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.

Canada 150

'Build the Habit of Art Production'

In the book I am reading 'My Real Job is Being an Artist', de Wal recommends building an art habit.  Popular belief is that if you do something daily for 3 weeks, it will become a habit.  No matter what  is happening you must spend time daily creating some art if you want to get 'good enough'.   I am not great at this, life happens, so I am going to make a concerted effort this year to put in some more hours.  So, my challenge to myself is to create 150 paintings and or pottery pieces with Canadian themes for Canada 150.  Our big national celebration is this year and I am jumping on the bandwagon with artists such as TimothyWilson Hoey and Carla Perkins among others, and choosing Canada related themes to paint.  Also check out Canada 150 Projects for other interesting projects happening this year.

Here is the official start of painting #1 - this is just the underpainting, which is the base to establish values,

before I tackle the oil painting on top of this. Hope to get it done sometime this week.

Underpainting of a bridge in Jasper, AB

the photo by my son

A 'Real' Artist

In my constant struggle to become a serious 'real artist' I try to find books to help me learn how to do this.   Aletta de Wal's book, My Real Job is Being an Artist, is probably the best book I have found yet and I am attempting to work through the strategies she recommends and get SERIOUS.

One of the first things I need to address is producing more art in order to develop a signature style.  I spent a couple of hours today 'getting my creative space organized', which de Wal recommends you do right away.  I know this is very important for me - as I find if there is too much clutter or mess going on I just can't seem to get focused - Clear Space, Clear Mind.  The picture below is my art space and home office.  I also committed to doing some art today, so I sketched a fish while eating breakfast to get me off on the right foot.  I plan to tackle some painting this evening, too.

Cezanne style oil

We took a little break and went off to Jasper for what turned out to be some great powder, and relaxation.  My son has an interest in photography and a good eye, he snapped this one on our rainy bike ride.

I returned to work Monday rested.  However, my in progress painting has stalled out.  I am aiming for a Cezanne style oil painting but I aint loving it right now.  I feel a need for thicker paint and more colour in the houses.  Might put it aside and try something else today for a change of pace and return to it later.

Learning curve

So part of learning to be an artist is copying the Masters to see their process and learn more.  I did a copy of 'The Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Vermeer a few years back in one of my classes.  It was a great way to figure out all the layers and colours and process that Vermeer may have used.

My pale imitation of the original

I am still struggling to find a style that will work for me, but I find I am drawn to impressionist style paintings done in bright colours (landscapes, people or still life). Artists like Mary Cassat, Sorrolla, Monet, Cezanne or Van Gogh.
Present day artists that are favourites include Mike Svob, Karin Jurick, Kari Duke, Steve Coffey, Robert genn and most recently added Angus Wilson.  I have taken workshops with Mike Svob and unfortunately missed my one chance at a workshop with Robert Genn who has since passed away.  I attempted a painting similar to one by Steve Coffey (past post).  Below is my attempt to pull off an Angus Wilson painting.  I found one of the most pleasing parts of the painting are the slightly skewed lines coming in and interrupting the painting.  It seems to make the whole picture.  I feel motivated to try something like that in my own style of landscape or portrait to see how that works.

Thinking of spring

Thinking of spring today, as the snow flies again.  I keep trying different versions from some photos of our pond.  This is oil on black gesso canvas.  It needs something 'abstracty' in there, just not sure what.  Nice colours but feel kind of ...meh about it right now.  Oh well... next.

Back to the blog

And so it begins...again.  I have been busy, working since September, teaching outreach art classes in elementary schools for the Art Gallery of St. Albert.  They have tons of great classes for kids and adults, check it out by clicking here.  I have also been working on some paintings and some pottery when I have time.  Below are some of my attempts at both.

Nyhavn
Completed painting 48x20 acrylic on canvas

Small soya sauce pot for your sushi set

 

My pre-fired 'chicken bowl'.  This is a batter bowl, taken from the pages of a ceramic artist magazine, it reminded me of a chicken so I decorated it appropriately

The inside.  Unfortunately, as I am new to this gig, I used a yellow underglaze on red clay.  It looked good enough when it was in the greenware phase, but when I did the final glaze and firing the yellow almost disappeared and the bowl came out a sickly greenish red tinge.  Back to the drawing board!!

Oil painting started from a photo I took on the Skyline trail in Jasper Alberta (below).  Still working on it as I am trying to make it less blah and pop in some bright colours here and there.

In order to update my son's room he chose a graphic of a skier and I made it into a large mural for his wall.