Well, true to my word I pushed aside some of the clutter and created a new mess :)  I cut up a painting that wasn't turning out very well and made the first two with that as the background.  The third one is of course in honour of the Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit.

I don't know the procedure of trading but if someone has a trade let me know.

Do all artists work in a cluttered environment?  I have turned a small bedroom into my studio and as I look around I see baskets full of magazines, clippings that had colours I liked, photo boxes with all my reference photos, rows of art books that I have read but can't part with, drawers full of paints and brushes... sigh....
Perhaps if my painting table was neater I would feel more creative...  behind me is a pile of paintings finishes but not good enough to frame...

I have an online friend that is really into art trading cards and they are truly creative and fun...maybe I should cut up some of these paintings that aren't going anywhere and make them into cards? 

I think  my mind is in a muddle like my studio :)

Another painting in my iris series.  I decided on a dramatic, dark background, I thought it would stand out more on my gift items.  I think I can visualize this on coasters and trivets.

I warned you I was on an Iris roll!  I find yellow flowers more difficult to paint as the shadows often have a gray/greenish tint.  I called this Blowing in the Wind as I didn't want them all standing in a row like soldiers, but moving as though the wind was tossing one to the side.  I am planning to have this one imprinted onto my trays and trivets. 

This iris is one I will make cards from and also my gift items I create like trivets, coasters, trays, wallets, etc.
I know it is a bearded iris but I wish I had the botanical name.. if any one knows let me know :)

I am going through some of my photos taken last summer and these jumped out at me...need a little sunshine in the middle of January.



A painting I did this weekend that might work for my gift items. I wanted strong colours that would transpose well...

I am currently working on some irises as I have been invited to participate in an Iris Convention coming up and they want some tables with art work for sale.. very exciting.
If it turns out I'll post it here. I noticed the daffodils and tulips are bravely breaking through the cold ground. Many snowdrops are out - nice to see in early January. This painting of tulips I did last year.

When I turned 40 (a few years ago) I decided to do something new every year to stretch myself and learn new things. I didn't have anything in mind for 2011 but decided to enter a painting in a competition. Never had the confidence to do it and so that is the very reason I thought I should.I entered the hydrangeas that is featured below...nothing ventured .. nothing gained.

Now, what are you doing this year to stretch yourself? Let me know :)

My first painting of 2011.  I took the photo in September and loved the way the light hit the top of the flowers and the depth of the petals underneath.  I love painting hydrangeas!
This painting is available as a card on Zazzle.com.

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!

I took part in an art exchange with the painters from Art Colony Blogspot.com and this was mine from Kay Smith from Texas.  Kay is a beautiful painter and I am thrilled with my gift.  You can see Kay's work at  http://www.kaysmithbrushworks.us/



This painting was taken from a photo I took in Italy.  This town is called Sutri.  I really enjoyed my time in this region which is 1 hour north of Rome.  I did the trees in the foreground in a negative manner.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Let us all be grateful and content with  all that we have for that is the secret to happiness.  Being with friends and loved ones makes this holiday so special. 

Let us pray that the New Year will bring Peace to those areas in the world so torn with strife and hatred..

Bring food and shelter to those without..

Open the hearts of those who don't care

Hydrangeas growly profusely here on the Island.  We get such a huge variety of colours from deep burgundy to light turquoise.  I love the ones that go from light blue to pink, to turquoise and I have tried to capture that in this painting.

Keeping in the same theme...another collage with antique sheet music as the main topic.  Leav Me With A Smile was the name of the song.  These are such fun to put together...Rice papers, watercolor and a little acrylic.

Another music collage piece.  I am always on the look out for antique sheet music that would lend itself to a collage.  I photocopy the original sheets on acid free paper so they aren't destroyed.  This piece is also using some rice papers and watercolours.  I called it Blue Lady.

I think the question I get most often is "where to start"...Personally I work from my own photos which I think is a good idea because you carry the feeling with you.  There was a reason you took that picture..probably because it caused an emotion in you.  You will probably put that feeling into your painting.

I love to draw so I don't photocopy and trace.  I do find it a little dismaying how many artists trace...it is a great way to start but once you feel comfortable you should really try your own impression of the picture.  REMEMBER..PAINTINGS ARE NOT PHOTOGRAPHS!  you only want an impression of the picture.

