BLOG – Sarah Mckendry

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This week has been an absolute whirlwind in the be

This week has been an absolute whirlwind in the best kind of way and although I am crazy tired I just wanted to share some really exciting news with you! This Saturday I will officially be launching a little dream of mine that has been in the works for the past two years. I have had so many wonderful souls reach out to me since I began teaching oil painting classes online, saying that they were feeling so overwhelmed and frustrated with trying to find the materials that they needed for my classes in the areas where they lived. My entire reason behind teaching all that I have learned on my creative journey with emerging artists, is because it can be so challenging to figure things out in the beginning and I want to help other artists succeed and thrive however I can. I have now made things a little bit easier for everyone in that I am officially opening my own little online Paint Shop! I have sourced out all of my absolute favorite paints, brushes, and mediums and can now bundle them up and ship them right to the doorstep of anyone who wants to dive into the wonderful world of oil painting with me. The painting featured above is the class that will also be launching this Saturday and I could not possibly be any more excited! This will be my 5th class that I have up on my website and there are 4 more already on the way. This week I also finalized the cover and layout for my upcoming oil painting book with my Publisher in the US and I am about to dive into that project with my beautiful friend Jenna from @thehobbsfarm over the next two months. This is all such a dream come true!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc #mistymorning #pacificcoast #bestcoast #yegartists #pnw #studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare #oilpainting #skillshareclass #tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoast #landscapeart #canadianartist #oilpainting #tofino #canadianart #pnwonderland

One of my favourite wildlife paintings from last y

One of my favourite wildlife paintings from last year…

Thank you to the amazing @ocroz_ for the inspiration!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc #pnwonderland #pnw #bestcoast #skillshare #oilpainting #tofino #mistyforest #contemporaryart #canadianart #pacificcoast #oceanscape #orca

Last night my Deepquiet Collection made its way ou

Last night my Deepquiet Collection made its way out into the world for the members of my mailing list and I am just so thrilled with how it has been received. I decided to release this series of original oil paintings through an exciting 24 hour silent auction, and at 12pm MST I will open the sale to the public! The auction ends at 6pm MST today (Sunday). You will be able to find the link in my stories later today! Here is a little preview of some of the paintings that are in the collection, do you have a favourite piece?

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc #pnwonderland #pnw #bestcoast #skillshare #oilpainting #tofino #mistyforest #contemporaryart #canadianartist

About to begin the subtle mist work on this dreamy

About to begin the subtle mist work on this dreamy new painting...

#pnwonderland #oilpainting #westcoast #femaleartist #canadianartist #pnw #pacificcoast #mistyforest #tofino #beautifulbc #banff #artistsarahmckendry #freshair

My soul belongs in the mountains. I can close my e

My soul belongs in the mountains. I can close my eyes when I paint these misty mountainsides and feel the damp cold seeping down into my bones. I can feel the fresh air flow into my soul, and the deep quiet stillness ease it’s way into every corner of my consciousness.

This will be one of sixteen original oil paintings that will be released on February 25th. Those on my mailing list will receive early access to the launch, and you can find the link to subscribe in my bio.

#pnwonderland #sarahmckendryfineart #pacificcoast #tofino #beautifulbc #vanisle #misty #forest #oregoncoast #pnw #bestcoast

Getting ready to start diving into the detail work

Getting ready to start diving into the detail work on this exciting new 30"x60" oil painting! My new collection of originals will be launching via online Silent Auction on the 18th of this month. Be sure to sign up for the mailing list on my website for early access to the release!

Special thanks to my dear friend @wikstrom_photography for the endless inspiration!

#pnwonderland #sarahmckendryfineart #pnw #pacificcoast #whales #humpback #oilpainting #canadianartist #nature #oregoncoast #beautifulbc #pacificrimnationalpark #tofino #westcoastbeaches #vancouverisland #canadianart #explorevanisle #tourismvancouverisland #victoriabc #canadianart #westcoastart #bcart #beautifulbritishcolumbia #bcparks

There are some major projects coming together behi

There are some major projects coming together behind the scenes over here, and to say that I am excited about them is an absolute understatement. My whole creative journey has been centred around forging a new path that veers far away from the traditional methods of selling art and sharing knowledge, and everything that I am working on right now holds true to my long term dreams and visions. Stay tuned for a whole bunch of magic coming your way!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #carveouttimeforart #bestcoast #yegartists #soulscape #studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare #passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass #tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoast #reflections #skillshare #landscapeart #canadianartist #calledtobecreative #oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart #yegartist

