Poutine

8x10 oil on gesso paper

Talk about suffering for one's art - I had to eat all of this poutine after I photographed it.  Wow, I did suffer later, but it was delicious.  Poutine is another very Canadian thing, but ironically I bought it at NewYork Fry's. What's with that...  Anyhoooo... poutine is VERY challenging to paint.  It is one big mess of greasy delicious, fries, gravy and cheese curds.

Nanaimo Squares - MMM Canada

Nanaimo Squares

This was a quick 1.5 hr painting.  Nanaimo Squares are very Canadian and a Christmas favourite - especially my Mom's homemade ones.  I am falling behind due to work and taking a couple days off, so I am going to have to get 2 paintings a day started.  Below is the family recipe - missing some detail - I tend to cook the base over a low heat for a few minutes because of the egg in it and I usually 1/2 the icing part because I can't hack an 1/2 inch of frosting on my squares.  Enjoy!

the struggle continues...

I have been picking at this landscape painting, trying to paint it fairly realistically.  It's been a couple of weeks now and I find I get to a point where I am just sick of a particular painting and need to put it away for awhile.  In fact it can almost be a few months before I can look at it again with fresh eyes to see if it is worth trying to save and work on some more.  Tomorrow will try something a little looser and more fun.

Old Fort Point Bridge
16x20 Oil on Canvas

The proof is the proof

Proof 6x9 Oil

He has been working hard to show his proof.

The actual quote "A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." Jean Chretien.

Today too busy for clever portraits of Prime Ministers.  Instead it is a quick painting of bannock.  Sticking to painting Canadian themed things - bannock to me is very homey. Most Sunday's after church we would head over to my Granny's for her homemade bannock with delicious homemade jam.  I cooked up this bannock and slapped on some saskatoon jam, snapped a photo and then before eating realized the jam was from 2013.  Yike.

Bannock with Saskatoon Jam
6x8 oil on gesso paper

There are those who argue that Fry Bread is bannock.  To me they are 2 different things but equally delicious in their own way.  Fry bread is like a donut for dessert, bannock is breakfast.  I have included recipes for both so you decide.  The bannock is my great-great grandmother's recipe and the Fry Bread is from some Metis sisters in Saskatchewan who shared it with me.

Pierre-ouette Trudeau #6

So this one was challenging and I plan to tweek it a bit more in the future, but here is today's effort as I have to call it quits for the day..  Pierre Elliot Trudeau - when I plan my paintings I of course hunt out photos and get ideas from the Google.  Mr. Trudeau senior had not one but 2 pictures, pirouetting in his cheeky manner, near the Queen.  He is a tad more graceful in this painting and he never did wear this outfit - although he did have some great disco era outfits man.

Meech and Chong

Meech and Chong
8x11 Oil on Black gesso paper

All those who remember the 80's may get a kick out of this one.  Took me longer cause there were 2 faces instead of one, I am usually averaging about 4 hrs/painting, either in the evening, or if I am not working, during the day sometime.  I haven't watched any t.v. since this thing started - kind of missing Netflix.

DeifenBaker - #4

DeifenBaker
8x11 oil on black gesso paper

Painting #4, I am having lots of fun with these.  This one was a suggestion from my friend, Rick. Many thanks to my son who posed in his chef's gear so I could get the hat, apron and whisk done accurately.

Justin Beaver #3

Justin Beaver
8x11 oil on black gessoed paper

HA!  Art can be fun.  Today I enjoyed attempting to paint our current Prime Minister, the beaver was fun and much easier to paint.  I spent a lot of time working on JT, his likeness was a challenge cause he is gosh darn photogenic and his face is plastered everywhere, so it's got to be right.  Oh well, I have completed 3 Canada themed paintings so far only 147 to go.  I already know what is coming next!! Stay tuned...

Oil and Acrylic don't Mix you Hoser!

I suddenly realized last night, that in order to paint 150 Canadian paintings, I have to do at least 1 painting every 2 days (1.7 days to be exact).  I guess I didn't think that through very well, but I will give it a try.  Anyhooo... below is the start of painting #2.  It is John A Macdonald with Doug Mackenzie style toque and a beer in hand (when its all done).

John Eh Macdonald - the Original Canadian Hoser
8.5 x 11 oil on black gesso paper

This painting is just 8 x 11 ish and was supposed to be a quick acrylic for fun.  Unfortunately I learned a lesson today - I had all my oil paints from yesterdays work, on the same table beside my acrylics.  Accidentally grabbed the green oil paint and wondered what was wrong with it when it wouldn't mix in with yellow properly.  Since you can't layer acrylic on top of oils, it is now going to be an oil painting.  What was going to be 1 hour will now probably be about 4, cause I am repainting everything, plus I am kind of enjoying this painting and decide I want to keep him around.