Garden Talk, acrylic on canvas, 16x20

Normally I don't touch up plein air paintings in the studio. But the back ground had some distracting shapes. So I blended them in and also perked up the foreground highlights. I like it more this way.

The New Rose, acrylic, 8x10

I painted this rose this evening in the community garden.

Garden Talk, acrylic, 16x20

I did this today in a friend's garden. Those folks are artists liz and Pieter. Pieter was there first and I painted him. Liz appeared when the painting was nearly done. They are likely discussing art.
I used quite a limited pallet for this. Three reds, one green, two yellows. 

Beacon Hill Park Peonies, acrylic, 8x10

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Here's a scarlet beauty. I painted this lovely blossom in the pouring rain today.
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Glorious Poppy, acrylic, 8x10

 I went early this morning to the Michigan Street Community Garden to paint. This poppy was just opening when I started my painting and by the time I finished later in the morning the petals were falling off. Those pods will have their turn tomorrow to be glorious. |

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A Rose Named Joe, acrylic on canvas, 8x10

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This is one of the roses from that lovely rose tree in Michigan Street Community Garden. Walter, one of the community gardeners, suggested I paint this rose. I wasn't going to as I was intimidated but here it is. I will do more roses. It was a real pleasure to spend the morning with Joe.
This painting is available on an auction. 

Saxe Point, acrylic on cradled panel, 6x6in

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Here's today's effort at Saxe Point with the Alfrescoes. It was such a windy day. 

Beacon Hill Park Poppies, acrylic, 16x20

Here's the same poppies as yesterday but from behind the orange poppies. And bigger. 

Beacon Hill Poppies, acrylic on panel, 6x6in

I was inspired by these poppies at Beacon Hill Park today. I had intended for this to be a thumbnail sketch  for a larger one. I found the cooler pink poppies in front of the hot red/orange ones a challenge. Maybe I'll paint them from the other side tomorrow.

Beacon Hill Rodos, 8x8 acrylic on canvas

This is a rodo from Beacon Hill Park. I did a little 8x8 as I thought it would be quicker than a larger canvas. Nope.

James Bay Delphinium, acrylic on canvas, 16x20

I spent the whole day at the community garden working on this one. I was ready to throw it onto the fire when on lookers started saying they liked it. So here it is. 

Delphinium, acrylic 16x20

I did this painting tonight in the community garden. It isn't what i consider finished and I might bring it with me tomorrow morning when I go to the garden. It was getting too dark.
I confess that I was going to slack off and not do a painting today but I received an email from friend and fellow artist Wendy Truswell urging me to do my daily commitment. So out I went. Thanks Wendy for the encouragement.

Poppy Kiss, 8x10, acrylic on canvas

Did this little painting in Michigan Street Community Garden this afternoon. 

Bonny's Garden, 24x24, acrylic on canvas

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 Today I painted in a private garden owned by a fellow artist Bonny. Her garden was a buffet of amazing floral compositions.
Here is the painting I did where I did it.
Below is a closer view of my painting. I smudged the upper left corner so I'll have to work a little more on it.
Hopefully I'll pay another visit to Bonny's garden later in the summer.

Beacon HILL park Rodos, acrylic 24x24

Me Painting in Beacon Hill Park

I spent the whole day in Beacon Hill Park painting these beauties. The day started cloudy and I surely expected rain. But it turned into a lovely sunny day. I think I was over working it and it became windy and I felt like mother nature was saying "enough already". Any ways, here's the result. I think I'll varnish it.

Sketch Book

 I spent the day on the causeway. When I'm there I like to sketch. Here's some images from my sketchbook (My sketchbook is 2 1/5 x 5inches.

James Bay Iris, acrylic on canvas, 16x20in

Here's this morning's painting. Done in Michigan Street Community Garden. It is a giant Iris. Three on the same stock but I painted the dominant one. If the iris were an animal it would be a LION.

James Bay Iris, acrylic on canvas, 16x20in

Here's this morning's painting. Done in Michigan Street Community Garden. It is a giant Iris. Three on the same stock but I painted the dominant one. If the iris were an animal it would be a LION.

Poppy Dance. 24x24in, acrylic on canvas

Glendale Gardens was even better than I anticipated. This is today's painting. There was soooo much to paint but this patch of poppies won out.

The Nest on My Balcony

Today when I went out on my balcony to photograph my painting a seagull was making a big noise. Turns out there is a nest just over the ledge of my balcony. I took a picture of the nest and parent.

I don't and won't feed these guys. Though I wish them no harm. Hope they grow up fast and fly away. The past couple of years they've been nesting on the roof over my balcony.

Wild Iris, watercolor 7x9in

I'm home nursing a sort of head-cold today. I copied a watercolor I did years ago. I wonder if I can put it in a clear sleeve and sell it on the causeway? Hmmn

Iris, 8x10, acrylic on canvas

I really had difficulty choosing a subject today. This turned out sort of abstract.

Causeway Planter, 16x20, acrylic on canvas

This is from the planter across from my spot on the causeway. It is such a pretty combination of flowers that hundreds of people photograph it weekly. 

Oriental Poppies, 20x24, acrylic on canvas

Another glorious morning. I painted these in James Bay at the Michigan Street Community Garden. I just love these showy flowers. I'll take them to the causeway. The varnish is drying as I type.

Corn Flower Dance, acrylic on canvas, 20x24in

I painted this today at a paint out with the Alfrescoes at the Saanich Historical Park. I was inspired by these flowers since last week. I don't know why but I resisted painting them and walked around and around for the first hour. I always have trouble deciding what to paint. Especially when there is so much to choose from.
I like the way they turned out. The other artists gave it the thumbs up. Which is a plus as they are looking through more trained eyes.

James Bay Irises, acrylic on canvas, 16x20

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These beauties are from the James Bay community garden...parking lot side. I think white irises are quite rare. There's an Irises convention at the Empress. I wonder what they would think. 

Me on the Causeway

As many of you already know, I take my art to the causeway in front of the Empress Hotel to sell it. Well here's my set up. My art is displayed on four 2x4 gridwalls. I'm considering switching to 4x6ft gridwalls. They are made of steel and quite heavy so if I go with the 6ft I'll cut windows in them to shed some of the weight. Currently I don't have storage on the causeway and pack everything on that dolly and wheel it a few blocks every day and back. Suggestions on my presentation welcome.

Tulip Dream, 11x14, acrylic on canvas

This is the painting I did the other day re worked. I darkened the background to give it depth.