Blog Posts - KARLENE BLAND FINE ART

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

Morning Song....

5/6/2024

SOLDAs I slowly emerge from slumberland..
The softness and warmth of my bed locks me in ...
I try to remember what I am to do this new day..
A smorgasbord of things...nothing yet too compelling.. flashes across my brain....
But when the cheery chirps of your morning song seep into my awakeness..
I remember I have a tune to dance to...
An exciting life to taste and experience...
Tasks to be completed..both the purposeful and the mundane..
All while dancing in syn to the tune...
Whistling in my heart and my head
Hope you enjoying a lovely Spring Day, dear friends!
impressionisticart #paintinglive #everythingflowers #loveflower #colorpassionjoy #paintingflorals #paintingwhiteflowers #acrylicpainter #holbeinacrylicpaints #inspirationfromnature #inspirationfromflowers #loveofflowers #yellowbird #butterfly_n_flower

Pet portrait commissions...

4/20/2024

SOLD
Commissioned paintings of beloved pet, Ruby, as gifts for his Mom...
The first time I did some paintings of her other beloved pets was years ago..
Thank you for trusting me again to memorialize the memory of a special furry friend which gave your Mom years of joy and pleasure.
Have a restful, peaceful weekend, dear friends
#dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram #pets #petportrait #petportraitartist #portrait #animalart #dogart #furryart

I am experiencing "The Blues" today...

3/13/2024

Wanted to practise sketching some buildings
But a series of vehicles were in the way...
I could repark but being lazy I decided to include the vehicles...
Which..sigh became more of a sketch of vehicles...
But wait! Do I see something that is electrifyingly blue in my scene?
YAY! I got to test my free Faber Castell set of 'The Blues" at last!
Made a color chart of "The Blues"
THANK YOU, #FABER-CASTELL! 🙏🏼 🥰 ☀️
#fabercastellbrushpens #fabercastellartistpittpens #uskto #usktoronto #urbansketcher #carsketching #holbeinacrylic #holbeinbrush #strathmorewatercolorsketchbook #sketchingonlocation #theblues

Painting thoughts...

1/24/2024

What I see before me is pretty clear..
But I feel like there is something deeper that is trying to dare me..
Can I step beyond this unknown edge and explore the possibilities...
And if so, what now..what is my next step?
It might look wrong but yet might feel right..
Or it might look right yet not feel great...
Hey! What the heck!
I am just going to have fun along the way..

Thinking during my painting process...😅

#paintingflorals #paintingwhiteflowers #acrylicpainter #holbeinacrylicpaints #inspirationfromnature #inspirationfromflowers #loveofflowers #impressionisticart #paintinglive #everythingflowers #loveflower #colorpassionjoy

Gift of an exquisite Bouquet of Flowers...

1/22/2024

Painting inspired by a luxurious bouquet gifted to me by my sweet daughter...
How can I not paint this to memorialise...
Not just the beauteous flowers themselves...
But the feeling it gave me when you handed them to me with a hug...
The silent bond and love we share...
Sealed with an exchanged smile....
Witnessing the fondness gently held in our hearts...
Every stroke laid on the canvas further etched the memory of precious moments we've shared...
That's all lovingly wrapped up in an exquisite bouquet of flowers.

#floralpaintings #loveofflowers #impressionisticart #paintinglive #everythingflowers #loveflower #colorpassionjoy

Painting with differently abled students...

1/19/2024

Painting with Differently Abled students...

I paint a couple of samples but then I help them choose their own colors and they can launch off to do their own thing...

Celestia was most engaged with her piece..
She looked so happy with what she accomplished this week..
I was very happy this week cos I heard Celestia say " white" to me...
This is the first time I have heard her say something to me...
Don't you just love her fantastical zebrasied polar bear? 🐻‍❄️ 😀
Do you know how much it takes for me to come up with something original? 🤣

Hope you are having fun on this day, dear friends!
Wishing you peace and love as these friends show me... 🥰 🙏🏼 🎉

Fleurs De Villes, Manulife Centre....

12/14/2023

Missed Fleurs de Ville in the past..
So happy was able to go this time...
Thank you, Natalie for organising and dealing with the security guards..
#usktoronto #urbansketchingworld #urbansjetcherstoronto #FDVNoelToronto #phulorals #inspireddesignstudio #watercolorsketching #strathmorepaper #fabercastellwatercolorbrush #fabercastellwatercolor #fleursdevilles

17th Oct., Cascais, Portugal,

11/29/2023

Cascais, Portugal, Oct. 2023
Coach bus dropped us off to roam the fishing town of Cascais in search of a restaurant for lunch...
Found quite a few scenes which called out to me to sketch...
No time for restaurants in the end...
But had a lovely seafood salad from a busy takeout place beside the carousel park...
But was once again called to sketch the beautiful statute ... 😆
Lunch finally inhaled on the trek back to Lisbon. ☀️🇺🇦 🌻
#caiscaisportugal #urbansketchingportugal #usktoronto #uskto #carandache #watercolourbrush #sketchingonlocation #watercolourpaint @visit_cascais @usktoronto

Food District Downtown Brampton...

9/20/2023

2nd Prize, SOLD
"Just Grab and Go" 16"x20"

Thank you to Mohamed and daughter for purchasing my painting of your exciting Food District in downtown Brampton, indomitable event organizer Grettel Comas of Baci Gifts and M.Michael's Photograpghy , Philantropist John Cutruzzola of Inzola Endownment Fund, Suzy Godefroy of Downtown Brampton BIA, Brampton councillors Martin Medeiros, Dennis Keenan and Mayor Patrick Brown. 🙏🏼
Flanked by buildings on either side did not protect me from the wind and cold on the morning of painting but it was still fun...
Thank you for stopping by to say Hi and giving me words of encouragement...
I was cold but my heart was warmed. 🥰 🙏🏼 🤟🏼
was cold but my heart was @downtownbrampton @downtownbramptonfooddistrict @diplocklane_community @downtownbrampton
@citybrampton
@gallery35brampton #downtownbrampton #fooddistrictbrampton #downtownbramptonbusiness #bacigiftsbrampton #gallery35