Thursday, December 30, 2010

Little Drummer Boy

Little Drummer Boy for Sketchbook Project

I'm finally back at it. Something about the looming deadline made it not fun for awhile! What a typical Taurus I am. Tell me I have to do something, and I run the other direction...lol! It's also been pretty hectic with Christmas and parties and all that stuff. I tend to work best under pressure though...14 pictures in 15 days...I think I can do it!

I'm also competing in the Bold Brush Competition this month, with a few of my last paintings. Go to http://canvoo.com/boldbrush/painting/15714 and http://canvoo.com/boldbrush/painting/15707 to show your support by "liking" my paintings on the facebook tab. Thanks!!
Happy New Year!!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

A Day at the Beach

A Day at the Beach - unfinished, maybe--12"x16" oil

Okay...this is what I've been working on for a few days. The color isn't the best in the photo. The sand looks the same color as his skin, and that's not the case. It's actually a lot lighter. I don't know if I'm happy with it yet, but my husband says STOP! I don't want to overwork it, but I feel like it maybe needs something on the right hand side...a blue bucket? I think maybe the green shovel should be blue, too, but I don't know...Does it feel balanced?  Am I done? I'm putting it away for a few days so I don't have to look at it for awhile, but your input and honest critiques would be so appreciated:) Sometimes one just gets stuck, and can't see what they're looking at anymore. 
Thanks in advance!!


Monday, December 13, 2010

The Computer Whiz

The Computer Whiz-for Sketchbook Project

My little angel, drawn from life the other day. She's playing a TreehouseTV game. It has always amazed me that they can pick up the laptop mousepad and all of it's functions so quickly! They're little sponges:)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Read Me a Story

Read Me a Story -- 8"x10" oil on canvas

You've all seen this image before, if you've been following, but I loved how the sketch turned out so much that I wanted to turn it into a painting. This started out as a color study, but I ended up liking where it was going, so I finished it. It may turn into a larger painting one day...who knows. This feels pretty finished to me, though. I really focused on staying loose, except in the focal point, and I feel like it is a pretty successful painting, which is unusual for me. I usually hate everything once it's finished. But maybe I'm on a roll. I've liked the last two, as well! Yay...I think I may be unblocked! I haven't done a large painting, yet though, so that is the next challenge.
Anyways, ciao for now...

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Another Sketch of the Boy

Jacob's Art--for the Sketchbook Project

Getting there...I'm getting close to the end of the Sketchbook Project...maybe:)
At any rate, the deadline's coming up, isn't it?
Well, I drew this one from life the other morning. He was completely absorbed in drawing dragons I think, and the window light was illuminating his hair and shoulder in a beautiful way. So I drew him, of course!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Life is Golden

Life is Golden - 8"x10" for Julia Kay's Portrait Party-Flickr

I was having a bit of fun for Julia Kay's Portrait Party last night. I painted this from one of Tipsy Darkness' photos that she posted of herself. The bright areas are actual gold leaf...her eye highlight, ring, left corner and the bright lights in the background.

Monday, December 6, 2010

The "Old-Time Hat"

The Old-Time Hat -- 8"x10" oil on canvas NFS

This was my son's favorite hat for a while. We got it at Barkerville, an historic gold-mining village in Northern B.C. where they re-enact the history. He loves it there, and he calls this hat his "Old-Time Hat".
This is another painting I finished yesterday in a few hours. I'm really focusing on being loose and painterly, and not thinking to much. It seems like if I can mostly keep my head out of my art and use my intuition, it turns out better. I still try to keep "the rules" in mind, but in the back somewhere...:)









Sunday, December 5, 2010

Festival Days

Festival Days 8"x10" 
oil on canvas panel NFS

This is one of my most recent paintings. When it comes to painting, lately, I have been very discouraged and uninspired. I had a really busy summer doing shows and teaching workshops, and as good as that sounds, it really took something away from my art and I feel like I haven't produced anything very good in quite a while. Every painting feels overworked and exhausted before it is finished. Sooooo....I decided to work on materials I didn't care about, so my intention wouldn't be selling, with my beautiful kids as my subject matter, so I wouldn't want to sell...and I whipped off this one in a few hours. I had a hard start, as I was still fighting that "block", and I wiped her off about four times, before I finally committed, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I still feel like I could have gotten a bit looser, but, maybe next time:)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Fishing for leeches

Fishing for Leeches -- Sketchbook Project

This is from a photo of my kids at the lake this summer. My husband has a band, and he was hired to play for a wedding near Tatlayoko Lake, at a ranch way out in the middle of the wilderness...Bracewell's Lodge. We were given this rustic cabin on a leech abundant lake to stay in...no electricity or running water, with mice running over us in the middle of the night...but it was still a blast. The kids had so much fun, and instead of being grossed out by leeches, they were fascinated by them...so much so that they were obsessed with catching them, which is what they were doing in this picture. 


