When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Canada

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Lilies at Butchart Gardens, BC

Sunday, August 5th, 2018


 

Lilies, 18H x 24W inches graphite on 140 lb cold pressed premium

Lilies at the Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC, 18H x 24W inches graphite on 140 lb cold pressed premium. Detail image:
 

Lilies center right detail

Stellar’s Jays finished

Friday, May 11th, 2018


 

Stellar's Jays finished, 18H x 24W inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed

Stellar’s Jays finished, Nimkish Lake campsite, Vancouver Island BC, 18H x 24W inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed. Framed size 27H x 33W inches: white mat and white wood frame with crackle finish.
Stellar’s Jays are not seen in groups like this, perhaps only seen 3 together at most, so in that sense the portrayal is not accurate, but the aim here is to show a collage of 11 birds representing their distinct character.

Raccoons

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018


 

Raccoons, Ontario Canada, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed
Raccoons, Ottawa ON Canada – 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed. Framed size approx. 20H x 26W inches – white mat and white wood frame with crackle finish.

Stellar’s Jays

Monday, April 17th, 2017


 

Stellar's Jays, phase 03 work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press

Work in progress, Stellar’s Jays at Nimkish Lake, Vancouver Island BC, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press. For years I’ve been visualizing a painting that portrays the Stellar’s Jay in various poses, representing general character. My Dad pointed out that Stellar’s Jays don’t usually group this way, which is an accurate view of the broader behaviour that didn’t even occur to me. Interesting! Phase 02 below and detail image – the yellow is masking medium:

Stellar's Jays, work in progress, 18 x 24 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold press Stellar's Jays, work in progress detail

Normally I don’t outline anything when starting a painting, which works fine with acrylics because it’s easy to change things throughout the process, but watercolors don’t allow for much room for error, especially if you don’t have much practice with them. Wingin’ it usually works for me because I don’t mind failure in exchange for experience, but mapping out the shapes and arrangement lightly in pencil really helps, and confidence is fundamental to painting well.

Smoky Lake Summer

Wednesday, April 12th, 2017


 

Smoky Lake Summer, 14 x 20 inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium
Smoky Lake Summer, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed premium. 20H x26W inches approximate size framed. This is my favorite summertime memory of Alberta… miles of moving shadows across bright Canola fields and expansive, moody skies. The painting started off without the tree but needed a focal point. Detail images:

  Upper left detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Tree detail of Smoky Lake Canola   Lower left Canola detail of Smoky Lake Canola

North Saanich Poppies

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017


 

North Saanich Poppies, 16 x 20 inches W/C on 140 lb. cold pressed premium

North Saanich Poppies, BC Canada – 14H x 20W inches W/C on 140 lb. cold pressed premium. Framed size 20H x 26W inches with white mat, white wood frame with crackle finish.

Fields of Flax – Rowley, Alberta Canada

Monday, November 12th, 2012


 

Fields of Flax, Rowley, Alberta Canada - in progress, 12H x 16W inches watercolors on paper
Fields of Flax, Rowley, Alberta Canada,  12H x 16W inches watercolors on paperpreliminary study for larger acrylics painting

 

Bigleaf Maple watercolors

Sunday, November 4th, 2012


 

Big Leaf Maple 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 140 lb 100% cotton paper

 Big Leaf Maple near Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, BC Canada, 12H x 16W inches watercolors on 140 lb 100% cotton paper. Framed size 22H x 26W inches.

Framing on Northern Delights 02 update

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010


 

Northern Delights 02, acrylics painting 24 x 36 inches with 36 x 48 inches canvas frame

Northern Delights 02, 24H x 36W inches acrylics on canvas, adhered to a 36H x 48W x 1D inches canvas. Mask/resist medium was used to maintain white spaces and pure colors in both sections.

The central painting was started in 2006, and the framing was resolved today – a perfect example where some paintings just need to hang around for a while before they are well and truly finished. The scene of the central painting is extended onto the larger canvas, initially intended to have the same style. However, after stopping for a coffee break then coming back with fresh eyes, I actually like the clash of styles. I always say that art is the best place to exhibit any rebellious tendencies! Besides, formal frames can sometimes cut off the energy of a composition too abruptly. Every painting does not need a frame, but finishing the edges should always be considered.

Summer travels

Friday, August 13th, 2010


 

  Archean rocks, Lake Superior just east of Wawa, Ontario Archean rocks, Lake Superior just east of Wawa, Ontario Lichen, Lake Superior just east of Wawa, Ontario Lichen and distant shoreline, Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada Lichen, Lake Superior just east of Wawa, Ontario

When I’m back in Dallas blogging regularly again, these photos will be posted on the photography website. An unplanned extra trip from Alberta to Ottawa; in Ontario a second time, means I won’t be back until the first week of Sept. Here are a few photos I took on the shores of Lake Superior just east of Wawa, ON.

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