Summer Living

"Summer Living"
20" x 16" oil on canvas with 1/2" painted sides
#20130117

This painting is based on a photo I took while travelling in England. Lucy and Peter took Gord and I on a holiday to the English coast and toured us around for a few days. Hengistbury Head is where these beach houses (and many more) are lined up. Some are very tiny and are basically one room with washrooms being in a different communal building. They reminded me of the "Painted Ladies" in San Francisco. We had such a wonderful time on this exploring holiday.

Nymphaea

  "Nymphaea"
20" x 16" Oil on 3/4" canvas with painted sides
#20126117


This is a painting that just flowed. I loved the way it looked and felt through the whole painting process. I think it is one of my favourites of the year.

Alberta View

"Alberta View"
16" x 20" Oil
on 3/4" canvas with painted sides
#20119117

This is a very familiar view if you travel around Alberta. The big open land with the beautiful Rocky Mountains within view. There is just something about the majestic Rockies that makes my eyes sing at the first mountain glimpse when travelling. The big open sky is a given. 

Roadside Attraction A & B

As I was driving back to Calgary from Sicamous, I finally stopped at a view point I admire every time I drive that way. The parking lot is just off the highway and is usually quite full and chaotic so I don't stop.

I painted Roadside Attraction below but felt like I was struggling with the values. I am happy with the final result but took a break and started all over again only this time with a palette knife, chunky and not detailed (left). What the camera doesn't pick up is how textural it is. They both have a different feel and look.


"Roadside Attraction 2"
16" x 20" Oil on canvas
#20114117B

"Roadside Attraction"

16" x 20" Oil on canvas

#20114117A

Mountains Revisited

I wish I had taken a photo of this painting in progress when I became "stuck". The painting on the right is in stage 2. The trees in the front were to fussy and the mountain shadow colours were not receding enough in stage 1. Doug corrected the shadow colour and "smooshed" all the trees I had painted in the front with a large brush.

This is the finished painting. I reworked around the painting with Doug's direction and suggestions and am now quite happy with it. The sky is lighter, more definition in the ground plane and of course the tree line reads correctly now.


"Mountains Revisited"
16" x 20" Oil on canvas
#20110117

Happy Urban Space

"Happy Urban Space"

8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

#20106117

I wish I could of painted this en plein aire (on location) but loved the sunny feel of it against a very dreary building background. The planter looked unkempt and wild growing but still bursting with colour.  "Grow where You are Planted" seemed like a metaphor for my art journey.

Alberta Fall and Dinner Time

"Alberta Fall"
8" x 10" Oil on canvas board
#20101117A

"Dinner Time"   10" x 8" Oil on canvas board       #20101117B

I started taking a weekly group art class with Doug Swinton. We work on what we want and he walks around and helps as needed. I usually like to go in with a painting at least half done but did not have anything ready or photos of what I wanted to do. After asking what I wanted to paint, "Buildings" I said. He produced two photo references and away I went. The photos were really busy and complicated. The lesson here was to pare and chop the reference into something meaningful and interesting. His vast knowledge and very humorous way of teaching keeps everyone in the class entertained and progressing in their art journey.