Another dog portrait

This friendly face is Muggins. His picture was so cute and expressive, not to mention the dress up clothes that I just had to try and paint him. I painted the whole birch board with a mixed orange under painting and then painted him on top. I have now tried a water colour (Buddy), an acrylic (Bronte) and Muggins is in oil. I am happy with the results and think I captured cute Muggins.

Oil on birch board

10 1/2" x 13" unframed
click on painting to see a larger view
SOLD

Salmon River Run

This picture was a real challenge for me as I had no idea on how to tackle it!! I love the final painting though. Standing away from it, you can tell it is Salmon in water with rocks, but up close it is very abstract. Last year the salmon run was a record breaking year in B.C. It was really amazing to see. These two salmon were resting in very shallow water. I would love to tackle this one in a larger format.

Oil painting on birch panel

10 1/2" x 13" unframed
click on painting to see a larger view

Oil painting as an MRU Grad gift

This is a painting I did from a photo Curtis (our son) took early in the morning of the plane he was about to fly. The sky colours were amazing and reflected perfectly on the white plane. I painted this in oil as a grad gift for Curtis as he graduates from Mount Royal University with a Commercial Aviation diploma. We are very proud of him!

 The painting currently hangs in the Mount Royal University library as part of the 100 year anniversary for MRU. I surprised him with the gift by showing it to him hanging in the library.

Oil painting 16 x 20 MRU Grumman Cougar plane

Another MRU mural panel (#166)

I was invited to paint another panel for the MRU 100 year celebration mural. This mural and information can be looked at: http://www.mtroyal.ca/100/mural100.htm This panel is not on the website yet. My previous panel is #48 is up on the website. My son's panel (Curtis Oliver) is not showing on the website yet either. I had to work with the base colours and shapes on the panel so it will fit in the final picture. The original panel shows when you click on the individual pictures as well as the write up and fuller view on the website. The completed mural and final picture will be celebrated in September, I can hardly wait!!!

Panel #166  “Transition to University – old logo to new”

The old College logo, new University logo, and 100 year anniversary logo are all celebrated on this panel.

The MRU 100 logo is also a small piece of the university’s history as it represents this historical year. The cougar tracks are across both to represent our mascot and to celebrate the continued journey.

Fall in Chase

This oil painting is my interpretation of a beautiful fall day taken by Sue Bingham in Chase, B.C. Her photographs are often an inspiration for me and she willingly shares her talents. I love pictures I feel invited into!

I was painting this in the Robert Wood's class and Deb suggested that I paint the sky in the background instead of the brown hill. Robert helped with the colour and he added the blue on the ground and tree trunks for me. It was amazing to see it brighten up further. It was such a bold use of a colour that was not in the picture! I really did not like it until it was added to the trees. This photo does not show the colours in the painting well.

Oil on canvas 16" x 20" 1/2" deep with painted sides, no frame required

Bronte, a pet dog portrait

My good friend Joan sent me a picture of Bronte with her Xmas bow tie on when I requested one to use as a resource to try and paint another dog. I changed the colour of the tie and did not paint the Christmas tree in the background. I really enjoyed painting Bronte as she is so expressive, a really loving, pet me, pet me, tail wagging friendly spirit. I painted her with acrylic on birch board. I have this portrait framed in a metal frame and have her up on our coffee room wall at work (for a little while)...fitting as she likes people so much!!

"Bronte" Acrylic on Birch board approx. 13" x 15"

Finished oil painting

I had a hard time trying to get the background hills/mountains the right value, but am really happy with the finished picture. It evokes the feeling of calm and warmth to me. Again the photo is more muted than the painting.

Oil on canvas 16" x 20" 1/2" deep with painted sides, no frame required.

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"

Calgary sky, winter 2011

This is an oil painting of a beautiful winter sky in Calgary. It was taken from the parking lot at work. I painted it on birch panel in oil. I had Robert E. Wood's suggestions and help during the oil painting class, I and 3 of my Creative Path Artists are currently enjoying. This is such a different medium for me, lots to learn but fun creating with it. Again, the colours are much more vibrant in the real painting! I haven't quite figured out why the colours look so bland once transferred to this blog! Anyone with any ideas?

"Calgary Winter Sky" oil on birch panel 12"x15.5"

First Animal Portrait - a heartfelt gift

"Buddy" Water colour on 140lb paper 10.5" x 14"

I watched and did a "paint-a-long" to Pat Weaver's "Animal portraits in watermedia" of my Mom's dog "Buddy". I was really happy with the way this water colour pet portrait turned out. I brought it to my class for background ideas as I had a pale yellow-orange background and was not happy with it. I pulled and added the same colour from the collar into the background which gave the dog more definition. Buddy is a wonderful friend to my Mom and really the whole family. I have matted this picture to 16 x 20 and will deliver it the next time I go to B.C. Love you Mom!