This is 'Scarlet', a recently delivered 16" x 20" commission. Of the photos the client provided I had chosen what I thought was a more endearing pose, but she preferred a dignified portrait - and she knows the dog! It worked. A dignified malamute.

Thunder

I've signed it, so it must be finished. 20 x 16, oil on canvas.

Big Tree, Muckross House

This is from a photo I took at Muckross House in Killarney, Ireland. It is a magnificent, huge tree. This piece is 24 x 24, oil on stretched canvas. Have travelled in Ireland twice and would love to return for a plein air adventure.

Tweets

When I take a break from painting I often fiddle with little mixed media pieces. I am just now letting some 'out into the world'. This one is done on a 1.5" deep canvas and measures 6" x 8". Silly little things, but they make me think in a different way, and acrylics are fun, fast, and forgiving!

Floating Hope

Sometimes it seems as if the world is going mad. Or maybe it is me... This piece will be finished with a thin coat of cold wax, to ensure a matte surface. Abstracted from photos taken in local woods. About our mad world...there is always hope, right?

Kiss Me One Time

I've been 'transitioning' some paintings and this is one of the results. It came together beautifully, so the process felt good. No angst allowed in the studio these days. The original piece already had established areas of texture and I used that to guide the direction of the 're-do'.

No Excuses

Last week I picked up a painting that had been languishing on the floor of my studio for months. I oiled it up and started to poke at it...nothing...I poked some more...even less...sigh... Then I loaded up my brush and started painting. This is not even remotely what I started out with. Perhaps it will get x-rayed some day and they will ask, 'What the....?!"

Dreamland

When I travel I often take self-portrait photos...usually of my feet, or of my shadow. The source photo for this piece was taken last year in France. The foreground/background was a field with some wild flowers and poppies...I took a few liberties...;-)

Euphoria

This is the fifth of the 12 x 12 pieces completed for a recent local show. I've done a similar 8 x 8 piece, to be posted later. One more 12 x 12 from the show to come first. Oil on stretched canvas.

Tell Me More

An abstract that, after I stood for a bit looking at it, reminded me of telomeres...I had thought of calling it 'Telo Me More" at first, but...oh well. 12 x 12 x 1.5", oil on stretched canvas.

Temptation - Tree Peony

My tree peony flowers have such a strong perfume that one flower scents the whole house (too much!). And it is a spectacular size, pretty well the size of a dinner plate. This oil piece is 12 x 12 x 1.5" deep on stretched canvas. The riot of spring colour is almost over in my garden...but I have take a few new photos. The clematis plants are giving quite a show and one in particular is asking to be painted.

Poppy Field and Thunder Clounds

This piece is an abstraction done from a photo taken in the south of France. The sky was full of huge clouds and yet the light was still lyrical. That is what I wanted to portray. 12 x 12 x 1.5 canvas. SOLD

Chorus Line

I am pledging to post at least three times this week...maybe more! I have six 12 x 12 pieces that I  completed for a recent show and now they are ready for a splashy debut, and to go out into the universe...ok...the internet. Oh...some have already sneaked out on facebook... This rendition of my tulips started with an almost poured underpainting, and when that was dry it really drove the direction of the whole piece. This is on a 12 x 12 x 1.5" deep canvas and does not need framing. It will be posted for sale on Daily Paintworks.

Port Isaac (Portwenn)

This was painted from a photo I took in Port Isaac, Cornwall (England). If you watch 'Doc Martin' you will often see these flowers in the background, as Portwenn, in the show, is actually Port Isaac. It is even prettier and more charming in 'real life'. Well worth a visit. 36 x 18, Oil on stretched canvas.

Leslie Saeta is hosting a 30 day 'marketing challenge' during which she posts 30 tasks relating to marketing paticipants' art work. Today it was to create a collage, then post it to my blog, and to Facebook, and include links...well, I couldn't figure out how to do a link...and I had to create a poster rather than a collage, but I know it has already posted once to Fb, and now will probably happen again...anyway, here it is for the Blog. One outta three...these are older to newer pieces, all in oil...

