Alternative Process Week – 5 Day Art Retreat w/ 4 Different Instructors         

Monday, August 18th – Friday, August 22th

10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

$495 ($395 + $100 Supply Fee) for Full Week

$105 ($80 + $25 Supply Fee) per Workshop

Class Limit: 15 Students

Summer Week-long Retreat at Artelier!

Looking for a creative getaway not far from home? Why not spend a week at Artelier exploring and experimenting with a diverse range of materials?

This week we’ll be exploring alternative processes such as papermaking, working with fabric dye and UV reactive processes such as Solar Fast. Experiment with indigo and even use some of your paper and materials to make your own book at the end of the week!

Each instructor will cover a different medium and project, however many of these processes are transferable and harness the potential for combining and mixing. Whether you’re looking to expand on your skill set and gain a more comprehensive understanding any of these processes, or try something completely new, Alternative Process Week is the retreat for you!
Discover your new favourite medium!

5 days of artmaking with 4 different instructors! 
Take one class, or sign up for the whole week!

Monday: Join us for a full morning and afternoon of Paper Making with Julie Drew. Make a variety of beautiful and unique papers from natural and recycled fibres.
Tuesday: Next Arlene Westin will walk you through the steps of creating your own Itajime Shibori patterns on paper.
Wednesday: Explore colour and the vibrant world of fabric paints and dyes with Arlene Westen with Alrene Westen. Create images on fabric and paper with Dye-na-flow and Solar Fast!
Thursday: After exploring Dye-na-flow and other synthetic paints and dyes, on Thursday Anna Wildish will guide you through the process of preparing and using some natural dyes on fabric and paper.
Friday: At the end of the week, Callum McKenzie will help you make your own stitch bound book, with materials of your choice. Try using papers that you’ve been working on throughout the week!

About the Instructors: 

Julie Drew waits and listens, letting the details of the world around her speak beauty and wonder. Adding her own distinct expression using watercolor and mixed media to capture the depths and nuances of color, light, and shadow, she creates paintings that proclaim peace, mystery, and wonder.

Her passion for art led to a BFA in Painting and Drawing from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, USA in 1987. Julie has been painting for over 35 years. In 1997, Julie moved with her family to Edmonton, Alberta. Although Julie works predominantly in watercolor, she also uses mixed media with her own handmade paper. Julie teaches watercolor, mixed media, acrylic, oil and papermaking. Her art work has been exhibited around Alberta.

To see more of Julie’s work, check out her website and Instagram:

Website: www.JulieDrew-ArtandFaith.com

Instagram: @shedrewit_artandfaith

Check out more classes with Julie!

Multi-disciplinary artist, Arlene Westen, brings over 30 years of teaching experience to her students. Her proficiencies include mixed-media, collage, surface design, book arts, and printmaking.After graduating from Grant MacEwan University with a Visual Arts Diploma, she earned two further baccalaureate degrees: Fibre Art (Honors) from the Alberta University of the Arts, and a Studio Arts Degree (Honors with Great Distinction) from University of Lethbridge.

To see more of Arlene’s work, check out her Website and Instagram:

Instagram: @arlenewesten

Check out more classes with Arlene!

Anna Wildish is an interdisciplinary artist who works primarily with textiles, and sound.  Since moving to Edmonton from Halifax in 2021, she has been performing at noise and sound events with collaborator Andrew Thorne. Wildish is a sentimentalist and relies on weaving, natural dye, writing and sound to explore her fascination with memory, sense-making, connection, and luck.

Callum McKenzie (he/they) is an Edmonton-based emerging artist and printmaker. They earned their Bachelor of Design in Printmaking from the University of Alberta in 2022 and completed an Emerging Artist in Residence program at SNAP Gallery in 2023. Callum has a penchant for impulsively purchasing paper and figuring out what to do with it later. Their work draws on their experiences as a queer ADHDer and they explore themes of masking, grief and dysphoria through repetitive print and paper-based practices. Callum has shown their work in a number of curated shows and exhibitions including Inner Space in FAB Gallery and How Could I Know If No One Ever Told Me in SNAP Gallery.

To see more of Callum’s work, check out their Instagram:

Instagram: @humdrum_and_callum

Student Supplies:

1. Any extra materials, such as paper or fabric you would like to use during the week
2. Suitable art clothes, hand towel, notebook, snack, drink

You will receive a 20% discount on all art supplies, from your registration until the end of the series!

