Lynem Art

2011-12-31T08:51:00.001-08:00

I came across this video on the Liz Wiltzen blog called, "Live Attuned". It is such a beautiful video i had to share it with you, thinking what a great way to close out the year. I've watched this many times over and never lose the awe that it inspires. Hope you all have a great New Year with many dreams coming true. But most of all that you experience first hand the amazing love of the one who created it all in the beginning. He was the first true artist. What an amazing artist He is. God bless each and every one.

"My Town"

2011-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

The beginning's of a whimsical take on my town, Calgary. Some of the recognizable places are evident like the "Saddledome", "Bow Tower", and "Calgary Tower". The houses in the middle ground represent inner city communities of Sunnyside and Hillhurst. These i plan on doing brightly colored and fun. The city buildings will mostly be grays, blues, purples outlined in white and a sky filled with dancing images and stars. Not too sure what to do with the foreground yet and have to be careful. A painting like this can become too busy in short order. The rows of houses will be the focal point of it all. These are fun to do and i have hopes of doing a series based on local, familiar areas. We shall see. I get sidetracked so easily. Sigh! Hope all are having a great day with new paintings all around. God bless, and Happy New Year.

"Portofino"

2011-12-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

Portofino is finally complete. This was a commission for a lady who saw another one similar to it and asked me to do one for her. It took me over 18 months to get it done because i kept getting sidetracked doing other things. She was so very patient and gracious. I would have fired myself a long time ago.
But glad she waited as i am most pleased with the outcome and cannot wait to show it to her. This is watercolor on Arches 300 lb. CP paper. 17" X 44".

WIP "Portofino"

2011-12-05T09:04:00.001-08:00

This is now about 80% complete. I have yet to do the background as I do not quite have a clear image of what it is to be yet. Also the area on the left side is yet to take shape. Hope to be finished in a couple of days.

Today i was thinking of what a privilege it is to be able to paint. When i dreamt of doing this, i always thought it would be such fun and a very cool way to live. Boy, was i in for a surprise. It is really a ton of work and the work is never done is it? If we are not painting, we are percolating the next idea or maybe thinking of new ways to market our work. Or you might be trying to develop a new technique, re-invent the wheel, or learn to work with new mediums. When i was a kid i can remember asking my mom always what there was for me to do. "I'm bored!" said me. Hehe! Should have painted. Hope all are having a fabulous day. I'm playing today and having fun!

WIP of Portofino...

2011-12-03T14:32:00.001-08:00

This is a work in progress based on the Italian village of Portofino. I enjoy taking a real life village and using it as a starting point. You can see the photo i used on my lap top. This painting will be 17" X 44" when done. So far it is coming along nicely and i look forward to adding the dark areas which bring a watercolor to life and make those whites and light areas pop. Adding little bits of complimentary color nearby also helps. Hope to have the completed piece posted soon.

"Mousehole"

2011-12-01T14:23:00.001-08:00

This is based on a photo of the village, "Mousehole" in Cornwall. I really enjoy doing these little villages.
The drawings take on a life of their own and evolve from a photo to a slightly off kilter, whimsical representation of what is really there. For this one, my intention was to keep most of the colors grey and cool except for a few houses. It appears as if the sun is setting and nightfall will soon envelope everyone.
Oops! I forgot to put some people in which i like to do. Next time! Watercolor on Arches C/P 300 lb. paper.

"Limerick"

2011-11-30T19:41:00.001-08:00

A wee little painting, only 8" X 10". It just felt good to be painting again after such a long block. I hope to have some more up soon. This is watercolor on Arches watercolor board.

"The Family"

2011-06-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

No painting to post but i thought i would introduce part of the family. This is my wife, Natalie and her daughter Katarina. Our puppies, the Boxers are quite happy to sit on your lap anytime they can. This was cute as they both climbed up together and made themselves at home. The white one is Bella, and the other one is Paulo. They keep us entertained for sure.

"Cherry Blossom"

2011-06-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

This was painted from a photo i took in Vancouver last spring of a crafty old raven. I love watching these birds and trying to capture interesting perspectives of them. I've had great luck around the big old garbage bins and along the beaches as they are quite the scavengers. This is a little different too as opposed to my more whimsical paintings. I used gouache watercolor and ink on Arches cold pressed paper.

"Meena"

2011-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

Painted this sweet girl for an upcoming group show at the Ruberto Ostberg galleries in Calgary. I love doing cows and enjoy trying to capture their quirky personality. This one I named "Meena" which is my mother in laws name. She did not mind and i showed her the painting. So far my sister, my cousins and my aunts have all had bovine paintings named in their honor. This is watercolor on Arches 300lb. cold pressed paper and is 20" X 25".

"Water Lily"

2011-05-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been so long since last i posted, i almost forgot how! Since my show i have not been doing a lot of painting but manage to come to the studio and putter most days. To get started again i thought i must do a flower painting as i had not ever done one before. I've now done two! They are actually a lot of fun as there is much in the way of pattern and shape which i am drawn to. I tried new paper too for this one just to get out of the old rut. This is "Waterford" 300lb. Cold pressed and i found it to be more like a Hot pressed and the paper absorbed a lot of the color which made it harder to lift. It did perform pretty well otherwise and i will most likely keep a supply on hand but have returned to the ever trustworthy "Arches". I suppose it is whatever one gets used to. Hope all are doing well and enjoying their painting time. God bless each and every one. Ross

"Mr. Pezzo"

2011-03-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

This photo of Mr.Pezzo touches me deeply as it was taken only a few weeks before he died. His one eye had clouded over some time ago. He was a best friend when my life was at it's lowest. He and i spent many nights and days together roaming the hills behind our house. I, dreaming of a better life, he, playing in the tall grass running a zig zag pattern to make me laugh. A dog can be so intuitive when their people are hurting. He knew just what to do. God, i loved this little guy.

