Coastal wolves share our space here in Tofino. They are different from the inland Grey wolves you find on the mainland of BC. They tend to be smaller, they swim and primarily eat fish. As much as we love viewing wolves, they tend to become easily habituated with the amount of human interactions that take place on the coast (camping, garbage etc.) If you see a wolf, briefly enjoy its beauty and then scare it away. You will save it in the long run! #tofinocolour
Springs and Hidden Things - Colouring Page
March was a REALLY wet month... so wet that I feel like a grape. Lots of soggy dog walks and indoor cabin (or tiny boat) fever feelings! Now it's April, and I actually see warmer temperatures in future weather forecasts! I heard the Robins sing this morning and that made me stand a little taller and walk with a little more 'spring' in my step! Its time for the Salmon to start showing up a little more frequently in Clayoquot Sound. Its time for chocolate Easter eggs, sunshine, blooming flowers and actual signs of Spring! Whoa am I ready for that (as I am sure all Tofitians are)! My new colouring page can be found with the rest of them on my freebies page as well as in April's Tofino Time magazine. I am getting closer to enough for a colouring book so they will only be available a little while longer... get them while you can (and then feel free to support me one day by buying a book when its done... haha)!
Lots of exciting things to look forward to. We are in the process of buying a bigger boat... a beautiful wooden gaff rigged motor sailor with SO MUCH MORE SPACE than our Cheoy Lee. Last winter was a challenge... a true testament of stamina for really small space living (it was hard, but we all still love each other... haha). We decided with the girls being bigger, it meant time for a bigger boat. We are bringing her up here very soon, then have a little work to do to get her ready to move aboard... hopefully before Adam gets smoking busy with fishing charters!
I also thought it would be great to try something a little different this spring and broaden my skill set. I have taken on the position of coordinator for the Tofino Saltwater Classic fundraising fishing derby. Really excited to be part of such a great event in Tofino. This will be the 8th year in a growing event. It is hosted by NHL's Brendan Morrison and I get to be a part of a great team or organizers, sponsors and volunteers.
We have signed up for the Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race with our good friends as a team of 4. Although I used to paddle and ride a ton, I haven't been in a kayak for ages, nor a mountain bike, so this is going to be a challenge but also heaps of FUN! Living on a boat means only needing to take 3 steps from one thing to the next, so this'll kick my butt back into gear thanks god! Wish us luck!!!
Pacific Pulse - Colouring Page
Pluviophile. a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days. (LOVE this)
Its February... and although I tend to feel compelled to follow the seasons with my colouring pages, I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. Its a 'Hallmark' branded holiday designed to get suckers (sorry if you are a sucker, or a business owner who sells to suckers) to buy cards, chocolate and flowers for their loved ones... a perfect marketing ploy as far as I'm concerned (Hang on! Should I be making Valentines cards too?). Maybe I'm just lucky that my guy (after 21 years together) doesn't need a 'day' to remind him... haha! Instead I am reminding us why we should LOVE the rainy winters. Rain is the source of life here on the coast... like it or not.
Decembers Colouring Page - Free Download
For those cold and crispy (in our case a little soggy) December days! You'll find this free holiday colouring page in Tofino Time Magazine December Issue. If you want the chance to win a print at the end of the month then go ahead and colour in the page, snap a photo and upload it to Instagram with the #tofinocolour hashtag. You can also download it, along with other months on my FREEBIES page! This image is also available as a colouring Christmas Card in my shop if you want to give it as a gift. Ho ho ho!
Holiday Cards Now in the Shop
Its that time of year again... holiday cards now in the shop with free shipping on orders over $25 until December 15th!
Also Available at:
The Make Merry Market - November 24/25
Winter Artisan Market - Sunday, December 4th 11-4pm
Lovecraft Gallery in Tofino
Horror at the Shore Vol.2 - Poster Design
Coming again this Halloween, the epic dance party at the Shore. I love cracking out my inner horror flick lover on these posters.
Natural Elements - Downloadable Colouring Page
October is the beginning of surf season in Tofino (#tofinosurfmonth) and the Queen of the Peak kicks it off with the annual all women's surf competition. This months colouring page was inspired by all those hard core queens and princesses that brave the cold waters of Tofino to shred the west coast waves. All the colouring pages can be downloaded on the FREEBIES page now (just to make them easier to find)!
Tofino Boardwalk
The Tofino Boardwalk (put on by the Tofino Arts Council) is a collection of 20 embellished surfboards created by 20 of Tofino’s Local artists. The project aims to bring together ART, SURF and Business in a creative partnership that expresses our community’s love of the ocean.
The boards are located throughout Tofino in various sponsored locations (August to October's Tofino Time contains a centerfold map). In early spring 2017 the TAC will be hosting a gala where all the boards will be auctioned off. Proceeds will go to further the support of arts in Tofino, to kids surf and ocean based programs at Wickaninnish Elementary and a small portion to the artists. More information about the Tofino Boardwalk can be found on the Tofino Arts Council website
Fluid Forest is the board I painted for the project and is located at Storm Light Outfitters on Main Street in Tofino.
Spawning Salmon - Downloadable Colouring Page
September is my absolute favourite month in Tofino. As much as I love the energy and weather of the summer months (and having my kids around to play with), the fall brings 'space'. The busy streets and beaches start to thin out once school starts, the weather is often fabulous (albeit not THIS week), and you no longer have to wait 40 minutes for a coffee if you want to hit your favourite spots out for one. With the kids back to school, the boat clears out during the day and as much as I love leading a spontaneous existence the 'routine' is welcome for damage control after a busy summer season. Catching up on some client projects, and prepping the boat for the winter feels some what productive again!
