Jun 20
Spring Bales 18″ x 24″
This painting helped me use up one of the tubes of yellow ochre that I have stockpiled. Sometimes when I’m at the art store, I have trouble remembering what colours I need. For some reason I always pick up a tube of yellow ochre. Even after this painting I still have two unopened tubes in my cupboard (but no burnt umber or sap green which I need most).
Oct 6
We spent a week in the Okanagan this summer. Our routine involved lots of swimming (unavoidable with kids) and lots of wineries – we just went for the scenery. Okay, maybe we tasted a little bit. The landscape included lots of farms, fields, fences, old buildings and ideas!
Sep 17
Tangled Trees 8 x 10
When a painting isn’t going well it can be extremely frustrating. More frustrating than missing the bus or listening to the kids fight or misplacing my phone. I get slightly obsessed with fixing the problem, and sometimes resort to painting out entire sections and redoing them. I guess I can chalk it up to learning and it is probably good for me.
Should I admit when a painting has been difficult? If I admit that I am not satisfied with my work, does that mean that others might try to pick out the problems? With respect to the painting above, I will say nothing and you can make up your own mind.
International 18 x 14
This tractor reminds me of the one that my grandad used to give me rides on when I was a kid. I’m not sure if his was an International – I think it might have been a Case. For you mechanical types out there, please don’t look too closely at the inner workings. I’ve only approximated the bits and pieces of the motor. I was not going for accuracy as much as for capturing the character of this well-used machine.
This painting will be included in my upcoming show at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch) at 1895 Venables Street. The opening is on September 5, 6pm-8pm. Please stop by if you are in the neighbourhood.
Apr 28
Winter Bales 18" x 14"
After finishing my Fine Arts degree, I stopped painting for several years. The job I took to pay the bills had nothing to do with art. I kept on drawing in my spare time, but without the direction and studio space provided by art class, I did not paint. I can’t remember what inspired me to pick up a brush again, but I do remember what I painted. It was an awful picture of hay bales that I did on cardstock. It was my first attempt at working with acrylics, and it did not turn out well. As bad as the painting was, it obviously sparked my interest in painting again. After practicing for a few years, I now love acrylics and I am much happier with my latest attempt at hay bales.
Apr 3
Vineyard at Mont Redon 11"x14" - painted in 2012
I painted this from an old photo that I took while traveling in France. It is the second time I’ve painted it. I wanted to try it again because my first attempt was many years ago (10 to be exact), and I think that my style has evolved since then. I deliberately did not look at the first painting before doing this one. However, I couldn’t help but compare them after I’d finished.
I can see that I have become less adventurous with my colour – or to put a positive spin on it, more accurate with my colour. I also see that I am more precise with shapes and forms. What I used to imply loosely, I now work to make more solid. I am not sure that this is a good thing. My older painting is shown below. (I apologize for the glare in this photo. It seems I have become more careful about photographing my work as well).
Vineyard at Mont Redon 16"x20" - painted in 2002
Buy Vineyard at Mont Redon (2012 version)
Mar 18
Old Grainery 8" x 10"
I recently met a new client who lives just a few blocks from me. She was interested in buying 2 paintings to give as 18th birthday gifts. For the first one, she chose Maple Trees, Jericho Park. For the second one, she expressed interest in my tiny painting of a grainery (shown here), but requested it at a larger size. Using the tiny one as a study, I created the new painting as an 8”x10”. These paintings will be traveling to the recipients in England. I know that some artists have trouble letting their work go, but I am very happy to pass my work along to others who appreciate it and find meaning in it. And I am very excited that it will be used to celebrate such a special occasion.
White Horse - Tiny Painting, 3" x 3"
I would love to be running through a sunny field of flowers right now. During my run today, I experienced snow, hail, rain and wind. Is anyone else as ready for summer as I am? I guess I will just keep painting it until it arrives.
Jan 14
Here are a couple more small paintings – 3” x 3”.
I gave away lots of little paintings for Christmas and I can’t seem to stop doing them. They do make perfect gifts!
I will soon be delivering these tiny paintings to Oh Brothers. They are 3” x 3”. I love working on these little canvases and hope to finish a bunch more before Christmas (might be perfect for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list…).
In other news, I just finished another painting, but I can’t post it here yet. I have submitted it to the Anonymous Show put on by the North Vancouver Arts Council. The show will consist of over 600 unsigned 8” x 8” paintings, all priced at $100. The sale and opening is on Nov. 24, 7-9:30pm. All the info is here.
Linen Theme by The Theme Foundry
Copyright © 2024 . All rights reserved.