As you can see by the photo he was quite a lovely, sweet boy. A Boxer is unlike any other dog i believe. They are difficult to manage in the earlier years but as time goes on they become such a devoted and loyal companion. It is hard to be with one and not have them underfoot at all times as they want to be with you no matter what you do. Expect to share your popcorn and the couch when you watch a movie! They are considered to be the "clowns" of the dog world and can make you laugh out loud at times. I'm not so sure i could ever own another kind of dog. Pezzo was almost twelve which is getting up there for a Boxer and had been losing a lengthy courageous battle with cancer. We had to take him to the vet for the last time which is such a difficult thing to do. The hardest thing i have ever had to do. With his one good eye he looked at us, at me, not sure what was happening. But he loved us with his last breath as we watched the light fade from him. Yes, a most difficult thing to do. Never thought i could love a dog so much.
I hope to honor him with a new painting and will post when done.
God bless everyone.

"Calgary Timeraiser"

2011-03-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

I was most pleased that my painting, "Our Town" was selected by jury to be included in the 2011 Calgary Timeraiser.

The Timeraiser is a silent art auction with a twist. Instead of bidding money, participants bid volunteer time to agencies that need their skills and energy. They buy all artwork at fair market value and auction it off on the night of the Timeraiser. The 6th Calgary Timeraiser will be held on Thursday June 16th 2011 at Flames Central. Successful auction bidders have 12 months to complete their volunteer pledge. When they do, they bring the artwork home as a reminder of their goodwill.

To date, the Timeraiser has generated 83,000 volunteer hours and invested $410,000 in the careers of emerging Canadian artists.

"Santa Maria" & "Pittenweem"

2011-02-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

"Pittenweem" is a little Scottish coastal village i enjoy visiting on Google. I love the names they have for their towns. They are so poetic.....

"The Trouble with the Universe"

2011-02-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

I always used to wonder what the trouble with the universe was. Now i know it is all the cats fault. He appeared in the lower right corner of my painting as i was putting these rather shifty looking characters into a universe of their own. This is also a palette painting. They were just there one day looking up at me.

The gallery has some speed daters here tonight. They are all quite lovely and many have come down to see the artist in the basement. They wanted to know if i would like to come up and mingle with them. I thought better of it, preferring to keep my "Mysterious Artist" profile intact and remain the cellar dweller. Besides, i don't think my wife would like it much even if i did sell a few paintings because of it. Smile!

I greatly admire the speed daters for their courage and desire to change their situation. I also enjoy hearing the wonderful sound of people having fun and laughing. It makes a cellar dweller quite happy it does.

Now, what to do with that darn cat.....

"Mount Biddie" & "Dipper Creek"

2011-02-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Somebody had asked me to do a ski hill painting. So i took one of my little villages, gave it some snow and added a ski lift. The end result was quite
lovely i think. I feel the next ski hill may have to have some more black- diamond runs and perhaps a high speed quad. The folks at the bottom do not seem to mind the wait as they are having quite the lovely time chatting and such.

This is my one and only attempt at doing a "loose" watercolor. I told the gallery owner it was loose and she laughed. I suppose it is not as loose as some watercolorists would do. I love the very loose style with subjects simply stated though. Perhaps this could be my Christmas card for next year? It did sell which was most pleasing to me.

"Mid-day Matinee" & "You Never Listen to Me"

2011-02-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

This is my rendition of an old theatre in town. It is in a trendy little area where i love to go for coffee and watch all the people go by. One day, there was a school bus filled with happy children going to a mid-day matinee. Hence, the title for this piece, "Midday Matinee"!

Sometimes, i look into the puddles of paint in my palette and see all manner of things. These two unique characters were there having quite the discussion. I decided to give them a planet and a floating house to live in. I called this one, "You Never Listen to Me" because that seems to be the point of their rather heated exchange. I sure hope they work it out....

"Dancer" and "Priscilla"

2011-02-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

I love doing boat reflections. The patterns intrigue me.

I also love to do cows still. To me they are such beautiful animals who give us so much. I'm planning on becoming a vegetarian and just do cow paintings.
I named this one after my sister. She didn't mind.

"Pepsi Blue"

2011-01-31T07:36:00.000-08:00

#40 She's done! Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches CP paper. 15" X 43"

I am so pleased with her. There is a photo in my album of this young lady and i had wanted to paint her for a very long time. So glad i saved her for last as it was such a thrill to finish the long list of paintings with her. It is really the first figurative piece i have done and now i am thinking it will not be the last. Capturing people at work or play is quite fascinating to me.

Now i'm off to the framers with the last two. I hope all are well and
happily painting out there in Bloggerland. It is close to -30 today so me thinks a wee coffee with sketch book and note pad sounds good. I have to do titling and pricing, which i can do at a Starbucks with my lap top. By for now! God bless everyone...

"Etch A Sketch"

2011-01-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

Can you find the "Etch A Sketch"? I really had no idea there would even be an Etch A Sketch here but it was just sort of there as i was painting. I love those little surprises. This was based on a doodle i had done in one of my sketch books. I've used up most of the sketch book ideas now. I'll have to replenish them soon. Still working on the young lady. It is becoming harder than expected to finish her as she is the last one. I've been thinking too much about the things that need to be done next week. Tomorrow is the last painting day. Thanks for dropping by! Cheers!

"Kensington"

2011-01-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

It's done! I put the last paint on a minute ago. This one went down kicking and screaming but as is most often the case when they are difficult, we end up liking them very much! At one point i was going to scrap it and start over. Now i am glad i did not do that. A teacher i once taught me that you can make something out of almost anything. If in the end you are still not satisfied you can cut it into strips and make really cool watercolor bookmarks. Hehe! I've not made any bookmarks yet but there are a few in the old folder that should be. I'm getting excited for the show. The paintings i've done are a lot different than the last showing. It is amazing to me to see where they go when one paints a lot!

Having a deadline is so good as it forces you to work when a lot of times you are wanting to do anything but paint. I think after the Opening i will have to find a new deadline. It will be difficult to start painting again i know but it is something i am determined to not let happen. We shall see. Now i have to finish the young girl i was working on and that will be it for now.
Blessings all.

WIP 5

2011-01-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

Almost done! I needed a wee break so thought i would share this near final stage. Now is the fun part where i can just sit and tweak things. The little people will be last. I have to finish the Pointe building and the street poles. The sky is done, foreground, buildings. They never really turn out the way i imagine them to. From start to finish things change along the way which is good as sometimes the painting knows better what it needs. I try to listen to it as i go and hear what it is saying. Next up is the finished piece. If i don't spill coffee on it or something like that. It's happened!

