"Chivas"

I fell a little bit in love with this dog while I painted his portrait. It was done from a photograph, and for a Christmas gift (hence the post-Christmas sharing). As always, I also just love painting animals.

I'm So Pretty!

I have been finding it challenging to take decent photos of my next "Wolf Whistles', so here is one of my favourite subjects - a sheep of a different colour.

Poppies in Field

Pet Portraits ordered for Christmas are all completed and only one commission left to finish. Time to look back. Time to look ahead, Time to appreciate this very moment. I loved this little scene. Check out www.dailypaintworks.com to see more of my small paintings...and thousands by other painters!

Bush Fire

A small tribute inspired by Tom Thomson. The heat in this painting is a welcome reminder that winter is passing and all will blossom again.

Perfect Strangers - Michael H.

I am a member of the New West Artists and took part in a challenge to do a portrait of a 'Perfect Stranger' - someone who lives and contributes in our community. I got Michael's email address, he sent me some photos, and I painted this 24 x 24 portrait. All the portraits were kept 'secret' until they were unveiled at a recent show (where I first got to meet my subject). This painting is sold.

Wolf Whistle 2

'Wolf Whistle 2", another nod to Wolf Kahn's beautiful work done in miniature and in oil. Great learning regarding colour. Few postings these days as I focus on completing some late  orders for pet portraits wanted for Christmas gifts. Almost done but I will not be posting them until after the 25th so as to not spoil any surprises. Not too much longer.

Wolf Whistle 1

When you want to do colour work, who better to emulate than the great Wolf Kahn? I've been working on a series of small oil pieces after Wolf Kahn's beautiful pastels. They are SO much fun to paint.

Magic in the Meadow

I am working to keep things bright and happy as the daylight get shorter over the coming days. Dreaming of a long hike in spring while Christmas lights are going up around the neighbourhood, and the fireplace log DVD is running 24/7 on TV, but in just over three weeks the days start to get longer! Double YAY!

I Dream in Colour

This is my offering for today...and for the past week (or three?). It is another small oil painting (6" x 6") and will be posted for sale on the Dailypainters.com site. Two big events (The Eastside Culture Crawl and the Perfect Strangers portrait challenge) are now over and I will be back to more regular painting...and striving to do more regular posting. Tomorrow I'll post the portrait I did, which was under wraps until last night's show opening. The subject, who was not known to me, seemed quite pleased at the unveiling. Yay!

Working...selling...

The Eastside Culture Crawl is next weekend in Vancouver and, as mentioned before, my studio space is included. This brings back memories of getting ready for three and four day craft events when I made dolls. Yikes. But we will be indoors with heat, lights and other creature comforts (counting blessings here!) The economy is a concern for many of the over 300 artists who are participating in this three day event. Do you keep your prices 'steady' or adjust them for these challenging times? If you adjust them, are you being fair to previous clients who have purchased your work? Lots off issues to consider. As for myself, I try to price my work so that if someone loves it and wants it - they might actually be able to afford it. Sounds silly, but I would rather have someone buy a nice painting for $300, than keep it stored for $600. I know many artists who feel otherwise as the true value of a piece of art is a combination of many factors but we each have our own approach to how (and why) we sell our 'work'. I hope some of my pieces find happy homes and make people smile. This 6 x 6 oil painting was recently sold. My small paintings like this are priced at $50. The buyer was happy.

A Walk in the Woods

It's been awhile since my last posting but I am finally freed from my post-operative sling. Being trussed up and in recovery mode certainly gave me a renewed awareness of all I have to be grateful for.
I am working to get ready for the East Side Culture Crawl here in Vancouver on November 18-20. Much to do to get the studio ready for a few thousand people walking through. Cleaning, packing up, hanging paintings. It will be a great weekend.
This is an interpretation of a photo I took while walking in the woods in Scotland.

Puggle

I've been a bit laid up after some shoulder surgery, but am managing to get some painting done. It was a matter of being organized before the surgery - canvases prepared, sketches done, canvases on the easels - things like that. Of course, I have not figured out how to get the canvases off the easels with just one hand...This piece was done earlier. I love the pug's big eyes and soft, mushy muzzle.