Artelier is located at 10045 81 Avenue NW, Edmonton (back alley entrance). The workshop space is one block south of The Paint Spot.

Alternative Process Week: 5 Day Art Retreat, Edmonton, Alberta

Summer Skies: Thunderheads 

Work on capturing the essence of the thunderheads over the canola fields or the wheat fields. 

We will try a range of techniques to capture the thunderheads and adding in the rest of the landscape below in small studies in the morning and work on a larger  painting in the afternoon.

I will have a few examples to choose from or bring your own photos of the amazing summer thunderheads.

Location: Artelier, the PaintSpot

More information to come.

We had a lovely trip to Victoria to see our three grandchildren with our four children and two daughters in law. I forgot to get a family photo done so I don’t have that to show this time. It was so good to spend time outdoors – biking, walking the coast, Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly Gardens.

I even had a few moments to capture some scenes in my watercolor sketchbook and take photos for future paintings.

Three sketches from the deck of the ferry to Victoria:

I took a few more minutes to sketch at the end of our time at the Butchart Gardens. So many beautifull flowers to choose from. I liked this color combination for a quick sketch.

The Butterfly Gardens had some beautiful birds I don’t normally see – a flamingo and parrots. Here are some that I will demo during the Animals and Birds in Watercolor: drawing and painting class that starts on May 15. This class is in the beautiful ArtsHub Ortona space (9722 102 St). There is plenty of parking. There is still some room in the class if you would like to join it.  As always in my classes, I demonstrate an idea, or a technique and my students can follow along or work on their own ideas. I feel my students learn better when working on subjects and ideas they are interested in.

The Promise of Spring

-Abundant Flowers-

April 1- May 3

Watercolor, Acrylic, Oil and Color Pencil Paintings

Artist: Julie Drew

Opening Reception: April 3, 7-8 pm

 Location: The Carrot Community Coffeehouse
9351 118 Ave NW, Edmonton

At this time of year, I look at the buds swelling, indicating the promise of Spring on its way. Winter releases its hold, and new life springs forth. I watch for the pussy willows, and for new shoots pushing up through the earth. I measure the tulip and hyacinth leaves and wait for the buds to emerge and start their dance. Walking through the woods, I am always on the lookout for the hidden gem, like the “Wild Lady” which was tucked away amidst the leaves, nearly invisible.

Painting the myriads of blooms in their dance is a way for me to engage in the dance of new life. Each flower has its own special feature or essence that speaks to me. I captured the essence of the translucent, delicate blooms in watercolor, color pencil, acrylic and oil, selecting a medium that best encapsulates the moment.

As you may or may not know, I am drawn to waterfalls. When we travel, I like to include a waterfall somewhere on the trip, if possible. The closest waterfall to Edmonton, is Crescent Falls, which is west of Rocky Mountain House.

Last month, I was finally able to see Crescent Falls in all its frozen glory.

My husband, Sam, and I took the warm Sunday in January to celebrate our 37th Anniversary by driving 3 hours to see Crescent Falls and the frozen bubbles in Abraham Lake, which is only 30 minutes from Crescent Falls.

Sam and I like road trips, getting out of the city, breathing fresh air, and seeing new things. We read and discuss things together that make the journey shorter. This time we started talking about Steve Bell’s Album and book, The Glad Surprise, which will probably find its way into this year's Art Vocabulary for the Soul Retreat in July.

We arrived at Crescent Falls Park and stopped at the first parking lot to see the view and the map of the park. The canyon walls were unexpectedly deep and tall. The snow on them made the layers stand out.

We drove on to the trail head and found a picnic table in the sun that we could wipe off most of the melting snow/ice. Picnics in January on a warmer +5C day are a treat. The sun was warm on our faces as we ate our picnic.

After lunch, we took the woods trail that meandered down the picturesque hillside crossing frozen streams. This is the time of year where the shadows are deeper blue and the sun doesn’t get overhead. The sunlight coming through the trees dances on the snow between the blue shadows. I took photos for reference for future paintings.

This one I particularly like. The diagonal shadows on the slope are emphasized by the strong sunlight through the trees illuminating the pine and the snow.

And this one with the pale Bluegreen ice.

We reached the wide frozen river above the falls. I could imagine how loud and powerful it must be in the spring when the waters are full and flowing.

