Thursday, December 30, 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Winter Tree, acrylic on canvas, 8x10

SOLD
I was experimenting with the optical mixing of colors in the foreground and  the "vibration" effect of the color n the sky.
It was so cold this morning that my paint froze on my palette.
Tomorrow I'll bring my oils...I don't think they'll freeze.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Ogden Point Sky, oil on canvas,8x10

SOLD
I was inspired by the sky this morning. It was rather cold and not many people were out walking till the painting was almost done.
I have mixed feelings about oil. I like that the color remains the same wet or dry. But I find the texture inconsistent. Some buttery some gooey some too stiff to work without medium. Plus the drying time is so inconsistent. And when the painting is finally dry it could go chalky in some parts and glossy in others....a problem remedied by varnishing....but the painting will likely be sold by the time it's ready for a coat of varnish.

This painting is for sale on an eBay auction.
Click to Bid

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Rising Tide, Holland Point Boxing Day, oil on panel 6x6in

SOLD
Brr, it was cold down by the water this morning. As I was painting a passerby warned me that I was becoming trapped by the tide. No real danger....just wet feet and muddiness. Gotta respect nature. Was the tide that brought in those tree roots in the painting.

This little painting is for sale on an eBay auction.
Click Here To Go To The Auction

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Holland Point, Christmas Day, oil on cradled panel, 6x6

SOLD
Merry Christmas!
What a glorious day we had. The sky was amazing. The sea was green. Everyone was out enjoying the spring like day. People were friendlier than usual and many people came over to see what I was painting. This little painting didn't really come together till the very end. The first few people asked if they could look and then either smiled sympathetically and said nice. Or someone even said hmmm and walked off. But in the last few minutes when it came together in a few bold strokes the onlookers made sounds of approval.
This painting is available for sale  at an E-bay auction. To view this auction click here:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180605017792&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Olympics, oil on panel, 6x6in

SOLD
The sky was dynamic this morning and I had to paint fast to capture it. That's the Olympic mountain range across the water.

This painting is available on an E-Bay auction with a starting bid of $40. To Bid click here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180604118513&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Woman in a Teal Dress, oil on panel, 6x6in

I did this little figure study today at Goward house. I premixed the flesh tones ahead of time. I found this worked well as I wanted to finish the painting in one sitting. I used a limited pallet to do my mixtures and brought along a few extra colors such as magenta just in case. I think there is pretty good color harmony. And I like the overall composition. Though her proportions could be adjusted.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Esquimalt Lagoon, acrylic on canvas, 8x10

SOLD
This is today's attempt done on the grounds of the Coast Collective on Esquimalt Lagoon.
I think I captured the feel of December in Victoria. A nice sketch to use as a reference for a larger painting.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Winter Morning, Victoria Scene, acrylic on , 8x10

SOLD
I did it! I broke up the horizontal line running through the foreground. I also kicked up the value contrasts and warmed up the white reflections on the water. I really like silhouette and back lighting.

Dalia's, acrylic 16x20

This is a studio work in progress. So far I like the depth.

Winter Morning, acrylic 8x10

The morning sky was dynamic and full of contrasts. The horizontal line cutting through the bottom 1/4 of the painting? Hmmn, I might try to change this if  my paint is still wet in my pallet. I'll see.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Winter Sky, oil on canvas, 8x8

SOLD
I finished this little painting just as the sun set and walked home in the dark.

I dropped the painting while I was walking up the stairs of my apartment building and got paint on the carpet. I did my best to clean it off but maybe I will switch back to acrylics for pleinair.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Rainy Night at James Bay Cafe 8x6 acrylic

Pardon the glare.

It's raining cats n' dogs. I did this tonight from inside the James Bay Cafe.
It's supposed to rain all week.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Holland Point Night Scene, 8x10 acrylic

This was fun to paint. I set out late and the sun was setting and the sky was dark with clouds. But I loved the oranges. Then it started spitting rain and no umbrella or light. I liked the result in spite of the raindrops on the paint. The foreground not so good.

I purchased a battery operated headlight!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Holland Point December, oil on panel, 6x6

sold
Here's a little oil with my water soluble oils. I used only water to thin the paint. I was using Artisan brand and I'm now trying Lukas Berlin brand and I really like the latter. They are buttery like quality traditional oils. The Artisan tend to be too pasty and not buttery.
As far as the painting goes....I'm still learning.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Beacon Hill Park Bridge, 8x10, acrylic on canvas

sold
This is another Beacon Hill Park Scene from last week. I painted on a black ground for a dramatic effect. I like the high contrast but some of the brush strokes could be improved.

Beacon Hill Park, 8x10 oil on canvas

This is this morning's effort at Beacon Hill Park. It is the scene across the pond from where I was. Brr a cold morning.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Henry the Heron 6x6 acrylic on cradled panel

SOLD
This is Henry the Heron, year round resident of Beacon Hill Park. He came right up to me and posed. I caught his expression. I'm told that he's been a resident of Beacon Hill Park since he fell from his nest 15 years ago and people from a nearby apartment rescued him.

Xmas Parade

Last night's scene from the corner of Government Street and Humbolt. Nice, eh.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Mt Doug 16X20 acrylic on canvas

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It was cold and snowy today and I didn't even poke my head outdoors.  I did this based on a small sketch from an alfresco paint out the other day at mount doug. That morning was rainy and there was a pinkness to everything.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Gonzales Park View, 8x10 acrylic

This morning's effort at the Gonzales Park Observatory. It was cold and gray but the stoic Alfrescoes were there painting away.
I was at the Emily Carr exhibit yesterday. Can you see the influence?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mt Doug

Here's the pleinair I did yesterday with the Alfrescoes. It's 16X20, acrylic. I felt influenced by Emily Carr and I wanted to do one in her style. But the plein air fell short of that so I used the sketch to create one after her style today in my studio.


