Two Views of Edith Cavell

I'm having a wonderful time so far here at JPL in Jasper! Good eating, exploring and of course painting. I have to admit though, this 'artist in residency' for the week, is a little exhausting. I'm painting for longer periods than what I'm used to, and at a faster pace, not to mention interacting with the guests. It's a good learning experience and I'm very thankful I have the opportunity through Mountain Galleries and Fairmont to enjoy these perks. Here are two paintings of MT Edith Cavell. 36 x 48, and 30 x 30.

Sea To Sky

We had a fabulous time in Vancouver/Whistler! I was to do a painting demo for Mountain Galleries in Whistler during their Sunday market, so my husband and I decided to make it a mini holiday. We spent a night in Vancouver and took the Rocky Mountaineer in the morning to Whistler. The views were spectacular ( facebook Pictures ). My friend Doria showed me a few Whistler lakes and some favorite bear sighting spots ( to no avail). I took the gondola up Whistler mountain and then the express to the peak. Truly magnificent. The next morning during the market I managed to do three demo paintings from my experience on top the mountain, while it was fresh in my mind. We had a fabulous meal and were off the next day for a wonderfully relaxing train ride back. The sights again were awe inspiring and I created many paintings in my head as my mind wandered, and absorbed the experience. I was truly spoiled and loving every minute of it.

I also found out my painting 'Where Magic Happens' won the 'Outstanding Acrylic' award for June, in the Bold Brush painting contest. Boldbrush winners

Stampede Art Auction

Stampede Auction night for the artists is always a little nerve wracking. This year was my first year to do the 'Quick Draw', and I managed to complete my painting within the allotted 1 hour. I did a couple of trial runs at home and these two are the result...both 12 x 24. The art auction piece was pretty much the same...if not better.

The paintings I had in the art auction, I'm pleased to say, both sold for more than I was asking, which was pretty good considering the majority of the paintings did not reach the asking price.

 

 

Kananaskis Surprise

acrylic large 36 x 60 inches

This And That

 

acrylic 30 x 36 inches

acrylic 20 x 28 inches


Just tiding up the studio a bit, and finished two paintings I had started  awhile back. getting ready to start Canada day with a bang!

Rocky Mountain Magic

Acrylic 36 inches x 48 inches,

Another from the mountain magic series, from the Canmore to Banff range...varying views from  a moving vehicle along the highway. Amazing how it changes from moment to moment...day to day.

Magic Moment

large 36 x 48 inches

Another Canmore mountain scene.

Magic Up Above

Large acrylic 40 x 40 inches.

This painting is referenced from photos I took while driving through Canmore along the highway. I was in the passenger side and no, my husband would not stop, lol.

I also did a video clip using still I shot throughout the painting, and posted it to you-tube. It's a little amateurish but it was fun to do and hopefully I will get better at it. video

This is the original photo before I enhanced it.

Step Above and some Brianisms

acrylic 24 x 48 inches

At the Brian Atyeo workshop, he came up with some pretty good 'Brianisms'. Some are funny but they all carry truth. These are only a few.

1) 'This painting is better than it looks'
2) 'If you can't meet your expectations, then lower them'
3) 'Light doesn't know edges'
4)  'activate early marks'
5) 'Sometimes it's not putting in the darks, it's putting in a light to activate a dark'
6) 'Hang your composition over a large dominant shape'
7) 'Explore what you don't know'
8) 'Don't go into a brush stroke with a little paint and expect a big change'
9) 'We see tone (value) first ,then color.'
10) 'When you make a change in a painting, make sure it has an effect'
11)'Constantly learning what you don't know is the best part of my day'
12) 'Put a lot on take a lot off...paint that is'
13) 'The reset button-that's why God made gesso'
14) 'When you ask yourself a question, pay close attention to the answer'
15) 'Your job as an artist isn't to know, it's to find out'
16) 'If you think it, paint it, trust it, don't fear it.
17) 'Trust the mark and modify it if necessary-it's not the initial mark but the residual mark that counts'
18) It's not as important to know what a stroke will do but to find out what it can do.
19) 'Don't get caught up in the small stuff'
20) ''If I predetermine the outcome it negates the creative process'
21) 'Good art happens for a reason'

Jazz Clip

I finished a painting I started at the Brian Atyeo workshop. This is acrylic,15 x 30 inches and untitled at the moment.

I also did another clip of Brian's Jazz demo with Louis Armstrong singing 'What a wonderful world'...I didn't want to waste his beautiful song so I filled the rest with some pictures of our group dinner and various other shots I took around the area.

It was a wonderful week and chalk full of information and energy. Brian is a wonderful teacher has a great ability to know exactly what each individual needs. Each day he did a morning demo and although I tried a few of his techniques, I decided it best for me to paint the way I paint. Even though I was frustrated at times, I'm glad he pushed me. I came away a better painter...in my opinion.