We hiked around to the next platform and the stirs down. Now we could really see the crescent shape of the cliff the falls tumbles over. Crescent Falls is in two tiers with a deep expanse in between. The lower platform sits just above and back a little so you can kind of see the second falls at an angle.

You can get a photo of it if you hang your camera over the edge. I took some time to do an ink sketch of the way the ice formed on the upper falls. (My pen was running low on ink – I need to remember to get a new pen for my kit.) I worked quickly to capture the essence of it as my fingers were getting cold.

In the center of the upper falls, you could see a thin layer of ice was covering moving water. There was a deep crack in the ice showing the evidence of the power of the river as it continues to flow under the ice.

One edge of the canyon was in the sun, but not the falls. When in person there is a subtle color shift in the ice of the falls. The camera picked up all the blue hues in the ice. And look at all the colors in the canyon wall!

It was a long hike back up the stairs and the hill to get back to the car. I could tell I have not been getting out to walk lately.
I would like to come back in the spring or summer and camp there. I would enjoy painting it.

Back on the road, we drove on to Abrham Lake. This is a manmade lake to control the flow of the North Saskatchewan River. The bubbles are methane gas released from the decaying plants and tree limbs on the bottom of the lake. I had seen photos online and wanted to see it in person.

As we drove along the lake you could see the ice had formed up the banks of the lake. There was a strong wind buffeting the car. We found a parking place in the nearly full lot. I was surprised at the number of people there (and back at Crescent Falls). We slid down the ice-covered bank, like a slide, until we were at the flat surface. Some people brought their skates. We just walked the surface. It was amazing to see the layers of flattened bubbles like something from a Star Trek landscape.

Some bubbles where huge others small. If I had used my polarized lens on my camera, some of the sun glinting on the ice and cracks in the ice would not be so strong. (a tip from my sister after showing her the pictures.) I usually forget to take the lens with me.

You could see the ice was at least a foot thick.

There were these cracks that separated planes of ice.

Another part had what looked like pieces of ice in the ice.

There were gusts of wind that would try to throw us off balance. I wondered if the strong wind had been a part of the way the ice formed on the banks. It looked like the ice had rippled and heaved along the edge.

We walked around for awhile and then I went to sit where I could paint for a bit and capture the beauty of the day for me. Two sketches in one day. Yeah! Sam wrote in his journal while I sketched.

We had dinner in Rocky Mountain House on the way home.

A beautiful day and I even had the chance to paint/sketch ‘en plein air.’ As you can see en plein air or sketching and painting on location is as much about the adventure, the moment, and creating memories as it is in getting a painting or sketch done. I can't wait to do this next fall in Italy at the art retreat there!

In the studio, I will work on new paintings inspired by the day and the wonders I saw and experienced. For example, I started this one yesterday during a class to use as a demonstration of watercolor techniques.

May you find joy in the everyday, 

peace in an uncertain world,

and love of family, and friends

in this season, this month, this Christmas!

Fall is such a rich time of year. For nature it is a time of change, of letting go, loss, and even death as we move toward winter. Yet the changing colors of the leaves shows us each year that there is beauty and wonder even in these parts of life.

Did you take some time to enjoy the fall colors and the dancing leaves? In September and October, I enjoyed getting out to catch the marvelous colors in the river valley with my students. 

;

And, I kept thinking that this time next year I will be experiencing another flavor of fall. I will be in Italy teaching sketching and painting of the Italian countryside around Montelparo, Le Marche.

This is Montelparo, Le Marche, Italy: 

More images of Hotel Leone and Montelparo can be seen here. 

Some artist friends of mine from Edmonton have taught at Hotel Leone during their own retreats, and their pictures are amazing! (karenbartist, zheliskoart, daveshko)  I can’t wait to experience it with my own students!

Join me  Sept 26- Oct 3, 2025 (click for more information on the art retreat  in 2025). 

...

My family experienced an additional season this fall, renovations. We just finished six weeks of chaos in our home, while the contractors tore apart rooms and put them back together. It all started with a leaking pipe and water damage in our basement bathroom. Then, since we were doing one room, we decided to include a few more that were long overdue. We added our kitchen and upstairs floor. And, for once, we didn’t do the work ourselves, for which I am thankful. 

The noise, the dust, the displacement of moving out our things, plus creating a temporary kitchen in the living room, and the never ending decisions we had to make all contributed to weeks of extra stress and chaos. I really appreciated the comment I received when I shared this on Facebook, "It is worth it."

