Catching The Wind

"Catching The Wind"

20" x 16"  Oil on canvas

#20112118

Having grown up in the Okanagan, the lakes and all the fun in and on the water is close to my heart. I loved the shapes of this boat against the dry and arid hills of this area.

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.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two birds that made it through Canadian Thanksgiving! Top is alcohol ink, bottom is an oil painting. I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate with lots of family in Sicamous, B.C. this year. Safe travels to everyone travelling home.

Spring Mix In Blue

"Spring Mix in Blue"
10" x 8"
Oil on canvas board
#20014917

The reference for this painting was taken and shared by Teri Sanders in an online course I was enrolled in. Teri graciously shared photographs for others in the class to paint and I loved this one.

The pot reminded me of a white enamel coffee pot my Grandmother had (chipped and well worn) and now my sister cherishes.

Learning Values - AGAIN!

I painted a scene of San Miguel de Allende over the Christmas break (18" x 22"). I was not sure what was wrong with it but thought I did not have enough darks. Sure enough after showing it to Doug Swinton yesterday, my lesson was to paint a photo he chose using only black and white so I could see the values. I didn't finish the painting as he could see that I did know about values, just could not transfer them into colour on that painting.

Original photo

My incomplete version of photo in values only

When I painted  from the photo a second time, this time in colour, I focused on the "thingness" instead of just shapes. The painting above is Doug painting over mine to lose some of the details and he made bigger shapes on the barn and snow. Some days my brain just hurts after coming out of his class. Painting will be life long learning for me!

Winter Blues

"Winter Blues"

9" x 12" Oil on board

$150 unframed

#20001415

This was painted in between caring for my Mom in Kelowna. A bouquet she was given had these flowers just not in these colours. As I couldn't take paints in my carry on luggage, Shannon picked up paints that I had ordered at Opus Kelowna. It was a real treat to play with new fresh paints and brushes!.Painted unconventional 4 flowers instead of the usual odd number, it just felt right for this painting. 

Pretty in Pink - A pet portrait

"Pretty In Pink"

12" x 12" Oil on board

#20024315  $175 unframed

I had been wanting to do this female pet for a long time but wasn't sure how to make a basically white dog interesting. I decided to just have fun with it and add wild colours to my heart's content. I started with covering the whole board with Alizarin Crimson to get a nice pink background and worked from there. You can see some of the original colour in her face. I am really happy with this painting and feel I captured her without adding detail.

"Mooooving"

"Mooooving"

Oil on board 16" x 20"

$175 unframed

#20001215

I know this one looks odd, but I really like it. I received a hot air balloon ride as a gift a while back from my husband for my birthday and took many photos.  I loved the fact that the cows looked miniature compared to their shadow and were really only light and dark shapes. The shadows on the ground almost had more detail. I had painted one similar in water colour that sold in a Leighton Centre show.

"Winter Blooms"

"Winter Blooms"

7 1/2" x 7 3/4"

Oil on Board

$75 unframed
#20003215

Always a welcome relief to view flowers indoors in the winter. A joyful experience to paint these ones on a cold winter indoor day.

Painting a live model

20 minute warm up

Oil on board 12" x 12"

The painting above was done with a live model in my weekly class with Ingrid Christensen We were given 20 minutes to do a quick "warm up" painting of a live model before she put her dress on. We had our easels in a circle around her so each artist had a different view. I was quite relieved that mine was of her back while she straddled the stool. I found the view of only one arm and both hands distracting mentally but painted what I saw rather than what my brain wanted me to do (fill in the other arm!). I was happy with this result. We worked on our painting from the model in the same position as last week (see previous post). 

Ingrid had done a quick portrait at the beginning of the class, then the model went back to last weeks pose. Once I had finished the full pose, I still had time left so with the front side view I thought I would quickly tackle her portrait, pushing the colours and painting quickly. It is not a flattering portrait but I am happy with how far I got with the time that I had. It is at least recognizable as a female person :)

"20 Minute Warm Up" with a live model

Ingrid Christensen did a demo in the beginning of our weekly class and them we all did a 20 minute warm up exercise with a live model. Mine above is an 8" x 10" oil on board. I loved the idea of the time limit as I could not get caught up in the details. I also loved my vantage point (no real facial features) as we had our easels all around her in a circle so everyone had a different view.

We then worked on a longer pose for the rest of the class and the next class as well until we were done, considered it finished or tired of it. I found it very difficult with all the facial features bogging me down and not turning out the way I wanted. As I do NOT consider myself a figure painter, I am happy with the result in this 16" x 12" painting.

"Red Canoe"

This plein air painting was done at Gardom Lake, B.C. My husband Gord and friends Chris and Bruce were biking the Salmon Arm/Armstrong loop. I happily painted on site at Gardom Lake waiting for their arrival with cold drinks and fruit. The view, sounds of birds, calm water, no motor boats and kids happy sounds were a feast for my soul. Below is my set up with the final painting underneath it.

