Hunting for a painting

For some time now I have been 'planning' a painting in my head.  It started one day a couple of years ago when I was driving across the bridge over the river while the sun was setting and noticed how gorgeous the light on the water with the ice on it was.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  

Since then I have tried on several occasions to capture a similar view.  I have taken numerous photos.  I have looked up the sunset times and checked the ice structure, I have driven to several different bridges, I have hiked a number of kilometres along paths but it has been elusive.  

There hasn't been enough ice and I've got the sun in the wrong 'spot'.  Then there was too much ice and no water showing through.

I've planned wrong and arrived too late for the setting sun, or clouds have blocked any reflections on water.

Yesterday was an okay day.  Not quite matching my vision in my head but elements were there.  I had some open water, some lovely sky colour and reflected light.  the rest I will make up as I go along.

... and so I have begun.  I will try and post a process painting as I go along in the next few days.

 

A Different Painting Process

This awesome house in Edmonton had a yard full of tulips this past spring.  It is screaming to be painted!

 I have learned over the past few years that there are NUMEROUS ways with which to start a painting.  For some bright spots or warm undertones I like to do an acrylic underpainting in complimentary colours.  So if the leaves or grass will be green, then the compliment is red or a shade of red.  For this painting I started with red, orange and purple acrylic in my underpainting.

I drew out my design and had a lot of fun putting on BRIGHT COLOURS.

Quite a bit different style from my last one, but I like changing things up every now and then.  Keeps me interested!

INKTOBER - Draw it out!

'Ring - yup yup yup - phone'...ah Sesame Street, what would I be without you.

Mindless - Day 2 prompt

It is always a good idea to keep your drawing skills up.  September the life drawing classes start again. October is Inktober 2019  where you follow a prompt (if you like) and draw every day in October.  The first 2 days have been easy - might get more challenging as it goes along!

Wool Felted Bison

As most artists do, I work part-time outside of my own 'studio'.  Lucky for me I am teaching art / pottery / crafts at the Art Gallery of St Albert to school kids, so I still get to be creative.  Yesterday was my first day back and I really enjoyed making clay Pumpkins with the kids.

Today was a break from painting to test out an upcoming craft as part of some of our First Nation projects.  This was my first ever 'stab' (ha ha) at a 3D wool felted animal.  It turned out pretty good so hopefully it will make it onto the curriculum in January.

HOT painting

I tried another day outdoors, painting the same bridge again.  I found a painting buddy, Alina, to come with me and it was nice to have company.  The mosquitoes were particularly fiesty but as it got hotter out they were smart and found the shade.  We did not and sweated away - not used to the heat.  BUT i am not complaining, our summers are short.    I cranked out one little study and then started doing some rock portraits - close ups of what was right in front of me.  I even tried the beer can left in the river.  I did pick it up when I left to throw out and wondered what someone coming down the trail might think of me with my backpack and beer can...but luckily passed no one on my way out.

Road Trips and Repeats

 On the weekend we did a little road trip and stopped in my FAVOURITE GALLERY IN ALBERTA!  The Blue Rock Gallery in Black Diamond, Alberta is small and gorgeous.  A great mix of pottery, paintings, arts and crafts, books.  The paintings are fa-bu-lous.  It is worth a day trip to hang out in this little town for a couple hours, great milk shakes across the street.

14x36 oil on wood panel

6x24 oil on canvas

Today I had a few short hours to work on a second version of the Cypress Hills.  The bottom one was a small quick study.  The second top one is much bigger and I am trying to do brighter colours / impressionist style.  It is not done but here's what needs completing:
- foreground is getting finer detail in the grasses - more greens, blues and purples to be added.
- foreground shape is not random enough - repeating on left and right side, needs to be more like the bottom foreground shape.
- far background needs darker, grey green / blue colours
- some more red thrown into trees in middle ground

I am hoping it works out, it looks much better in person than with my quick photo, so I shall continue with it tomorrow.