My Annual Exhibition is over for another year, and I am slowly coming up for air. Whew! The one-night vernissage, held each year since 1994 at Edmonton’s historic Hotel Macdonald, is an all-consuming event, the culmination of a year of painting inspired by a travel, backpacking and canoeing. Searching for interesting subject matter and light, planning, creating, executing and framing a large body of work takes the better part of my waking hours, and there is an intimidating amount of work and detail required in organizing the event itself. (I also have a knack of streamlining some systems only to unecessarily complicate others or fabricate new ones.)
This year was more challenging, with the expected unexpectedness of life, and as I was forced to simplify the exhibition and ultimately exhibit fewer paintings. During my usual flurry of head-down-brush-up-don’t-leave-the-studio final two months of preparation, Covid-19 found me twice, and wreaked havoc on 4 weeks of productivity and creativity. It is unclear if anyone but myself and my team of volunteers noticed much change in the exhibition itself, but I know my exhaustion showed and likely people were too polite to say so. In the end though, it was a fabulous event thanks to my loyal and enthusiastic fans, patrons, volunteers, friends and family. People were so happy to see each other, have an evening out and enjoy original, local art in a warm setting. I am filled with gratitude to be able to share my paintings with you in this way.
After the installation and before the doors open | November 10, 2022 | Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Edmonton
There are still several new pieces available including two inspired by our spring trip to New York City where we attended the 155th Annual Exhibition of the American Watercolour Society. “47, Fifth Avenue” is the entrance to the Salmagundi Club where the event took place, and “Beaux-Arts” is one of the elegant stairwells leading to the Rose Reading Room in the main branch of the New York Public Library.
47, Fifth Avenue | Watercolour | 25 x 25” Framed | Available at Annesley Studio
“Beaux-Arts” 24 x 30” | Watercollour | Framed | Available at Annesley Studio
We are taking a short break to enjoy some fresh mountain air and friendship in Banff National Park. One of our goals is to ski the high alpine meadows along the great divide to a viewpoint of spectacular Mt. Assiniboine, “matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies.” I pick my jaw up out of the snow every time I see it, towering unchallenged over its comparatively diminutive neighbouring peaks. It will be a time to decompress and stretch the legs, and also a chance to recharge in order to create the next set of new paintings. “Mt. Assiniboine” the charcoal (below) will arrive at Canada House Gallery on November 27.
“Mt. Assiniboine” | Charcoal on Board | 50 x 28” | Available at Canada House Gallery, Banff
While in the mountains, we hope to see the December People up to their usual adventures. The little gingerbreads appear each winter to ski and climb in the Rockies and if we are patient, we may come across them playing in powder, practicing turns and knots and swings, laughing all the way. They can also be found on Instagram. Better get baking…
Wishing everyone a warm, creative and sparkling holiday season.
Self Portrait in Gingerbread | Paradise Valley, Banff National Park
