It's My Birthday

It's my birthday on July 1st. Canada Day. I have always loved having my birthday the same day as a national celebration and holiday.

Today, I was walking Meeko and thought I am going to be 48 tomorrow. It took me a few more steps to do the mental correction. No, I am going to be 58. Kind of hilarious that I lost a decade but nice that I am feeling younger than I am.

When I initially launched my internet life, I hid my age like a closely guarded secret. I felt like everyone was younger than me. That was especially the vibe, although perhaps not factual, on Etsy. I worried that people wouldn't like or value me as much if they knew how old I was.

I have made many wonderful friends over the past few years of all sorts of ages. We have connected because of mutual interests and values: a sense of humour, art, gardens, music, nature, pets, food, family, life.

Over time, I have realized that creativity is not age-related. It just is. And really, if you're counting, maybe having a few more years under your creative belt is a good thing.

Plus, the age we are is not really relevant every-day conversation, unless you are under five. The people who spend time reminding others that they are younger are not talking about achievements or values. We don't choose when we are born. That's done for us. We're all on a timeline, just at different places. It's better to spend time appreciating connections, celebrating creativity and being who we are.

The photo above was taken three years ago. I found it in my files when I was looking for photos for my new website this past month. I didn't choose it because I wanted to look three years younger. The pickings are slim when you are as camera shy as I am (!) and I just love that it captures a sweet moment between me and Meeko.

To celebrate my birthday and Canada Day, I am offering a 20% discount in my (Shopify) shop www.trowelandpaintbrush.com  on July 1st. Use the coupon BDAY2015. It expires at midnight (EST) at the end of the day on July 1st.

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A Giveaway!

Hello, my friends. I am starting to feel the holiday spirit and am having a giveaway on Instagram. I wanted to be sure that you knew about it! You could win a nature collection print, a 'Celebrate Simple Things' card and gift tag and a set of recipe cards--all featuring my watercolours. Check out my post on Instagram for how to enter. It's simple. Click here.

I will be choosing the winner on Tuesday, December 9th at 9:00 a.m. EST.

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From My Heart

It's a celebration today and the garden still had a little bit more to give. I picked a sweet, tiny bouquet to celebrate my 3rd anniversary on Etsy.

I can remember the butterflies I had in my stomach as I set up my Etsy shop and then launched it in October of 2011.

My paintings, prints and cards have since made their way across Canada, throughout the United States, as well as to the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Germany, Greece and Norway. Each time I hear the 'cha-ching' of a Etsy sale notification, I feel the same excitement and then rush to check what was ordered and where it will go.

Etsy has gone through so many changes in the past three years. Behind the scenes, it's sometimes been a bumpy ride. Despite that, I am thankful for all of the good things that being on Etsy has brought me.

I am particularly grateful to everyone who has bought my artwork over the past three years. I have the nicest customers. I really do.

Thank you for the kind words you have shared with me in emails and feedback. When I read them, trust me, I am smiling back at my computer screen. Thank you for telling me the occasions that you are ordering for and taking the time to tell me how you connected with one of my images. It means so much to me.

As a thank you, I am offering 20% off anything in my shop with the coupon code 3THANKYOU up until midnight EST tomorrow (October 21).

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Putting a price on art

I've written here before about how hard it is to let go of originals. There is an emotional tie that I feel with each painting. Despite this, I am starting to list more originals in my Etsy shop. Above are four of my most recent additions. I am proud of all of them. I am hoping that they find owners who will appreciate and enjoy them.

I've done a lot of thinking lately about my pricing. I used to sell a lot of original watercolours fifteen to twenty years ago. I took part in a lot of the big gift trade shows with my Florescence card line and people would often ask if they could buy originals. My prices used to start at $75 and go up to about $300. I worked predominantly in miniature format in those days. Although tiny, there were hours and days invested in each painting.

