Debbie Ellis Watercolours
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I did it!

2/1/2021

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This has never happened!  Look at my January calendar!  Of course, we're all probably still in the same boat, aren't we.  Everyday is the same....although it seems like we get to Thursday very quickly each week.
But.....it turned out to be a good thing.  I was so busy all fall, right up to a few days before Christmas so I said that I was going to "Do Nothing" in January.  If you know me at all, you'll know that I never do nothing.  Two years ago, on our 6 week 'holiday' on Vancouver Island, I painted 30 pictures!  That was NOT relaxing.
So, I did it!  No art business work (well, except for shipping some Etsy orders).  I read several books,  we've done 11 jigsaws since Christmas Day, trying to go for a little walk every day, watching a bit of TV, watching YouTube videos, puttering around the house, but no cleaning/sorting projects (although there are several to do).....
......and I'm bored.
So now it's February! 
I've got 4 commissions to do this month.
I need to get my website and Etsy shop updated.
I'm looking forward to new paintings (I have several ready to go!)
I need to think about online classes
......sounds like I need a holiday! :)

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2020....what a year!

1/1/2021

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Well, 2020 is now a memory. When I think back to last January/February and how busy I was, I certainly didn't expect it to turn out like it did....who did!   But for my little art world, it has actually turned out quite nicely although different than what I expected.  Here's a look back at what I've done:
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-got new student tables in the classroom and reorganized



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-taught 4 large group workshops


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- prepared printed reference sheets for 8 different beginner classes

- taught beginner classes in February


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- participated in only 1 Vendor Show at St Margaret Catholic School, Cambridge
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- taught 2 small group workshops in early March
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- recorded 4 instructional videos to share with the students at the beginning of our lockdown.
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 - expanded marketing for Etsy site and website using Art Rooms App....you can place your art work in various room settings.


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- had 3 "Porch Sales" and 2 "Pop Up Outdoor Vendor Shows" , all following safe COVID procedures.
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I was quite honoured when the Hespeler Legion asked if they could use my Hespeler artwork in their beautiful renovations.  They're actually dart board covers!
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- added online store to website
- recorded videos for 4 online markets.  As you can see, it was sometimes puzzling :)


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- took part in 4 online Christmas Markets.  They were all on different platforms, so took quite a lot of time doing the computer work.  It was a chance to hook up with local shoppers.
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- re-arranged the classroom space as a shipping room.  A lot of online orders...some local delivery or pickup, but lots had to be prepared for mailing out to all parts of Canada and the US.
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- painted 20 commissions during the year, with 12 of them being done in November/December
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- I also was able to do many new original paintings, which usually sell very quickly. 

As well, I revamped my inventory system, especially for cards, assigned SKU - bar codes for all of them, and bought a hand held barcode scanner......a week before the lockdown in March!  Good timing.  But I have used it several times and it sure saves time at checkout, and keeping track of stock.
Wow.....I think that was busy enough.
Thank you for your continuing support!
....and here we go to 2021!


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Silent Night......

12/20/2020

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I like to sometimes paint in a theme, especially for Christmas Cards.  Not that it matters, because my cards are all sold separately, but it just ties the subjects together.
So this year, I kept thinking about "Silent Night".  A beautiful carol that we all love.....I love the silence and peaceful feelings that it evokes.   I wanted to paint something from each of the 3 areas in Cambridge, and also included a farm in Roseville, just outside of Cambridge.
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"Silent Night" in West Galt is the first one.  I've always loved seeing the photos of these streets with the old-fashioned lights and snow covered streets with snow gently falling.  Silent.....
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 "Holy Night" at St Clement's Church in Preston is the second line.  A beautiful well-loved church in the Preston community, I pictured a snowy Christmas Eve, with the church aglow as the congregation worshipped.   Holy.
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"All is Calm" on the Hespeler Mill Pond is the third line.  A quiet calm winter's night as we see the 3 church steeples and people tucked away in their homes.  Calm.
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"All is Bright" at the Farm in Roseville is the fourth line.  We've all seen that full moon brightly lighting the freshly snow covered fields.  These red barns and the pure white snow are shining in the bright moonlight.   Bright.
These are the things that I wish for everyone as we quietly celebrate Christmas this year.   It will be different for all of us. 
Have a silent.....holy.....calm....and bright Christmas! 
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It will be Christmas in a minute.....

11/1/2020

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Well it might be the beginning of November, but I've been spending the last 4 weeks getting ready for Christmas!  Yep....a bit of an update since my last chat with you

We all know that our world is very different this year, and what we know is not what we'll be doing this year.  November and December in the past have been very busy for me, doing craft shows and meeting so many wonderful people.  That won't be happening in the same way as before.  But many organizers have found new ways to hold OnLine or Virtual Christmas Markets.  We don't know how they will turn out, and we'll surely miss the face to face, but we're all hoping that it actually might make it easier for more people to see what we have.  I am involved in 4 shows, and each one involves a different 'platform' to set up our work.  Which I have to say is taking hours, getting the online store up.  I've even made a couple of videos so there is at least a real person to see for a few minutes.

