Plein Air painting at Salmon Arm, B.C. "W.O.W." event

I decided to go and paint in Salmon Arm B.C. and then take in the W.O.W. (Wednesday On The Wharf) weekly free evening live music. I painted the view (top photo) 8"x10" and then thought I still had time to try another view in a larger format (12"x16"). What I did not account for is the very interested visitors that were gathering for the show as well as walking along the long dock. A very nice gentlemen took the photo of me and my painting in progress AND showed me how to take better photos on my phone.   I knew I felt relaxed and was enjoying myself when 2 ducks decided to have their afternoon nap at my feet! What a great afternoon and evening. The band "West My Friend" was fabulous and entertaining.

Purple Dance

Purple Dance

Plein Air Oil on canvas board 8" x 10"

$75 unframed      #20013915

Instead of a vista, this time I looked for something closer at hand. These flowers were in the arched gate entrance to the back yard in Sicamous. It felt strange setting up my easel in the driveway, but enjoyed the fact I didn't have to pack everything so far.

Sicamous Public Beach View

I found a shady spot under a very large tree next to the sandy public beach. The sky started out clear but quickly turned very smokey resulting in very pale muted background mountains and hills and a very flat view. It a very peaceful scene and as I was painting early in the morning, the beach was empty except for 1 family so very calm and peaceful as well. The view is just left of my easel with the channel marker for the boats going in and out of the channel.

Sicamous Public Beach View

8" x 10" Plein Air Oil on canvas board

$75 unframed   #20010915

Sicamous Creek Falls 2 and 3

These are the second and third paintings that I did on a very hot day in August. I was completely unaware of the audience I had watching me from the large rocks above me and was quite startled when they started talking to me! I loved the green colour of the water with the algae on the rocks below, a very shady undisturbed area.

Sicamous Creek Falls 2

Plein Air, Oil on board 5" x 7"

#20019815     $20 unframed

Sicamous Creek Falls 3

Plein Air, Oil on gallery wrapped canvas 9" x 9" (see painted top below)

#20019815A         $80 no framing required

Sicamous Creek Falls

I painted standing just below these falls. It was pleasantly cool in the shade with the spray heading my way, perfect for a very hot August day. The water pooling was a very interesting green from the mossy rocks below. I was having so much fun enjoying myself that I painted 2 other small paintings using a variety of different colours for the under painting (next posting).

Sicamous Creek Falls

12" x 9" Oil on board plein air

$100 unframed  #20014815

Hyde Mountain Golf Course, Sicamous B.C.

"Hyde Mountain Golf Course view of Mara Lake"

10" x 8" oil on canvas board

$75 unframed

#20005815

The view is absolutely stunning from the deck of the Hyde Mountain Golf Course. I went up early and set up my easel at the edge of the deck soaking in the beautiful view of Mara Lake below and beyond. It was very smokey which added a real pink haze to the sky and water. As the sun was trying to burn through the colours were changing quickly and lightening up. There were no golfers having breakfast yet so I had the deck all to myself and happily painted away.

Smokey Enderby Cliffs

 I stopped in Enderby after the opening night of the 27th Annual Ribbon Show in the Armstrong Spallumcheen Art Gallery. It was still smokey from the forest fires which gave the Enderby cliff's really interesting colours. I found a spot near where people come out from rafting the river, enjoying all the happy voices. Between the smoke and the fading sun I had to paint quickly to capture the colours before they muted away. The top picture is the painting in progress and you can still see a little of the beautiful colours in the cliffs in the background. I worked on the foreground when the light was fading and the water colours were muted. Generally forest fires are not enjoyed but they do change the colours and soften shapes...another wonderful evening in B.C.

"Smokey Enderby Cliffs"

8" x 10" plein air oil on board

$75 unframed

#20023715

Sparkling Hill Resort Plein Air

"Sparkling Hill View"

8" x 10" Oil on board

$75 unframed

#20017715

On my way to Kelowna at the end of May, I stopped at the Sparkling Hill Resort to paint the gorgeous views. I found a shady spot on a walking path just below the entrance and filled my senses with the sounds, sights and smells of this beautiful location. The colours were a wonderful variety with the hills in purples and oranges and the grasses a vivid yellow green. I turned my easel slightly to the left and had a completely different view to paint the second painting. It felt like the world and time stopped while I painted, I felt so lucky.

"Sparkling Hill View 2"

8" x 10" Oil on board

&75 unframed

#20017715A

Blooming Pink

"Blooming Pink"

Plein Air Acrylic on Board

8" x 8" unframed  $65

#20107415

The second photo is of my plein air set up in our Sicamous yard. I would like to be able to paint plein air (outdoors on site) with acrylic because of it's drying factor when done. The trouble I have is it dries on the brush before I can get it on the canvas. I love the wow factor in the colours but need more practice blending. Fortunately Sicamous is rich in colours and subjects so I won't run out of things to try painting with acrylic.

"Sparkling Hills"

I painted this on site at the Sparkling Hills Spa near Vernon B.C. this past summer. It was so peaceful and warm. I found a shady spot and painted to my heart's content. This is the second of 2 painted that day. The other painting can be seen if you click here.

"Sparkling Hills"

9" x 12"

Oil on board, plein air 

$150 unframed

"Red Canoe"

This plein air painting was done at Gardom Lake, B.C. My husband Gord and friends Chris and Bruce were biking the Salmon Arm/Armstrong loop. I happily painted on site at Gardom Lake waiting for their arrival with cold drinks and fruit. The view, sounds of birds, calm water, no motor boats and kids happy sounds were a feast for my soul. Below is my set up with the final painting underneath it.

"Red Canoe"

12" x 9" Oil on board

Plein Air painting