Sidney today

"Jill" on display at Mary Winspear Centre

I went to Sidney this morning to paint with the sketch club. It was raining and I couldn't find them so I visited the Mary Winspear Centre as I thought someone there would know the precise place to find the Sketch club people. No luck on that, but I did get a chance to see my little painting "Jill" before her new owner picks her up. "Jill" was on display at the centre. There was also a newspaper clipping about the Sidney plenaire paint out.

Robert Genn was the juror. He gave my painting of Jill a prize. I believe it was 3rd prize.

Detail2

detail

Here's another couple of details of my larger painting. Yes, it still has a lot of work to go, but it's developing.

Detail

This is a detail of a much larger painting I'm working on. I was so hesitant to start this painting. Competition gives me anxiety and I freeze up. I felt everything had to be perfect. Especially had difficulty choosing the subject. Anyways, I went ahead finally and I'm so far pleased with the results. Not perfect , thankfully, but a good start.

Purple Cabbage, 3x5 gouache

Lately I've been neglecting my daily paintings to work on   a couple of large paintings for the upcoming Sidney Show.. I still do my hour of sketching first thing in the morning. So I'll post some of those for the next week or so.
Here's a purple cabbage from the James Bay Community Garden this morning.

Bob in the Garden

It was an Al Frescoes Friday. We went out to paint in Bob Langford's garden. There were Dalias, tomatoes, and koi fish. I couldn't decide what to paint so I painted Bob while he sketched. The weather was constantly changing. First gray and threatening rain. Then sun. Then as soon as we finished our outing it poured cats and dogs.
I love the flowers. I managed to keep the colors really bright by only using pure tube colors and not mixing in any secondaries or complimentary.

Poppy Party, acrylic 8x10

I took the advice of a couple of my blog followers and increased the intensity of the pink poppies in the middle. They were competing too much for attention with the red poppies. I didn't have the heart to dull the intensity of those guys though.

Twilight Garden, acrylic 8x10

I painted this scene at James Bay Community Garden at twilight last night. Towards the end of this painting the sun slipped below the horizon and it was suddenly too dark to see the colors. Initially I'd intended to do a quick realistic painting to end the day. But these were the colors I actually saw. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Selkirk Station, acrylic 8x10

Here's this morning's attempt. I went painting as a guest of the sketch club.  It was a  hot sunny morning. I did this little painting over a burnt sienna ground. I think it gave it a nice warmth to go with the day's temperature.

Poppy Party, acrylic 8x10

I couldn't resist making changes to this piece. Should I increase the chroma? What do you think? Should I make the pink poppies more intense?

Poppy Party, acrylic 8x10

Poppy paintings are my number one seller in originals or prints. I think it's because poppies are the most whimsical and happiest of flowers. When I paint poppies I almost feel like a fairie could suddenly appear from behind a petal.

Parliament Through the Garden, acrylic 8x10

I've wanted to paint this scene for a long time. I love seeing the roof of the legislature through the garden.

Garden Work, acrylic 8x10

This scene from James Bay Community Garden this morning. Fall is in the air and there is much to do to .
This is very primary but I like that about it.

Red Barn

Here's today's attempt. This painting turned out well finally but it was a constant battle with the changing shadows.

Mt Tolmie 16x20 acrylic on canvas

Okay, I did it again. When I saw the last post picture I realized the change I made adding dark shadow to th tall grasses against the distant grays I didn't like it as much as the pale grasses. This is truer to the real scene and changing it took away the hot dry feeling of that morning. I like this even better.

Mt Tolmie 16x20 acrylic on canvas

I reworked the foreground of Mt Tolmie from an Alfrescoe paint out a couple of weeks ago. I didn't like the diagonal line from one of the long blades of grass. I think it is an improvement.
I don't normally like reworking a painting. But in this case it was rework or prime over.

Parliament, acrylic 8x10

A scorching day on the causeway. I did this little painting just as the day was moving into dusk. I think more contrast would be interesting but I like the perspective. I'll do it again.

Arbutus at Ellice House, 16x20 acrylic

Today's attempt at Point Ellice House. This stand of arbutus were so gnarl y and colorful. It was a challenge as the sun kept appearing and disappearing. And the gardener suddenly appeared half way through the painting and made some significant substractions to the flower bed.

James Bay Church, acrylic 8x10

It has turned gray and rainy. This is the view of James Bay Church from the community garden. 

Moiunt Tolmie 16x20 acrylic on canvas

Here's today's attempt. I broke my own rule about not touching a painting once I worked on it plein air. Wish I hadn't. The part I worked on is now disconnected from the earlier part.

Macauley Point acrylic 8x10

Today's effort at Macauley Point with the Sketch Club.

Holland Point July

Here's this morning's effort. It's an overcast day with that late summer feeling. Yesterday's pallet.