About a year ago  -- this was the back of the truck on our way to Calgary for an art show!  It was a show with my sisters and we have done one other show like it in Prince Albert a few years back.  My sister  Mariana Sniezek,  from Calgary,  is a glass bead jeweller - who makes her beads and creates the most beautiful jewellery.  My other sister Lis Soderberg is a singer/songwriter,  from Toronto, and she came to do a concert for everyone.  Artwork in the back of trucks where there may be potential rain doesn't work that well so we needed to fit all of the art into the cab.  Funny thing, it was so full, there was artwork piled right to the ceiling in the truck and even right at the ceiling above our heads too propped up and piled in like a jenga puzzle really with "just enough" spare room to fit my mom and dad in too.    My husband Lorne had flown to Calgary and the funny part was I was joking about how I needed to sell a lot of art to fit him into the truck on the way home!  Well, turns out it was a very successful show and thank goodness I sold enough pieces to fit us all in with room to breath on the way home!!!  Those shows are so fun.... time to do another one -- maybe Toronto this time!! :)

It's true... flowers are always searching for the light in order to grow and flourish!  Spring is an exciting time of the year!  As we think about planting the seeds for the amazing flowers and plants that will nourish our souls with colour and nourish our bodies with nutrients, the hardest part will be deciding what we love the most!  Happy planting! xo 

The Focus on Women tradeshow was last weekend... It was a super fun time.  I was painting in my booth and I also had some students who came and painted with me too.  The excitement for spring was in the air and the show brought out a lot of people.  The draw box entree was for my book which will be out in May.  Can't wait to hand deliver it!!!  So much to be thankful for.  Life is good... especially when art is a part of it!!! :)
 

So I haven't been keeping up with my blog... life has been busy... it was refreshing to be nominated to show 3 pieces of artwork each day for 5 days because it gave me a great opportunity to keep up with my blog... so here goes...
Day 1 - these pieces were inspired by an amazing first trip to New York when my sisters and I took our mom!  Great memories both of being there and then of painting them...
1st: "New York" - now located in Calgary creating memories for the owners of their fond trips to New York
2nd: "Love New York" - goes with the owners collection of my artwork and brings some life to their kitchen area
3rd: "Rainy Adventure" - the owners said they fell in love with it when they saw it at an art show!

Sooooooo...... the time has come.... after 10 years in the making, my book "Life...Create Your Own Masterpiece" is finally at the publisher!!!  It is super exciting!  Can't wait to see it!!!  Below is the "About The Book" so you can find out what it's about (And of course,  there is a lot of my artwork in it!):
"Prepare to have your visual sense as well as your heart and mind enticed as Christina Thoen describes how to create a masterpiece of your life.  She relates it to the very important wise use of the elements of art and principles of composition to create artwork that is stunning as being the same important rules that can be used to create the life of your dreams.  The world is your oyster and understanding how it all works gives you the freedom to make it the most amazing masterpiece of your life!  From preparing your materials to the finishing touches, this book is your guide to creating a great life.  The best part is you don't even need to be an artist to get it!! You are the master and only you know what you want.  Enjoy!  This life is all yours so make it the best you can! "