Summer Tides, Whaling Station

Summer Tides, Whaling Station, 12" x 24", oil on canvas

I just realized its May 1st, two months until summer..though seems so far away as i am wearing a sweater and scarf today.

Closer To Home and Writing

Closer to Home, 6" x 6", oil panel

Its been a few weeks since picking up a paint brush, between getting ready for my show, travelling and recovering from this hideous flu-virus!   And so quite a long break from painting.  This past show has been quite a departure in subject matter so it is with a sense of comfort that i return to the "tried and true", which for me is painting water, sand and sky:. seascapes.    I think sometimes for the artist; for many reasons its a good thing to come back to what one has done many times before.  (for one thing it keeps our delicate artists ego intact, we can feel reassured of doing something well, we know what we are doing)  Another I think is to keep us grounded in the daily practise of just doing it.  Learning to manage the balance between exploring new territory and sticking with the "same old" is an exersize in self-preservation.   Shows and openings in a way are just an ending of one chapter,  a period at the end of a sentence.  and the rest afterward a time to wonder about whats next? 

One of the things I did when I return was turn this desk around to face the outside, and started writing every morning, well so far anyway. 

Writing Desk

Writing Desk still life

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!   

Late Summer Wildflowers

Late Summer Wildflowers, 24" x 36", oil on canvas
This piece is from one of my favorite spots on Hornby.  I love it when it gets so dry in late summer the grasses are all prickly and yellow and the cowslips turn brown.  It usually coincides with very calm seas and a lovely light

Summer Blue

Summer Blue, 36" x 24", oil on canvas
Surrounded by summer blues of the sea and sky on this tiny island..other than a few hot moments, painting in my outfitters tent is fabulous..

Studio 2

Studio 2,
Studio tent,  we finally found the right place for the green umbrella..we had it all over the yard..but looks best as an entrance to the studio.  Its been HOT HOT ..and the tents is a little toasty mid day.  My roomates son build me 5 very unique display easels from a piece of maple on the beach..they are beautiful, each one different. 

Water Ripples

Water Ripples, 12" x 18", oil on canvas, SOLD
Finally my studio tent is up and functional and have been working on finishing up some paintings started in Portland.  This is one of three of grassy point in the spring. 
The studio is a great space, wonderful and peaceful to work in, though today of course messy artist that i am , stepped in yellow paint and tracked it all over the pristine white floor! ..oh well it IS a working studio after all!

Tent in the Ferns

Studio in the Ferns
Here is my beautiful white wall tent..studio for the summer...bliss

Turquoise Sliver

Turquoise Sliver, 24" x 48" oil on canvas
Today waking up to sunshine and birds singing.  Always makes everything better including ones opinion of their own painting.  I had an nice evening painting session last nite which i rarely do..more i have the work everyday approach, but somehow painting on a sat nite felt less like work and more like play which is how it should be!  Think a big note to myself PAINTING IS PLAY on my studio wall, to go with the other note, KEEP IT LOOSE!

Low Tide, Hornby

Low Tide, Hornby, SOLD

30" x 36"

In this painting, I experimented with textural sand gel medium from Opus Framing), it cant really be seen in the photo, but its pretty cool, (I think) Its a push to get some work completed and dry enought to transport before i make the trek up to Hornby, though i wish i had more time for experimenting,,time, time. . 

Spring, Grassy Point

Spring, Grassy Point

30" x 30", oil on canvas

I am just back from a whirlwind trip to Vancouver, Courtenay, Hornby Island, Nova Scotia, and a quick trip around Cape Breton with my daughter and grandson (both their birthdays, plus mothers day).   Kind of exhausting, but i saw lots of friends, family, beautiful scenery, and Linda Lando's new gallery, on the corner of Granville and Broadway in Vancouver, a fabulous new location and I am pleased to be part of it, AND I saw a moose in Cape Breton!

..back to madly preparing for my summer on Hornby

Grasses

Grasses, 24" x 24", oil on panel

I am in one of those moods where i want to paint everything!  Ponds, Oceans, Gardens, Sandunes..hmm

Coastal

Coastal, 24" x 48" oil on canvas
This is my first "larger" oil painting since beginning with oil.   I have begun a new process of doing a mini painting first and then redoing in large format, as the slow drying time of oil requires a different approach than acrylic for me anyway.  Though of course going small to large is never that simple..one cannot just copy there own work., each piece requires a completely fresh approach.  ahh..the challenges of painting. 
Also if any oil painters out there could recommend a good air purifyer that would be great.  I paint next to a wide open window and fan.  But it is cold and still damp out still and kind of unpleasant.

Days Edge

Days Edge, 6" x 5" oil on panel
This is my second only sunset ever painted..It was fun painting with such hot colours.  A challenge to keep them from being lurid..sometimes the actual sunset is so much nicer than 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. 

Grassy Point Spring

Grassy Point Spring, 6" x 6" oil on panel

My sister suggested that i take a photo of one of these paintings next to a hand or something to give some size reference.  Good idea!  But i forgot this morning..next time.  Just finishing up some paintings from before i left for a fabulous trip to the Oregon Coast where i took 100's of photos of sandunes..i am excited to paint them.  We lucked out on the weather!

"Bluff, pathway"

"Bluf Pathway" 2008

30" x 36"

Well time for some new paintings..this i one of my newer approach using the palette knife to a much larger degree..i bought some big palette knives when i was in the city..in hopes of freeing myself up from the fussy layering of brushwork..though i still use it..i suppose just adding to my techniques already in use.

"Summer Afternnon"

"Summer Afternoon" sold

2007 48" x 60"

O I remember the struggle i had with this painting ..it took me months of putting it away and bringing it back out to paint again..i dont know know why..anyway i was finally satisfyed.