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.

EVB&P outing for en plein air

 "Hot Blossoms"
8" x 10"   En plein air oil on canvas board
#20003917A

"Hide and Seek"
8" x 10" En plein air oil on canvas board
#2003917B

I painted these two on a beautiful and hot day with the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club in/from Jean Ellithorpe's beautiful yard. Jean had chairs and small seating areas all around her stunning property. Artists were working in ink, pencil, water colour and oil and the variety of subjects and styles were very interesting. Although she thought her flowers were past their prime, there were plenty of varieties for everyone to draw or paint. Ornaments in the garden were beautiful, entertaining and a few had me chuckling. The ducks were having their fun in the lake and I loved trying to paint them while they bobbed up and down.

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. 

Dreama's Online class - Week 6 Bonus

Week 6 Bonus"Front Row Seat In France"

12" x 12" Oil on board

#20030617

This painting is my rendition of the last lesson (Week 6) in Dreama Tolle Perry's online art class. She has 2 bonus reference photos at the end and this is one of them. Access to the course is for a year so I may go through and paint them again, learn more and see if my style has evolved. I really enjoy the colours she uses and of course her photo resources. The course is more than just painting, she has tips, meditation videos with an outdoor scene and music, suggestions with "be kind to your artist self".

This painting combines what we have learnt from the 6 weekly modules...pots, walls, windows, shutters, flowers and greenery,

Dreama's Online class - Week 4 & 5

Week 4    "Seated In The Garden"         14" x 11"                 Oil on canvas board  #20027617A

   

               Week 5  "Gathered In Love"

                                          12" x 12" Oil on canvas board
                                                                     #20027617B

These two paintings are my rendition of an online art class I took with Dreama Tolle Perry. The chair is Week 4 and the flower pot is Week 5. I am going to have to take better reference photos for myself as I love her photo references, all the composition work is done!

The painting of the chair was given to the Mount Royal Staff Association as one of their door prizes for their professional development day. I put Dreama's info on the back and that I had completed it in her workshop.

Dreama's Online class - Week 3

 

Week 3 "Sunflower Smiles"

12" x 12"

Oil on board     #20025617

This is the Week 3 painting of her course, again my rendition but her instruction and photo reference. I am now on the look out for blue mason jars (haven't found any yet).  I love her colours and style of painting. She introduced me to the beautiful "Caribbean Blue" colour that I would never of purchased (to expensive to try). It is the colour in the jar. It is definitely going to be in more of my paintings! 

This painting will be a door prize at the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette 38th Annual Art Show from June 28 until July 4 at the Red Barn Arts Centre in Sicamous, B.C. Stop by, fill in an free entry form and meet some wonderful artists and  a variety of artwork.

Rock Garden Beauty

"Rock Garden Beauty"

Oil on canvas panel     8" x 10"

#20013617

This is my first en plein air painting of the season. I found this little rock garden at the side of Main Street Park. It was the first morning I joined Eagle Valley Arts Council (EVAC) and because it was an overcast cool morning Kim and I were the only ones there. It felt great to be painting outdoors and was nice to have company while I painted and Kim sketched.

Sun Seekers - A Valentine's bouquet

A wild bouquet for you on Valentine's Day. This is from a photo reference that Helena took and posted on Facebook. She has kindly allowed me to paint any of hers (how generous is that!) and she takes photos that really peak my interest. I love that the flowers are in different stages of their life and not all cookie cutter.

"Sun Seekers"

12" x 12" Oil on board

#20014217

Flowers Galore

This plein air floral painting was of flowers in the front yard of my brother and sister-in-law's Sicamous home. They have a very full and vibrant yard so it was hard to focus on one thing. I set my easel up under one of their trees on the boulevard and happily painted away. I was a bit of entertainment for the people walking by and it was interesting to hear their comments about my painting as it was progressing and the yard as they walked behind me. The purple confused some people as I chose to use that colour for the shadow area on the white flowers.

