Established 1802

I did it! I achieved my two mains goals. Finish this in time for my show and complete it in acrylics. As oil is my go to medium; which I have painted in since I was 13; when I was challenged or just feeling tired and lazy I wanted to opt out and reach for my oils. Perseverance and the deadline looming made me stick with it. By the end of the painting, I had developed a bond with this medium. I have found a system that worked for me but this does not come without guilt. Guilt you say to a medium, to a style? Or is it maybe more a bit of remorse and embarrassment for discounting acrylics for so long. And what about my affiliations? Must I now not call myself an oil painter? As artists do we really need to be defined by the medium we use or even a defined style for that matter? As artists, are we not drawn to create by an internal need, a vision, and do we not continue to create through the very act itself? The joy of colour, the texture of the medium, the complete and utter immersion of self into the act of creating? I love most mediums (I haven't tried them all). Each has it's own beauty and utility. 

i muck about in ~ oils, pastels, everything ~ no subject defined

The Last One For My Show Started

While at TOSH 10 these past few days I started the last painting for my show. It is 40x40". It is in acrylic. So far I have drawn it out on a black gessoed canvas and started colour blocking it. Today I was working on the kettle but had to stop as my tablet where my reference is,  ran out of power. Then it wouldn't  charge with an extension cord. Oh well too many visitors in the gallery to really get immersed in painting.
I think it is serendipitous that I have chosen to paint the image of my still life prop box. Most of the things in this painting have been included in the other paintings for the show.
My desire is to grab my oils and paint over the acrylic. But I do not have time for oils to dry and I am determined to complete a big realistic painting in acrylic. It is about a positive attitude.  And perseverance.
Growth happens when we challenge ourselves to rise to new heights. Oils are my comfort medium. Acrylics  and I are still getting acquainted.
I will be posting my progress.

Back in the Saddle

The things we do to ourselves as artists. We aren't very nice to ourselves sometimes. 2014 was not a good year for me art wise, a fair amount of rejections accompanied by being in a muddle. Not sure which caused what. 

This year has been so much better for my creativity. I did something that took my creativity to new places and heights. I was costume designer for a local and long standing theatre group. Les Miserables with 39 cast members. A huge challenge and undertaking, and I pulled it off with huge success. Please do not dismiss community theatre costuming as trifle. The budget was substantial, and I had 10 seamstress along with myself all working furiously. And all for an understated look that was 'period perfect' as the local arts critic said. This show got 5/5 stars and people said it was the best Les Miz they had ever seen.

Another big thing I did was get off Facebook. It was doing nothing for my self esteem. I do not miss it in the least. I am reading more because instead of surfing FB, I spend that down time reading. 

So I am back in the saddle, confident that I have a brain that works, I am still creative and the petty BS that comes in the art world is unimportant to who I am. I am working towards my solo show this summer, the Old School House (TOSH), Qualicum Beach, BC, August 10- September 5. Formal still lifes.

 

I am also enjoying painting abstracts. I am seeing some of my own unique style emerging. Mark making. I just wanted to share a bit, I guess in a small way I miss that about not being on FB. Happy day all.

Nicnaks in the Greenhouse Window

Sometimes, artists are given little vignettes of beauty in their surroundings.  One morning I was offered one such scene. The early morning sun was shining thorough the Greenhouse window. My greenhouse window is a collector of nicnaks, often randomly placed. I quickly took a picture and went on my way.
While uploading and editing other pics of still life compositions, this lone image again caught my interest. I cropped it to fit a square canvas.
I drew the image onto a 16x16" canvas using the grid method. I am underpainting it in a combo of black and burnt umber with oms as my medium. I chose to underpaint it instead of my usual direct method for a couple of reasons. Because it is a busy composition, I wanted to make sure the play of strong lights and darks works and allows me to check for drawing errors before I apply colour.
Here is the painting with the underpainting partially completed.

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

 



NHL Playoff Moonsnail

NHL Playoff Moonsnail

6"x6"

Oil on Paper

I am not a hockey fan at the best of times. Last year when the Canucks made it to the finals, I could alomost get enthused. Last night was the first game of the finals, so while my DH watched, I came into my studio. The shell was still n the box and the paints still wet in my pochade box. I grabbed some precut Oil Paper and taped it to a board and painted. Best ever way to watch a hockey game. From another room doing something I love.

Peacock Feather, Moonsnail and a Pebble

Today's painting was set up in a shadow box. I had spent the morning working on tidy up issues on a portrait commission. My pup.was running out of patience with me. I think this would be a great painting in watercolour or coloured pencil. Hmmm ideas.






 

Red White and Blue

Red White and Blue

Oil on Paper

6"x6"

It was hard to find the time to paint today but I managed to fit it in late afternoon. These small paintings are proving to be quite challenging but enjoyable just the same. Once again I was trying the Arches Oil Paper and I continue to like it. Tomorrow I am going to try using 50/50 poppy seed oil and OMS medium and my new synthetic sable brushes from Rosemary & Co.

My Turquoise Bathroom

My Turquoise Bathroom

6"x6"

Oil on Paper

May 28, 2012

Happy Birthday to me. A new year, a new challenge. I set up this blog a few weeks ago but never got around to my painting goal of painting daily. Well my work situation changed and I am now able to pursue this small goal wholeheartedly. 

This painting is my first painting on Arches Oil Paper. Quite a different feel but I love the velvety texture the finished image has. I set up my pochade box in the bathroom doorway and painted this using only natural light. Painting small is quite a change from painting large, my usual format.