I have lots of snowy tree photos and I composed this painting from one of those photos. I enjoyed getting back to using the palette knife and this subject lends itself well. The background is very busy in the photo and using a knife to slide wet paint over a bumpy dry background of paint really helps create that sense of texture found in a real forest. I think I may do a larger one similar to this piece. The area to the right looks a bit busy so I will do one with less colour and strokes to compare! Below is a photo I took to show you, again, the size of the knife relative to the panel. Enjoy!
Just to let you know that I have images like this in my head ALL THE TIME!! LOL! I need to do a mind purge and get them out. An entire series someday! Enjoy!
My dog Austin...my puppy...what more is there to say!!
I've had this little painting laying around half finished for awhile and I decided it qualifies as 30 dayer...finished finally and now it can be hung on my wall! The photo I used is below. Enjoy the day! I think I need to get a pair of these...mine have disappeared...not sure where...but they are nowhere to be found. I'm looking for PINK ones actually. Wish me luck! It's been un-seasonally WARM here in the Okanagan valley. I REALLY don't mind it and it's made for some lovely frosty scenes because we've had tons of fog and frost. BUT it is getting mucky and I really must find some PINK boots.
If anyone has a suggestion, let me know where to find them!!! I have done a couple more dancers after Degas' pastel paintings and sketches. I have enjoyed doing these 4 paintings. I've learned quite a bit about proportion, shading and line and colour. Degas of course used mostly pastel to paint...a completely different medium in which to express a subject. It's been a challenge trying to create the same sense of light and colour that he captured. Enjoy!
It was another one of those days that I didn't manage to finish the painting I was working on yesterday FOR today. Then I remembered I had another poppy painting that I haven't shared with you...actually I think I have a few poppy ones I haven't share, but this is a small one I did in one sitting, in an hour awhile back before Christmas.
I'm halfway through the challenge. I think I'll be able to keep up at this pace. I hope to do two extra paintings this weekend as I anticipate that I will have a couple days I may have to skip. I'm searching for a new theme to paint. Stay tuned and enjoy! Here's another one for yas! I hope I don't get "behind" again....no promises though...It is what it is! Enjoy!
I played catch up...I was BEHIND but not anymore and I hope I won't get BEHIND again!! I love doing these little piggies. I think I've captured a few angles and colours with this little guys...The pink one looks like he's got attitude too while the blue one looks a little frightened...it's that wolf again...chasing them I bet! So I am no longer BEHIND! Enjoy!
Well I missed Saturday Day 11! Oh well...I did have a very nice house warming party that was well attended and my house has all the warm fuzzies now even more after all the warm fuzzy people visited! Thanks for all the gifts and food and friendship! It was lovely. I attempted a quick painting for today and I'm not happy with it...as oil painters would say...It's a scraper! But its a learning experience, take the good with the bad. There is so much WRONG with this painting...I won't go into it. I CAN paint with a palette knife...see the next image (from 2011). Many of my first successful paintings were done with a palette knife, but I've done more work with the brush...trying to learn to loosen up with a brush...it's easier to paint loose with a knife! It's also more challenging. Plus I'm teaching a workshop on palette knife painting later this year...so I need to practice!!
Here's a few pictures of the knives I use the most for my small works! You get an idea of the scale and size relationship from knife to canvas panel! Sometimes I paint like I'm spreading butter on bread! I'll be painting more with a knife throughout the challenge!! Enjoy! Today's post is another one of Degas' Dancers. I'm also posting pictures of the process. I thought some of you likely wonder how long it takes me to do a little painting like this. This one I started at 930 am and finished it a 11 am. An hour and a half. And I've spent a half or our more taking photos, editing them posting on Facebook and creating this blog post. There...now you know the a bit more about the process! Take a look below at the painting process pictures! Then I just decided on my main colours. I love pink and pink tutus appeal to me! so I decided to mass in the main colours. From here it is just a matter of pushing and pulling the paint into the right places so that values make sense. This is where I step back lots and think a bit and then just load the brush and make marks. With acrylic paint...if I don't like the mark I can either just paint over it or wipe it off!
I hope you enjoyed that! If you have any comments, please post!