"Red Canoe"

12" x 9" Oil on board

Plein Air painting

Lorginals Gallery in Salmon Arm, B.C.

I am delighted to share that some of my paintings "Morning Flower Series", a variety of art cards and hand painted wine glasses are now for sale in the Loriginals Gallery in Salmon Arm, B.C.

Handcrafted  Gifts

 Loriginals Gallery features a fine selection of quality handcrafted items produced by Artisans who take pride in their craft.  The vast majority of items sold in the store are handcrafted here in Canada, something Linda and Joy are extremely proud of and which is appreciated by their customers, both locals and visitors to Salmon Arm.

We can assist you with all your framing needs including needleworks, canvas stretching, shadow and jersey boxes, drymounting etc.

"Winter Tulips"

I painted this during one of our snow storms. I needed and wanted something bright and cheery to offset the dreary outside blowing snow. This was painted with brushes and a palette knife, very textural and with the dark background the tulips pop out. It is fun to look at as well as brightens my art studio.

"Winter Tulips"

Oil on board 8" x 8" 
$75 unframed (plus shipping)

 

I really enjoy this 8" x 8" format for flowers as it looks great unframed on a small table easel in my studio....love when I can paint and enjoy it right away!

Holly McWilliams Workshop

What a fun, energetic and wonderful learning experience it was on the weekend with the FCA Calgary workshop with Holly McWilliams. We all drew then painted the same figure photo reference, learning how to make the body warm and cool (hence the two sides painted differently). It was really fun to work with purples, yellows, reds and blues for the figure.

On Saturday we watched Holly demo and fill our brains with so much interesting information, then we went on to paint on our own. On Sunday we worked on our figure again, then moved on to a photo of our choosing (that is why some of the figure paintings were
 not finished). Holly taught both oil and acrylic at the same time which was wonderful to hear and understand.

 

"Figure in Warm and Cool"

20" x 10" oil on board

 It was a very fun workshop with a wonderful group of artists led by the much loved Holly.

Zhaoming Wu workshop

Tami worked hard over a 3 year period to get a workshop for the FCA by Zhaoming Wu. A demo evening and 2 workshops (Mon-Thursday and Fri-Sunday) were completed to the absolute delight of the attendees. The workshop was on figures with live models.

Zhaoming did a demo in the morning, then the artists all worked from the live model in the afternoons. The idea was not to complete a finished painting, but rather to work in the steps, style and under the direction of Zhaoming. I could of just watched him paint as it was magic to see a figure develop on his canvas. Alas, the same magic did not appear on mine, but I certainly learned a lot. We did two figure studies and one portrait over the three days, again not to completion. I think some of the artists worked on finishing theirs at home from photographs taken. I have not worked on mine, so remember that this is not finished....

12" x 16"

oil on panel

 

This model was thin and tall. I found it challenging to continue painting after she had taken a break as her face and clothing would be in a slightly different position, very different from painting landscape or from a photo!. I was pleased with how far I got on the this painting.

Sunny Blue

"Sunny Blue"

Oil on board

8 1/2" x 6 1/2"

click on painting for a larger view

Once again, life got in the way and painting falls behind. These flowers just felt sunny, alive and inspiring, the perfect thing to get back to painting with. I think I am enamoured with the season's orange colour!

Early Morning Flower Series #49 and #50

Early Morning Flower Series #49

Oil on Board 6" x 6"

click on picture for a larger view

Below is a picture my friend Karen took of me painting the last of the series...#50!  My goal was to paint 50 in the 6" x 6" format and as varied as possible.The flower is just out of view on the window pane. I really enjoyed painting these and loved the freedom a small painting provided. I used whatever flowers I could find and sometimes the same one(s) for various paintings, even as they wilted or petals fell off. It made me really look at it instead of "filling in the blank spaces" to make a pretty picture. Backgrounds were fun and creatively invented, a real trial and error with textures and colours.

Early Morning Flower Series #50

Oil on Board 6" x 6"
click on picture for a larger view

Early Morning Flower Series #47 & #48

Early Morning Flower Series #47

Oil on Board 6" x 6"

These two paintings were done because I was interested in their petal shapes. It is usually colour that interests me, but the shapes were so different on these. It was quite a contrast painting a flower with very few petals, then one with many petals that overlap.

Early Morning Flower Series #48

Oil on Board 6" x 6"

Early Morning Flower Series #45 & #46

Early Morning Flower Series #45

Oil on Board 6" x 6"

I really enjoyed working on these flower paintings. Keeping an orange background, I wanted to see how two different flowers would look and if I could keep the bold background from taking over. I really enjoy the vibrancy and looseness of the both of these.

Early Morning Flower Series #46

Oil on Board 6" x 6"
click on pictures for a larger view

I changed the position of the 9 flower paintings in my office (3 across by 3 down) and it looks like a whole new set! As I have sold some, putting the new ones up make the variations feel endless.