One of the latest projects I am working on is a collaboration with Tofino Time magazine. Each month (started in August) I will be putting in a themed colouring page for your meditative, west coast colouring pleasure! It IS newsprint so pencil crayons are recommended, but if you want to hit it with markers than just download it here and print on your favourite paper. Eventually I will put together a book when I have enough drawings, but for now they are free for you to enjoy!
If you want to take it a step further, once you are finished just snap a photo and pop it up on Instagram with the hashtags #tofinocolour (or #tofinocolor if you are south of the border) and @clairewatsonart and there may just be some prizes and you could be featured! I really want to see what you guys pick for your west coast colours!
Show Your West Coast Wild!
Coming VERY SOON to the Tofino Saturday Market and the online shop! I've been wanting to get into apparel for a while now and I finally jumped and ordered some shirts for printing. Stoked.
Surfboard Art... A new kind of board for me
The Rip Curl Pro was this weekend in Tofino and hundreds of wave watchers came to our little town to watch some of Canada's best. There were plenty of Tofitians in the mix, both young and old and some out of towners also venturing out in our frigid west coast waters.
I was asked to attend the Rip Curl Pro Photo Showdown event at The Shore as essentially an art installation painting a surfboard live during the event. Of course I was a little nervous as I had never painted live... Even in the 12 years of creating chalk art signs, I NEVER did them on site! Luckily a couple of pals loaned me their boards so I could practice, so once the event came I felt confident enough to pull it off in those conditions. The problem now is that I absolutely love painting on them so I have a feeling there will be many more in my future!
(Scroll to 1:48 on the video below for a teenie cameo of me! haha)
2016 Print and Art Card Web Catalogue
For all you potential retailers out there, I put together this catalogue of my available prints and art cards. Spring has sprung so let me know if you feel my work would be a good fit!
My Wish For The New Year...
Living aboard can be the most amazing lifestyle choice about 90% of the time. We have done it now with our family of 4 for over a year now. I feel so much more in tune with environmental changes and weather systems than I ever did living in a house. I feel more aware of my footprint as we consume less when living aboard… less power, less water, less stuff, less space, less waste. Most general tasks tend to take more effort so I feel less complacent and more appreciative of the little things (ie. laundry machines and showers). The desire to get rid of ‘stuff’ is addicting (except art supplies of course). The feeling of freedom from carrying less is invigorating and every day feels like an adventure. I hope we can inspire those who think that could NEVER do it.
There is that remaining 10% though. When back to back days of hard rain hit, or when the condensation and leaky drips increase, or when 40+ knot SE wind storms last for days, or when teenager/parent battles happen (luckily there aren’t many), or when the momentary need for space gets overwhelming, or when the dock is an ice rink, or when the public showers are disgusting or worse… broken, or when Adam really needs to watch the hockey series and there is no escape from the yelling, or when the laundry machines are busy… or like this past 2+ weeks of a full on dock power outage during a wicked cold snap! Those are times when we wonder how and why we do it.
I suppose it is all about ‘perspective’. We are happy, healthy, strong and have all we ‘need’. I have so much gratitude to Adam for his willingness to get outside to fire up the generator in sub zero temps first thing in the morning while we all huddle under our blankets (and of course for everything else). I am thankful to my girls for their patience, understanding, resilience and hardiness. I am grateful to my friends who offer support, kindness and a hot shower when needed. There are so many people facing hardships of all kinds as we all welcome in a new year and this is nothing compared to them.
So here’s my wish for the new year… sorry its a bit late (preoccupied by 'life'... haha). I wish YOU all good health, profound happiness, financial freedom, full bellies, deeper perspective, mind blowing inspiration, free flowing creativity, eternal gratitude, epic adventures and true love for 2016 and on. Cheers!
(Now if you'll excuse me I need to wash my hair in my studio sink since the power is still out and the water hoses are frozen at the dock... hahahaha!!!)
Handpainted 'One of a Kind' Trucker Hats
A fun side project come market time... hand painted hats. Some foam truckers and some cotton, all are done in acrylic with a clear coat so they can resist Tofino weather!
A Make Merry Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Make Merry Market over the weekend. It was a great event and kick start to the holiday season!
West Coast Holiday Cards - Available Now Online!
It's that time of year! Send some loving from the west coast of Vancouver Island with some holiday cards. Now available on my shop page. Cards are $6 each or 5 for $25!
Free Shipping on all orders over $25! Quote CHEER2015 at checkout to redeem!
Cover Art - Clayoquot Action Winter Report 2015/16
Clayoquot Action is a non profit organization based out of Tofino determined to protect the biodiversity of Clayoquot Sound. Currently one of their big focuses is to get fish farms out of this pristine sound. They have started an indiegogo crowd funding campaign to to help in their efforts to travel to Norway to make sure Cermaq, the salmon farming giant, understands that they are not welcome here.
Fish farms are something that hits close to home for us. Living on the water we feel so much more in tune with the delicate balance of nature when it comes to the ocean. Adam (my husband and sport fish guide) can attest to the effects of fish farms on wild salmon stocks. I was flattered when Clayoquot Action asked to use my image for their Winter Report cover.
Horror At The Shore - Poster Art & Design
When Adam from Tofician asked me to create a halloween poster for his "Horror at the Shore" party in Tofino, I couldn't help but jump at it. Since I (secretly) love the Walking Dead, Comic Books, Video Games and old B Movies, the design concept came fast!
West Coast Wild, Tofino BC
West Coast Orcas, Tofino BC - Downloadable Colouring Page
Here is little 'taste test' of a new project I am working on. I am currently in the process of painting the illustration, but in the meantime, help yourself to a colouring page! There will be more coming soon...