The next thing I remind my students is use WATER after all it is watercolour :)  Dry brush strokes can be used in landscapes for texture but most florals and still life need loose, wet paint to flow on the paper.

The next important thing USE GOOD PAPER...you can't create a good picture on anything under 140 lb. I love 300 lb. Arches but 140 is adequate.  You can tape the paper down with masking tape to a good stiff board of some sort.  If you want to get rid of the sizing by dipping it in water for awhile and then staple it down ...fine..but after years and years of painting I don't bother.  Sometimes I do wet the paper with a sponge and let it dry then do my drawing.

CHANGE your colour every inch or so...by doing this you get an interesting picture. Using transparent colours will keep you from getting mud.  I think 3 or 4 colours in a painting is enough.  This way the painting lives together.

Colours directly from the tube are okay but I find  mixing my greens you get a nicer green and I never use  BLACK...Winsor Red, Winsor Blue and Winsor Green will give you a fabulous black and it will be a black with life!

Don't over use  your salt... it is great if your wanting a little action on water or beach...perhaps a little in behind a floral..but too much is just too obvious.

More hints to come later..

I would like to introduce you to some breathtaking jewellery done by a local artist named Wendy  http://islandrainstudio.com/bio.html.

Her work is featured in local upscale jewellery stores in Victoria and Vancouver.  I know once you browse through her work you will know why.  Her pieces are so exquisite..definitely gorgeous art pieces.

Crieff Cottage is a painting of my Great, great grandmother's house in Crieff, Ontario.  This stone cottage was built shortly after they arrived in Canada from Scotland in 1861.  This is in an area called the "Scotch Block" which was inhabitated by Scottish immigrants.  I was fortunate enough to meet the owners and they let me browse inside and out. 

This cottage caught my eye because of the light filtering through the fence.  It was a hot day and the sunshine was very bright. Cottages are a favourite of mine to paint as they always have a story to tell.   This one is in Niagara on the Lake, in Ontario. 

CALENDAR 2011 from Zazzle.com - I have created a 2011 Calendar featuring my art work..  This is a beautiful calendar to give a friend.  Each month has a bright, happy painting!

Take a look from the link above.

You can't stand & wait for the storm to be over you've got to learn to dance in the rain'

Don't you just love this quote?  In other words, get out there and do your thing....don't wait for everything to be "just right" to begin as it probably never will be.

 

ENJOY THE DANCE :)

This is another watercolor/acrylic combinatiuon.  I scanned this piece and the gold doesn't show up as it should, however, it had a broze look to it.  This painting has sold .. matted in bronze and framed in a black frame. 

This is a watercolour painting I did of an iris which didn't turn out that great.. so I used acrylic paints to paint around it, used some stamping in gold along the side and then painted inside of them with the black acrylic.  I matted this is a gold/black frame and I think it works very well.  I have done a few acrylic/watercolor combinations with stamping and they have been really alot of fun.  Give it a try.

I have created an ART CALENDAR for 2011 on Lulu.com..I have a ad below that you can check it out!
Great price and a very nice gift.

This is the piece we did in class today.  The picture I took is a little light.  I tried to deepen the colour but started to lose the integrity of the piece so left it alone.  I teach Thursday mornings and love every minute of it.  Well done Kim.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends :)

Winter is something we don't get much of on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.  However, the past few days has reminded me of the "bite" of winter.  I had forgotten how it makes my back ache... I guess |I hold my muscles tight :)  Our little hummingbirds that stay all winter here were in desperate need so we filled up our feeder and they seem to be doing alright.  The flowers are all frozen at the moment so they didn't have a sugar source.  I love those little guys.

I can see the ocean from my house and it was really wild!  When the winds whips it up so that it splashes up onto the road you know it is a "bad" day.   Our Christmas sailpast didn't have as  many spectators either..too cold I guess.

I know, I know it isn't like the prairies at -35 but that would do me in!

This painting is a combination of watercolour and acrylics.  Bright spring greens make it a cheery painting.

I love doing music collages..this is one I did a few years ago...I called it Blue Lady..

