Returning to the Studio

There is something special about returning to the studio after a busy season.

This summer has been full of weddings, bachelorettes, time spent with loved ones, and all the little moments that make a season feel full. While I haven't had as much time in the studio as I would have liked, I have been reminded that creativity doesn't always have to happen at a desk or behind an easel. Sometimes it happens while celebrating with people you love, visiting beautiful places, or simply paying attention to the things around you.

Now, as September begins, I'm ready to find my way back into a more consistent creative rhythm.

A Summer Bouquet

One of the pieces I was able to finish this summer is a large floral still life in oil. The bouquet featured in the painting came from a flower subscription I treat myself to every summer from a local flower farm.

The flower farm has become a special place for me. It is a beautiful place to visit and paint, and I've previously painted the rows of flowers there in my piece Flower Farm. There is something about being surrounded by so many flowers growing together that makes it difficult not to feel inspired.

For this painting, I wanted to bring that feeling home.

Alongside the flowers are a few objects I've inherited or collected over the years. These objects are more than just decorative pieces—they carry memories, history, and a sense of connection to the people and places they came from.

This painting is also the beginning of a new series I'm calling Wished I Used It More.

The series is inspired by the beautiful, collected things that seem to linger in our homes—fancy dishes, glassware, candles, linens, and other objects that might remind us of our grandmothers and the things they carefully saved for a special occasion.

I find myself wondering: What if we had used them more?

I want this series to explore that feeling—the beauty of actually using the things we've collected and treasured rather than waiting for the perfect occasion.

Candlelight has become an important part of this series. The deep, romantic warmth it brings to a scene makes these ordinary moments feel intimate and nostalgic. I want the viewer to feel as though they have stepped into the scene and recognize something from their own collection sitting among the flowers.

This first painting feels like an invitation into that world.

Learning to Be Bad at Something

As I return to the studio this September, one of my goals is to create a more consistent creative workflow.

I've started a watercolor challenge where I am painting a different flower every day. Watercolor is a medium I have very little experience with, which is exactly why I wanted to challenge myself with it.

And, well... my first painting was wisteria.

I hated it.

But I'm going to keep going.

I think there is something important in allowing yourself to be bad at something. As artists, it can be easy to become attached to creating something beautiful or successful every time we sit down to work. But that's not really what creating is about.

It's about the journey.

It's about trying something new, making mistakes, learning, and seeing where the next attempt takes you.

So, for the month of September, I'm giving myself permission to make paintings I don't love. The goal isn't to create a perfect collection of watercolors. The goal is simply to keep creating.

One flower at a time.

What I Hope to Share Here

I've wanted to create this journal as a way of documenting my creative journey and giving a little more context to the work that makes its way onto my website.

Here, I'll share glimpses into my studio and my creative process, the things that inspire me, life and art in Northern Alberta, and the experiences that continue to shape me as an artist.

I'll share the paintings I'm working on, the ideas behind them, things I'm learning, and occasionally the things that don't go quite as planned.

Most importantly, I want this to be a record of the journey—not just the finished results.

What's Next

There is already a new painting underway in the studio.

I'm currently working on a commissioned oil painting featuring a beautifully romantic collection of wedding memories: a bridal bouquet, candle decor, tea ceremony cups, and the perfume bottle worn on the wedding day.

It's a scene filled with flowers, warm light, romance, and memory, and I'm really enjoying watching it come together.

And this particular painting is especially meaningful to me because I had the honour of being part of the bridal party.

But I'll have to keep the rest a secret for now.

It's a surprise gift, after all.

For now, I'm excited to be back at the easel—to keep experimenting, keep learning, and see where this next season of creativity takes me.

Welcome to my Studio Journal.