Monday, November 29, 2010

Goodnight Sweetheart...

Goodnight Sweetheart for Sketchbook Project

The boy...I couldn't resist this one. There was still a lot of light coming through the window so I shut off the flash. The photo is blurry, but it captures the wonderful, soft window light.
I love my boy!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Once Upon a Time

  Once Upon a Time -- for Sketchbook Project

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. That's not like me. Well, my life just got silly busy. I'm catering for the road crew that's repairing the damage after the flood, and I'm working on a large painting, and I'm designing my necklace/pendants for the Etsy shop. I didn't manage to get into the craft fair this year. I was too busy cooking for hungry pavers.
But, here are my munchkins, again:) Jacob is reading his sister a bedtime story.
Maybe I'll just dedicate the rest of this sketchbook to them. The only crappy thing is that I have to send it away!  I spent a bit of extra time on this one. I'm trying to sketch using painterly concepts, and I think this would make a great painting if I could just force myself to stay simple. I tend to get caught up in the details, and try to finish backgrounds, and I want to break myself of that habit and stay painterly. I'm really happy with this one. I wish I could keep it.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Cup of Tea?

Cup of Tea?  for the sketchbook project

I found an old family photo album the other day while digging around in a box for an art book. This is a picture of ME, age six, and my dog, Max. He was so funny...every time my parents would aim the camera, he would race to be in the picture, and pose perfectly.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

These Boots are Made for Walking

These Boots...for sketchbook project

My little girls' boots. I want some! I'll be sad when she grows out of them. They are so cute, and just my style...lol! I sat these in front of me on the coffee table last night and drew them while I watched t.v. Needless to say, I don't remember what I was watching, or what happened.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Boy--My Little Couch Potato

My Little Couch Potato -- for the Sketchbook Project

Here's Jacob...I know...my kids again, but there's a reason I picked Boys and Girls for my Sketchbook Project title...I have one of each, so I figured there would be lots of inspiration to "draw" from:) 
My son is not the typical 7 year old. He loves math, won't sign out anything but science and craft books from the library, and he loves reality T.V. No cartoons for him, except the movie kind. Ever since he was about 3, his favorite shows have been the extreme sports channel, America's Funniest Home Videos, and the National Geographic Channel. Today he was watching Austin Stevens Adventures in the Great Bear Rain Forest...where we live. We see grizzlies all the time. Before the flood, there were days where we were almost late for the bus in the morning, because we had to wait for the bear to leave before we could.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Maui Treasures

Maui Treasures -- sketcbook project

Hmmm...the scan doesn't really do this one justice, but oh well...I took the reference photo for this last winter in Maui. It was the quintessential little boy picture. They were gathering shells and mussels from the lava outcropping at Baby Beach in Paia. We love going to this beach because it's great for kids. The lava creates a natural breakwater, which shelters the little bay from the big waves, and the water is so warm. I'm also using this as a value study for my next painting.

Monday, November 8, 2010

My Little Artist

                                                     My Little Artist -- Sketchbook Project

My little darling Rhiannon, from life this morning after breakfast. As soon as she sees me sketching she jumps up to get her crafty stuff. She has to be creative if I am...I love it:) Except she cut a piece of construction paper into at least a million tiny little pieces today, which I had to clean off the floor...oh well, it's worth watching her enthusiasm, and also, it's a way to get her to sit in one place for a while, if not totally still.

