Fruit Of The Vine - Grape Escape Series #3

"Fruit Of The Vine"
Grape Escape Series - #3
 20" x 24" framed
# 20031717

This large painting just flowed. I used very different colours for the background and really enjoyed the peaceful feeling both painting it and as a finished painting.

I painted this while handling potential flooding in Sicamous B.C. I think that is why it feels peaceful, it took my mind off pumps, high water, sand bagging etc.

Bountiful - Grape Escape Series #2

"Bountiful"

20" x 29" Oil on board, framed

Grape Escape series #2

#20024717

This large painting was done from a calendar that Kathy Kean put together for her overseas family. I used one photo of grapes from her garden as a reference. It is great having friends helping with this art journey. Thanks Kathy for the artful calendar and Joan for great titles!

Vine Ripe - Grape Escape Series #1

"Vine Ripe"
Oil on canvas board   10" x 8"
#20020717

We were almost flooded in Sicamous B.C. this spring. I was on "pump duty" making sure all the pumps were working and minimal water was coming in. Kathy Kean had gifted me a calendar she made for her overseas family of her beautiful garden. She had a photo of grapes hanging on a metal fence and this is my rendition. I was talking to Joan Keating saying that I needed names for a series of grape paintings I was doing and could she send me some names. Her husband came up with the name of "Grape Escape" and just like that I had a perfect name for my series. Painting this series was both a mental and physical break/escape from all the flood work. Thanks Kathy, Joan and Ross! I gave this painting to Kathy as a gift.

Fleurs de Feathers

"Fleurs de Feathers"

Acrylic and paper on canvas   10" x 8"

Framed    #20015717

Lois Mollard came from Armstrong to the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club to show us how to build up an acrylic painting using acrylic based pastes. I had a lot of fun trying the pastes after painting a very vibrant under painting then using pastes on top for a background texture. I also incorporated paper collage. It was very strange painting over the rough texture but I liked the effect. 

High Water

"High Water"

Pastel  8.5" x 10"  Matted in wood frame
#20014717
 I entered this painting under "Pastel" in The Armstrong SpallumcheenArt Gallery 29th Annual Ribbon Show running from July 6 until August 5 2017

I was painting this while on flood watch in Sicamous B.C. It is an abstract that contains the logs I was using as a boom, our house and the water forever creeping forward and covering land; nature against manipulated nature.

This painting is my last entry into the show. The Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club are on a road trip to see the show, out for lunch then a talk on how they jury the show and the criteria they use. A stop in Enderby to visit the gallery there, then home, what fun and laughter ahead.

Self Portrait 2017

"Self Portrait 2017"
11 1/2" x 11 1/2" watercolour on paper
matted and framed
#20013717

It is amazing the feedback I get when I post my yearly self portrait. Usually I hear that it doesn't look like me as it is to stern or serious looking. It was pretty weird to smile into the mirror as I painted this, but the full toothful grin was just creepy. I entered this painting under "Portraits" in The Armstrong SpallumcheenArt Gallery 29th Annual Ribbon Show running from July 6 until August 5 2017

Quarter Dozen

"Quarter Dozen"
Egg shells on watercolour paper
5" x 7" double matted and framed
#20012717
Armstrong Ribbon Show "Alternative" entry

This was just plain fun! I saved different coloured chicken eggshells to "paint" this picture. I used acrylic medium to keep the shells in place.

Sea Jewels

This painting is from a photo reference I requested from my friend Joan Keating (love supporting friends!). There is a beautiful beach with a wonderful mix of clay, rocks, sea glass and shells near her summer home. As per my request she went out a took some great photos having no idea what I really wanted. This painting is in the Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum & Art Gallery Ribbon Fair watercolour category from July 6 until August 5. My goal was to have a painting in every category that I qualify for, I made all but one (next year hopefully I will make my goal).

"Sea Jewels"

Watercolour on  watercolour paper  9" x 11"

matted and framed

#20010717

Twilight On Mara Lake

"Twilight on Mara Lake"

Photo permission by Whitney Jean 

10" x 8" oil on canvas panel

 #20007717

This painting was inspired by a photo I saw on Facebook. I contacted the photographer and Whitney Jean gave me permission to paint it. I was watching and dealing with Mara Lake's potential flood and this photo really caught my attention. It showed all the beautiful colours in the night sky reflecting on Mara Lake. Painting this was a real reprieve from my pump watching "house arrest". 

Indiglow

"Indiglow"
Mixed Media  7 1/2" x 9 1/2" ink & gouache on Yupo paper matted with white frame
#20004717

At The Brush and Palette Club we were working with ink on Yupo paper. This is my rendition of Mara Lake in the winter using opaque white gouache with the ink. Thanks Joan for helping with the title!

This was my entry for the mixed media category in The Armstrong Spallumcheen Art Gallery 29 th Annual Ribbon Show. The show is running from July 6 until August 5 2017.

Happy Canada Day!!

Truly Canadian

Ink, double matted and framed

$150   #20001717

For this year's annual Sicamous Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club's Show and Sale, they challenged their members to paint, draw or somehow represent some area of Canada to celebrate our 150th year.

We had a "play date" at one of our usual Friday meetings and Betty gave us a little tutorial and let us loose to play with a few different pens to try. It was a lot of fun and I was determined to use this in at least one "painting". I love using this pen in my sketch book. This drawing was done with an "Elegant Ink" felt pen then I added water to move it in areas. The Sicamous Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club is having it's annual show and sale June 29 until July 3, 2017. I also have other paintings in this show, come have a look if you are in the area!