Winter 2024-2025
An icy white winter wonderland didn’t disappoint and there were ample opportunities to enjoy the sparkle of the sunshine on the snowbanks (and take hundreds of reference pics!) in SW Ontario Canada.
For the winter holidays, I was excited to produce two designs of holiday ornaments that channelled the rococo and neo-classical influences of the popular series, Bridgerton. To create each decoration, I gelli-printed on wet strength tissue paper, stencilled, glittered, collaged, and added 3D swirls on silver and gold painted and glazed ceramic balls. I used a porcelain paint that required 24 hour dry time between layers and baking without smudging… what was I thinking??? And as I had in previous years, I finished them all with satin ribbon bows, decorative hangers and a charm with the year on it to commemorate the annual holiday. Gosh, you’d almost think I overdo things. Well, every year I say “never again”, but it’s become a tradition, and I appreciate my loyal collectors who buy these year after year. Is this codependence? Who cares, I love it!!
For my local friends and neighbours I gifted a bag of fragrant simmering spices that I totally enjoyed making, too. An art friend (@bjcohen_art) generously offered the recipe that she’s been using over the years for Hannukah and Christmas, and I actually dried the orange slices in my oven and it smelled wonderful! Women who encourage and inspire other women are the best, right??
My holiday décor includes the festive poinsettia and this year my local nursery was selling several shades of bright pink – with a sparkly spray added if desired – which of course I did – and they were fuchsia fantastic! Other family traditions that make my heart happy is heading to the different Christmas light displays that are so over the top; decorating a gingerbread house with more candies than the house can hold or ever be responsibly eaten; and playing board games that make you appreciate the intelligence of an 8 & 10 year old. They’re already fixing my digital devices for me. At this point in my life I’m not in need of gifts, but a dear friend gave me a cushion that reads, “Yes, I really DO NEED all these books” and it was heartwarming to know that she really gets me.
Winter ice and cold brings us all indoors, but I loved getting out to the ski hills to watch my grandsons snowboarding and smelling the wood fires that are kept burning outside. I also watched my sister’s grandkids playing hockey games at local arenas and cheered and thrilled at the impressive skills of “kids these days”.
Every February for the last few years, @amandaevanston has hosted the Instagram challenge of February Flowers where you paint and post as many days in February as possible. I’ve loved participating in this online fun and it’s inspired me to create some of my favourite paintings, and to learn along the way! It’s a good kind of pressure for my birthday month.
This year I also made the leap to enter a local art competition. The image was from a photo I took on a local street that was under construction, but had interesting light from the sunrise after a winter storm. The bare trees had snow still clinging to the branches, there were houses blurred in the distance, and grasses and bushes in the foreground that I was eager to capture on canvas. I used gold leaf for the sunrise, hand painted papers for the clouds, sheet music for the grasses, sgraffito on the bushes, and an almost mid-century look for the houses that you can barely see behind the trees. I started 2 paintings to keep me loose and to avoid becoming “too precious” with the details. Eventually I honed in on the larger canvas and I completed it just under the wire for the deadline, and wrote the required descriptions as fervently as I could. Regardless of the outcome, I was incredibly proud of myself for making this attempt. Sometimes we need to do the scary thing.
As a bonus this month, my birthday was extra special as we watched Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament in overtime. A very exciting game!
Finally, while out for a walk in a local park I was thrilled to see a pair of bald eagles in a tree overhead. When did this become the norm for this area? I’d only ever seen them on the west coast and from a distance. The world is changing and wildlife with it, I guess!
