New Painting

Coming soon to an empty wall near you!

The piece entitled "A Sacred Place" has been under wraps for some time.  Some of you lucky ones have caught an early glimpse of these giant red cedars, but for those of you who have been awaiting is official debut... here it is without further ado!

A Sacred Place

18 x 36

Available stretched on Canvas

as a framed 8x10

as an unframed 8x10

the cake

All of the hours that went into the cake, were worth the final result...

The Bride and Groom loved it! Set in the woods, the tiny edible mushrooms, ferns, berries and bugs, fit right in. The day was enchanting, and held a subtle glow of magic. 

There is something very special about art you can eat, and I look forward to exploring this new medium for other events.

I carefully hand sculpted each decoration out of fondant, an edible dough made from marshmallow and icing sugar. I let them dry for several days, allowing them to harden a bit before adding the colour.

Using a brush, I then glazed each piece with food dye (of the gel variety). Because these tiny sculptures had to travel, I made special boxes for them from biodegradable foamboard, and packed them very carefully.

After the cake was baked, and iced, I rolled out 1/2 inch slabs of fondant (which I had already coloured a soft green), and laid it over each tear of the cake. I do recommend trying this before hand, as it did take a few tries to get it right.

Then came the fun part... placing the decorations, and adding the final touches.

this photo is courtesy of Victoria Skofteby Photography

a photographer with a gift for translating a vision, and capturing the essence of a moment. A most talented woman, with creative flare, and infectious enthusiasm. I highly recommend checking out her site!

photo courtesy of Victoria Skofteby Photography

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout. Beautiful. They are what I most often catch. I was surprised to find that they can look quite different from one another, depending on what river they live in, even if they are from the same strain.

Here is a collage of a custom piece, done from photos. The pictures were taken in a magical place, that will remain undisclosed...

Cutthroat Trout
Oil on Canvas by Melissa March

Cutthroat Trout

The coastal cutthroat is a blue-listed species, which means the species is considered vulnerable in British Columbia. Several populations, particularly those on the East Coast of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, are in serious decline, and many runs are already extinct. Their dependence on small streams for
spawning and rearing makes them especially vulnerable, as small streams are easily altered or destroyed and their protection is often overlooked in planning residential, agricultural, and industrial developments or during forest harvesting

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Since cutthroat trout are very susceptible to over-fishing, using a barbless hook and practicing catch
and release are recommended.

• It is important to obey angling regulations and habitat protection bylaws, guidelines and regulations, since they were designed to protect the fish and their habitat. You should also Observe, Record and Report violations of the regulations by phoning 1-800-663-9453.
• Cutthroat trout are highly vulnerable to urban development and agricultural practices that remove the vegetation that creates streamside shade, captures excess nutrients from fertilizers and manure, and prevents erosion.
• Form a group of water stewards and volunteer to monitor local water quality and other habitat changes in lakes or streams.
• Be aware that what you dump into your septic tank or roadside storm drain may find its way into streams or lakes. Help keep water quality high by using detergents and soaps which are phosphate and chlorine free, and do not dump harsh chemicals, such as bleach, paint thinners or antifreeze, into drains.

For more info see:
Ministry of Fisheries
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca