The Old Corner Store

Original Oil Painting on Canvas  8 x 8  $85
Free s/h CAN & USA

This poor forgotten corner store has been standing empty in our neighbourhood for years. My friends and I  can think of all kinds for ventures for the spot, starting with a great little artist run gallery...The neon sign, which is practically a landmark, says News, Confectionery, and Magazines on the blue L shaped band. Another era for sure. I thought I'd better paint it before it disappears.

The Old Corner Store

Beach House II - Sunny Side Up

Original Oil Painting 8 x10 SOLD

This is another little beach house from Hornby Island. I just loved the colours of the house in the sunshine, and Sunny Side Up immediately came to mind. I substituted an arbutus tree for the evergreen that was there to add a bit more red, and more island charm to the painting.

Beach House II - Sunny Side Up

On the Spit

Oil on Canvas Panel  8 x 10  $95

Yesterday my plein air friends and I went to a place called Esquimalt Lagoon. It was a lovely sunny day, which I can tell you have been few and far between. The house is on a spit of land that extends along the oceanfront, forming a lagoon. The water in my painting is almost like a river that runs from the lagoon around the spit and reconnects with the ocean on the far left. My friends were busy painting the natural beach scape, but I was struck by those three telephone poles in beside the house. I loved the tilt of the poles and gently swooping wires. It gave the scene a summer place feel, although no one actually lives in the house.

There is so much wildlife in this lagoon. We saw a sea otter as we arrived, countless blue heron were busy fishing in the shallows, and there was a lot of eagle action overhead. So close we could hear there powerful wings beating the air. We all agreed that there is no better way to spend a sunny morning, than to head out painting together.

 

On the Spit

Jazz at the Airport

Jammin' Acrylic 30 x 24 SOLD

I've been asked about my jazz paintings currently on exhibit at the Victoria International Airport. So here are three of the images to give you an idea. They are part of a series called
"The Architecture of Jazz". This scene is the entrance to Market Square in Victoria, a popular place for festivals in the Summer.

Musical Spaces 2  Original Acrylic  30 x 24  $700 +s/h

These paintings were done with a palette knife on textured canvas. The canvas was textured first with molding paste, then the paint built up in many layers, creating a lot of depth and texture, to echo the depth and texture of jazz music. This scene depicts a loft space in Old Town with a view of the much loved Johnson Street Bridge, or the Blue Bridge, through the window.

Backstage Bebop   Acrylic on Canvas  30 x 24  $700 + s/h


The concept behind these paintings is that jazz musicians play together as a combo, then depart individually into their own musical space as they launch into improvisation. The musical spaces are represented by the architectural features of doorways, leaning and tilting as they move to the riffs and grooves of the music. Backstage Bebop has a forties feel to it, as so much great jazz music came out of that era. It depicts a lone musician warming up backstage.

Jazz at the Airport

Kraft

Original Oil 6 x 6
Left side of diptych

I've decided to create some paintings using some of the Retro items we have around our kitchen. This is an old cheese box from Kraft Canadian Cheese, and I was told when I bought it, that it was actually an original cheese mold. I don't know if that's true or not, but I love the box, and have many ideas for future paintings utilizing it. I had lots of fun painting the logo and am pleased with the colours forming the tomato as well. I'll post the other half tomorrow.

I apologize for the quality of the photo. I'm having trouble with my photos having glare or being too high tone. Someone suggested that it was the white balance in my camera, so I'm looking into that.

Kraft

Little Red Car

Little Red Car - NFS

I painted this picture as a gift for my husband, who grew up in France. It's a scene of a small village in the north of France, featuring a car called a 2CV, or Deux Cheveaux, which literally means 2 horse power. He owned many of these cars in his youth, but the most legendary was the little red one in this painting, which even includes the original license plate number. This car, took him all the way to Turkey and back, through mountains and deserts etc., which was quite a remarkable feat. He's really happy with his painting.

Little Red Car

Zen Moment

Zen Moment   Oil on Linen  6 x 6 $65

Here is a little bit of Zen going out to all you Mother's on this glorious warm sunny Mother's Day, here in Victoria. We haven't had the best weather this Spring, so today is a real gift. Enjoy!

 

Zen Moment

Curb Appeal

Curb Appeal   Acrylic on Linen  16 x 20  $450 + s/h
Please contact for a shipping quote

This painting is from a small village outside of Paris. The entire town was full of hydrangeas in bloom and all I could think of was how much 'Curb Appeal' the homes had. I wanted to move into all of them. In this painting and my last two postings, I've been concentrating on capturing the feel of the moment with minimal brush strokes. Putting each stroke down with purpose. I can tend to overpaint, so restricting my brushstrokes is a great exercise for me, and I'm pleased with the outcome.

 

Curb Appeal