Breeze Softly

Acrylic, 16 x20

Whisper Softly

Acrylic, 10 in x10 in

I had originally intended this for the Clothesline sale but didn't get it finished in time. I really like how this one turned out and I tried not to over work it. I only wish it were larger...guess I'll have to paint it bigger. Please click for a larger view

Clothes Line Sale and fun for the whole family

TO READ PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGES TO SEE LARGER

I will be showing 15 paintings, horses, cows, sheep and roosters along with a few landscapes.67 artists will be participating. This is one of Leighton Centres most popular events and fun for the whole family! Come on out! The snow will be gone and the sun will shine.Click for more info Leighton Art Centre

Wooded Mystery

acrylic, 16 x16

It's been awhile since I've painted. I needed an extended long weekend on Vancouver Island. ( someday I will do a series of boats and harbors and the coast). I've also spent a few days preparing my work for the Clothesline sale at Leighton center and figuring out which paintings to submit to the FCA show in July. Anyway, this painting didn't quite develope the way I envisoned ( I even swore at it a few times during the ugly stages), but I do like the end result...with a few touch ups left to do.

Shimmer Within

Small 8x10, acrylic
I had planned to do a few touch ups to the old ( plein air ) painting on the right. It didn't quite turn out that way; it's basically a totally different painting. All that underlining texture from the 'now underpainting' gave way to some real interesting effects. The FCA Calgary Chapter bought this painting to use as the door prize for our upcoming exhibition and sale in July.

 

Glitter Within

Tiny 10 x10

Just experimenting...no reference used. Maybe I'll put it in the closeline sale at Leighton Center.

In The Brush

      Acrylic, 18x24
* I've revised this one. I stopped the stream from flowing off the page to try and keep the viewer in the painting...thanks Cheryl) Does it work better?*

Another version of the roadside pond out by Leighton Center. I fussed a little to much with this one and it doesn't have the same 'freshness' feel as the last one. But there are certain things I like better. On to the next one ( going to go big!)

The Melt

Acrylic, 24 x33

Here is the first of my new series, based on Leighton center and the foothills. I'm trying to loosen up and use the palette knife with more paint and varied strokes. I still have lots of stuff to work out, but I've made a revelation about my work direction and am inspired by my new favorite artist, Lynn Boggess.

This painting is still wet and I'm not sure if I'm done with it yet, you can see the reference photo in my second latest post. Let me know what you think.

Picnic Pond

A small, acrylic, 10x20. I plan to put this one and all my smaller ones ( 15 ) in the Leighton Center Clothes line sale on June 6th.

LEIGHTON CENTRE, part 2

Here are a few more pics, and a couple of painting ideas.  Still have loads of photos to sift through. It's too bad the photos don't accurately portray what I saw and how I felt...hopefully my paintings will.

Sharon Williams and Doug Swinto. ( she had enough of the wind )

Brent Laycock working on his second painting. He does admit he relies on his reference material too much. But his paintings are much more vibrant than the photo.

Elenore Lowden Pidgen explaining some of her watercolor tips.

Ken's first encaustic painting

Lleighton Centre, Mentors Day

It was a beautiful day, abeit a tad windy. Mentors day, at Leighton Centre was a great way to spend the day and get inspired. It was my first viewing of the members show, and I also took hundreds of pictures, most of which I am still sorting through. The shapes from the melting snow intriged me most,and I must have produced a dozen paintings in my head.I also like watching fellow artists paint, and can always pick up a tid bit or two.

I think this was the first of  the many paintings Elenore Lowden Pidgen painted ( she was the most prolific artist of the day)

Karin Richter was giving a demo using pastels

David Veres was showing how he creats his wondefull textures

Sharon Lynn Williams was brave enough to venture out in the wind to do some plein air painting

Marianne Hunt also painted some plein watercolors, she was a little closer to home.

Ken Bourassa shared a few laughs while demonstrating his encaustic ( wax) techniques

I guess, when I wasn't taking pictures, I spent most of my time watching Brent Laycock painting with acrylics.

We all took a break and shared a wonderfull luch that the Leighton Center Staff prepared.

I will post some more pictures tomorrow

Highway Peek

Acrylic, 24 x36

Here is another painting that I renamed and reworked. The original was too 'in your face'... way too bright and too much rock. I made some drastic changes by softening the mountains and added more trees in the foreground. Personally I think it works better. What do you think? I've been busy this week touching up some paintings and varnishing. I don't like having unfinished or problematic paintings laying around.

Hot Chocolate

Acrylic, tiny 10 x10 inches

Any suggestions on a better name for this handsome fella?

Five Coats

Acrylic, 10 x20 inches

Serious Attitude

                                                               Acrylic, 11 x14 inches  My last rooster for a bit. More horse, cows and sheep...then back to my landscapes

Don't Turn Away

Acrylic, 14 x14 inches

Cocky Twins

Acrylic 12x12 inches

Yep more roosters. I'm feverishly working on 15 paintings to show in a popular annual'Clothesline' sale at Leighton centre, in Calgary. They need to be small and light,unframed, put in a plastic sleaves and hung on a clothesline.( more suited for works on paper) Over 70 artists will be participating. Most of my smaller paintings I have already done, are heavy and are on thicker gallery wrap canvas. So I went shopping for lighter canvases...I have alot of work to do.

Coca

Acrylic, 10x10

ok, here is some competition for Mocha, partnering with Black Beauty...actually I think they all would make a nice threesome, on someones wall.

IT"S CALYX TIME

Hey folks, don't forget it's Calyx time for all of you living close to Calgary. One day only! ( at least for my stuff) Tomorrow! Saturday from 10-4pm. I will be showing about 40 paintings...all most all new stuff! Click on the calyx link to the right for directions and more information.

Black and Brownie

Acrylic, 10in x10in

This little painting along with all my equine/animal paintings will be on sale at the CALYX show this SATURDAY, April 24th. I will also have  alot of my landscapes for sale as well. Come on out folks,just click the link on your right to get more information. Hope to see some of you there.

Mountain Trees

Acrylic, 30 x30

Another revamped painting. The original 'pastely' trees just didn't sit right with me and after it not being accepted into two shows....it was time for a change! I still need to do some tweeking but I do like this version better than 'Mountain Glow'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujLEK2-JXN9RQuGBnA8SQ2JACGzATliyY2xX5eAPhkbOP6ORgsTF3yYInzgymdHtCltEgNlbrdcdNUmaRlNe-0Y3RxCC1P0q8ubqyvAhNSXFBD2BMqHknSoARWpCbnbNNdQJwN3uYeYI/s1600-h/IMG_6488s.jpg

Mocha

small acrylic 10 x10 inches

Here is my mate for Black Beauty ( a little on the wild side)

Black Beauty

acrylic, 10x10 inches

I enjoyed working on this little 'beauty'. Not sure where I got the reference photo from but it was only a small fuzzy thumbnail. I think I'll make him a companion.PLEASE FULL VIEW

Strut

acrylic 16 x20 inches

Commission from a lady who wanted a larger one ( but the same colors and pose facing the other way, as Rooster pride). Hope she likes it. ( she already has one of my 'cow' paintings.)

Autumn Kiss

Acrylic, 16x20

The nice thing about acrylics is how often I can rework or change older paintings. There was something I really didn't like about Autumn Stream ( image below) so I thought I'd play around with it. I never think of a painting as 'precious' so I don't mind experimenting or ruining it. Anyway, with this one I ended up with almost a brand new painting. I'm not sure I'm completly happy with it but I do like it much better.