"Neighbourhood, AT the Heart of it, and what to wear to the opening!

At the Heart of it, 11" x 14", oil on panel.
I have been tweaking, varnishing and rephotographing paintings and making sure they are presentable.  I am not sure if i posted this piece, probably I have.  Much like my clothing shopping experience yesterday when i realized i had an opening to go to and needed something to wear, as i have been more less wearing the same clothes for some months, all varying degrees of grubby, good for painting but NOT for the public.  Twas a challenge indeed finding the right thing!.   Artists live a strange life, most of the time buried in their studio and then a few times a year brush off the grit, brush their hair, find some shoes attractive but not necesarily comfortable to go to  their openings.
  The title of this piece refers to what seems to be the centre or the "heart" of the tree.  But i dont know, do trees have centers?

Dream With Me

Dream With Me, 30" x 30", oil on canvas
I rephotographed this today ..such a difference.!  I think this time of year between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm is the best time for good results.

The weather is so bright and sunny, its very distracting.

Neighbourhood, Sidewalk

Neighbourhood, Sidewalk Garden, 11" x 14", oil on canvas
I am finding in these;  the sidewalks themselves are as interesting as the surrounding gardens.   Who knew there could be so much colour, variation in something so ordinary?, i guess that might be some of what an artists does, to bring attention to that otherwise unoticed.

Neighbourhood, Yellow Door 2

Neighbourhood, Yellow Door 2, 11" x 14", oil on canvas
This is a larger version of a mini yellow door.  Interesting to do in different size, its not simply a matter of enlarging but encountering and solving a whole bunch of other "problems"...  I have been pondering the size thing a lot for this body of work, and am finding it seems to work well with the subject matter to work smaller than i have in the past.  Maybe something to do with the more close-up compositions.  I like really zeroing in on a "tight" composition, somehow creates an interesting tension.  Well off to the boat for new years!  shall be a crispy, chilly one, time to dig out the long underwear, i think i dislike being cold more than anything i can think of.   Happy New Years to all! And Happy Painting to my fellow painters.

Neighbourhood, Hedge

Neighbourhood, Hedge, 5" x 7", oil on panel, $100.00 + 10 s/h
I remember attempting this subject matter 20 years or so ago.  I wandered around Vancouver taking photos (pre-digital) and (pre-photoshop) of hedges, and houses, and gates etc.  And so its not entirely new to me, but resurfacing many years later.  Not sure why entirely, i think i just like the juxtoposition of natural and architectural form, and by such tight cropping really focusing in, neither taking prominence.

Neighbourhood, Yellow Door

Neighbourhood, Yellow Door, 5" x 7", oil on panel, $100.00 + 10 s/h
Have begun a larger series of Neighbourhoods as they are emerging from the mini paintings as a bit of a series, besides i love the play of architectural forms in the doors and windows against the natural tree shape.  Plus its amazing the front doors that match the trees!

Neighbourhood, Fallen Blossoms

Neighbourhood, Fallen Blossoms, 5" x 7", oil on panel. $100.00 + $10.00 s/h

The best walk with a camera involves chance of good light and a wandering walkway that sets up a sense of mystery or story, a wondering "whats to come", whether its a wilderness walk or a quick dash around the neighbourhood to the store.  I love the way Portland gardeners extend their gardens out to the sidewalks.

..on another note if anyone out there in blogger land can enlighten me on how to install a paypal button on my blog postings i would be mighty grateful.?!  (so challenged sometimes)
and on note number 3..what about this fabulous winter weather?  love it.

Neighbourhood, corner

Neighbourhood, Corner, 5" x 7", oil on panel, $125.00 +$10.00 s/h
I am back from a trip north to visit my family, a birthday for my 92 year old father! and friends on Hornby Island, It was fabulous trip, wonderful healthy food everywhere i went. All was bliss untill i came down with the worst cold i can remember. Too sick to do anything but moan and groan, but i did remember this little painting i finished just before i left..least i can post to a blog. It is from the house on the corner on our street, i am really enjoying the colourful trees this fall, sometimes the doors of the houses match the colour of the tree in front! on purpose?

Edge of Water

Edge of Water, 48" x 48", diptych

This is a piece i did last year, I am revisiting older work while getting ready for my show, somehow i find it useful.  I have a few big oils on the go, but find the upcoming show too distracting to work on them, plus i need a break from painting!   

Follow Me Through

Follow Me Through, 6" x 6" oil on panel sold
Surf!  I blew up the photo for this to enhance the abstraction of the shapes of the wave and clouds..they seem to mirror each other in a sort of stripe.

One Tulip

One Tulip, 16" x 16" oil on canvas

I found it interesting in this piece to use the single, seemingly, insignificant tulip in the foreground to create a entry into the rest of the painting. 

Sky

Sky, 6" x 6" oil on canvas
I am ever interested in sea and sky.  So i go back and forth on this theme.  Watching the interactions..and what affects what..Its kind of funny to paint such a huge subject matter on such a tiny format. 

Two Roses on Green

Two Roses on Green, 6" x 6" oil on panel
Loved this chartreuse green fabric, and the green blue of the shadow.  Today i did three little paintings,  I think I am working up to some bigger work, just having to be careful with my shoulder.