Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published in Nanaimo Magazine & Voyager Magazine - March 2016
Every step we take holds new surprises! Come with me along the beautiful winding trails of Morrell Sanctuary, a 111 hectare nature preserve in Nanaimo. (www.morrell.bc.ca) Spring is in the air, heralded by the sweet songs of excited birds and the delightful chatter of busy squirrels. And as if to add to our pleasure, Mother nature herself, splashed vivid colour all around, to highlight her delightful floral show. Yesterday's rain refreshed the soil and new growth is everywhere! It's picture perfect here to begin a new painting! So where should we start?
Countless painting subjects abound: tall trees reach for the sky, trickling streams gently tumble and fall, lush green mosses blanket the forest floor, handsome Mallard ducks light on Morrell Lake as their mates nest nearby and a myriad of other living things all begging for their portraits to be done! It is evident as our eyes scan the abundant beauty and the variety of scenes, that making a choice will be difficult. Drawn to a small quiet pond, we stand quietly and absorb the moment, as if transported in our minds to a special land of creativity.
There are as many shades of green here as there are in Ireland! A quick artistic survey notes there are plenty of painting elements: sun dappled water with reflections, a variety of textures and foliage, a backdrop of ancient tree bark, fallen moss covered trees that arch over the far end of the pond, small pebbles perceptible under the clear water's edge. This painting has chosen itself. Green it will be for St. Patrick's day is March 17th!
An artist's tool box is full of ways and means from composition and color to brush work and technique. Surprise yourself as you turn a simple outdoor walk into a thrilling journey of discovery and creativity in your next Art Adventure!
Published in Nanaimo Magazine & Voyager Magazine - March 2016
Every step we take holds new surprises! Come with me along the beautiful winding trails of Morrell Sanctuary, a 111 hectare nature preserve in Nanaimo. (www.morrell.bc.ca) Spring is in the air, heralded by the sweet songs of excited birds and the delightful chatter of busy squirrels. And as if to add to our pleasure, Mother nature herself, splashed vivid colour all around, to highlight her delightful floral show. Yesterday's rain refreshed the soil and new growth is everywhere! It's picture perfect here to begin a new painting! So where should we start?
Countless painting subjects abound: tall trees reach for the sky, trickling streams gently tumble and fall, lush green mosses blanket the forest floor, handsome Mallard ducks light on Morrell Lake as their mates nest nearby and a myriad of other living things all begging for their portraits to be done! It is evident as our eyes scan the abundant beauty and the variety of scenes, that making a choice will be difficult. Drawn to a small quiet pond, we stand quietly and absorb the moment, as if transported in our minds to a special land of creativity.
There are as many shades of green here as there are in Ireland! A quick artistic survey notes there are plenty of painting elements: sun dappled water with reflections, a variety of textures and foliage, a backdrop of ancient tree bark, fallen moss covered trees that arch over the far end of the pond, small pebbles perceptible under the clear water's edge. This painting has chosen itself. Green it will be for St. Patrick's day is March 17th!
An artist's tool box is full of ways and means from composition and color to brush work and technique. Surprise yourself as you turn a simple outdoor walk into a thrilling journey of discovery and creativity in your next Art Adventure!
