Spring Melt - Work in Progress Step 3

I am getting very close to being done this one... a little more on the waterfall in the middle, and a touch more on the water to the left.  I am still contemplating adding a little more white to the water/snow below.  Then... just to determine where to hang it!  I don't do abstract-y paintings often, and I have to admit that it was a nice break from the more realistic style that I find that I do.

Spring Melt - WIP
16" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas
© 2012

Spring Melt - Acrylic Work in Progress Step 2

I got lots more done over the last couple days on this painting... I can actually see it being complete soon!  There is lots of gold and silver interference paint used (very hard to photograph) but looks super cool in person.  I am hoping to finish this weekend.

I am using a fairly limited palette:  ivory black, paynes grey, transparent red earth, titanium white, yellow ochre, gold ochre, and cobalt blue.

Spring Melt - WIP
16" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas
© 2012

Spring Melt - Abstract Landscape WIP

Has it really been a month since my last post?  My goodness... where did July go?  Life has kept me busy with more time spent outdoors than indoors and much less time spent painting I am afraid.  My return from a recent business trip to Ottawa has had me at home with a rather nasty cold/flu which has meant more time at the easel to pass the time away.  The oils were irritating my rather unhappy chest, so I pulled out the acrylics to see what I could do.  Below is the result:  a work in progress that I hope gets finished sooner than some of my other works in progress. 

Spring Melt - WIP
16" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas
© 2012

Bike Shadows - The Finale!

I just realized this tonight that I never did post a final photograph of Bike Shadows which was actually finished back in January (the last painting completed in Vancouver). Sorry about the poor picture quality.



"Bike Shadows"
36" x 30"
© 2010
photo reference from morguefile

Bike Shadows - Step Four

I think I have finished the first cyclist in this big bike painting and I've added some shadows on the right side of the painting... adding some nice texture to the painting. Tomorrow I'll start the second cyclist and then the painting will nearly be complete.


"Bike Shadows"
36" x 30"
© 2010
photo reference from morguefile

Bike Shadows - Step Three

Tonight I finished blocking in and started applying some of the glazed layers on the pathways. I think there is a few more glazes of colour needed on the lower path and possibly the orange path... but, they are pretty close to being done. Next... I will finish the front wheel on the almost complete cyclist. After that, the second cyclist and then my signature!



"Bike Shadows"
36" x 30"
© 2010
photo reference from morguefile

Bike Shadows - Step Two

First, I apologize for the poor lighting in this picture.... I'll take a better one tomorrow during daylight. I'm getting closer to finishing this painting having getting much done tonight. I've tweaked the first bicyclist and have the base colour down for the upper sidewalk, most of the middle pathway, and almost all of the lower pathway. I've also started to glaze multiple layers of colour (had to see in this painting) adding depth and wonder texture to the pathways.

My goal for tomorrow is to finish the base colouring of the paths and to start shaping out the second cyclist. Then, perhaps I can add the final layers on Sunday and call it done next week.



"Bike Shadows"
36" x 30"
© 2010
photo refernce from morguefile


edit: I've updated the photograph this morning to a much better representation of the colours.

Bike Shadows

My next biggest painting is slowly taking shape on my biggest easel today (thanks Dad for making the easel for me!!!). I thought about trying it on my smaller easel... but, then common sense took over and I pulled out the big one. I started by blocking in the cyclists (one at the moment just looks like a bit of a blob) first just to get a feel for how it is all going to fit. Then, I started blocking in patches of colours just to see what would look the best. I've decided on an orange/purple/grey combination and I think that was a good choice. Lots more work left... though, I may take a break and work on a watercolour over the weekend.



"Bike Shadows"
36" x 30"
© 2009
photo refernce from morguefile

Reflections, Finished Acrylic Painting

Took this one off my easel tonight and hung it on my wall. I'm soo tickled pink at how well it turned out and how quickly I finished it considering it is my largest painting to date. Though, that will change... I've started an even larger one tonight for my brother. Hopefully it won't take nearly as long as this one has been a long time waiting.



"Reflections"
18" x 24"
© 2009

untitled

I'm almost finished this large (for me) painting... just a touch little bit to do on one of the bouys and the center. It has been a very (very very) long time since I have used acrylics and I forgot how fun they can be. I am trying to stay loose, using my bigger brushes and not getting too fussy about the details. Up close I struggle to keep the details out... but when looked at from a distance, I am super happy with the way it looks.


untitled
18" x 24"
© 2009

Daisy, An Old Work in Progress

Its been a few months since I last worked on this painting, but I've decided to pick up my brushes and work a little more on this one. I apologize for the poor picture... I'll take another one after I get a bit more done and in better light. Once this one is done, I have my eye on a much larger floral painting for my walls. I'll post a work in progress when I get started...


