Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 17

'Cinnamon'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Back on track with the daily painting. The chickens are great for practicing a variety of things - colour theory, underpainting, mark making, composition, design, 'practicing' drawing (never do enough of that!) .....but... they really are just fun to paint!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 13

'Pepper'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

The next 3 weekends are going to be a bit of a crunch....3 day workshop starting tomorrow (abstracting the landscape - certainly a departure from chickens), plein aire festival next weekend and then the last weekend of September is our local art festival....lots of music, food and an art show and sale. I really have been spending too much time on the chickens and not enough on the larger pieces for the show.....I just can't help myself.....'must paint a chicken' seems to be a bit of a mantra in my studio these days.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 9

'Blanka' seems a fitting name for this little hen....

'Blanka'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 7

I think this little chick is 'cloud gazing'.....

'Pip'
8"X8"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Still haven't decided if I will leave the background as is and there really isn't a rush to decide. I ran out of the small birch panels and used what I had on hand. Had really planned to do all the paintings for this challenge on the small, square birch panels but things do happen for a reason.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 1

It's here....the September thirty paintings in 30 days. Didn't think I had the time to participate but decided would be good 'practice' and 'warm-up' before working on some larger pieces..... will see how that works out?! No real plan, other than to keep them small and perhaps a month of chickens?

'Penny'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

The Art of Practice

I am a convert of the practice of daily painting! Having said that - I haven't been doing the quick paint/sketch the past couple of months. I am painting but working on bigger pieces that are somewhat labour intensive and really stretching my creative 'muscles'. Don't get me wrong I enjoy working on these larger pieces but I find doing the smaller, less time consuming painting gets my creative juices flowing - 'what ifs', experimenting with colour and mark making - just so much fun, is freeing and there is no right or wrong!! This practice helps keep my larger studio work fresh and exciting. It certainly boosts the energy level that I bring to the canvas.

All of the sketches are 8 1/2"X11" and are acrylic mixed media on 90lb paper. All painted today. Not a lot of detail and not 'pretty' but I am trying to capture a feeling of freedom and energy in these studies. Something that I think has been missing from my work lately.

A Tough 'Paint'

I enjoyed participating in Leslie Saeta's Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days in February and March and was looking forward to carrying that momentum forward. Well...if anyone had told me that I would spend the last few weeks painting and then overpainting and overpainting yet again on the same wood panel I wouldn't have believed it. The underpainting was started in a workshop I attended last August. The large black shape was added from direction given by the workshop instructor. So then what to do? Well I let it sit for several months and finally pulled it out again in December 2017. Added a few daps of paint and collage and left it for another month. Still 'dapping' and getting no where - I finally glazed over it with some transparent red iron oxide, added some stencilling - pulled out some of the dog paintings from the challenge for inspiration and found my rhythm! This all didn't happen without a few sleepless nights and a lot of negative thoughts running through my head. Oh the life of an artist.....

2017 Underpainting (24"X24")

Thank goodness for some transparent red iron oxide!

24"x24"
Work in progress!

Taking a break to let the collage dry, then a bit more paint, perhaps some stencilling, collaging and line work....I think she has pretty good bones!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 5

I am working on some other paintings - not making a lot of progress, but at least I can say 'I am painting'. At the end of todays efforts I had some paint left over and a piece I had used to lift some paint. This is the result. Alas, no photos of where I started - I was a bit rushed - but will try to remember for next time. This is purely experimental - a bit of collage added, some caran d'ache crayon and washi tape. Is it a dog or a 'wild thing'  - not sure and it really doesn't matter to me. Was some fun play at the end of a painting day.

'The Wild Thing'
7"X7"
Acrylic mixed media on 140lb coldpress paper
(collage, caran d'ache, washi tape, stenciling & graphite) 

Back to the Studio and the Dogs

The beautiful Cleo!

It's been a busy couple of months. Depending on what I have to organize things can go either smoothly or extremely messy. This go round....extremely messy. Anyhow it is done and I am happy it is! Now I can spend a bit of time in my studio before the christmas season starts.