WIP

2011-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

I am having fun with the WIP of the street and thought i would post this too. It is the last painting for the show and a subject i have not yet attempted. I had this photo for a while now and loved the light, and the way the young lady was standing. She was also not in the moment but far, far away and it really intrigued me. I am hoping to capture the dreamy state she was in and keep the light strong. I think it is almost complete and i am learning from this one that less really is more. We shall see! Blessings all.

WIP 4

2011-01-27T07:46:00.000-08:00

I'm still plugging away at this which is good considering there was a point i thought it may not work. The colors were not working together. There was something not quite right and i had been unable to figure out what it was. So i washed off the sky, re-applied the masking, and went to work intensifying and adjusting the color relationships. The foreground i left alone as i was quite happy with that, the sidewalk was too gray and unappealing so i added color and swatches of blue for sparkle, the buildings needed depth so i washed over them with blues, yellows and greens. Then i darkened the buildings near the end of the street so they would recede more. The focal point of this piece is the Pointe building on the corner which will receive different treatment than the others. I still have much to do. The little people, the starry sky, some highlights on the clouds, the windows and such. I'm pleased with where it is going and can "see" the result i want which was not the case two days ago.

This is number 39 and i have 40 on the go. Four more painting days left! There is no pressure now and i'm having fun once again. There may even be time to try an acrylic or two. I'd love to have a canvas in the show but i am not an acrylic painter and have that on my list of things to do when done with the Opening.

WIp 3

2011-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

This is what it looks like with most of the masking removed. I left the masking on in the sky area and have to decide what to do there. I've also done some more in the foreground and with the buildings. I think there is still hope and i am seeing some positives. It is really too early to know if it is going to work out or not. One never knows! At the very least the process is one of exploration and i learn from each of these whether they are "train wrecks" or frame worthy art. We shall see. I think i will put this one aside now and work on another until i figure out where to go next.

WIP

2011-01-24T16:32:00.000-08:00

I have now done three passes on both the sky and the foreground. To create the impression of a sidewalk i just avoided the area that would be the curb. The sidewalk surface has the same colors as the foreground but grayed a bit with some blue. For the sky i was trying to get mostly violets and purples but it got a little dark on me which is okay. I'll add some red and blue highlights here and there. As i do the washes i am leaving small patches untouched which creates a patchwork effect somewhat like broken glass. I also put a single wash on the buildings, using yellow, blue and green with a little pink. Much more to do and this one takes time as i have to wait until everything is completely dry before going over it again.

"WIP"

2011-01-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, here is my WIP. The first image is a drawing of a local area in Calgary called Kensington. I make the drawing fairly whimsical. I have to start with something though, so i take a photo and work from that. Here i have masked all the buildings and the people as i am looking for an outline effect on the buildings. The people will get painted in last.

Once the masking is dry i decide what my colors will be and begin by laying in large washes over the sky and then the foreground. For the sky i mixed five colors, three blues and two reds. I just let them mingle on the palette and dip into the different pools as i put the paint on from left to right. It is important to mix more paint than you might need. If you run out half way across it can be a bit of a problem. I had an instructor once who said "paint like a millionaire". I know now what she meant!

For the foreground i mixed five separate pools of color again, two reds, two yellows and a blue. I let them mingle and lay them in from left to right. I leave little patches of white in both areas and will use them later. Now i have to let it all dry really well before i go over it again. This is where i can pick up another painting to work on while i wait. Or do a blog posting. By for now!

"Hamlet On Wye"

2011-01-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

"Hamlet on Wye" yet another place i might like to live one day. My daughter has struggles with Biology and told me that Fairy Tales are more real to her than science and can't understand why they need to know all that stuff. I have to agree. Fantasy is far easier to understand. This is not #39 but i took a wee break and thought i might post one more. I might try a WIP. Stay tuned!

"Qanuk"

2011-01-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

This is "Qanuk" which means snowflake in Eskimo. 8 more painting days now with two left to do. Looking forward to next week when we can set up the show and see it all together. Then wait for folks to show up and hope there is not a blizzard that night. My wife says i am like "Puddleglum" the Marshwiggle in C.S. Lewis's "The Silver Chair"! I would have to agree. If i booked a flight to San Diego there would be a huge snow storm that day and all flights would be cancelled. Smile! That actually did happen.

Now this rambling is because i have been in the studio for three months straight and need to see something other than a palette and a brush. But number 39 & 40 await, so I will have to postpone outdoor pursuits for a bit yet. I am quite excited about these last two though and hope to pull them off. Okay, back to work. Blessings always.

"Jimmy"

2011-01-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

Thought i might post this little gal real quick as i just think she is such an adorable little pup. I love painting dogs but found Bull Dogs to be more fun than any other! That is for now at least until i do a Whippet or something like that. Smile! What the heck, they are all fun and different. This one is 21" X 21" on my usual 300 lb. Arches Cold Pressed. Okay, now i have to get back to work as there are only 15 more days for me to paint and i still have four to do. A couple of them are not cooperating just now. I'll keep on them till there is a sign of life. By for now. Blessings all.

"It's Where We Live"

2011-01-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

This is another painting i did as a tribute to a great Alberta Artist; Janet Mitchell. Her work has inspired me most of all i think and greatly influences my own paintings. I love the childlike, whimsical qualities in many of her paintings of local areas and settings. She lived in Sunnyside, an older neighborhood in Calgary which is where i based this piece. There is an old corner store there like the ones you used to see everywhere before the chains took over. I hope to do a series of paintings depicting the "Corner Store" before they are all gone. That could be a good project for when the Opening is over. 15 days till show time! I have four more to complete then my brushes take a rest. Yahoo!

"South Middleton"

2011-01-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

Just finished this one about an hour ago. I am trying to take photos of them right away, title them and file them away as soon as they are done so i do not lose track. The other day i took a bunch to the framers and realized i had not done the filing and titling etc. Got too hasty i did.

I tried different color combinations with this one and found it to be quite lively when done. I enjoy experimenting with different colors and mixes. That is my main focus when i paint. Layering in bright vibrant color. I enjoy seeing how they react next to one another. This painting is 7" X 29".

It is late and i am fading as the gallery has been my home for many days now. Might have to call it a day. Good night all and God bless.

