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.