The first and only time I went swimming in the ocean was on this beach at Frenchman's Cove. Yes, it was cold. But I still feel proud I did it. Here's the thing. I couldn't have done it without the excellent coaching and support of young Luisa and her super mom @kellydscribe. I love swimming but am super sensitive to cold. I am also afraid of the ocean. There's crazy things in there!! But Kelly grew up playing in the Atlantic and Luisa is half fish. And so they made it look safe and fun. And I knew it was now or never and so I plunged. I was screaming like a Banshee, but laughing at the same time. It was a hoot and a holler. a thrill. And now a forever memory. It took 12 years but I was finally able to cross this off my bucket list. That's still 30 years less than it took me to finally start painting!! I wanted to paint ever since I was a kid. I didn't start until I was 53. No matter. Better late than never really applies to painting. It's so fun and enjoyable there's no time to look back. How about you? Have you said yes to your artsy dreams? Would you like a supportive bunch of friends to cheer you on? Then check out my free Facebook group Irene Duma Teaches Art. What a swell bunch in there. Art lovers are the best! Come join us. Link is in the bio. #irenedumateachesart #nevertoolatetopaint #artsy #artsydreams #newfoundlandartist #seascapepainting #oilpaintingisthebest (at Frenchman’s Cove, Newfoundland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQiJB8OXk1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

a view from my fave walk around Signal Hill. #onmyeasel 12"x12" oil on canvas. #ireneduma #artlover #theunstitution #artworkshops #artschool #artteacher #mightyfineartist #scamp #artistschangetheworld #dowhatmakesyoucomealive #oilpaintingmadeeasy #loveart #latebloomingartist (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfZreqPuvGO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

How to start painting is the question that stumps most beginners. Including me when I started out. So I created the Duma Do 10 steps to help you know what to do when. See link in bio. It's in my QuickStart Guide to Oil Painting and it's Free! (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMhOnjOFut/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

3 in one day. The power of mini paintings. The last one is usually the best. By this time my confidence has grown and I might be in the "zone." It's sometimes called the flow state - a very pleasant state that turns off the inner nag. However, I noticed that if I'm hungry, I can get sloppy. The things you learn when you paint! Remember, mini steps will get you anywhere. #paintforjoy #paintforthejoyofit #artsydreams #theworldneedsmoreartists #paintingislove (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaS0gpqOnDT/?utm_medium=tumblr

Everyone enjoying a little afternoon sun. #ireneduma #artlover #theunstitution #artworkshops #artschool #artteacher #mightyfineartist #scamp #artistschangetheworld #dowhatmakesyoucomealive #catstagram #artstudio (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZxLj7sOBJm/?utm_medium=tumblr

mmm. Yellow skies in the autumn. So rich. Fascinating how seasons have different colours. #minipainting #ittybittymini #miniduma #miniart #tinypainting #miniatureoilpainting #paintingaday #dailypainter #arteveryday #artforgifts #startcollectingart #affordableart #ireneduma #artlover #artworkshops #artschool #artteacher #artistschangetheworld #dowhatmakesyoucomealive #stjohnsnewfoundland #yyt #newfoundlandart #newfoundlandartist #canadianart #canadianartist #supportlocalnl #artchangestheworld #seascapepainting #contemporaryseascape #contemporaryinteriors (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/ireneduma_art/p/CZM2v_BOKUy/?utm_medium=tumblr

View from East Coast Trail near the Doran Street entrance. Late summer. The Marine Institute is just to the right. Swipe to see how I paint the sides. And to see my adorable #studiocat #winterisforcreating #artisjoy #apaintingaday #dailypainter #artchallenge #ministeps #oilpainter #minipainting #ittybittymini #miniduma #miniatureart #miniart #tinypainting #miniatureoilpainting #miniature #paintingaday #dailypainter #arteveryday #artforgifts #startcollectingart #affordableart #miniduma #minipainting #ittybittymini #miniduma #miniatureart #miniart #tinypainting #miniatureoilpainting #miniature #paintingaday #dailypainter #arteveryday #artforgifts #startcollectingart #affordableartwork (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZKO5UVOVKK/?utm_medium=tumblr

Here's to CREATING a spectacular 2022. That's it. That's the message. And if you want to experience the joys of creating art, now's a great time to start. When it blows outside, I pull out my paints. Mmm. Painting. It has made me love winter. Especially January!! Stay tuned for news about my 5-day Art Challenge coming up. Excellent drawing exercises for painters that take just 5 minutes a day. #artisgoodforyou #oilpainter #paintings #art #instagood #sanctuary #artcollector #beautiful #future #spiritual #healing #artcure #makemoreart #markmaking #carveouttimeforart #myartsyweek #doitfortheprocess #makersgonnamake #artistlife #laurahornart #abstractpainting #maketimeforart #dailysketch #dailydrawing #sketchdaily #practicemakesprogress #maketimeforart (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYMuPbJu30f/?utm_medium=tumblr

