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Thoughts of Spring
I can’t help myself, whenever the sun come out this time of year I get spring fever! The days are noticeably longer and I imagine the sun is actually warmer. So much so that I started a painting of Rockwood Park in the spring. I needed a change of colour…just kidding. Fresh off the Easel Spring Promises 24 x 20” oil on gallery wrap canvas I’m so pleased with this painting. You may recall that I have been focusing much of my Plein Air work on painting skies. What I have learned from all this is that the sky needs to be painted in one session. It is so important…
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My Journey into Plein Air…so far
This is a Learning Journey Initially my goal was to focus on sea and sky, and in particular, skies. For years I painted with watercolours mainly because I was confident with the media and it’s portability. To be fair, when I started Plein Air painting I was pretty much an accomplished studio watercolour painter. I thought the transition to Plein Air would be easy for me. For the most part it was. My first attempt with water mixable oils was another story altogether. I was attempting to paint in a high altitude desert in Wyoming. I certainly didn’t know my materials and certainly was unprepared for the dry mountain air. …
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Stone Church Artist’s Residency
Just like that our week painting with Stone Church Artist’s Residency program is behind us. What a gratifying and humbling week it was. I am sure neither Dale Cook or I will soon forget this experience! We really didn’t know what to expect. The Church is absolutely beautiful. Full of architectural details that amaze. The ceiling over the altar was designed to resemble a ships hull – much like the Saint John City Market. The sun backlighting the magnificent stained glass windows will stop you in your tracks with pure awe. The Soul of the Church It interesting that it was not us trying to capture the physical attributes of…
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My Painting Process
Phase 1: Exploring the concept Often I will have an idea of something I would like to explore as a subject to paint. My first step is to scan through thousands of my reference photos looking for that aha moment. Should that moment of inspiration escape me, I make a plan for how to get there, thumbnail sketches, wishful thinking, researching etc. Most often this will include a photography road trip or several. Quite often it will include a Plein Air painting session, which is one of my favourite activities. I typically work in series so I’m pretty specific with what I am looking for and what I think I…
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Colours of Ode to Joy
Often when you paint your love of painting shines through. I am so happy with the feeling I captured with this painting – it feels happy and joyful to me. Colours of Ode to Joy It feels like joy. Yesterday, I completed this painting. I felt so happy when I looked up from my palette and realized there was nowhere left to put paint. I stood back to look at it and smiled and signed it. I am so happy with the feeling I captured with with this piece – it feels happy and joyful to me. Within minutes of signing it, I had a friend visit my studio. This…
