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Saturday, July 6, 2013

Zhaoming Wu Workshop - Portrait

Oil on canvas board
16" x 20"
an unfinished portrait

This is the portrait that I did in a FCA Zhaoming Wu workshop held in Calgary, Alberta. Zhaoming is a master painter and it was an absolute thrill that I was not only able to watch him paint live, but also receive instruction during this 3 day workshop.

He painted the live model portrait in the morning, explaining his steps and then the artists painted in the afternoon. There were 2 models and the artists were in a semi circle painting so each view was different. It is incredibly hard for the model to be still and try and stay in the same position, that is why the look on her face is somber.

I found it really challenging to paint the portrait with her head view changing after each break. Even a few inches made a difference in whether you could see her far cheek and how much of her nose compared to cheek etc. that could be seen. Zhaoming helped me with her nose and that put it together so much nicer...a few strokes was all he needed to add where I probably would of still been trying. I was happy and exhausted at the end of the day! 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Celebrating July 1 - Happy Canada Day!

These two paintings are of summer in the Okanagan in B.C. Canada. They make me think and feel the Canadian summer celebration with water, sun and fun - July 1st - Happy Canada Day!
 
The Last Buoy
Water colour 16" x 20" NFS
 
This painting is of my wonderful friend Ev, a gift for a previous birthday. Waterskiing is a passion of hers and watching her waterski is breathtaking.
 
 
 

"Stormy Okanagan Lake"  $350
12" x 16" Encaustic painting on board
click on painting to see a larger view
 
This is a repost of a wonderful area to play on land and in water. I grew up in Kelowna B.C. and boating was a family pastime. The Okanagan Lake can become stormy very quickly and the waves get very large which made for a lot of fun playing in the water, but down right scary in the boat. We would try to get near the shore quickly as the waves would come over the front of the boat and up the windshield. The hills are very dry in the summer and I always loved the "dry & wet" contrast of that beautiful area.