"Mill Street"

2011-01-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

This little street was compiled to fill an odd sized piece of paper i had laying around. It is 6" X 29". I think the format works well because folks will often have an odd wall or wall end they cannot really do anything with. It was mucho fun to do and there are two more in the works in similar formats. A winter scene, and a summer scene. Tonight there is an opening at the gallery and i am holed up in the basement wanting to paint but think it may be a bad idea as there are many art officienados milling about. The folk club sounds like a good alternative for me just now so i shall bid you adieu and go listen to some great music. An artist has to re-fill those idea wells you know. By for now all, God bless and happy painting.

"Soda"

2011-01-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

We have a white Boxer at home my daughter calls LaLa, short for Bella. I liked the nickname and thought this little gal could be a "LaLa". I think this is my favorite to date and love how cuddly she looks. Makes me want to run right out and buy a white bull dog puppy. Dog paintings are fun to do and i find they afford the opportunity to play with some whimsy in the backgrounds and such. The folds in her face were a challenge and the blankets were a similar process to the puppy which i found to be an interesting process. Only 22 days now till show time and i am working on number 35 just now. Will have to post some more soon. Hope all are well and happily painting. Blessings always.

"Roundstone"

2011-01-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go! Hehe! That's about where i'm at just now. There's many more i would love to do but only enough time for the four i most need to have done. Show time is in 24 days and counting. I have 32 in the bag. It's off to the framers now, and he is always so happy to see me these days. The framer i have is excellent and reasonable too, which be so important when framing 30 or more. Yikes! Scary thought actually. My credit card is rather hot these days. Hopefully enough sell to pay for the frames at least. Ahh, the life of an artist. Can't be beat. Cheers everyone. Until next time!

"Peebleshire"

2010-12-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy preparing for my upcoming show there has not been time to post anything at all or visit a few of my favorite blogs! But i am well ahead of the game now and have 27 new paintings. My goal was to have 30 by the 30th of January. This is one of the villages i so love to put together. There are several along the same theme of varying sizes. This one is 22" X 30" on Arches Cold Pressed paper. My absolute favorite. I had some rough in my supply and started a painting on it without realizing it was rough till i put the first few washes down. The response was so different i struggled greatly. Now very happy to be back to the Cold pressed for sure. Hope all had a very merry Christmas and looking forward to what the New Year brings...
God bless. Ross

"Tartan"

2010-12-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

Hi there. I had this little one sitting by and thought i might use it in my show. I forgot to put some people in it! Oops! I guess it is just very early morning and none have woken to their day yet. I enjoy the patterns and shapes of these little houses and such. I've been drawing for two days steady and have 12 new ones completed. There will be no going home until number 14 is ready for paint! Must be at it then, as the evening is rolling along here and the gallery is nice and quiet. No kids! Smile! By for now. Blessings everyone.

"Flossiemouth"

2010-12-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

A wee harbor town somewhere far away. Housing prices near the water are on the rise but a homey place for a fair price still can be had if one persists in their search. Moving inland a street or two is also an option. Not certain yet if i would rather live in "Flossiemouth" or the soon to be built "Freeburger". As soon as i have a photo of this new village i will post it here.

I love the light that is present here. It seems so relaxing in a way. I just realized the other day that I have been using a lot of Daniel Smith, Cobalt Teal blue! It is my favorite color choice just ahead of my many reds that show up everywhere too. Will have to try one without the blue for a change just to see what happens. It is also fun to go round the palette and try forgotten colors. A short while ago I took my forgotten tossed aside tubes of paint and created a second palette of these very fine colors. I call it the "fun palette" and go to it whenever i need to get out of a slump or change the pace a bit. Works ever time! Give it a try! A very nice grey can be had by mixing Cerulean Blue with a little Cadmium Red Light. Try adding a little Viridian to the mix to green it up a little. Makes for a lovely grey in varying shades.

Hope all are well today and staying ahead of the Christmas rush. A beautiful season that has been bullied to death by consumerism and tolerance. I try not to get too caught up in it all. God bless each and every one. Remember the real reason for the season and to all a good night.

"Montague"

2010-12-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

This time i think i would live in the little purple house down the path on the right. It would be closer to the dock and i could get onto my boat anytime and sail away. But then maybe one would not want to sail away if living in Montague? I tried something a little different on the foreground with the squares of color. Kind of like pointalism but on a larger scale. It made for a very interesting texture and pattern.

"Paisley"

2010-12-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

This is a little make believe Sea side village. I think i may move into the little pink house in the middle.
It has a great view of the harbor and all the comings and goings. This is a watercolor on Cold Pressed paper and is about 8" X 24". Instead of using mostly warm colors i concentrated on cooler ones this time and it turned out to be refreshing change from my ever glowing color selections. There are a few more with similar color schemes in the works! Hope all are well on this beautiful 6th of Dec. Only 18 more days till Christmas! God bless each and every one.

"A Safe Harbor"

2010-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

My last painting to post for a while till i can make some more. I have a show to prepare for in Feb. and have to have about 30 at least. So far i think i have maybe 10 hidden away. Yikes! Better get to work. My 17 year old daughter always confides in me about boys, school troubles, school joys, and all that goes with being 17. I am a good listener but the other day i thought i would share with her the stresses of being a lonely studio artist preparing for a show and the task of coming up with new ideas all the time. Hehe! Thought i would turn the tables on her and see what she did. She simply said in a young persons idealistic way of seeing the world, "why don't you just paint what's on the inside?" and then went back to complaining about her biology teacher. They are so cute aren't they? I thought about what she said all day and realized she was so right on. I spend too much time looking at art on the web and in books. Ultimately painting is an inside job. I now have it written on a card and posted in front of me for a reminder. I told her the next day how smart she was, to which she promptly replied "I know!". Smile! I am going to paint what is on the inside now. Hope to post it here for you soon. Blessings as always. ross

"Anne Street"

2010-11-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

In my sketchbook i find all sorts of little drawings and doodles that long to be made into paintings. This was one such sketch i found from way back. The idea was to try and do a whimsical street scene towards the end of day when the last light is fading. It is about 11 X 14 and done with watercolor on 300 lb. Arches CP paper. My sketch books are running out of fresh ideas though and i think it may be time to get into the habit of using them again. Coffee shops are great places to sit and doodle or draw people. Just have to try and not let them know what you are doing. Smile! Next up; "Painting what's on the inside!'. God bless! ross