I hope you enjoy this little clip

Brian Atyeo Clip

acrylic 15 x 30 inches
I don't have much time to write, but I wanted to share Brian Ayteo's second day painting demonstration.(an amateur clip of stills I shot).

Also my warm up... a painting done the evening before the workshop started, at River Rock Studio outside Cochrane Alberta.

 

Where Magic Happens

acrylic, 24 x 30, "Where Magic Happens",

I just arrived back from a five day intensive advanced acrylic session with the talented Brian Ayteo. I'm exhausted and my brain is full, so here is just a peek of what I've been up to.  ( the beginning of my new series ). Once I have wound down, I will be using this blog to post many of my exciting experiences...so stay tuned!

Hidden Falls Commission

 

I'd been dreading starting this commission,even though I've done nothing but think about it for the past month. But actually,it came together quite nicely and quickly too. I had painted a vertical waterfall painting and the client loved it,especially the colors...but she wanted it horizontal. Tricky. I hope she likes it.

Small Landscapes

acrylic 8 x 16 inches

I've been working on a couple of small landscape studies,getting ready for some larger works I promised in June. I also have a commission and a week long workshop with Brian Ateyo this month. May was a relaxing month for me and I enjoyed the family time, now it's time to clean up the studio and get back to work!

farm animals

I am enjoying a little break with my sister and brother-in-law from New Brunswick, and my brother's 50th Birthday party. I had time though, to finish these two little animal paintings.  June is going to be a busy month for me...I must try and get back into a schedule.

Lady Bovine

Some Moo time,acrylic 11 x 14

Bear Portraits

A couple of bear portraits. These animals are fun to do and helpful when I'm in a state of flux and indecisiveness. Instead of pondering and worrying, I keep my fingers and mind busy, knowing my uneasiness will eventually pass. Acrylic 12 x 12 inches 'Bearishly Shy' and 'Forebearing'

Rundle Through The Red

acrylic 20 x 28 inches

Ok, so I took a lot of artistic liberties with this one, by pumping up the reds. But they really do exist. The following is my reference photo and some others just to show the reds are alive at Vermilion lakes.

Lac Beauvert,Jasper

acrylic 24 x 30

We were recently in Jasper,staying at the Jasper Park Lodge ( where my gallery is located ). The lodge is on the beautiful Lac Beauvert. There is a path around the lake, and on this particular afternoon the ever changing brilliant colors of the lake were spectacular! Just a few patches of snow and ice remained and it was such a peaceful sunny day.

Much Happier Now

Something wasn't quite right. I wasn't happy with it. It was either not finished or something was wrong. If it doesn't feel right ...trust your instincts. I worked on it another hour or so this morning and I'm much happier now.

Elbow Falls By Bragg Creek

Acrylic 24 x 30

Another version of Elbow Falls ( different time of day). I'm revisiting a few earlier paintings but not because I've run out of ideas or new material. I have various reasons.  I like the subject and feel I haven't exhausted the possibilities.  I like to see how different my approach is and have I varied my techniques. Do I still remember how I painted it? I like to compare to see if I have learned or can improve anything. Can I make one cool and the other warm. Can I recreate the same spontaneity and feel. Do I have the same palette etc.

Parker Ridge

Acrylic,30 x 30,
My husband and I are making a trip to Jasper on Sunday, travelling along my favorite highway. We will pass this scene of Parker Ridge,and hopefully, I will be able to convince him to stop,so I can surrender myself to it's beauty! So, I thought it only fitting that I paint Parker Ridge in anticipation.

Back to Landscapes

acrylic 30 x 60 inches. Light Along 40 Mile Creek,Banff,

Ok, the urban scenes were starting to frustrate me and after spending 8 hours in a 'Paint Till You Drop' ( live models), event this weekend, I decided to paint another larger version of one of my favorite landscape paintings...and it sure felt good to bring out my large palette knife and attack the canvas! Bringing me back into my comfort zone calmed me down. I like to venture back and forth.

The paint till you drop,was a lot of fun, even after my dismal painting attempts. I'm looking forward to the next one and will be better prepared. For those wishing to see some of the work,go to the facebook event page here

Lessons

 

I thought I'd add some snow....first thing I thought of when I looked outside and this nice snowy spring day.

'Lessons',acrylic 8 x 16 inches. 

My winter trip to Whistler last year was incredible. We had never been,and we don't ski,but my gallery is there so we had to visit. it was a beautiful weekend,full of sunshine and warm weather. it was quite the dichotomy watching the skiers while having lunch outside with a few passersby in shorts. We did the Sky to Sky and must have looked quite out of place but no one paid us any attention. I took hundreds of photos with the intention of doing some 'ski paintings'. I thought I'd share a couple. My husband is the one who is definitely out of place in the photo below.

Dancing Light

Another pub scene. 'Dancing Light' ,acrylic 20 x 10 inches.