Cycle In Style

This painting was really fun to do. Both my husband and I enjoy cycling and the outfits we see are very interesting - from spandex, work clothes to "out for the night". These lovely ladies are in the "out for the night" category and having fun. I decided to put the bike rental sign in Swedish as that is one of the places we would like to visit and cycle. This painting is quite textured but the camera flattens it out.

"Cycle In Style"

12" x 16" Acrylic on canvas

#20112216

"Lemon" A Pet portrait

This fun pup is Lemon. Mindi and Dave put a photo of Lemon playing in the snow on Facebook. Who wouldn't want to capture the sense of surprise and fun, it was a delight to paint. I couldn't help but use "Lemon Yellow" in the background!

"Lemon"

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas, framed
On display at the Calgary Public Library, Southwood Branch until June 30

"How To Fit Bicycles Into Our Daily Lives" April 4 painting

This is more what my daily painting will be size wise...tiny, 3" x 3". Something fun or tongue in cheek instead of struggling with a larger subject. The idea came from my friend Linda who was being challenged with her Arizona group to paint daily...size not specified. So far I am 3/3 and hope to keep it up on workdays as well as weekends.

"How To Fit Bicycles Into Our Daily Lives"

3" x 3" acrylic on canvas

The thought for this one came as I was once again shoveling snow this morning! The side views of the canvas:

"Stitched Together"

This is the second day of my personal challenge of a painting a day for April. I painted an under painting in bright pink yesterday thinking that I might want to use it one day. Pink is not a colour I generally use. Today's painting was a heart full tribute to friends that have traveled together. I made it look like a quilt that has been loved, used and a bit worn out but like a favourite blanket, can still wrap you in love.

"Stitched Together"

12" x 9" Acrylic on canvas panel

click on painting for a larger view

"Goliath 1" A dog portrait

This is Mindi and Dave's very elderly dog Goliath. He is a very large and lovable dog that has been a best friend to Mindi and Dave. I tried to capture his "elderly age and resting stage" that he is currently in.

"Goliath"

8" x 10"

Acrylic on canvas

I painted 10 pet and animal portraits/pictures as my entry to be juried into the Federation of Canadian Artists and was accepted. This painting is one of the 10 I had to show for jurying. I had tried once before but had paintings in all different mediums and subjects and was not accepted. I am now an Active Member with the FCA (as of February 2014)!!

"Buddy 2" A Dog Portrait

This is a portrait of my Mom's dog Buddy painted in acrylic. He loved to run around and around my Mom's recreation room and I wanted to capture that sense of movement and fun. I originally painted Buddy in water colour as my very first pet portrait for a gift to my Mom (click here). A second gift is coming your way Mom!  XX 00

"Buddy 2"

Acrylic on canvas

8" x 10"

Not For Sale

Bronte 2 - A pet portrait

"Bronte 2"    SOLD

8" x 8"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is the second portrait I have done of Bronte. She is so expressive and full of loving character, she is a joy to paint. Every year my friend Joan takes a picture of Bronte by the Christmas tree and sends it out as an e-card to spread Christmas cheer. With my artistic license in hand, I play with colours and discard the Christmas tree. You can tell how impressed she was of this event...trusting but weary.

Kristen`s World

This is a  gift I painted for our daughter. She had changed jobs and just completed West Jet's rigorous Flight Attendant training. She has travelled quite extensively outside of work and would like to see a lot more of the world. This painting is based on seeing the world without borders, just as colourful continents.

I have painted the outside side edge of the canvas with the English words ``Travelling the world, growing and meeting many new friends that become one family``. These words are then repeated around the side edge in Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, German, Italian and Swedish. These are languages from countries that she has yet to visit.

"Kristen's World"

Mixed media on canvas 32" x 24"

click on painting for a larger view

This painting was hard to photograph as it has 2 layers of high gloss epoxy finish which is thick and shiny. I also put some glitter over the water areas within the first layer of epoxy to make the water sparkle. I am very happy with the way this came out and so was she.

Continents Unite

"Continents Unite"

Acrylic on canvas with glass beads

10" x 8"
click on painting for a larger view

I painted this with very thick and thin acrylic paint. It is very textural, with a glass heart and four round glass beads. The different layers were allowed to dry and then a layer of expoxy was laid on top which added to the melted look. The 1/2" sides are also painted with the design continuing over the edge. The bottom right also has some thick paint lifting off the edge looking as if it is dripping off.

I was thrilled when my two kids saw the painting as continents coming together.  It would look great in a black floating frame. This painting was great fun and very freeing, getting away from an "object" to shapes and colour!

This painting can be found for sale on my website: KarenOliversFineArt.com

Deb's Lily Pads - layered with epoxy

Deb's Lily Pad

12`` x 16` Oil on canvas with half inch black painted sides.

click on picture for a larger view

Yes, you may have seen this one before in another posting. I took a workshop with the FCA and learnt how to apply epoxy to paintings. At first I applied it only to the water but it made the leaves look dull. I let that dry and then coated the whole painting and added a few metallic flecks in the water that catch the light. I absolutely love it, the colours really popped with the epoxy coating. It was too reflective to take a photograph of the final painting. I have it up temporarily in our lunch room at work and it is fun to watch people get right up close to have a better look and touch it.

Newton - A commissioned dog portrait

``Newton`` - NFS (Comissioned)

12`` x 16`` Acrylic on canvas

This dog portrait is a Christmas gift for Shelly`s hubby. Newton was posed at the table during some family fun. He looks like he is in the middle of a serious discussion with you and with a cold drink in paw, ready to hear you out. Painting a dog pretty much all one colour was a fun challenge. I thought the old fashioned yellowy-green pop glass fitted the picture better.