I love pattern and textiles. Part of doing this piece is an excuse to indulge that. Already I can see many possible directions for this to go in but I think I will try to keep with the initial image I had decided upon. Sometimes I think I should do one painting over and over in all the possible ways I envision. I think I would tire of it, but perhaps not. How will I know if I don't try it? I think it would need to be with something a bit smaller and less ambitious.

Today I received an unexpected invitation to show with a few very wonderful, well known pastel artists at the Old School House Gallery in Qualicum Beach this coming summer. This includes Russian born artist Nicolas de Grandmaison, who died in 1978; Joseph Plaskett, "considered to be one of Canada's most talented and established painters," & who set up the Joe Plaskett Foundation which allows a selected Canadian artist to travel and study in Europe; Harley Brown, who wrote "Eternal Truths for Every Artist" (available from Amazon); Veronica Milner, subject of the biography by Margaret Cadwaladr "In Veronica's Garden" (also available at Amazon); and Dorothy Oxbourough, well known BC artist specializing in Native American Children portraits. Invitations to show with such established and esteemed artists are very encouraging and so much less stressful than entering a juried show and hoping to be included. I wasn't planning to exhibit much this year but I think this is an opportunity not to be passed up! This is a real surprise. Maybe my hope to end up exhibiting in a gallery like Bau-Xi in Vancouver or Toronto is realistic (that is one of Mr. Plaskett's galleries).