Small Paintings

 At times I enjoy doing small 'plein air' paintings since these can be completed in two hours or less. These paintings are usually completed on location. I choose to do these small paintings when I am feeling that I have too many unfinished paintings sitting around or when I arrive on location feeling uninspired or rushed for whatever reason. At least I'm painting and hopefully improving my techniques. This is why it is good to go out with a group of people because it forces you to show up and paint.
The two bottom paintings are scenes from the gardens of two of my friends. The top painting was a spring vista from the yard of a community centre where I paint each Monday with a group of people.

Hogsback Falls, Ottawa

Hogsback Falls was my first 'Plein Air' painting of 2014. 'Plein Air' or 'En Plein Air' painting means that the painting was painted on location rather than in the studio. I also read somewhere recently  that another term used is 'Reportage'. I really enjoy painting on location since I enjoy being outdoors and usually we are out with a group. Not all my plein air paintings work out. There are some that I paint over even before leaving the location and others that I will paint over at a later date and yet others that don't work out entirely but there are some elements that inspire me to start another similar painting in the studio. Sometimes I will finish a painting while out but mostly I take a picture and finish it at home in my studio. For Hogsback Falls I reached the point where I wasn't really happy with what was happening so I 'gave up' and just started painting anything to fill the board ... this is usually where the magic starts happening for me ... when I stop trying so hard. In my last half hour I was able to get the painting to where I actually liked it and was willing to finish it in the studio. My only regret ... that it isn't bigger ... so much power confined to such a small space.

Sea Birds

Sea Birds are probably my last studio water colour paintings that I have painted. The bottom one was done at a workshop and the other three were done at home with photos that I took over the years in Cape Hatteras.
I find now that I have started painting with Acrylic paints that I don't use my watercolours much anymore. However, I do  still use them for some Plein Air painting.

Killarney Boat House

Killarney Boat House was painted from a photo that my sister-in-law took on our sailing holiday in the North Channel. I was drawn to the red house reflected in the water. The reflection and the water took several 'tries' but I finally achieved my desired effect.
I like many things about this paining: the subject, the colours and the shape of the board. I think that all these things work together to make this a successful painting.