Blog Archives - KARLENE BLAND FINE ART

Painting with seniors again..

8/23/2021

Painting with my senior friends again after receiving my 2 vaccinations…
David, a former dentist, contracted covid in 2020…
He decided to pick up painting despite having lost some fine motor skills, etc
But so pleased to hear his lungs are ok…
Restraining myself from giving him a hug….
‘ How happy I am to see you recovered from covid and now enjoy the pleasures of painting!!
He gave me a smile of gratitude for being alive! Ty for the reminder, David: Smile and be grateful you are alive 😃🌸🎉

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Mural Painting...

8/21/2021

During a trip to Turkey I took my Aunt & Mom on….
There was one email I couldn’t ignore…Aesthetics Arts Administrator, US :‘Would you like to paint a mural for the rehab room of the new Sunny Hill Centre of the BC Children’s Hospital?”Sequestered myself after I got home in the summer of 2019 to create this painting (24”x64”)
No fooling around as progress photos had to be furnished biweekly…
Experienced summer through my studio window,
I mustered all the love and healing vibes I could to pour into this painting…
Which I hope would give the children and their parents by their sides…
Hope, courage, smiles, distractions, faith and belief in their lives…
For a better and enriched today..
Today, each moment, right now is all we need to handle at a time May you have all the strength to handle each moment of the day as it unfolds, dear friends
#muralproject #muralpaintings #bcchildrenshospital #sunnyhillhealthcentre #sunnyhillhealthcentreforchildren

"Labor not, spin not, fret not..."

8/20/2021

With some real summery weather…
I just felt like painting flowers…
To me, flowers are like lords and ladies, barons and baronesses,
All dressed so finely & delicately…
Hits home the wisdom in:
Paraphrase: See how the flowers of the field adorn themselves…they neither labor or spin or fret I am working on laboring, spinning and fretting less..
And replacing with calm…
And may you enjoy a calm day with me, dear friends ☺️❤️🌈

Highs and challenges of painting on location...

8/18/2021

The early cloudy morning with no rain in the forecast….
Enticed me to take my 13 year old student a little further than my front yard to continue our trees studies…
As soon as we were comfortably set up to sketch & paint ….
The weather got increasingly humid & sunny…
Kevin nearly stepped on an ants nest….
Bees flitted above his palette
And mosquitoes buzzed around for an opportunity to land..
A couple of people stopped to chat in the middle of the ‘ugly’ stage of painting …..
And we moved our easels a few times into the shade as the sun played catch with us…..
Kevin being an only child in this pandemic time..
I was happy he was experiencing the highs & challenges of painting on locations…
On the drive home:
‘Isn’t it much more interesting to be outside painting than being inside (glued to some screen) ?”
Surprisingly to me, he looked in my direction and nodded in total agreement without missing a heartbeat! 😅.
He was well~aired, sweaty, nibbled at by the time I dropped him off!
Please join me in wishing Kevin all the Best as he tries out for his school swim team tomorrow…
All the Best, Kevin! You’ve done it before!😊👏🏼👊🏼👍🏼

Painting for Sunny Hill Centre, BC Children's Hospital

8/16/2021

While on a trip with my Mom & Aunt in Turkey…
Received an email:
‘Would you like to paint a mural for the Sunny Hill Children’s Healing Centre of the BC Children’s Hospital?’: Aesthetics Arts Administrator. It was a tightly scheduled job with high resolution photos to be submitted weekly. A good part of Summer 2019 was spent in front of the easel..
That was nothing compared to the kids who spend their time in the motion rehab room for which this painting was created….
Only just been given permission to post this after the grand opening of this new centre…
I tried to incorporate as much loving, positive and healing vibes in this painting as I could… 😊.
May you be swimming in loving, healing vibes...
And know you are supported by the Universe when you let it .. ❤️☀️🌈🌸
karleneblandfineart
#muralproject #muralpaintings #bcchildrenshospital #sunnyhillhealthcentre #sunnyhillhealthcentreforchildren

#17/37 Cookbook Illustrations

8/14/2021

#17/37 Sold
Cookbook illustrations of recipes submitted by newcomers from all over the world...
A fresh crisp salad of green peppers, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers and basil with lemom juice and olive oil dressing...
Grandpa used to serve this to her when she visited..
Just perfect for these hot days, don't you think!
ENJOY A LOVELY, CRISP DAY but don't get too baked in the sun! 😅😎🌸🌈

Trees study..

8/11/2021

Being a bit of a wimp today…
With a humidex of 40, decided to stay close to home with my 13 year old student..
And study these big trees outside my house..
‘How many times have we actually taken time to really look at a tree’.
We both confessed to each other: ‘ Not enough times ‘ .
Followed by another confession by Kevin…
‘ My legs hurt’..
He happily took a seat I had readied for him…
I swear he had grown another inch since last week..
Mine don’t hurt at all..
Sigh.. I stopped growing a long time ago.. Remember to stay hydrated, dear friends!

#16/37 Cookbook Illustration

8/10/2021

#16/37 SOLD
Ajarian Khachapuri , an Armenian brunch recipe
Yeast bread with egg, feta & mozarella cheese filling...
Filling & satiating... 😄
Probably would be very well appreciated by someone who works physically hard out in the cold 😅

Painting on location with student in Oakville..

8/9/2021

Painting with my 13 year old student…
If not for a couple of portable cooling fans…. It might not have been as bearable…
Kevin suddenly made a declaration : ‘My legs feel tired’
I motioned him to have a seat on the park bench…
“Your legs are trying to grow while trying to hold you up at the same time’ Feeling less of a wimp, he flashed a quick smile of relief…
On the drive home:
‘What are you going to do for the afternoon?’ “NOTHING” 😂

Reminiscences of Papa Monet's Lilies...

8/8/2021

Working on a commission for a lovely condo space
Love painting water lilies:
Reminiscences of Papa Monet’s garden in Giverny Following a missed chance in a part if my life
I decided to always try to make memories when I have a chance…
And now the quarantine affords us the chance to relive those memories …Memories made during this unprecedented time.. Are different and may well be amongst the most unforgettable yet…
❤️🌷🌈