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Posts from the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Mar 15

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More Inspiration from Jericho Park

Sailboat, Jericho Park 14"x 18"

Jericho Park is about a 5 minute walk from where I live. It is a beautiful place to visit with its forest trails, sandy beach, grassy fields, duck pond and sailing club. It also seems to be generating lots of painting ideas for me (see my previous post about my favourite tree).

I must have passed by this little sail boat 100 times as it sat abandoned on the path behind the sailing club. I always admired the way it seemed to glow even on the grayest of days (lots of those here in Vancouver). I am so glad that I took some photos of it one sunny morning, because one day when I walked past, it was gone.

I think it’s safe to say that there will be more paintings of Jericho Park in my future. It would be fun to do a series of all of my favourite spots. Which one should I do next…

P.S. This painting will be for sale at my April show at the Jericho Arts Centre.

Mar 6

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Thank you Melissa. Thank you Linny.

I am very pleased to have an article posted on 365 Days of Genius – Melissa Dinwiddie’s site about creativity. Since writing doesn’t really come naturally to me, I have to thank Melissa for her encouragement and coaching with this article. If you are involved in any sort of creative endeavor, you’ll find some great articles and resources on this site.

On a related note, I also would like to thank Linny D. Vine for mentioning me on her blog. I shared some photos of the Mayerthorpe grain elevator with her and she created the most beautiful painting. Please go have a look.

Feb 27

My Favourite Tree

Catalpa Tree, Jericho Park 14" x 18"

This is a painting of my favourite tree. It is on my jogging route in Jericho Park and I run by it three times a week. (Okay, sometimes only twice a week). It is lumpy, twisted, lop-sided and beautiful. I’ve loved this tree for a long time, but have to admit that I didn’t know what kind it was. As I was painting this tree, I knew that I really must find out what it was, so enlisted the expertise of Dawn at the Jericho Stewardship Group. After some investigating, she informed me that it is called a Catalpa Tree.

This painting shows the landscape and tree in the winter. I realize how lucky I am to live in a climate with such a bright green winter. Even so, I think I would like to try this again in the summer, when the Catalpa has its leaves and the park looks a bit warmer. In summer, as you might imagine, the long, lower branch is often full of children who find it easy to climb. Another reason this tree is so well-loved.

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Jan 25

Two more little pictures

Dirt Road 2" x 2"

Cow 2" x 2"

Both of these are inspired by the Alberta landscape.

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Jan 4

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Tiny Pumpkin

Pumpkin - Tiny Painting (1 of 3)

Pumpkin - Tiny painting 2" x 2"

Another tiny painting complete (actually I did three of these). You might notice some resemblance to the pumpkin image in my blog header above (see larger pumpkin here). I used the same reference image for both. The large one was painted about a year ago.

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Dec 6

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Tiny Paintings

I recently was asked to do some little paintings to be used as client Christmas gifts for a design company. (Okay, so the design company is owned by my husband – I guess I should mention that). Anyway, I was so excited to try working on these tiny paintings and immediately saw the potential for holiday gift ideas.

We found some cute 2” x 2” canvases at the art store that came with a mini display easel. I decided to do 3 or 4 at a time (of the same image) – an efficient use of time and paint. Although the images repeat, each painting is original and different. I have just started on my fifth set, and I think I am hooked! I love that in 2 hours, I can finish 3 paintings.

Oct 11

Summer Produce

Summer Produce 11" x 14"

As I write this post it is chilly and has been drizzling all afternoon. It is getting dark, and it’s only 6:15. This painting takes me back to a hot August day when we drove to the farm. As you can see, we brought home a little bit of everything. The most exciting find on that day was the garlic – both for the taste and the look of it. It is so much fun to paint. At first glance, it is white. But if you look more closely, it has all kinds of beautiful undertones: purple, pink, blue and yellow. I am tempted to try another study of this garlic so I can play with the intensity of these colours. But on this cold, rainy night, I am happy to be having it on my pizza.

Sep 29

Small Town Highrise

Small Town Highrise
This is the grain elevator in my hometown of Mayerthorpe, Alberta. It’s the second time I’ve painted it. The first one I painted recently found a home with a long-time friend— you can see it here. This elevator was built in 1929 and is now a historical sight.

P.S. I just had to include a link to these great cardstock elevator sculptures (including Mayerthorpe)—check out this blog Vanishing Sentinels.

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Sep 11

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Autumn Poplars and photo reference

This is my second post comparing a painting to the photo I painted it from.

This one was done a few years ago. It is interesting to me to look at older work, because it always seems like it was done by someone else. I do remember working on this painting, but I can’t remember how or why I decided to use that vibrant purple, both in the foreground and background. But I’m glad I did, because I think it works. If I did this same painting today, I would probably make different colour choices. It worries me that I’m not as adventurous with colour as I used to be. I know that my style will evolve and change (hopefully in a good way), but I have to remind myself to be open to the happy accidents that can happen, and not to be afraid to experiment.

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Sep 6

Lily Leaves

Lily Leaves - 10" x 10"

Some people paint flowers, but I seem to be more interested in the leaves. I am quite happy with how this painting turned out. My husband suggested that the dramatic lighting and the pebbly bottom make it look like an aquarium and that adding a neon tetra swimming in the foreground would make it perfect. Helpful, isn’t he?

Anyway, I am happy with the dramatic, moody feeling. (And will not be adding any fish).

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