Owl in the Mist

"Owl in the Mist" 18" x 36" oil on canvas     $1,650.00

This was a really fun painting to do. I started out in acrylic, because I like that you can glaze lots of layers to make convincing mist, but I didn't take the size of the piece into consideration, and I couldn't get a smooth color in the background. The darn acrylic just dries too fast! I really hate painting in acrylic, but it does tend to be better for wildlife...it makes it easier to do all of the finicky detail without having to wait ten years for the paint to dry. Well, I threw up my hands in frustration and dove into this with oils...I mean, literally dove in. I mixed up about a tonne of the gray color and slammed it on with the palette knife, and then switched to big, gobby brushstrokes...it was really fun! So I switched my approach completely. The oil is quite loose instead of super detailed, and I actually love that about it...

Click on this one to make it big... it looks way better:)

Going Fishing

~Going Fishing~  6"x6" oil on Raymar panel  $150.00

Everybody around here is going fishing lately, and the river is thick with fish once again. I hear the Sockeye run is better than it's been in 40 years...unless that's just a "fish story", lol!

 Here's a little guy I whipped off a while ago, who's taking advantage of the surplus...I'll sell him to you in a gorgeous plein aire frame like the ones above for an extra $55...

Prints are available in my etsy shop...here

The Interruption

The Interruption  16" x 20" oil on panel

Well, I've finally posted something! It's been a really long time, and I've missed you:)  I am now volunteering five days a week, to keep our local gallery open. I use it for my studio, and I run a little cafe, so if you're in the area, please stop by for an organic, free trade, delicious espresso drink and biscotti.  Needless to say, I'm pretty busy.  I have been painting up a storm, but my time has been filled with commissions and failures.  Yup, there are definitely a few I'm too embarrassed to show you.  It seems like whenever I finish a really good one, it takes me a while to get my legs back under me so to speak. I guess I'm trying to live up to it, and the pressure is too great, so I screw up. Or something like that...anyways...I'm okay with this one, sort of.   I'm not sure if I like it, but I've learned that I have to let go, and let people decide for themselves before I use it for a frisbee.  

I did something this time that I hardly ever do, and totally messed with the lighting. I originally took the reference photo for this painting in the bright sunlight, it was filtering through the trees from the left, but I really wanted it to tell a story, so I changed the scene to night, and added the campfire.

Well, I hope to be back and posting more often now that my commissions are finished. Hopefully I work through this "sucky period"...The next one is coming along just smashingly, so cross your fingers for me that I don't screw it up!
I also want to give a great big huge thank you to Kirsty over at KirstyGirl for featuring my blog on her blog. She is a wonderfully energetic and creative blogger, with a heart of gold, and I enjoy each and every one of her posts, along with her gorgeous photographs, so go check her out.

Cheers!

New frames and paintings

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. I've been working on a "top secret" commission, lol! So painting lots, posting little.

These are two paintings I finished quite a while ago, but I was never quite happy with them. They are both on 12" x 16" panel and have been leaning backwards against my studio wall for quite some time. The African girl is fairly recent, but the Hula Girl is one I completed in Maui the winter before last. I couldn't ever put my finger on what was missing, but now I've figured it out! It was a frame! Opus had these great plein aire frames on sale so I bought a few, and they're just wonderful. Simple, but classy.

I couldn't get the greatest pics of either of them,  there's glare in some of the thicker areas, even though I shot them on an overcast day. The darks in the Hula girl are darker than they look, and the reflected light on the side of the African girl's face isn't that contrasty. I'm not sure how to correct this problem, as it happens a lot when I use thicker paint. I've heard about something called a polarizing gel, but can't seem to find where in Canada I can buy one. 

Puppies and Pirate Ships

Captain Jack Sparrow

My Pirate Ship Cake

This past Sunday was my son, Jacob's 8th birthday. Captain Jack Sparrow is the name he picked for this precious new addition to our family. He's a darling, 10 week old, Hound/Border Collie/ Lab cross, with paws the size of tea saucers, and a gentle, sweet demeanor. He was Jacob's birthday present this year. 

Jacob decided on a pirate theme, and pirate party invitations. I was having a crazy, busy week, getting the Art House ready for the upcoming show, so he initially said, "Don't worry mom, you don't have to impress my friends with one of your fancy cakes, as long as it tastes good." What a sweetheart, I breathed a sigh of relief, planning on doing a flat sheet cake in the shape of a pirate ship, with maybe some piped designs or something. I literally had NO time. But the next day after school he sat down in front of the computer and googled "Pirate Ship Cakes." OH NO! When did my kids learn to use Google!? And sure enough, he says, "Mom, actually, I would really, really, really like something like this one...please,please, please..." pointing to a fantastic, three dimensional, carved, fondant covered beauty.

 Well, I baked the cakes at the Art House on Saturday, carved and crumb-coated it Saturday night after work, and spent from 8am-11:30 decorating on Sunday morning, the day of the party, which started at 12. But, I did it!! His friends were super amazed, and to be honest, so was I. 

Barkerville Blacksmith

Barkerville Blacksmith 20" x 24" oil on canvas  $1400.00

I've been working on this painting on and off for ages, and I finally put the finishing touches (i think) on it a few minutes ago. I was so anxious to share, I photographed it right away, and came down to the studio to upload it for y'all! If there's anything that totally bugs you, or needs to be fixed...I appreciate and welcome constructive criticism, but for now, to me, I don't see any doozies. That might change in a few hours, though, lol!

What I drew today

Sketches: Friday, June 17, 2011

So, this is what I did today. I had every intention of painting "en plein aire" today, and even packed up my easel, paint, a canvas, snacks and water...I was ready to go. My intended destination was Clayton Falls, a gorgeous waterfall just past Bella Coola. I headed to town, leaving in the bright, warm sunshine, and the closer I got to the falls, the worse the weather was. I was dressed for hot sunny day, and by the time I got there it was cold and windy. Too cold to paint in what I was wearing. So, headed back up the valley towards home, and lo and behold, by the time I got back up here it was warm and sunny. (We have a few different eco-systems here in this valley) So I stopped by my friends, Holly and Fraser's hotel, The Bella Coola Mountain Lodge...formerly known as the Coast Mountain Lodge and also the Brockton Inn, and enjoyed sipping green tea, playing with their adorable cats, and sketching from their back deck in the glorious sunshine.