Up Close And Purcell

 

I'm finished my two demo paintings I had started at Banff. One is a commission of a painting I had done about a year ago of Moraine Lake ( 24 x 36). The other is from Purcell Mountain Lodge paint out with Wendy Wacko of Mountain Galleries medium size 24 x 30)... I'm gearing up to do some really large canvases.

Demo in Banff

Alice and I in the back, and a guest in front trying her hand at painting. ( photos by Doug Johnston)

Back from an overnight trip to Banff to paint ( with fellow Calgary artist Alice Helwig ) a demo for Mountain Galleries at the Banff Springs Hotel in one of their beautiful ball rooms. The room was dimly lit and set up as a fancy cocktail bar with stand up tables draped in white table clothes and servers passing around hot hor d'oeuvres...and then there was us. With our painting easels, plastic table coverings,brown paper on the floor and our 'dirty' painting clothes,the spotlight was on us..  Painting in front of a large group ( 600+ ), is still relatively new for me ,but having Alice there was a huge help as we interacted and tried to paint. Mountain Galleries also had a blank canvas set up to invite guests to add a few splashes of color.Guests were timid at first,but by the end of the night the canvas was full thanks to the encouragement of gallery staff John and Aimee and artist friend Douglas Johnston ( thank-you ). It was a very successful evening, and we capped it off with some beer and pizza afterward.

'Snow Bright'

This mountain scene was started in Brian Atyeo's workshop.  Trying different techniques ( and not using my pallet knife),it went through many stages of metamorphosis. After trying many suggestions, the painting was left unfinished ( see photo image). In my studio, I felt it strayed too far from my style and it made me uncomfortable. I made many adjustments while still trying to capture Brian's recommendations, I think the final painting is more 'me'

More From The Brians Workshop

 

Brian Ayteo's workshop was a very intense 5 days of painting. My 'roomies' and painting buddies were all keeners and we painted well into the late evening every night. The Whistler girls, Susie Chipolla,Andrea Moore,Doria Moodie,and Lianne Gulka along with my fellow Calgarian and veteran Janie Lockwood were tons of fun and very talented ladies.River Rock Studio was a wonderful artist retreat in the middle of the Rocky Mountain foothills surrounded by forest and rivers.

I tried to have an open mind as I explored different techniques and subject matter outside of my comfort zone. I had very few successes, and that was to be expected but I did pick up some very useful information and tips.I will share with you a few paintings but many of them still need work.

No one seemed to like my 'Kitties'.It was painted late a night after a couple of cool ones ( I normally don't work at night and I never drink and paint). I pretended I was different artist and had such fun! My husband didn't like it,nor did our son,so I hung the painting in our spare bedroom.  When our daughter came to stay she asked for it to be removed as it 'creeped her out'. "Its just not like you".Oh well,I like it!

Demo Florals

 

I recently attended a Brian Ateyo workshop.He's a fabulous teacher and artist.My painting companions were wonderfully enthusiastic and hard working ( we painted well into the evening every day ). I painted several canvases ( none of which I'm satisfied with or are finished...will post later). One of my highlights was on my last day, after watching Brians demo, I attempting a floral. Both subject matter and technique were way out of my comfort zone. Brian asked if he could paint on it and show me. Absolutely! I replied. He basically painted over the whole canvas with maybe bits of my underpainting and textures showing through.We both signed it and now I have my own Brian Ateyo hanging on my wall. Thrilling!

Brian Ayteo Worksop

I'm going to be immersed in a Brian Ayteo workshop for the next 5 days!Staying at the River Rock Studio near Cochrane in the foothills.I love Brian's work and have been looking forward to this all summer.Loose and big. Here is a few examples of his work. I'll post more of this workshop later.

More Purcell Mountains

Here a few more painting from Purcell Mountain Lodge. (90% done on location).  Sizes 9x12 and 11 x 14.

Purcell Mountain Lodge Plein Air

What an incredible experience! Words can't express how exhilarating and inspiring this painting excursion was! From the moment I stepped into the helicopter it was a painters dream. Not to take away from the great company and delicious food!

 Every evening before dinner, our talented and entertaining  Chef, strummed his guitar and sang us his mouth watering menu. Thanks for the great food Stephan! Doug, our wonderful and informative guide, made my life much easier as he lugged most of my painting supplies to various locations every morning. And, he or Stephan would come find me hours later and lug it all back!. As we strolled, Doug enlightened me with many history stories of the area and answered all of my silly questions! Thanks Doug!

But most of all, thanks to my wonderful companion Wendy and Mountain Galleries for inviting me along on this awesome trip! We worked hard, ate well,had great conversation,shared a few drinks  laughs, and went to bed satisfied, refreshed and eager for the next day.

I managed to paint 8 canvases. Two of which I need to finish and two need some adjustments. But I was quite happy with my results and can't wait to produce larger works in my studio!

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