"Ivan and Reba"

A new puppy portrait of two cuddly Boxers,
loving their time together.

Watercolour on Arches CP 300 lb. paper. 

12" X 16" 

"Eddie"

Meet Eddie. I had done one of her earlier in watercolour but thought her to be such a good model i had to paint her in acrylic. I lover her expression. Cows are still a favourite subject for me. I love their quirkiness and find them to be quite comical in a way. Much like my Boxers. There is a resemblance. Perhaps that is why. This is acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 20" X 24".

"Reading Week"

I thought it might be time for another village. These are such fun to do. I've been very busy with commissions lately and had spent a great deal of time on cow and barnyard paintings forgetting about the whimsical side of things. There is a freedom when it is all made up which does not exist while making a picture for someone. Rather refreshing i think and a bit of a breather. Watercolor on Arches 300lb. Cold pressed paper. Approximately 11" X 30".

"Bronte"

This is Bronte. A lovely Beagle belonging to a fellow in Australia.  I've been fairly busy lately with dog portraits and have a few more to finish, hopefully before August. This little girl sat nearly finished for the longest time because i was just not able to see a final image clearly for some reason. Today it happened and we had a grand time together. I asked little Bronte to lead the way and she did! The rest as they say is, "history". Watercolor on Arches 300 lb. cold pressed paper. 18" X 18".

"Tyra"

A wee Boxer pup i did for a friend who does great and wonderful work for Boxer Rescue Canada.

She does not have this little girl anymore as she has already lived her life and left a lot of broken hearts behind as is often the case. Watercolor, on Arches, 300lb. CP paper. approximately 10" X 14".

"Deja"

I painted this little girl for a friend. Sadly she is no longer with us. In memory of Deja. 

Watercolour on Arches C/P paper. 10" X 14".

"Boomer"

What a great name for a dog, especially a Bernese Mountain dog. This fine fellow is a commission requested by the dog owner's Mother for her birthday. Hope she likes it! Acrylic on canvas. 18" X 24".

"Tega"

I had donated a pet portrait to "Boxer Rescue Canada" for their Fall auction fundraiser and the winning bidder receives a portrait of their beloved dog. This boy belonged to the lady who won the auction. He is a pure bread male Boxer named Tega. Sadly he is no longer with us. This is watercolour on 300 lb. Arches C/P paper approximately 18" X 22" .

"Victoria Street:

I spent part of October last year in Nelson B.C. taking care of someone's home and had some pleasant moments sketching in and around town. This painting is from a sketch i did of Victoria Street in Nelson. Nelson is a picturesque little town in the Kootenays. A beautiful spot to visit if in the area. Some great local restaurants too! I was house sitting for a lady who had a cattery. 

There were 19 of the little critters. 

An uncommon breed called "Siberians' because they originate from Siberia and resemble small lions. Some good sketching was had with them as well! 

This is watercolour on Arches C/P paper.   

20 X 27" .

"Lo Bello" (Beautiful)

This girl was too hard to resist and needed to be painted. She has also been selected to be in the 8th Calgary Timeraiser. 

This will be the second time i have had the good fortune of being selected for this gala event which is an art related endeavour to raise volunteer hours for select charities. People bid on the paintings using hours which are then directed toward the charity of their choosing. Once the volunteer hours have been completed the winning bidder gets to painting. They have one year to complete the task. The artists are paid ahead of time for the artwork. Everyone benefits. 

This is an acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. 

"Bonhomme Deneige"

A wee watercolour, approximately 15 X 22. My but it has been a long while since last i posted. Got busy with preparations for an exhibition in March and time goes by. Had a successful show with some acrylics even. New directions ahead! Must build a website i think. Try new things and continue exploring. There is not enough time in this old life to learn all there is to learn about watercolour or to experience all the wonderful things possible with this most beautiful of mediums. Acrylics are fun but watercolour is a passion. Or an obsession! Both i suppose. Hope all are well there in blogger land.

"Pequito 2"

This is a new version of Pequito. I did not think the bedroom was quite in line with the pup on the first version. Sorry Vincent but i had to take some liberties with your beautiful work and jam up the colours a wee bit. I'm feeling much better about it now as there is a unity that was lacking in version 1.
Oh, but acrylic is just so much fun.