I like it. I can sure see Emily's art in the landscape.
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Mums, acrylic 8x10

I revisited these mums today. I felt there was too much purple so I changed the background color to yellow and then to this yellow blue. Hmmn

November Garden, 6x6, acrylic on cradled panel

sold
Made a few changes. Improvement?

November Garden, 6x6, acrylic on cradled panel

I stood in the misty rain painting this at James Bay Community Garden this morning. This is from a small raised bed that has a little sign in it not to pick (Meaning the flowers, I guess. The sign is cute though).
I used a variety of artist acrylic paint including Golden Open...I wouldn't have used this brand on a rainy day but I wanted magenta and it was what I had.
Sometimes I love a rainy day. I have this luxury because I have a warm dry place to go when my painting is done.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ogden Point November Morning, 8x10, acrylic on canvas

A damp beach day. Remembrance Day today. I could hear the ceremony guns firing while I painted. I think it somehow flavored the painting.
The sun is trying to break through the clouds.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Victoria November, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

This morning's effort looking towards Fonyo Beach from Holland Point. It was cloudy but can you feel the sun trying to break through.
As I type this the sky is clear and the sun shining.
If you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes eh.

I used a limited pallet on this: Cad red mid, Ultramarine, and cad yellow light, plus titanium white.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mums, acrylic 8x10

This is this afternoons efforts with the sketch club. I love flowers!

Poppies in a Jar, 8x10 acrylic on canvas

It was so windy today that I was easily tempted by Peggy's offer of three oriental poppies from the community garden. I still want to add a few touches to this painting. I want to add the dark purple centre of the closest poppy and add some lighter and darker shadows in the blue background.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Mt Doug 8x10 acrylic

Yeah, I did say I wouldn't touch my paintings after I got them home but this one had drips from the rain. So I made a few changes. I blued the distant background and added some warms to the foreground.

Mt Doug Park, 8x10, acrylic on canvas

This is my effort this morning with the AlFrescoes at Mt Doug Park. It was gently raining and there was a lot of atmosphere. It was fun.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Holland Point November

Holland Point facing the Olympics. That's Port Angeles across the water. I wonder if someone's painting Holland Point from there.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Garden Prince, 6x6, acrylic on wood

This little cement frog inspired me this morning at the Al Fresco paint-out. The perfect model...didn't move an inch!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Figure Studying, 6x6, acrylic on wood

This is a quick figure study I did at this morning's Sketch Club paint in. We had a model posing with a spinning wheel but I felt more inspired by the back lit figure across the studio.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Brown Eyed Cutie, 6x6in, acrylic on panel

It was pouring rain this morning so I didn't go out to do a plein air in the James Bay Community Garden this morning. But I did pick this little brown eyed daisy (from out side the fence) yesterday. Didn't have a proper vase but I love wild flowers in jars.
Well, I was just dying to try my new Winsor and Newton Artist Acrylics. They claim no color shift from wet to dry. This is my finding: They don't have color shift but I find that even the opaques are more transparent than they should be. Even the cads and titanium white. Also, when I squeezed my brand new cad red a lot of pure acrylic polymer fluid came out so there was separation. This was a brand new tube of expensive paint so maybe isn't binding as good as it should.
In spite of these cons I will give the W&N a second chance because I have been so dissapointed with the color shift in my Kroma Acrylics. It is most noticeable in my landscapes. I paint a nice bright sunny day painting and then when the paint dried it looks like I was painting an overcast day because of the acrylic paint darkenning as it dries.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Boat 3, 6x6, oil on panel

Yesterday's painting. These folks were doing a work on their live-a-board. I think some more contrast would work better..even more contrast to define the figures better.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Boat, 6x6, oil on cradled panel

Another boat. I'm told that this little boat will be moored in this spot all winter. So I will get to practice painting it again.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Nude Figure, 16x20, oil on canvas

This is today's effort at a life drawing afternoon with the Victoria Sketch Club. I had decided in advance to do a loose painting after Modigliani. This sitting would only be an hour and I didn't want the pressure of an attempt at realism.
When I left the Sketch Club I was decided upon wiping off the canvas when I got home to reuse it for better work. But as I was toting the painting across the parking lot my neighbor's little boy (5ish) said he really liked it. I take the opinions of children on art seriously so I'll not take the rag to it.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Boat, oil on wood, 6x6

I did this little plein air knife painting today in the inner harbor. It was a gray day and I think I captured this in this little gem. This little boat has been moored there the past few days...and maybe will be there for the winter so I'll get more chances to paint it.
  I'm practicing knife painting. I like the texture and my patrons are demanding empasto.  Also, there's the bonus of not having to clean brushes. Knife painting is my new exciting challenge. If I can manage to master the technique I'll be forever content. (Maybe)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Fonyo Beach 6x6 acrylic on wood

sold
Here's yesterday's painting in acrylic. Yes, there are differences but I wasn't trying to make a replica. Nice texture and cute as a button.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Fonyo Beach, 6x6, oil on wood

SOLD
Fonyo beach this morning. I enjoy these miniatures with a pallet knife. I think I will do more of these. The only drawback is that oil takes forever to dry so it gets on  everything for days.



Monday, October 4, 2010

Autumn Colors

I painted this scene from the picnic table near the little yachtsman pond on Dallas Road. The maple tree is in full autumn colors this morning.

1538 lacing Up