Original 6" x 4" painting from around 2004 (archives).

Thanks to all my visitors and loyal blog followers. Your support has been greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to get back into painting in a big way 2010. Watch for posts. In the meantime...

May the joys of this season remain with you the rest of the New Year!

Typical Winter Prairie Scene

Have you ever noticed that if a group of cattle don't know you, they will stand and stare until you pass by? I wonder what they are thinking? Actually maybe I don't want to know what they are thinking.....after all..we do eat them.

They are a hardy animal seemingly oblivious to the harsh weather around them. This is a painting of a scene that you would see just about anywhere on the prairies. Enjoy :)


Painted with acrylics this 6" x 4" OSWOA is listed on Ebay. Just click here

Northern Ligthts - Falling star paintings

It's in the -30s today. It is going to be in the -40s tomorrow with the windchill, so what better time to paint a cold crisp winter night. "Shooting Star" is an acrylic aceo (2.5" x 3.5") painted on paper canvas. It has a bit of "glitter" to give it that frosty starlit look.

"Northern Lights" is a 4" x 4" acrylic painting. I find it wierd that square seemed to be harder to paint than rectangle? I have no idea why. This one also has glitter, but I added just the slightest hint of blue and green in the northern lights to add to the magic :)

You will find them both listed on Ebay here

click on the purple words

My Blog

I have shamefully neglected my blog these last few weeks. We've been moving. Not a far move, but a tiring one just the same. I'm no longer Southshoreartist from Kinookimaw, but Southshoreartist from Regina Beach. It just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? LOL Anyway, I hope to get back to painting soon.......as soon as I unpack all my art supplies.

Wordless Wednesday - almost

This is what I will miss the most leaving Kinookimaw


All bedded down for the evening (right by our deck) :)

miniature paintings - acrylic - Earrings

Can you believe these are earrings?

I came across these by accident today. They were tossed in a drawer and forgotten about. (maybe that's a good thing LOL) I put these together quickly last year for a party we were attending. There was going to be a lot of people there who didn't know each other. You were to dress up as your occupation or your "favourite" occupation. I didn't want to be obvious so I dressed normally and added these earrings as the only hint. I thought it was going to be so hard to guess "artist". Wrong. .... someone guessed right away...

They are just tiny (for paintings) large for earrings I guess. about 1.25" each way. I think I might take the backs off and offer them for sale to the dollhouse people.

A mixed bag.....or light at the end of the tunnel?

Just when I thought we saw it all. Snow, rain, whiteout, ice, wind.........plus nasty people....(all in the last 24 hours)...Look what popped out of the sunshine today right by our house :) The end of the rainbow went right in the water. Not exactly normal October 31 weather (the rainbow, all the rest is normal)

I think it's a good omen :)

Painted Soap - Looking back

Cougar and Eagle

Funny how some things change, and some stay the same! I was digging around in a drawer this morning and came acroos these bars of soap that I painted. They must be 8 or 9 years old. Funny how they have lasted and stayed pretty much the same, (must be the good old acrylics) but my painting technique has changed quite a bit. I don't remember even how I did this or how I prepared the soap LOL. I was doing more crafting then and less painting. The big question is....why on earth would I paint on soap? LOL

It's a small world.....

It's a small world when it comes to the internet. It still amazes me where people are from when I look at the visitors list on the side bar. I'm such a visual person that today I added a world map. I want to be able to see where all these people are coming from. It's exciting and awesome that someone somewhere has taken the time to stop, even for just a moment, to look at what I've posted. Have a great week everyone. Happy Blogging wherever you are!

Inukshuk - 2010 Olympics

The symbolic Inukshuk is showing up everwhere since the 2010 Olympics have used it on their logo. An Inuit word with several meanings, the most common meaning (that I can find) meaning Welcome....You are on the right path. The people were here before you. These were extremely important landmarks to the Inuit.

I have chosen to put my Inukshuk standing as a lone sentry in front of a firey sunrise. A new day.

Painted with acrylics this 6" x 4" painting is listed for sale here

Freeze Up - winter coming

With the snowfall the last week or so, it was enough to start me thinking (and dreading) the upcoming winter. The snow has since melted and gone away, but you know with certainty that it's just around the corner.

Still the first days of winter have their own beauty on the prairies. The last of the geese fly overhead, calling to each other. The crisp colours. The beautiful pink sunsets.

Painted with acrylics this unframed and unmatted (framed photo is for illustration only on how it could looked framed) 6" x 4" painting is listed for sale here

Artist Round Robin - Finished piece

You just never know how things are going to turn out when 5 artists collab0rate on a round robin. This was my start. Just a night sky, with a lake and tree line........nothing out of the ordinary....I thought! LOL

Here is the finished piece. It took several twists and turns, but the outcome was enchanted, magical and something really fun. The giant eyeball in the lake watches the comet go across the sky. Meanwhile the fairy and travelocity gnome? are helping the alien find his way back........at least this is what I am going to believe......or maybe they are just partying on the poor eyeball?