Modge Podge Handpainted Jewelry Pendants


Here's the jewelry, well pendants, that I've been working on for the past few days. I am still in the "experimental" stage, trying to figure out what works best. The first few, I didn't glue down first, and they ended up floating and warping, the next few, I glued, but then the clearcoat turned a bit pink, maybe from mixing with the glue? I don't know. The glue was dry, but I can't figure out why it turned pink. The black I used on the crow, I found out later, was water soluble, that's why it turned a bit fuzzy, and the yoga pendant has a weird slash through it...don't know why that happened either. Otherwise, it's a fun change of scenery, and hopefully they'll sell at the Art's and Crafts Fair. If I get the process down, I may even open an Etsy Shop.
Cheers, m'dears.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

                                          We're Going on a Bear Hunt...sketchbook project

I've been busy doing other things for the last few days and feeling a bit guilty about not posting...I'm making some jewelry for the local arts and crafts fair...I'll post some pics later. But I thought I'd better sketch today, so this is what my "crunched for time" effort turned out today...in between business emails, pizza making and such:)  The reference photo was from Amanda Cook Photography, she's a great children's photographer. Thanks Amanda! I was feeling too lazy and time challenged to sift through my own extensive photo library, and much to non-focused to sketch from life. Lol! One of those days...anyways...this image so reminded me of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, a book from Micheal Rosen, which was one of my kids' favorites. So I added the text in Photoshop...(YUP, i'm SUPER lazy today!), and thought I'd add a touch of pink, while i was at it.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Dora's Dinosaur Rescue

Dora's Dinosaur Rescue for Sketchbook Project

I decided to try to have a little fun with a still life today. I'm trying to read "The Artist's Way" right now, because, aside from the sketchbook thing, I'm feeling a little creatively blocked. I don't really know which direction to take my art, now that the show season is over, and I've done this big, serious, exhausting commission. I feel like I tend to take myself and my art a little too seriously anyways. I probably just need to marinate for a while, but I still feel driven to paint, I just don't know what or how...At any rate, the Artist's Way talks about nourishing your Inner Child...so I brought out the toys:) And since the theme for this sketchbook is Girls and Boys, I grabbed some girl toys and some boy toys. This tense standoff is what ensued, lol!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Spent!

New sketch for Sketchbook Project and Illustration Friday "Spent"

Another sketch of my beautiful daughter, sleeping. I got the saying off of http://elegantwordart.blogspot.com.
Thank You!
I don't have a lot to say tonight. I'm pretty "spent", myself...:) Woke up too early, fighting the flu...yuck...but I'll try to get something done for tomorrow. I have a lot of pages in this sketchbook to go before January!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Trick or Treat

                                     Trick or Treat for Sketchbook Project and EDM

Sorry about no posts for the last little while. I'm finally back home, and trying to adjust to being back in my own space. I forgot how much work it was! LOL! I feel so much busier here than at Mom and Dad's. I guess because I'm trying to catch up on cleaning and laundry and cooking, and all the mommy and wife stuff, so art's been taking second place. Sigh...well, hubby has a gig tonight. He's playing the Halloween Dance at the pub, and I can't go, so I took the silent opportunity to do my Halloween sketch.
I know, I'm shameless about painting and sketching my kids, but I can't help it! They're just so awesome:)!! They were fooling around with their costumes (well, portions of their costumes)  on the other day, and I snapped a few pictures...enjoy:) Happy Halloween!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Snoose Commission

Snoose Commision 24"X36"

Here is the reason I haven't posted anything but sketchbook stuff in a while. I've been working at least five hours a day on this guy, for three weeks...(planning, sketching, etc...) I've finally come to the point where I don't know what the heck else to do with it. I'm always amused by commissions, because they are never how I would choose to paint something. It always seems to be the classic, pose for the camera thing, which I'm personally not fond of, but whatever...So, I'm not really satisfied, which is nothing unusual for me when I finish a painting anyways.  She wants him to look happy...he's a basset...enough said. I don't know if I succeeded or not. 
The color in this photo is not great, so ignore that. Otherwise, anyone have any great constructive criticism?? I would be thrilled to hear from you. Cheers!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

So...my last post was the first part of the poem...What Are Little Girls Made Of, so it only made sense to do the second half next. I had fun planning this one. I couldn't find anything to paint from life that seemed creative enough, so I gathered photographic references of critters, and a pic of my beautiful boy...I like the result. Black ballpoint with colored pencil accents. I can't decide whether to put more color in, or leave it as is. What do you all think?
PS: this looks way better big, so make sure to click:)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

This poem was going through my head last night while I was thinking about what to sketch for my Sketchbook Project Moley...it's not so easy to find things around the house to represent girls and boys. I need to exercise my imagination a bit more.
Anyways, this is the result, all drawn from life in colored ballpoint. 