So where does the dog journal fit into all this you ask? We have just adopted another yellow lab and she is gradually settling in to our home and routine with our other lab Cleo. Both girls have been adopted at an older stage in life and we are very lucky to have them as part of our family. Cleo has the most expressive and unique face - so different from Kali (the new girl). I don't know Kali well enough yet to capture her personality and features. Cleo having been with us longer has fascinating facial features and expressions.

The first painting is Cleo and will be one of many I hope and maybe a 'big' canvas at some point! The other is just a quick painting of no dog in particular, but just experimenting relying on memory rather than a reference.

This painting is actually 11"X14", but it was too large to fit on the scanner so had to crop it.

'Cleo'
~8 1/2"X11"
Acrylic mixed media on
Canson mixed media paper

6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on
Arches 140lb cold press watercolour paper 

Kali
...a little camera shy 

....winter is here! 

I Think I'm Ready.....

The weekend has arrived and 'I think I'm ready'! This is my first time showing with this group (Artists on Tour) so figuring out the logistics of set up, etc has been a bit fraught at times. Tomorrow is the start of the art festival in our community so if it isn't done now it won't be done!

I will be showing 5 new paintings! The final two paintings were finished a couple of days ago. And if you are reading this.....you get the first look!


This reminds me of driving east in the prairie landscape and in comes a spring storm - they don't usually last that long as they are fast moving. Leaving behind some welcome moisture.

'Spring Squall'
16"X20"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas

I 'started' this painting the end of August. Spent several weeks 'staring' at it, adding a bit of paint...more staring. I was starting to feel guilty when I went to my studio and saw it 'staring' at me from the easel. But - I am glad I took the time to wait things out. I was given a push to get going as I really wanted to have a 'big' painting for this show. Over a couple of days it came together. I made some good choices as well as a couple of not so good but you have to like acrylic for being such a forgiving medium - as least I find it that way.  I think what helped me move forward was I stopped planning ahead and 'made a mark and responded to that mark'. I did my happy dance last night as I signed the 'finished' piece.

24"X36"
Start

'Mountain View'
24"X30"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas

....I always seem to think of a 'mountain view' as just that - a view of the mountains. But what about the view from the top of the mountain. I choose to look to the east for my view - aspen parkland and prairies in the distance....

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 29

10"X10"
Acrylic mixed media
on 140lb hot press watercolour paper 

Autumn colour with a few snow skiffs. Time was at a premium today so had to work fast....a bit of a 'palette cleaner'

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 28

'Foothills Profile #3'
16"X16"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

I need to let this 'rest' for a bit. Not sure if needs more paint, less paint, more collage, more line.....maybe it doesn't need anything else or maybe.... 

A rather indecisive painting day.

Spring in the Alberta Foothills

Last week we had snow, rain and sun. Temperatures in the high 20's and low teens and frost on the weekend. The perennials are up in the garden - never ceases to amaze me that they will survive through our winter. But I won't be getting any annuals until the end of June. We can still get frost in June and into July and even the end of August! So - why do I love living here....don't have to go far for endless inspiration (out the front door), can walk the dog without a leash, have a meadow full of wildflowers, the deer and moose are showing up with their new babes, our horse and mules are just at the bottom of the drive and when the sun shines and the temperatures are in the 20's is my kind of paradise. So while I wait for some blooms outdoors painted some indoors. Wherever you are may you be enjoying 'your' paradise!

'Spring at My House'
12"X12"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Back to Painting!

Finally finding some time to paint. Have been struggling to get back into a painting routine. Spring is finally coming to our neck of the woods and the great outdoors is calling! The last couple of weeks it has snowed just about everyday - the ground would be covered in the morning, it would melt off during the day and snow again in the night. We actually had a wet snow yesterday, but today the sun is shining and the air is warm.

April 29, 2017
.....so sad....this is more snow than we had in November!

I am just painting small dailies but you do what you can do. I used these paintings to experiment with colour mixing, and some varnishing. (Trying semi-gloss and satin  varnish - no high gloss in my cupboard.) I do make colour swatches and have a book filled with different colour mixing 'recipes' and samples of those mixed colours, but decided to incorporate the 'mixing' into some of these smaller works. Much less boring!!