This is called The Fruit Vendor.  I painted this from a photo I took when I was on a painting trip to Italy.  The fruit and vegetables were overflowing the old, rickety crates.  The market place was just outside the ancient city walls which is depicted behind this vendor.  This is a combination of watercolor and acrylics. $200.00

Acrylic painting called Ancient Arches. The slight blue hint on the left side is from the flash.  A really colourful painting.  $300.00

I took a picture of the gate into one of the wineries in Napa Valley, CA and I think it turned out as planned with the wisteria hanging down...

Robert Bateman is a world reknowned wildlife painter and I had the pleasure of being in his company today at his latest book signing here in Sidney.

If you haven't tried pouring fresh clean colour on your paper you should give it a try. Wet your paper where you want colour leaving some areas dry. That will be the white of your painting.

Be sure you are over a sink:) You can manipulate the flow of the paint by tilting it and blowing. Once the paper is dry you can then start to create your painting. In this one I created lilies.

You get a very fresh painting every time with this method. Jan Wallake "Watercolors Pour It On" is a good one to goggle and see her wonderful work. She has DVD's and books available if you want to really get serious about it.

This little sketch I did on my River Cruise in Europe this past summer sold a few days ago... This one has wonderful memories attached to it so I will definitely do it again.

I got a new computer today so I am once again on a learning curve! They say it is good to keep stretching yourself :)

Now this is true negative painting....I just created daisies by painting around them. This is very loose for me, but fun to do now and again.

This painting of wisteria is also using negative painting. I think it adds mystery to the whole thing...

This is a demonstration of negative painting. All of the leaves in the background was done that way. I particualrly enjoy this work.

I grew up in Eastern Ontario and the fall colours were spectular. My brother sent me an email with this scene attached....thought it would be a bright spot on a cool rainy fall day

This week is "Artsea Week" in Sidney and artists are painting in bookstores, art stores, bake shops, etc.

This is one I did Monday p.m. at the local art store. I really enjoy demonstrating so it was a fun afternoon.

This is my first attempt at painting with acrylics using the techniques outlined in Charles Harrington Workshop this week. "Using Acrylics like Watercolors". It was frustrating but fun!

I pick up Mr. Harrington tomorrow to begin a 4 day workshop here in Sidney by the Sea. He uses acrylics like watercolor and from what I have seen I really like his work.

I will only be facilitating the class for two days as next weekend is our 50th wedding anniversary and I need a few days to get organized.

I will take pictures and post some of the work that he does during the first two days. It will be a small class of 14 so everyone will get a good lesson.

This is my Grandmother's biscuit jar. I suppose it was silver plate at one time, but is now looking more like pewter. My scanner isn't large enough to get all of the tablecloth in but it gives you a good idea.

I am currently painting a silver biscuit jar with roses. With so much going on I am trying to squeeze in some painting time but it seems to get put aside. Hopefully by the end of this week I will have something to post. Silver is such an interesting subject, although this pot isn't the shiny type that reflects. It has aged to almost a pewter look.

This is another watercolour of an iris...enhanced with acrylics, stamping and texture. It is quite interesting in person.

This is a watercolor that I felt "didn't make it" so I stamped around the image with gold acryclic using one of the decorative stamps I have. I then began painting in behind the stamping image in some aeas. When all was dry I did a wash or turquoise over some areas.

I framed in a black mat and black frame and I think it compliments the painting very well.

Something new, something different to keep the little grey cells alive :)

This was a collage that was really fun to do...I used different rice papers, watercolors, sheet music..

Mardi Gras!

It seems every yard has hydrangea bushes and the array of colours is totally amazing... I guess the soil is perfect to produce blue ones, blue green ones, pink, white and deep purple. They seem to thrive here in our climate and I have painted alot through the years. Each bloom has such unique edges and curls..

This old gate was in the middle of a beach looking pretty lonely...I wonder if it had lead to a beach house?

This painting is hanging in my daughter's beach house on Pender Island.

I am trying to paint some silver and get the reflections in it...I see a few things I would change..but ....

Blue poppies are really rare but they grow here at Butchart Gardens.

I have put this image on trays, trivets and coasters and they have been very popular.

Flowers are my favourite thing to paint..geraniums give you the opportunity to use so many different shades of red.

I left the background white so the red is the dominant color...a white mat and frame would make it a crisp, clean painting.

