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Making of Chill Seekers Polar Bear Dip
I love it when a painting names itself. From the moment I pulled out the canvas to start work, I knew this piece was called CHILL SEEKERS! Sometimes naming the painting can be the most difficult part. Really! Polar Bear Dip Once upon a time, a few years ago now, a few family members decided to join the Polar Bear dip at Mispec Beach. For those of you who may not know what a Polar Bear DIp is – and for those that live in warmer climates and I’m sure never heard of this – it’s well, when normally sensible people decide to take a quick plunge in freezing waters.…
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Artwork, My Painting Process, My Plein Air Adventures, Scapes - Coastal and Land, Travelling Colours
May you live in interesting times…
My father had a quote that he used to like to say quite often and it really was both a blessing and a curse. May you live in interesting times Well, 2020 proved to be a clear reflection of the meaning of that expression. So much to be grateful for and yet so much uncertainty. 2020 clearly a year of many changes Personally I made a number of changes in my world. I made the decision to leave my day job so I could dedicate more time to painting. This was truly one of the best decisions ever. Ironically though, with this decision, came the reality of isolating away in…
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Stepping Out Ruddy Turnstones
I spent a lot of time up front in the planning this painting of ruddy turnstones. I had a good amount of reference photos that I had taken and had to decide how to approach painting them. Originally I thought they would be placed in a row boat. That still may happen. Start in the center I had this great shaped canvas and was wondering what I could possible do with it. Originally I was thinking elephants but the shape was not quite right for what I want to do. It needs to be a bit deeper for that. Then I remembered all my photos of ruddy turnstones. The bird…
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Artwork, Helpful Hints, My Painting Process, Poured Watercolour, Product Review, Still Life - Florals & Much More
Red Hot Pink poured watercolour
Red Hot Pink poured watercolour painting with process and product review I was feeling adventurous so I experimented with a few new products – one product I love and the other – not so much. In the pink It’s been a rather long, cold and wet spring. I wanted to paint something that celebrates summer heat and sunshine. Something bold and beautiful. Also I wanted to painting something that develops quicker than my oil paintings. So I turned to my photos of last summer’s planters and found red petunias! I also took this an an opportunity to push it a bit and experiment with a couple different products. Dr Ph.…
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Vigilance – oil painting of an osprey
This elegant osprey had me spellbound as we watched it fly from it’s nest, around the bay and back. Over and over. I could not get over how majestic it was sitting high in its nest, being totally observant and on guard. Vigilance! So, I had to paint it! Summer sky This was a warm summers day with not a cloud in the sky. Warm breezes blowing. We were sitting outside at a restaurant by the edge of a little bay on Prince Edward Island just savouring the day. There was a nesting platform very close to where we were sitting. I spent most of the time on my feet…
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Artwork, Fauna - Feathers and Fur, My Painting Process, Poured Watercolour, Still Life - Florals & Much More, Travelling Colours
Ducks in a Row
Ducks in a Row is a 1/2 sheet poured watercolour painting of Ducks Unlimited nesting boxes hung in a row Summer memories Last summer we were in Prince Edward Island in the very picture perfect area of Annandale. We rented an old farmhouse that was situated on a old farm. On the property were many sun bleached barns. While exploring the property, we came across the back of a barn with a number of Ducks Unlimited nesting boxes hanging in a row. Hence Ducks in a Row! I knew immediately there was a painting in that series of photos. Most likely a poured watercolour! Trickier than I expected I had…
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Scent of Spring and some self reflection
Scent of Spring lilac painting in oils I completed Scent of Spring yesterday actually. I can tell you that I did a lot of self reflecting while working on it. There were some painting sessions where I literally spent hours working and you know, you could not tell I even touched it. It developed slowly. I knew it would and thought I was prepared for that. I stayed with it and am sure happy that I did. In one of those moments of when I was questioning myself, this quote found me: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” ―…
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Ever Watchful – Cardinal painting
When you are this bright and this handsome you have to be Ever Watchful. Northern Cardinals stand out in so many ways. Caught in action When observing cardinals you can’t help but notice how shy and elusive they are. They are constantly surveying their surroundings for signs of danger. I think that when you stand out as much as they do that you have to always be on high alert. This fellow no doubt caught me taking his photo. I have a really good zoom lens so I was respectful of his space. Besides, they would never let anyone get too close. Decked out The deck where we feed the…
