Forgotten San Miguel de Allende sketches

Now back from our holidays, I was going through my sketch book and thought I would post sketches that I did on the holiday but did not put on my blog. As I make a book at the end of the year of my blog posts, I wanted to add these.

Above - Guanajuato
Flower and butterfly - drawn during flight

Above - Nov 11 - Remembrance Day

Sketching another roof terrace view

This is another sketch done from our roof top terrace of San Miguel de Allende. There is such a fabulous view and the architecture is so varied that I could probably draw a different point of view daily. We haven't been able to spend as much time as we would like due to the unseasonably cool and windy weather this month. I wish our holiday was longer!

Sketching - Back yard thoughts

This urban sketch included thoughts of my time here in San Miguel de Allende, particularly with the view from the ground floor patio of the house we are renting. We have thoroughly enjoyed fresh limes from the tree in the backyard, thankfully the umbrella stops them from landing on us. The amount of stairs inside this house and to get to the roof top terrace. The vast amount of potted plants surrounding the patio and terrace are lovely.

Water colour and ink in my regular 80lb sketch book.

Outing with San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers

I was lucky enough to join this group for another afternoon of urban sketchiing. We met at Calle San Grabriel #1, Calonia El Obraje Azotea for lunch on the second floor and then sketching. I went up to the roof top patio and didn't leave to go down for lunch. I enjoyed a cold beer and the view. I sketched in ink (no pencil) and then used my water colour pencils on regular 80 lb sketch book paper. The colours did not blend and the paper wrinkled but I was happy with the end result and a wonderful afternoon!!

This is the second sketch I did through a corner opening of the azotea. I did not have time to paint this but did have time to have another cold cervesa!

San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers - second outing

 These two sketches were done in a little park out of the main area in San Miguel de Allende. There were about a dozen sketchers that arrived and sketched a wide variety of buildings, plant life, the street scene and each other. It was my second weekly outing with the group. San Miguel de Allende Urban Sketchers are a very generous and inclusive group, I had a wonderful afternoon.

Judy had a little sketch book she had made up with water colour paper and a front and back cover.  Colleen and I hustled over after and bought and folded water colour paper then went to another little store and picked out plastic covers and binding. Now I have 2 little books to take sketching. The sketch book I have used so far is just with regular sketching paper so I can't use to much water or blend my colours. I will continue in this book until it is finished but look forward to my new creative purchase!

Susan Dorf workshop

I enjoyed a day of learning and sharing at a workshop in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico taught by Susan Dorf. The one day workshop was called the "Artist's Journal Workshop 1". Michelle and I enjoyed the class with 9 other participants, a very full class. Susan had said that she was not going to critique anyone's work and appreciated if all artist's would refrain as well. It made for a quiet class but allowed less of the inner critic's voice. I wish this class had been offered when we first arrived so I could of started a journal of this holiday. Instead of dragging my painting materials on my next holiday I will take a sketch book, water colours and pens. I learned a lot and as always, just need to "do it".  Below are the exercises in my sketch book. Check out Susan's website and art at http://www.susandorf.com

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

Big Hooves To Fill - Juried painting!!

 

"Big Hooves To Fill"  *SOLD*

Water colour 14" x 19" double matted & framed to 16" x 20"
click on painting for a larger view

 

 I painted this after I enjoyed a gift of a hot air balloon ride. What interested me was how little I could see of the cows (basically just their backs) and how much the shadow described them. I loved the contrasting shapes.

 

I am really excited as this painting has been juried into the 11th Annual Juried Members Show at the Leighton Centre (just outside of Calgary). The show is called "Transcending Tradition" and will be on from April 26 through to May 30, 2013. The Public Opening Reception is on Saturday April 27th from 2pm - 4pm. Please enjoy the show if you are in the area, as well as a stroll on the grounds, the views are spectacular!                         www.leightoncentre.org

 

Holiday in Palm Springs CA

 

Hiking in Palm Springs

Water colour 10" x 14" double white mat to 16" x 20"

click on painting for a larger view

 

We just came back from a week in Palm Springs, a wonderful break from our very unsettled snowy and windy winter weather. Love peeling the layers of clothes off to live in summer clothes - day and evening!

 

I had painted this picture after the last time I was there. It was satisfying to stand at the same spot and enjoy the same view and another day hiking.

Wait Up!

"Wait Up!"

11" x 14" Water colour

click on painting for a larger view

I had so much fun with the last zebra painting, I had to do one more! This time with the wonderful trees that were in the background of Joan's photo.  This zebra was smaller and behind the other three and looked like it was trying hard to catch up in the heat.

Three's Company

"Three's Company"

11" x 14" Watercolour

click on painting for a larger view

This was fun to paint, letting my imagination and love for colour loose. I based this painting on a photograph my friend Joan took on her vacation. Love it when friends share photos to paint as I please!! I would love to go to Africa but will have to use my imagination until then!

