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.

Sunwapta Colors

 'Sunwapta Colors', 12 x 12 inches,

I have painted a few large Sunwapta Falls but none this small. I wanted to see if I could capture the same vibrancy and spontaneity as the original painting I did  4 years ago which won the Collectors Choice award at The Calgary Stampede. Although I think both paintings are successful, they each have their own strengths . Interesting, but hard to compare different size paintings.

'Sunwapta Roars" 36 x 36 inches

Tangle Creek Falls

acrylic 36 x 18,

Another version of Tangle Falls in Jasper National Park. 95% palette knife.

Glow Through The Brush

'Glow Through The Brush',acrylic 18 x 24

Tons of luscious texture on this one...layers and layers. I'd work on it, let it dry, work on it more and let it dry,and continued to do that until I was satisfied. You can't really see it in the photo but up close it's really abstracted.

Below is a small 12 x 12 that I got around to finishing.

Athabasca Rapids

acrylic 12 x 24
Yet another Athabasca Falls. One more week and I'm off to see them again. They are always different every time I visit.

Athabasca Foliage

'Athabasca Folliage' acrylic 12 x 24

Another angle of Athabasca Falls. This one had pink flowers in front but I'm not much of a flower girl and the color didn't seem to fit so....artistic licence.

Athabasca Falls Through The Trees

acrylic, 18 x 24

This is a study for a larger painting. I took this photo the last time I visited Jasper and I'm going back in a week for a few days...can't wait. I never tire of these falls,along with Sunwapta and Tangle.

Two times Two

 Four small landscapes ( 2 12 x 12  and 2 5 x 10 )

Wooded Pond

acrylic 10 x 20 inches,

Yep, painted over another old painting. I think the only shapes that survived the revamp was the left side trees and the shape of the right side bank...also, if you look closely, you can see some of the right side trees poking through the background. Some of the reasons I enjoy painting over old canvases are the surprises; the new textures, bits of old color coming through and not having to cover a white canvas.I stopped varnishing my work a long time ago. I finish my paintings with an isolation coat which allows me to paint over it if need be.

Approaching Banff

acrylic 18 x 18 inches
I pass this scene every time I go to Banff.( Cascade Mountain, near the gate). I take pictures from the car as it's moving ( my husband hates stopping before getting to his destination,lol). I really struggled with this one, trying to get the light and values just right. I think I was trying to follow my photo to closely. I usually enhance my photos ( darken the lights, lighten the darks, emphasize and /or saturate colors. ) and then I print them, but they never turnout the way I see them on my computer or let alone how it looks in nature. I thought maybe if I looked at the original photo on my computer I could find some solutions to why I was having so much trouble...but I couldn't find it. I will continue to try and fix my problems but I thought I'd post it anyway. This is one scene I will try and plein air paint.

A Splash With Yellow

Mixed Medium 12 x 24 inches,

I covered my canvas with crinkled blue and purple tissue paper,  applied with soft gel under and over. It can be manipulated to achieve some nice texture. I still used my palette knife for the tree leaves and the highlights in the waterfalls, and a lot of negative painting around the trees.

Seems like I can't go a couple of weeks without doing a waterfall...but they are so fun and forgiving with all sorts of abstract possibilities. There was no reference used for this one. I uploaded a larger image file so hopefully you can see the texture from the tissue paper.

Gentle Nudge

acrylic 11 x 14 ,
The last of my Animal Impressions for awhile. Back to my landscapes.

Gentle Desire

'Gentle Desire', acrylic 18 x 18

This one came together quite nicely. I really wanted the horse to fade softly in the background...maybe I could push him back and soften the edges a little more. I brushed on gel for the background and used a palette knife for the mane. I then used a wash of transparent burnt sienna over the entire painting and continued on with the darks;adding more opaque and lighter colors as I went on.

Colour struggle

'That's what She Said', 12 x 12 acrylic and 'Sunny Stretch',acrylic 11 x 14

I have been working on these two paintings far too long! I must have changed the background colour at least five times. Yesterday they were warm today cool. Funny how my mood influences my creative decisions. Best to step back. I'm still not convinced, so I'll shelve these two for the time being.

My Best Side

'My Best Side',acrylic 9 x 12

I just finished a commission for Mountain Galleries. The client wanted a realistic representation of  Mt Kidd and the fourth hole at the Kananaskis golf course. Commissions for me are always difficult because it is someone elses vision and passion, and in this case it was particularly challenging.The greens are so vivid on golf courses and usually not a painters best color.The gallery was quite pleased with this one.