Well today was one of those days that it was impossible for me to do a painting! I wasn't going to post a thing until I checked Leslie Saeta's blog and I laughed!! Leslie said exactly the same thing...it was impossible for her to actually do a painting today (she's the one who started this whole thing!!) and she posted a painting that she did awhile back, but had never been posted before.
So that is what I'm doing today! This painting IS a daily painting (took me about 4 hours), but I did it during the summertime and I realize I had never posted it! So here you go! Hope I can get one done for tomorrow! Yes and now for something completely different...that phrase reminiscent of Monty Python's Flying Circus (I have two teenagers and they have just recently decided that watching Monty Python is pretty funny and I was reminded of that "something different" phrase after one recent show we watched!)
Edgar Degas is probably my favorite French impressionist just ahead of Monet. The poses and colours and moments he captured are the things that intrigue me with his figurative works. My piece is a study of his painting "Blue Dancers" shown below. I did this sketch in about 2 hours this afternoon from this painting. I will do a couple more like this one. Enjoy I decided to combine today's and tomorrows pieces in one blog post. This is an ink and marker sketch I did for my larger project. This sketch should have been day 5...I did it BEFORE the Day 5 painting. I really like it and thought why not post it. People can see some of the process I go through when I composed a painting, even a little one. I don't do these kinds of sketches every time. HECK, sometimes no sketch for most paintings!! But if I have to work out composition, these help a great deal!
I'm also going to have "compressed" time the next couple of days and I hope I can still keep up with things. I may not post everyday but will try to do a sketch or painting every day. I'm embarking on some upgrading of my computer science skills. I've enrolled in an online web design course through BCIT in Burnaby, BC. We'll see if I'm "up" for being a student again or not! Managing time will be a challenge! Below is my painting for Day 7,; another prairie painting for this bigger project I'm working on! Enjoy! Don't worry! There will be more piggies...I have a project I'm working on and I wanted to do small sketches to work on the composition and values and colour. Value is such an important part of making a painting "read" well...I have been doing lots of value sketches lately and will share these with you one of these days soon. I also need to share a couple photos of my Opus demo back in mid December...But for today I'll just post this and I thought this next photo was a nice addition. It's been cold everywhere in the country. Cold for here even but it seems to make for some lovely colours in the air! This scenery is just steps outside my place! Enjoy!
So I'm thinking that this Little Blue Piggy is on the heels of the Little Pink Piggy from Day 3 because the Big Bad Wolf is huffing and puffing at their heels...I wonder if they are running to the market or home??? Wheeeeee! You tell me!! Okay Okay...only 4 days in and I've gone batty...that's what happens from painting all day! Enjoy!
More piggies....I think this one looks like he wants to run away....he has that "ready to get outta here" look about him...
Stay tuned more more piggies and other things...will be doing some prairie scenes again soon! Yes...more piggies...I think I'll stick with this for a bit since I'm on a roll LOL! The 2nd picture is a better picture of Day one and I think I'll change the title to "This Little Pink Piggie Day 1". Enjoy!
Yes Its that time of year again. I'm doing the 30 Day Challenge and painting daily for the month of January. I have lots of fires in the pan so I hope I can keep up! I have some interesting projects and new things happening. I'm also revamping the old website and blog...updating it a bit so you'll see some changes now and again as I figure out a "new look"!
As we start into a new year, I wish you all the very best of all your dreams! Live and Love Large! "A rolling stone gathers no moss"...or so the saying goes. I've felt this way for many months. Never in one place, always on the go, resting, then moving on. Like the evolution of this exquisite piece of natural sculpture, I would add to it, take from it, or just watch it and leave it. So has been the events of the past few months! And like an Inukshuk, or trail cairn, it has been a marker for me, a reminder of consistency and assurance that all is well in the world, even in the evolution of change! Enough serious stuff..sometimes one must step out into the world - with a little pizzazz! But sometimes things can get a little "tipsy" and out of control.... And then we have to rely on common sense and stability and good ole reliable standbys to help get us through the mucky stuff...You KNOW of WHAT/WHOM I speak! And just to show you that getting through the mucky stuff can be lots of fun...Here are a few things that have been going on in the art world for me! I have many works hanging at the Roger's Bulk Food store in Armstrong, BC until mid February! It's a lovely, well-stocked place with lots of kitchen essentials, aprons, and of course FOOD!! Please stop in and take in the show while you do your shopping! I have 15 works in the 2013 Lake Country Art Gallery Under 100 Show and Sale! Come in and support local artists and buy a gift of original art for Christmas!! And as part of the Under 100, Shaw cable interviewed a few of the artists for their show Go Okanagan. CLICK HERE to see my interview and HERE to see the rest of the interviews! And finally, this Saturday, December 14 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. I will be at Opus Framing in Kelowna, BC giving a demonstration called Paint Small, Paint Fast. CLICK HERE to read about it. It is full, but there is a waiting list! I may do another in the new year! So stay tuned!
