Saturday, 23 September 2017

Celebrate the Sun

$150 plus framing
#  159
Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
September 2017

14" x 22"

Simply 
Celebrate
The sun
The warmth
The light
The season behind us
The seasons ahead!

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Cape Daisy


$150 plus framing
#  158
Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
July 2017

15" x 22"

Cape Daisy
African Daisy
Osteospermum
African 
Cape
Simply Fresh

Thursday, 25 May 2017

Waves

Personal Collection

#157

Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
May 2017

9" x 14"

The ebb and the flow
Chase the dream within the wave
The joy of the splash 

Sunday, 23 April 2017

Les roches dans le ruisseau

$100
#156
aquarelle
Carole Villeneuve
avril 2017

9" x 12"

This painting was inspired by the playful rocks in Fairmont Creek, British Columbia.  "Canada Rocks".  Their true colours shine through when the sun and moving water flow together.  One sees what one looks for.

Sunday, 7 August 2016

Le rêve des kayakistes

SOLD
#154
Watercolour 
Carole Villeneuve
July 2016

These kayakers are 
living their dream......calm waters
 and an adventure awaiting.

West Coast Mist

$100 plus framing
#153
Watercolour 
Carole Villeneuve
July 2016

10" x 14"

This painting highlights only a snapshot of the diverse ecosystem
 of Vancouver Island by capturing the subtle colours
 of the landforms, rocks, rainforests and the sea.


Summer Poppies

$150 plus framing
#152
Watercolour 
Carole Villeneuve
July 2016

14" x 22"

This painting highlights the freshness of the summer sky
 behind the boldness of the poppy. 
 These poppies are meant to be seen as  a cheery sign of summer 
as well as to inspire restful sleep.

Sunday, 22 May 2016

Sylvan Lake Lighthouse

$75 plus framing
#151
Watercolour 
Carole Villeneuve
May 2016

8" x 10"

This painting celebrates a  winter view of the new Sylvan Lake Lighthouse,
 built to replace the original lighthouse which was demolished during the winter of 2012/2013.
  The original lighthouse stood for close to 25 years and served as an iconic landmark 
for the town of Sylvan Lake.  
The new lighthouse was built through 2015/2016 and as this painting is posted, 
the lighthouse is complete except for landscaping and a few final details.

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

One Step at a Time

Personal Collection

#148

Watercolour with Pen and Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
March 2016

This portrayal of Crowther Memorial Junior High School (built in 1985) in Strathmore, Alberta highlights its freestanding bell.  In this painting we see someone at the open door, ready to take another step towards inspiring others to go forward.  John Quincy Adams said of a leader,
 "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, 
you are a leader." 

Friday, 29 April 2016

Plum Blossoms

$100 plus framing
#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.

Friday, 15 January 2016

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?

Sunday, 15 November 2015

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.

Friday, 9 October 2015

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.

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

La première neige

$100 plus framing
#144
aquarelle
Carole Villeneuve
septembre 2015

14" x 11" 

Breathe!

Spice of Life

$150 plus framing
#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.  

Monday, 20 April 2015

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.  

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Moi aussi

$100 plus framing
 #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!

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

The Pond

$100 plus framing
 #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.

Monday, 16 February 2015

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.

Friday, 19 December 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.

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Remembrance Day Reflection




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

Believe It and Achieve It

Monday, 10 November 2014

Les citrouilles et le camion

$125 plus framing
#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.

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Aging Bamboo

$100 plus framing
#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.

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

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.

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

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.  

Monday, 14 April 2014

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.

Friday, 7 February 2014

Wakefield Covered Bridge

$150 plus framing

#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. 

Sunday, 19 January 2014

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.