Here's Dennis cutting mats.......lots of new paintings & prints!
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This is some fascinating video for sure (ha ha ha ha)
It might LOOK like I know what I'm doing.  I figure if I have lots of cables, and adapters and tripods and wires, something will work!
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I'd like to ask a favour of you and your friends,......please consider checking out these online markets wherever you are.  The handmade vendors are trying to find a way to get their produce for you to see....and this is the way it will be this year.
An interesting plus, is that many of them are on for 3 to 30 days!  Not just one day for 4 or 5 hours.  You can take your time...browse.....come back in a few days...order something.....decide you want more....browse again.......24/7 for that time period.  Should be much more relaxing for everyone!
Here are the ones that I am going to be involved in.  Of course, you can contact me at anytime and also see all my work here on my website.  But there's lot of other great work from many amazing vendors!
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All Canadian Events Christmas Show
Nov 7 - Dec 7

The Etsy Market
Fri Nov 13 6pm - Sun Nov 15 4pm
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St Andrew's Hespeler Presbyterian Handcrafters Market
Sat Nov 21 - 10-2
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Cambridge Christmas Market (city hall)
Mon Nov 23 - Wed Dec 23
Check out my "Upcoming Events" page with links to each market that are active only during the dates of the 'market'
Will I 'see' you there?
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October???? Already?

10/4/2020

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Well, September had about 10 days, don't you think? 

In a 'normal' year, I would be knee deep in getting ready for Christmas shows about now.  That's not exactly happening.....but guess what....it sort of is!
I'm quite excited that there are some 'virtual' or 'online' markets being planned.  And I AM actually busy getting ready!
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How will this work?  Well, each one is a little different.  It's an attempt by organizers and vendors to reach their customers at this traditionally busy season.  Bring lots of shoppers together to see the the wares of the local crafters.  So on a specified website, or Facebook Page will be the "event".  There will be a listing, or even a 'page' for each vendor, showcasing their items.  There may be just a link to a website or facebook page or instagram page.  There may be a video or a detailed description about the vendor and their products.  It may be for one day for a few hours.  It may be for 3 or 4 weeks, accessible by you, the shopper 24/7 for that time period.  It may have a 'live' component to it.  
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I think it's actually going to be an exciting time.  Or at least I hope that it is.  Since our world is going with more 'online' shopping and 'shop local' experiences as we deal with the COVID restrictions, this will fit in perfectly.   It will be a new way of shopping actually.....for some of the 'shows' you will have lots of time to browse....you'll probably end up being able to see even MORE than you would have in person.

So far, I have 2 'shows' scheduled.  And hopefully more to come!  I'll let you know :)

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If at first you don't succeed........

9/1/2020

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An old saying....but oh so true. 

A couple of months ago I talked about painting more than one 'original' of the same painting.  Well, if it's my choice to do it, that's one thing.  I'll gladly paint another 'original' for someone.

But......if you have an idea in your mind of what you want the painting to be....and it doesn't turn out, what do you do?  I have had several paintings that I wanted to just stop.  I seemed to be having problem after problem......or even one big problem.  What should I do?  Well, I used to just stop and say that's it.  Never mind. (easy if it's not a commission piece!).  But then I decided to keep on going.....and see what turns out.  I have been pleasantly surprised many times, and very glad that I did keep going.  Somehow I was able to 'save' the painting. 
But......what if you get all the way through and take a good look at it, and say "that is not what I wanted to paint", then what to do?  Well, as I was told many years ago, "It's just paper".  Paint it again!  And see what happens.

I had a commission piece a couple of years ago that just did not work.  But I had to make it work.  So I finished the first version.  I knew that things that I needed to correct as I started the second version.  Happily, I was pleased with the second version, as were my customers.  (I am not going to show you the painting though, because I don't want them to know that I had trouble ;) )

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Now, here we have a photograph that I saw on Facebook.  I asked the photographer for permission to paint it and she said sure, but she'd like a print of it.  Someone else said that they too would like a print.  Oh yeah...I haven't even painted it yet.  What if they don't like it......pressure mounting here.......all of a sudden this has almost become like a commission.    I attacked the painting, figuring out the colours to match the photo (you know that I'm like that - I like to paint exactly what I see...I am not going to 'interpret' it).......and when I got finished I was so disappointed.  My armchair critic and friendly advisors all agreed that it just wasn't there.   So at that point, I easily could have said, oh well....and rip it up (because remember "it's just paper")...no big deal.  
But I didn't.  I decided to paint it over again, just being a bit stubborn.  I lightened what I thought was too dark, I calmed the waves, I brightened the whole piece, I chose a bit better colours.  And I was very pleased with what I came up with.  So I was going to use my #2 painting as 'the painting'.  But a funny thing happened as I was looking at them both (I like to sit them on the piano for a day or two and take a careful look noting what can be done to finish)....I ended up liking #1 as much as #2.  They are different indeed.  But obviously the same place....just a different time perhaps?  Things about both of them draw my eye.  So I'm calling #2 "MillPond Sunset" and #1 "Millpond Last Light".....because I think now that it's actually the same night, but 20 minutes later!  Yeah, that's my story! 
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And maybe neither one actually is the same as the photo!  But that doesn't matter at all does it!   And I'm ok if those 2 people choose not to have a copy.  We all have a picture in our mind of what a painting will look like.     