Spanish Cycle

"Spanish Cycle"

Water colour 15" x 20 1/2" double matted to fit 23" x 31" frame
click on painting for a larger view

This water colour painting is of an old bike/motorcycle (cycle) that we came across in Spain. I loved everything about it from the rusting paint, old seat and turned handlebars. This was a very peaceful painting and kept me thinking about our wonderful biking holiday in Spain.

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

Wishing you a Happy New Year - 2013!

I painted this water colour painting and another with slightly different colours. The other one was the first painting I sold. I had it in the Sicamous Art and Craft summer sale fully expecting to bring it home. I hadn't even taken a photograph of it! This journey is all about learning!

Thank you to everyone who has looked at my blog, commented with encouragment or suggestions, and bought my paintings...all very much appreciated! The view count has been over 4200 and it has encouraged me to continue to post and share my art journey.

Wishing everyone a healthy, happy 2013 filled with laughter, fun, work and sharing. For my artist friends...a year of wet brushes!

Christmas Party Fund Raiser

This framed water colour painting was put in my work Christmas party silent auction. Unfortunately there is a shadow in the upper right!

 Every year we have a silent auction of items coworkers bring in and sell 50/50 tickets with the proceeds going to a different charity. This year was to a charity that provides Christmas presents to youth and teens, a forgotten group at Christmas time. I also put in 2 sets of blank gift cards of some of the pets that I have painted. I figured the cards would sell well as the pets belonged to my co-workers. It was fun to celebrate each other, bid and be outbid for different items all the while adding to a worthy charity.

I have a website!!

I am still doing a happy dance!!! My sister Shannon helped me start a website for my art. We did an exchange...while I was sewing a quilt with her sky diving t-shirts, she was working on starting a website for me. I was power sewing and answering her questions (not easy using the right and left side of the brain at the same time). Shannon did a website as part of her Masters degree so she knew what she was doing.

The second best part was the funny things she had put on the website that I did not see until I went in to add pictures & information...under pet portraits, her dog Chi Chi was the star!

Chi Chi

Oil on canvas board 11" x 14" NFS

Under "about the artist" she had listed my family members as "a husband named after a vegetable" (Gord) and 2 kids that would rather fly than bike, walk etc (pilot and flight attendant). Loved all the tid bits I found as I was loading pictures etc. We both enjoy humour (sometimes very easily amused) and can tickle each others funny bone. Love that girl!!

If you get a chance to check it out, go to: www.KarenOliversFineArt.com  Oh yeah, happy dance!

MRU Library Art Gallery - Winter 2012

This painting is now in the Mount Royal Library Art Gallery for the winter display. I had it in my office and really enjoyed the variety of colours. It is a watercolour and acrylic painting painted in a watercolour style. I love the bright red Anthurium with the muted leaves behind. I looked at the Anturium on line and made up the rest around them. It is painted on a full size water colour sheet and double matted in a dark brown wood frame.

 

Anthurium Garden

Watercolour and Acrylic on watercolour paper in a 22" x 28" frame

Restful Summer Memories

I needed something that would be mellow to paint, something I could lose myself in, take a mental break from the clatter in my brain. I found it in this picture Sue Bingham  took  in Chase. It was a wonderful picture of a dock ladder, very calm water and mountains that feel like they are resting as well. Sue is generous with her art of picture taking and allows me to paint to my heart's content (a huge thank you!). I hope you find it peaceful, calm and inviting memories.

10.5" x 14" Water colour on 200lb paper

White double archival mat to fit 16"x20" frame $150

Click on picture to enlarge

Hiking in Palm Springs

This is a painting of the hills behind Palm Springs. The rocks tower over you in several places as you wind on a worn path with scrub brush and flowers. We started our hike just past the tennis club and wound our way up. The view of the city was breath taking and you could see for miles!

Hiking in Palm Springs

Water colour on  200lb paper 10"x14"

click on picture for a larger view

Two water colour studies

These two water colour studies were done after watching a Sterling Edwards DVD. It was an interesting way to work and I like his teaching style. I will try some of my own photos next. I wasn't sure what I wanted to paint and in what media so the timing of this from the library was perfect. I like different things about each picture. I don't usually use Thalo colours, but it seemed to work in the first picture.

7" x 10.5" on 200lb water colour paper

Click on pictures for a larger view

End of figure unit

Our figure unit ended with me missing the last class (out of town). It was very quick, fast paced and fun. We worked from a model program, magazines and pictures. The work was once again very impressive and some people worked very hard and very large (not me). We drew stick people, 2 minute studies, working our way up to adding "tin man" style figures to full body poses. I unfortunately missed the portrait class! This is a watercolour of a girl in the cold lake. I again painted vibrantly, having difficulty painting with muted colours! I am beginning to think that is a personal trait, as muted colours are not my thing (obviously). This excercise was to get shapes, body, face, hair but not in detail, we were to make a painting not a photograph.

"Cold Water" Water colour on 140lb paper. 5" x 6.5"