I now paint in bigger sizes (often 5" x 7" or 8" x 10"; I worked on a 22 x 15 inch painting this past week!). Because of the careful way I layer my colours and the detailed way I paint, all of my paintings take me hours and most often days. Yet when I started listing my originals on Etsy, I was pricing them lower than my small paintings twenty years ago. Why? I think I was influenced by the pricing I was seeing by some artists on Etsy. I wanted to make my paintings competitive with them. But instead of choosing more expensive pricing on Etsy as my model (it's there), I looked at the less expensive works. I also think that because of the gap years when I hadn't painted and was a full-time mom, I had lost confidence. I would have been better off choosing my own former pricing scale as my model. In the end, I wasn't honouring myself or my art.

I recently had a business contact ask me what my current hourly rate is. It was a sobering process to think about it as I realized the way I was pricing some of my paintings, I wasn't even making minimum wage. I did a lot of reading about the pricing of artwork. There is one interesting article outlining different methods here. Some people calculate by size, others by time, some by the current market, others by the subject and medium.

Rather than hoarding my art in a painting drawer in my studio, I am trying to put more up for sale. I increased the prices on some paintings that were already listed in my shop. (There are still a few under $75.) For the most recent paintings I listed, I tried to choose prices that are more in keeping with the beautiful materials I use and the time I invest in my paintings--the heart and soul that I pour into each of them. In the end, my method is a bit of a mix. One 5 x 7 painting might take me longer than another because the composition is more complex or there are more details. Sometimes a painting is bigger or the paper I use is more expensive. Sometimes, a painting is just more important to me.

I hope to list more original paintings in the next few weeks. I will continue to try and choose prices that are respectful to me and also accessible to those who love my work. Yes, sometimes the painting process can be challenging but I think pricing is the most complicated part of being an artist.

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I have added a 'button' at the right side of the blog that you can click to go directly to the original paintings currently listed in my shop. There is a backstory to the photo I created for it. I had the frame and palette set up on a board on the floor. I originally tried using a tripod but the tripod was casting shadows into the photo. So instead, I leaned over it to get the picture frame 'square' in the photo. I leaned over it for so long (I took several photos and it still isn't perfect) that I put my back out. Yes, a true back story. Ouch! So I am not gardening this weekend as planned. I am doing what I can while sitting down and resting. Perfect time for a new blog post.

Warm Wishes from Canada!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers! I have been looking at Instagram today and it is making me hungry! All of those beautiful photos of Thanksgiving dinners. Oh my, the pies!

We celebrate Thanksgiving in October in Canada so we fill our bellies then but, come November, we feel hungry again! Imagine that!

I am offering free shipping in my Etsy shop this weekend for the big Black Friday + Cyber Monday shopping weekend. I've never offered free shipping before. I hope it helps some holiday shoppers. It's available to everyone no matter where you live and there is no coupon required. I've already adjusted the shipping to zero in all of my listings. It is available right now up until midnight on Monday, December 2, 2013. I hope you take a moment to have a look.

I had the weirdest dream about it last night.  I dreamt I was wildly trying to cancel my free shipping offer as I realized that the frozen hamburger patties were going to defrost in the mail. Huh? I was mailing single frozen patties in envelopes. How bizarre! Where did that come from? When I was writing about my dream in an email to my sister this morning, I started laughing to the point of tears.

If any of you do take advantage of my free shipping offer, I promise no defrosted hamburger patties, just pretty paintings, prints and cards celebrating flowers and nature. You know me by now. :)

In other news, we finally have pretty snow here! Usually Montreal leads in snow but, this year, everyone seemed to get it before us. Two nights ago, we got our first snow but it was slushy and, well, it just didn't count. Last night, we got a light covering of pretty snow. Not much but this one counted. Plus, the temperatures were cold enough that Meeko and I were able to do our winter forest walk for the first time this season. Talk about joy! Part of the trail in the little forest near us goes through a swampy area so it needs to be below freezing to walk there. It's inaccessible for three seasons of the year. I wasn't sure if it would be okay today but the water was frozen 'just' enough. It is one of the few places that I am able to walk with Meeko off-leash. We have worked so hard together, so he knows that he can run ahead a certain distance but then needs to wait for me to catch up. I was so proud of him today to see that he had our routine memorized despite the fact that we haven't been there since last March. I wish I had my camera with me today as the forest was so pretty but there will be plenty of opportunities in the weeks ahead.