2010-11-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

Boats and reflections are a bit of a passion for me and i love doing them even though they take a while to make. This one is on a full sheet of 300 lb. arches CP paper. My initial plan was to make it quite dark but as the painting progressed it was wanting to stay light. Have to listen to the painting and let it guide me. I love when that happens and a new direction is unfolding as paint goes to paper. I thought i might post the photo i worked from here too for you to see. It was one i took a few years ago in Vancouver and always wanted to do something with it. Hope all are well out there in studio land. Blessings. Ross

"Bowness Lagoon"

2010-11-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

This was a commission given me by a neighbor. The lady wanted a whimsical painting of a popular skating lagoon here in Calgary. I took photos of the main points of interest and combined them into a fun, wintery scene complete with fire pit and pooches. "There are no puppies allowed on the ice in winter" i was told by a person who saw the painting. Smile! There are in my painting! Artistic license.....

"The Underlings II"

2010-11-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since i have posted anything and thought it about time. This one was from some doodles i did of birds flying around and had fun with the scene they were flying around in. It is done with watercolor, acrylic, gouache, and ink on paper. I find it so freeing to just paint and not worry about realistic renditions and such. Hope all are well. Blessings always.

"A Crow and a Half"

2010-10-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Not too sure what to think of this one but thought i would post to see what the reaction might be. I used lots of paint straight out of the tube which is ridiculous for watercolor as it is a pretty pricey way to paint. Would try it again using acrylic. But i did experiment and once tons of paint was laid down dropped water on it and watched as the paint swirled and did cool stuff. I will do more crows as i think they make interesting paintings and are interesting creatures to boot! I love watching them as they carry on and make me laugh. Hope all are well and happily painting.
Blessings! ross

"The Choir"

2010-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

I got the idea for this one from a wee doodle my step-daughter did in my sketch book of a persons head! The head she drew is the little green one second down on the left. It was great fun to carry that through to the finished piece. It has been a long while since last i posted here. Not that i have been far away or anything, just painting is all, getting ready for two upcoming shows. Hope to have more to share in the near future. Hope all are doing well and enjoying the beauty of Fall days. Blessings to each and everyone.

"Something Different; Wall Murals!"

2010-08-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, she arrived! Hooray! Her name is Amelia and here is a photo of her admiring the Panda floating above her with balloons. It took her arrival to add the life and the magic the murals were waiting for.

Congratulations to her very happy parents, David and Meagan.

Meagan painting rocks....

Meagan and my wife working in unison.

Yours truly happily painting...

My niece and nephew are expecting a baby in Oct. and asked us to help them with their baby room.

So a wall mural came to be based on the very talented, Jon Muth who happens to be one of my favorite children's book illustrators and watercolorists. His paintings are beautifully simple, and simply beautiful. So we borrowed some of his designs and did up a nursery. I have to say it so much fun, my wife and i are going to do some more. It could turn into a great part-time job i think.

We also discovered, my nephew David, and his wife Meagan, have some hidden artistic talents and did a fantastic job. They are budding artists for sure. Check out their own blog, "Get Daddy Some Gin".

It's really cute.

"Yupo Paintings"

2010-08-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

These are my first attempts at using Yupo paper with watercolor which i tried last year. I had just visited Sandy Maudlin's blog and she has some amazing Yupo paintings there with some very helpful hints on how to use this rather unusual support. When i did the fist one, i almost could not stop smiling and laughing because it was just so much fun! I had forgotten about it till i saw Sandy's paintings and I just have to try some more now incorporating some of her helpful techniques. I was amazed too that the cows sold at my first show! I still have the rooster, and he is adorning my studio space just now. Give Yupo a try if you have not already.

"Flight"

2010-08-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

I saw these birds from the car as i was driving through the country one grey day and thought it was such a peaceful sight. I tried to get close without startling them but of course was unsuccessful as they were fairly alert. As they began to fly away i snapped as many shots as i could thinking all the while that my chance was lost as they heard me coming. When i got home and looked over what i captured, this particular scene stayed with me for a long while. I'm rather pleased with the overall mood of it as i kept it as close to the atmosphere as was present that day. It was rather moody and I loved the chance to do something a bit different than the bright whimsical ones i've been doing. I used just five colors. Ultramarine blue, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Cobalt blue, and Alizarin Crimson.

"Sunflower Fields"

2010-07-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

Another in the long narrow series. When i was painting a whole lot of 18" X whatever type of paintings i ended up with a folder full of these odd pieces which were 4" X 22". I saved them all of course and thought of cutting them up for cards but decided to do a couple of narrow landscapes. The format is handy and can fit in those odd places and spaces people have in their homes. I also find the tall narrow ones do well too.

This painting was relatively simple to create with a few washes for the background hills. The grasses were built up in layers and the sunflowers were a variety of yellows and oranges with a little shading here and there and then polka dots all over. I used a Pit pen for the dots. I am doing a wee commission similar with stukes in it and a wagon. Should be fun!
Blessings everyone!
ross

"Tribute to Janet Mitchell"

2010-07-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is my tribute to a great Alberta Artist, Janet Mitchell who lived from 1912 - 1998. Her work was both beautifully light hearted and filled with childlike whimsy. She is a great inspiration to me.

I was also lucky enough to purchase a painting by her which i have posted here for you to see.

It is called "Head of Classics". I had such fun doing a Janet Mitchell style painting and hope to do a few more in a series which of course will be called "A Tribute To Janet Mitchell".

This one i did is 4" X 22" on 300lb. Arches CP paper.

Isn't this just a delightful painting? It is quite large and fits nicely over our fireplace.

She did it on a full sheet of watercolor paper and the framing and matting make it a nice size.

I enjoy looking at it each day. It is also one of very few original paintings that i own but hope

to continue collecting as the opportunities present themselves.

Waiting for Wash Day

2010-07-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

I had been working on this for a while and did not seem to be able to finish it. That happens when I leave one unattended for a while. So today i decided it would be done and here it is. The middle was somewhat tedious but i had such fun with it in the end. The edges were all pretty hard and i went around with a red, yellow orange mix and softened all the edges. They then seemed more realistic once rounded. Then the dabbling began and i knew it was time to sign it and put it away. Watercolor on 300lb. Arches CP paper.