Daisy
10" x 8" Acrylic on Canvas
© 2009

Daisy, Work in Progress

I had an irresistible urge to pick up the acrylic paints tonight and paint. Yup... I have lots of other paintings on the go... but, when the creative bug strikes one cannot argue. Actually, I have been debating about playing experimenting with the acrylic paints on some 'rescued' canvases for a while now. By rescued, I mean gesso'ing over previously abandoned paintings to reuse the canvas. So far so good on this one... and hopefully I will be done it soon. A little bit of sunshine for my walls.



Daisy, Work in Progress
10" x 8" acrylic
© 2009

Chicago Bean, Finished!

I think I'm doing this one... I'll probably let it sit for a while before varnishing just to make sure there is nothing else I want to change. I'm happy with the reflections on the bean, especially the buildings and people on the right hand side of the bean. The palette was kept fairly simple: cobalt blue, black, cadmium red, and yellow ochre.



"Chicago Bean", work in progress
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas
© 2008


Quote of the day: Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them. ~ Anonymous

A Little More on my Bean

I got a couple more hours (with many breaks during) work done on this one tonight. It is getting very close to being done, and there is even a small chance I'll finish in time of the "Different Strokes for Different Folks" deadline. I'm going to get a bit more done tonight before heading to bed.



"Chicago Bean", work in progress
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas
© 2008


Quote of the day: While I am doing my work, I am aware of the fact that there are 1000s of other artists right now in their own studios going through the same mind-chatter and fears that I'm going through. Simply, artists learn how to proceed, or they don't. -Robert Burridge

Chicago Bean, Work in Progress

Another busy day today (trying to recover a 'dead' computer), but I did manage to get a little more done on my shiney Chicago bean. Posted below is a closeup of the part that I worked on. I'm working with a limited palette. Started out as a Zorn palette (blue-black, yellow ochre, white, and red) but I just couldn't get a nice sky so I added a cobalt blue. The canvas was first covered with a nice loose burnt sienna base before I started painting. Its coming along slowly... but I'm having lots of fun doing it.



"Chicago Bean", closeup
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas
© 2008

Oh No! Not Another Work in Progress

I had every intention of finishing this one this weekend, but I suppose you can't always have it your way. I was feeling frustrated with my two oil paintings so I thought I would give the Different Strokes for Different Folks challenge hosted by Karin Jurick a try. Her picture this week seems like a good challenge for me.... it was a shiney object and I love painting shiney objects. But... as not to bring on the evil anti-muse oil painting demons, I thought I would whip out my acrylic paints and give it a whirl



"Chicago Bean"
8" x 10" acrylic on canvas
© 2008


This is as far as I gotten today. Though I had good intentions to finish it tonight, I do have until Tuesday evening to submit it. I got my fingers crossed that I can finish it in time.

untitled, A Work in Progress

There is still have lots left to do on this one (especially on the rather horrible looking shadows) but I thought I would post what I am currently working on now that I am finished the apples. This painting has come on and off my easel for a while now... I've been frustrated numerous times with it. But, seeing how well the "Apple Slice" painting turned out I thought I would give it another try.



untitled
8" x 10" acrylic
© 2008


The weather has been rather frightful outside lately.... switching from rain to snow back to rain in a matter of minutes. In other words... perfect weather to stay inside and paint.

Apple Slice, Finished

I think I am finally finished this painting... this isn't the greatest picture, as it looks much better in real life. My camera hasn't been cooperating with me and has been taking somewhat grainy pictures.



"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008

Apple Slice, A Work in Progress Continues

I got a little more done on this this weekend. I'm getting very close to being completely done with the green apple (I am sure there will still be the odd tweak here and there yet) and I've turned my attention to the red one. The highlights are giving me some grief on this apple... they seem pasted on, or, perhaps I'm just being too picky. Either way,there is still a bit more work left on it.



"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008

More Progress on "Apple Slice"

I got a little more done on this painting... mostly at the top of the apples. I've been adding some of the details with the reflections and the colour variations near the stems.


"Apple Slice"
20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas
© 2008


Looking at the photo, I can see a couple of areas on the green apple that still don't quite look right. As well, I still have to tackle the the highlights on the red apple yet too. I think the hardest part of this painting is going to be knowing when to stop fiddling with it and to call it done.