I promise to write once more before the New YEAR!! What can I say..Spring Break is over ...so what did I do?? I was busy as a...well see below and fill in the blank.... I was lazy as a .....yes you guessed it....fill in the next one.... I had to be curious as a ......as you can see I'm getting repetitive here.... Okay...I think I've run out of clever ideas...think I'll just post more photos! Okay there has to be a couple horse portraits incubating here of these lovely guys! And maybe a crocus portrait....or two... I did manage to drag myself to the easel and create a couple new pieces.... Oh and my dog agility friend Chris did a photo shoot for me and Austin....aren't we a cute couple...if you are on FaceBook...you've seen this... Chris has many talents...shortly after this shot...Austin got a hair cut...I didn't :-) Peace Love Hope! Happy Easter Everyone!
It takes me awhile to process grief. This is for a couple of my friends going through immense sorrow...my heart hurts...
Tomb building...Why would I talk about building a tomb? Today was an "unsettling" day to say the least. It started out quite glorious and I had great plans for a wonderful hike...which did happen early in the morning as usual. You can see how wonderful a day it was here in the Okanagan. Of course I ALWAYS travel with my buddy Austin the doodle. He is a great hiking companion...doesn't complain and is always on alert. Today however, he got a fright as we neared the end of the hike. I noticed him standing stock still, staring at something off the trail a bit - he moved toward what it was, then yipped like he was stung, and ran towards me, tail between his legs ..looking back in fear. I leashed him up and went to investigate...I couldn't see anything moving. I saw a tan brown object laying amongst a bunch of Ponderosa Pine saplings. I thought it was a deer or fawn but it didn't have that shape...I got more alarmed thinking maybe it was an injured mountain lion and thought about Austin's fright. The closer I got, however, my heart started to sink, my fear disappeared and I only felt remorse. Lying peacefully, as though asleep, was a huge Bull Mastiff dog. Definitely deceased (I approached cautiously...I still wasn't sure if it was injured or dead) and intact. Someone's pet. Then I was angry and I cried and then I felt sorrow...I went through all the emotions of loss in a few seconds. Memories of my own loss of my dog that died in my arms nearly 7 years ago came rushing back. Then I got angry again and thought how irresponsible it was to dump this pet in such an open area. I was rattled and I left, not sure what to do. One of my dog agility friends lives down the road so I stopped in for some advice. He called the SPCA and the Regional Dog Control but these institutions are not responsible for dead animals. I had to call the municipality. I went home, made a call and waited and debated if I should do anything at all. The animal was lovingly placed in amongst a grove of small trees, and I felt for the owners and I felt their loss, but I also felt that they had a responsibility to the community and to that dog to dispose/bury/cremate him/her in a suitable manner. Whatever their circumstances, I felt their loss. AND I felt I had to do something. The call to the municipality amounted to the fact that the hiking area and where the body was dumped are not public - it is private land and I knew that. The municipality couldn't do anything. I was brought up on a farm, have seen living animals die, have seen dead animals decomposed, but I was still rattled, and I felt drawn to do SOMETHING. It unnerved me so much all afternoon. When the boys got home from school, I donned my barn coat, my work pants, our bow saw, my work gloves, and a couple old towels and I drove back to the trail. That dear dog was still there, still intact, lying peacefully still. So I started to work, tears in my eyes. I petted his head and back and I covered him up with the old towels. I dragged and collected and sawed pieces of deadfall and built up a tomb of logs and large branches, dirt, grass and pinecones. I worked and worked until I felt that he wouldn't be disturbed by other curious dogs and would decompose naturally over the year. When I was done, I said a prayer for him. It was a lovely late afternoon, very quiet and not a soul in sight. (It's not a busy place in the best of times). AND I no longer felt angry, remorseful, or sad. Just peaceful. It was something I had to do and in the act of doing, I worked through all those emotions and it was a cathartic experience... There, I had to share it. The whole incident made me think about the brevity of life, especially for our pets. Appreciate them and hold them in a joyful place in your heart! I do! Chobe the Siberian Husky, my first dog! Loved 1996-2006
I had to share this with you, on, of all days, Valentine's Day, a day of Love! After yoga class this morning, I drove to the Lake Country Art Gallery to pick up this painting. If you remember from my last blog post, I had chosen this painting as my entry for the annual members show. It wasn't selected, which was fine (I got a peek at the paintings in the show and the works are all fabulous!). I decided to take this painting back to the library where I am showing my work until the end of February.
