Time Gone By - Work in Progress

I have been eye-ing this photograph for some time now...  and finally decided to paint it (though it is not quite finished).  It was taken by my brother near my Baba's house in rural Manitoba.  There are so many farmyards being abandoned as people move away... it is almost sad to see. 

My brother took a number of photographs of these farmyards that I think they will make a nice series. 

 Time Gone By (Work in Progress)
Photo Reference:  Mike (my brother)

7" x 5" oil cradled wood © 2011

Quiet Time - Bird #62

I was contemplating painting a snowy scene (it is December), but with all the rain and warm weather out my direction... it is looking like it will be a green Christmas and not a white one.  So...  I thought I would paint something a little more 'springy'.  The picture is a little washed out, but in real life the greens and gold are more vivid.

Quiet Time

5" x 5" watercolour © 2011 

Tattered - Completed

Finished!  This one took a few re-dos on the background before I was happy with it.  Its hard to see, but I have some nice glazes of gold and greens over top of the sap green.  I am happy with the end result and I have it hanging with the other butterflies on my wall now. 

 Tattered

7" x 5" oil cradled wood © 2011 

Here Comes the Night - Bird #61

Painted a finch today...  felt like experimenting on the background, looking for a more abstracty look so tossed in some rubbing alcohol and salt.  I'm pretty happy with it.... though, I think I could have pushed the abstract-ness of it a little more. 

Here Comes the Night

5" x 5" watercolour © 2011 

Just As Long As We Got Each Other - Bird #60

Taking a short break from oils while they dry to work on a quick little wintery chickadee painting.  The branches of the tree turned out a little darker than I hoped... but the touch of sparkle from the luminescent watercolours make up for it (I think).  It adds just the perfect amount of shimmer to the branches.

 Just As Long As We Got Each Other

6" x 6" watercolour © 2011 

Wood Duck Drake - Bird #59

I thought I was finished, but then I noticed a few things that were bothering me about this painting so I made some ever so slight changes.  Did a little more work on th eye and I added a few overall washes of colour to the body (both on the duck and his reflection).  Now... I am happy to say I am finished.

 Wood Duck Drake

10" x 8" watercolour on aquabord © 2011