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A Couple of Hardbodies

A Couple of Hardbodies -- Sketchbook Project
Please click on this one -- it looks way better big!

I know that all I've been showing you all lately is sketches, but I am painting, really. I sketch at night, and paint during the day, trying to get this commission done so I can finally go home!
I stayed up until 3am last night working on this one...I am addicted to sketching now! Now I'm tired, and not looking forward to painting at all...oh well.
Anyways, I was wracking my brain, trying to come up with an idea for my "boys and girls" theme, while browsing my europe photos, and I found this one, of David. The reference photo is of the bronze replica at Piazza Michelangelo. I thought, why not do a sculpture of a man and one of a woman, hence...this sketch. I've never seen Victory, but would have loved to have made it to the Louvre. I got the reference photo from Google...Enjoy!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

These Old Shoes

These Old Shoes--Sketchbook Project

Some more shoes....they're fun to draw. Blank ballpoint with some blue details. They took about three hours. Funny, I have patience to work on a sketchbook picture that long, but a big painting on canvas? Not so much, lol! I suppose there's always a feeling that the canvases are serious, too dear. No room for error. Do we get too attached? Afraid to make mistakes? I don't find much joy in painting lately, but this sketchbook project is helping me find joy in art again. 

Saturday, October 16, 2010

View from the Gazebo

View from the Gazebo-Coast Mountain Lodge

I'm feeling a bit homesick today, missing my friends and family. My best friend is getting married today, too, and I'm missing it, because I'm still stuck here. Congratulations, Jen! I love you!
This is a sketch I did while I was still in Bella Coola, before the flood. I bet it doesn't look like this anymore...sigh.  It's the view from the gazebo at work. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I went for a jog to have a coffee there. I decided to sit and sketch it on a piece of printer paper. I cut it and glued it into my moley, to cover up a godawful sketch I did of my daughter this morning. 
It was going beautifully, in pencil, the likeness was great, and I spent about an hour on it, and then I decided it needed some color and the lines needed to be darker. I tried to ink and color it, and DISASTER! It was ruined, completely...sorry Rhiannon...it was cute):

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My Darling Daddy

Sketchbook Project -- My Darling Daddy

I was feeling inspired this morning as I was looking at the newest "Strokes of Genius" collection of drawings, so I decided to draw my dad. This is just pencil in my little moley, from life while having his morning cigarette...(Hack! Hack!) The eyes look a little freaky in the scan, they're darker than in the drawing so they look a little over-exaggerated than they do for real...oh well.

Monday, October 11, 2010

This Girl's Shoes

Sketchbook Project- This Girl's Shoes

A new sketch for the Sketchbook Project.  This one was fun! I was inspired by Andrea Joseph and her wonderful shoes in ballpoint. I started out in black ballpoint, and then thought "they're so colorful, I can't leave that out", so I did the color accents in colored pencil.
These shoes make me smile, and they also make me about 6 feet tall. My husband hates when I wear them because he's only 5'9. He'll look up at me, make a face and sigh....:)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Cat, Kitten, Kitty, ACEO, oil painting, miniature painting

Jade ACEO SOLD

I haven't really sketched in a few days as I've been working on the color study for my large commission, so I thought I'd post one of my latest ACEO's.
I 've also been working on a cute sketch for my daughter. I couldn't sleep last night, so I started doodling, something I never allow myself the novelty of doing and it turned into a pretty little big-eyed girl...but I'm not ready to show it. It might actually turn into a full size painting...we'll see. If it does, it's something totally and completely different for me, but I'm having fun experimenting.

Friday, October 8, 2010

This Girl's Lunch

Another sketch for the Sketchbook Project

Darn! I wish their was a better way to get a good scan of a pencil sketch. There's so much subtlety that's lost in this one. I was really quite proud of it, but you can't see a lot of the fine detail in the scan. I guess I'm just going to have to sketch in pen! 


