High Water

"High Water"

7" x 11" water colour

#20026718

I painted this from the vantage point of our yard. While we were away our kids were looking after our cabin during flood watch and this is the view when I arrived. These trees on the edge of our beach were well under the water. The reflections of the sun through the branches were beautiful and soft so I thought water colour would be the perfect medium.

In The Still Of The Fog

"In The Still Of The Fog"
20" x 16" Oil on canvas
#20029418

Boats of all kinds intrigue me. This scene was so still and calm in the hazy fog. I loved how the boat and masts were old and worn but the fishing buoys looked so lively in the reflective water. I struggled with how to make the fine lines of the ropes and the hazy fog behind without defining everything. This was a perfect one to learn with in Doug's class.

Link to my website 

Overhaul

"Overhaul"
Oil on canvas    16" x 20"
#20024418

I found this photo reference very intriguing, a view of the natural aging process. Even with age we can stand tall beside others that are slowly getting closer to the earth.

Standing Tall - favourite painting for 2017

This is the largest painting I have done and is also my favourite for 2017. It is 40" x 30". I finished this painting mid-December and loved it so much I had it framed. Swinton's Art Supply did a fabulous job considering the canvas support was warped (unknown to me). I recently picked it up and have put it in my front room.

I have been trying to paint on the canvases I have already bought and the shear size of this one scared me. Well I put my "big girl panties" on and went for it. With Doug's suggestions I was happy with the direction it was going and continued on. I was also not used to the large amount of paint I had to mix, especially for the water and sky. This was by far the most expensive painting I have done but very exciting to work this large (it was a like a full body work out)!

Standing Tall

39 1/2" x 29 1/2" Oil on canvas, framed

#20022118

Beyond The City

"Beyond The City"

Oil on canvas    16" x 20" framed
#20010617

Jean Ellithorpe (at Sicamous Brush and Palette Club) showed me a couple of beautiful acrylic paintings she had done on black gesso. I had never tried that so with a borrowed photo from Jean, some tips and suggestions, this is the end result using oil paint. I really had to change how I handled the colours working on such a dark background. Thanks Jean for the inspiration and suggestions!

Lucy's gift

This painting was sent to England as a Christmas gift for Lucy. She was up very early one morning walking dogs and took photos of the beautiful sky and the reflection on Mara Lake. She was so excited she wanted to wake everyone to have a look. I know the colours look odd, but that is what they were.

 Lucy posted the photo on her travel blog and I painted it as a surprise. She made many friends, impressed people with her spirit and had a lot of adventures in Sicamous, B.C. She reminded us very much of our daughter.


"Lucy's Gift"
12" x 9" Oil on board framed
#20126216

                                           

"Just A Few Minutes, We Won't Get Wet"

"Just A Few Minutes, We Won't Get Wet"

12" x 9" Framed Oil Painting

#20018216
A Silent Auction Donation to the Generations Of Hope Fertility Fundraiser

Painting this was a labour of love. I took the reference photo when I was painting en plein air at the Sicamous Public Beach. These children looked like they must of been travelling as they were not in beach clothes but kept inching further and further into the water. It really reminded me of my kids when they were little and their pleas for just a little more beach time.

"Coming to Shore"

"Coming To Shore"

Oil on board 18 1/2" x 22 1/4" in silver metal frame

#20014116

I initially struggled with trying to figure out how to paint this one. The photo reference also had a bird (crane) in the front. I liked both features but then the painting was confusing... what was the focal point? I decided I would use the same photo reference and paint the bird as the focal point at a later date. I am really happy with this painting and enjoyed painting the larger format.

Summer Toys

"Summer Toys"

Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas with painted sides (framing not required)

18" x 36"       $500

#20028715

This painting is from a photo I had taken on Whidbey Island. I worked on it in Kelowna while I was looking after my convalescing Mom last winter. I was using the new Opus Artist Quality oil paints for the first time. They were interesting to mix with and the colours were slightly muted but I was happy with the result.

"Making Waves"

"Making Waves"

Oil on board, 16" x 20" 

A framed gift

I painted this as a surprise gift to our friend Brent. He is one of the summer "boys" that I have had the delight to go on early morning water skis summer after summer. Over the years I have given the other boys paintings, but so far this is my favourite. Below is my reference photo taken last summer. I was thrilled to get an action shot that was paintable.

"Waiting For Lunch"

"Waiting For Lunch"

Oil on board 12" x 16"

$225 unframed

I watched this bird (Heron?) patiently waiting for fish in Melaque Mexico. I had painted the background blue but the bird just got lost in it. I am much happier with the purplish/blue background. The water also had crocodiles so the bird stayed high on a cut off tree. I started off watching a crocodile, realizing he was watching the bird who was watching for fish (and probably the croc).