I have been getting lots of inquiries about when m

In my eyes, I believe that every single canvas tha

In my eyes, I believe that every single canvas that I have painted and every other work of art that I have ever laid my eyes upon has taken an entire lifetime to come to fruition. Every single memory and experience that has drifted down into the depths of an artist’s soul has played a pivotal part in each and every aspect of what is being created. Time ceases to exist for me when I pick up a brush and stand before a blank canvas - it feels like only a mere blink of an eye when I fade back into reality and realize that dawn is not far from the horizon, and that what’s sitting there in front of me has come from some far off place that transcends all concepts of the here and now. Because of this, when someone asks how long a painting has taken me to complete, the only answer that I can give is ‘my whole life.’ I don’t know where my mind escapes to when I am in front of my easel, but it is somewhere far beyond the measure of hours, months and years and far above the reach of a fixed construct that has no place in the true understanding of the magic found within one’s creative process...

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty#artflowsessions #beautifulbc#creativityfound #mistymorning#carveouttimeforart #bestcoast#yegartists #thejealouscurator#studioscenes #womenwhopaint#skillshare #passioncolorjoy#skillshareclass #tourismtofino#womenartists #pacificcoast#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart#canadianartist #calledtobecreative#oilpainting #femaleartist#inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart#yegartist

I have been busy at work finishing up my commissio

I have been busy at work finishing up my commissions and piecing together a new collection of original paintings that will launch next month! I have also had many questions about when my Print Shop will open up again, and I am planning on that happening in early March. I am also feeling inspired to dive back into filming new oil painting tutorials very soon too! Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list on my website to be kept up to date on all of the magic that is about to unfold. You can find the link in my bio!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #carveouttimeforart #bestcoast #yegartists #thejealouscurator #studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare #passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass #tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoas t#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart #canadianartist #calledtobecreative #oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart #yegartist

This is where my heart beats outside of my body. W

This is where my heart beats outside of my body. Where the beautiful chaos of my two darling boys bounces off the walls, the windowpanes, and the limitless ceiling of abundant dreams. This is where we play, we laugh, we cry, we dance, we hug. This is a lego station, a target practice, a craft zone, a safe place to lay on the floor and let your emotions emote. This is where paint spills, frames get built, and paintings sit drying in the soft morning light. This is where I sit every night after my world goes to sleep; after I dim my role as mother, as wife, as friend, and nurture the ever glowing spark within my soul that keeps my fires burning strong, burning bright, and burning true. This is where I exhale, where I release, where I explore the deepest depths of my very being and then lay it bare for all of the world to see. This is where my greatest work of art is being created, not on canvas, but in the beautiful truth of living a life well lived.

The space is not what creates beautiful art, it is the love that is found within it that does. Some of my favourite paintings were created while sitting on the cold floor of a basement apartment in the middle of the night, with my youngest nestled into the crook of one arm and a paintbrush quietly dancing across the canvas in front of me. This is the first time that my studio is not in a corner of a basement, is not in the dining area of our kitchen, or is not in a small bedroom beside my sleeping children. Truthfully I miss the closeness of my family as I paint into the wee hours of the morning, but I know that the love reverberating through every square inch of this wonderful home has already turned this space into exactly what I need it to be.

Swipe to see my last three painting spaces...

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty#artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound#mistymorning #carveouttimeforart#bestcoast #yegartists #thejealouscurator#studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare#passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass#tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoas t#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart#canadianartist #calledtobecreative#oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature#tofino #canadianart #yegartist

To all of you brave souls out there trying to find

To all of you brave souls out there trying to find a rhythm within your craft in those early stages, go easy on yourself. Self expression in any form is a terrifying journey, but I am here on the other side of self doubt and fear telling you that there is no greater gift that you can give yourself than taking pause and getting comfortable with those quiet and powerful moments of self reflection...