Remember Mojave

It's fall on the wet coast of Canada. We had a bit of a laugh yesterday when the Environment Canada forecast was for "a rain warning". (Our weather is almost identical to Seattle, for my American friends - lots of rain). It prompted me to finish up this 6 x 6 painting inspired by a spring visit to the Mojave Desert. I have a particular love for letting the 'colourist' in me come out to play.

My take on a copse of trees and a small valley, painted from two photos taken when walking in England. I loved playing with the colour to create a dream of the landscape. These days I have been working on a larger portrait and some dog portraits and must get back to doing some smaller pieces for daily exercise and simply for fun. Readying myself for some shoulder surgery in two weeks so no workshops or classes, other than doggy classes for super-duper-pooper-Cooper.

This old guy has seem many better days and I am sure he more than pulled his weight, so to speak. Many of my friends (or, rather, friends of my ex-who-uses-my-garage) drive classic British sports cars, but somehow a derelict has more appeal for a painting. Makes me want to drive to Saskatchewan and find old farm equipment! Wonder if my recently acquired 1962 Corvair Greenbrier would make the trip.

Petite Chat 3

This is another view of a lovely little stray cat in France. She just sat in the sun as all cats do. I am back home with my own dogs now after 8 days of "boxer-sitting". I miss having a 10 pound head resting on my foot. Here in Vancouver we are finally having the heat of the summer during the days, combined now with the unmistakable coolness of fall at night. My thoughts are with Carol Marine (Daily Paintworks) and her family whose home was in the path of those terrible fires in Texas. Every day - be grateful.

Jack!

Yesterday I visited a dear friend in the hospital. I've loved and admired Joyce for over 35 years (I am presently house sitting for her son and granddaughter)...and I have been wearing her old torn and stained painting coat all week. Recently, at age 90, she had a health set back and, while she is making a strong  recovery, she does not think she will be painting anymore, and she has gifted me the use of her coat (an old factory shop coat). I already know it has good juju (it's my evil paint-brushes that foil me!) Anyway, her hospital room-mate has a Jack Russell...and so here is Jack! This is from a photo I took in Cornwall, England. He was in his "dad's" arms but anxiously looking over his shoulder for "mom" who had walked away minutes before.

Island Time

I am presently house and dog sitting on one of B.C.'s southern gulf islands, in a fine house with an ocean view. Sounds relaxing, doesn't it? Well, I am sitting three boxer dogs, one of my own dogs, two cats, a hamster and a fish...I'm exhausted! I do have my easel set up in the corner, however, and am getting some paint down. This one is from a few months back: 6 x 6 oil on canvas, Clucker I.

Tulipaflora 1

This tulip is 6x8 oil on canvas. A timely submission as we in Canada stare down the last days of summer. Schools open up in just another week. As for myself, I am looking forward to cooler nights made for better sleeps! Not quite yet, though.

Looking at cows is kind of restful...

Cows, that is, not immediately destined for the platter. When I am hiking I always stop to take photos of the cattle and sheep...and so I must have at least 100 shots of sheep. Do you realize how many different types of sheep there are in Britain? Lots. Have only run into one cow that had a serious attitude problem, but she did have a calf in the field. This one, however, was so soft and chocolatey (is that a word?) that I knew I would paint her.

Petite Chat deux

A slightly frustrating day in the studio, but always something to be learned. Right now I'm watching a program on Jackson Pollock and find the value of his work unimaginable. One can only dream - as I am sure so many artists (and lottery ticket buyers) do. This is another stray cat in France, and pretty little cat she was. Speaking of dreams, today I bought a 1962 Corvair Greenbrier van...a mobile studio and dog-carrying wagon! If not now, when?

Petite Chat I

This painting is 6 x 6, oil on gesso board, and is of a small feral cat who lived on the grounds of Le Canel, the fortress b and b I stayed in last year in France. Her, and her kitty friend (painting to follow), were fed by the owner, but a photo is as close as one could really get. There is something about cats sleeping in the sun that is irresistible. This painting is for sale on the Daily Paintworks Site, or by contacting me. $50 includes shipping in North America.