Honorable Mention
Neilson Park Plein Air Competition
Nestled in the woods, I was painting to the soothing sound of the babbling brook...
A couple of artist friends painting nearby gave me an additional sense of security and community... 
"Excuse me" 
I turned around to see a Mother with her little boy...
"My son would like to say something to you"
"Yes, hi there!" I smiled at his dear little face with eyes as blue as the shirt he was wearing, obviously a deliberate choice by his Mom..
" I like your painting very much"
"Why, thank you..do you like to paint too?
"Yes and I am going to paint some rocks today"
I know you're not supposed to ask one's age but I did..
"Practically seven..I am going to be 7 in a few days...
He later came to the awards room to say Hi again..
He stole my heart..wish I asked him for his contact details so I could send him some Birthday wishes...
"What a well spoken young man..you're doing such a great job!" I said to his sweet, perpetually smiling Mom..
Kudos to all the Moms who are raising confident, articulate, polite young men! 
🥰 🙏🏼🌷
#neilsonparkcreativecentre #paintingleinair #paintingonlocation #treebathing #pleinairpainter #cyclists

​Unveiling of Mural
Spent the last few months from Jan-May2026 painting with differently abled students and fellow instructor Cassandra....
The incredible thing was that Cassandra and her students worked on a different day separately from me and my students..
But we managed to collaborate, coordinate colours and design to keep the whole mural flowing without seeing each other in person..TY, Cassandra!
Parents, friends, students and fellow community members came to see the mural unveiled...
Students were proud of their efforts and they were paid a stipend...
Thank you to the Mississauga Foundation's Hazel McCallion Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund for funding this project, Christine B. of Options Mississauga for her vision, Stephen Dasko for his constant support...
And the students for their diligence and stick-to-it-ness for the duration of the project...
Parent said to me of his son: " He never wanted to paint before your class.."
I thanked her for her affirming comment: "I commend your son for being willing and interested enough to embark on this painting journey while discovering he can stretch his horizons... "
Gosh! Hope you're finding ways to keep cool, dear friends..I found a nice rock to hide under!    
​#murals #Neurodiversity #AutisticAndProud #ADHDAwareness #NeurodivergentCommunity #paintingmurals #differentlyable #beautifyingtheworld #optionsmississauga

Hello dear friends!
My Xmas greeting is a bit late...
Hope you had a lovely one with your loved ones and friends..
I have been on  volunteer distress centre shifts the last three days...
There are lots of people who don't have families or friends to spend this festive season with...
Do share a warm smile with whoever you might encounter when you're out and about..
You never know when someone has emerged from a lonesome existence the last few days just to be near fellow humans 

Sharing a Xmas greeting from some of my differently abled students ... 
Who recently had an open house and sold some of their paintings along with  other colourful products...
They were so pleased and proud to see their artwork being turned into calendars, cards and notebooks...
Thank you to their supportive parents and Options Mississauga for making these programs possible...
May you continue to enjoy the richness and blessings of this season with everyone around you, dear friends!    
🥰 🎄 ☃️ 🙏🏼       

SOLD
"Do You See Me?"
36"x40"
Karen, a dutiful, loving daughter came from Florida to visit her precious 100 year old Mom. Below is what she wrote on her page:
"My new addition! Titled Do you see me? This piece has special meaning. I saw it at a theater production of The Birds and the Bees, when I was in Ontario in November visiting my mother and siblings. I fell in love with it, hanging in the theater not realizing it represented the play and is significant for the last visit with my mom. Thank you to the local artist Karlene Bland, you can see her work on Facebook. Karleneblandfineart and on Instagram"
Thank you, Karen for giving "Do You See Me?" a special place in your heart and wall. I cherish this experience of having met you and your son and to hear about your Mom. May she rest in sweet peace knowing how well she was  loved. 🥰 🙏🏼 🌷

#birdsbeauty #birdsbees #ᴀʀᴛᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ #wallartwork

​OPENING DAY 7am
Shocked to see a number of cameras aiming at me...
I always only saw the chirpy Store Manager of Walmart Bronte, Ivona,  from the ladder...
She always shouted words of encouragement from the floor to let me know she liked the direction the mural was taking...
The air on Opening Day was festive, filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment from the staff and an air of excited anticipation from customers shopping first thing in the morning...
The staff had worked diligently to meet the opening day deadline which was brought forward a couple of times...
It was  awesome for me to witness how something big like a new store opening was brought about by a group of enthusiastic personnel from all levels...
And all done without any tantrums, tensions or drama!
Good leadership sets the mood in an organisation!
Elephant in the room: Walmart Canada is a subsidiary of Walmart US, It does however employ  Canadians and work with Canadian suppliers.
​#paintingmurals #muralart #muralartist #muralpainting #MuralsInTheMaking #feelingthelove
#muralists #paintingwallart #murals #mural #muralartist #muralartistsforhire #muralartists #PublicArt

Day 1: Transfer of Sketch
Day 2: Outline Sketch in paint
Day 3: Paint main areas with colours
Day 4, 5, 6 & 7 : Finessing, fiddling and finishing...
While up on the ladder on Day 5....
I moved to shift my feet position on the rungs and happened to glance over my shoulder...
I saw a row of white helmets watching me paint in the distance..
They smiled, walked over and asked to take a pic with me...
"We're from Headquarters and we like the progress you're making!"
Little did they know, I was the one who was pleased with the progress...
The middle part of painting details seemed to take hours with miniscule progress detected ...
But on the 7th day, with a last check, I was satisfied with the finishing touches..
I packed up, signed out, handed in my badge and walked into the night...
Knowing the next time I walk in there, it would be as part of the public   🤗 🥰 ☀️​
​#paintingmurals #muralists #paintingwallart #murals #mural #muralartist #muralartistsforhire #muralartists #PublicArt #muralart #muralartist #muralpainting #MuralsInTheMaking #feelingthelove