I bought some "smooth" and some "rough" today just to try something different. Can't wait to try them. I also broke out the acrylics! There's never enough time in the day is there? I find it is hard to start but when i do get going just can't seem to quit. Hope you are all well and having fun with your creative endeavors. Blessings!

"Spanner"

2010-06-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

I'd like you to meet "Spanner". He was a commission given to me by some very kindly folks who wanted to surprise Spanner's owner. I'm always very excited to be part of someone's plans to gift or surprise. The joy i feel is ever present as i put together the painting for them. Not sure what that is but it does make the job of painting such a delight. This little guy was done on Arches 300 lb. CP paper. He is 11" X 15" unframed.

"Fancyful"

2010-06-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Well, i survived the opening and will live another day. I love the start of the openings when the first attendees arrive but as the evening progresses i begin to look for a corner.

Well, I'm off to the gallery for a wee bit and plan on starting a commission i was given a week ago. It is a dog portrait for a lady who came into the gallery. I like doing dogs and will post here when done.

This little watercolor painting ( 13" X 18") is one i did on the back side of a past disaster. It more or less evolved from some of my doodle art which always seems to be a great place for me to go for ideas if i get stuck. Lately it is just plain fun to play and i think that is where some of the best ideas are born. In my heart i am still longing for a dramatic serious piece. The word "significant" keeps coming to me throughout my days. Not sure if other artists out there experience this or not. My work is most often whimsical which i love to do so perhaps the "significant" calling is just the other side of the coin wanting it's due. I think i am nearing the place where this mysterious artwork will begin it's new life. Will let you know! Blessings all...

"The Underlings" Watercolor on Arches CP paper. 18 X 22

2010-06-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

I had this idea to paint white crows with a mainly blue background and this is what I ended up with. It just began to take on a life of it's own with little people underneath the surface there.
I quite enjoyed drawing this one and found it to be a brand new direction once done. I've now plans to do larger pieces along the same theme using acrylics or mixed media. Or maybe even a canvas! That would be a new beginning as well! I've done some oil painting in the past but not for a long time now. It is quite exciting to step out of the old comfort zone and i have to say the studio is now a happier place. We had an opening tonight at the gallery and although folks are still there mingling i had to escape to the nearest MacDonalds with a Rolo McFlurry and my lap top.
The smoosching part of this business is hard for me. Wish it were not so but i'd rather make the paintings and let them speak for themselves. God bless you all and i pray you have a peaceful and blessed evening. I think i may head home now. Goodnight!

"The Blooms go Shopping"

2010-06-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

This was done on the backside of a ruined watercolor painting i had. The figures are done in watercolor and the rest of it is acrylic.
I had been wanting to do a mixed media piece for a while now and this is my initial attempt. Once i got used to the fact you cannot fling acrylics around like watercolor i was on my way! My good jeans are now sporting a multicolored patch or two and also my jacket and part of the floor where i work. Despite those wee blunders it was fun to do and i now look forward to the next piece using various mediums. The colors did not reproduce so well with this image and i am not so sure why that happened. It is actually quite bright. I've also waxed it so i do not have to frame it under glass using instead a linen matt with deeper frame. It is about 12" X 18" on 300 lb. Arches Cold Pressed paper with watercolor, ink and acrylic.

"Rose Town"

2010-05-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

A fellow commissioned this piece for his wife for her birthday. I actually finished it with a week to spare! Yahoo! It was based on a previous painting which she liked but was not large enough. This is 16" X 44" unframed done on Arches 300lb. cold pressed paper. When i took it to the framers a lady was in the shop and liked it enough to order one for herself! Now it's back to the drawing board as they say. The next one will be different of course. I am also playing around with some abstract work which is so refreshing for me having spent a lot of time these days on very organized and structured pieces. I'm also looking forward to working with acrylics and experimenting with different framing techniques. It is such fun being an artist and i am thankful each day for the gift of being able to do this. I have a supportive wife and family which makes it all happen. Life is good, God is gooder. Blessings everyone!

"Van Isle"

2010-04-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

This could be a maritime coastal village somewhere down the road from "Peggy's Cove". A place where fisherman gather and chat about the days catch over a pint or two. Watercolor on 300lb. Arches CP paper.
22" X 30"

"After School"

2010-04-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired lately by so many fine Quebec artists it is hard to remember them all. I do spend far too much time on the internet though scouring art galleries and artists web sites. I find it encouraging as well as inspiring seeing what everyone is up to. Recently i've toured England
(via the computer of course) and the wonderful art work one can find there. It is all just so lovely.
This piece was a departure for me in a way. I wanted it to be less labor intensive than the others i do and somehow a little looser. So this is as loose as i could get. Hopefully i can loosen up even more as this was just such a delight to pull off. I'm trying to be braver with my shadows and find they really do make a painting come to life.
Happy day to all!

"Baptiste Valley"

2010-04-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

I had a spare bit of paper beside another painting i was working on and doodled my way to "Baptiste Valley"! I often have two, maybe three on the go at any time so there is something else to do while i wait for paint to dry or ideas to come. There are more pleasant surprises this way. By for now!

"Lauzonville"

2010-03-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

This commission was for a good friend and her husband. They wanted a whimsical village setting with a skating rink and also liked some penguins i had in a previous painting so the little guys are there floating downriver on the ice flows. It is my largest piece to date at 36" X 48", done on 300lb. Arches cold pressed paper. I have to admit i loved working on the large format. It was somewhat like doing several small paintings all on the same page moving back and forth from one area to another. I saved the mountains for the end and was i nervous as i layed down those initial washes thinking this could all blow several weeks worth of work if i mess up. Oh, the joy of watercolor. But it was just such fun to do and i am very pleased with this one feeling it to be my best work to date. Now it is off to the framers. Blessings all!

Bert's County

2010-02-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

I enjoy playing with the patterns for these landscapes. They take a long time to do as i have to build the color with many washes but the end is fun when i can place all the little darks here and there.

Bruch's Aspens

2010-02-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

A commission i recently finished for a friend from work. The paint is still wet! I may have to do some more trees as i really enjoyed the process and the pattern. Blessings all! Ross.

