Harold's Point

Harold's Point is yet another painting from the Georgian Bay area. It is part of Killbear Provincial Park.

Reflected Beauty

The image of this tree was copied from a photo that I took at a beach called Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia. 

This painting is my largest painting yet. The size certainly adds a new level of challenge to painting.

Anchorage at Sunset

Morning on the Ottawa River

Morning on the Ottawa River was painted from a photo I took early one morning from our boat while we were at anchor. I really enjoyed working with this long, narrow canvas for this work.

Another Grandchild Portrait

These portraits are getting somewhat easier as I build on my experiences. I have really enjoyed doing them.

(The colour of this image is a bit off from the original work)

A Happy Place

This painting was inspired by watching a Bob Ross Tutorial on YouTube. Bob Ross is and amazing oil paint artist who makes everything look so easy. It is actually quite amusing to watch some of his tutorials.


For this particular painting ... yes, I am using the singular since these photos are actually of the same painting ... phase one and phase two . For the first image I painted a tonal painting using paper towel, a sponge brush and a script liner. When this was completely dry I glazed over the entire painting with my coloured acrylic paints to come up with the second image.

It was a very fun experimental painting since I wasn't too worried about the outcome! I am very pleased with the results but can see areas that could
be improved. I am very keen to try other paintings using the same  technique but adding some of my own flavours to them.

... stay tuned ...

Cole

I have begun a tradition of doing a portrait of  each of my grandchildren for their first birthdays. So far the photos that I have worked from have been taken at around 10 or 11 months of age; a time where the children's characters really start to show. It has been a wonderful experience for me spending this extra and focused time with each of these characters. Somehow I feel that I get to know them a little better and ... if it is even possible ... love them a whole lot more! 

Cole is my third grandchild portrait completed. I  feel that in doing these portraits (with much input and constructive critique from my painting community) I am growing as an artist. My observation and colour mixing skills are definitely being challenged!

Paradise Found

Paradise Found was again inspired by our sailing vacation in the North Channel, Georgian Bay. The photo from which I painted this painting was taken while 'gunkholing' in the Benjamin Islands.

At Rest

This is a painting of a really cool tree that we saw at one of our anchorages in the North Channel last summer.

In the Moment

I was feeling some painter's block so I thought that I would try something totally different....

Fair Winds

Fair Winds is inspired, as most of my paintings are, by my time spent sailing in the North Channel, Georgian Bay. It was painted using coarse molding paste and a palette knife for some of it.

Eldest Grandson

I did this painting of my eldest grandson for his first birthday.

The Lone Pine

The Lone Pine is a painting of a typical white pine that you can see in the Georgian Bay area. This particular tree was located in the Benjamin Islands of the North Channel in the Georgian Bay. The photo was taken years ago and unfortunately this tree no longer exists since it was cut down.

The tree and the rocks in this painting were done entirely with a pallet knife. I also added some acrylic modeling paste to my paint to thicken it and give it some texture.

It was a fun painting to do since it seemed to paint itself. 

McGregor Bay Impressions

McGregor Bay Impressions was a painting that I created using several photos taken while motoring up McGregor Bay, Georgian Bay. The views in this bay are spectacular. The boat in the foreground belongs to my brother. We have been sailing in the North Channel, Georgian Bay area together with my brother and his wife for the past four summers. About two years ago, after completing our passage up the bay and over a glass of sherry, my brother challenged me by asking how I would depict what we had just experienced in a painting... This painting is the result of that challenge and it wasn't easy!

Spring Morning

Spring Morning was inspired by several things one of which is the view that I see from my kitchen window in the spring. 

My husband likes to call this my portrait landscape. 

I did some playing while creating this particular painting; I did a large part of the bottom third using a palette knife and I used some Coarse Molding Paste in the paint to give it some texture.

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird was inspired while on a bike ride last year spring. It took me a year to complete but I am happy with the results.

Red-winged Blackbird painted on two canvas panels. One is 18"X36" and the other is 6" X 36". I believe this is called a diptych. 

Grand-daughter

I recently did this painting of my grand daughter for her first birthday. It was a huge learning experience since I haven't ever completed any portraits in Acrylic before.

My Buddy

I finally did it! I painted a picture of my dog! The photo is not that great since I made the classic mistake of varnishing the painting before photographing it.

I am very pleased how this painting turned out. Originally it was going to be more detailed with an orange background. However, this painting painted itself and I quickly realized that less was more this time.

Majesty

Majesty was inspired by a photo that I took either on the way to the mountains from Calgary or along the Banff - Jasper Highway.
Each time that I have been to the Rocky Mountains in western Canada, they have created a real sense of awe within me.

Cathedral

Cathedral is a painting of a location along a trail that I walk my dog several times a week. It is my favourite section of trail especially when the sun is low.

This painting did not come easily. It went through many transitions before it finally captured the mood that I was aiming for. I was about to give up and paint over it but thanks to one of my artist friends who encouraged me, challenged me, made many suggestions and taught me a lot along the way, I was able to bring this painting to the place where I am satisfied with the result. Sometimes it takes a community to create a painting. Thanks Mike!