Bouquet 2

The second of six small Bouquet paintings, some of which will be available for sale on Dailypaintworks. These are inspired by the multitude of floral bouquets on display at both Granville Island Market in Vancouver, and Seattle's Pike Place Market. I never get away without taking more photos. Next I'm going to do a series of 12 x 12 ones.

Bouquet #1, 6 x 6

I had a number of small canvases (6 x 6 x 1.5") prepared with acrylic texture, and then I forgot about them. Now, in a push to use some of the stuff I already have, I have done a few pieces, in acrylic, and acrylic medium. This particular one is on a prepared wood cradle (same dimensions) and the ones I'll post over the next few days are on canvas. They were a fun way to get messing with my acrylic paints again.

It's been awhile...

Yes, it's been awhile since I posted, AND since I had daffodils on my table. I had three bunches squished into one vase and it made for a nice burst of spring colour...at last. This is one of the small (6 x 6) paintings I did recently while house and dog sitting for friends. It is oil, on a prepared wood cradle, and started with three coats of black gesso. This is presently hanging in the Arts Off Main Gallery in Vancouver, an artists co-operative where I recently became a partner.

A communal corner in Italy

Not the expected painting of lovely umbrellas at a street corner cafe, but I cannot resist all the old communal taps, sinks and fountains to be found throughout Italy. This one was in Rome. I just love old stuff.

Whistler Fall

Last fall I visited a friend's home in Whistler, BC and this painting was inspired by a walk down the path behind her house. Whistler is a place that is beautiful at any time of year, but I prefer spring and fall, as they are the most colourful times. I finally took photos of some completed pieces today and I'll be posting a few over the next week.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

From December, my birthday prezzie to me....painting it, that is. It was loose and fun and I got to use lots of colour. Unfortunately the photo did not capture the colour saturation so I will have to figure that out. This is similar to a larger painting of a mixed bouquet that I did last year, but, for some reason, didn't post.

First Chord

When I listen to music these days its' like listening in colour. In fact, everything is in colour. I am grateful for that gift and for being able to share it with others. In our cold, wet winter, colour is one sure way to lift spirits. Of course, another way would be to fly to Maui! This was painted a few weeks ago and I quite like it.

Mission Church 2

This 9x12 oil is also from the Larisa Aukon workshop. I usually paint with lots of colour and so I thoroughly enjoyed being encouraged to do so. Some key statements we heard included: composition first, always look, and look, and know your composition plan before you reach for that brush; don't be stingy with paint; find the colour in the darks, they are not just dark; colour temperature can trump value alone - block in your warm and cool shapes rather than a tonal value block in; perspective, both atmospheric and linear; don't automatically reach for white to lighten - white can kill your colour so consider portraying a light area through the use of colour rather than adding white...be judicious in using white; keep your brushes and light paint piles, including white, clean - preventing unwanted muddy colours; simplify, simplify, simplify. And so many more.

Mission Church study 1

6x8 oil study from my workshop with Larisa Aukon through the Scottsdale Artists School. I have a number of studies of this lovely building. We painted plein air every day, all day, even at freezing levels, and it was great. The sun was bright and the sky always clear. I'll post some of my other work from this workshop, as well as a couple of photos of Larisa's demonstration painting. I took away some gems in the learning department. Larisa is a consummate teacher and I look forward to any opportunity to paint with her again.

Fire in the Belly

A quick posting, cuz I said I would...I have so many new goals this year, one being posting more regularly to my blog...and that includes being more diligent about photographing and posting new paintings. On another note I have just been accepted as a new partner by a local artists' cooperative (more on that, later), meaning I will have a gallery venue for my work year 'round. That should keep me on my toes! Tomorrow I am off to Scottsdale for a five day workshop with Larisa Aukon, an artist who, when I first saw her work, I thought "I am going to paint with her one day"...and I will post more on the workshop as it unfolds (if I can post from my iPad), or in a week upon my return. AND...please check out the site of another fine artist, Dee Sanchez, whose paintings exude the atmosphere and warmth of her southwest home (SO different from Vancouver), at deesanchezpaints.com. Makes me feel toastie, even though we are at -3C this afternoon.