"Another Spectacular Day"

"Another Spectacular Day"

Oil on board 8" x 10"

This painting is of a view towards Oyama, B.C. The shapes of the clouds and reflective colours were amazing but a little dull in real life so I added my own touches. I really enjoyed both the view and the experience of painting this one. Painting the Kelowna/Sicamous areas is near and dear to my heart.

"Reed Dance"

"Reed Dance"

Oil on board 9" x 12" SOLD

I have been going through my photos to put a book together of my blog. My son has made me 3 as Christmas presents, but wasn't able to this year. I can truly appreciate how much time it took him now.

I had no idea of how many paintings I had not posted and Reed Dance was one. This painting was filled with a lot of texture as well as colour. I painted it on site in Lloyd Park just outside of Calgary, you can tell how much fun I was having.

"Waiting For PlayTime 2"

"Waiting For Playtime 2"

Oil on gallery wrap canvas (1 3/4" painted sides - frame not required)

40" x 30"
$1200
click on either painting for a larger view

This is one of my favourite paintings! I currently have it up in my dining room and enjoy it every time I go by. Summer and water are two of my favorite things and this painting captures them both, as well as the sense of warmth and play. This is one of the largest paintings I have done and am so happy with it.

Below is the first painting in acrylic from a reference photo showing more of the large dock system and the very small boat. I was really happy with it and found the wood panel I painted on showed the wood grooves which added to my interest. I liked it so much I wanted to paint it larger and in oil. My art friends (Debbie and Linda) suggested I make the small boat larger and leave out more of the large dock (they are sooooo art smart). I am enjoying the acrylic one in my art studio, reminders of summer with the long snowy winter looming ahead.

"Waiting For Playtime"

Acrylic on wood panel 15" x 16.5"

$250 framed in a brown frame painted to match the dock

Rest of Melaque Mexico sketchbooks photos

This is the wonderful homemade sketch book I received from Debbie. I kept it unused as it was to pretty and precious. It was time to enjoy the beautiful 5" x 5 1/2" blank pages of water colour paper on Gord and my Melaque, Mexico holiday...1 page for each day. This is the rest of the sketch paintings in water colour. I have enough unpainted pages left for another holiday!

More water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 

These sketches were done in the gift of a 5" x 5 1/2" handmade sketch book from my friend Deb. This wild door made me think of the Tree of Life. I loved the ornate metal and the wild wall colours. Don't you just want to go in and explore more?

As it was not prime season yet, the umbrella vendors had spare ones set up without the chairs and I loved their dancing reflections.

Water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 This summer Deb had made me a small travel water colour sketch book (5" x 5 1/2"). I had been taking it with me through out the summer, but thought it was to beautiful to use. I finally started on the first page and really enjoyed painting in it on this trip. I tried to paint a page a day but will use photos to finish the last couple. There is still enough pages for 1 more trip (thanks again Deb).

The first sunset was spectacular and the colours were vivid...perfect for my tastes! It was interesting painting in such a moist climate.

This beach was tucked away, we pretty much had it to ourselves. The water felt calm and serene.

Sicamous Public Beach plein air painting

This post was accidentally compositing in my "Draft" section of this blog so here is today's post:  This painting was purchased for a wonderful man as a thank you gift. It was important to buy local art to celebrate living in Sicamous B.C. Thank you Jeannie for your selection of this painting. 

 This is my painting in progress as I painted plein air (outdoors, on location) from the Sicamous, B.C. public beach. I found a nice shady spot under a huge tree. The park was not busy in the morning and other than early morning walkers and a few families, I was pretty much on my own. This is my painting in progress with the view of the public swim area and the boaters directional light post that caught my eye.

"View from Sicamous Public Beach"

9" x 12" oil on board

plein air   SOLD

#20022816A

Sicamous Public Beach plein air painting

This painting was purchased for a wonderful man as a thank you gift. It was important to buy local art to celebrate living in Sicamous B.C. Thank you Jeannie for your selection of this painting. 

 This is my painting in progress as I painted plein air (outdoors, on location) from the Sicamous, B.C. public beach. I found a nice shady spot under a huge tree. The park was not busy in the morning and other than early morning walkers and a few families, I was pretty much on my own. This is my painting in progress with the view of the public swim area and the boaters directional light post that caught my eye.

"View from Sicamous Public Beach"

9" x 12" oil on board

plein air   SOLD

#20022816A

Sicamous Public Beach plein air painting

This painting was purchased for a wonderful man as a thank you gift. It was important to buy local art to celebrate living in Sicamous B.C. Thank you Jeannie for your selection of this painting. 

 This is my painting in progress as I painted plein air (outdoors, on location) from the Sicamous, B.C. public beach. I found a nice shady spot under a huge tree. The park was not busy in the morning and other than early morning walkers and a few families, I was pretty much on my own. This is my painting in progress with the view of the public swim area and the boaters directional light post that caught my eye.

"View from Sicamous Public Beach"

9" x 12" oil on board

plein air   SOLD

#20022816A