 Now we have a beautiful new kitchen, floor and basement bathroom. Standing in my new kitchen I can attest that it was indeed worth it. I love the colors, the smooth, granite counter, and the additional counter we put in to replace a cabinet. We even have four working burners on our new stove. And I can get back in my studio to work now. It was one of the many places that we temporarily stored things. The next stage is to sort through things as we put them back where they belong.

Painting can be like the renovation process. The stages of painting are sometimes messy and feel like chaos and uncertainty. I like to call it experimentation and play, and I try to give myself grace when learning something new and to take it one step at a time. (Notice the acrylic pouring painting at the top of the page, which I call an experiment.)

It takes patience to practice the techniques, to learn to mix colors and to learn to see. It takes time to build the layers of a painting. The painting doesn’t go as you hoped, so you rework a part, then you step back and look at what needs to be done next. And then when the final details get into place -- the last shadow, edging or contrast-- you step back and see it has all come together. You persevered through the chaos and the result is beautiful!

I love helping my students work through this process and create wonderful paintings. Celebrate their beautiful work with me! 

I am so excited to be a part of the NOA Art Walk and Gala this year!!!

The "Free" Indoor 3 day NOA Artwalk and

Night of Artists Fundraising Gala for Amy's House​​​​​
Join us from March 14-16, 2025, at Bonnie Doon Centre

for a weekend celebrating art, community, and giving back.

March 14-16, 2025

Artwalk Weekend
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday
Noon - 5 p.m Sunday

Night of Artists Gala
GALA 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Gala $25 in advance $30 at the door

Order your Gala Tickets here
Art Auction Closes

​THE NOA ARTWALK

The NOA Artwalk transforms the entire mall into a massive indoor gallery, showcasing thousands of art pieces from Edmonton and the surrounding area's most talented local artists. The event also features a VINTAGE POP-UP store, and a vibrant Artisan Marketplace Zone, offering something for every art lover and shopper. Admission to the Artwalk is free during the daytime, where you can also enjoy live performances by local buskers.

THE AMY'S HOUSE NIGHT OF ARTISTS GALA​

About Amy's House - Website

On Saturday evening, March 15, the excitement continues with the AMY's HOUSE Night of Artists Gala (www.AmysHouse.ca)—an unforgettable experience that transforms the mall into a grand ballroom.

Highlights of the evening include:

A silent auction supporting Amy's House: A Home Away from Home for cancer patients.
Live music by The White Cats, Kim Gates and the Dark Frames, and The YEG Byrds.
A mesmerizing live painting performance by five talented artists.
A luxurious VIP Room with exclusive perks.
A cash bar and appetizers with the freedom to stroll the mall while enjoying a selection of wine, beer, or non-alcoholic beverages.
Tickets:

Artwalk: Free for everyone.
Gala: $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
VIP Room: $100, with 50% of the ticket price eligible for a tax receipt benefiting Amy's House.
Don’t miss this incredible weekend filled with art, music, and community spirit—all in support of a wonderful cause.

ARTWALK IS FREE TO ALL

Artwalk HOURS:

Friday March 14th 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday March 15th 10 a.m. - 5 p.m

Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

​

GALA TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Amy's House NIGHT OF ARTISTS GALA

March 15th 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Bonnie Doon Mall, northend

I will have small and large original paintings, 

small prints and my devotional book availaable.

A sample of my orginals below. 

The Dance - northern lights, watercolor 6 x 8.75, $145 unframed

Tier two Tangle falls, Jasper National Park, watercolor, 9 in x 12 in, $275 
mounted on Birch panel

 Let the Light Shine, watercolor, 5in x 5in $75

Handmade paper Angels  $35 each ( two sided)

I find it restful to spend time in nature, sitting and just being or with a sketchbook in hand to capture the essence of a place, a feeling of the space and the memory that goes with it. I sometimes remember to take a photo too. Then in the studio, I can work on a larger painting from the sketch, my memory and the photo. I no longer feel the need to "have to get something accomplished." And when I do sketch, it can be quick.

You can read some of the posts of what I have written about being/finding presence, and resting. I feel I have come a long way in understanding what Madeline L'Engle talked about to sit and just be.

In Jasper: I spent time at Tangle Falls sketching the four levels of falls in preparation to the Water in the Landscape workshop. I was also just wanting to see the falls again to put it more fully in my memory so that I can complete a painting I have been working on (as a demo for textures in acrylic classes) for a couple of years now. 

