Winter is Upon Us

We are making weather records here in the Okanagan. Record cold, record snow and it is only the 9th of November. So what better time to put up some winter scenes than now. We may as well get into the spirit so I am adding some cheery, happy, snowy, snowman pictures to hopefully bring a smile. One piece is called “Winter Wonderland” and one is called “Wish Upon a Star” which has a house in it exactly the color of the house we had when we lived on the coast in Maple Ridge. I was the neighborhood rebel and had our house painted turquoise. We built our house and were at the stage of painting the outside. When my husband and kids left for work and school, the painters had just arrived. They wanted to be sure that the color they were putting on was really what I wanted and of course I said yes. When the family got home, they all thought I had lost it. “What have you done” is what I was greeted with. But I told them not to worry, I had great plans for this place and the plan was to create an amazing garden. Which is exactly what I did. It has been featured in the Vancouver Sun, the Home and Garden Channel, and the magazines Gardens West and Canadian Gardening. So color has always played an important part in my life, both in the garden I created and now in my art. So here are the two winter pieces I just finished. I also just had the pleasure of being interviewed by Patricia Doyle for a Shaw Cable video which has just come out on You Tube in which I talked a little about our garden. Once I figure out how to link it to my webpage I will put it here but in the meantime you can check out You Tube, Artisans Alley, Episode 7-Nancy Vince. Not sure if that is enough information to get you there but I will figure this out and get it on my webpage. Hope you are all keeping warm. Happy November.

Great to See Summer Arrive

It is great to see summer arrive along with the flowers and the hummingbirds. Nothing is more delightful than seeing those tiny little hummers buzzing around your feeder and bathing in your fountain. Spent the long weekend in May shopping for plants and getting our deck ready to enjoy some downtime. It has been a hectic spring with preparations for the Artist Studio Tour [coming this weekend], getting ready to participate in Creative Chaos [just finished] and helping to create labels for our Art Show at the Vernon Community Art Center. Check out the great artwork on display from the members of the Okanagan Artist of Canada for the month of June. I had a great time at Creative Chaos meeting old friends and having the chance to display my artwork. When I think of how often I was afraid to call myself an artist, it was great to hear people say “your artwork is amazing” “so happy”. So I finally feel comfortable calling myself an artist after all these years. One artist I would like to brag about is Jeanette M. She asked permission to use this piece to create a quilt for the Children’s Section of the Vernon Library.

From my little 9″ x 12″ artwork, she created a 3′ x 4′ quilt that is stunning. She is truly the artist here and I could not be more proud of what she created. It was hung in the library this past week and if you have a chance to see it you will be amazed by her work.

Seth Godin says “Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does”

Stories of the Past Reception – September 30, 2016

We had a great opening night for our exhibition. The seniors were thrilled with all the attention and the Art Center had an amazing turnout. Lucy Brett, the senior who I have been working with all summer showed up in a red suit and a red hat. She looked lovely and reminded me so much of my mom. She has lent me the quilt she had crocheted and the red hat she wore while a member of the “Red Hat Society. These are both on display along with the artwork created based on Lucy’s story. I will post some pictures as soon as I get them of the display but if you are close to the Vernon Community Art Center between now and October 25th, stop in and read some amazing stories given to us by the seniors we have all worked with. What a pleasure to have had this opportunity. The following pieces of artwork tell part of Lucy’s story. The “Quilt of Many Colors” shows Lucy’s quilt work. The “Happy Hats” shows a hat shop with the hats Lucy loves to wear and “Birch Bay Summers” is my interpretation of the trailer that Lucy and her family spent summers in at Birch Bay. I have created cards and prints of these images and have also included a copy of the artwork in a book I published on Lucy’s “Stories of the Past”. The book will be given to Lucy at the end of the exhibition as a thank you to her for sharing her story. “Quilt of Many Colors”

“The Happy Hat Shop”

“Birch Bay Summers”