I Built a Home for My Art

September 16, 2026

And now I’m ready to come home to my art.

After years of experimenting with websites, I've finally created an online home for my art that feels like me.

There comes a point in every website project when you begin to wonder whether you're building a website... or whether the website is building you.

I've spent a rather large part of the past few months in front of a computer instead of an easel.

But this website story actually began many years ago.

Finding the Right Home for My Art

My website journey actually began many years ago, when I built olivedodd.com on WordPress for my integrative health business. With my computer background, I loved the freedom to design and customize it—it really suited that part of my life.

Then art began taking up more and more space in my world.

At first, I tried adding my art to the existing site. Technically, I could make it work. Creatively? Not so much. I was trying to fit an increasingly important art business into a website created for something entirely different—a bit like fitting a square peg into a round hole.

So about a year ago, I went in the other direction and created a FASO website, a platform built specifically for artists. The art part worked beautifully. It was simple, practical and designed for exactly what I was doing.

But now I had the opposite problem.

It was functional, but I didn't feel creatively at home there.

I wanted both: the practical features of a proper artist website and the creative freedom to make it feel like me.

So... back to the website drawing board I went.

After a lot of work, experimenting, tweaking—and probably saying “Surely there must be a way to do this!” more than once—I found that balance.

And it's finally here.

Welcome to My New Online Home

I wanted more than an online gallery.

I wanted a place where you could wander through my paintings, learn some of the stories behind them, see what's available, find out where I'll be showing next and follow along as my art continues to evolve.

Most of all, I wanted it to feel like me.

This time, when I open the site, I smile.

And that's how I know it's finally home.

Visit my new website → olivedodd.com

If you've been used to finding my art at olivedoddart.com, don't worry—that address still works and will bring you straight to the new site.

I'd love for you to have a wander around. And please tell me what you think! Just reply to this email—I really do enjoy hearing from you.

One Last Outdoor Show ☀️

Before summer's art-show season comes to an end, there's one more chance to see me and my artwork outdoors.

I'll be at ARTfest in downtown Salmon Arm:

Saturday, September 26
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Ross Street Parking Lot

I'll have some of my artwork with me, and there will be plenty more to see and enjoy at ARTfest.

This will be my last outdoor show of the summer. After that, the Christmas shows begin in November.

You can find the latest details about where I'll be showing on—you guessed it!—the new website. 😊

And Now... Can I Please Paint? 🎨

Between the website and a rather enormous digital cleanup project, my computer has been receiving considerably more attention than my pastels and brushes lately.

I'm glad I tackled it all. I'm even happier that so much of it is now behind me.

Because what I really want to do is paint.

The timing feels right.

The garden is winding down, although I'm still enjoying the rewards—acorn squash and carrots are making their way into the kitchen. I love summer and warm weather, but I'm finding myself ready for cooler days.

And after another smoky BC summer, I'm very grateful that fire season is coming to an end.

There's something inviting about this change of season. The outdoor shows wind down. The garden gets put to bed. Life starts moving indoors again.

And so do I.

Back to the studio. Back to the pastels and paints. Back to experimenting, making a mess, changing my mind halfway through—and hopefully creating something wonderful along the way.

After spending so much time creating a home for my art, I'm finally ready to come home to my art.

And I can't wait to see what appears on the easel next.

Warmly until next time,

Bringing the beauty and magic of nature into your everyday life — one painting at a time.