Spring starts off with two exciting exhibitions!
Annual Spring Show - Renewal
MELT Studio + Gallery
The show dates are May 16-June 15, 2025. The show begins on May 16th with an opening reception on May 17 from 1 to 4 pm - come meet the artists!
The following three works will be on display:
"Feminine Fury", watercolour on Arches Hot-Pressed paper, 640 gsm
"Quiet Radiance" Watercolour on Arches hot pressed paper, 640 gsm
"The Future is Pink" watercolour on Arches hot pressed paper, 640 gsm
Sneak Peak behind the scenes at the making of The Future is Pink
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Society of Canadian Artists - Open International Online Juried Exhibition
My latest watercolour painting "La beauté au naturel" has been juried into the Society of Canadian Artist's prestigious 2025 Open International Online Juried Exhibition.
The Exhibition will run from April 1 – June 15, 2025.
Note: If you wish to inquire about a particular artwork, please contact exhibitions@societyofcanadianartists.com
"La beauté au naturel", watercolour on Arches hot pressed paper, 640 gsm
Watch me paint it
About this piece:
The reference photo for this painting was taken in Sorrento, Italy during a 2017 trip. I saw these roses during the late afternoon and the light was perfect as only the light in Italy can be.
The roses have lost a little of their initial bloom but none of their beauty, in fact these little lines and blemishes only accentuate and give the subject more character.
Christina Rossetti, ‘The Rose’.
The lily has a smooth stalk,
Will never hurt your hand;
But the rose upon her brier
Is lady of the land.
There’s sweetness in an apple tree,
And profit in the corn;
But lady of all beauty
Is a rose upon a thorn.
When with moss and honey
She tips her bending brier,
And half unfolds her glowing heart,
She sets the world on fire.
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Time to get outside!
The weather in Ottawa has finally turned a corner and I have been going out for my daily walks. With everything coming to life, the snow melting and the days getting longer, Spring is a gorgeous time to get out there with my camera and take reference photos of all the emerging flowers.
Where to see Spring Flowers in Ottawa
Magnolia / Cherry Blossoms / Apple Blossoms
First on my list, and one of the first to bloom, are magnolias and cherry blossoms. They usually appear at the end of April or early May. Their fragrance is lovely and they produce a wonderful showing of blooms during the early Spring.
There are several magnolia and cherry blossom trees in my neighbourhood, but I usually head to the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa located within the Central Experimental Farm for a beautiful Spring display. You can also see cherry blossoms at Major’s Hill Park downtown, Andrew Haydon Park and The Ottawa River Pathway near Westboro.
Apple blossoms appear early May to Mid May. Again, the Arboretum is a great place to see these delicate pink and red flowers.
Tulips
You can’t grow up in Ottawa and not know about the famous Tulip Festival that commemorates the friendship between the Netherlands and Canada. Tulips bloom around mid-May and last for about two or three weeks. The festival takes place in Commissioners Park. You can also see tulips at Major’s Hill Park, Rideau Canal, Confederation Park, Parliament Hill and Lansdowne Park. The National Capital plants over 100 varieties of tulips in 120 beds across 30 sites in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Lilacs
Can it be Spring without Lilacs? I don’t think so. This year I will be heading to Picton, Prince Edward County to get my fill of these showy fragrant blooms between mid May and mid June. The Ornamental Gardens in Ottawa is also a great place to see them. Oh and if you're in the county from May 16 to June 15th pop into MELT Studio + Gallery of course to see the Annual Spring Renewal show. I recommend stopping for lunch at The Lake on the Mountain Inn.
Peonies
The blest place other than my own garden is again the Ornamental Gardens in Ottawa.
Wildflowers
Check out the Fletcher Wildlife Garden hidden near the Arboretum for wildflowers and birds.
Happy Spring!
BK