This annual small-town community celebration is always a lot of fun. If you're in the Maple Bay area, stop by to see the neighbourhood parade, listen to music, enjoy refreshments and, of course, support the local artists, of which I am one. We will have our art booths set up at the end of the parade route, in front of the Maple Bay Rowing Club at 6735 Beaumont Ave. The parade starts at 9:30 am, rain or shine, and the event runs until 3 pm.

Come by if you can to my first open studio event, as part of the Visions Art Studio Tour in the Cowichan Valley. There's a map online at the link noted, which will show you the locations of 27 participating artists. Open for three days, 10 am to 5 pm, July 7th, 8th and 9th.

I am pleased to have my painting, “Into the Mystic”, juried into the Victoria Chapter, Federation of Canadian Artists’ Spring Exhibition. I’m further delighted to learn it was awarded an Honourable Mention. See the show poster here for the details of time and place.

https://catherinetaron.ca/image/landscape/into_the_mystic

I'm pleased to be participating with other Vancouver Island artists in the 47th annual Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, May 3rd to 7th. Each artist is limited to one piece as part of this 160-piece show, including my own, "Into the Sun", a 16" x 20" watercolour. See the show's website for different show hours each day.

I’m pleased to be participating in the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Teeny Tiny Artworks Show, running from November 4th to 26th, at the Centre of Arts, Culture and Heritage at 2687 James Street in Duncan, BC.

I’m pleased to be the featured artist at the Rainforest Arts Gallery in Chemainus BC, through to the end of November.

I’m pleased to have my watercolour, “Bridge at Esquimalt Lagoon”, juried into this prestigious show and to be in the good company of so many wonderful Vancouver Island artists.

I’m happy to be participating in Downtown Duncan’s "Under the Red Umbrella Artwalk" this Thursday evening, October 13th, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. This is an annual event where businesses team up with local artists to showcase their work and visitors discover the many unique shopping experiences in Downtown Duncan--it's a win-win! I hope you’ll come by and see me, as you check out the many artists that will be located throughout the downtown area.

If you’re in the Cowichan Valley between Oct. 6th and Nov. 18th, stop by Just Jakes Restaurant at 45 Craig St., in Duncan, to see a nature-themed art show. I will have two paintings there and have donated another for a fundraising auction at the North American Trumpeter Swan Conference. Both events are co-hosted by Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society and Cowichan Valley Naturalists, and conclude with a joint gala on Nov. 18th featuring Canadian wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, as keynote speaker at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre.

The show and conference are part of the 8th annual WildWings Nature and Arts Festival—“six weeks of events, activities, hands-on experiences and outdoor learning adventures in the Cowichan Valley”. Together, they are “to bring attention to the important ecosystems of the Cowichan Valley by celebrating the interconnections between nature, culture and community”.

The opening reception is on Thursday, Oct. 6th, from 6-10 pm at Just Jakes. Come along to see the art, listen to live music and enjoy some light appetizers and stimulating conversations on topics of art and the natural world! Take a moment to discover the more than 30 activities associated with the festival.

As a Maple Bay Painter, I'm happy to be participating in a fall exhibition of members’ newest work. I've also donated one of my original watercolours as a door prize for one of the two show days. If you come (and I hope you will!), show-goers can mingle with the artists, question them about their art and methods, see works in progress, and perhaps even try their own hand at creative expression. This year, the show is a Culture Days event— the Canada-wide movement “to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities”.

This large outdoor art fair will take over the length of First Avenue, between Buller to Warren streets, in Ladysmith from 10 am to 4 pm. If it’s hot, no worries: there’s lots of shade under the river of white canopies set up on the street for more than 60 artists, and refreshment vendors will be there as well. This year I’ll have 50+ original watercolour and acrylic paintings to share with you and a double space to ‘flow’ through the exhibit and allow us lots of space to chat. I hope you can come, if you're in the vicinity. It's a wonderful way to spend a summer Sunday.

I'm going to be showing some of my watercolours and acrylic paintings at the upcoming Canada Day at the Bay celebrations, currently being organized by the Maple Bay Community Association. There will be about ten artists' tents there, adjacent to the Maple Bay Rowing Club and boat launch.

I'm pleased to be among the first artists to show work in the new Rainforest Arts Gallery in Chemainus, BC. If you're in the area, please take a moment to browse its offerings. The gallery is located at 9781 Willow Street, on the south side of Waterwheel Park, where there's a lots of parking. Why not also take the time to see the Chemainus murals, throughout the community, while you're at it? There's lots of art to see!

I'm happy to have my watercolour, "Under the Autumn Canopy", juried into this celebratory exhibition. If you're not able to attend the show, my painting is posted on my website at: http://catherinetaron.ca/image/landscape/under_the_autumn_canopy

This is a juried Federation of Canadian Artists' show. I'm happy to have two paintings selected for it, "Somenos Marsh" and "Stoney Hill Path", both watercolours and posted on my website.

As part of this challenge, I painted everyday from January 1st to April 9th, creating 100 new pieces of which 70 will be in the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery's “100-Day” show. This is an unframed, casual, artist-presented show hosted by the Gallery. I plan to be there for the full three days, along with other artists, who also painted for 100 days and will have their work for show and sale too. As such, there will be an amazing volume of original work to see! If you ever wanted to add to or start your own art collection, this is the show to attend!

This is the Cowichan Valley Art Council's Annual Spring show, in its 46th year. It is the valley's largest art exhibition and sale, with each artist submitting just one piece. My submission is a 14" x 11" acrylic "Tracings of Spring", pictured here.

I’m pleased to have my 24” x 36” acrylic, “Trickster Moon”, accepted into the Federation of Canadian Artists’ “2016 Culture” show at the Federation’s Granville Island gallery, running from April 26th to May 8th, at 1241 Cartwright Street, Vancouver BC.

"Chemainus River Bend", 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas

I am pleased to have both of my submitted watercolours, “Goldstream Estuary” and “Safekeeping”, accepted into the FCA Victoria chapter's spring show.

I have five paintings currently hanging in the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery’s “Trees” show. All are originals, double-matted, framed and priced at $250 each. But there’s lots of original artwork in the gallery besides my own, so if you’re in the area, consider stopping by for a browse. The gallery is open from noon until 4 pm daily, located at 610 Oyster Bay Drive in Ladysmith.