Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 3

Some thoughts on supports.....I really like hot press paper and birch panel. I am trying to use more canvas supports. I am not as free with mark making on the canvas for fear of damaging it hence the use of the birch panel. I use to like cold press paper, but not so much anymore. I think the quality of the cold press paper is something I need to look at. I have a lot of cold press paper from the early days of art making so I will continue to paint on it and see what happens.

This 'pup' is painted on cold press and I really don't like how the paint took to the paper. Time to get out the hot press!

'I love Dogs, but cold press paper.....not so much!'
7"X9"
Acrylic on cold press watercolour paper 

Viewing the scanned image (and it is pretty true to colour) - the lower part of the painting has much better darks than the 'top' (the face). When I next paint, and have mixed a 'black' I will add a bit of 'dark' to some of those areas and see what happens.

Have a lovely day wherever you are!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 2

It is still officially Day 2 so I guess I am back on track. It has been a while since I have painted. Not by choice, so I am quite 'rusty', and inspiration is not jumping out at me. I have looked through some of my art journals......and there are a lot of them and plenty with empty pages. I went for the 'dog journal' - is a project that never quite got the attention I intended and today it provided me with some much needed inspiration.

6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on 140lb hot press paper

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 1

I am already behind! Thought about all the different ways I could approach the first 30 Paintings in 30 Days in 2018 - had some ideas.....none of which have been followed through on....I am just happy to be painting. Even if it is just a little.

'Companion in Training'
8"X9"
Acrylic mixed media on 140lb hot press watercolour paper

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....

Plein Air Painting!

I spent a lovely weekend - although a bit cold and damp at times - participating in Bragg Creek's 2nd Annual Plein Air Event. I met some new artists from other parts of Alberta and was able to do some painting! There is inspiration galore where I live. Kananaskis Country is a short 15 minute drive and the scenery is amazing. From rolling foothills and aspen parkland to beautiful mountain vistas. At the end of our painting day(s) we enjoyed going back to the hamlet of Bragg Creek and the Art Country Canada gallery (that organized the event) for a glass of wine and some finger food. My friends and I decided that the owner Angelo should do this once a month! The Bragg Creek art festival will wind up this coming weekend with several art exhibits and local restaurants creating 'arty' food offerings for all to enjoy.

Here are a few photos from the weekend.....

Painting along the Elbow River 

'The Before' 

'The After'
9"X12"
Acrylic mixed media on gator board 

'The Before'
12"X16" 

'The After'
12"X16"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Final Post!

That's a wrap for this month. I thought I was organized and would be able to handle participating in the challenge as well as a couple of other things. Hmmmm....not as organized as I thought.

Congratulations to everyone who participated. I enjoyed viewing as many artists' work as I could. Didn't comment as much as much as I would have liked and thank you to everyone who visited here and left comments. Your feedback is always, always appreciated.

A big thank you to Leslie Saeta for continuing to organize this challenge - you have helped me to realize the value of daily painting - not matter how small a painting, how little the detail or thin the paint!

Best wished to you all for many happy creative times in your studios and I am looking forward to the next Thirty Paintings in 30 Days... January 2018!

'Lucky 13'
from the September 2017 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days