I woke this morning thinking and singing this song, Your Faithfulness, by Brian Doerkson.

I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing, filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

I don't know if these clouds mean rain
If they do, will they pour down blessing or pain?
I don't know what the future holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness

I don't know how or when I'll die
Will it be a thief, or will I have a chance to say goodbye?
No, I don't know how much time is left
But in the end, I will know your faithfulness 

When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts are storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful, always faithful (© 2002 Brian Doerkson)

Recently, I heard this again as I listened to an online concert by Brian Doerkson. He wrote the song at a time of uncertainty in his own life, which he shared during the concert.
His songs have a wonderful depth to them that I connect with. Music, like painting, can help me engage my feelings.

It is rainy this morning as I write this. I feel melancholy. This Covid-19 isn’t going away and continues to impact us. How we do things has to change. How I teach will be affected. There is unrest, violence, and protests in so many places. I needed those words today:

"When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts are storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful, always faithful" (© 2002 Brian Doerkson)

God is faithful. Always faithful.

God isn’t going to make the problems disappear, but walks with me through the difficulties, holding my hand, giving me courage to face things and uphold me, uphold us as we grieve for the changes, for the heartbreaking violence in the news. We are in a time where we need each other, to set aside our independent stances and to work together, instead of being not be divisive.

I am reminded of Psalm 33:13-22 which speaks of God looking down on all the inhabitants of the world, whom he knows and created. He sees: “the king not saved by his great army, warrior not saved by his great strength, war horse vain hope for victory”… “Truly the eye of the Lord on those who fear him, who trust in his steadfast love” (And then comes the move from individuality to corporately) “Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and shield, Our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name.” There is something to be said about working together, caring for and helping each other, standing with each other.

Sometimes I just need a good cry, to let myself feel melancholy, and accept this part of me too. We need our rainy days to grow, too. Last summer, I sat in our tent which has a covered day use area, and painted the scene above of the inlet at Ucluelet, BC as the mist rolled in and the rain came down. It was a day much like today, with the sun coming out later. Once I am able to express my feelings, the load is lighter, and a shared load is lighter still.

Are you able to connect with your feelings, with the depths within yourself? How does that happen in your life?

One of the things I do when I teach is to demonstrate painting techniques. Sometimes I already have a painting in mind and sketch it out before class, knowing it can work for a demo.

However, most of the time it is a technique or project that I start with the class or a demonstration of a technique for one of my student's projects. Then, I have a partial painting or just some random colors and texture that I can turn into something else.

Over the last couple of years of teaching, I have accumulated more unfinished pieces than I have managed to complete. I just counted 59 I had photgraphed last fall to record the process of painting. Rather daunting. I had no idea there were so many.  Not all of them will be completed. For those that will be completed, something about them inspires me to press on with them.

Bloomin' Garden Show is back!

I have new paintings to show you

Saturday, May 14

10 am - 4 pm

Alberta Ave Community Hall

9210 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB

Part of the fun of teaching is watching the creativity start to flow. We have finished 5 out 8 classes. The students are getting comfortable with the medium and trying some ideas of their own. (After the initial classes, I have added more of the final images for some of the student paintings. I didn't remember to take photos at each class.)

In the acrylics class, we did some fun textures of adding eggshells, sand and sawdust to provide texture to the paintings. One of the students went home and added lentils and semolina to his painting. I didn’t get a picture of that one, but here are a few others:

I brought some collage scraps of my handmade paper to the class and showed them possibilities with a couple of my own pieces.

Their ideas started flowing and they started in on creating. Their works in progress were fun to see here.

We started the process of transfers. I brought an option of my own ink drawings photocopied for the class to use. I look forward to next class and the new possibilities the students will try. The flamingo and trio of rocks are my quick samples from my ink drawings. One student was ready with her image of a polar bear which turned out great.

Some of the other projects in class:

Monochomatic painting

Experimenting with techniques: Textured backgrounds, sponging, pointilism

We did some work with Perspective in our last class:

Registration for all the classes are on the movelearnplay.Edmonton.ca website then click>registered programs>arts programs>adult programs> art programs then the classes are alphabetical. I put the class code with each class that may work in the search. ALTERNATIVELY,  you can call 311 to register. There are similar class titles by other instructors. Check the time and instructor information as well. 

Classes starting in May

Pouring Watercolour: Painting Techniques- Class Code: 704195 

(8 sessions)
May 2-June 20 (Monday)    Location: Terwillegar Rec Centre: 2051 Leger Rd NW, Edmonton
1-4 pm

cost  $148.75

Pouring Watercolor Class Supplies and Class Outline

Take your watercolour to new levels with pouring watercolour paintings and working with layers. Explore the techniques of watercolour in new ways using the natural world as inspiration. Video sample of the pouring process. Watercolor Skills: masking, pouring, working with layers and salt,composition, working with the results-listening to the painting and trusting the process. Click here for A step by step blog post on the process with the painting, Wonders of the Sea, 

Acrylic Painting Explorations- Class Code: 705037 

(8 sessions) See what other classes have done here            
May 3-June 21 (Tuesday)    Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton
1-4 pm

cost  $170

Acrylic Explorations Supply List and Class Outline

The first two classes we explore the paint and color: color mixing, color themes as we work with getting used to the brushwork. The next three classes we explore adding textures to the painting with addons such as eggshells, and sand as well as collage elements such as handmade paper and transfers. We will spend one session pouring acrylic and the last two classes students continue to explore the acrylic medium in the direction they found most interesting using their own photo references and exploring their own creativity.

Oils 1 & 2- Class Code: 704201 

(8 Sessions)
May 5-June 23 (Thursday)
6:30-9:30 pm

cost  $170

Oil Painting 1 and 2 Supply List

Enjoy painting with colour intensity and explore the fact that you can make endless revisions with oil paint. During this weekly course learn how to incorporate various brush strokes and mark-making, play with colour mixing, and get to know the painting medium in general. Taught by artist Julie Drew.

Painting Flowers at the Muttart: Watercolour Workshop- Class Code: 705025

Location: Muttart Conservatory
 May 7 (Saturday)
1-5 pm

cost  $65 - CLASS FULL - Waiting List only

All Supplies included

Capturing the beauty and translucence of flowers in watercolour is the focus of this class. Through demonstrations, learn to paint petals, leaves, and backgrounds using a variety of techniques. Several techniques, colour suggestions, and basic composition strategies will be included. You will complete this workshop with the know-how to continue painting flowers. 

Classes starting in June 

Plein Air Sketching Workshop: John Janzen Nature Centre- Class Code: 705031

Location: John Janzen Nature Centre
June 4 (Saturday)
12-4 pm

cost  $65

All Supplies included

Enjoy the outdoors with a sketchbook and drawing tools in hand. Spend the afternoon at the John Janzen Nature Centre sketching en plein air (in the open air). Artist Julie Drew will teach you that it is much different to draw from life than just using photos, what our eyes can see is so much more than a photo can capture.

Painting Water: Acrylic Workshop- Class Code: 704245

(3 sessions)
June 7- June 21 (Tuesday)   Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton
6:30-9:30 pm

cost  $63.75

Painting Water Acrylic Workshop Supply List and Class Outline

How to capture water in your painting when it is always changing? Water is translucent, reflective, ever-moving, calm, turbulent, flowing. Why not take a few days to study how to paint water? This is a great class for painters who like to do scenic paintings from photos or to paint outdoors and who need to practice ‘getting water right’.
• Gain confidence in painting the movement water.
• Learn effective tricks that will enhance your scenic water landscape paintings.
• Increase your ability for taking the next step with your painting as you work from your photo references.