Spray A Little Gold

acrylic, 18 x 24

I usually have a clear image in my head of how I want my painting to look like.Funny how sometimes it doesn't turnout that way and you create something totally different, like it had a mind of its own...this one was like that.  I try not to fight it and see where it leads me...I love surprises and happy accidents.

Base Of The Falls Study

acrylic 11 x 14 inches

Another small study for a larger  ( 3' x 4') canvas. Not sure I'm finished this one yet.

Along The Banks Of The Bow

small acrylic 8 x 16 inches

I have a tendency to over work my small paintings and spend way too much time on them. I sometimes add too much detail instead on concentrating on large shapes and values. This little painting came together quite quickly (just over an hour) and even though there seems to be a lot of detail, up close you can see, there is not. I think it'll be a good exercise for me to work on smaller paintings daily.

Chatterbox Study

acrylic 12 x 9 inches

A small quick study of Chatterbox Falls in the Princess Louisa Inlet,British Columbia, in prep for a larger canvas. As long as I enjoy painting waterfalls, I will continue to paint them.

Artist Demo at Whistler's Busy Market

Whistler in the summer is really beautiful! And the market was busy!It was a warm sunny day demoing my painting techniques. I'm a fast painter at the best of times but painting outside caused me to paint even quicker. No time to get nervous or over think, forcing me to be more spontaneous...I had to get that acrylic paint on the canvas before it dried on my palette. I was quite pleased with the results. Many thanks to Liz and Sharon at Mountain Galleries for all their support!

Shannon Falls and Whistler

'Through To Shannon' mixed 24 x 12 inches,

I'm doing a demo on Sept.2nd in Whistler BC so I thought it only fitting to do a painting of Shannon Falls to take with me. I will be doing a demonstration of three different techniques and in various stages. This is my mixed media piece using tissue paper. I will also show my gel animals and my palette knife work. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'm looking forward to a three day get- away with my hubby.

Rocky Cascade

acrylic with tissue paper
20 x 24

Palette Knife Gel Demo

I also did a demo for my niece and friend  using heavy gel and a palette knife. ( 12 x 12 and 11 x 14 ) I draw on a white canvas,lay down the heavy gel with a knife to imitate fur and feathers, wait for it to dry and then build up layer of color using a brush.The animals were a hit and the first thing they wanted to try. I will post images of their efforts when I receive them.

Landscape Texture Demo

I had a wonderful and relaxing holiday out on the east coast and even managed to get a little painting time. My niece and her artist friend (Pam) were interested in seeing my texture technique using tissue paper. I did three small 6 x 16 demos,one was loosely referenced from a photo, one from a previous painting I had done and the last one using no reference. It was fun to play. I think the girls enjoyed it.

Jewel Along Berg Lake Trail

acrylic 24 x 24 inches,
A close up view of a small waterfall in a glacier fed river along the Berg Lake trail in Mt Robson National Park. 95 % done with the palette knife. I really strived to capture the light and shadow bouncing off the crisp water.

The Secret Within

acrylic 36 x 24,

 I'm pretty sure there are no waterfalls that look like this,but this is where the painting took me. Painting over yet another used canvas with texture,this one came together quite quickly. I love the looseness. Without using a reference photo of a particular place, allowed me much more freedom, and a wonderful sense of satisfaction to be able to just play and create.

Parkway Highway View

acrylic 36 x 48,

This was one of the fabulous views from the Icefield Parkway Highway on the way to Jasper. This can be a treacherous part of the highway for avalanches, and with no shoulders, there is no stopping. I was fortunate to be caught in 'road painting' so the traffic was at many times at a stand still while creeping up the mountain. I was able to roll down the windows and snap a few pictures.

I was in a dilemma while trying to decide to include the road in the painting or crop it out. I decided to keep it in as it helped to keep the viewer from moving out of the painting by pointing inward.

 I have also included my process. I started with a  simple line drawing but realized I had not toned my canvas. I painted over the pencil marks ( I am not too worried about accuracy as much of this will be painted over and lost anyway).I loosely cover the canvas with transparent paint. I paint the sky without being too concerned as I will go over it later. I mix with gel, some colors for my mountains. From this point on most of the paint is applied with a palette knife. When the mountains are dry I work on the sky and dry brush the mountains to set them back. I now have my lightest light and will paint the darkest dark of the trees.I mix more color with gel for my rocks and roughly apply the paint. When it's dry ( it can take hours) I add my details and dry brushing to bring out the textures.