Once again, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating today too! I was just reading that Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah haven't coincided for 125 years and it won't happen again for more than 70,000 years. Wow! Wherever you are in the world, whether you are experiencing snowflakes or sunshine, and whatever your faith, I hope you are celebrating both the day and season. ❤

My Art Belongs to Me: An Important Update

I want to thank everyone who read my last blog post (over 700 people at the last count). It has been a difficult, distracting ten day-period since I first contacted the District of West Kelowna in British Columbia over art they had used without permission, attribution and compensation on their website.

Thank you to those who took the time to tell their own stories about their art being misused or abused in some way. I believe that sharing our voices gives them strength. Thanks for the warm support and encouragement you provided to me here, on Facebook, Twitter, in messages and emails. It meant so much to me.

I have to say a huge thank you to Margaret Atwood for retweeting my blog post link to 429,342 followers. Completely amazing. When I thanked her for her tweet, she said the kindest things about my paintings. For an English lit major turned artist, that was a euphoric moment in an otherwise very difficult week. I'm actually still floating.

I want to thank Toronto architect Sheena Sharp of Coolearth Architecture Inc. who saw Ms. Atwood's retweet of my blog link and sent a wonderful letter to Mayor Findlater in West Kelowna about my case and in support of artists in general.

Thanks to my family here and in Ontario for their support. Another historic event of the past week was that my mother posted words of support on Facebook for me. She abhors Facebook. She did it for me. I also received a lovely email with words of encouragement from my father on the weekend. He closed with: "Keep on doing your beautiful art & remember that most people are honest enough to admit that they made a mistake."

That is what I wanted to believe but I wasn't sure it was going to happen.

I have very good news. It did. I have received a very thoughtful letter from Kirsten Jones, Communications Supervisor on behalf of the District of West Kelowna. 

They heard me. They heard you. We have made a difference.

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Here is Ms. Jones' letter for you to read.

Dear Ms. Maunder:  

It is with tremendous regret that I read about the suffering you have undergone due to the District’s use of an image you indicate you have copyright for. I certainly don’t want you to think we take this lightly, that is far from the case. Those involved in this situation have been deeply impacted by your words and I can tell you, changes have come about within our organization, directly due to this difficult situation.  

Yes, we are a government body. But the District of West Kelowna is a new municipality, five years old, with a very small number of communications staff. Indeed, although we try to be everywhere, see everything on the approximately 820-page website we manage, we simply cannot. In this particular case, we were not there and, unfortunately, a mistake did happen. An inexperienced website content provider selected a pretty image from the internet that she thought would brighten up the webpage dedicated to our fall recreation guide. There was no malicious intent on her part, no inkling that the image was copyright.  

After you indicated where you had found the image on our webpage, I took a look and it was instantly obvious to me that these images were not “clipart” at all. The Maple Leafs image is truly beautiful, a work of a gifted artist. I immediately had them removed from our website.  I then spent some time viewing your other work, reading your comments on your social media sites and websites. I know, without a shadow of a doubt that you are dedicated to your craft, passionate about what you do and it clearly shows in your work. I can understand why you have felt so unhappy with what I am sure appears to be cavalier use of your art as “clipart.” I am truly sorry for this and want you to know that the District of West Kelowna values the arts greatly, and in fact we’ve just finalized a cultural plan intended to promote the work and efforts of local artists.  

I also apologize for the time it has taken for us to respond to you thoroughly on this matter, but regretfully, municipalities receive a lot of claims of harm from various avenues and we simply must fully investigate to ensure we have all the information.  

We have discovered that a content provider was unclear about what images from the internet are safe for public use. We have rectified this misunderstanding internally to ensure something like this never happens again.  

Although we feel removing the image, which we immediately did, was truly the correct course of action, we can appreciate that you feel compensation is needed. We therefore offer payment (...) for the past use of your image as we feel this is the right thing to do.  

We are preparing the appropriate paperwork as I write this and we will be sending this to you in the near future in the form of a letter. You are welcome to post this reply on your social media sites and blog. 

