Peonies

Peonies 8x10
Oil on Board $195.00


It is wonderful when the weather co-operates on "Paint with Your Friends Day" and we can paint outside!

Alberta's weather, good or bad, usually includes the wind blasting across the prairie. It's not cold wind this time of year but often strong enough to blow away the best intentions to paint au plein air (is that French or Susanian?).

Last Wednesday I was blessed to paint at my friend Tracey Mardon's home and not only because she is a wonderful artist and a great support, she has that most desired commodity..... a sheltered yard!

Tracey, our friend Michelle and I spent a few hours in the morning capturing the fruit of Tracey's (gardening) labors..this beautiful peony that was absolutely bursting with blooms. In fact, there were so many, they didn't all fit on my board! And what fun painting all the lively lines and variety of deep greens in the peony and the Blue Spruce behind it.


Painting outside in the sunshine with good friends.....ahhhh, what a great day to be alive!
I hope you enjoy your summer moments, too. Soak them up.

Playing with Color

Play is the wood on the fire, the fuel that sparks creativity. Play is the pure fun of making art, it's trying something new or just cutting loose!

I am currently working on a commissioned portrait and have little time for play.

This week I decided to try to add more color to my portraits; I tend to be afraid to use "unnatural" color, as if there were such a thing! Preconceived ideas are tough to shake. And my ideas are often that skin is pink or brown or peach or tan. When things are getting boring, clearly it's time to play!

Have you seen the purple and green shadows, the orange transitions

or the blue highlights on a face? I was determined to find and use them.

The two 8x10 paintings above are the results.

I uploaded the photo images from flickr (thank you Mosippy and Spectacle Photo) and away I went. Drawing accurately was sacrificed for

color-play...and worth it; I discovered a rainbow of color.

I went back to my commission with enthusiasm and courage...

and color on my brush!

A Finished Portrait

Lloyd

11x14 Oil on canvas

This painting of Lloyd has been a challenge...

I love a challenge!

The original photograph I was given as a reference is

old and yellowed with some scratches on the surface.

The original also included more of Lloyd and he had

his head resting on his left hand.

I used Photoshop to correct the colour and my paintbrush to eliminate the left hand and invent the left side of his suit.

My husband was helpful at that stage; he put on a similar suit and struck the same pose so I could get the shoulder and collar right.

I'm happy with the results and, more importantly,

so is Lloyd.

Lloyd's wife still hasn't seen the painting;

I think the crucial test will be to gain her approval!

Finally....I'm back

These three Dog Portraits are commissioned portraits.

Casey, the German Shepherd, is a memorial painting; she died of a heart condition about a year ago. Her master lives in Germany and this portrait is travelling further afield than any of my pet portraits thus far. I am looking forward to commissions coming my way from all over the world and hearing the love stories from the pets' owners.

Kailey the Golden Retriever and Riley (whose pedigree is unknown to me) are cousins by adoption. Their owners are sisters and their Uncle Mike is giving the paintings to "Gramma". The photo of Kailey was taken in the winter and that of Riley was taken in the summer...I invented a lake for them to romp around. I hope they enjoy it!