Great way to start the summer with a show featuring over 40 pieces of my watercolors at the Unitarian Church located at 949 - 49th Ave.  Crossroads are 49th and Oak street.  The opening is scheduled for June 9th from 6-8, 2016.  The show " Artistic Journeys" features my work from Mexico, Canada and my favorite plein air activity.  The larger pieces will be featured in the Sanctuary and smaller pieces will be featured in the Fireside Room.  Please come and see the work and check out the www.vancouverunitarians.ca for the latest information for other viewing times.

Artist Carol Mquaid mentioned the show on CO-OP radio 100.5 fm.  Thanks for this Carol!!  Also, Carol is featured at the Cultch with her opening on June 1st in the evening.  More information at the Cultch website.

I will be attending Artist Jan Poynters class on Bowen Island next Sunday.  She is doing a workshop on acrylics and plein air through Opus Art Supplies.  Lots of great information on their website and there may still be some spaces available for this weekend course.  She is offering a class on both June 4th and 5th and details can be found at her website janpoynter.com or at Opus opusartsupplies.com

Master Artist Alfonso Tejada has been really busy since his return from Italy with the International Watercolor Society.  He is the head of the Canadian division and will be involved in the first Watercolor Biennalle here in Vancouver in July.  He has been demoing at the downtown Opus store as well as the North Shore Opus store yesterday.  For more information about the upcoming Biennalle check out www.iwscanada.com

I will be having an opportunity to share my love of watercolors with a group at Tapestry at UBC.  I will be assisting Artist Enda Bardell over the summer with a few watercolor sessions.  I will write more about my teaching experience on further blog posts.

And last but not least, a big thank you goes out to Opus staff, Carrie, Robbin and Jack who greatly assisted me with my art supply order for the upcoming show.  They had everything ready and waiting for me and Jack was a terrific assistant getting the materials out to my car in the pouring rain!!!  Thanks again everyone.

Just finished "the view is waiting" 15 x 22 on fine art paper and this is for my first solo show coming up at the Unitarian Church June 1st to July 3rd.  I haven't decided if I will have time to complete an evening opening, but will update as soon as I know.  This was a last minute opportunity and I need alot of material for the event!  Working hard to get it all together.

http://vancouverunitarians.ca/ucv/

I have been really enjoying Vancouver's fantastic spring weather.  Loads of pictures and ideas to paint for!  Also, trying to still enter the Harmony Arts Group Event with their specific theme this year.  Hope to get to it this week amongst all the other things falling on my plate!

The Opus Paint Out last week was a blast!  I hooked up with Master Alfonso Tejada's work shop group and we painted all afternoon at Victory Square Park.  Made new friends and even caught up with some friends I know from North Van and the Sunshine Coast.  It was a great way to catchup, have super artistic energy all around and get some great painting and sketching tips from a great artist!  I just love my new Conte crayon for sketching.

So many great activities happening around town.  Don't forget to check out many of the events on Opus's website as well as on my twitter and facebook feeds.  

Lots of great Plein Air activities coming up - next one on June 21st in the evening from 5-9 out at Spanish Banks west with the Federation of Canadian Artists.  Come see us or come and paint and meet more artists!

I am setting up my website with studios so that more of my art pieces can be viewed.  Take a look if you have time!

The Federation of Canadian Artists have been able to lease a space in the Granville Island Market on weekends which allows three FCA members to paint onsite and provide information about their art and their artistic style.  As FCA members, we are encouraging everyone we interact with at the POD to come down and see the current exhibit at the Federation Gallery and learn more about FCA!

I was there yesterday, April 30th.  At first, asking to be assigned to the desk area, I felt like I was the "Shammy Wow" guy and all I needed to add was my mike hanging from my neck.  However, as I got comfortable with the area and actually was focused on my painting, it became a great space to interact with interested Guest touring Granville Island and the Market as well as interested budding artists and students who genuinely wanted to know more about the organization and the art of myself, Gary Nay and Tanis Hopkins as we painted in the environment.

The best part of the POD was getting to know my fellow FCA artists and finding out more of their stories.  This is what makes art inspiring and exciting because every story is different and everyones art is so amazing!

Please visit the FCA website and the POD soon as it will go on for the month of May and I hope to be back there as well:

artists.ca

And for interest here is the websites of Gary and Tanis:

GNAYart.com

tannishopkins.com

Our wonderful gallery and volunteer coordinator Helen Duckworth took some wonderful pictures of the activity at our Pod on the FCA facebook page and you can see it shared on my facebook page!

Coming up soon, May 10, the Plein Air Exhibit at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island and I have a painting that was juried in for the show!

Happy Painting!