Sincerely, on behalf of the District of West Kelowna, 

Kirsten Jones, Communications Supervisor, Municipal Hall

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Thank you, Ms. Jones and your colleagues, for listening and making changes in the way you do things. Thank you for the serious, measured nature of your response. Thank you for understanding that what you initially thought of as a small oversight was actually much bigger. Copyright infringement can never be considered an oversight. It has financial ramifications for artists and very real emotional ones. I hope that what I have gone through here will help other artists in the future. I am also very happy to know that you have a cultural plan to promote the work of local artists.

I am grateful to all of my readers, both new and old. Please keep speaking out about how hurtful it is to use artists’ work without permission, attribution and compensation.  Continue to stand up for yourselves and for fellow artists. From my heart to yours--thank you!

My Art Belongs to Me

When you find your art used somewhere without permission, when you come upon it out of context and in the wrong place, there is a moment of shock. It stops you cold. Then the reaction is visceral. There is a physical feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Art is part of us. When artists create, we put a small piece of ourselves outside in the world.

When a friend recently heard that I had some of my works stolen (and that’s what copyright infringement is), she shouted swear words at her computer. This is not someone who swears normally. She is a refined, gentle, elegant woman who spends her days painting beautiful watercolours. She had that strong reaction because she is my friend but also because she knows what it feels like. She has been through the same horrible experience.

Some artist friends have said that they don’t even look anymore for the violations because the pain of dealing with these situations causes artistic paralysis. Are you getting an idea of how big this is?

Art thieves not only deprive the true artist of income but cause physical stress and heartache. It literally hurts to have work stolen.

This is not just an internet problem. Years ago, I had my images used without permission by two American companies. This was well before the internet, so the compulsion to steal artists’ work is not new. Some theories I have are that it can be attributed to laziness, a lack of creative vision or brazenness. People think they won’t get caught. For some, maybe it’s a budget thing. It’s cheaper to steal than to pay for legitimate use. However you explain it, it’s wrong. I had to hire a copyright lawyer that time. It was time-consuming. It was emotionally draining. I can still recall the emotional toll of that period all these years later. It is imprinted on me.

One of the most recent cases I have been dealing with is a government office in Canada that used my ‘Maples Leaves’ painting as if it was clip art on their website. Clip art! A communications department in a Canadian government office. It blows my mind. You would think a department of communications professionals would have a moral and legal sense of what is right and wrong in their own country.  They did remove my image (actually, images, as they used it twice) from their website but it was only after I sent them an invoice for illegal use of it. They then sent me an email saying that my name wasn’t on the art so they had no idea it was mine! It was an oversight, they said. They wouldn’t be paying the invoice. They considered the matter closed. 

When I saw that explanation, I saw red. I wrote an email back to them within minutes. My daughter could hear me pounding the keys of the computer keyboard from upstairs. I sent my response to them and posted it on my Facebook page.

Here’s what I said:

“While I appreciate that you removed the image on Friday, you and I know that it was only after I sent you an invoice.

There are millions of images on the internet. Google has a wealth of images that will appear after any search--it is a gathering place, nothing more. It is not a pool of clip art available for the world to use. Just because you can see things doesn't mean that you can use them.

As a Canadian visual artist trying to make a living from my art, I don't think you understand how heartbreaking it is to see my art used and abused in this way. It feels like a violation.

I remain shocked that a communications function in a Canadian governmental body would not have a better grasp of internet use as well as copyright issues and laws.

An 'oversight'? I think there are other words that would much better describe it. Here are some: theft, copyright violation, illegal use.

My invoice stands and I remain angry--actually more so after your meagre explanation.

Kathleen Maunder

Days after sending that email, I am still tossing and turning in my sleep. How hard is this to get? Infringing on someone’s copyright cannot be described as ‘an oversight’. 

Let’s talk cars instead of art because maybe that’s easier for some people to understand.

My car is parked in my driveway.  Is stealing it right?  No, someone might say, because it’s clear it belongs to me. It’s in my driveway and it has a licence plate on it. Plus we all know that stealing something that belongs to someone else is illegal.

