Saturday, February 11, 2012

Back to Blogging. Yup, I'm still here. Busy Painting and Instructing.





   I have had an amazing past 6 months. Unfortunately blogging about it has been the last thing on my To Do list, which I am going to take as a good sign. I have been painting instead of blogging, which, for me is always a good sign of productivity.
   I have been very busy with the new school. I am very proud of how the past 6months have gone and I am looking forward to how the next 6 months will go. It seems that every month the school is moving, changing, and growing like flowing water. I am now fortunate enough to be contracting other amazing art instructors as I take more time to focus on my own work and the art business end of things.
   There is of course my growing family as well. I have to mention my lovely family that is constantly supporting me. My children that are quietly doing their own thing as I am busy in the studio. My incredible man who encourages me to stay on track and do what I truly love to do -PAINT!

   The above painting is a work in progress. I started it in June 2011. I have never let a painting go so slowly in progression before. This self-portrait (I can hear my mother growning right now 'Not another painting of Daphne!'), was inspired by reference photos that I took in a hotel washroom in Canmore, Alberta. I hauled my children on this particular trip to Canmore to the Art Speak festival, where they celebrate artists. Anywhere that celebrates artists, especially painters, I felt was definitely calling my name. Canmore is also, one of my favorite little towns and I find it very inspiring.
   I continued to paint this painting as part of demo and show during the Alberta Arts Days here is Stony Plain.
   There are a few more tweaks I want to make to it before I call it done. So you can look forward to seeing it posted in its final state soon.


  Rig #59
2011
Acrylic on Canvas
 Sold

On the spur of the moment I did this commissioned painting of an oil rig that's located in Northern B.C.  In an unfortunate accident it burnt down in the summer of 2010.

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Gold Bow
2011
Oil on Canvas
8" x 10"
$185.00 CAN
Gold Bow was painted after many drawing studies of this metallic golden bow. I had my adults drawing class drawing these bows under dramatic lighting. They got right into it and were so deep in the process there was nothing for me to do. They were in the 'zone' and it would have been damaging and cruel to disturb them, so I grabbed my sketch book and joined in. The next day I did this painting after dreaming about golden bows. I had to get it out of my system.

 Demo Portrait
December 2011
Oil on Canvas
8" x 10"
$200.00 CAN

Self Portrait
December 2011
Oil on Board
10" x 10"
$200.00 CAN

These two portraits were, again, inspired by one of my classes. In my oil painting class, the painting assignment for the day was to use a limited pallet to create portraits. Only three colors of paint were used to create these paintings. I am trying to stress to students to start out with a limited pallet, learn those particular colors inside and out and then add another color to your pallet, having your pallet grow slowly. I have run across many students that bring in a wide variety of colors beyond my supplies list and try to use them all together without knowing anything about any of them and then they get frustrated when they end up with a gray puddle of mush. Sometimes I am a 'meany' and I come along and take away their paint or supplies. We are not going to use that today. Keep it Simple! is a good way to start.