Cold Prairie Studio

Hello friends! How has your autumn been so far? Today’s blog post reads a bit like a letter, so grab a cuppa if that’s your thing, and let’s get caught up!

As the name Cold Prairie Studio implies, I’m a rural dweller, and this time of year gets very busy. We’ve been bringing in the garden, canning tomatoes, doing repairs around the place (big and small) and stacking wood, along with other odds and ends that make up the ongoing list. There are still trees to plant and raspberry canes to move. The garlic has to go in before freeze-up, and I need a few more straw bales for the poultry. The list gets done in order of priority; it never gets finished in a season, and carries into the next, while we tack on more to-do’s. Perhaps you can relate.

It can get stressful when you stop and think about it. Over the years I’ve learned that the best remedy is just to get out there and put one foot in front of the other. Working outside can bring an inner calm, if I focus on one task at a time.

Regardless, I think it’s a bit sad that the love of fall has been made into something of a joke. It might be its fleeting nature, but feeling connected to nature in any way is always worth celebrating, even in the smallest ways. When we still have leaves on the trees at the beginning of October in Saskatchewan, it’s worth celebrating. As I type I look out my window and see that yes, there are still leaves and some of them are even still green, there’s a sense of inner delight. (I really am that simple.)

There’s more to love. The cool air, for one, is so much more motivating than the heat of summer, of which I’m not a fan. In fall, everything gets done more efficiently. Fall has a beautiful way of unintentionally decorating the house as we pile up squash and pumpkins from the garden indoors. And there’s the great migration – waves upon waves of geese passing overhead. The occasional flock of sandhill cranes with their prehistoric-sounding calls. The seasonal stopover of the Northern flickers, robins, goldfinches, redwings, and the like. If there’s an idyllic time of year, this is it. You get tired digging the potatoes, but then you stop and look up at the brilliant flame-coloured birch leaves and feel like the luckiest person on earth.

And in the midst of it, the landscape is begging to be sketched!

Fall has brought a fresh array of arty activities, so here’s a quick break-down:

ArtTober – If you’re an artist, you’re probably aware of all the different art prompts/lists that went out yesterday. These are wonderful challenges, put out by different groups or individuals, which encourage a daily art practice. I was hoping to do something with nature sketching, and Wild Wonder Foundation’s #wildtober came up in my Instagram feed just when I was looking for a prompt list. If you’re interested in participating, check it out. You can find my sketches on Instagram @coldprairiestudio

Activities with One School One Farm – Last week I attended a planting day with OSOF, to do some field sketching while grade 2 students and land partners planted a shelterbelt. OSOF now has lesson plans available on their website, for anyone interested in prairie ecology. These are free to download and feature my illustrations of local plant & animal species.

Members Show – If you’re in the area, the Humboldt Gallery’s Members Show and Sale is now on and runs through the month of October. This year features the biggest show yet, with over 40 participating artists and 100 works on two floors! It’s a wide-ranging show and a great way to see a lot of local talent in one venue, free of charge. The Meet the Members Reception is this Saturday at the gallery on Main Street from 1:30 – 4:00. I’ll be in attendance, if you want to come say hello!

Paint With Us – The Humboldt Gallery is also bringing back the popular Paint With Us series. This is an opportunity for participants to learn from local artists while working at their own projects. It runs Thursday evenings on October 3rd, 10th & 17th. I’ll be in attendance to help out and answer questions. On the 10th I’ll be presenting on sketching the human form. For more information or to register, contact the Humboldt Gallery at 306 682-5226

Keeping in Touch – One last bit of news, if you would like to keep in touch, I’m trying to make it easy for you to do so. I really appreciate your interest in my art and in the journey, and I’d like to do my part by offering a few different options. I’m now on Instagram and YouTube @coldprairiestudio. Or, you might consider subscribing to this blog. While I am currently exploring Substack as a newsletter platform (more on this to come), I will continue to post here as well.

Thanks for catching up with me! Always feel free to reach out or leave a comment. Wishing you a gorgeous October!

-Leane