"Pequito 1"

Here is my first foray into the world of "acrylic". I have to admit it was a lot of fun and cannot wait to begin another. I like the fact you can correct things and move them around as you go. Not so with watercolour of course.  I loved the freedom it affords.
This little guy is a Christmas gift for his master. I need to put the finishing touches on him soon as the 25th is coming fast! 24" X 24"

"Beau"

I think the name may be short for beautiful which is so appropriate. Sadly he is no longer here. I know first hand how a dog can occupy our hearts filling every crevice of our homes with their special love. Loosing them becomes so difficult then. I love this poem by Gene Hill.

"When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever—in case I need him. And I expect I will—as I always have. He is just my dog."

Gene Hill

This painting is a commissioned piece as a gift for Christmas for the owner. I do hope to have captured the personality of their beloved companion. This is my hope when doing these.

I so enjoy painting dog portraits and found that to be especially so for "Beau".

Watercolour on 300lb. Arches cold pressed paper. 24" X 24".

"Looe"

Wow!  It has been a very long while since last i posted. I had not painted all summer! :(  June to Oct. to be exact, having too much "paying" work to tend to. Now there is some free time available and i hope to be posting more.

This is a commission based on a previous painting called "Mevagissy". The folks liked it but wanted something bigger. I was excited to do it as it got me back to the studio to brush off the cobwebs.
After a long hiatus like this it is like learning all over again.

Watercolour on 300lb. Arches cold pressed paper. 12.5" X 28".

"Annie's Street"

A wee fun painting which is a newer  version of an older one i did. It is very enjoyable for me to sit and work on these little villages, and imagine living there.

A young lady in one of my art classes asked me where the stores were as she viewed one of my city scenes that was hanging on the wall in my studio. She wondered where the people would buy their candy and ice cream. She was absolutely right and was most pleased when i showed her this one and another I did, complete with stores. Her smile was reward enough.

My two cows got into the group show by the way. They are with the herd just now, grazing. I'm happy for them.

This is 10" X 14". Transparent watercolor on my fave, Arches 300 lb. cold pressed paper.

"Shhh! - this way!"

These two seem to be up to no good. Perhaps they are going to raid the feed bin? Or they are off to meet up with the bulls in the south pasture.  Either way i think they are up to something and thought the pair of them would make a humorous, whimsical painting. This one and Gigi are being entered into a juried group show. I hope they are accepted by the herd and can congregate with some fellow paintings.
Approximately 14 X 20, transparent watercolor on Arches CP paper.

"It's Me! Gigi!"

I thought it was time to do another cow painting. I love doing these guys. When i first started painting full-time I painted a cow and many more after that. So many in fact i became the "Cow Guy". Not really what i wanted to be so began painting boats, villages, people, anything but cows. Alas they kept a calling and i could not resist their charm, their curiosity, and their beauty. There is something about these creatures that is most endearing. And they give us so much i feel i can honour one or two with a painting.

This beauty belongs to a lady in Holland who graciously shares the photos she has of her herd. I am deeply indebted to her for her generosity in doing so.

Gigi is approximately 13" X 18" unframed and is transparent watercolor on Arches 300lb. CP paper.

"Parisian Waitress"

This painting was done from a photo on a terrific website called "A Day Not Wasted". The photographer, Lee Brown graciously posts one of his photos each month as a challenge to artists. This young lady was posted way back in September. So you can see i am not ever going to be a "Daily Painter" let alone a monthly one. But i loved the expression on this young lady and wanted to try and capture it. She seemed to be daydreaming of far away lands not waiting on tables.

I got half way through and left her leaning against the gallery wall for a couple of months as i was not sure where to take her. But after a while realized she was almost done and needed only a few more little tweeks here and there. Would love to try this one again with different colors and a different mood. She is 15" X 30", all watercolor on Arches 300lb. CP paper.

"A Quiet Calling"

It was a quiet calling that lead me to this painting, not the riot of colorful misshapen villages i am getting so used to.  I felt rather at peace painting it as well! The color palette appealed to me too and i took a wee bit of liberty with the blues and used deep purples for all the shadow areas and the darks. I still have some village paintings resting against the wall waiting for some attention and a young lady's portrait which is only half done. I'll have to wait until the direction for her is clearer. She is wanting me to take my time. In the meantime it will be fun to do a few more of the trees. I can see now why people paint them so often. The vertical dominance appeals to me as if reaching for the stars or heaven. A place i might like to visit and stay a while.