Studio Open House and Plein Air Paintings

Studio Open House

Thursday, September 3rd from 4pm - 8pm

and

Saturday, September 5th from 10am - 4pm

email me for directions : [email protected]

Come and have refreshments, check out my latest work, and the classroom.

I will have course information and take registrations as well.

Hope to see you there!

In the Garden

August 12, 2009

10" x 12"

Oil on Canvas

Sold

Friendly Daisy

August 14, 2009

7" x 7"

Oil on board

Sold

Revolving Sky

18" x 24"

August 14, 2009

Oil on board

$325.00 CAN

I have so much to say about these paintings. I hope you can come to the Studio Open House and I can tell you all about them.

They are all plein air paintings (painted from life, outside). I really enjoyed doing them, and I think they show it. I absolutely love the 'In the Garden', it was such a challenge.

I was at my parents house in my mother's fabulous flower garden. Despite the harsh growing season this year and terrible storms her flower garden has really flourished. It is truly amazing. It was so inspiring that I had to go out and paint. I was waiting for someone to drop something off for me so I decided since I had some time I would step out and paint until they arrived. Well, I dived into this painting. It was challenging and frustrating at times. I normally don't paint too many floral paintings because I don't want them to fall into the typical category of decor floral painting, which is a very slippery slope. I don't want it to look like a cheap print floral painting that you can get at ikea (don't get me wrong, I love ikea). I wasn't quite sure if it was turning into a good or bad painting, I was immersed in the process and the beauty. Sometimes I get into the creative 'zone' and it is hard to get out of it until the work is done, or I am done. When I was finished I packed up my stuff and went inside. Inside, there was a note posted on the door: "I dropped off the papers and I just couldn't disturb you". I talked to the Note Poster later and he said that I looked just too peaceful. He stood at the window watching me for a while, painting like a mad woman. He had never seen me paint before, I think he was impressed. Most of my family and friends have seen me paint several times, it is nothing new to them. It was a good little pat on the back seeing someone impressed by what I do. It makes me feel like what I do is important. I like to think that I contribute to the world in someway, even if it is in a small way. To other painters out there, I do recommend that you do a demo for an audience, it is the best self-esteem booster. There are not many artists, let alone painters out there. Make what you do important, even if it is in a small way, or only reaches one person.

Fall Classes Are Here!

I have posted all of the classes I will be teaching this fall. You can find them along the right hand side of this blog. Due to popular demand I am teaching every age range. If you are 1yr to 100yrs old there is a art course for you. My main focus is to provide an encouraging environment for you to find or let out your creative energy in a positive manner, and at the same time learn about art and design.
People take art classes for a variety of reasons. I have taught people who just want to get out of the house and get a little time for themselves. Others have used it as an outlet to deal with grief or other emotional issues. Some love art and are drawn to it and want to know more, others have been dabbling in art all their lives. You can meet people there or treat it as a way to focus on yourself. If you have any questions about any of the classes posted do not hesitate to drop me an email.

I will have a table at the Tri Leisure Centre Registration night which is on August 27th starting at 5:30pm. If you cannot make it, but still wish to register please contact me.

Thank you for checking out my blog.

3 Paintings of White Cups and Pitcher

White Mug and Spoon

April 17, 2009

8" x 8"

Oil on Panel
$75.00

Mug and Spoon on Purple

June 19, 2009

10" x 10"

Oil on Panel
Sold

White Pitcher

June 19, 2009

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas
$100.00

This post is long past due, and these paintings almost seem old to me. I have therefore grown a bit of distance between myself and these paintings. By that I mean there is a bit of a distance between the experience of actually creating the work which deals with emotions and struggles, and now brings me to the fact that they are paintings with no one really knowing about my personal investment into them. Time causes distance. I am no longer close to these paintings, so I may be a bit more objective to them. Two things happen to me and my relationships with my paintings. I hang them in my living space and I either grow to love them and to see all the beauty there is in them, which I then interpret them as good paintings. Or I grow to loath them and want them out, then I start to see them as mere exercises in order to gain technique or experience to bring me to those 'good paintings'. All of my paintings seem to have a purpose in their existence, and sometimes they just provide a good ground or texture for a new painting to go over top.

The above paintings I am growing to love and at first, especially while I was painting them there was a struggle. I was fighting time constraints and the fact that I need just something to paint. I didn't care if they turned out, I just wanted to participate in the act of painting.

Recently, I had just over an hour to paint and I thought it would be a good idea to paint a single strawberry. It was not a good idea. Don't paint a single strawberry unless you have lots of time and are about to delve into the realm of photo realism. Afterwards I went and researched paintings of strawberries and sure enough, they all appear to be quite realistic. Yes, you must paint most of the little seedy bits, and you have to put in the shadows and highlights of those little seeds or else it just doesn't look right. I have two painting attempts at a strawberry that are now going to become grounds for other paintings. But at least I know something that I didn't know before.