"Flowers Galore"

Plein Air Oil Painting  10" x 8 "

#20023816  $80 unframed

After The Ceremony

I was given some flowers and decided to put them on the deck and do a "plein air still life". I think I made up that category but it worked for me. I loved concentrating on the flowers while listening to the lake waves roll in. A large umbrella provided the shade I needed.

"After The Ceremony"

14" x 11" Oil on canvas

#20021816  $150 unframed

Hidden In The Spring Grass

"Hidden In The Spring Grass"

Oil on board 10" x 10"

$135 framed   #20005516

I spotted these beauties on my Monday morning walk with the hockey ladies. These crocuses were bursting through the dried ground, I had to move the dried grass covering to get a good look. Everything else was so dried and muted and these were so beautiful and fresh, what an inspiring find!

This painting was juried into the FCA Calgary Chapter "Absolutely Art 2016" show this Saturday at Haysboro Community Centre from 10am - 4pm. I have 3 other paintings in this show. Hope to see you there!

"Sunshine Flowers"

"Sunshine Flowers"

24" x 30" oil on board framed

#20028116

I enjoyed the freedom of big brushes and a big subject. I loved the juicy warm and cool colours I played with. I have painted this in 2 other sizes as well this January, but particularly enjoyed painting this large for a change. It felt bold and physical.

"Sunflowers"

The picture above is the painting about midway. I took it to my class with Doug Swinton as I was unsure of how I wanted to proceed. I realized with Doug's help that the photo reference composition was stronger than my layout. Doug helped me to make the flowers larger (like the photo) as well as with the background. I am going to paint this one again as I really like the shapes and colours.

"Sunflowers"

Oil on board 11' x 14"

#20002116

Purple Dance

Purple Dance

Plein Air Oil on canvas board 8" x 10"

$75 unframed      #20013915

Instead of a vista, this time I looked for something closer at hand. These flowers were in the arched gate entrance to the back yard in Sicamous. It felt strange setting up my easel in the driveway, but enjoyed the fact I didn't have to pack everything so far.

Blooming Pink

"Blooming Pink"

Plein Air Acrylic on Board

8" x 8" unframed  $65

#20107415

The second photo is of my plein air set up in our Sicamous yard. I would like to be able to paint plein air (outdoors on site) with acrylic because of it's drying factor when done. The trouble I have is it dries on the brush before I can get it on the canvas. I love the wow factor in the colours but need more practice blending. Fortunately Sicamous is rich in colours and subjects so I won't run out of things to try painting with acrylic.

Garden's First Blooms

"Garden's First Blooms"

Plein Air Oil on panel 

7" x 5" unframed  $40

     #20010615

I love everything about this painting. I sat on our front grass so I could get more of a straight on view and happily painted in the warm sunshine. The first blooms in the garden are always a celebration but do not last long with frost, snow and wind to deal with.

Arizona Beauty

We were fortunate to be in Phoenix when these cactus were blooming. With Gail's permission I painted my versus of the beautiful photo she took.

"Arizona Beauty"
11" x 14" Oil on canvas
$175 unframed
#20003515

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. 

"Window Box Blooms"

"Window Box Blooms"

10" x 8" Oil on board 

$75

#20129214

This was painted a very gray, very cold day in Sicamous, definitely an indoor day. This painting sung with it's bold and warm colours.

Merry Christmas!

"Christmas Cactus"

Oil on board 12" x 12"

This is a painting of  the first bloom on my Christmas Cactus. I took a photo of it so I would have a reference. I painted the picture and put it on my drying rack with the photo beside it (see below). I wasn't sure if I was happy with it or not. The sun was shining and it made a shadow on my painting that looked like the plant was sitting on a table.I had originally painted the whole background the light orange/yellow colour you see. I took a piece of chalk and marked on the painting the shadow Mother Nature was giving me and made note of the colour and painted exactly that. Now I am happy with not only the painting but the whole process.