2010-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

A bit of a departure for me but had fun with the greens and reds.

Will most likely continue with this theme for a while and

try a few different designs.

I cannot wait to begin

playing on some more patterns, as i call them.

Cheers, everyone!

2010-02-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

A new village. Not sure what to call this one but was just pleased to actually have a new one to frame for a change. I've come through a long drought. Will load another for you soon. Blessings!

2010-01-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Wow! I am amazed at how long it's been since I've been on here. There are six or seven pantings in progress just now but have only just finished this one the other day. It was a commission for a lady's father for a birthday i believe. The black dog is not here any longer and they wanted to remember her in this way. I was pleased to be a part of this and enjoy doing dog paintings so much. It might have rekindled the painting muse too! That is a good thing.

"Our Back Alley"

2009-11-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

My wife suggested i do a painting of our back alley

so I didi! I began with a sketch which was fairly accurate as far as our alley goes, but then the fun begins when it is transferred to the paper. We do have a hole in our fence for the dog to look through, and a tree house for our youngest, Katarina. We discovered a lady bug colony in the tree house yesterday and everyone was pretty excited to see how they nest for the winter, all huddled up in a cluster of a couple hundred or so. The tree house is now called the "Lady Bug Hotel".

WIP "Harbor Town II"

2009-11-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

My first WIP. I know, I should have started the photos at the beginning, but took this photo at this stage because i got stuck and did not know where to take it from here. Thought i might post it for fun,

as i so enjoy the WIP's others have shared with us.

This is the finished painting. Someone came in and bought it right off the easel which was pretty exciting. I think i shall start "Harbor Town III" now.

2009-10-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

My Step-daughter Katarina by Upper Lake Kananaskis dreaming of flying perhaps like Harry Potter does, or just feeling the cool fall air on her face enjoying the youthful promise that is hers and hers alone. She is unique in all the universe and a very special child indeed. We, the world, are so lucky to have her.

2009-10-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Saundra Lane Galloway, of "Art For Life" gave me this "Kreativ Blogger"award way back on Sep.22 and i have now just figured out how to do this and pass it on. I'm certainly more comfortable inside my studio than with a computer, but have been so happy to have discovered this wonderful world of blogging and think often of my fellow bloggers and their own courageous journeys in the pursuit of their passions. There is such a wealth of information here and it so wonderful that all are so willing to share their experiences with each other. I hope to do the same in return and look forward to meeting others with the need to create. Thank you to all, and especially thank you to Saundra for this unexpected award.

Here are the 7 things i am supposed to share about myself. Even my wife is not privy to these but she will be now once she reads this... smile!

1) I have secretly always wanted to be a rancher. That might explain my attraction to cow paintings.
2)I paint far more in my head than i do for real. I'm a tad bit lazy.
3)My favorite buffet item is the deviled eggs.
4)I cannot resist chocolate and have secret stashes.
5)I would love to own a mint 1976 BMW 320i.
6)A log cabin in the mountains with no phone or TV is my dream abode.
7)I love the Tazmanian Devil on the Bugs Bunny Road Runner show.

Now i must select 7 recipients and i thin this may be very difficult indeed as all whom I've bookmarked are tremendous bloggers, artists. But here are the seven in no particular order

1) Laurie Pace  Her blog "Wonders of the Heart" was one of the first i discovered here. It is inspirational for sure both spiritually and painterly. You will not be disappointed. Her paintings are breathtaking.
2) Edgar Whitney  Edgar Whitney is no longer with us, but his blog is a tribute to a great painter who left behind a legacy of a life lived for the art of watercolor. A worthwhile blog to visit for sure. I love his paintings.
3)Tina Mammoser  This young lady cycles the coastlands of England and does very dramatic landscapes and seascapes. I thoroughly enjoy her daily musings.
4)Sheri's Showers of Love  This lady runs a day-car and posts stories from her busines about the kids she has in her care. Heartwarming and thought provoking for sure.
5)Sandy Maudlin's Art Journey  Her paintings are simply gorgeous and she paints the way i always hoped i might. But i cannot, so i enjoy looking at what she is up to from time to time. She also offers workshops! Worth a look!
6) Sam Dolman  Okay, I have to mention here a fellow cow guy. I started painting cows and have since stopped but when i saw Sam's art work i thought "How beautiful!" and began to paint bovine's once more. His are superlative.
7)Ron Morrison   This fellow paints old abandoned cars. He does an amazing job of it too as they are filled with light and color. Not your average car painting.

These are but a few. I know there are many more and i am thankful for all who drop by and for those sites i visit regularly for daily inspiration. God bless each and every one.
Ross

2009-10-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

"Stacy Lake". A wee village somewhere in the mountains where i might like to live!

Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold pressed.

2009-10-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

This is still one of my favorite paintings. I grabbed my camera last November when it began to snow really heavily. I went downtown and took a lot of photos of people walking the streets. This young lady was dashing to the Starbucks to get a coffee and i thought it would work well as a watercolor. The end result was most pleasing to me. I've many more photos from that day and plan on doing some more along the same theme. Watercolor on 300lb. Arches cold pressed paper.

2009-10-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

I did quite a few cow paintings for a while and they were pretty popular. I've started to do some more just because i had so much fun doing them. I've tried the chickens, roosters and horses but not any of them seemed to be so well received like the cows have been. I called this one, "Asleep in the Manger". My nephew is the proud owner. Bless him.

2009-10-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is one of my first landscapes. It was the one that started me on the path of patterns so to speak. I've received two commissions since to do a similar type of painting. They just keep getting bigger too!

2009-09-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

A make believe town at a bend in the river.
Some of the town folk and their dogs are out on the ice enjoying the sunny day.... a solitary crow watches from the rooftop.

Watercolor on 400 lb. cold pressed paper.

2009-09-05T23:24:00.000-07:00

I've been busy at the studio this month trying to get work ready for a very patient gallery. My paintings are now taking longer to do, as they keep getting more detailed.

Just love doing them though!

Watercolor on 400lb. cold pressed paper.

"Kensington Hill"

2009-08-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to continuing on this theme of whimsical villages. I have a few more designs in various stages of completion just now. I'll post them when they are done. This is watercolor on 400lb. Arches cold pressed paper...

