagers to turn their lives around with the help of their community...
Love and Hugs to you all..we failed you kids somehow.. 😔 💖 🙏🏼 ✨
#Creativity #ArtHouseHalton #YouthPrograms #Charity #Halton #KidsArtPrograms #Halton #ArtForKids

Meet the Artists at Heritage Mississauga...

11/19/2024

I am part of @saugapleinairgroup , a collective of artists who gather to paint on location. Our artistic activities centre around appreciating the beauty of mother nature and engaging with the local community. This exhibition showcases some of our artwork. Join us at the reception this evening and view the many pieces capturing the beauty of our beloved city, Mississauga.

Sponsored by @heritagemississauga
Entrance to Heritage Mississauga is on Sir Johns Homestead.

OPENING RECEPTION AND ARTISTS MEET UP:

19th November🔥
6:00-9:00pm

Exhibition dates:
NOV-19-2024 TO JAN-16-2025
9:00AM - 4:00PM
TUESDAY-FRIDAY

Painting Sunflowers...

9/16/2024

Painting sunflowers on a foggy day which meant sunflowers weren't quite as perky...
But still a sensory charged day for me...
Chatting with passers-by, seeing friends and I got to paint sunflowers for the first time!!
Something I had always wanted to do when I drove by sunflower fields in France but didn't get a chance to ...
Can you spot the funny faces? 😆
Thank you to @mississauga.arts and @mylakeviewvillage for the privilege. 🙏🏼
Hope you are having a great start to your week, dear friends. 🥰 🌻 ☀️
#mississaugaartscouncil #lakeviewvillage #pleinairpainter #paintingonlocation #pleinairmag #sunflowerpainting #acrylicpainter

Gathering of Friends...

8/22/2024

SOLD
"Gathering Of Friends", 30"x 40"

Diane saw my painting in the corridor going in and out of her office..
" Every time I saw it, it made me so happy"

She was going to contact me but then her parents' health conditions worsened...

They passed within a short time of each other...
A few months later, she finally had the mind space to give me a call to purchase the painting from me...
Email from Diane, I was happy to read:
"I wanted to show you the result, I got your artwork framed.
It is beautiful, and I feel so grateful that I get to look at it every day! It brings me so much joy!"

I wonder if the 3 birds to her, represent her parents and her, forever together in a happy memory surrounded by prolific nature..
Just like the old times when she was with her beloved Mom & Dad...
Our parents in the end, when we are lucky, become our best friends too.

Glad we got a chance ...

7/22/2024

Painting With Seniors Friends...
I asked where Margo is...
The staff took a big stride towards me to speak in a lowered voice: "She will be receiving MAID(medical assistance in dying) tomorrow"
I couldn't hide how shocked I was: "But she was just painting happily with me at a Paint & Sip Party 2 weeks ago..she was energetic and excited, chatty and focused..why MAID now? May I go see her?"
Staff, to my surprise, agreed: " Come, let me take you to her room"
I hesitated and held back for a moment: " I am not sure I can hold it together.."
But I knew I would regret not seeing her...
She was lying on the couch covered with a blanket despite the summer temperature...
She opened her eyes to greet me..
"Hey, Margo..I just came to see if you'll come downstairs to paint.." mustering up a smile
"Not today, Hon.." struggling a smile back.." I love my horse painting though"
"You make sure you keep painting cos you enjoy it so much! You get to keep on doing what you love in heaven.." I clumsily said
" I sure will"

Margo had only recently picked up painting in her 80's..
She bounced into class with energetic enthusiasm, a contagious cheeryness and a need for speed to complete her painting...

This is a muscle I am forced to exercise over the years...
I can let my tears drop but to let go my senior painting friends when they make a transition ...
RIP Margo, ty for showing me how you lived a life with no regrets 🥰

Hope you're enjoying a good day, dear friends..for everyday is a Gift. 🥰

A stroll by the water's edge...

7/2/2024

Forecast may be for hot weather...
But it is always noticeably cooler/ colder by the water ...
Learned this lesson before but still got caught without a jacket...

A Mom came by with a baby in short sleeves in a stroller ...
Mommy caught in the same predicament..
A brilliant sun can be deceiving

HOPE YOU ENJOYED A LOVELY CANADA DAY WEEKEND, dear friends! I feel over the moon blessed to be living in Canada! I am betting you do too!

#paintingonlocation #pleinairartists #tranquilitybythewater #pleinairmag #summerwalker

At Home at Bronte..

6/5/2024

Delivered my "Bird Songs" hand painted Muskoka Chair for Bronte Harbour, At Home In Bronte Project...
Tricky at times assembling the chair...
But satisfying to have it finished...

May you find many moments of communing with nature and loved ones...
May you watch the sun rise and sun downs by the water with gladness in your hearts...
May your weariness from a hard day melt away...
As you take time to just sit and be... 🥰 🌸 ☀️
@brontebia @bumoutdoorca Bronte B.I.A. Bronte Events

#bumoutdoor.ca #bronteharbour #brontebia #handpaintedfurniture #muskokachairs #birdsongs

Launched into painting outside season...

5/16/2024

Have been painting in the studio or car since last fall...
To plunge myself into painting outside leaving the comforts of warmth and controlled conditions...
I decided to accept the invitation to paint at the Joshua Creek Heritage Centre

The sun played hide and seek with the clouds all day...
During which I had to load and unload my jacket a couple of times...
Thankfully the forecast for rain held off ...
But the wind picked up with surprising speed playfully chasing our hair, rags and paper..

Surrounded though by such pretty spring flowers and friendly faces...
So glad I made it a date to go participate... I now have been officially launched into plein air painting season again! 😄

Enjoy the ever warming up season, dear friends! 🥰 🌷 ☀️

#plein #paintingonlocation #holbeinacrylics #pleinairpainter #landscapepainting