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty#artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound#mistymorning #carveouttimeforart#bestcoast #yegartists #thejealouscurator#studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare#passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass#tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoas t#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart#canadianartist #calledtobecreative#oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature#tofino #canadianart #yegartist

I have been absent from here for the past two and

I have been absent from here for the past two and a half weeks because my little world has been flipped upside down and we are only now finding our footing as a family once again. My five year old was rushed to the hospital dangerously ill the week before Christmas and has been diagnosed with the incurable (yet fortunately manageable) auto-immune disease Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. The daily procedures that he now has to follow every two hours for the rest of his life are just heartbreaking, but he is brave and courageous and is slowly starting to get a small grasp on the enormity of it all. Then two weeks before that happened my sweet 7 year old was diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia as well as an Anxiety Disorder, so our plates have been incredibly full with trying to assemble teams of magical humans to help them both truly thrive on their new paths. Luckily these two perfect little beings chose the most awesome love-filled-health-driven family when they decided to come earthside, so things will only get better from here, but right now my husband and I are just a tad bit exhausted. This has been the first day that I have felt like I am starting to get back to my old self, so I thought I would come on here and just shine a little light on what has been going on. I am taking the next month to settle into our new version of normal and to focus on finishing the last of my commissions when I am able to find some time to sit in front of my easel. I will be filming new oil painting classes next month for all who are eagerly awaiting the next batch of magic, and I will be slowly piecing together a new Collection of original oil paintings too which I am really excited about. Even with the incredibly rough end to the last year the dreamer in me is still so deeply excited for what is to come, and I can't wait to share it all with you as I slowly ease myself back into reality. Thank you so very much for being here and following along.

All of my paintings and prints have shipped off to

All of my paintings and prints have shipped off to their forever homes for the holidays, and after what has been the most overwhelmingly incredible year for my business, I am finally finding a moment to sink into some quiet reflection that I so deeply need. I never thought that I would be writing this from a room in the Children's Hospital, but alas this crazy year wanted to throw a few more things at us before she hit the road. There are no words to convey the depth of gratitude that I have for each and every one of you wonderful souls for choosing to support me on my creative journey in all of the ways that you have. I am just so unbelievably grateful. This past month has not only been the most challenging one that I have experienced as a small business owner, but it has also been the hardest that I have had as a mother as well. The great news is that both of our boys are soon to have incredible teams of humans behind them helping them thrive within their very different diagnoses, but my goodness these past three weeks have been a lot. For all of the beautiful souls that purchased paintings and prints and took the time to let me know not to worry about their orders when everything was delayed due to the weather and shipping backlogs, your kindness gave me the space to process what I needed to in the moment. We will be able to bring our healthy and happy five year old home from the hospital tomorrow albeit with a whole bunch of new gadgets and gizmos, but we can not wait to turn off the outside world for a while and just soak up the holiday magic with our two amazing little humans. From the bottom of my heart I can't thank you all enough for your unwavering support this past year, and I truly hope that each and every one of you are able to find some much needed peace and joy throughout this upcoming holiday season! Sending love!

I thought I would take a moment and properly intro

I thought I would take a moment and properly introduce myself to the vast amount of new souls that have recently started following along on here. My name is Sarah Mckendry and I am a self taught professional oil painter by night, and a stay at home mom to two beautiful little boys by day. I first picked up a paintbrush 13 years ago and I have been pouring my heart and soul into my craft with a fierce determination to learn how to translate the world around me into meaningful brushstrokes on canvas ever since. Painting is an extension of my very being and there is not a single day that passes where I am not flooded with an overwhelming sense of awe in realizing that my work has somehow found a way to speak to others the same way that it speaks to myself. There are no words to convey the depth of gratitude that I have for all of the love and support that I receive from each and every one of you, and I am just so thrilled to have you following along on this creative journey of mine.

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #carveouttimeforart #bestcoast #yegartists #thejealouscurator #studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare #passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass #tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoas t#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart #canadianartist #calledtobecreative #oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart #yegartist

Thank you so very much to each and every one of yo

Thank you so very much to each and every one of you wonderful souls that placed an order through my Print Shop this past weekend! I am absolutely floored by all of the love and I can't wait to get your new artwork shipped out to you! The Print Shop has now officially closed until February 2022, but my Fine Art Calendars are still available to purchase if you'd like! Wishing you all a lovely Monday!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #carveouttimeforart #bestcoast #yegartists #thejealouscurator #studioscenes #womenwhopaint #skillshare #passioncolorjoy #skillshareclass #tourismtofino #womenartists #pacificcoas t#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart #canadianartist #calledtobecreative #oilpainting #femaleartist #inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart #yegartist

