Self Portrait

With it getting a lot colder outside, I have started working in doors. Thought I would get into some portrait work. I started with this Self Portrait and will do a few more this Fall of various friends and family... Doing this was a nice change from plein air - even though I still like painting outdoors the best. Considering it is winter here in Calgary for most of the year - I better develop some sort of studio practice if I want to keep busy painting...

Self Portrait - Oil on Birch Panel - 9x12

Painting in the Sheep River Area - Calgary

Had a great weekend out painting again. Went to this awesome place called Tiger Jaw Falls on the first day. I sat right on top of a ridge and looked down at the gorgeous view - with the sun shining on me and my head phones on. Tiger Jaw falls was actually behind me. I chose to look down the river valley with crazy rock ridges that stuck out like tiger teeth... grrrr - sooo beautiful:

 

Tiger Jaw - 9x12 Oil and Board

 

The next day my friend Sheila and I went to Elbow Falls. It was so pretty there too. I got a crazy farmer's tan (more like a sunburn) cause I wore socks and hiking boots. I could even feel the spray of the water fall on my face when the wind changed. The sun was shining bright and warm...

Elbow Falls - 9x12 Oil on Board

Painting in the Bugaboos

Had the most amazing experience ever! At the end of August I went painting with a group of amazing artists up to the Bugaboos just near Radium Hot Springs. The amazing Robert Genn and his beautiful daughter Sarah. They were amazing mentors. We were helicoptered around to some pretty cool and crazy spots... Stayed up at the Bugaboo Lodge and were treated like royalty by the staff at Canadian Mountain Holidays... this is the smile of a well fed and pampered artist:) I was so sad when it was all over - it went by way too fast! But I guess we all have to come back down to reality at some point. Darn it...

I met some amazing artists that were so inspiring and talented... My creative cup is full and I can't wait to get into painting a bit more (ha ha now work just has to die down a bit - fingers crossed).

We got to see some pretty amazing scenery. And it was so isolated... we were like the only ones there! I couldn't believe my eyes half of the time.

Here are a few of my paintings from the trip... I will never forget my time up in the Bugaboos:

  Bill's Pass - Pigeon Spire 9x12" Oil on Panel

Cobalt Lake 9x12" Oil on Panel

Tamarack Glen 9x12" Oil on Linen Panel

San Diego - The Del Coronado - Point Loma

I was lucky enough to go on a painting trip with a few wonderful friends and have a fabulous time painting on the beach this past weekend for a few days. I stayed at the Del Coronado which was like heaven on earth. An old Victorian hotel... you will not want for anything! The perfect location for inspiration, fun and relaxation.

 

Point Loma 9x12" Oil on Linen

I did a daytime painting of Point Loma in oils on 9x12 linen boards. I wasn't used to painting on Linen and was more used to my birch panels - but after I struggled a bit - the end result is a little bit more polished. I also did a sunset one of point Loma - and had to paint fast! It was exhilarating... the sunset disappeared in about 20 minutes... it was a race to catch the light!

 

Point Loma Sunset  9x12" Oil on Linen 

 

Broadmoor Red Rocks - Colorado Springs

Okay - so I lucked out and got an awesome balcony when I checked into the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. What a place - had a awesome view of a red rock mountain range right in front of the deck - I couldn't believe my luck! It was sunny with partial clouds -which was perfect because I am totally burnt to a crisp after painting outside for the last couple days...This range is what was right in front of the deck - ha ha ha - it might look a little abstract but this is how I see it! Still trying to learn to see... and pay attention to darks and lights... It's not my favourite painting - but it was a lot of fun to end my painting trip this way! Hello? Room Service...

Farmer's Field - Westcliffe Colorado

Painted in a farmers field overlooking the mountain range. Very hot out for a fall day! I got pretty burnt and now I have a farmer's tan - how appropriate... Not the greatest picture of the painting - took it with my iPhone and didn't notice the shadow from the easel. Anyhow met some great folks painting here... learned lots of good strategies and things to work on so I can be a better painter... fighting the fight! Every painting is like a puzzle that needs to be solved...

Finished it off once I got back... Warmed up the foreground and added a few more design details for fun... little dabs of tree colors and squiggles in the grass.