Then I drove home, walked in the door, got a big furry and waggily hello from Austin, my dog, and I took off my coat. I walked upstairs to make my lunch and the phone rang! It was the collector who had purchased two of my paintings earlier this month after seeing my work at the library. He told me that he definitely WANTED "Do You Want This". I was stunned...I hadn't even caught my breath from getting into the house! Stunned, elated, joyous...I hung up after talking to him about arrangements and meeting after the library show...I literally shouted for joy at the top of my lungs and jumped up and down! Poor cats and dog! So there you have it...Serendipity, the Energy and Love of the Universe, the Power of God, the planets and stars aligning, or coincidence...whatever you want to call it...it ahppened for me today and for that I am very grateful! What an expression of love! Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! The 30 Day Challenge is over, we are well into February, and I'm working on new painting projects and other things too! The feedback from the challenge has been tremendous and I am working on a couple projects for shows as a result. Stay tuned. Below are the last few paintings and of the collage I created of all the paintings. I submitted this work for jurying to the Lake Country Art Gallery for consideration for the Annual Members Show. I had a hard time selecting a painting for this year's jurying process and I almost decided NOT to submit. I thought of submitting Day 30 or Day 29 from above, but felt they weren't polished enough...In the end I chose the one above one because I felt it was my favourite. It was not accepted and I was a bit disappointed for a little while and I'm sure when I go to the exhibit I may feel that pang of regret. But artist's need to learn to accept rejection... I asked for feedback from the jury and I laughed!! My gut instinct to go with something else was something perhaps I should have paid attention to. The jurors felt that I've shown this type of work several times now locally and would have liked me to submit something a bit different! This one came close to getting in, but it just didn't resonate! So in my heart, I knew...the moral of the story...I need to listen to my gut!! As for doing different work...stay tuned...I have a couple new projects I'm working on! In case I didn't have enough to do, I decided that now was the time to learn to play the guitar! I caved into peer pressure and music envy from my friends that can really play- looking at YOU two A. and M. It's all YOUR fault! I've had lots of music training in my youth, Royal conservatory Piano...quit before I got my Grade 8 when I was in my final year of high school and I played flute in concert band for many years...I just seemed to give up playing music once I hit university.
The lovely blue guitar is one I got for my youngest son for him to learn on. It's a parlour size but its a lovely guitar and has a great sound and one that I started taking lessons on. BUT the guitar above was a recent purchase...an impulse buy...which I don't do that often but couldn't resist!! Never go with your good friend to help her buy a 12 string guitar and come away with your own guitar AND an AMP!! I have it on good authority that I got a steal and that this guitar is a great guitar! Whew! Now I just have to learn to play well!! Wish me luck! Now where did I put that pick? ....better go practice! Just catching up on posting from the 30 Day Challenge! Here's last week's paintings...7 of them including today - Day 26. I'm still maintaining momentum. My week was thrown off -kilter with a sick son and over-stretching with some other projects....The next week is shaping up the same way, but I'm determined to FINISH the challenge...only FOUR paintings to GO! Enjoy!
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