Curled Up

Curled Up 8 x 10 acrylic on gessoboard  SOLD

This sweet little fawn is all curled up and tucked in for a nap. When they gather up those long legs, they're just so very small. See below for photos of the painting in progress.

"Curled Up" 8x10 acrylic in progress ...

the initial sketch in acrylic on black-toned gessoboard

beginning to define the face and some tonal masses

further refining the features and form - including the distinctive "spots"

playing with background to determine how much dark I wanted

added background color and texture as well as final touches to face and fur

Black Lace

Black Lace 24 x 18 oil on stretched canvas  SOLD

This oil painting will always be special to me. It was part of my first solo gallery show in 2009. It was also the image used on all the promotional materials, and the first piece to sell at the show. Today I'd likely paint it differently -- perhaps better, I'd hope -- but I'll always look back at it with much affection.

Abundance

Abundance 10 x 8 acrylic on gessoboard  SOLD

I know what you're thinking... another brass bowl with grapes, Helene, really?!  Can't help it; I so enjoy painting the varied tones as light passes through grapes, and a brass bowl just adds more sparkle. Gotta lo-o-ve those textures!

Winter Snack

Winter Snack  10 x 8 oil on canvas board  SOLD

One of my favorite backyard visitors -- winter or summer -- is the Blue Jay.  Big, bold, and devastatingly handsome, they're a visual delight.  This little oil sketch was fun from start to finish. 

The Braid

The Braid 8 x 8 oil on gessoboard

This is a quick portrait sketch in oil done in a two-hour session -- good exercise! 

Brass Bowl and Onions

Brass Bowl and Onions 11 x 14 acrylic on stretch canvas  NFS

Two of my favorite still life subjects -- onions and this little brass bowl. They offer such wonderful color harmony and a range of textures that are just plain enjoyable to paint. This is an 11" x 14" acrylic painting on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas.

Whitetail Fawn

Whitetail Fawn 6 x6 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

This sweet little fawn is my contribution to a December charity art sale. "Small Art, Big Cause" is a Christmas fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Children's Foundation of Muskoka. For several years local Muskoka artists have donated 6 x 6 canvases to this enormously popular event. Sales are so brisk that the paintings are gone in less than two hours.