I used Cadmium red, Cadmium orange and a touch of ultramine blue in the cad red to blue down some of the petals

Painted on Arches 140 lb.

I really like to do mixed media (collages) and haven't really posted many of them.

This piece was really interesting to do.. Her cape is a piece of a palm tree I found and put it in my box of goodies and it has worked perfectly as it looked liked pleated leather.

I used pieces of stripped bark as well. Her hat and other pieces of her clothing is made from pieces of Japanese papers.

I called it African Queen.

Our Community Arts Centre is located right on the ocean..beautiful views. We have a seaside walkway and as a result we get alot of people dropping in.

I am so lucky to live in an area that is full of artisans. It gives me lots of opportunity to show and sell my work. From June to the end of August we have Artisans which is open daily with 40 local artists showing.

I think having so many wonderful artists around pushes you to do better. The next event is the Studio Tour and then the Christmas Artisans.

I have my artwork made into gift items like coasters, trays, trivets, bags and on it goes. I have noticed cards don't sell like they used to...I suppose emailing has replaced mailing.

We have had over 3,000 visitors to the art centre this summer so we are quite pleased.

I guess I better get some new work done :)

I wanted to get away from the soft, pastel background and tried something new.
The roses were white but decided to give them a little more colour.

These tree peonies grow in my neighbour's yard but I watch them grow and absolutely love them. Each flower is the size of a dinner plate.

When I was taking my finished painting out to the car to get framed my neighbour came running saying "Let me see my peonies" and immediately said "they are sold"...

These beautiful tree peonies come in white, pink, and deep mauve pink. They are wonderful.

What a lovely afternoon I had today. My grandson has brought several German exchange students to our place for a "German coffee party" and we have so enjoyed seeing these bright young people handling being in a different country, going in school and excelling at it.

Most of them have gone home but one of the young ladies stayed here until her Mother and sister arrived for a visit. I had them for tea and coffee today and was astounded to learn that this young gal lost her father just shortly before she came here. How brave of them both..she had to leave her mother at a difficult time and the mother had to let her go on this journey alone.

I was so happy to drive them around our beautiful area and let them see things the regular tourists never get to see. They loved everything on our beautiful island.

People are so wonderful...I drove to the top of a particularly beautiful lookout when the lady who lived in one of the most gorgeous homes came out and invited us to take pictures from her balcony. This act of kindness made their visit that more exciting.

People are good. People are brave.

I am a Celt through and through...I even have harp musicing playing for your pleasure :)

I just finished reading "All We Hold Dear" by Kathryn Lynn Davis. If you hear a song no one else hears and love the Scottish Highlands check out this book.

I loved it and will be searching for more at our library.

I have added some beautiful music for you to enjoy while you browse through my paintings and thoughts. "I believe" has such wonderful words and such a good message.

I really enjoy music collages and this one I called "Face the Music". It won a Juror's Award at our last Art Show and it sold.

It is a rainy, cool summer day here in Sidney, BC. I can see the ocean from my house so I can always tell how stormy it really is by watching the white caps on the water. I see the yachts bouncing high in the water and am glad I am not in the boats no matter how nice they look - I get seasick!

Nobody painting on the walkway along the ocean today. There are usually one or two perched along the water trying to capture the islands, sea and mountains. Mt. Baker is directly across the Strait in Washington State and when it is in full view it is glorious and begs to be painted.

Today is a "curl up with a book" day for me. I got rather painted out in Europe a few weeks ago and need to just sit and do nothing. I love a good book and finding new authors so if you have any suggestions pass them on.

I feel sorry for those brides who have planned for years for today and now the rain is pelting down. I know of one couple who flew from England for an outdoor wedding this afternoon.. and it has been hot and sunny for over a month. Too bad. Let's hope they had an alternative plan.

Never mind the forest fires are awful this year in BC so the rain is very welcome - just no lightning please.

It has taken me a whole week to recover from jet lag. It seems to get worse with age.

I have now confirmed Charles Harrington will be giving an Acrylic Workshop from October 4 - 8th here in Sidney, BC. I have 15 signed up for the class so could use a few more. Let me know if you are interested. His work looks so interesting and with a small class it will be great.

You can see his work at www.charlesharrington.com. He also has a video and book available.

I took my sketch of this beautiful Cafe into get framed today. It will make a nice memory alive.