Plum Blossoms

$100

#150
Watercolour 

Carole Villeneuve

April 2016

10" x 14"

In Chinese culture the plum blossom is seen as a friend of winter and represents the value of endurance.  Plum blossoms typically have five petals with the five petals symbolizing five blessings, longevity, prosperity, health, virtue and good living.  The flowers in this painting blossomed one Alberta spring after a prairie winter.

The Red Canoe

SOLD

#149
Watercolour 

Carole Villeneuve

April 2016

This red canoe, somewhere in  the Rocky Mountains in Alberta,

waits patiently for someone who can't resist an early morning misty paddle.

Listen for the quiet.

Crowther Memorial Junior High School

SOLD

#147
Watercolour with Pen and Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

January 2016

This portrayal of Crowther Memorial Junior High School (built in 1985) in Strathmore, Alberta highlights its freestanding bell tower.   A freestanding bell tower is often referred to by the Italian term campanile.  Throughout history bell towers were part of churches.  One of the most famous bell towers is the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.  The tilting tower is the campanile of the cathedral of Pisa which is found behind the bell tower. The Tower of Pisa  was completed in 1372 and stands 183 feet tall.  Another famous bell tower is Ivan the Great Bell Tower in Moscow, Russia.  Built in 1508, it is the tallest tower in the Moscow Kremlin complex standing 266 feet tall.

Today, bell towers can be found as part of churches, civic buildings or schools.

(click schools to see examples of scholastic bell towers )

I wonder how tall The Crowther Memorial Campanile is?

Trois maisons et une lune

PRIVATE COLLECTION

#146
aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

novembre 2015

Unframed

14" x 21"

Santa 13 Collection

 Although Santa Claus will be very busy Christmas Eve delivering gifts to 

children all over the world, here you see only three of his destinations.   

First, Santa will deliver  candy canes and gifts to six deserving grandchildren, 

who although they live far apart,  see the same moon in the sky.  

Grandmaman wrote Santa a very long letter to make sure he knew that 

Ethan, Tristan, Logan, Reegan, Sadie and Oliver 

have been very kind, brave and helpful this year.   

Then off Santa will fly to Charlie's house, as everyone knows that 

Charlie has been a good puppy this year.  

Santa surely has a chewy bone hidden at the bottom of his bag for Charlie, 

as he knows that Charlie loves to chew.

Danse avec moi

Sold

#145

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

octobre 2015

14" x 10"

Poppies blowing in the breeze one sunny summer morning. 

 The gentle breeze fans the flowers in a subtle dance, moving them just enough

 to highlight the sun shining through the petals.  

The music of a gentle breeze invites us to dance.

Spice of Life

$150

#143

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

September 2015

22" x 14" 

Variety is the spice of life and although the bell pepper lacks the "heat" of the chili pepper it makes up for it in sweetness and health benefits.  

La première neige

$100

#144

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

septembre 2015

14" x 11" 

Breathe!

Rayons dans la forêt

SOLD

 #142

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

avril 2015

 Sunbeams dancing on and through these poplar trees 

mask the dullness of a dense forest.   

The transformation from static grey to bright dancing colours on the surface of the trees

 invite us to explore further the mystery and adventure 

that beckon us to go deeper in the forest.  

Moi aussi

$100

 #141

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

avril 2015

10" x 14"

Who knew?  Just as bell peppers can be green, yellow, orange and red

 they can also be purple.  

This painting celebrates those that stand up for themselves and shout 

"Me too".  

Celebrate the beauty and joy of being different, yet the same!

The Pond

$100

 #140

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

March 2015

10" x 14"

These goldfish swim freely from late spring to early fall in an outdoor pond, 

then retire to a slower pace in an aquarium through the Canadian winter.  

Goldfish were one of the first fish to be domesticated.  

In Japan and China goldfish are symbols for wealth and good luck.

Kuusamo Grain Elevator

SOLD

#139

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

February 2015

Grain Elevators are vanishing on the prairies.   

From a peak of more than 1700 wooden grain elevators in Alberta in the 1930's, 

an article written in 2013 estimates about 120 are left standing.   Known as prairie 

sentinels they once served to connect people on the prairies, much like the

 Inuksuk of the Arctic. Upon arriving at a grain elevator, the next closest one 

could often be seen.  This grain elevator at Kuusamo is WSW of Sylvan Lake on the CN line 

from north of Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House. It was closed in 2002 and became privately owned.  The reference photo for this painting was taken in the fall of 2014.

I Saw Six Ships Come Sailing In

PERSONAL COLLECTION

                               

 #138

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

November 2014

Unframed

21" x 11"

Santa 12 Collection

In the traditional Christmas Carol, "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In", 

composed in England in the 1600's,  the significance of the three ships has long been debated. One could not actually sail into landlocked Bethlehem. Was the composer referencing the Three Wise Men? Perhaps they were symbolic of camels, which have long been referred to as Ships of the Desert?  Maybe the ships were symbols for Faith, Hope and Charity?  Or quite simply Mary, Joseph and Jesus?   

In this Christmas painting, there are not three, but six sailing ships.  

Santa is greeting them enthusiastically, as he too, has embraced a sense of adventure.   Santa looks to Miss Adventure to take him sailing and join Ethan, Tristan, Logan, Reegan, Sadie and Oliver in their sailboats already out on the lake.  No matter the symbolism of the original three ships, these six ships, with their red and white sails, are a definite symbol for the joy and happiness children bring to all those whose hearts are open to the joy, peace, hope and charity of Christmas.

Remembrance Day Reflection

#118 Evening Poppies

 #32 Poppies

Imagine a world where everyone believed and achieved 
Peace Begins With Me

Believe It and Achieve It

Les citrouilles et le camion

$125

#137

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

novembre 2014

22" x 10"

Pumpkins have long since become a symbol of autumn. 

