Drive By

Drive By

10" x 10" - oil on archival canvas paper - $45

I have been experimenting, in a minimal way, with oil paint. I have generally avoided them because of the solvents and other smelly-toxic substances required in their use. However, I do like the way they smear and move more like butter on a surface, and for that reason used will continue to experiment with them, and keep the windows open. This painting was inspired by views out of the car window, sometimes a blur, as the scenery whizzes by. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

11" x 11.5" - acrylic on canvas paper - SOLD

I was was driving along rural roads today and I was noticing the subtlety of the colour in the fields and the vegetation. Normally at this time of year where I live the bright reds, oranges and yellows we associate with autumn are in full force. However, I found the muted reds, yellows, violets and greens just as beautiful and they inspired this painting.  And because it is Thanksgiving weekend (in Canada) I named it that. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. - the colours in real life are even better than what I was able to capture with my camera lens!

Summer Woods

Summer Woods

30" x 40"  - acrylic on canvas - $700

Since the beginning of July I have been living in my 'cabin in the woods on a lake' in the wilds of Haliburton County, about 3 hours north of Toronto. The weather had been mostly unseasonal, unfortunately, but at least it has not interfered with painting. I started this canvas a few weeks ago and it evolved slowly in terms of composition, palette and brushwork to its final form. And I am finally, very happy with it.  The overall colours and especially the yellows, pinks, and reds are actually a little brighter than what you see here and the background purples (on right) are slightly greyer and lighter in value. I tried my best to correct these on photoshop, and this is about the best I can do. 

The sun is shining today and no rain is predicted for at least 24 hours, so I think I will put aside the brushes today and venture forth to the dock and water and do battle with the biting flies. Have a great weekend, wherever you may be.

30 in 30: Day 28 - Fields Near Home

Fields Near Home

6" x 7.5" - watercolour & gouache on paper - $30

This is painting #28 in the 30 in 30 challenge. I am resorting to tried and true subject matter, and still having fun.

30 in 30: day 21 - Luberon Valley

 

Luberon Valley 

24" x 30" - acrylic on canvas - $450

I started this painting in December, and once again, really liked my 'start' (see below). The scene was inspired by my time spent in the Luberon Valley in the south of France, but is really a composite of elements that make up that wonderful landscape.

After adding lines and creating shapes with a white paint marker, I began to slow down. The lower half needed more definition  and I wanted to eliminate the way lines and colour seemed to create a pin-wheel effect in the centre.  So I began to give the middle ground more physical structure.....

Decided the area on the horizon line was too big, and broke it down, then added some weightier trees in the lower foreground.

I left it alone at this point, and just returned to it this past week, making final colour adjustments. I have looked at it long and hard for a few days now, and feel it is finally done, and I am happy with it.  And it Day 21's painting in the 30 in 30 challenge. 

30 in 30: Day 14 "Fake Lake"

Fake Lake

10" x 10" - acrylic on canvas - $75

I posted an earlier water colour version of this subject a few days ago, and wondered at the time what it would be like in acrylic. A good reason to do another version. I started by sketching the shapes onto the canvas using an 'ink tense' pencil, and then used a wet brush to smear and blur the lines. In this way I stop myself from being too tight and also tone (and mess up) the canvas a little. As I worked I continued to use different coloured ink tense pencils, wetting some of the lines and leaving others. I have been painting with this red-orange-yellow-pink palette a lot lately, and I am really enjoying the colours and results. 

The subject is based on a photo I took of a small man-made lake near where in live in Ontario, and it has been affectionately called by many in the town Fake Lake, hence the title. This is painting number 14 in as many days. 

Looking forward to the end of the month!

Sand Dunes on the Iles de la Madeleines

Sand Dunes on the Iles de la Madeleine

20" x 24" - acrylic on canvas - $250

At the end of July, I painted a landscape by layering acrylic washes on a primed white canvas, allowing the colours to intermingle with each other, much like painting a 'wet into wet' watercolour. It is a process involving restraint and patience waiting for paint and canvas to dry between layers. But, it's also lots of fun and I really like the painterly effects and spontaneous quality of the finished work and of course the strength of the acrylic colours. 

The painting above represents my second experiment with this technique. The subject is based on a photo of sand dunes I took while visiting the Iles de la Madeleine last August. I love the complementary colour scheme and lately find myself drawn to pinks and reds, and of course green. And if you are wondering where the water is - it's just over the pink band at the top. 

Hillside

More artful play and watercolour experimentation.

Hillside

11" x 8.5"  - watercolour, gouache, pencil crayon on paper - $25