Gray Days - Bird #24

There was a little bit of sunshine poking out at the end of the day... ending what seems like weeks of nothing but grey, wet, and rather miserable weather. I started this guy last week at lunch and managed to finish him today at lunch... just as the sun was starting to poke out. So... with this one done, I've started a new lunch time painting showing nothing but sunshine!



Gray Days
2.5" x 3.5" Watercolour
© 2009

Vancouver Sunset - Finished!

I brought out the oil brushes and paints today and finished this Vancouver landscape painting tonight and managed to photograph it before the sun sent for the evening. It really felt great to finally finish an oil painting... I think this is my first finished in one many many months. I've actually prepped and gessoed my next canvas and picked out my next oil painting. This next one is going to be my largest oil painting to day! I'll post some work in progress shots when I get some paint on it.




Vancouver Sunset
12" x 9" Oil
© 2009

Lunch on the Go... Work in Progress

It has been a long while since I've last worked on this painting, but it is one of my goals over the next while to finish some of my many 'works in progress'. I remember getting very frustrated with all the green in this painting so I am hoping that now that some time has passed since I've last worked on it that I'll be able to get past that frustration and finish it.



Lunch on the Go
4" x 6" watercolour
© 2009

Sweet Stuff - Finished!

Finished another painting from the 'to finish' pile... I started this one months ago for a Different Strokes for Different Folks Challenge but I never managed to finished it in time to post for the challenge. Though... I am done now! There a few things I would different if I was to paint this type of painting again... including paying slightly better attention to the shadows and their value. I kinda got lost in the icing...


Sweet Stuff, Work in Progress
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009

A Little More Done on Spider (WIP)

Its been a little while since I've posted an update on Spider. Progress has been slow and steady... layer by layer. All the masking fluid has been removed and I have also started to soften the edges between the hard edges and the fur of the kitty. I'm happy with the progress so far and I will keep on plugging away at it.


Spider, Work in Progress
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009

Silent Night - Bird #23

This one was a bit of a challenge... I tried to get 'snowflakes' using salt on a wet background... but, the aquabord and the salt did not want to cooperate... thus, the 'fuzzier' snowflakes in the background. Overall... I think it is a successful painting and I'm happy with final results.


Silent Night
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009


I'm slowly working through my 'to finish' pile and I'll have an update on another painting tomorrow night. I've also started a very special commission that I'll post the beginnings of in a couple nights.

Splash - Finally Finished

I think I am finished this painting, unless of course I find any last little details to take care of. If I can't find any changes to make over the next week or so... it will be sealed and varnished ready for framing.


Splash
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009


I have a couple of commissions to start this week and then it will be back to my 'to finish pile', with of course the odd chickadee thrown in.

Candy Cane Perch - Bird #22

I've finally finished the paintings that I will be using for this year Christmas Cards... gosh... I hope I haven't left if for too late for my international recipients. Though... I suppose a late holiday card is better than no holiday card.


Candy Cane Perch
2.5" x 3.5" Watercolour
© 2009


Today was also a sad with the passing of a beloved family member, Malanka. She is the sweetest little puppy who's time came way to soon. I'll sure miss her.


Little Miss Malanka

Snow Pile - Bird #21

This is the first painting for my Christmas cards this year... a cute little chickadee caught out during a snow storm. The snow in this painting proved to be quite the challenge and I am not fully confident that I accomplished the look of the snow. Looking at the painting now... I am thinking that perhaps a darker background would help the snow to look more like snow.


Snow Pile
3.5" x 2.5" Watercolour
© 2009

untitled, Step Three (WIP)

Not quite finished... but getting really close. I should be able to finish this one this week and then I can get back to finishing my Christmas paintings.


untitled
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009

untitled, Step 2 (Work in Progress)

I got a little further on this tonight... slowly working on the layers to get the colours just perfect. I'm slowly getting to the end of this one and I am amazed at how quickly it is going. When this one is done (and I have caught up on some of my other 'works in progress') I think I'll do another apple water painting on a larger sheet of aquabord that I have... perhaps the 11" x 14" one.


untitled
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009

untitled, Work in Progress

This one has been keeping me busy lately... many many layers of translucent watercolor are slowly being laid down on the aquabord. This painting is a true test of my perseverance and patience. There will be many more sessions left before this one if finished.


untitled
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
© 2009

Vancouver Sunset - Work in Progress Part 3

I've finally managed to get a decent photograph of this work in progress. The photograph is still slightly over saturated... and colours are not perfect... but it is pretty darn close. Thank goodness for cloudy days and sleeping cats (important if you don't want their nose in the photograph). The sunset itself if very close to being done... then, it is just a matter of adding the downtown Vancouver buildings and signing. Yah! Then, on to my next oil painting.


Vancouver Sunset - Work in Progress
12" x 9" Oil
© 2009

Sunny Outlook - Bird #20

I had so much fun painting this guy... its was one of those paintings where everything just worked: the colours, the drawing, and the surface of the painting (aquabord) allowed the highlights to lift so easily. With every painting that I am doing on aquabord, I have to admit that I am liking it more and more. I think, once my stash is used up that I am going to purchase the aquabord that is mounted on 2" hardboard so that it does not need to be framed.



Sunny Outlook
4" x 4" Watercolour on Aquabord
Photo reference kindly provided by Sue at Weeds and Wildflowers
© 2009

New Sketchbook

Just last week I treated myself to a shiney new moleskin sketchbook (one with watercolour paper). This is one of the first sketches in the sketchbook and I have to say that I absolutely love the paper! I'm in sketchbook heaven! I've also been experimenting with splattering my watercolour paints.... learning a new lesson along the way: always cover that what you don't want splattered, especially other paintings. Oopps... Oh well... I'll just have to figure out how to include the new spots in the painting.


Fall Colours, watercolour and ink
© 2009

Vancouver Sunset - Work in Progress Part 2

I managed to make a little more progress on the sunset painting with the goal to finish it hopefully in one or two more painting sessions. I'm still having some difficulties photographing the reds without loosing all the subtle colour changes... this was the best of many attempts. I have a whole heck of a lot of canvas's lined up ready for paint and my goal is to have a much more productive month in November.


Vancouver Sunset - Work in Progress
12" x 9" Oil
© 2009