WIP

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"

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"

"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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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

 

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"

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"

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.