Darlene Young Canadian Artist

1217 Hansa Rose, 8x10, oil

1216 White Peony in a Mason Jar, 8x10, oil

I'm still preparing my panels. Today I put about 8 coats of gesso on about 40 paintings in the shed and still have some on the table to do with my current batch of traditional primer. They need to dry at least two days before I can go on the the next step. I also have a pile of sealed panels waiting to be primed once I clear the table and shed.

44 panels drying

21 panels ready for gesso

86 waiting their turn

1215 White Peony, 4"x4" miniature, oil

This is a miniature painting 4"x4".
I've been working on my painting panels. Today I sealed them with rabbit skin glue. I was going to do them all in the shed but there are too many so some are drying indoors.

1214 White Peony, 6x6, oil on cradled panel

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1213 Peonies, 8x10 oil on wood panel

I've been completing paintings that I started and set aside a ways back. This one I painted in a grisaille last year and only just now added color.
There's some that I started many years ago and forgot about completely.

The thing is that I"m getting low on panels so I've been going through old paintings considering painting over them.

Anyway, I just had 151 panels cut from some 1/4inch baltic birch plywood. I spent a few days sanding it smooth (My shoulder is now paining me). As soon as the weather gets nice I'll seal them and put a few layers of traditional gesso on the front. This process takes several days but the finished product results in the most exquisite painting surface. Silky smooth and perfect for applying egg tempera. Here's what 151 baltic birch panels looks like:

I will seal all sides with warm Rabbit Skin Glue and then apply a traditional gesso that i make with rabbit skin glue and calcium carbonate (Marble dust). Then I sand it smooth with wet ultra fine sand paper or I scrape it with a blade. The result is amazing. There is no painting panel I could buy at any price that compares with the quality of the ones I make the traditional way. After I finish the painting and write the date, title, and conservation information on the back I I seal it with shellac to keep atmospheric moisture from causing warping over the years.

151 panels should last me about a year. Plus I do the odd large painting on stretched canvas.

1212 Bluebird and Peonies, 8x10, oil on board

I love painting ceramic birds. They are like a character in my work. They add a charming narrative.

1211 Poppy Party, 8x10, oil

This is a plenaire painting I did in my garden last summer.

1210, Gaspe Coast, 8x10, oil

Here's another painting that was left un finished on a shelf in my studio a few years. It was like pulling teeth to bring them down and work on them. I'm so glad I did.

1209 Poppy Garden, 8x10, oil

I started this last year, en plenaire in my garden. I got distracted and left it unfinished until yesterday.

1208 Bluebird and Daisies, 8x10, oil

I know it isn't a bluebird. But it sort of is.

1207 Tabagie, 6x6, egg tempera

I've done a similar scene in oils but decided to give it a try in egg tempera.

1206 Chez Schwartz, 4x4, egg tempera

Here's another Schwartz Deli painting. I am selling it as a set with the previous one.

1205 Schwartz's Deli, 6x6, egg tempera

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Here's a little gem on a 6"x6" cradled panel.

1204 The Jacques Cartier Bridge, 8x10, egg tempera

I like the effect of looking at the bridge through the trees. It gives a strong feeling of depth in this work.

1203 Montreal Skyline, 8x10, egg tempera

Here's another view of the Montreal skyline from Hochelaga balcony. A peaceful spring day.

1203 Montreal Skyscape (Hochelaga) Work in progress

I've been working on this egg tempera piece the past two days. It's coming around. I will work on it more tomorrow. I might finish it with oil glazes. Will see. Although oil glazes can really bring up a piece and give it amazing depth the shellac coat on egg tempera gives it a smooth enamel like finish.

1202 View from Hochelaga Balcony, 8x10, oil

I love drying clothes on a clothesline. The sun seems to bake them and give them a wonderful fresh smell.

1201 Towards Mont Royal, 8x10, egg tempera

This is the view from the upstairs window of the Montreal Museum.

1200 Charlottetown Winter Scene, 8x10 egg tempera

I've wanted to paint this scene for a long time.

1199 Ginger Cats and Red Cardinals, 8x10, egg tempera

Bird just seem to know that the cat can't get at them. They tease them through the window. Squirrels do it too.

1198 Le Plateau Mont Royal, 8x10, egg tempera

This is a charming street....especially in winter. It's near Sherbrooke Street. Charming townhouses.

1197 Wind and Rose Hips, 8x10, egg tempera

Here's a lovely farmhouse scene from Prince Edward Island. The house was up around North Point. It may have collapsed finally during hurricane season. IT sure was a windy spot. The rose hips were abundant and I picked a bucket for jelly.

1196 View from my Window, 8x10, egg tempera

This is the view from my window at LaCite on Park Avenue. It's right on the edge of McGill Ghetto and Le Plateau. The cats in the windows are so cozy as they wait for their humans to return.