Okay, so now you see my car on the street somewhere. It doesn’t have a licence plate because someone removed it. Is stealing it okay? According to the logic of the government office I’ve been dealing with, then it would be fine. It’s no longer clear that that the car belongs to me so it’s fair game for them to take it for a joyride and maybe even take it home. But you and I know that the second case is exactly the same as the first. It is still illegal to use and steal property that belongs to someone else. 

So, now I am having to decide whether I hire my copyright lawyer again. I have a commissioned painting I am about to start work on--a touching, beautiful commission with a very sad story behind it. This painting requires me to be fully engaged in it. I have a craft show to prepare for in mid-October that will involve hours of work. Autumn, one of my very favourite seasons, is about to start.  Yet, because of some people’s lack of morals and inexplicable ignorance of copyright law, I have been dealing with anger, discouragement and lack of sleep.

I know that most of the people who come to my blog are artists and/or art lovers. I realize I am preaching to the converted. But maybe, just maybe, someone will come here who hadn’t really thought about how hurtful using other artists’ work is. Maybe they will think twice before they copy an image and use it in some way. Maybe if they really want to use it, they’ll contact the artist and ask if it’s okay and how much it would cost. Maybe, if they don’t know who it belongs to they will plug it into Google Images Search and find the source. Maybe if they do share it on Pinterest or Tumblr or wherever else, they will make sure that it is attributed correctly back to the source. I really, really hope so.

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While there is a strong compulsion to stamp my name on top of every piece of my art, I won't do it. This blog is about sharing my art, my process, my love of flowers and nature and being part of an international art community. I will continue to post photos of my paintings here, in my Etsy shop, my Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts. There is text at the bottom of my blog stating that all images belong to me. There is similar text at the bottom of every Etsy listing. Those who choose to abuse art images know in their heart of hearts that it is not due to some mistake of the artist. 

The fault is completely their own.







I have good news. My dispute with the District of West Kelowna has been resolved in a positive way. Please read about it here.

My garden wakes up and I move forward

How do you spell joyful? How do you spell happy? How do you spell uplifted spirits? I believe they are all spelled G-A-R-D-E-N.

These photos were taken this morning on a little stroll through my back and front gardens. I mention the backyard first because that's usually where my walks begin--out the back door with Meeko by my side. This time of year is bursting with daily changes. I do regular inspections of shoots and buds knowing that more and more blossoms are on their way. The anticipation is delicious. The birds have been so loud (in a good way) the past few days. They are my marker that spring has truly arrived. There was a little song sparrow earlier today singing his little heart out. He perches in the neighbour's tree and I always like to imagine from year to year that it is the same little fellow. 

Spring. So much activity. So much life. So much to look forward to.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful words of encouragement that you wrote for me after my last post. I had tears in my eyes as I read them--not of sadness, more of amazement and gratitude for the wonderful, eloquent, big-hearted bunch of people who gather here. Thank you as well for the honesty that you spoke of your own art and struggles.  There is enormous strength in knowing that we are not alone in our worries and challenges.

Many of my posts are about ordinary things on ordinary days, but I have to say that when I have spoken up about deeper and more difficult things, the response has always been quite amazing. I find it extraordinary that we are able to make connections and establish friendships in what could be a cold and impersonal forum. I was thinking that the only thing missing at times like that is a big pot of tea or coffee or a bottle of wine in the middle of the table as we share our opinions and experiences.

I've put my setback behind me and have been painting this week and finding joy and satisfaction in it. I hope you are able to find time for creative pleasures this week whatever your medium. A big, big hug to you all.

My Heart and My Art

I hesitated to write this but it's about something that has taken up a good part of my week, so here it is. I have been waiting over the past week for an answer to something. I applied to be part of an online market. It's not important which one. What I wanted to talk about was my reaction.

First of all, the wait was hard. It's a case of only being contacted when the news is good. That made the wait even harder as I was hoping until the very last moment that maybe I was included and that the response had been delayed. But the answer at this point is definitely no.

And why does that hurt so much? I've been thinking a lot about it the past few days. Why does rejection of our art hurt? I think it's because it is part of us. Whatever we create includes a piece of ourselves. When our art is rejected, someone can say 'Don't take it personally' but it does feel personal.

