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

 



Water Feature

Water Feature

9x12

Oil on Canvas

This morning I went painting with the VSC at Gorge Kinsmen Park. I chose to paint this little water feature from the Japanese Garden.. It always amazes me how differently I paint when I am outside. It was very peaceful in the gardens especially with the sounds of the water.

'51 Moffat

'51 Moffat (AKA Tofu Oven)

6x6

Oil on Gesobord

Well having had a couple of days away from painting and trying to recommit  myself to painting daily, I chose to paint my beautiful '51 Moffat Range. It is like having a Buick in the kitchen. Tofu oven is what Glen called it when I bought it, he was not pleased with me... another story. 

Some days I think are not meant to be painting days. AND today was one of them.  Maybe I am tired or too much coffee, not enough coffee, wrong height  of the pochade box, not wearing the right underwear. Goodness only knows....

I used a teeny tiny palette knife to add some highlights, Note to self must do a plein air in only palette knife soon. And yes my tiles behind the range are big blue and green tiles.

Painting done can I curl up and read now?

Rose Pathway

Rose Pathway

7x9

Oil on Canvas Panel

Today the Victoria Sketch Club went to Government House. This rose covered arbor leads to the rose garden.This scene has been painted many times before but is still so beautiful. I did some artist pruning and thinning of foliage, tried to keep the image simple.I was painting in a high traffic area and had a lot of lookie loos. I met some visitors from China, Japan and Germany. Also today was the volunteer gardeners day at the grounds. A hive of activity. What a great way to spend a morning. 

Marc's BBQ

Marc's BBQ

10x8 

Oil on Board

Today's painting is a quick plein air from my back yard. My son,Marcus, made this BBQ 5 years ago, and used it a few times before becoming vegetarian. Beside it is an overgrown herb garden box that my daughter, Colleen, painted.

Emmi's Fence

Emmi's Fence

6x6

Oil on Canvas Panel

I actually painted this painting last evening. I was sitting watching TV and I glanced out the window and saw my neighbour's fence and boulevard garden. I quickly did a thumbnail and went to my studio and set up a few small daubs of oil in my pochade box. I used only 2 small brushes, a flat and a round. Using the KISS rule it only took me about 45 minutes to paint. What I put down stayed, no fiddling. I really like it. When I showed it to Glen he knew right away where the scene was.

Waiting for a Ferry

This daily painting is addictive. This was painted in my car while on the ferry. Bouncy. I had taken a quick photo of this man standing in the back of his camper using his cell with my phone on extreme digital magnification. Then drew a thumbnail. I was bored on the ferry so I went to the car and painted this painting in about 40 minutes. A wee bit messy.