Pleasant Ville

2009-08-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is watercolor on 400 lb. Arches Cold pressed paper. I just love that heavy paper.

'Proctor"

2009-08-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

"Proctor" A small lake side village in the central part of B.C. I spent an afternoon there drawing one day and then used the drawings in several paintings. This be one of them...

Just finished it today.

"Girls Night Out"

2009-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

My most recent work. Think the paint is still a bit damp. These chickens are fun to do. I've added the roosters and small farm in the background to add interest. This is watercolor on 400 lb. cold pressed paper. Just gotta love that real heavy paper....

2009-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

I call this one "Small Town". Another in the whimsical take on small villages, winter scenes. I enjoy doing these and love to see them evolve. There are several more on the drawing board just now.

2009-07-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

I called this guy "Strider". I found him hanging around a garbage bin one day and took a few photos. Thought i might try to do it all in blues and purples as opposed to black which i think worked considering the night time angle....

2009-07-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is my one and only oil painting. I think i will have to break them out again as i really enjoy the freedom you have with oils. My son's dog is a Boxer we call Pezzo and he was a very co-operative little model for this painting. I just love this little guy.

Rush Hour

2009-07-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

I saw a photo of a lady bug and got the idea for this painting. Once again i used the complementary colors of red against green. i tried to do several more like this but none of them worked out so i think i was just meant to do this one. It became one of my favorites.

Janus Crow

2009-07-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

I love crows and ravens and often go out to gather a few photos of these very entertaining characters. This one was watching me from his perch on the edge of a garbage bin at Granville Island, Vancouver. I got a few good angles and thought he would be a handsome subject for a painting. He is now perched on the walls of a Jr. High school library so many can watch him instead.

Katarina

2009-07-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is a painting i did of my step-daughter Kat. She appears in lots of my whimsical landscape paintings and is such a good little model. She even approved of this one so i was pleased.

Faith

2009-07-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

This is a portrait of a friends little girl. I thought i had gone to far with it and some of the paint became muddy. I thought i would try going in with a pit pen afterward and try to resurrect it some, and i think it worked. At least i was pleased with how it looked. It is still not finished. One day i will put in the water and beach.

Farley

2009-07-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

My son's girlfriend has this adorable little Beagle/Pug cross. I think he is called a "Bug".

"Peagle" does not sound nearly as nice. His name is Farley and he is quite a character, always on the move. Hence the butterflies. I thought it worked as he looks a bit weary or befuddled all the time. Must be from his constant antics. This was done with watercolor on Arches 300 lb. cold pressed paper.

Sundown

2009-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, i don't always do winter scenes. Just to prove it here is a landscape i called "Sundown". I love strong patterns and the use of bold colors. It tends to make for an exciting combination. Several people requested a painting like this one after it sold. So i have work! That is a good thing.

Mount Joy

2009-07-02T10:41:00.001-07:00

Yet another winter scene. The gallery owner i show in was telling me winter scenes are not as popular as summer ones. People feel cold when they look at them I suppose. But i love doing them and can put all kinds of light transparent colors into the snow portions of the painting. And the nice thing is they have ben selling so i shall keep on with them. Just cause i like to do so. This too is watercolor.

The Land the Never Melts

2009-07-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

I got the idea for this one from a vase i saw in a book. The patterns and colors were really dramatic and I simply had to put that to good use in this painting of a make believe winter scene. I called this one, "The Land That Never Melts". Once again it is watercolor on 300 lb. paper.

2009-07-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

i love doing these whimsical winter scenes. They are mostly made up, but i do try to find a photo of a mountain scene or village first to start the creative process which for me is drawing right onto the paper for hours sometimes. I love this part of the painting where i can sit and put it all together before a brush is used. Time stops for me then.

I called this one "Mount Joy". It is watercolor on paper.

2009-07-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

A dog commission i did of a little Beagle. Her owner loved red but i just got lucky with the background because i did not know she liked red till the day i gave her this painting. God is good!

Meena

2009-07-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

This cow was not impressed that i lay in her field like a dead gopher. She was brave enough to come up to take a closer look and that is when i got some fabulous photos of her. There was a less than brave herd right behind her. Smile! I just thought she was so beautiful and had to do this painting of her. Watercolor on 300 lb. Cold Pressed paper.

Wedding Party

2009-06-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

I had great fun with this one. It is called "The Wedding Party". I also had "The Groom" and "The Bride"! I have another one drawn out with the farm in the background and a few roosters waiting for the girls to finish chatting. Very whimsical once again. This too is watercolor on cold-pressed paper. The one i prefer the most is Arches.

June

2009-06-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

A year ago i went to Holland to see the Van Gogh museum. What a thrill that was, and one i highly recommend. While i was there i went to a few galleries of course and in one i saw these fantastic cow paintings. I just thought they were so wonderful and heartwarming. So much so, i had to paint some of my own when i came home! So i went around the countryside and took some photos of livestock and began my bovine series. They were well received with all of them selling. Yahoo! I haven't done a cow painting for a while so I'm thinking it is time once again to delve into my files and find some interesting critters to include in a new painting.

This one I called "June" and she was done in watercolors on Arches 300 lb. Cold pressed paper.

2009-06-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is another of my reflection series. The original boat was tied up at a dock in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. It is such a joy to do the water paintings as i have fun with the colors and do not stay true to the local color instead having fun with different hues and values. A strong pattern is what draws me to a piece initially as i like to spend a lot of time with the drawing phase of things. The middle part of a painting is the hardest for me when it does not look like much at all. The ending is exciting for me because with watercolors of course that is when you can go in with those beautiful darks which makes the whole piece come together. I have ideas for another water series which i cannot wait to get started on. This piece is sold.

2009-06-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

I took a photo of these birds on a fence when we were on vacation on Gabriola Island this past summer. I just loved the way they were gathered there just enjoying the late afternoon sun. I just had to include them

in a painting and called this one "The Gathering". It is watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold pressed watercolor paper.

Low Tide

2009-06-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite paintings to date.

It is an imaginary harbor town loosely based on

Staithes in England. I love to do whimsical type of paintings and once the drawing process commences the ideas start to flow and the villages take on a life of their own. I've done quite a few similar ones and most are sold so i shall keep on with it i suppose.