Need a last minute gift? My Intro to Oil Painting course is perfect for the art lover in your life. (Even if it's you!) Link in bio. Here's the plan. Get your 4 art supplies during the Boxing Day sales. Then join the 5 Day Art Challenge coming up in January. And you will learn how easy it is to get more art in your life. (And see how much joy creating art adds). ______________________________⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ • • • • #lastminute #lastminutegifts #paintingtutorial #artlessons #learntopaint #howtopaint #paintingprocess #paintingclasses #artinspiration #artschool #onlinepaintingcourse #paintingdemo #paintingtechniques #paintingteacher #allaprima #oilpaintingtechniques #oilprocess #instaarts #instaartist #oilpaintingprocess #oilpainter #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #impressionism #oilpaintingart #oillandscape #dumadoart #dumadoartprocess https://www.instagram.com/p/CXypwodOuY_/?utm_medium=tumblr

View from an evening walk in the Battery. Every night is a different show. Sunset and Shimmer Oil on canvas, 14" x 11" 520.00 including tax At Red Ochre Gallery #artlover #yyt #newfoundlandart #newfoundlandartist #canadianart #canadianartist #supportlocalnl #artchangestheworld #seascapepainting #contemporaryseascape #contemporaryinteriors #artistlifestyle #colorpalette #artistsoninstagram #oilpainters #artdecor #decorationideas #interiorstyling #artisjoy #shoplocalyyt #joyofpainting #artistoninstagram #instaartist #fineart #artbuying #artcollecting (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXEfZk0OGGx/?utm_medium=tumblr

View from Cuckold’s Cove. I love that this cove is just a few minutes drive away in Quidi Vidi. Scrambling around on the hills feels like I am miles away in the country. And that’s sooooo nice. Available now at Red Ochre Gallery. 14x11 inches. Oil on canvas. 520.00 including tax. DM me to purchase. Or pop into the gallery. 96 Duckworth Street. ______________________________⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ . . . . . #contemporaryartist #oilpaintingforsale #oilpainter #originaloilpainting #colorfulart #contemporaryimpressionist #modernart #landscapepainting #interiorart #creativecolour #happyart #impressionism #artistsoninstagram #joyfulart #loveyourwalls #artforthehome #buyoriginal #newart #supportlocal #giftyourself #originalart #artcollecting #creativelifehappylife #landscapeartwork #yyt #canadianart #canadianlandscape #newfoundlandart #contemporarypainting #coastallife (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXB4ybsrNUd/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dropped off some work to the Red Ochre Gallery for the Christmas Show! #yyt #shopyyt #shoplocal #giftofart #coolchristmas #coolchristmasgifts #affordableart #emergingartist #newfoundlandart #newfoundlandartist #canadianart #canadianartist #supportlocalnl #artchangestheworld #seascapepainting #contemporaryseascape #contemporaryinteriors #creativeeveryday #artlover #createthelifeyouwant (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWqtKohLrlz/?utm_medium=tumblr

I caught some spectacular sunsets this fall. Here's the St. John's Harbour all aglow under a yellow sky. This is a 6x6 inch oil on paper. Still having a love affair with paper. #minipainting #ittybittymini #miniduma #miniatureart #miniart #tinypainting #miniatureoilpainting #miniature #paintingaday #dailypainter #arteveryday #artforgifts #startcollectingart #affordableart #newfoundlandart #newfoundlandartist #canadianart #canadianartist #supportlocalnl #artchangestheworld #seascapepainting #contemporaryseascape #contemporaryinteriors #oilonpaper (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgWHkgr58e/?utm_medium=tumblr