Off Icefield Parkway

acrylic, 24 x 40 inches,

This is based on a scene off the  Icefield Parkway, between Banff and Jasper, near the Waterfowl Lakes and the Mistaya river with a partial view of the Kaufman peaks.

Pyramid At The Marsh

acrylic 18 x 24

This is another commission piece derived from a larger 36 x 48 painting I had done about a year ago. This is the second commission from this piece and I think my most successful. If I do another of this scene...I might be able to do it in my sleep,ha ha.

This is of Pyramid mountain on the way towards Patrica Lake, from the marsh on the side of the road in Jasper.

Icy Contemplation

Large 48 x 48

First Diptych

I've completed my first ever diptych. A large one at that. Total 40 inches by 60 inches. This is a mixed media piece as I used tissue paper initially to lay down some texture. I'm not sure if I should call it 'Mixed Media' or 'Acrylic and Tissue Paper'. They work together or separately... hopefully they will be bought by the same client and he can decide how far apart or close  he wants them.

A note about the title: 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' was playing in the background while painting this piece. 'When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do is..." part of the lyrics seemed a very fitting title. It's very unusal for me to have a painting named before it's even finished.

No photo reference was used for this painting, I took my clues from past work.

Along The Wickaninnish Beach

acrylic 12 x 24 inches,

Near the Wickaninnish Interpative Centre,between Ucluelet and Tofino

Island Arbutus

acrylic 24 x 36 inches,
Everytime I travel to the island, I fall in love with the Arbutus tree all over again. This is the first time I've painted one but it won't be my last. What an artists dream, the bright warm and cool colors, interesting twistted shapes...such possiblities!

Island Inlet

'Island Inlet', acrylic 30 x 60 inches,

Not quite finished with this larger version, just a few details left. I wanted it on the computer to see if there were any glaring mistakes. I'm pretty satified with it overall.

Island Inlet Bank Study

acrylic 12 x 24

This is a study for a larger 3 x 6 ft painting I started. I chose this particular scene because it is nondiscript  and could be located almost anywhere. It didn't photograph very well so the colors are a little off...possiblly because of the layers of glazes and the way they are reflected. I will try again later.

West Coast

     It's been awhile since I've been in my studio. I've just returned from an exhilarating trip to the west coast. We spent a few days along the Pacific Rim between Ucluelet and Tofino. Breathtaking! The weather was wonderful and trails spectacular! From there we travelled to Campbell River to Painters Lodge for a few days and then to Victoria. It was way too short. I have posted photos to my facebook page if anyone would like to check them out.

     I wasn't planning on doing a west coast series this soon but while everything is fresh in my mind, I thought it might be a good idea. I've started with a trail image, straying not too far from the safety net  of my other landscape paintings and will build up to the ocean scenes  which will be way out of my comfort zone.

acrylic 20 x 30 'Wild West Coast Trail'

Trying not to follow the photograph so literally,I concentrated more on the abstracted qualities and textures. I found the middle ground competing with the busyness of the trees in the foreground so I simplified and made it more of a foggy atmosphere. It's not exactly screaming 'west coast' but it works for me.

    

Black Bears

'Black Beauty',acrylic, 16 x 16























'Peek A Boo I See You',acrylic 12 x 24

Intent

acrylic, 24 x 24 inches

Teddy All Grown Up

The second of my bear series. acrylic 24 x 24 inches. Not that I'm a fan of Zoo's with captive animals but they make for good referencing.

Keeping It Cool

acrylic 24 x 30 inches

I've been working on a bear series this past week. It's a little strange for me but I decided to work on them all at once. I started with the drawings on the canvas, then applied the gel with a palette knife and let them dry. I then applied transparent undercolors. During the drying period I also started work on a large diptych landscape. I am now ready to paint them one at a time. So...even though I had no posts for awhile, I have been busy. This is the first bear of the series and I have to thank Andrea Hummel for granting me the use of her lovey photo. link I didn't like the direction the bear was facing...I felt it was taking the viewer out of the painting...much better now.