Bronte 2 - A pet portrait

"Bronte 2"    SOLD

8" x 8"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is the second portrait I have done of Bronte. She is so expressive and full of loving character, she is a joy to paint. Every year my friend Joan takes a picture of Bronte by the Christmas tree and sends it out as an e-card to spread Christmas cheer. With my artistic license in hand, I play with colours and discard the Christmas tree. You can tell how impressed she was of this event...trusting but weary.

"Toast to Maui Sunset #2"

This version is with "unrealistic" colours and of course a lot of colour. It was fun to go through the colour wheel deciding what I would like to do (love the artistic license!). I also chose a larger format this time to give me more freedom to play with the colours.

"Toast To Maui Sunset #2"

14" x 18" oil on 3/4" panel with black painted sides

$125

Phoenix Rocks! 3

 

 

These are the last of the thank you gifts hidden outside in the front and back yard as well as the bowl of "flavoured jelly beans" in the bedroom by the candy machine. It was certainly fun looking for and painting rocks. As it was over the Christmas vacation, Phoenix was very quiet and I enjoyed being outside painting these.

 

"Travelling Brothers" - Tyson and Shawn

Our daughter's birthday is on Feb 7 but we celebrated tonight as a family; she is working out of town on her birthday. The photo I based this painting on was taken by Brianna Shoucair of their friend Tyson hiking in Tofino at sunset. We found the photo mesmerizing as there was a yellow orb on Tyson's back. The orb could not be from the sun as it is on Tyson's back facing away from the sun. I have read from many different sources when orb's show up on photographs, it is their loved ones that have passed; travelling with them. Kristen and I both thought of Shawn when we saw the photo...2 of her favorite people travelling together.

"Travelling Brothers"

Oil on canvas 16" x 20" with 1 1/2" painted sides

Not For Sale
Click on image for a larger view

 

Happy Early Birthday Kristen!!! XXX OOO

 

Phoenix Rocks 2

This is the second set of rocks painted as a thank you gift left out in Joan and Ross' Phoenix home over the Christmas holiday. I was absolutely delighted to find the rock shaped like an iguana's head. They had dried cactus "driftwood" by their fountain so I just added the head to make this garden monster.

 

Phoenix Rocks 1

 

These are rocks that I painted and left as a thank you gift for our friends Joan and Ross. We enjoyed a warm week in Phoenix over Christmas while we waited to celebrate later with our kids as they were both working.

Open Figure Painting

I decided at the last moment to go to an open (no instructor) figure drawing/painting evening. There is a live model who does very short poses while the artists quickly draw and warm up. The model then goes into half an hour poses so there is time to put in more than big shapes. I have only gone once before and although intimidated by the art work created, really enjoyed the experience. This night was no different except for the male model. He was very professional and the whole evening flew by.

I am going to have to go more often as I learn so much by observing and translating the human body. I don't like to draw or go by myself so the whole event is a challenge for me. Here is my art from a couple of the longer poses (covered up for child viewing):

 

 

These were done on large newsprint paper 36" x 23" with charcoal, conte and large child sized pastels.

 

 

 

 

"Blue Jar Of Happiness"

What a great way to bring warmth indoors...with flowers and paint! The actual jar/vase was green but seeing how I had an artistic license in hand and a favourite colour in mind.....ta da, blue vase.

"Blue Jar of Happiness"

9" x 12" Oil on canvas board
$100 unframed

"Warm/Cool Figure"

This was painted after the Calgary FCA Holly McWilliams workshop. We had painted the figure in her workshop with the warm being on her front and the cool on her back. I painted it again at home (smaller) but reversed the way she is facing and worked on her front being cool and back warm. You can see the previous painting on Tuesday, November 26 2013.

"Warm/Cool Figure"

Oil on canvas board 16" x 8"

"Winter Tulips"

I painted this during one of our snow storms. I needed and wanted something bright and cheery to offset the dreary outside blowing snow. This was painted with brushes and a palette knife, very textural and with the dark background the tulips pop out. It is fun to look at as well as brightens my art studio.

"Winter Tulips"

Oil on board 8" x 8" 
$75 unframed (plus shipping)

 

I really enjoy this 8" x 8" format for flowers as it looks great unframed on a small table easel in my studio....love when I can paint and enjoy it right away!