 In this painting of pumpkins and an old truck, we see a perfect pairing of times past. 

Pumpkins are among the oldest domesticated plants on Earth. 

Archaeological evidence suggests that pumpkins have been cultivated 

as far back as 10,000 B.C.  

This old truck may not be that old, but from the rust on its fenders,

 it has had countless adventures.  

Perhaps it has delivered a few pumpkin pies.

Aging Bamboo

$100

#136

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

August 2014

14" x 10"

These bamboo culms were painted to represent the inner and outer beauty of aging.  As we age, we  may begin to fade on the outside (greys and yellows), but the fire inside burns strong (reds and yellows).  All going well, we maintain the memories, strength and passion of our youth (greens).

Embrace your greys and strive for a little red, yellow and green every day.

Golden Hills

SOLD

#135

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

May 2014

Unframed

13" x 6"

Nestled amongst the prairies, the foothills and the Canadian Rockies,  

the city of Calgary reflects 

the blazing gold of the prairies,

 the gentle yet majestic blue of the mountains

 and the warm red of the setting sun.

Island Image

SOLD

#134

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

May 2014

Unframed

22" x 14"

This image of an island was referenced with a photo from Salt Spring Island, one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia, off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is an image portrayed as a moment of time when the skies are dancing, the early morning light transforms the water into a mirror and the almost disappearing horizon is made visible by another distant island.  

Le fruit de la rose

SOLD

#133

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

april 2014

Unframed

14" x 10"

Rose hip, rose haw, rose hep!

Call it what you may, it's the fruit of the rose.

Usually red to orange in colour, some species range from dark purple to black.  Rose hips have a high content of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and iron and may be used fresh or dried in countless recipes.  Sip a cup of rose hip tea, enjoy a glass of refreshing rose hip punch or rose hip wine, smother your pancakes in rose hip syrup or if you are brave, indulge in a bowl of Swedish rose hip soup.

Wakefield Covered Bridge

$150

#131

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

February 2014

22" x 19"

 The Wakefield Covered bridge (Wakefield, Quebec), now a historical attraction, was originally built in 1915, but was destroyed by fire in 1984.  The bright reflections in the water not only represent the restored bridge's fresh coat of paint but are reminiscent of the power of the flames that destroyed it. This covered bridge was one of the first bridges to link the two shores of the Gatineau River. The restoration of the bridge was completed in 1998 through community effort.  

Bridges are links that help to bring people together.  As the Olympic Games begin today in Sochi, Russia, let us hope that new bridges will be built to strengthen the dream of peace in the world. 

Old Friend

SOLD

#130

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

January 2014

21" x 13"

The painting of this 50's Chevy truck reminds us that

 memories of old friends are framed in many forms.  

Memories formed through countless adventures are 

revived upon remembering roads travelled.  This old friend, 

once shiny and blue, has become a rainbow of faded colours.  

Wearing proudly signs of age, he remains true to all he has seen 

and all who have called him a friend.

Torelli Trio

SOLD

#126

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

December 2013

14" x 10"

Joy, love, creativity, spirit, bravery and kindness are all words that come

 to mind to those who are fortunate enough to meet this Trio.

  They are sure to make a difference in the world as they learn and grow

 as individuals and as a family team.

Ironman

Personal Collection

#128

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

November 2013

10.5" x 14.5"

This painting was inspired by an Ironman competing in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in June 2013. The physical goal of completing an Ironman distance consists of 

swimming 3.8 km or 2.4 miles,

 cycling 180.2 km or 112 miles 

and running 42.2 km or 26.2 miles

........all this with a goal of completing it under 17 hours.  

The mental focus required to complete an Ironman is unmeasurable. 

The Ironman in this painting 

swam the distance in 1:06:21,

 cycled for 5:54:49 

and ran the full marathon at the end in 4:18:59 

for a total time of 11:28:29. 

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another."  

-Walter Elliot-

If that's what perseverance is how does one describe what keeps the Ironman moving forward as he completes many long races one after another.

La veille de Noël

PERSONAL COLLECTION

#127

L'aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

Noël 2013

20" x 14"

Santa 11 Collection

It's Christmas Eve and as Grandmaman and Papa relax in their reading room chairs, Santa makes a special stop to help them get ready for Christmas.  Noticing that Benny's "cheval à bascule" needs touching up, Santa borrows Grandmaman's art palette and Papa's reading glasses, then quickly gets to work.  No sooner had he begun, he was done and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.  With Grandmaman in her shawl and Papa in his robe, they sprang from their chairs to see what was the clatter.  And what to their wondering eyes did they see, but a mailbox full of gifts and more out on the lawn.  Papa did the counting and to his surprise, he counted up six and quickly surmised, "Grandmaman, we are blessed with six special gifts  this Christmas Eve!" 

Réflexions après le déluge

SOLD

#129

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

novembre 2013

22" x 10"

Reflecting on this year's flooding in Southern Alberta from the heavy rain and melting snow, this painting brings to mind the contrast of the destruction of farmland  and homes from nature's force with the peaceful beauty brought about by water's reflections.  This is my second painting dedicated to the Alberta 2013 floods which is meant to remind us  that when we can't change the course of nature it is important to change the way we look at it.

Standard School

Personal Collection

#125

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

October 2013

21" x 9"

This painting of Standard School was created in celebration of a leader who embodies leadership, in celebration of all she has accomplished and all she plans to accomplish.  In reflecting upon what makes her stand out as a leader the following quotes are some of those that come to mind. 

"Be who you are and say what you feel
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind." 

~Dr Seuss~ 

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. 

~Rosalynn Carter~

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. 

~Douglas MacArthur~

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."

~John F. Kennedy~