• Artwork,  Events,  Helpful Hints,  Lessons Learned

    Week 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

    I have learned so much with this challenge.  It was not enough to commit to a painting a day – I felt the need to add a layer of complexity by adding in a medium that I feel that I am just beginning to understand.  I am an oil painter that needs to allow for dry time for glazing.  Alla prima is really maybe not my thing – but feel i have been successful with my attempt. Day 11 – Lunch on the Bar The photo does not do this painting justine.  The feathers on the bird are quire detailed.  What I am finding is that it is difficult to…

  • Artwork

    Week 2 of the 30 Day Challenge

    Still keeping up with the challenge having completed 11 paintings in 11 days   I am having so much fun with all of these.  Mussel shells and corvids are some of my long time favourite things to paint.  I think I may have a few more ravens in my system.  Thinking I am going to venture into watercolours this coming week.    Day 6 – Fundy Blues I It almost always comes back to mussel shells for me. I have  previously painted them as poured watercolours in a full sheet format.  Three different versions.  And honestly, there were three of my all time favourite poured painting. And I have painted them…

  • Artwork

    Here we go again for the 4th time

    I joined the 30 Paintings in 30 Day Challenge once again It is actually my fourth time participating.  I sort of tell myself when ever I commit to it – it is a huge commitment and the other larger pieces I am working on get neglected for awhile.  But the sense of accomplishment that I get from doing it is well worth the effort. So far… So far all of these are oil on panels.  The square ones are on cradled panel, the 10 x 8″ are on flat panel and will require frames.  I am really unsure how long I will stay with the oils as I prefer to…

  • Artwork,  Fauna - Feathers and Fur,  My Painting Process,  Travelling Colours

    On Watch

    It is that time of year when I feel like I disappear.  I have secret commissions that I am working on and of course, am unable to share.  I can share my most recent acrylic painting of a crow – On Watch From how do I do this – to I got this When exploring in Rockwood Park in Saint John, NB last year, I happened upon this crow perched on a rock framed by two tree trunks.  I knew instantly that I planned on painting this scene.  I took a few reference photos… until my subject flew away.   Only the tree trunks that  drew me in felt like brackets…

  • My Painting Process,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Country Garden Favourite

    Country Garden Favourite is a traditionally painted watercolour of hollyhocks. Hollyhocks and mallow were a couple of my mother’s favourite flowers. And I guess, seeing them through her eyes as a child helped me to gain an appreciation for them as well. I always associate them with an old fashioned country garden. I truly love these blooms for their beauty and the nostalgia.  No wonder I love to paint them. They bring me back to Cape Breton Good memories.  Salty air. Sunshine.  Wonderful memories of a place that was truly wonderful to be a child in. The beauty of blue There is another flower that takes me back there  as…