Grape Doodle

Grape Doodle 4.5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas

I've been busy with a couple of portrait commissions, but painted this little bunch of grapes just to keep in touch with my "still life self."  It's actually just doodling with a paintbrush. 

Summer

Summer 12 x 9 acrylic on stretched canvas AVAILABLE

A painting from last summer. Nothing beats the wild abandon of leaping off a dock. Life at the cottage is all about joys such as this.

The Sentinel...revisited

The Sentinel 8 x 8 oil on gessoboard  SOLD

Happy summer everyone! I've been tied up with some portrait commissions (lucky me!) but thought I'd give this little painting a second moment in the limelight. It has previously gotten quite a few views, so perhaps it might find some new fans. Hope to be back at a DPW "routine" soon.

Celebrating Oranges

Celebrating Oranges 8 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas AVAILABLE

This was a good exercise in tonal changes. I'm trying to become more adept at capturing the unique texture of an orange peel.

Sugar Maple

Sugar Maple  7 x 5 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

I've not been at my easel enough lately. This little study at least took me out of my usual figurative/still-life groove, so that's a good thing. It's done from a photo I snapped last fall of a stunningly vibrant Sugar Maple. It was such a fabulous red against a brilliant sky.

The Visitor

The Visitor 16 x 14 oil on stretched canvas  NFS

This is one of my gallery-sized paintings, done from the same photo as "The Sentinel." We are fortunate to have a wonderful variety of birds visit our backyard to enjoy a drink at the birdbath. I loved the way this crow's feathers caught the light and managed to grab a photo.

Clementines and Blue Bowl

Clementines and Blue Bowl 5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas

These little clementines seem perfectly suited to pair with this small blue bowl. A small still life in complementary colors -- 5 x 7 acrylic on canvas.

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine 10 x 8 acrylic on gessoboard  NFS

A warm and wonderful friend shared some photos of her lovely little great-grandaughter. One particular photo really caught my eye. I loved the light on her face, the expressive hand gesture, and her dazzling blue eyes. She was a treat to paint and it was such fun to send it as a surprise to my friend!

 Light on her face to be the focus, so cropped and simplified composition and moved hand a little closer.

Softened contrast from what appeared in photo, added more half-tones.

 Background darkened, and to keep focus on the face, clothing was painted loosely.

Hair and features are further refined, injecting color into the shadow areas.

Lightened the background a bit and added finishing details. 

Little Miss Sunshine - 10x8 acrylic on gessoboard.

Portrait of Tom

Tom 10 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas  NFS

This is a portrait of Tom, painted as a gift for his birthday this weekend. Please keep it to yourself -- it's a surprise.

Here are some progress shots -

Light sketch in dilute acrylic paint

Begin to place darks

Define shadow side of face

Delineate features

Add midtones/further refine features

Cover rest of canvas to judge balance of color

Add more midtones and begin lights

Balance and refine fleshtones

Final portrait 10x8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

Demo in Acrylics

Demo at Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Show 8 x 10 acrylic on gessoboard

This little painting is the demo I did at the 39th Annual Muskoka Arts and Crafts Spring Members' show held this past weekend. The show features hundreds of pieces of artwork and runs from Friday evening through Sunday night. It was great fun and I was thrilled when my three acrylic still life paintings received the show's penultimate award for Best Use of Media. 

I often do a demo at the show. It's very informal, and really involves painting between chats and QandA with folks who attend the show. Usually it's a three-hour session of painting/chatting, but this year  -- to my dismay -- I accidentally left home with everything EXCEPT my paints! Fortunately, I'm married to a treasure of a husband who dashed home again to retrieve my paintbox. Here are some photos, including some shots of the little painting in progress.

Clivia and Shells

Clivia and Shells 30 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

This is the third of three paintings I'll have at the Muskoka Arts and Crafts 39th Annual Spring Members' Show. The show begins with the opening reception and awards presentation Friday night and runs through the weekend. I've been part of this wonderfully-diverse showcase for more than 15 years. Sunday afternoon I'm doing a demonstration -- something I always enjoy because people come by to chat as I paint.

Petite Nude

Petite Nude 7x5 oil on stretched canvas

After working a great deal in acrylics, I'm getting back into the swing of using oils again. This is just a little nude, only 7 x 5, done in water-mixable oil on canvas.

Fruit and Bowl

Fruit and Bowl 8 x 10 oil on stretched canvas

This is water-miscible oils on stretched canvas. I've not used my oils in a while, but lately had a hankering for that soft, juicy texture. The subject is a familiar favorite, but what I painted was beside the point. It was the medium not the message that concerned me. I wanted to 'play' with oils for a change.

I paint a lot in acrylics, and there's so much about them that I like. Clean up is quick and easy, no solvents needed, and layers can be added in minutes. Even painting white over black is no problem. I use heavy body acrylics, and keeping them from drying on the palette can be a battle. I get focused on the painting and forget to "spritz" with my spray bottle. The stay-wet palettes don't work for me. In spite of my efforts to get just the right degree of moisture, my paints soon become too fluid.

So, every so often I long for the buttery richness, and slower-drying blendability of oil paints. But since I'm spoiled by the easy clean up of acrylics, I reach for my water-miscible oils.

Daydreamer

Daydreamer 10x 8 acrylic on gessoboard

This is based on a photo of one one my favorite models, but not intended to be a likeness. It was a quiet moment when she appeared to be lost in thought. I wanted to capture that faraway look and my aim was to achieve an expressive and painterly image. Below are some progress shots.

Initial sketch on toned gessoboard

Placed Darks

Mid tones and some lights added

More midtones and finer details added

Refining and trial background

 

New background and Final Touches...Done!

Sunshine

Sunshine 18 x 14 oil on stretched canvas  NFS

This lovely young woman came to interview me for a local magazine. As we chatted, I was captivated by how the sunlight just kissed her cheek and forehead. I asked if I could snap a few photos and perhaps paint her.  She agreed and this was the result.

Trio Plus Quartet

Trio Plus Quartet 10 x 10 acrylic on canvas  SOLD

This is a demo I painted during one of our local art guild's group shows. We find it's a great feature to have various artists show how their work is created, and I really enjoy chatting with folks who attend. Happily, this little painting also found a home.

Black and Gold

Black and Gold oil 12 x 16 on gessoboard  SOLD

Rich tones and luscious textures -- that's why still life paintings are such a joy.

Sunny Breaks

Sunny Breaks 9 x 12 oil on canvas board  NFS

A very Merry Christmas from Muskoka, Canada to all the wonderful artists on Daily Paintworks! Here's to a New Year filled with the joy of making art together. Thanks for the inspiration, the motivation, and the mutual support.

Blue Mood

Blue Mood 16 x 12 soft pastel on Canson paper  NFS

For short time I worked in soft pastel, but rarely do so now. This is one of several small classic nudes done as studies. As you see, I was enjoying playing with complementary colors.

Hello There

Hello There 12 x 12 acrylic on gessoboard  SOLD

How can you go wrong painting a face like this? Deer are plentiful where we live, and occasionally venture through our backyard. They aren't timid, at least at a distance. They just raise their lovely heads, as if to say hello, then carry on munching. I understand they can decimate a garden -- it's a salad bar to them. Fortunately for me and my flowers, the ones that visit us seem to prefer the wilder parts of our backyard.