Sunday, June 21, 2009

Wedding Party

I had great fun with this one. It is called "The Wedding Party". I also had "The Groom" and "The Bride"!  I have another one drawn out with the farm in the background and a few roosters waiting for the girls to finish chatting. Very whimsical once again. This too is watercolor on cold-pressed paper. The one i prefer the most is Arches.  

June

A year ago i went to Holland to see the Van Gogh museum. What a thrill that was, and one i highly recommend.  While i was there i went to a few galleries of course and in one i saw these fantastic cow paintings. I just thought they were so wonderful and heartwarming. So much so, i had to paint some of my own when i came home! So i went around the countryside and took some photos of livestock and began my bovine series. They were well received with all of them selling. Yahoo!  I haven't done a cow painting for a while so I'm thinking it is time once again to delve into my files and find some interesting critters to include in a new painting.   
This one I called "June" and she was done in watercolors on Arches 300 lb. Cold pressed paper.    
This is another of my reflection series. The original boat was tied up at a dock in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. It is such a joy to do the water paintings as i have fun with the colors and do not stay true to the local color instead having fun with different hues and values. A strong pattern is what draws me to a piece initially as i like to spend a lot of time with the drawing phase of things. The middle part of a painting is the hardest for me when it does not look like much at all. The ending is exciting for me because with watercolors of course that is when you can go in with those beautiful darks which makes the whole piece come together. I have ideas for another water series which i cannot wait to get started on. This piece is sold. 
I took a photo of these birds on a fence when we were on vacation on Gabriola Island this past summer. I just loved the way they were gathered there just enjoying the late afternoon sun. I just had to include them 
in a painting and called this one "The Gathering". It is watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold pressed watercolor paper.  

Low Tide

This is one of my favorite paintings to date. 
It is an imaginary harbor town loosely based on 
Staithes in England. I love to do whimsical type of paintings and once the drawing process commences the ideas start to flow and the villages take on a life of their own. I've done quite a few similar ones and most are sold so i shall keep on with it i suppose.

Still Waters

One of my first reflection paintings. I loved doing the patterns and the different shapes. It started a new path for me in a way and i ventured out to the coast several times to gather new images. Early in the morning is best when the light is fresh and new and the water still. 
This is a watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold pressed paper.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Painting Boats!



I loved painting boats but one day discovered there was a lot more going on in the water instead.
So i began paying attention to the reflections in the water and lowering my camera a bit.
The result was an epiphany of sorts. The reflections in the water were far more fascinating to me than the boat on the surface.   I then began to paint these reflections and the patterns i saw there.
 A series of reflection paintings emerged and i have since made several trips to the coast to replenish my supply of these types of photos. Hopefully i'll be able to post some of these paintings soon but am still working on that. Until then do take care, and may God bless.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Bella & Paulo

My beautiful Bella with Paulo in the background. 
She is unhappy because i have to leave without her.
She always wants to be with me and i would love to take her all the time but in the studio she would just end up covered with paint. Sigh! Poor Bella.