I know the rational side. My art wasn't a good fit with this particular market. My art doesn't appeal to the curator. They were looking for a different style. That category was full. There are any number of ways I could explain it to myself in a reasonable way.

I know the emotional side. They don't like my work. They didn't pick me. They liked others' work better. My work wasn't good enough. I feel mad. I feel sad. Oh boy! We artists can be hard on ourselves.

I have a trick for when I am having trouble dealing with something. I imagine what I would say if it was one of my daughters having the same problem. It quickly provides perspective. In this case, I would say: "It's okay and understandable to feel a bit sad about the rejection but it is important to remember that it is only the opinion of one person. That needs to be weighed against all of the very positive things that have been happening for your work and the wonderful support it has from people all around the world. Maybe there is something you can learn from this and then you need to move forward."

Well then, that feels better. Doesn't it? Having one person say no doesn't take a thing away from all of the other positive achievements.

This is the photo that accompanied by very first blog post.

Being able to sell art online is wonderful but it's hard too. I remember the knots in my stomach when I made my first blog post. I remember when I put those first few things in my Etsy shop. Unless you are creating only for yourself, there is risk attached to sharing your work with the world. There will be people who like it and people who don't. When I mentioned to a friend that I sometimes wondered if the representational way I paint excludes me from some things, she said that for every style of art there is an audience. She is right. My sales have been increasing lately. I have had sales to places as far away as Greece, Australia and New Zealand. I have lovely customers and have made some wonderful online friends. My shop is being noticed by more people. I am creating new work on an ongoing basis. I am growing as an artist. I am being true to my heart. I am proud of what I produce. I am having fun.

The paintings at the top and bottom are of practice exercises from a course I am taking on botanical borders and hand lettering. Wonderfully therapeutic work to engage the brain while the heart is figuring things out. :)

If there are occasional tears, I think that it is just part of being fully engaged in my art. Have you ever noticed the materials that I list in the 'item details' under my Etsy listings? I list the paper, the ink or paint and then always add 'my heart'. Because it's true, my heart is there. The note that I send with each order confirmation says "Thank you so much for ordering from me! Knowing that you like my artwork puts a smile on my face. :)" If you saw me at my computer when I get a new order or receive a compliment on one of my paintings, you would know that is a fact. I do smile--both inside and out. ❤

Big and Small

I have been cleaning my studio the past two days. It is a big, overwhelming job but not without interest. I am finding all sorts of things I had forgotten about.

I started painting when I was 18 years old.  I didn't study Fine Art in university but English Literature.  I started taking a neighbourhood painting course to serve as a creative counterpoint to my studies.  I was never told that I had an ability in art when I was in elementary school, to the point that I didn't take any art courses when I was in high school. I was more often told that I was a good writer. So I didn't expect to love painting as much as I did.  Even after I graduated from university and started working in the corporate communications field, I continued painting in the evenings and taking art courses. I even thought of getting a second degree in Art History but realized that the actual doing of it was what I loved the most.  It wasn't until I was in my thirties and in the middle of a burnout related to my corporate job that I realized that painting was what I wanted to do--all of the time.

What I am finding as I clean my studio is work from years ago. It's quite mindblowing. Some of it feels like it was done by another person and I guess in a way it was.  I have a ton of stuff but picked out a few that I thought you might enjoy seeing.

These three really surprised me as I don't have any clear memory of painting them. Isn't that strange? I am thinking that they were perhaps done during one of the evening courses I took at a lovely little independent art school that existed on Queen Street in Toronto in the 1980s. It was called Arts' Sake.  These are all on full-sized sheets of very ordinary newsprint paper.

I painted primarily in oil when I was in my twenties. The studies above would have been done during that period, so I was experimenting but hadn't made the official switch to watercolour.  That came in my thirties. At the beginning, I used to paint miniatures almost exclusively. I love things that are small and I love detail. Here are some that I still have from 1991 and 1992. They include scenes from my garden, Quebec, Ontario and travels in England, Australia and New Zealand. They measure 3½ x 2½ inches and smaller. (Some I like; some I don't.) I sold many of the paintings I did in this period.

The iris studies at the very top of this post were done in this same period too, although they are bigger.