Many thanks to the following artists (search their Ebay names (in brackets) to find some outstanding art by these talented artists)

My start: Leola (southshoreartist) Then Rebecca (Seagirlrun), Susan (Beasnbeacons), Sue (ArtistSueTaylor) and Melody (Mel-Ann)

Many many thanks to Deb (artschtick) for hosting this fun project and thanks to the Ebay group ACEO~Art Card and Originals.

Northern Autumn - aceo

Northern Autumn (2.5" x 3.5")

A mixture of evergreen and the changing colours of the trees lends a colourful mixture to the autumn landscape. The stream is still running but will soon be silenced by freeze up. Painted with acrylics on museum quality matte board it is signed and dated on the back.

This piece is unframed but the photo shows how it could look if it was framed. You will find this painting listed on Ebay here.

Sunset Sail - aceo

Even though all the boats are put away for the winter here, I still like to imagine the big sailboats on the lake. They are always so quiet and peaceful. (at least on calm days) It supposed to warm up this weekend so I'm sure some hardy fishers will be out with their motorboats. Few and far between this time of year though.

Dusk (aceo) painted with acrylics on matte board. It is unframed but I show it framed here to give you an idea on how it could look if it was framed. It is listed on Ebay here.

Northern Sunset - OSWOA

The boats are all put away for the winter. The beach goers have disappeared. Even the fishermen have left, waiting for freezeup to ice fish. This time of year it is peaceful and serene at the lake.

Northern Sunset
Painted with acrylics on 182 lb canvas paper it is 6" x 4" (postcard size) It is unmatted and not framed but I have shown it here framed to give you an idea of how it would look. You will find it listed on Ebay here.

History of Canadian Thanksgiving

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Prairie Sunset

Grain elevators once dotted the prairie landscape. Landmarks for the communities they served. They have all but disappeared, making way for the giant grain terminals. A few are left standing alone against the prairie sky.

This is a 6" x 4" acrylic painting. It is not framed, but I have shown how it could look matted and framed. It is listed on Ebay here.

First Snowfall - Thanksgiving weekend

First Snow-Fall.

THE sun that dim October day
Had failed to kiss the clouds away
From quiet Nature's furrowed face,
Where autumn tears had left their trace.

And, by and by, on fields of brown
The feathered flakes came floating down
From Heaven to this world of ours,
Like spirits of departed flowers.

And fast and faster through the night,
Till Morn arose on meadows white,
And o'er the landscape lightly stepped
Where tired Nature, smiling, slept.
__Albert Bigelow Paine.


Our first snow fall started today about 3:30 p.m. You can tell my flowers were not ready yet for winter to come.


Look closely and you can see the big fluffy flakes....the visibility starting to diminsh

It looked like Christmas so tonight I turned on the Chirstmas lights. You can tell the deck is now covered in White....problem is, it has turned into a winter storm and it's not even winter! 60 km winds snow, and ice and more tomorrow. The good news is that it's not supposed to stay.......Still crossing my fingers for Indian Summer!

Sunset Ride - aceo

Sunset Ride ACEO (3.5" x 2.5"
I managed to get one more painted today before the game is one. This one is all the colours that I love about sunsets. What could be more relaxing than a sunset ride on your favourite horse? Not that I've ever done that, but I can only imagine how wonderful it would be.

Painted with acrylics this aceo is listed on Ebay here

Fall Round-up - Work in Progress finished

So here is the finished product with a few tweaks here and there. ACEO size (3.5" x 2.5") titled "Fall Round-up". Listed on Ebay here.

Dust Storm at Dawn - Work in Progress - ACEO

Here is some experimenting I did with acrylics today. I started out shading with burnt carmine on a plain white aceo size card.

Draw or transfer the image. Nothing fancy, I just needed a general outline.

Filled in with the burnt carmine. Adding more shading etc. (I was tempted just to quit at this point and call it finished, but that wouldn't have accomplished what I was attempting to do.

Dry brushed yellow ochre and bright yellow over the entire card. This is supposed to make it (in my mind) like a dust storm.

Prairie Storm.....aceo

I think these kind of storms are over for the season. Although after this week's unbelievably hot weather who knows. It is supposed to change Sunday (my knees are telling me) to more fall like temperatures. Now we will have to start hoping for Indian Summer.

What is Indian Summer?

"A time interval, in mid- or late autumn, of unseasonably warm weather, generally with clear skies, sunny but hazy days, and cool nights. In Saskatchewan, at least one dusting of snow and preferably a substantial period of normally cool weather must precede this warm spell in order for it to be considered a true "Indian summer." It does not occur every year, and some years (if we are lucky) it may occur two or more times. (but don't count on it here)

The term "Indian Summer" dates back to the 18th century in the United States. It can be defined as "any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or even early November."

Basically, autumn is a transition season as the thunderstorms and severe weather of the summer give way to a tamer, calmer weather period before the turbulence of the winter commences.

Prairie Storm is an aceo (art card edition or orginal always 2.5" x 3.5") painted on matteboard with acrylics. You will find it listed on Ebay here.