In Spokane: We went hiking at Fishtrap Recreation Area and the old Folsom Farm. I had hoped to see the falls, but it was a dry falls instead. It must be beautiful in the spring. These two sketches are from the old farm:

We also went kayaking on the Spokane river three times. The last time I took my sketchbook to capture the Osprey- but they were away from their nest. I sketched the seagulls instead. :)

The following sketches were from the recent trip to move our son daughter-in-law and granddaughter to Voctoria. When I wasn't needed, I relaxed by sketching a bit. When moving in a vehicle it is almost as much about memory of what you saw, because it is not in front of your vision for very long.

Planes move fast! I captured bits and pieces of the various islands as we passed overhead.

As I sit here to write on this last day of April, the snow is falling outside. This is typical spring weather in Alberta. Hopefully, this is the last snowfall, and we all know the snow won’t last, plus my daffodils and tulips are getting their water. (painting: Is it Spring yet? Watercolor, 11x7 in. ©JulieDrew)

I so enjoy watching the signs of life and new growth that come at this time of year as the greening ripples slowly through the trees and bushes and the perennials are waking up from their winter sleep.

Inside the house I am enjoying the last three buds blooming on my Christmas/Easter cactus. The buds started appearing in the beginning of March when I counted 24 blooms. I have lost count of how many more there have been. The blooms look like dancing fairies. I took some mornings to sketch out a portion of my plant in color pencil.

Spring! New Life! Hope!

As it is spring, I can work again on the last bridge painting I wanted to do for the Connection: Building Bridges Series, the Tawatinâ LRT bridge. On the ceiling of the bridge pedestrian walkway is the story of the indigenous people here in Treaty 6 territory painted in shaped panels.

I can see a hint of the panels, the walkway and the bridge from the spot where I plan to paint the bridge. I can also capture the new growth of the trees on the bank.

Why paint it in spring? I want it to be a painting of hope. A willingness of people to come together – to bridge the gaps of what separates us from each other. There is much we can learn from one another. There is much we can appreciate and value.

Last year, I was particularly mulling over the disparity between factions and all the divisions cropping up in our world. I firmly believe we need each other. When one of us hurts, we all hurt. The focus on building bridges was to find ways to connect with each other again.

Along the lines of connection, even as I complete the bridge project, I am thinking of where it is taking me next; Connection => Collaboration. We not only need to connect, but to trust each other enough to work together.

Part of this is figuring out what collaboration means for me, and for us as a community, society.

We live in a very individualistic society. We have our own property, possessions, etc. We work our own jobs, have our own income which we can spend however we want. Competition is pushed and individual profit, success, and gain are glorified.

I like to play cooperative games. We purchased a couple new ones for Christmas to try out. It is a nice change to work together to solve the game, the puzzle or the clues. Working together includes listening to each other, waiting for each other and letting new ideas come forth. This is so different from the competitive games where there is only one winner and lots of losers.

This painting of the Seal is, for me, a metaphor for collaboration. I used handmade paper, eggshells, sand and acrylic paint, and an ink drawing with the transfer process to create it., The different mediums I used are like individuals contributing their part to the whole project. And the end result is not something that could have been accomplished with just one individual part (or medium).

Collaboration is the theme we will be contemplating at this year’s Art Vocabulary for the Soul retreat. We will see where it takes us. I look forward to the collaboration.

As collaboration is a new theme for me, I welcome your comments and feedback.

Art is a lot about taking chances and trying something new, whether it is showing my work in a festival,  the blank canvas or paper that can be intimidating or the uncertainty of the next step in the painting process.  The phrase “I don’t want to ruin it!” comes up with my students and echoes in me when I am at certain points of a painting or project.

Over the holidays when our children and grandchildren were visiting, we took an LRT (light Rail Train) ride downtown. We were going to turn around and come back after we walked around Churchill square. Instead, we discovered the ice rink was opening up with free skate rentals. Our grandchildren and my son and daughter decided to go skating. I, on the other hand, was not going to. Last time I had skated was two years before when visiting my grandchildren. I did not grow up skating, so I am not great at it and I really don’t like to fall. But as I helped put on my granddaughter’s skates and talked to the fellow in charge, I got to thinking about not letting my fears rule me. Why not skate? It was fun to skate two years ago with my grandchildren. Why not try it again and participate, not just sit on the sidelines and watch the fun. 

