Al Fresco

"Al Fresco"

9" x 12"   Oil on canvas

#20025417

This painting was aptly named by my sister-in-law Tammy. I have found a wonderful resource for naming my paintings in Tammy, Darcy and Evan! The resource photo was taken on a trip to Besalu Spain. It was in this very old walled city with it's huge, heavy, very thick doors which miniaturized all the furniture around it in the courtyard.

Flowering In The Sun

"Flowering In The Sun"

Oil on board   20" x 18"

# 20020117

There was so much I liked about my reference photo, firstly being the memories of a cycle trip in Spain. I loved how the balconies were decorated with flower pots. They softened the rock and plaster buildings' look especially in the old town centers. 

Isabel's thank you gift

This is a painting of the building that Leslie and Carl are renting (top floor). I try to bring a frame to places we go/rent in case I have the time to paint a small picture to leave as a thank you gift.

I had made a sketch from the end of the pool in my sketch book and enjoyed it enough to do another one using real water colour paper and my water colour pencils to paint the same picture. Her building is painted the red/orange and yellow.

Isobel's family owns the building and she looks after the business and lives on the second floor. She was both gracious and generous allowing us to stay with Leslie and Carl from Dec 25 until Dec 30. She was happy with her gift and enjoyed showing it to her family members arriving for New Years.

Bungalows Emmanuel, Melaque Mexico

My brother Ken and his wife Marg stay at the Bungalows Emmanuel every time they go to Melaque, Mexico. Emma and Manuel treat them like family. My husband and I were hoping to stay here as well to experience their hospitality but there weren't any suitable rooms available.I had brought a frame down to paint their place and leave as a gift so I continued with my intention. They have a little store on the right on the main floor. Emma was surprised and delighted with their gift. Ken and Marg will be going down shortly so hopefully they will see it.

"Bungalows Emmanuel"

Water colour, matted and framed

A Gift

FCA Rex Beanland Workshop - Urban Scenes in Watercolour

Tami and I are the coordinators of the Calgary FCA workshops. We just had a wonderful weekend with Rex Beanland teaching urban scenes in watercolour. If you click on Rex's name, you can see his write up on the workshop. The participants were a vibrant group and full of laughter and fun with a variety of skill levels.

This was our first exercise, learning to work with the wet medium with a range from tons of water to very little. Did you guess which one was mine?

Below is our second learning painting, with actual urban building shapes working with light washes and very dark pigments. 

Perfect paintings for Halloween!

This is the last and is currently unfinished painting of a view of downtown Calgary.