Ha ha....I guess it IS my interpretation after all!
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Where does the time go....

8/1/2020

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As we continue in this strange world, are you noticing that time has lost something..... day after day....everything the same.....just going to the grocery store seems to be a big activity.  I know that it's different for those with children at home, or those who have been able to continue working.  But as a larger group......we're just watching time go by.
I can hardly believe that here we are at the beginning of August.  Summer half over.  Only a few more weeks until 'school' begins again.  I thought that I would possibly try teaching classes this summer, but realized that the logistics of COVID protocol really do not fit in my classroom space.....unless we wear facemasks for the 2 hour session, or I put up some sort of plexiglass screens between each desk.  But for now, I've decided to just continue 'the resting'.  Hopefully some of my students will be able to paint occasionally.  I did send out a few video lessons a couple of months ago, but there are also countless excellent videos on You Tube.   Although some have styles very different from what I do, here are some that I enjoy watching:

Birgit O'Connor
Maria Raczynska
Cafe Watercolour
Rick Surowicz
Laurel Hart
Watercolor Quest
Grant Fuller
The Mind of Watercolour
James Gurney
Noelle Curtis Art
Anna Mason Art
Candice Leyland Art
There are several more that I occasionally watch.  Take some time...in your 'spare time' and have a look at some of these.  You might enjoy them too!
Here are some 'summer' paintings to enjoy while we're still in summer :)
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June 28th, 2020

6/28/2020

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How many times can I paint the same picture.......well.....that depends.  Sometimes on how many people want an original of a particular painting!
4 years ago, I painted the popular Black Bridge just outside of Hespeler.  It sold immediately, and someone standing nearby said they'd like one too!  So I painted it again.....and then someone else.....then someone wondered about a fall one....and a winter one......I think that I painted it 9 times that summer!  I was telling a friend about it, and he said you need to get prints!  So that's why...and when I started having some of my paintings photographed and printed in giclee prints by Pirak Studios in Kitchener.  Jan does a great job and I appreciate his quick service!
Each one is a little different, although I used the same photo reference for each one.
I've done several of my interpretation of the Chantry Island lighthouse at Southampton.  The trees are not correct  to reality....but I wanted to have the horizon in the water showing on this small piece.  This is a very popular subject for my 2 hr workshops.
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You can see how the different skies change the whole mood of the painting.  It's kind of fun doing these ones.
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Those are just a few of the 'multiple' originals that I've done.  If someone asks me to repaint one of my previous paintings, I'm usually glad to do it!  Because it will STILL be an original...and I know it will be slightly different than the first one.
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what's my style?....

6/1/2020

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I think that my watercolours generally fit in to a particular style.....probably even recognizable to those who know my work.  I favour the more 'realistic' look, often with quite a lot of detail, especially in my buildings.

These past couple of weeks, I've finally been able to get painting some.  I'm in the process of doing a lot of drawings.....that often takes a lot of time for the detailed pictures.  If I have a bunch that I want to do, I like to have them ready to go....as I seem to have a habit of procrastinating the 'start' of a painting.....Just get the paint on the paper Debbie!!!   But in the midst of the drawing, I've done a few that I've been chuckling at when I see them all together.  They are all so different!
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This first one is from an on-line workshop that I did a couple of weeks ago with Birgit O'Connor Watercolours.  I love her big close up florals...and look at the shadows!  I'm going to work on some more of this style.  I've got lots of photos of flowers to pick from!
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This next one is one of my typical style.....landscape with realistic details......check out the rocks!  It's called  Huron Shore Rocks, and is of the shoreline at Southampton.
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The third one is this very loose, pale, watery painting based on a view from Black Bridge.  I really like the colours in it....and you can feel the quiet in the mist.  Misty Morning at Black Bridge. So I guess that part is not so different, but it's very loose compared to most of my work!
So maybe you don't think that they are that different. 
But it doesn't matter if they are! 
It's good to try different styles of painting.  Gets you out of your comfort zone....and maybe it will even be fun...and you'll discover a 'new' you!
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So, what's new?

5/2/2020

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Well, isn't that the question....there's not really much new!  For those of us staying home, our days go on and on....repeating...repeating...repeating.  Who knows what day it is?  Have I got lots of painting done?   Ha ha ha.  No.
But I do have some things going on.
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Do you see that blue arm object that looks like a lamp to the right of the TV?  It's a HUE Intuition Camera for teaching or recording.  I used it in February & early March in workshops and it worked great.  It really helped the students see what I was painting.
And now, I have started using it to record lessons/exercises.  Since classes have had to be postponed, I've made a few little exercises to send out to them, to give them some new work to try on their own.  It's kind of fun.....especially when I remembered to click 'record'  (ha ha...I didn't find out until the end of the half hour....had to start it all over again!).   The video this week just talked about the colours on my palette.

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Next stop......You Tube or Teachable........but not quite yet!   (no time ....ha ha)
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