Blog Archives - KARLENE BLAND FINE ART

Xmas of 2021

12/25/2021

A positive rapid test in my family..
Which led to rapid cancellation of plans ..
Which resulted in some rapid spiralling into disappointments and concerns..
My volunteer hrs at the distress centre during this festive season help put things into perspective ..
The last hour has been quiet..
I would like to think that it is because friends and families are reaching out to each other during this time to support one another…. Don’t underestimate the power of the little smile you can give to someone…
Wishing you a Merry Xmas, dear friends and Robust Health and Mindset to deal with whatever comes your way.

Lakeside sundown...

12/22/2021

The first time I came upon this scene..
I crashed and burned:
The initial light totally diminished…
I had trouble laying down the drawing…
My disorientation was exacerbated by frozen fingers which I could hardly feel..
The second time started off on a more sure footing in terms of drawing..
But I came close to crashing and burning again:
The lakeside winds were so fierce ….
I had forgotten my warmer gloves in the car and I had not reloaded paints in my palette..
Sigh… I’ll get it altogether another time.. 🤣
Meantime, I again returned home very well-aired 😆Stay well, Beautiful World .❤️⭐️🌈

Little friends and Birch Trees...

12/20/2021

3 little girls came by to chat while I painted this..
They all live in a nearby apartment building..
So glad this open lakeside space allows them to meet up and play in fresh air during this covid time…
Subject arose as to what they would like to be when they grow up…
One wants to be a doctor, the other, a teacher and the third: house cleaner..
They were all stated with certainty and clarity…
All were sure they wanted to help serve the world in some way…
Warmed my heart to see that..
I also asked them to always remember their carefree childhood and to love and cherish their friendship in years to come..
“Yes, we will “
And happily skipped away holding hands 😊.
Stay well and warm, dear friends ❤️☀️🌈

By the water's edge...

12/18/2021

After a day of painting with my differently abled students in the belly of a church..
I spilled outside to find a late afternoon devoid of wind, rain, snow or sleet! Yay!
Knew exactly where I needed to be in this ideal condition…
Where the gentle lapping shore waves buoyed me to a meditative calm…
A satisfying way for me to say Good Night to our Beautiful World…
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Sunset to Nocturne...

12/15/2021

Had a small window of time before night fall..
Only thing beautifully catching the setting sun rays was this scene..
Which is something I’ve always avoided tackling cos it looks SOOO intimidating..
Decided to forge ahead..
5 minutes to set up and the light was gone!
Went from brilliant to dull..🤣
Decided to forge ahead anyways.. maybe come back tomorrow…
But wait a minute..the lights turned on making it interesting again…
An intended sunset painting turned into a nocturnal painting…
So glad I hung around …
Good Night Beautiful World… 😊.
Happy Mid-Week Evening, dear friends ..time seems to be running towards year end! 🌟❤️🌙

After a day of fierce winds...

12/13/2021

So calm and tranquil after the previous day’s fierce winds….
Which brought down trees and power lines
So it is when you feel you are in the middle of a fierce battle in life..
To remember that better days are always just on the other side..
The World stays Beautiful, waiting for you even if your little corner doesn’t look so at the moment …
Stay Strong, dear friends ❤️🌈☀️
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Where did this gusty suddenly come from?

12/11/2021

High of 16 after the last few frigid days…
A no-brainer in terms of painting outside..
Gotten ready to go out when rattling sounds of twigs and trees hurled about in sudden gusty winds of up to 80!?
The coward in me retreated to painting inside looking out of a window…sigh🤣. The power is out and I hear emergency vehicles’ sirens…. Gosh… Stay safe everyone..
It is still a Beautiful World…
❤️🌲☀️
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Dear Deer...

12/10/2021

Wanting to practise painting this same scene under different conditions ..
So capitalized on a snowy condition for the 6th attempt..
A reindeer nonchalantly ambled across in front of me…
I gasped at the wonder of it…
Clumsily fumbled for my phone to take a pic..
But my frozen fingers did not cooperate in time..
And the deer disappeared behind a bush..
I readied my phone for another opportunity…
But got 2x 2-legged brave beings instead…
My quest to see you again dear Deer, will bring me back…
Meantime, it is Good Night to a Beautiful World…
Happy Friday evening dear friends 🌙😊❤️🌟
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Watching out on one's mental diet...

12/8/2021

A couple of weeks ago, I went in search of a sunset..
Following the direction of the light, I parked where I had never parked before..
Walked along a path where I had never walked before.. I was elated to find this stream of light stopping me in my tracks..
There was no sign of anyone in this secluded area…
‘What if…” stories of kidnappers, abductors, etc crossed my monkey mind..
At last, I was relieved to see the first jogger came by and he reassured me it was a safe trail……
Many more dog walkers, walkers, teenagers taking a short-cut home passed by…. I realized I had been watching one too many such news items which played havoc on my unguarded mind.. I am now on a more strict mental diet …
What I let in is what I let out… 🤣. There’s ways to stay safe without giving into paranoia, wouldn’t you say?
For after all, it is fore mostly a Beautiful World.. 😊.
Good Night Beautiful World… 🌙🌟❤️

Sources of Inspiration...

12/2/2021

After painting in a mask with my differently abled students all day..
I ventured to a park in search of fresh air and quietitude..
No person or car was in sight ..
Except for one lone figure in a tan hoodie practising tricks on his skateboard…
No fellow comrades to give him encouraging cheers or high fives…
Just he alone in his little world with gritty determination to nail this one stunt…
I was happy to hear the rolling and flipping sounds of his skateboard on the tarmac parking lot in the distance behind me while I tackled the canvas..
I wanted to go encourage him: “ What you do when no one is looking will pay rewards for your persistent efforts, kiddo…You carry on!”. This indomitable youth and nature both inspired me this evening…
Good Night Beautiful World …. Have to work on those trees when I get home…