Reflections, Reflections, Reflections

Some Old Things

20x20

Oil on Canvas Panel

 

 

 I have been playing with reflections again. I love where my mind goes when I am painting the wonderful mini abstracts that are found within reflections.

 

An idea for a series has been percolating in my brain, using the textures found on old reflective items. Although this painting is not quite within my series vision it is a really good starting point. And I love the play of textures against the many reflective surfaces.

 

This chiaroscuro style still life was painted live. Meaning I set up the still life in my studio, played with the arrangement and lighting until I was happy, spiked the floor where the easel was and around the lamp setup. Then I was like a worried mother hen, nagging anyone who came within 10 feet of my studio not to touch my setup. I did take reference photos in the event something went amiss But I never used them.

 

Right at the start this painting almost went into the garbage. Not because of the image or my painting but because I was using a new to me painting support. This is a multi media canvas panel. It is designed for aqueous mediums so it absorbed the first layer of oil paints like a sponge. The paint just did not move well. I persevered learning how to work with it. I am really glad I did. The surface is very fine and shows no weave texture through the painting. It is only 3/4 in thick, solid and very light.

 

Happy Painting

 



Lavatera

Lavatera

6x6

Oil on Canvas Panel

Wooh. It has been over a week since I painted and posted. Crazy week followed by an awesome weekend at The Vancouver Island Music Fest. I only took watercolours with me but only did a little painting which is going to stay hidden.

One of the concerns I have been having is my back and the weight of gear, and it is light , I am just a wimp. Actually since my back surgery I cannot carry much weight and never for long distances. Long story short I made a thumbbox out a cigar box and this was my first painting done on it. It worked pretty well. I painted my  gorgeous Lavatera  plant. I did it in about 40 minutes. I like it. It makes me smile. 

Miner's Cabin

Miner's Cabin

6x6

Oil on Canvas Panel

A year ago today we were in Princeton BC.  I have memories of buying chicks en route  and driving up with chirping chicks sitting in a box next to my mother in law and watching River Road Theatre perform 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change'.

Walking around this little town I turned the corner and saw one of the smallest house's I have ever seen. When the mine changed to open pit mining the miner's cabins were relocated into town. .This is one of the few still remaining and used as permanent dwellings today.

I have painted this cabin before in a larger painting, making the roof red, and have never been thrilled with that painting. Wanting to revisit this subject I chose to repaint it today, one year from the first time time I saw it. I painted smaller and tried to keep it simple. I like it much more than the fist painting. 

This little cabin will always bring back the memories of Princeton,

Mud Flat Crossing

Mud Flat Crossing

6x6

Oil on Canvas Panel

I almost didn't go plein air painting today. I am so glad I did. We were at Witty's Lagoon, the long way down to the beach. I could paint there everyday and find something new and exciting to paint. I stopped at the marshy mud flats. This log was once the way across, now there is a bit of boardwalk. Log is still crossable but for how much longer? Nature is slowly reclaiming it.

This painting was a good reminder to check amounts of paints in the pochade box before setting out. I had only a wee tiny bit of white which I had to use very judicially, scraping the still wet areas on the palette from yesterday's painting.. A good lesson on colour. I love the different colour choices I was forced to make.