These are small - approx. 5”X5”, acrylic on Somerset printmaking paper. I tend to overpaint so the challenge this past week was to paint ‘quick’ and not obscure all the first layers of paint and collage. I started these just before the dinner hour so time was limited. I added the collage paper with the ‘typewriter’ font and wanted to be able to see it when I was ready to stop. I also used the same palette, and imagery - I am trying to work towards some continuity - thinking series. Although ‘series’ means different things and approaches to us all. I am happy with these and feel pretty successful in meeting my painting goals for them.

I am interested to hear your thoughts on working in a series, making colour swatches and of course the creative process in general! 

'Prairie Red' #'s 1-5

I miss seeing the red barns and granaries. The prairie fields and farm yards seem to be filled with metal structures now -more economical and last longer but I still love the red wood buildings. I you are interested to know why barns were painted red (I was!) click here.

Preparing for an 'Open Studio' workshop in August

I don't know where the time is going - and I just don't seem to have enough to do all things I want to do (versus 'have' to do)!

The workshop with Brian Atyeo was wonderful. I will do a short writeup as soon as I go through my notes and photos. Brian is coming back to the Calgary area the end of August and I was fortunate to get the last available space. He will be doing a 5 day workshop at the beautiful River Rock Studio near Cochrane, Alberta. It will be an open studio workshop - lots and lots of painting in a small group (12 participants) with daily discussion and critiques. I have started thinking about what I would like to paint and doing some research into my subject. This was suggested by Brian - you don't want to show up without some ideas and pre-planning. The subject I want to explore is 'abstracted/interpretive landscapes'. I am leaning towards the prairies - uncultivated native grasslands and cultivated 'scapes' - although I think the Foothills will probably appear as well. I will be working large - again at Brian's suggestion....30"X30" and larger! Now that is a little scary, but could also be very freeing. I will be starting a journal filled with sketches, small landscape studies, colour swatches and some favourite artist's thoughts on painting and subject matter. I am a bit of a research junkie so this will be right up my alley. I am looking forward to lots of painting between now and the workshop and at least a couple of trips to the prairie grasslands. I will leave you with some inspiration from some of my favourite artists.



**These paintings are done by the artists listed under the images**

*Kurt Jackson*

*Richard Diebenkorn*

*Barbara Rae*

Getting Back on Track

Took a break from blogging and keeping up with other artists posts - in fact most computer related activities in general. Still painting but has been good to take a break from technology. I have a couple of workshops coming up in April and have been gearing up for them. For me this means checking that our favourite dog walker is available, meals are prepared in advance and of course the all important supply list has been checked and double checked. At this point in my painting life I don't require much in the line of supplies. Have enough paint to last a lifetime and paper too! I will be doing some prepping of paint surfaces as required by the instructor. As the date gets closer I will share info about the instructor and some of their art work.

The picture I am posting today took more time than I had planned. I worked with neutrals and added colour near the end. I am doing more and more lifting of paint to expose some of the older paint layers. I enjoy taking the paint off, just as much as putting it on. Can never really be sure what will be exposed!

'Vessels #12'
Acrylic mixed media on
Arches 140lb hot press paper

Wherever you are - happy creating!

Painting - The 'Palette Cleaner'

I know I am not the only one who does not like to waste paint. I don't like to waste anything and some of the 'stuff' I am uncovering in my studio is evidence of this....a conversation for another day. This 'palette cleaner' was done at the end of the day. A small painting, limited colours and painted quickly. No time for picking away! Some make great studies to use for something bigger and some when matted end up being a lovely little gem to display. I think these might make an interesting series to do over the year.

'Palette Cleaner #1'
5"X5"
acrylic mixed media on
Somerset printmaking paper

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and leave a comment - your support is greatly appreciated!

Painting and Reorganizing

It seems that January and February are a time for cleaning up and sorting out artist studios. I have noticed a couple of artists that I follow have been working on this. I have been doing a slow and methodical sort this month. Today I went through a couple of boxes of frames in my studio. I use to do my own framing (monoprints, watercolours and water colour collages) but am not doing as much now that I am painting with acrylics and using birch panels and canvas as my supports. The frames have been catalogued according to size and colour and put in a more accessible storage spot. I might even have freed up 'one square foot'!! Might seem like more work than it is worth, but I feel pretty good having done it and putting a check mark beside that task. Only about 25 items to go!

