Sunflowers

16" x 20"

Oil on Canvas

Called sunflowers for good reason, they landed in my home unexpectedly and I couldn't let them go until I had taken photos of them first.  I didn't hesitate setting up to paint them as the yellow was too lovely to ignore for too long.

The Sky on His Back

8" x 10" Collage

The quote is from Henry David Thoreau - "The Bluebird carries the sky on his back"  Do you think I could borrow this quote for my bluejay?  Different kinds of birds but still with the beautiful blue.

I am enjoying the series of birds but my next one might be a different subject.  I'm acquiring papers

and techniques that I'd like to apply to other images.  As with the others, I used hand painted papers and magazine clippings.

Time now to go back and take a look at my approach since the first one (the chickadee).  There are

elements about the simpler way I started them that I like but at the same time some subject matter simply needs to be handled with more intensity.  This bluejay with the black stripes for example.

Please email me with inquiries.  I will eventually place on Etsy but would be happy to answer any

questions you may have.  Not entirely sure whether I will mount this to a wood panel and still have

it frameable or use a mat and put it under glass.

Single Pear From Above

Single Pear From Above

6" X 6" x 1.5"

Oil on Wood Panel

The last of the four pear paintings from last week.   I've enjoyed this colour palette.  I may shoot some more set ups with this tablecloth and perhaps some blue bottles.  I will be putting them up on
Etsy tomorrow.
P.S.  I've just noticed that my page is loading a little crowded looking.  I'll look into that tomorrow.
I had been trying different page templates and in returning to my original, I may have disturbed a few
elements.

Three Pears on Linen

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Oil on wood panel

$80.00

This is one of those paintings that is deceptive.  It's the third one I've done of this pear series so I felt confident going into it.  But...the lighting was subdued and therefore it surprised me how dark the "white" of the linen had to be painted.  I knew if I kept going, it would work out and it did.  I knew the pears would really come forward against the sombre background and it did.  I can still see a tiny bit of tweaking to do but otherwise I'm happy with it.

I also generally avoid wiping out portions of a painting but I did this time.  I had to wipe out two of the three pears because I used a brush that was too small for the area.  I had forgotten one of my
intentions was to simplify and work more loosely and that means working with a larger brush and
choosing my strokes carefully rather than fussing.  So that necessitated wiping out.  And I'm glad I did.  The switch to the larger brush kept the pears more interesting than they started out.   I will
remind myself to not hesitate wiping out and re-working.

As always, comments, critiques and constructive criticism is always welcome.

Yellow Rose with Berries

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Yellow Roses with Berries

$80

I took this photo with my iPad so I will re-shoot during tomorrow's daylight.

I am bad at not keeping my devices charged.  I like this one better than I thought I would.   You know how it is when you lose interest in a subject and yet I started it anyway.  The color is a bit garish in this image.  It's much nicer

in reality.

I just finished one of a pair of dog portraits and decided to fit this rose painting in between.  The original photo of the dog is a 2 inch 72 dpi image of a dog that is no longer so re-taking the photo is out of the question.  It was a challenge to paint all the nuances when it is so pixilated.  So I guess I needed

to paint an image with good references

....have just added the better photo.

Taking Shape

      

                           

 
















I'm back to the large formats that I enjoy doing this week.  The progression here is from the first sketch to the acrylic blocking in.  I had contemplated painting the whole canvas in acrylic but can't seem to get the depth and richness that oils give me.  So I switched and it's heading in the right direction.  I'm establishing the lights and darks but now I'm itching to get back to it to correct the contrasts.  All this in one day so I mustn't rush it and remember to step back a little more often.  Tomorrow I'll work on the interior of the bowl and the pears. The last image is a photograph that I tweaked in photoshop so the upper third of the image is painterly over the photograph.

Happy Easter!

This was painted last Spring of 2012.  Not wanting to miss out on this year's

early Spring flowers, I've been photographing all the lovely Easter flowers that are around.  Happy Spring and Happy Easter to all of you.

Working in a Series

6" x 6" oil on wood

$80

Scissors and Thread

I wanted to call this one "Needle Pulling Thread" but I hadn't painted a needle.  I am tortured by coming up with titles!  I painted a smaller version of this one last year (5" x 5") but wanted to do a series of three that had to do with sewing, so I'm using this one again.  Inspired by my hand made brass scissors, (will post that one later this week), I prepared three panels for this 

theme.  I'll likely do more for this series as one thing leads to another and I have ideas that I'd like to follow through on.

Daffodils on my Easel

Daffodils 6" x 6"

Oil on wood panel

$80.00

Last season I noticed my painting became tighter when what I really wanted was to loosen up.   So now I am trying not to linger too long over these small format paintings.  I'd like to say all I want to do with this one is to strengthen values here and there which is why I'm taking a break to let me isolate what absolutely needs to be done and not sit there with brush in hand and putter away.

Wish me luck!

I've also started the May calendar which lets me indulge in digital projects.  Last month was the first one and the response was so fun, I'd like to continue.

I'll post that one sometime next week (lillies of the valley will be part of the May theme).

Daffodils

In case you haven't noticed, I'm terrible with titles, with my blog entries as well as the paintings themselves.   Some people can be so clever with naming their work.  Lyrics from songs are an interesting source, although I can't recall any songs about daffodils??

I knew working with yellows would be a challenge.  A third of the way through I thought ... "Okay, remember to stay away from anything predominantly yellow.  But once I figured out how to subdue this vibrant color to create the contrasts, it started to pull together and I quite liked it.

Working with this small format (6" x 6") though, I actually felt confident enough to do another one.  Only this time I would simplify the group and remove the flower on the right and enlarge the huddled group.  Tomorrow I'll post the newer version.

....."And the Daffodils Look Lovely Today"!!!!  There...I did it.  I looked up lyrics with "daffodils"

in it.  And that is what I found.   I guess this works.   Song by the Cranberries.

And the Daffodils Look Lovely Today
6" x 6" Oil
SOLD

Not the most organized palette but it did look lovely too with the sun streaking across the brilliant yellows.