Harvest Moon....what to do...what to do?

I did this painting a little over a week ago. It is of the Harvest Moon, but it really wasn't what I wanted.

I did a little more shading, and changed the colour of the moon, but it's still not what I had in mind. I want something in the foreground, but can't think of what I want. I was going to put the outline of a scarecrow in the field, but I don't want it to become a Halloween painting. It's a 6" x 4" acrylic. Any ideas of what to put?

Wordless Wednesday - Fall equinox - Kinookimaw

Moon and Sunset together

Elder Street Gallery - Call for art

Catch of the Day - Acrylic


Cougar - Pastel Pencil

A Study of Marbles - Coloured Pencil

Fiddleheads at Dawn - Oil and Acylic

These are the 4 postcard pieces that I decided to send the the Elder Street Gallery Postcard Art Show in Texas. (thanks Deb for sending the information) I thought I had a lot of time to get ready for this show, and September just loomed by. If I get a chance I hope to get a lighning painting done to send also.

Back to painting - Lighthouse - Harvest

After a short time away.....(I had some surgery) I decided it was time to get back to painting. I think it's therapeutic. These are two very different paintings. The lighthouse is a winter scene..very simple in style. Not much colour. Just like winter itself.

It's harvest time and with it comes all the great earth tone colours of fall. This time of year the sun is more intense making the colours more brilliant. I love this time of year.

Both are 3.5 x 2.5" (aceo) and are listed here on Ebay.

Red Sky in the Morning - Kinookimaw

Red sky in the morning - sailors take warning. I was up at 6:15 this morning to see the red sunrise (it looks orange in the photo) We have been having unseasonably warm weather for September. Is it just coincidence that the weather is going to take a turn for the worse on Sunday.

15 minutes later the sky was a nice yellow as day was breaking. You can barely make it out but all the trees have changed to fall colours.

ByrumArt Giveaway

Want a chance to win this beautiful art piece (and two chances to win something else)? To find out how to enter, go over to Byrum Art Blog (click on name). Just tell them Southshoreartist sent you :)

Envelope for my Round Robin

I have decided that every envelope that I mail to an artist has to have some original art on the envelope. (trying to do my part for Mailart) This is my envelope for the round robin. I'm still keeping to my current fall theme. :)

the 3rd Round Robin subject

This is the 3rd piece in the round robin. It started out as just a shuttered window from Susan (Beasnbeacons on Ebay) then Sue (ArtistSueTaylor on Ebay) added the shaggy dog. Next the plant was added by Melody (Mel-Ann on Ebay)

Now it was my turn (southshoreartist on Ebay)and I was kind of at a loss of what to add to the drawing. I was terrified I would ruin one of the other elements. So I pondered the painting, wondering why the dog was leaping out of the window like that. Then it came to me.......A cat of course! So that's what you see. The "tail" end of my cat who leapt first!

Now it's on it's way to the next person, Rebecca (Seagirlrun on Ebay) for the finishing touches and then back to it's original owner.

Fall Reflections (keeping with my autumn theme)

I'm still painting fall scenes. These were done in different styles. Autumn Stroll: A 6" x 4" acylic was done dipping rolled up plastic wrap and dabbing over the paper. I put faint little shadow of a person strolling with their dog.

This one is not as manic as the top one. More serene. The changing colours by the water's edge reflecting over the calm water. I like the fall when all the tourists are gone and the locals can enjoy the quiet.

Autumn - Harvest Moon

It's that time of year again. You can look out across the fields and see the lights of the combines as they harvest well past dark. Birds gather at the lake every night as they get ready to fly south. It's going down to +4 to give us a warning that frost can happen any night now. And with the crisp cool nights comes the harvest moon.

This is a 6" x 4" acrylic (OSWOA - original small work of art) painted on sturdy canvas paper. It is listed on Ebay here.

Kinookimaw Sunset - September

This was taken outside our house last night. Note the fall colours of the trees. This just happened the last few days. The days are shorter. The birds are all gathering for their trip south. All the songbirds have left. Let's cross our fingers for a "long" warm fall!

More of my Edible Art - Chilled Zucchini Soup!

September is here and what do we finally get? A heat wave! This time of year there is an abundance of zucchini (how many ways can you serve it?) So I decided since my husband was home for lunch today that we would have Chilled Zucchine soup. I made the base last night and then assembled it just before serving. Add some crusty bread or buns and some old Cheddar cheese on the side and yummmmmm!

Chilled Zucchini and Dill Soup

4 cups coursley shredded zucchini (do not peel)

2 cups chicken broth (you can use vegetable broth if you prefer)

2 tbsp dillweed (chopped fresh)

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sour cream

Put zuchinni, broth, dill and salt in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Cool slightly then put in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight. Just before serving put sour cream in a small bowl. Add 1 cup of soup and whisk till smooth. Pour this into the rest of the soup and whisk. Ladle into soup bowls (4 servings) top with a dollop of sour cream, garnish with more dillweed and serve immediately. Perfect for a hot summer day :)