I have been painting though. Going through workshop notes dating back to 2014 - a bit of a refresher and is well worth the time. Sticking with a smaller format and experimenting with colour themes (example...complementary, monochromatic, etc), mixing colours and neutrals and rereading for the umpteenth time the elements and principles of design. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing I hope you have a great day!

Before the background on the left was adjusted

'Vessels 9'
5"X7"
Acrylic mixed media on
Canson mixed media paper

The background could use a bit more work, but I think I will leave it as is and 'paint another'! Used two blues, an orange, black and white. Good practice for colour mixing. Did add a bit of pencil and watercolour crayon for some finer details.

8"X10"
Acrylic mixed media on
Canson mixed media paper

This is still a work in progress. Want to tone down the foreground even more. Will try mixing a dark grey and see if that works. If not can always add more neutral or get out the rubbing alcohol and strip some of the paint off.

Painting - 'Which way is the right way'

'Which way is the right way' can apply to a lot of things in the art world. What I am thinking about is - which way should the painting be hung? When I paint, I am now constantly turning the painting (that wasn't always the case). I have learned that it keeps me from getting bogged down in details and a fixed idea of what things should look like - it opens up the possibility to discover an even better painting than what I first thought was the right way. Even once I have decided what is the right way, I will continue to paint and turn right up to the final few strokes. I actually think my line work is much freer and more spontaneous working this way. Just for fun I am posting the painting in 4 different positions.

Acrylic mixed media on 

Arches140lb hotpress paper

'A'

'B"

'C'

'D'

Image 'B' is what I was originally thinking was the finish, but now I am not sure......kind of like 'C' as well. One thing I  notice viewing the image - I want to extend or change the magenta shape (lower right).

'B'
Acrylic mixed media on
Arches 140lb hotpress paper

Please share you ideas about this topic and also which way you think is the 'right way' - I will be interested to hear.

Have a great weekend - we are enjoying sunny weather and above 0 temp's - will definitely be spending some time outdoors.

Monoprinting

Took the better part of the day to organize supplies (ie find them in the bottomless pit I call my studio), prep the plate, paint it, set the press, find, cut and soak the paper, print it and dry it (will take at least 24 hours to dry completely). Oh....and make sure both the right and left sides of my brain were engaged! It was fun to do a print - my favourite part - is pulling the print - like opening a present, it is always a surprise to see how well the pigment has transferred and how it looks on paper versus the metal plate. Didn't plan anything just painted. I've included a few pics from start to finish to give you an idea of how I am working. Few surprises for me as to what pigments did and didn't transfer - white does not usually transfer, but most that was on the plate did print (that was a surprise, was thinking it would work as a resist), the grey C'aran d'Ache crayon and the yellow chalk pastel did not print well (acted as a resist). Also - what you put down first is the layer that will sit on top when you pull the print. Because I am using water soluble pigments the plate doesn't need to be printed right away (I have left plates for a week) - but you can't leave it for too long or the paint will start to flake off. For this print I probably could have soaked the paper for another minute.

Plate and materials ready for some
mono-print making

Pigment on plate Masking tape is still on edges

Plate ready for printing. Masking tape has been removed and edges have been given a wipe

Plate after printing. You can see the pigments
that didn't print - not uncommon - some just don't. But you don't know
until you try. Anything that is water soluble should print and
materials that aren't water soluble will act as a resist. You will see
in the next picture where the grey acted as a resist and you
have the white of the paper showing.

Finished image size 5"X7"
on BFK Rives paper
You can always go back in and rework the print once it is dry

Printmaking is one of my favourite art mediums. I had forgotten this and realize that I have missed it a lot. Love the creative freedom of working on the plate - if you don't like what is happening, you can always rinse it off and start again. Takes away the pressure of that blank piece of paper and the 'what if this doesn't work out and I have wasted a piece of 'expensive' paper!