Jan 2
Black-eyed Susans - 2" x 2"
Here are a few more of these tiny paintings. They are so much fun, but not necessarily easy. I have to constantly remind myself not to get too fussy with the details. I think the most successful of these are the ones where the details are generalized.
Grandma's Barn - 2" x 2"
Jericho Park - 2" x 2"
Red Graineries - 2" x 2"
These little paintings are available from my Etsy Store or you can send me a message directly.
Dec 6
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.
Nov 22
Mud and Sunshine 18" x 14"
I live in a city where it rains a lot. In spite of the amount of rain, we don’t have any mud. I’m not talking about the puddles or wet bits of dirt at the side of the street. Or even the squishy paths in the park. I mean real mud. Where I grew up, several miles from the nearest paved road, we had mud. Deep enough to for a car to get stuck in or for a child (me) to get their boots stuck in while walking to the school bus. (So stuck that their mom had to walk out into the muddy lane to rescue them).
Maybe it’s these (fond?) memories that attracted me to this muddy field, south of the city. The beautiful sun surprised me on a day that was supposed to be socked-in with rain. The sunshine only lasted an hour or so before the dark clouds rolled in again. It was long enough for me and the kids to have some fun, trudging around in the mud.
Garlic - Study 1
It ‘s hard to find painting time these days. Preparations for Thanksgiving, birthday parties and Halloween have all eaten into my painting time. I have finally finished my little garlic study. It has turned out a little moodier than I had planned, but overall, I am happy with it. I did struggle a bit – trying to decide how much of the underlying colour to keep and how white to make the garlic. Surprisingly, the area I had the most fun painting is the small area of plaid cloth in the foreground. I might have to try more of that.
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.
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.
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.
Sep 11
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.
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.
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