"Another Golden Day"

This painting is based on a photo reference I took while biking along the Cambie-Solsqua Road in Sicamous, B.C. It is a beautiful and peaceful ride with a large variety of views (including trains, farms, old barns, Eagle River and hillside views). This is one of my favourite bicycle rides.

"Another Golden Day"
Oil on canvas,  16" x 20"
#20007219

Just a reminder there are only 8 days left in my painting sale (over on Feb 14) on my website. See January 30 blog post.

The Spirit Of Nature Reflecting

"The Spirit Of Nature Reflecting"

12" x 12" Oil on Gessobord

#20030119

I haven't painted on Gessobord for a long time and forgot how smooth and slippery it was. I really enjoyed painting this one with the early morning colours as the mist was lifting. The photo reference was along the Eagle River in Sicamous, B.C.

Sweet Not Sour

"Sweet Not Sour"
12" x 12" on 1 1/2" thick canvas (no frame required) with dark painted sides
#20104118

This painting is from a photo reference I took this summer standing under our cherry tree. I couldn't paint it on location as the sun was dancing through the leaves and therefore on my canvas and palette. The other problem was eating the "model" before it could be painted.

"On the road" sketching

These sketches were done while travelling between Sicamous B.C. and Calgary Alberta. It was a challenge in the bumpy car and the vehicles I was drawing were not in sight for long. It also helped pass the time as it was snowing and made my mind concentrate on something other than the slippery road and yes, I was NOT driving. My husband got us home safe and sound. You can see not all the ink (no pencil) sketches were completed but that was what I was expecting with the moving traffic.

Sketching at an art retreat

I was lucky to be invited to the first annual "Dody's Art For All" retreat at Mabel Lake B.C. MacKenzie Camp. We had a wonderful time with everyone working on their own art (quilting, drawing, painting) at their own speed. The quilter's had their machines humming and producing as early as 7 a.m. and well after midnight on most days. Due to the dim evening light (that's our excuse and we are sticking to it), the painters and drawers enjoyed visiting with each other sipping on wine. The weather did not co-operate for en plein air painting (outdoors on location) so I walked and took photo references as well as sketched daily in my book that I have taken travelling with me. It just has regular paper so paint can not be blended on the paper (which gives it a rough look).

Ink & water colour of a quilt pattern piece.

Tangled roots above ground

One of the quilter's tables

"Dody's Art For All" first annual retreat

 I was so excited to be invited to  "Dody's Art For All" first annual retreat at Mabel Lake's MacKenzie Camp. We were fed great food, painted and quilted to our heart's content and enjoyed wine in the evenings and each other's company.

It was mostly cloudy with quite a few periods of rain so the only day I could paint outside was working on this boat and view.

 Walking around when it wasn't raining, I took quite a few photo resources to paint indoors. One cabin had wonderful decorations scattered around their property including this tin bird, plant pots and sign. Loved all the treasures for the eyes.


The photo reference in the painting above was taken on the highway from Calgary to Sicamous, the colours seemed almost neon and layered (even the sky) in the early morning light.

 This is our happy artistic group with 4 quilters and the rest painters. "Dody's Art For All" is a group that meets weekly at the Red Barn Art Centre in Sicamous B.C. to work on whatever artistic endeavor they like. I also did a lot of sketching which I will post next.

Spring Creek Falls

"Spring Creek Falls"

11" x 14"  Oil, framed

#20012918

This oil painting is for sale in Gallery One Fifty in Sicamous, B.C. until it's seasonal closing on September 15. I painted this based on a photo of Sicamous Creek that I had taken last summer. I was inspired to paint a water scene after taking an acrylic workshop with Graham Flatt. I enjoyed transferring what I had learnt using oil instead of acrylic and am happy with the result.

Deck View

 It is quite amazing what light will do. The photo on the left was taken indoors with the lights on, the one below was taken outside, even though the sun was being filtered through smokey skies from the province's forest fires.

I started drawing this out on location but the light was so dull it was quite uninteresting. This is the view of Mara Lake from Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous, B.C. This is one of my favourite views to paint en plein air.

The finished painting at the bottom can be viewed at Gallery One-Fifty in Sicamous B.C. until Sept 15.

"Deck View"

28" x 32" Oil on wood panel, framed

#20028818

Sketch Stalking

I have attended "Music In The Park" in Sicamous, B.C. and "WOW - Wednesday On (the) Wharf" in Salmon Arm B.C.This is a free weekly live  music family event that I bring a sketch book to and try to sketch the moving people (also known as Urban Sketching). My sister Shannon coined it "Sketch Stalking". Sometimes I have other sketchers with me like my sister-in-law Marg. We try and sketch discreetly so we don't get to many onlookers, interests and questions. These are not portraits but as much as we can get while they are still.

The lady on the right in the family photo had come up behind me during the musician's break and said "Looks like you are sketching my family", I was pleased they were recognizable as humans never mind her family. Her grand-kids came over and pointed out themselves and who I had not drawn yet. I only had time and energy to sketch the Dad and then closed up my book. I had also done a couple of pages of partial people as they moved or left.