This mosaic was the result of a class I took about six years ago at the Visual Arts Centre in Montreal. I have taken several courses there.  We were asked by the teacher to bring in a watercolour that we weren't happy with, without being told why. I brought in a still life I had done of a tea pot, butternut squash and orange. When we arrived, we were told to cut the painting into squares (eek!), rearrange them and then add painted detail.  I added three tea bags, flowers and lines and the sentence 'I will make time for tea and art and tranquillity'.  It ended up being a piece that I like to this day.

This final piece is one of the very few 'full sheet' 22 x 30 inch watercolours that I have done.  Some artists work on full sheets all of the time.  I much prefer smaller formats.  This was also done during the course I took six years ago. If my memory serves me right, tears were involved. :)

My cleanup is still not finished. I'll post photos when I have everything organized. I'm already breathing easier as I walk up the loft stairs.

A Bird Nest is a Symbol of Hope

This sweet bird nest lives in my house.  I was very lucky to find this original watercolour under the Christmas tree--a gift from my husband.  I love it.  I also love its artist--Jody Edwards.

A lot has gone on this past week.  A week ago, Jody found this very nest and several of her feather images in the Etsy shop and on the blog of a German artist. Through hours of detective work, Jody tracked down three other Etsy artists who had their work copied by the same person.  The copied images are gone now but the past week has been a week of pain, anger, and frustration for Jody. I got involved because Jody is my friend and I feel sick when artists, especially friends, go through this kind of thing.  I ended up being labeled a 'hater' and 'bully' for standing up for Jody and the other artists by saying that the other artist was wrong to do what she did.  While she has apologized that others saw a resemblance in what she was selling (they were identical), she still claims never to have seen Jody's work before. Yesterday, despite two walks with Meeko in the forest, I was in and out of tears. I was feeling disappointed with the world, discouraged with what that means for my daughters in the future and reeling from the names I had been called.  I have taught Emma and Chloé to stand up and speak out when things are wrong. It is a strong message in our household, not to mention their school. I thought, if this is what happens when you do speak up, had I taught them the right thing?

But, do you know what? This is a new month. Bird nests, especially those filled with tiny, sweet eggs, are symbols of hope and love.  Here is a list of good and wonderful things I can take from the past week:

I am thankful for my friendship with Jody. Who knew that an email I sent her last October on Etsy telling her how much I loved her watercolours would turn into such a special and supportive friendship. We have our painting styles, motherhood and a sense of humour in common.  It turns out that she grew up just minutes away from my sister's house. My sister now owns some of her originals too. I encourage you to have a look at her beautiful paintings, maybe even say hello to her.

I am thankful for my beautiful friend Colette who sent me the most amazing email one morning this week full of words that had nothing to do with me being a bully or hater without knowing how very much I needed to hear them. She is also the sweetheart who delivered that bouquet of Valentine candles to me.

I am thankful for my sweet friend Lucile who took time at midnight in Paris to send me words of encouragement when I told her that I was feeling discouraged this month about my art and Etsy. I am also the proud owner of two of Lucile's original paintings and I will show you them some day.

I am thankful that a stranger named Mary Jo took the time to leave a sweet and kind comment here after I visited her new blog, a welcome place of peace and beauty called Still.

I am thankful for the internet. Though this past week, I started to think of it as the big, bad internet and it definitely has that side, it has been the source of the most wonderful creative inspiration and beautiful friendships. There are a lot of very nice people out there and I am lucky to know so many of them. I am thankful for knowing Geninne, Margie and Arounna...and there are so many others that I can't list you all here as I would be afraid to leave someone out and hurt your feelings. I appreciate each and every one of you.

I am thankful for my daughters. They are kind, sensitive and wise. They are so supportive of my painting efforts--"Mama, go upstairs and paint!". They have a true sense of integrity, not to mention wonderful senses of humour (they are slightly nutty). For everything I teach them, they teach me something back.

I am thankful for my parents because I know that my moral core comes from what they taught me when I was young. I am also happy to say that my Mom is doing really well these days.

I am thankful for Meeko and how he gets me outside even on days when it's icy and horribly frigid, and the unconditional furry love he gives me throughout each day.

