Warm Shoulders SOLD

Warm Shoulders 8x8 w-m oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

Enjoying the sunshine while keeping cool at water's edge...sublime!

Can't Wait SOLD

Can't Wait  16x12 w-m oil on canvas

When the lake calls on a hot summer's day, who can wait?

Bliss

Bliss 16x20 oil on canvas

Bliss is my attempt to capture that feeling of complete abandon when water lifts and supports us so completely and so effortlessly. 

After several months of being away from my easel, I'm pleased to be back painting some new pieces.  Hopefully, some of my blogging buddies are still checking in on me now and again.

Bliss, along with other new paintings will be on display this summer at Martins Framing and Gallery in Bracebridge.

Taking Off SOLD

Taking Off 30 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This is another of my paintings now at Martins Gallery for the summer.  At 30 x 24, it's larger than average for me, but I wanted the impact those dimensions would bring.  I was especially delighted when the gallery owners placed it in the window. Here in the tourist region of Muskoka, this time of year means kids at camp and families at lakeside cottages. "Taking Off" is meant to evoke the joy of summer at the lake, whether cottage or camp.

Here are some progress photos:

The Explorers. SOLD

The Explorers 14x18 acrylic on stretched canvas

Hello, blog buddies!  Even though I'm taking a hiatus from Daily Paintworks, I have been painting. Martins Framing and Gallery in nearby Bracebridge (Ontario) have shown my work in the past and are representing me again this summer. 

"The Explorers" celebrates the curiosity that enlivens a childhood summer. Who can resist exploring the shallows of a woodland glade? Below are some progress photos. Thanks for keeping an eye on what I'm up to!

Jumping Off...for awhile

I'm going to be taking a little hiatus from Daily Paintworks. The artists who have become blogging buddies, and those lovely folks who follow me, have probably noticed I've been posting less frequently over the past couple of months. Seems I've been inclined towards larger paintings, and towards exploring new subject directions. Anyhow, call it an artistic stretch.

I'll still be blogging, and will continue to follow my chums on DPW. This break is just a temporary "jumping off."

Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff 6x6 acrylic on canvas

A quick 6x6 acrylic demo that sold. Bright red peppers and a cheerful green plate.

Ginger Jar

Ginger Jar 16x12 oil on stretched canvas

This painting reminded me of a reference made by an artist whose blog I follow. Her name is Kate Stone, her paintings are wonderful, and her blog is:  Painting Stuff To Look Like Stuff

Kate cites the 80/20 rule, which alludes to the fact that often it's only 20 percent of your painting that makes you drink 80 percent of that bottle of wine. This was one such painting for me. Even though most of it came together swimmingly, it took me AGES to correctly capture the color and texture of the plums. More than once, I almost tossed the whole shebang. For the sake of the 80 percent that was working, however, I soldiered on.

Here are some steps in my struggles along the way:

Sketch in oil

Beginning underpainting

Working on dynamics of all fruit

Color of grapes and plums is too similar 

Plums now too blue, green grapes too vibrant

Green grapes developing, plums still too blue

Ginger Jar finished 16x12 oil on stretched canvas

Oranges

Oranges 6 x 6 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

This is my second little painting sold at the "Small Art, Big Cause" charity show. I love the color combination, and those great shadows. I have a similar daily painting featuring pink grapefruit sections, but I suspected that orange sections might work even better.

Teacup and Grapes

Teacup and Grapes 6 x 6 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

Each year a gallery with which I'm associated holds a show called "Small Art, Big Cause" that benefits the Muskoka Children's Foundation. Local artists donate 6x6 pieces, and I usually contribute two little canvases. It's a wildly popular and lively event, with artwork literally snapped up as quickly as sales can be processed. Adding to the excitement, there's often a draw when a painting attracts multiple buyers. This year, we were delighted to hear that we raised $4000!

Here's a photo of our collective effort...

Pinocchio

Pinocchio 14 x 11 acrylic on gessoboard  NFS

This 14x11 acrylic was enormous fun to paint. I made it for our brand-new (well fairly new) 9-month-old grand-nephew's first Christmas.  I tried to paint a three-dimensional puppet rather than a cartoon, and used photos of figurines as well as the Disney illustrations. Here are some steps in the process.

Fruit and Brass

Fruit and Brass 16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

This 16 x 20 acrylic painting is larger than many of my still life pieces, but I did enjoy having a bit more elbow room. There is a bit of glare on the lower left of this final photo.  The shots of the painting in progress show this section to greater advantage. It's also evident as the painting progresses whether I was working in daylight or evening/artificial light.

Portrait of Walter

Walter 20 x 16 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

This 20x16 acrylic portrait on stretched canvas is a commissioned piece. As with all commissions, I've delayed posting until it was picked up by the client -- a dear friend who was very pleased with it, I'm happy to say!

The portrait of Walter was done using several photo references. Fortunately, I know the subject and could judge which elements of each photo accurately reflected both his personality and his likeness. In the best photos, however, the subject was wearing the type of eyeglasses that automatically darken in outdoor light. In order to more clearly see his eyes through the lenses, I had to create an overexposed black and white computer print.

Here are some progress shots ...

Initial sketch

Beginning fleshtones

Various source photos - note B&W print on left

Moving on to the shirt

Almost done

Subtle adjustments and transitions

Done and signed