I love the negative spaces in this photo Doug posted on his blog. He came back with some beautiful, almost painterly images. He also managed close ups of birds and squirrels that delighted me. I’m sure he’d rather finish his novel, but I keep telling him that with his background in horticulture he should publish a book of regional wildflowers.

For all the joys motherhood has brought in the last year I may not be able to run outside to paint whenever the urge strikes, but looking at Doug’s recent photographs gave me the thought that painting en plein air would be a good way to start working in oil again once Conor is weaned. Easier said than done in Newfoundland! In Nova Scotia I had great fun strapping my French easel to the back of my bike and wobbling off down the road towards the farmlands at sunrise. For all the inspiration that Newfoundland offers, the strong winds make it difficult to keep a canvas still in the great outdoors.