Thursday, October 7, 2010

More Itty Bitty Kitties

Snuggle Bugs Aceo SOLD

I'm so happy, my long awaited package of art supplies  arrived today! Yay! Thank you so much, super-hubby. I was going crazy. For those of you that don't already know, I am stranded in my old hometown, at my mom and dad's, in my old room, nonetheless...because the town where I now reside with my wonderful DH and my sweetheart monsters, has totally flooded. Like disastrous, devastatingly flooded! Many people's homes are beyond repair, and it's a bloody nightmare. Thank God our home was safe. But anyways, I have this huge commission, and no paint and no brushes...and my last batch of SOLD ebay ACEO's were also stranded...in Bella Coola, with the buyer impatiently waiting for their purchase.  For the longest time we had no mail going out or coming in because the road and the airport were closed. At least now the air traffic is moving, so we can get mail and send it...so dear buyer, if you're reading (I hope you don't mind me showing off your card) and, your package will now arrive soon.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Jacob for the Boys and Girls Sketcbook Project

Jacob Drawing

This is a sketch that I drew from life of my son, Jacob, while he was drawing. It looks much better the original size.  I had intended to go into a lot more detail, and there is a bit more in the original that the scan didn't pick up. But, I decided to stop. I liked the simplicity and the flow of the lines, and the look of concentration on his face. Oops, I forgot to show the tip of his tongue sticking out.  That's what he usually does when he's concentrating:)

Halloween Giveaway at Vagabond Creations

Win Me!!

You can win this little cutie over at Vagabond Creations, a wonderful art blog I just found today. Love it!  Zan Asha's little creations are precious, and she has a great sense of humour:)

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Basset Hound Portrait

                                             Bassett Hound Portrait -- commission study

Here's my first study for my up and coming commission for a 24" x36" painting of a Bassett Hound. I like how the drawing turned out, so I thought I'd post it for my sketch followers...His name is Snoos, (I don't know how to spell it) and he was well loved, but unfortunately passed away recently. His lovely owner is heartbroken, and wants a memoir, and I'm happy to paint him. He looks like he was a darling.

Monday, October 4, 2010

My Beautiful Boy

                                        
My Beautiful Boy -- for the Sketchbook Project " Boys and Girls
Another sketch I did last night of my gorgeous son, Jacob. He's only about 5 years old here, but it was one of my favorite photos.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

new sketch

Summertime....for the Sketchbook Project

This is a new sketch I did the other night for the Sketchbook Project. The photo isn't good, but it's better than the scan. I tried to add the touch of color, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's kind of clashy with the yellow-toned paper, I think. But oh well! I don't have to try to worry about pleasing anyone but myself with this one. Thanks to the facebook group Happiness Yes for the photo. It made me happy to look at it, which I really need right now, considering the state of things at home.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Bella Coola Floods, Painting Workshops and Commissions

Well, a bloody lot has happened since I last posted, and that was only a little over a week ago.
Sorry to keep you waiting, but I have a good reason. Mainly that my town, Bella Coola, with it's one highway leading into it, has been hit with a devastating flood. The road is out in innumerable places, and it could be weeks or months before it is open...and I am on the other side. I can't get home.
(Our main highway through town...that's the gas station.)

  Bailey Bridge

Firvale

But, on to better news: The reason I was out of town when the flood happened is because I was having an opening at a gallery in Quesnel, and teaching a painting workshop, and those were successful. Here are a few of my students, working really hard. Great paintings, ladies!


And, lastly, the good thing about being stuck out here, I scored a great commission to paint someone's dear deceased dog, and I'm pretty excited to get that underway.  All of the time spent stuck in Quesnel could lead to a lot more work, teaching and otherwise, so that's all good. I just wish that I could see my hubby and my friends, and help with all of the rebuilding. I feel so far away from everyone. My heart goes out to them. 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

My Darling Billy

Billy in my sketchbook

I've been really enjoying looking at less serious stuff lately, namely people's sketchbooks. I love the spontaneity, the freedom, and the sense of the artist in these pictures. I've been finding them on Flickr, and on art blogs, (check out Andrea Joseph's stuff...it's amazing!, and also Paul Madonna) and I realized, I don't sketch enough. I take my art way too seriously.

I guess that there's so little time in a day, being a mom and a wife, that any chance I get to paint, I paint seriously. It feels like a waste of time to sketch, when I have so little of it to begin with.  My focus has been on success so much, and recognition, and now that I'm finally getting a few shows out of town, and workshops, my art feels suddenly so joyless. I've been painting for shows, and for work, but I need to find the joy in it again, and maybe I can by sketching more. 

