Valley Life

"Valley Life"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

#20027317

This is a painting from a photo I took while hiking up to the Enderby cliffs of the valley and river below. I had trouble trying to lay the river flat, it kept looking like it was turning up on the sides. Doug also had to help me eliminate all the unnecessary detail in the foreground, as always I was getting to literal to my photo. I can hear him now "Big Shapes, Big Shapes"!

1 Reference, 4 Paintings

These paintings were all done in a couple classes and at home with a reference of Doug Swinton's. Again I was trying to get a different feel with different shapes and colours as well as adding or deleting elements. It is kind of fun to compare them when they are one on top of each other like this. Doug challenged me to paint them individually, not looking at the previous one.

"Rural Advantage"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

#20024317A

"Country Living"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

#20024317B

"Golden Fields"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

#20024317C

"Bucolic View"

8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel

#20024317D

Man And Nature Seasoning

"Man And Nature Seasoning"

 Oil on canvas board 20" x 16"

 #20020317

The reference photo was taken during our ladies hiking weekend near Parson's B.C. With the early morning mist just gone, the fall colours were almost neon, they were so beautiful. I took many photos but the one I used was on a calendar that my photographer friend Sue Bingham gifted me. The best part of the gift is I am free to paint any of the photos she puts in the calendar!

Memories Made

"Memories Made"

Oil on board,  23" x 29"
          A framed gift for my sister Shannon

#20017317

I was suppose to go on a road trip last summer with my sister Shannon, cousin Dave, and Uncle Roy to visit our relatives in Manitoba. I pulled my back and could barely move never mind endure a very long car ride from British Columbia so I couldn't go at the last minute. My sister posted a photo of my Great Grandparent's home where my Dad and Uncle were born. It is in complete disarray now and has done it's time. Stories and memories were shared. A canvas print was gifted to my Uncles, Brian and Roy (they were surprised and happy to receive the gift). 

Finished Sketch Book

 I finally finished the sketch book that I have been hauling around with me. I just had foot surgery so a lot of the sketches were done while waiting in doctor's offices or labs. I am especially happy to start a new one as the old one was thin paper and if I used water colour it all curled up and I could not blend any of the colours. When I was in Mexico I was shown how to break water colour paper up and put a plastic cover and round bindings on it so I have no excuses now. I made 3 small ones so it would not take me forever to fill one and I could easily carry it with me...my Mexican souveniers.

 These sketches were done while travelling in the car from Sicamous B.C. to Calgary Alberta through the Rocky Mountains. Hard to sketch in the moving car but when you are not worried about the end result, you really look at the quickly passing scenery.

Living Skies

Living Skies

12" x 12"

Oil on panel      #20013317

I love the big sky view you find on the Canadian prairies. The houses seem to snuggle comfortably into the ground making the whole view very calm and peaceful. I found I really enjoyed painting in this square format and size.

Colourful Prairie Sky

This painting was started in a workshop and finished at home. You can read about the workshop in this blog post.

"Colourful Prairie Sky"

Acrylic on canvas board

10" x 8"    #20007317

Ski Memories - a gift for a friend

This is a painting on a canvas my friend gave me after she attended a "paint along". She was not happy with the painting she did and had it unhappily in her office. I painted over it with a scene reminiscent of Rocky Mountain views seen on cross country ski trips when she was a Beaver/Cub/Scout leader. If the light lands on the painting a certain way, you can see some of the acrylic textural paint underneath, a reminder of our shared artistic endeavors. Happy Belated Birthday Karen H.!

"Ski Memories"

16" x 20" Oil on canvas

#20001317