Stop Over

Nope, I haven't disappeared... just taken a bit of a holiday break. I've been working on this little guy while I have been waiting for my paints from Daniel Smith (impatient, I know). In the mean time, I did pick myself up a couple of other new watercolours and a daylight lamp for myself (gotta love boxing day sales).



"Stop Over"
2.5" x 3.5" watercolour
© 2007

Merry Christmas

I saw this over at Tina Mammoser's art blog and just had to share. Enjoy!

Swallow, Almost Done

I'm almost done this one... just a few more highlights left once the paint is a bit more tacky and I think I'll call it done. I'm really happy with the way the feathers turned out on this little guy. I spent some extra time on them trying to get the shapes just right. I kept my palette fairly limited: indigo, turquoise blue, titanium-zinc white, burnt sienna, and just a touch of raw sienna.



"Swallow"
2.5" x 3.5" oil gessoed matboard
© 2007


I also treated myself to some new paints this Christmas as Daniel Smith Art Materials is having a bit of special with their watercolour triads (free shipping to Canada!). Here's to hoping that the colours don't get hung up in customs for too long and I can experiment with them.

Lighthouse Park, Finished

I do believe that I have finally finished this painting and it sure looks snazzy on the wall. I learnt a lot doing a grisaille underpainting... so much so, that I have started a new painting using the same technique (I'll show a sneak peak of that painting tomorrow).



"Lighthouse Park"
8" x 10" oil on stretched linen
© 2007


The only thing that I didn't enjoy with this painting was using Gamsol... I didn't like the stickiness that occurred as I mixed it with the paint. If anyone has tips on how to use it... I would love to hear. My next painting I will be using linseed oil on the top layers.

Swallow, A Work in Progress

This evening I managed to get a little bit more done on this little sparrow. He is fun to paint, but the blues are difficult for me to to, especially capturing the bright highlights on the feathers. My goal is to have this one finished by the end of the week so it can have the weekend to dry and then receive varnish next week. I am working on a deadline on this one as he is a commission for a friend for Christmas.



"Swallow"
2.5" x 3.5" oil gessoed matboard
© 2007


I also got word tonight that one of my paintings sold at the gallery (yipee!!). The one that sold is Quiet Contimplation... and is a favourite of mine. There are ten more days left to the show and as much as I would like to hang the paintings back on my walls I would be complete ecstatic if they sold.

Lone Marble

Another marble painting from me tonight. I love all the colours and reflections that are found in marbles and every time I paint one I improve on my technique of capturing their sparkly nature.



"Lone Marble"
3.5" x 2.5" watercolour on hot press paper
© 2007

Lighthouse Park, Part 12

I am determined to finish this painting and I am getting closer and closer to the end with every paint session. I've added many of the rail details to the lighthouse and starting to work on the railing along the bottom. There was some touch-ups to the blue in the ocean and the sky and I am pretty happy with it now.



"Lighthouse Park, WIP"
8" x 10" oil on stretched linen
© 2007


The colour are much more vibrant in real life and the next sunny day I have I'll get a better picture of the painting to show.