Welcome to my website!

I remember the first time I ever got an A in school was in art class.  It didn’t seem to matter if it was pottery, sewing, or what - anything creative I loved.

Once I had grown up and started my family, I went back to Malespina College in Nanaimo for more art. More pottery, more drawing - and then I tried Painting on silk.  

I formed a small company called Kinu Designs - Kinu being the Japanese word for silk. I made and sold scarves to the local stores in Campbell River.  I was told I should hire help to produce more and more scarves, but it was the creating I loved, not the business. 

At this time in my life I started taking watercolor lessons. The purity and transparent glow was very Asian, and this spoke to my love of Japanese simplicity in art.  

Once I retired, we started going to Arizona for the winter. It was during this time that I stumbled upon teaching.  

I was once again taking beginner watercolors, when the teacher was too ill to teach the class. Since we were all there with our supplies out, I said “I’m not sure if I know any more than you do, but I’m willing to teach you the techniques I do know.”

After getting positive feedback, I began planning a set of beginner classes. A few years later, some of my students asked for intermediate classes, so I went back to school and much to my surprise was able to easily do all the projects. I then added Intermediate water colors to my list of classes which I have now been teaching for more than 25 years. 

There comes a time, however when you want to break out of your comfort zone, so I began taking Acrylic classes. Now I was just plain having fun  - playing! 

For the past years I have offered Acrylic workshops, and I have added beginner and intermediate acrylics to my list of classes. 

This was followed by Mix Media and Steam punk.

It seems every time I learn something new, I just share it....so I have taught everything from French hair braiding to Japanese cooking classes and now Zentangle.  

I have been using prints of my paintings to make cards for many years, but am now in love with the intricacies of die cutting and heat embossing - 



Let's talk.........rebeccabarnard3156@gmail.com