Hello everyone, 
As some of you may know, I've been organizing a casual Plein Air group for the last few summers which is open to anyone who wishes to paint outdoors in and around the HRM. Personally I feel it has been very successful as everyone has met someone new, learned a bit about the challenges of painting outdoors and discovered new places to paint/explore. Also, thanks to the generosity of those in the group, we have been invited to paint at special events and to paint in unique locations that we would never have known existed, unless we lived in that area.
This past summer I combined two of my favourite activities, hiking & painting, as well as an evening Plein Air on Citadel Hill. Right now our group is quite large, but on average we are a very comfortable number as people are on vacation or cannot attend for a variety of reasons. The group is open to the novice or experienced artist (everyone has to start somewhere:), working in any medium. We also welcome partners and friends to accompany us and explore the area as we paint. 
This month Rae Smith, an experienced pastel artist in the group, has invited us to the Gallery 97 and the show is entitled “Paintings by my friends, Plein Air Group”.
If you want to know more about us, meet some of the artists, view some inspiring work or find that unique gift for someone special, please join us this evening at 6pm. Hope to see you there!

(11 Glendale Ave. suite 4 in Lower Sackville, at radio station CIOE 97.5 FM). Nov 29th, 6pm
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I’m honoured that my painting “Tumble” Blue Mountain Birch Cove received third prize in the IWS Canada (www.iwscanada.ca) online competition. What a wonderful way to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary and Watercolour! A very big Thank You to all the organizers/judges and Congratulations to all the winners and 150 finalists!  
​“Tumble" was inspired by painting on location at Susie Lake in the Blue Mountain Wilderness Area, late October 2016. Here’s a link to their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Bluemountaintrailsassociation/

Pleased to be part of an upcoming Group Show at Galley Nineteen Nineteen, in Halifax.
​Hope to see some of you there! 

Hello everyone,
So proud to be one of the artists representing Canada at The Fabriano in Acquarello Conference 2017.
This event takes place in the small town of Fabriano, Italy at the end of April with over 54 countries participating.
It is a creative exchange between International Watercolorists with no commercial or political purpose, and their main  focus is on creativity, friendship and love!

Our Canadian organizer was Alfonso Tejada and below are two small slide shows. The first is a general overview of the Conference and the second is the Canadian portion. 

​Hope you mark "Fabriano in Acquarello" on your calendar for the future and please feel free to share this with anyone who loves watercolour!

Happy painting!
​Gail

Grateful that my painting, “First Game” Cabot Cliffs, Cape Breton, was selected by IWS Canada (http://www.iwscanada.com), in their 1st International Watercolour Biennale Exhibition.
A very large THANK YOU to jurors; John Salminen, Keiko Tanabe, Pablo Rubén López Sanz and the Organizing Committee; Alfonso L. Tejada, Anna Massinissa, Sandrine Pelissier, Heidi Lambert.
I also wish to congratulate all the other artists who participated, especially my Atlantic colleagues, Bill Rogers and Garry Hamilton.

I just received my catalogue for the World watercolour competition. I had entered into this competition but unfortunately was disqualified during the second round of cuts. While reading the catalogue and admiring the variety of artwork from around the globe, I came upon my painting, Out of the Blue (small and in the third section).
​This was quite unexpected and such a nice surprise….totally "Out of the Blue!"    
Wishing everyone a Happy & Safe Holiday!

Had a wonderful day painting at Paint Peggy's Cove this past Saturday with some very talented artists. I cannot thank the volunteers enough for all their hard work, as another artist said, "Well run and well done!” Some of these same artists and many others will be painting in Lunenburg this upcoming weekend, July 19th & 20th, http://www.lunenburgartgallery.com/PSOS.php and there's another "Paint the Town in Annapolis Royal" on August 16th & 17th, http://arcac-artsplace.weebly.com/paint-the-town.html  
So if you're looking for an enjoyable way to spend a summer day or the weekend, I highly recommend attending one or both of these events:)  Hope you're having a great summer and thank you for all your support!