So, I took a chance and got a set of skates. It was a beautiful day, with sunshine, Christmas music playing and fun skating with family. It took a few laps with the stacked “help” before I felt I could skate on my own. But I did it!  I even had a fall where I fell without hurting myself.  As I became a little more confidant, I even tried to skate backwards again. Here is a link to the short video.

I will hang up this image of me skating with my family where I can see it whenever I need to face the challenges and the fears that come with new things or next steps. I want to remember how to move forward again – even if it means going backwards.

May you have a beautiful holiday filled with love and laughter, friends and family!

Our four children will be home this Christmas with my two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. We are looking forward to their visit.

Can you imagine going to Italy to take a weeklong Art Retreat, painting, sketching and enjoying the Italian countryside? 

I have an opportunity to teach a retreat in a hotel in Montelparo, Marche, Italy. (Two artists told me about their amazing experience teaching there, and one of their participants said she had a great time and it was well worth it.)

Not only will we enjoy Italian food, great company, 5 star treatment at the hotel and spectacular scenery, but we will also paint and sketch from life the scenes of the Le Marche area. 
Le Marche is Italy’s best-kept secret. Known as ‘Italy in one region’, it has retained its authenticity and remains one of the very few places in Italy to have escaped mass tourism despite its miles of untamed coastlines, medieval hilltop towns full of art and culture, it’s hidden beaches, its patchwork quilt countryside, its three national parks – it really is a secret slice of Italy.

Starting at €2499, plus air fare (rates vary to the room chosen) Includes meals, transportation from the airport or bus station, three day excursions, 5 days of art tuition. Nonparticipating friend or partner would pay for everything except the painting tuition.

I have booked my week, Sept 26-Oct 3, 2025!  All of the information is on the article Italy Art Retreat in the menu. It links to the Hotel Leone where you can fill out a form to talk with Madeline about a room and more information.

I am Excited!!

Finding balance between work and play, family, health, exercise, and rest.

Although I make plans, I try to remain flexible. As unexpected things arise that take me away from what was planned, filling the open places on my schedule, I look for things I need to let go of for now and possibly even adjust my expectations.

I don't want to repeat what happened last fall when I didn't have a weekend off so I didn't get any sense of rhythym between work and rest. As a result, I ended up with migraines almost every weekend, until I finally had enough of balance between working (teaching art, painting and our website businness), stretching/excercise and resting.

So as I approached this fall knowing what was coming, I made some choices, like finding a way to participate in the Night of Artists Artwalk, which was a huge 3 day time commitment, by showing 2 paintings in the Night of Artists Gallery 12"x12' show for the month of October. I am very glad I chose that, as on Oct 15 we were blessed with a new granddaughter (the first for my second son.). Many extra meals to take over to them as they adjusted to being a family of three filled part of my schedule.

On Oct 23, my husband, Sam, graduated with his Masters of Psychotherapy and Spirituality, which he started during Covid. (He did a four-year part-time program in three years. It has been a busy three years.) And we enjoyed a visit from Sam's mother. I was doing alright, adjusting my schedule to fit things in, even getting some painting time in, but during that busy week I stopped part of the exercises I do to maintain fexibility. When the next week came with 5 different classes I was not as rested as I needed to be, and I started experiencing warning signals of pain in my muscles. So, I had to adjust my schedule to fit in a massage and physio to take care of myself. 

Even writing in my journal has not been as regular lately, and that helps me to process things and write these newsletters. I was reminded that when I let these things go for awhile, I need to get them back into my schedule. It wasn't until after journaling again that I understood what my body and spirit were telling me.

This is part of finding balance for me - my physical health, mental health and spiritual health are intertwined. I need to balance them even if things ebb and flow, like the seasons. we cannot always be in spring and summer, we need to have the fall and winter times as well.

This is a theme that I have revisited often, as I need to be reminded of it often. (Links to past writing on rest, on letting go, and on presence)

Do you struggle with finding balance?

November 11- December 31

Artwork of the instructors at the PaintSpot

I have 5 paintings up and about 5 prints available as well.

#PaintSpotArtGifts

https://paintspot.ca/12-days-of-christmas-at-the-naess-gallery/

For the month of December the "Winter Wonderland 2" feature exhibit will be showing in the Night of Artists Gallery in Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton.

I have three painting there.  I took a short video of the show. Enjoy!