I am thankful for my husband and the gift of this painting. And Jody again, for making this beautiful bird nest, this symbol of hope, something that I get to look at each and every day.

One more thing:  I am thankful that January is over! :)

Hope     

Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune--without the words, 

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 

And sore must be the storm 

That could abash the little bird 

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 

And on the strangest sea; 

Yet, never, in extremity, 

It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Bird nests and feathers are symbols of hope.

Uppercase

I just received my first issue of Uppercase magazine.  It arrived cold and frosty from our street mailbox.  Oh how I enjoy opening envelopes with my name on them. I love the soft feel of this magazine's beautiful coverstock, its gorgeous inky smell and the promise of its pages. I cannot wait to dive into it.

I am so thankful for the creative friends I have made this past year. I didn't even know about this magazine before taking a workshop with the wonderful Mexican artist Geninne, hosted by the amazing Canadian duo who own Bookhou in Toronto this past summer. I heard participants talking about it and then saw mentions of it on Geninne's blog. I particularly love the fact that it is produced in Canada. I put Uppercase on my Christmas list and was lucky enough that my lovely daughters subscribed to it for me.

Gifts for the artist on your list

With Christmas approaching and shopping time diminishing (I wish I was feeling more organized right now!), I thought it might be helpful to suggest a few gifts for the artist among your friends or family members.

I own a lot of paintbrushes that I've accumulated over the years.  But I have to say that the brush in the above photo is my current favourite.  I bought it in Paris this summer.  Well actually my daughter Chloé bought it for me for my birthday while we were in Paris. Those are reasons enough to love it, but it handles watercolour beautifully and has the loveliest point. (Isabey 6225 series No. 8 brush)

I use paper from a number of manufacturers (Arches and Waterford among others) but this handmade paper from a small mill in Montreal is a favourite of mine.  It comes in sweet, small sizes with four deckle edges.  It has a lovely soft texture. It is sold in stores across North America. (Saint-Armand watercolour paper)

I bought these beautiful bird scissors in a sewing store.  I use them in my studio when I want to cut a precise shape out of paper but I also use them for mending or sewing.  Truth be told, mostly I like looking at them. (Stork Scissors by Premax, made in Italy--sold in sewing supply stores and also in the supply section on Etsy)

Micron pens would be a welcome gift to many artists--whether young or experienced.  They come in all different sizes (the number 02 is my favourite) and have micro pigment ink that is waterproof and fade resistant. They are perfect for sketching or doing a pen and watercolour painting. (Pigma Micron pens by Sakura)

There are lots of lovely art books that you could give an artist--a reference book, a biography of a favourite artist or a book illustrated by an artist.  The book above is one I love. It is written and illustrated by English artist Mary Woodin and it answers my love of both watercolours and gardens.  It is a visual diary of a year in her garden filled with luscious watercolours, descriptions of her plants and beautiful quotes.

The Painted Garden:  A Year in Words and Watercolors is available here.  I have just found out that she has published a garden cookbook too.  Guess what just got added to my Christmas list? :)

If you are looking for a gift for a child with artistic interests, there is a wonderful series of books by Laurence Anholt.  We have five of them in our household but there are more available.  They were enjoyed thoroughly by me and my youngest daughter Chloé. And even though they are written for young children, they travel between her room and my studio because we both still love them.

Each book tells the story of a famous artist. You get to see some of the artist's well-known work but also a snippet of their life--in each case told through the perspective of a child who has a special friendship with the artist.  Wonderful educational books with an emotional core. (Author Laurence Anholt)

From Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt

Most artists are inspired by other artists. A painting or print from an admired artist would be a very thoughtful gift.  Here is a print that is on my list this year:

Lemon botanical plate on vintage French envelope by French artist Lucile Prache of Lucile's Kitchen

I love everything done by this wonderful artist! You can find her here and here.  I am very lucky to count her as one of my friends. :)

And finally, here is an idea that does not cost anything but would be valued by so many.  Artists need time to be creative.  Give the artist in your family a certificate that is good for babysitting, washing the dishes, walking the dog, making dinner, mowing the lawn, vacuuming the house--you get the idea--so they can have a little more time at their work table or in their studio.