Harvest Ready - Grape Escape Series - #11

"Harvest Ready"

"24 x 18 " Oil on panel
#11 in Grape Escape Series

#20126017
Photo Reference by Joan Keating

This is the last painting in this series. I started painting grapes as a distraction from watching the sump pumps and preparing for a flood on Mara Lake this spring. When I asked my friend Joan Keating to help name my paintings, she also supplied more photos from her travels. Her husband Ross suggested I paint a grape rolling away and title it "Grape Escape", voila I had the series title! This series was a mental escape.

Fall Bounty - Grape Escape Series - #10

"Fall Bounty"

Grape Escape Series - #10

16" x 20" Oil on canvas

#20122017

Reference photo by Joan Keating

I really enjoyed exploring with a wider range of colours and shapes in this painting. The posts with bright tape holding the trunk upright really caught my eye. It was interesting trying to get a sense of depth with size and colour.

Epoch - Grape Escape Series - #9

"Epoch"

#9 in Grape Escape Series

8" x 10" Oil on canvas board

#20114017

I painted this painting as a demo on how to "start" a plein air oil painting. This was not done en plein air (outdoors on location) but I brought my plein air easel and showed how I set up. I was not satisfied with my under painting or "start" when I got home so I wiped half of it out (see below) and started again. I took pictures so I could show the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club how you can wipe out an oil painting unlike acrylic where you paint over.

Arbor of Bounty - Grape Escape Series #8

"Arbor Of Bounty"

#8 in Grape Escape Series

12" x 12" Oil on canvas framed

#20030817
Photo reference:  Joan Keating

I am enjoying painting this grape series in different sizes and shapes. I haven't worked in a square format for quite awhile and really enjoyed it.My plan is to paint a series of 10 different paintings of the same subject. This is my second series, the first was a series of 50 small flower paintings. The photo references were fun to work with as well.

Golden Globes - Grape Escape Series #7

"Golden Globes"

#7 in Grape Escape Series

20" x 24"   Oil on board, framed
#20024817

I was telling my friend Joan Keating that I wanted to paint a series of 10 paintings with grapes in them. She sent me wonderful photos she had taken on her many travels and this is my rendition in oil. Joan has been supplying me with titles as well. It is great having friends support me on my art journey! This painting will be on display in the SACU (Salmon Arm Credit Union) in Sicamous B.C. tomorrow until the end of September.

Winesome - Grape Escape Series - #5

"Winesome"

#5 in the Grape Escape Series
10" x 8" Oil on canvas board

#20012817

Not only does my friend Joan Keating help me with names for this series, she also sent me some photos she has taken on her travels. I used one of Joan's photo's for this painting. I loved the contrast of the red vines and leaves with the green leaves and of course the dark fruit.

I am not sure if these are grown for wine or eating but they sure looked good.

Sun Kissed - Grape Escape Series #4

Sun Kissed
Grape Escape Series #4
10" x 8" Oil on canvas board
#20006817

I am still using the photo reference from Kathy's gifted calendar of her gardens. I enjoyed using Caribbean Blue in this one as it is my new favourite colour.

Vine Ripe - Grape Escape Series #1

"Vine Ripe"
Oil on canvas board   10" x 8"
#20020717

We were almost flooded in Sicamous B.C. this spring. I was on "pump duty" making sure all the pumps were working and minimal water was coming in. Kathy Kean had gifted me a calendar she made for her overseas family of her beautiful garden. She had a photo of grapes hanging on a metal fence and this is my rendition. I was talking to Joan Keating saying that I needed names for a series of grape paintings I was doing and could she send me some names. Her husband came up with the name of "Grape Escape" and just like that I had a perfect name for my series. Painting this series was both a mental and physical break/escape from all the flood work. Thanks Kathy, Joan and Ross! I gave this painting to Kathy as a gift.