Worth The Hike

This was a fun painting to do with our beautiful Rocky Mountain range in the background. This was painted in acrylic and I really had fun with the colours in every part of this painting.

This painting was sold in Gallery 150 in Sicamous, B.C.


"Worth The Hike"
SOLD

Golfers Haven

 This is one of my favourite views at Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous B.C. It has been so hot that I wanted to get out and paint before the heat of the day. I was set up by 6:45a.m. and happily painted. The sky was pink and hazy from forest fires around the province. I had to quit as the pink had disappeared and all the colours were changing especially in the shadows. Loved the happy sounds of the golfers getting ready for their tee off time.

"Golfers Haven"

8" x 10" En plein air oil painting

#20005818

Family Huddle

This was painted en plein air in Sicamous B.C. standing at the edge of my brother and sister-in-law's home. They have so many flowers and interesting objects in their yard to choose from. So many people walking by told me how much they enjoyed "my" yard on their walks. Yes I did fess up to it not being mine. One fellow stopped his car to tell me his wife was painting as well on her back deck so I dropped by when I was done and met a new art friend,
how great is that!




"Family Huddle"
10" x 8" Oil on 1 1/2" deep canvas
#20031718

Mara Lake Calm

"Mara Lake Calm"

8" x 10"  Oil on 1 1/2" deep canvas

#200028718

Oh what a glorious morning! I finally organized myself to get out early and do some en plein air painting. This is one of my favourite viewpoints, amazingly the well organized town dump is at my back! The sky was hazy and colours were soft from forest fires in the province. It felt so good to be out feeding my visual eye and soul. The sounds of birds, the scent of the cedar trees, early morning temperatures and happy walkers interested in what I was doing and my progress all added to my delight. 

Working on the Sicamous Legion Mural

Last week I worked on the mural on the long wall at the Legion in Sicamous, B.C. The Eagle Valley Arts Council collaborated with the Legion to have this mural painted. There was a lot of work done before I came on the scene but worked for 4 days with other local artists. We had so much fun and the laughter was loud. It was heart felt work as we have our own family members as well as passersby that stopped to share their memories. It was a pleasure to work with these ladies (and a few more that did not get in that day's photo). Thank you ladies for the fellowship, art experience, and laughter!

My sister-in-law Marg and I (she named us the blister sisters as in "blister-in-law", what fun. It was awkward to paint under the stairs but you can see we still had fun.

Ready For The Shedding

"Ready For The Shedding"

12" x 12"  Oil on canvas with 1 1/2" painted sides

#20027618

I really liked these bulrushes and the fluffy seeds looked like they were barely hanging on. Bulrushes are hardy and seem to grow in the most unlikely places. My photo reference was taken last fall as I walked along the road near our place in Sicamous, B.C.

Beginner Art Class - greeting cards

I had the wonderful opportunity to teach beginner water colour classes in Gallery One-Fifty in Sicamous B.C. The easy to teach adult students learned about different supplies, words and methods using water colour while working on greeting cards. The picture beside is of some of the students work (I felt like a proud Mama on the beautiful work done in both classes).

I also taught an alcohol ink painting beginners class and loved watching their reaction to this very mobile medium. I will definitely teach both these classes again as we all had fun and enjoyed our time with each other. The second photo is of some of their completed works.

If you are in the Sicamous area and are interested in a variety of beginners workshops by a variety of local talented artists, put your name down or check out the next classes in Gallery One-Fifty (314 Finlayson Street, Sicamous B.C.) or email galleryonefifty@gmail.com.

Early Morning Mara View

"Early Morning Mara View"

16" x 20" Oil on canvas

#20002218

This is a view I never get tired of! Quite often in the early morning there is a bank of low clouds that forms just behind Sicamous. As I look over Mara Lake towards Revelstoke area I always run in to grab my camera and finally painted the scene. I was tempted to paint the dragon boat paddling across the water as this is when we are  usually out.

Ready To Play

This painting is of our neighbour's dock. The beach toys were just beckoning to be used. I loved the bright colours and different shapes, a real "summer at the lake" view. I found it challenging to make the top of the green tube to look like "see through" plastic.

This painting is currently hanging in Gallery 150 in Sicamous, B.C.


"Ready To Play"
20" x 24" oil on panel (framed)
#20010917

Smokey B.C.

"Smokey B.C."

8" x 10" en plein air oil painting on canvas board

#20007917

Surprisingly this is my favourite painting of the summer. I painted this outside and tried to capture the colours that I saw on Mara Lake, the town of Sicamous and mountains behind. The sky was heavy with smoke most of the summer from all the forest fires and this view was to familiar. I love the rawness and textural element in this one. As someone who loves colour, I was surprised how much this one pleases me.

Artisan Coffee - Art talk August 22

This was painted with coffee for an art talk with the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club at the Sicamous Public Library on August 22 from 1 pm to 2 pm. This talk will showcase the various art done within this club. My portion of the talk will be on painting with coffee and oil painting. If you are in the area and interested, please join us. Paintings will be on display in the library until the talk for everyone to enjoy and have an idea what will be on the itinerary.