Sep 13
Yellow Zucchini - 10" x 10"
I don’t think I’ve painted anything so yellow before. I know I haven’t, because I have had the same tube of cadmium yellow light in my paintbox for a couple of years and haven’t had to replace it. Today I am off to the art store to get some more.
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).
Aug 28
Potato - study 1
It seems like it has taken forever for me to finish this painting. Not that I’ve been working on it much – just looking, trying to decide what to do with it. I’m not quite happy with it, but I don’t know what to change. I’ve tried a few things and now I feel like it’s on the verge of being overworked. I think the best thing to do now is to move on to another painting.
I have a couple of ideas. We stopped at the farm the other day and got some colourful zucchinis and beautiful (and tasty) garlic that will definitely end up in a painting. Just look at it:
I would also like to do a little study of tiger lily leaves that I’ve been noticing around my neighbourhood. I like how some curve around perfectly and how others seem to reach the ground by bending at a series of angles – and the pattern of shadows they all make together. I am really drawn to the patterns of nature and how they can be random and organized at the same time. Time to go sketch out some ideas.
Strawberries - study 1
So here is my study of the strawberries. I finished it last week and it is now in the show at Small Ritual.
I don’t usually work this small (8” x 8”), but it allowed me to really focus in on the berries (which is the whole point of the study, isn’t it?). This small size felt freeing to me. There wasn’t the usual burden of expectation of a larger painting. If it worked, fine. If not, well it only took a few hours. It also reminded me of the frame of mind I should always have when painting, and that’s to think of every painting as a study. It really takes the pressure off and let’s me enjoy the process, rather than getting too concerned with the end result. (Easier said than done).
Anyway, about the strawberries… I am happy with how this turned out, but perhaps if I do another one I would try to loosen up a little. I had intended for my reds to be brighter and to have a more expressive brush stroke. It’s funny how the painting seems to have its own direction, separate from my intentions. Now it’s time to move on to potatoes!
Farm Fresh 16" x 16"
I am discovering that I love to paint fruit and vegetables. I really enjoyed doing the strawberries. That is not to say that they were easy. It took me a few tries before I figured out how to paint them. The danger when working with acrylics is that things can quickly become overworked and these berries are on the verge. I would like to follow up this painting with a smaller study focusing on just the strawberries and see if I could do better the second time around.
I would also like to do a study of the potatoes, not because they were difficult, but because they were so much fun. In this painting, I think of them as the spectators (taters?) watching over the strawberries. But they have such personality that they threaten to steal the show. They definitely need their own painting. Watch for more produce paintings coming soon!
Louise's House
This one took me a while to finish (that’s what happens when the kids are out of school), but I really enjoyed working on it. Louise was my grandma and this is the house where she lived and raised her 11 children. My grandma has been gone for several years now, and although this picture shows the house in disrepair, it brings back great memories and warm thoughts for me (and hopefully for my many aunts, uncles and cousins too).
Jul 5
Leaning Fence
I saw this fragile looking fence beside a country road near my hometown of Mayerthorpe, Alberta. When I go home to visit, I always come back with lots of painting ideas from the town itself as well as the surrounding countryside. My brother or dad will usually take me for a drive so I can take lots of photos. It is a task that requires their patience as I continually shout out “Stop here! No, back up.” At this point I often jump out and hike around in the ditch to find just the right view-point. Then I get back in and we repeat this process a mile down the road. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do!
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