Dallas

6" x 6"

Oil on wood cradled panel

Dallas belonged to our Fire Chief, a neighbour, a friend.

Ronin and the Red Door

6" x 6"

oil on wood cradled panel

I knew when I saw this photo of my nephew that it could make a good reference for a painting.
However painting a portrait that included plaid on a 6" x 6" canvas was maybe a little ambitious.
Head size is less than 1.25" high so I tried my best to get a good likeness.  Will stop now and not
overwork.  Just letting it simmer for a bit and will decide what's left to tweak.

A Good Start

I should have known that getting a likeness on a surface this small (6x6) would be a bit of a challenge but it's more than just the face, it's the body language too.  The head is about 1 1/2" high so I just kept telling myself to keep it simple.  I've since painted the (plaid!) shirt and the jeans so I have only the red door to finish.  My daily paintings sometimes do take a bit more time but the light is not the best to paint by right now so I'll finish this one up in the morning.

Woodland Wreath

One of the Christmas cards I designed this season.  And I have ideas for many more but there is only so much time left.  At least I know I enjoyed making these enough to continue with into the new year.  

Some Cheering Up

November needs some cheering up.   Thanksgiving and Halloween have come and gone and the leaves are down.  But taking out my watercolors brightens things up considerably.  These are the new

projects I have this year.  Maybe it was growing up in the sixties when illustration was in it's heyday,

but I have just reconnected with my love for illustration and paper projects.

Jessie II

On my easel today.  I've been busy with collage and sketches but felt uneasy about not having

painted lately.  So today I fixed that.  Jessie needs the final touches still especially the eyes.  I start

by painting the eyes as a point of reference for the rest of the painting but the final touches are

saved for last.  

The Busy Season

The same sketches that I had printed to fabric are being used on a new card line that I've been

working on.  I've been painting with paper these days!

Just a little water-colour...

I've been working on a series of watercolors for a greeting card line and this is one of them.

Just having fun with the watercolors for now until the next phase, using them to integrate into a

line of bespoke greeting cards.

Teacup with Lemon

I knew once September rolled around that it would become incredibly busy.  Usually in a good way.
It's time to set up more still life groupings to carry me through the winter.  So hopefully my next
paintings will reflect the coming season (my favourite).

This is, once again a small format oil on wood cradled panel measuring 6" x 6" x 1.5" deep.

Back to old favourites

6" x 6" Oil on wood cradled panel

When I started these small format paintings, I meant for them to be simpler with the emphasis on brushwork but I keep going back to trickier subject matter....ellipses for example.  I do like teacups so they do end up in my paintings quite often.  I'll post the painting when I'm sure I'm happy with the end result.

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.

JAX

...and here is my painting Jax from the last post.  Painted slightly larger than most of my recent work at 8" square.  I may continue this size format for awhile.  This painting is a little more loose from my previous painting and the size increase helped.  One more painting of a dog before I go back to my usual subject matter.  Now this next one may be more of a challenge as it is of a dalmatian who is no
longer around and either the spottiness will make it easier to paint or harder - I'll  find out soon.

Next on my easel....

Jax is his name .... I'm painting this one a little larger than the usual 6" x 6" and he is on canvas.
Want to get this one finished before I return to the collage series of birds.

A Doxie named Rocky

6 x 6 x 1.5 inches

oil on wood cradled panel

My niece's beloved doxie, Rocky.  I couldn't help but want to paint him as I've had four doxies of my own.  Unfortunately he succumbed to the dreaded doxie back problem at the age of four.  

Robin Collage

Robin

8" x 10" 

collage on 3/4" wood panel

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and picking up techniques along the way.  Next up will be a 

Bluejay simply because I have some beautiful blue papers to use.

Cardinal Collage

I enjoy making textured and painted papers but don't seem to use them enough.  Having started this

bird series is the first time I am really using them in a way that justifies making more.  So all is good.

These are done on a card stock weight of paper but I'm thinking I may use the wood panels that I use

for the small daily paintings because the grain of the wood might be nice to use too.  I can see myself

adapting this newfound interest to the use of fabrics.  Something I've admired in art quilters but didn't think I'd get around to trying.  

Computer monitors vary quite a bit but for some reason the background green is more saturated than

my scan.  It's only when I bring it into this blog that is becomes a little too strong for my liking otherwise the original and the prints I'm making from it are a much nicer earthier green.

The original measures 8" x 10"

Jessie

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Oil on wood panel

It feels good to be painting again.  Jessie was a sweetheart of a wire haired doxie (dachshund) that I
had the pleasure to do a painting of.

A companion

Having fun with these.  This now completes a series of three chickadees but definitely not a completion of this media.  My next one might be a cardinal.

Explore a Different Path

I think I'm getting the hang of this....

Explore a Different Path

Creating an image in collage is a different than when painting for obvious reasons.  Having completed this second one, I am starting to accumulate a few notes on a working approach.  Really looking forward to starting the next one with a new and improved work flow.

Something I've been meaning to do....

For various reasons I've been making painted papers over the years and for some reason, I haven't had a reason to use them.   Some papers I like so much as is that I hesitate to tear them apart.  But this time I felt motivated enough to make this little collage of a chickadee.  Funny enough, most of my papers were of very saturated high key colours (which were fun to make) but for this collage I need mostly neutrals.  It doesn't take much but it's nice to have a ready assortment to pick and choose from.  So having done this one, I'm going to make a few more.  But not before I make another assortment of beautiful neutrals.  Once I've completed a few more, I'll put these up as prints and notecards in my Etsy shop which I've sadly neglected in recent months.