Lazy Summer, Burin. It's nice to look back on your paintings and remember the good adventures. This weekend was amazing. Can't go wrong with great friends and great beaches. And I went swimming in the ocean for the first time! Brrr ... but exhilarating. I love summer. It’s still my #1. It’s for being outdoors and hiking and swimming. But I look forward to winter now too because it's a great time to stay indoors and paint. So cozy! So if you want to fill winter with the joy of creativity, my online course for teaching oil painting still has the opening special on the go. I teach how to paint the way Monet and Van Gogh painted, with the Alla prima method. And when you combine that with mini paintings, you can finish a painting in an hour or two. Perfect for procrastinators like me. And there are no more unfinished projects around the house to mock me. Instead there’s the pride of achievement and creation. Nice change, let me tell you. I get a little boost of goodness every time I see one of my finished paintings. “Did I do that? Yes! I did!" So, if you’ve ever dreamed of being an artist, or taking up painting, here’s a little boot to the bum for you. Get the course now before the price goes up. And it will go up as soon as I get all my marketing in place. (Which is taking longer than I thought, so lucky you!) The principles of art don’t change and you get the course for life, including all upgrades. Just head to Irene Duma Teaches Art dot com. Or DM me for the link. Can't wait to see your paintings. (this painting is sold) ______________________________⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ . . . . . #paintingclass #oilpaintingtechniques #oilprocess #paintingforbeginners #allaprima #paintingcourse #paintingcourses #hobbyart #diyart #diyartist #oilpaintingart #oillandscape #collectart #originalart #fineartpainting⁣ #oilpaintingdemo #colorfulart #dumadoart #dumadoartprocess #oilpaintingart #easypainting #easypaintings #artlovers #easyart #easyoilpainting #gamblin #artistsofinstagram #instaarts #creativeprocess #creativeprojects (at Epworth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWYuQa7PB12/?utm_medium=tumblr

Absinthe. Looks good but I HATE it. Well this one anyway. The strongest licorice taste ever. And I hate licorice. But the one they used to sell in Czech Republic was better. That one tasted like Scope. Minty fresh. I will always remember absinthe night in Prague, 95. What a hoot. We were a bunch of new "expat" friends, and we were all leaving after a summer of art and adventure, going back to our respective countries. And so we treated ourselves to this "dangerous"drink that was banned in most countries. We thought wormwood was a hallucinogen, because that's what they said. And we laughed ourselves silly as we played kick the can down a beautiful old cobble street road on a quiet evening. I even smuggled a bottle home and treated friends to this rare delight at parties. Well, turns out wormwood isn't a hallucinogen at all. It was the high alcohol that made it dangerous. 110 %. And it's now available in Canada, wormwood and all! Ah, makes me laugh. Go placebo, go! I still wish I liked it. Or Pastis, Ouzo, or Sambucca. It's such a pretty green and when you add water it turns opaque, like magic. I tried it again last night because I was celebrating becoming a painter, a life long dream, and cleaning up the kitchen after the neighbour's renovations covered the inside of my whole house with dust. (Ugh). The bottle was so sparkly and I love those old French labels. And that pretty green. With a cube of sugar. So romantic because I love that period in art history. Paris in the late 1800s, the crazy art scene, the incredible art is what made me want to learn French so badly. But blech. It's still licorice. You love it or you hate it. What say you about licorice? Love or hate? And what's your fave art period? #artlove #absinthe #artinparis #praguecity #memoriesofalifetime #artsydreams #latebloomers #diaryofalatebloomer #diaryofalatebloomingartist #keepdreaming #itsnevertoolatetopaint #dumadoartprocess #dumadoart #parisinthe20s (at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWL7MIkPwKw/?utm_medium=tumblr

I'm having a little love affair with the sunsets over Middle Cove Beach! This one is from this past Sunday. What a crazy burst of light. I'm also loving painting on paper. This is watercolour paper primed with 2 coats of gesso, then when dry, I painted a thin coat of yellow ochre paint over the whole thing. It's fun to paint on a canvas that has colour on it. Have you tried it? Which colour do you like? 👉 always wanted to try oil painting? My FREE ebook, “QuickStart Guide to Oil Painting” will show you how you can paint your first painting in 3 hours. Link in my bio. ______________________________⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ . . . . . #pilesofpaint #mixingpaint #doitforthefun #wearethemakers #showyourwork #studioscenes #makersmovement #wip #wipoilpainting #wipart #onmyeasel #learntopaint #artinstruction #paintingtutorial #howtopaint #modernart #buyart #landscapepainting #contemporarylandscape #newpaintings #expressivelandscape #natureinspired #interiordecor #allaprima #oilpainting #acrylicmixedmedia #contempoaryart #painterly #studioart #artlovers (at Middle Cove Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWD833qrYR0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Itty bitty mini Trinity. This town in Newfoundland is a gem. And I love how everyone is renovating their houses in a historic way. As a history lover, this makes me so happy. Plus, the houses are so cute! #minipainting #ittybittymini #miniduma #miniart #tinypainting #miniatureoilpainting #miniature #paintingaday #dailypainter #arteveryday #artforgifts #startcollectingart #affordableart #artlover #theunstitution #artworkshops #artschool #artteacher #mightyfineartist #artistschangetheworld #dowhatmakesyoucomealive #newfoundlandart #newfoundlandartist #canadianart #canadianartist #supportlocalnl #artchangestheworld #seascapepainting #contemporaryseascape #contemporaryinteriors (at Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVBdFQuvoLn/?utm_medium=tumblr