I walked away from gallery representation eight ye

I walked away from gallery representation eight years ago because every aspect of it did not sit right with my soul. The distance between myself and the person who connected with my work and wanted it in their home, the price points that set my work on a level that I myself couldn't afford if I wanted to, and the removal of the art from the space in which it came to life in the first place all left me feeling quite empty and unfulfilled. My mantra as an artist is to only create paintings that speak to the depths of my soul and to make my work as accessible as possible to absolutely everyone. I did not set out on this creative journey in search of fame and fortune, I didn't even set out to sell my work and put it out into the universe for all to see. I did it because it made me feel whole, it made me feel calm, and it made me feel like I could finally make sense of the world around me in a way that sparked joy within my heart. When others began reaching out to purchase my paintings because they too felt the same connection to them that I did, that is when I decided to shift away from the conventional way of selling art and to create my own meaningful path that allowed me to spread a little bit of joy and happiness as I went along. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you wonderful humans that continually support this big dream of mine through purchases, comments, shares and likes. Each and every one of you put a smile on my face and keep me burning the midnight oil with a paintbrush in hand and gratitude in my heart.

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #artflowsessions #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #carveouttimeforart #bestcoast#yegartists #thejealouscurator#studioscenes #womenwhopaint#skillshare #passioncolorjoy#skillshareclass #tourismtofino#womenartists #pacificcoast#reflections #skillshare #landscapeart#canadianartist #calledtobecreative#oilpainting #femaleartist#inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart#yegartist

Another sneak peek at a piece that I am working on

Another sneak peek at a piece that I am working on for my Collection Launch! I have a ways to go on it yet, but I can't wait to dive into the final detail work on this dreamy westcoast piece!

sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #pnwonderland#bestcoast #yegartists #womenartists #pacificcoast #fineartist#landscapeart #canadianartist #oregoncoast#artforthehome # #inherstudio#tofino #canadianart #yegartist#interiordesign

Being a completely self taught artist, I wholehear

Being a completely self taught artist, I wholeheartedly appreciate how challenging it can be to figure out the rather complex and overwhelming world of oil painting when you are first starting out. I wish that I had someone that could have walked me through their creative process and shown me not only what materials to use, but also how to use them in a way that would produce meaningful results while building confidence and skills along the way. My greatest joy as a professional artist is sharing absolutely everything that I have learned on my creative journey with emerging artists around the world. I walk artists of absolutely all skill levels through every step that I take to create my signature landscape paintings from start to finish, so that they too can turn their hopes and visions into reality on canvas.

I currently have 3 new Oil Painting Classes available on my website, 6 older classes available on Skillshare, and in 2 short weeks I will be launching the class for this moody Cloudscape that is featured above! My favourite part about offering these classes is having students who have never picked up a paintbrush or used oil paint before fall completely in love with the medium and process, it truly makes my heart so happy.

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc#skillshare #landscapeart #canadianartist #pnwonderland #oilpainting #inspiredbynature #tofino #canadianart #yegartist

*This giveaway has closed and the winner has colle

*This giveaway has closed and the winner has collected their prize!* Next month I will be launching my final Print Collection of the year featuring a very limited amount of Stretched Canvas and Archival Paper Prints from some of my most popular paintings of 2021. The painting featured above will be among the Collection. I am giving you a chance to win a Stretched Canvas Print of your choosing (within North America) or an Archival Paper Print (worldwide) by simply following the steps below! I will be drawing the winning name this Sunday October 24th at 5pm MDT. Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list on my website (in bio) if you are interested in getting early access to my upcoming Collection Launches!

To enter the giveaway you must do the following:

1. Like this post and tag someone that inspires you. If you write a kind little note to them as well then I'll give you an extra entry.

2. Share this post in your stories and tag @artistsarahmckendry in them so that I can make sure that you completed this step if your name is drawn.

You can enter as many times as you like! I will also be doing a SECOND draw for everyone who is on my Mailing List (both old and new) so that can double your chances as well! Best of luck everyone!

#sarahmckendryfineart #misty #beautifulbc #creativityfound #mistymorning #pnwonderland #bestcoast #yegartists #womenartists #pacificcoast #fineartist #landscapeart #canadianartist #oregoncoast #artforthehome # #inherstudio #tofino #canadianart #yegartist #interiordesign

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Sarah Mckendry Canadian Realist Painter