It’s hard to believe I’m now just shy of one week away from the launch of my very first collection of oil on canvas paintings.
The journey to get to this point has been wild and, honestly, a bit of a whirlwind. I have to keep reminding myself to stop and take a deep breath so that I can enjoy every minute of this ride.
When I went to Prince Edward County on August 25 to take some photos for inspiration, I’d only been painting with oils since July 17. That’s a grand total of 38 days. I had no idea that I was about to be possessed by the urge to keep painting scenes from this day.
I started small, with an 8x10 and a 9x12. I added in a few square paintings, 8x8, 9x9, 10x10. Did a few more. But something was missing.
That’s when I decided to take the original painting of a green-roofed barn and turn it into the collection’s signature piece. Hello, Sunshine, the painting, was an exploration in expanding the theme I’d been working in—blue skies, sunshine, green fields, pared down rural living. I knew I had to keep the painting simple even as I went BIG. Up to that point, this 24x36 painting was the biggest I had done.
Fourteen paintings later, and the itch to spend a summer day in Prince Edward County through my art finally felt scratched.
The Hello, Sunshine collection has been something I’ve had to get out of me. I’ve talked about it being a love letter to blue skies and summer days. And it is. But it’s more than that. It’s my ode to the return of joy to my life.
Painting has changed me. Or perhaps I’ve changed and that’s allowed painting to come into my life. Maybe it’s a bit of both. I think it’s cyclical. The more I grow, the more my paintings are a part of me.
I’m working on the final touches. All of the hand-installed hanging hardware is in place and the paintings are finally dry enough to ship. I need to sign them. Hang them. Photograph them.
Then they’ll be yours. My little offering to the world. I hope you’ll want to bring one home, but even if you don’t, I hope you’ll benefit from seeing the peace and the joy I’ve painted into every stroke.
It’s just a week away, dear friends. I’m so excited!