Reflecting on 2016...

As the last hours of 2016 rolled by, I contemplated my year as an artist. I spent many hours and months completing the largest canvas I had ever worked on. At times while painting, I often wondered who was I to think I could paint an emotional scene with images depicting soldiers of WWI when I did not have the history or the colourful stories of veterans in my family tree, only through my husband`s lineage. Not only that but I had begun my own journey to remembrance being so naive...completely naive in all honesty.

Now months later, The Journey to Remembrance, has touched many to their core and I realize that perhaps my history made me an excellent candidate to take on this challenge. Sharing my aha moments along my own journey has connected with numerous people. Perhaps showing that even though we all come from different levels of thinking, we can all achieve a clearer understanding with time and openness.

The Journey to Remembrance has been on its own journey since October. It helped kick off the Calgary Poppy Fund at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre on Oct. 29th, then was part of the Remembrance Day experience at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium, and is now on a temporary exhibit at The Military Museums of Calgary. My search continues for a benefactor who shares my vision of keeping the painting on permanent public display. I look forward to realizing this intention in 2017.

Limited Edition Prints

I am thrilled to be able to assist another generation of remembering with the launch Limited Editon Prints. $50 of every Print sold online will go to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Foundation and be restricted to support youth education through visits to Canadian battlefields, memorials and cemeteries in Europe – a Journey to Remembrance that will forever impact the lives of the participants.

More details regarding these Limited Edition Prints can be found here

The Bees in My Backyard - Both Originals and Limited Edition Prints Available

My last remaining original Mountain-Scape available in the series of 15

And the blank canvas of 2017 calls...

For me the blank canvas of 2017 seems full of enthusiasm! I have begun my first painting and the colours are bright and full of life!

Thank you for following me this past year, I look forward to further connecting you throughout 2017. I continue to be present on Facebook and intend to be more involved on my Instagram account. Please feel free to keep sharing with me via social media (the links are below), as well you can reach out to me at Deanna@DeannaLavoie.com

Best wishes to you and yours as your blank canvas begins to fill. May it be filled with love and light this year!

Cheers to 2017!

Deanna

Orders of The Journey to Remembrance Prints have since been sent to the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and across Canada.

The Bees in My Backyard

I am also really excited about my Bees! I was able to launch this Limited Edition series as well. Making my art available to more than just the owner of the original painting really speaks to my soul. These gorgeous little creatures captivated my attention this summer while taking breaks from the challenge of completing The Journey to Remembrance. I look forward to where these bees may go in 2017!

Once there was fifteen and now just one original remains.

Those years growing up on the flat prairies of Saskatchewan lead me to be impacted by the glorious Rocky Mountains while living in Alberta. This inspiration moved me to create a series of fifteen Mountain-Scape paintings. It was hard not to be further inspired when my husband and I moved to Longview and had them literally in our own backyard!

Something`s Brewing is the very last original available in this series - I know it`s forever home is out there! If you are drawn to give this beautiful Autumn Foothills scene a home or have any ideas to help me find it...please contact me.

Loving these colours, as the image
begins to surface
on my first blank canvas of 2017!