This is my sweet husband, Billy. We had a beautiful sunny day, about two days ago. He was home from work, and we sat on the deck, soaking up the sun. The light was great, so I grabbed my sketchbook and whipped this one off.

I also joined the "Sketchbook Project".  It's a pretty cool idea. You send them $25. They send you a moleskine sketchbook, you pick a theme, fill it up and send it back to them. Once there it becomes part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library. You can also have them put the whole thing on line for an extra fee, where they're there for the whole world to see. 

Anyways, that's my post for the day.
Don't forget to check out my ebay listings. I have a bunch of Cat ACEO's for sale, starting at only $9.99.

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Chairman

                                   "The Chairman" 2.5"x3.5" ACEO
      


Chairman Meow is a lovely cat that belongs to my friend and employer, Holly, of Coast Mountain Lodge in Bella Coola. He is sweet and affectionate...more like a big friendly dog than a cat, and he's also a manx...ya, just a little stump of a tail...anyways, he's a sweetie, and I had to paint him.
I've actually been on a bit of an ACEO painting binge this week, so check out my listings by clicking on the scrolling gallery to your right.
Unfortunately the horses and driver in my previous posting met an unfortunate demise...beware of painting when you're not in the mood, is my advice to all of you artists out there that might have a bit of a temper, lol! Yes, I have to start over, or patch the hole in my canvas....

Monday, September 6, 2010

A Farmer's Work...

In the past few years, I've become increasingly more interested in natural, sustainable eating and health. This image from Wetcanvas spoke to me of going back to the natural, safe way of eating...hard work, and "real life" instead of the pounding onslaught of consumerism. I want to have a better life. One where we slow down, and enjoy what we've made, and smell the clean air, and be in nature. 
This is the photo, on my computer monitor which I routinely work from instead of photos. I like that I can enlarge sections, play with the color and contrast, and crop it till it works. So much of the preliminary stuff can be done on the computer instead of spending hours doing sketches and color studies. I admit, I'm a bit lazy when it comes to that stuff...

So here's my set up. I don't have a fancy studio. I don't have optimal lighting, I have to do the best I can with what I have. Which is a really bright kitchen!:) The thing I absolutely love about my house is all the windows. They wrap around the whole house, filling it with natural light from all directions...which isn't so great for painting still lifes, but it works for now.

And here's the beginning stages of my new painting.  I've covered the canvas in a thin layer of acrylic in a light, misty green. I think it was Payne's Grey, Burnt Umber, and Hooker's Green, mixed with Gesso. I mixed the top section a little greener, and the bottom a little browner, as it will be tilled soil.
I did a grid with vine charcoal for this one, as it's fairly large, and I wanted to make sure I got the horse bums all in the right place:) You can see the ghost of it where I rubbed it out. I like vine charcoal because it doesn't really muddy your colors if you paint over it, and it wipes or rubs off very easily. Here, I've just drawn in the basic outlines of the main elements and started a block in of the basic colors for the first two horses and the farmer. I try to remember that it's cool light, so the shadows will be warmer, and I also want the painting to have a mistier, more atmospheric look, so I'm lessening the contrast and cooling out the colors a bit more than in the photo.

Next post will be stage two...now I have to go paint it!
Cheers!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Grizzly Bear in the River


                                 Grizzly  8"x10" graphite on bristol  $150.00

Soon to be framed, and on display for sale at the Bella Coola Valley Inn Gallery. Framed Price, $200.00.

The Bella Coola Valley, where I live is one of the last wild places on earth. The population is tiny...we have about 1800 people in a stretch of about 60 km, the valley is narrow, lined with glacier fed creeks, and streams filled with salmon, so it is also one of the prime locations for spotting grizzly bears in the wild. While most people on the planet can only hope to see these amazing creatures in the zoo, I have to shuttle my kids inside while they plunder the fruit on my fruit trees and lumber nonchalantly through our yard. People come from all over the world to get a chance to see one. In fact, today I have the great fortune to go on a river drift with my boss, Fraser Koreluk, who owns Coast Mountain Lodge and Kynoch adventures here in Bella Coola. They offer deluxe accommodation, and outdoor adventures, such as eco-tours and Bear viewing tours. I hope we see bears today, so I can get some more reference photos to paint from.










Framing Options