Painting After a Pause

Harvest

I must say that retirement is so great, and that being able to devote my time to painting is really fulfilling. I'm just getting into a regular schedule and still have to fit in my fitness workouts, but it will all come together. 

After not painting for several months due to my extended trip and the preparation for it beforehand, it was interesting getting back in the painting saddle. On my return, I had only a few weeks before starting up my teaching schedule for the fall, so I began painting in acrylics, as that is the medium I'm teaching in. I was surprised at how many painting techniques that I would normally readily employ, came back slowly. Things like softening edges. I had to go back and do it after the fact. I have now completed my first two sets of classes and my first demonstration of the season, and I've moved on to oils. It feels great to be painting with that rich buttery oil paint that scrapes off so nicely! And I did scape off....twice! 

But regardless of the challenges, it's just so enriching to be able to spend my days creating. And the thing we all love about painting is the lifelong learning. It literally never stops, and that's why we never stop. Happy painting everyone!

Painting After a Pause

Back at the Easel

Tractor Lines    12 x 24    Acrylic

It's been a long time since posted. The exciting new is that I retired from my full time design job and I can now concentrate on all the things I really love doing, which of course includes painting! To kick off my retirement I went on a long travel through Spain, Portugal and France. My travels started with a girlfriend, walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostella, an 800k path starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, crossing northern Spain and ending in Santiago. It was an incredible journey on many levels. The daily visual splendor and the many new international friends, made this a journey to cherish forever. The above painting came from a gorgeous early morning, walking through fields where the tractors had been busy mark making. These tractor lines, enhanced by the early morning sun and shadows was breathtaking. I just had to paint it!

Back at the Easel

Breezy Bay Farm

Breezy Bay Farm     Acrylic    24 x 36   $975

He everyone, it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I've been really busy getting ready for the Oak Bay Artists Fall Studio Tour, coming up this weekend November 15 and 16, 12:00 - 4:30pm. If you're in the area, be sure to drop to by and say hi! For an online tour brochure click here.

This past August my husband and I visited Saturna Island, a jewel of an island in the Salish Sea just a short ferry ride from Victoria, BC where we live. We stayed at a B&B called the Breezy Bay, pictured above. It's a working farm and the farmhouse we stayed in is the original family home from 1889. We just loved sitting on the big wrap around porch at the end of the afternoon, looking out over the orchard and vegetable garden, and watching the cows, geese, and osprey. Every day when we returned from our daily adventures we came upon this view of the farm, and on the third day, I said "Stop the car!". I just had get some reference material to remember this fantastic view.

I paint mainly still life, and although I love a landscape or architectural piece to switch things up a bit, all this green was a challenge! I find green is a particularly hard colour to mix accurately. 

I'm currently reading a book on the origins of paint, called Color - A Natural History of the Palette, by Victoria Findlay. It's a fascinating read with so many interesting stories to help you work any cocktail party with style! In the 1700's newly invented green paints and dyes became all the rage. Everything from clothing to furniture and wallpaper were done up in green. But unfortunately the green contained arsenic and it was a full 100 years of using arsenic filled green, before a researcher Henry Carr, spoke out, outlining deaths and illnesses as a result of the colour green, particularly in wallpapers. Carr pointed out that just two or three grains of arsenic would destroy the life of a healthy man, and that the country was producing 4,809 tons in one year. Most listeners were shocked and agreed with his call for an investigation. Then a Dr. Thudichum stood up and suggested that Carr was being alarmist. He said his eyes rejoiced at the beautiful bright arsenical paper, and when he looked at the abominable grays and hideous browns and dreadful yellows made without arsenic he could not help thinking that green is what he would like to see on his walls! 

Although we don't have arsenic in our modern paints, (I don't think), it's good to remember that you don't want to hold your paint brush in your mouth, or dry sand paints as there is still the possibility of health risks involved with paint. I remember years ago when I painted in watercolours, everyone in the class ended their painting session by putting their paintbrush in their mouths to bring it to a perfect point - until the instructor suggested that it wasn't best idea, and that Van Gogh, and Whistler could attest to that. :-) 

Breezy Bay Farm

The Old Farm House

Oil on Canvas 8 x 10 $150 Unframed
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We recently spent a late afternoon painting out at the old farm at Beaver Pond in Saanich. We were hoping for sun so we'd have some long shadows. The sun came and went, but it was out enough that we were able to capture the light effect. It was a beautiful spot with lots of wild rabbits hopping around the field. I don't know the story of the old farm house, but it's definitely old, with a sagging roof. It was a really glorious spot to paint.

This upcoming Sunday, June 26th, is the kick off of the Artishow Summer Plein Air Event at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. I'll be there painting along with a few other Victoria Artists, from 11am - 6 pm. If you're in the area, drop by and say hello, I'd love to see you!

The Old Farm House

Cool Shade - Study

Original Oil on Stretched Linen 6 x 6 SOLD

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This is a study for a larger canvas I have planned. I'm working on a series of landscapes in acrylic, on textured canvas, in a larger format. It's interesting to me how painting these small paintings regularly, can impact my painting in another medium and size. For me, the improved skill set and familiarity of putting paint to canvas, allows for greater freedom and bravery in carrying out a concept. As I get farther along with the larger pieces I'll start to post the process.

Cool Shade - Study

Lavender Field

Original Oil Painting - Plein Air   8 x 10  $125 Free Shipping

This is the lavender field that we were so fortunate to spend a morning painting. Unfortunately, on the way to farm, I suddenly discovered I'd lost my glasses! I tried to make the best of a blurry moment but never quite got into the zone. If I was to do it again I would probably reduce the size of the willow tree and move it over by the barn, with maybe a branch overlapping. It was hard to decide what viewpoint to paint from. I wanted to paint in the shade, but eventually chose full sunshine so I was looking up the rows of lavender. I worried through the whole painting about my glasses, but there was a happy ending to the story. After hours of retracing my footsteps, I found them on the lawn in my backyard, next to the sprinkler!

 

Lavender Field