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I’m happy to be OuTSiDeY
I just learned a new wonderful word. Outsidey And I identify with it so much. I love the fresh air, the warming sun and gentle breezes. Long walks on the beach. A hike in the woods. All the little critters (except ticks, hornets and black flies) I also love creature comforts. Like heated car seats and heated steering wheels. Air Conditioning! Indoor heating and warm showers! I’m essentially a wimp. I’m kind of amazed that at this point to discover a new way to describe myself. I mean I always sort of knew it – but never had a word to describe it. Outsidey! Discovering something new, no matter how…
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And that went fast
And that went fast – Summer. What the heck happened? How is it possible you are leaving us so soon? It seem like you were only a blur this year. Anyone else feel this way? Oh, I know we can all be too busy – but this time of year I stop to smell the roses. Literally! I always say that is the sun is out…I’m out. Only this year the sun was elusive, the weather was wet, often smokey and incredible humid! And a lot of the blooms literally rotted on the bush. Yes, I know you know but I feel obligated to complain a bit more and remind…
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Dancing With the Sun
I love it when paintings name themselves. Quite often as I am working on them, the name just comes to me and it almost always is the right name for the piece. This was one of those times. Dancing With the Sun. Just feels right Were you aware that sunflowers move so that their “face” follows the sun? I think that this was so cool. So the flowers really do a slow dance with the sun each day and I danced under the sunflowers. It’s no wonder this flower makes everyone feel so much joy. The beautiful complementary yellow flowers against summers cobalt blue sky – so beautiful. Here are…
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Lots of work happening
I’ve been keeping busy with lots of works developing in my home studio. I am so grateful to be able to have this creative space and be able to keep nice and warm painting. Fresh off the easel: Choppy Waters Oh the joy I experienced painting this one. I loved the freedom of arm movements painting the waves. Felt like I was dancing. The reference photos for this painting were taken at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. The place where the Atlantic starts to flow into a channel between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and forming the Bay. This area is not far from Old Sow Whirlpool which…
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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. 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. Although 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. I created…
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Stone Church Artist’s Residency
And just like that our week 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 my favourite – a Plein Air painting session. I typically work in series so I’m pretty specific with what I am looking for and what I think I want to achieve (mostly). …