Farmer's Field in Colorado, 9x12 oil on birch panel

Red Rock Ranch Colorado

Here in Colorado painting with the Don Demers group. It's great to be here at the old western ranch - We are staying in this awesome house (more like a little mansion) with cooks that spoil us rotten with home made bread, awesome wine and delicious food. Got this paining done today of the wild west... love it here - the light is so bright and vibrant!

Here is a picture of the main saloon area at the Ranch  - very cool but a tiny bit spooky!
A big wood burning fire place is on the other side of the room...

Red Rock Ranch, 9x12 oil on birch

En Plein Air in Nanton

Nice weather - an awesome view - all your favorite tunes on your iPod and a paint brush in your hands! What the heck else does a person need? Well maybe... a Vanilla Vodka and Soda;) Recently I have switched back to oils - and have been doing my underpainting in indian red/orange...

Anyhow - a few weeks ago me and my painting friend Sheila (who is awesome) went out for the day together and painted. It was great - we packed a picnic lunch and painted for the whole afternoon. We are hoping to get out again soon! Painting is fun... but painting with a friend is better!

9x12 oil on linen board

Painting in Black Diamond Alberta

The artist retreat at 'Diamond Willow' (just outside Turner Valley) this weekend was amazing. I learned so much and had lots of fun painting with the all the other artists and creative spirits. I didn't quite finish the little oil sketch (shown above) of the little creek / river so will have to finish it in-studio or come back to Turner Valley and finish it plein air... My vote is to come back and finish it before the summer is out - fingers crossed. You cannot see the glass of wine sitting on the other side of my easel - but it was there and it was good...

I managed to finish this 12x12 acylic (above) while it was pouring rain - I found the best spot on an out door balcony over looking a ridge. I got rained on a little bit but was painting acrylic so it kept my paints wet!

Painting In Hawaii

Okay yeah - I have a goofy smile on my face - painting is darn fun!

January 2010 - Landscape painting in Maui

Painting Moleikini - had a good trip in January getting away from the snow in Calgary... messed around in the paints. Had fun getting back into it. It's not easy with a 6 month old baby watching your every move...

Kameole Beach II

Makenna Beach

2009 Painting

It's been a while since I posted here. I have been busy with Virtual Violet Inc. doing ID work and haven't had as much time to paint as I would have liked. I also had a baby girl in 2009 so that has kept me busy as well. Here is my last painting that I did in Hawaii last February (while I was prego!)... Anyhow it's on the beach Kamaole II in Maui.... It was so awesome looking out at the beautiful scenery.

Painting #15: Winston - 16x20" Acrylic on Canvas

This is my best buddy Winston. He loves his little toy and takes it with him everywhere. I really enjoyed painting this one of my funny little dog...

Painting #14 : The Canoe - 18" x 24" - oil on canvas

I had a great time making this painting. I really want to explore this style a little further - group of seven meets Van Gogh... Next week another lake scene... can't wait to get started - I may have to fiddle a little more with this one but I think I will let it dry for a week before I touch it again.... is a painting ever done?

Painting #13: Flowers from Volvo Dealership - oil on canvas 16"x20"

I thought painting these pretty flowers would be a great way to start the week.  As long as the house work doesn't distract me! I find I have to have the whole house in order before I start... hopefully that will pass... Currently working on a conoe picture - and just thinking about how to get started on my skating series of the skaters down in Bowness park. Aiming to have conoe pict done in a couple days...

Painting #12: West Shore Wave

This one may be a work in progress - trying to get settled into my painting routine...

Painting #11: Childrens Book Illustration Painting - 30"x 30" Acrylic Painting

I just completed this painting this past weekend. It's quite large and took me a couple weeks to complete. It was commissioned by a client who liked the illustrations in a children's book that I illustrated in March 2007 called Hope & the Dragon, which raises money for kids with cancer - check out http://www.hopeandthedragon.com/

More paintings to come hopefully! Trying to keep at it but it's hard to juggle work and creative time...

Other paintings that were fun to do little oil sketches from travels:

Oil on Board - Cancun Mexico on the beach

Oil on Board - Trip to Nova Scotia 

Painting #10 - Studio Painting Wailea Golf Course

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Painting #9 - Lake Louise - Studio Study

8"x12" oil on Linen

Painting #8 - Renfrew Ridge, Plein Air

Renfrew Ridge, Calgary, Alberta - Oil on board