Dundas in December

Dundas in December, 8x10 oil

Even though Monday was a cold, grey day, I was pleased that I went out to paint.  With the Dundas streets and windows decorated for Christmas, and people dashing from store to store, it was a pleasure to just observe and paint.    

Nightcap - Sold

Nightcap, 10x12 oil

I started this painting a couple weeks ago as one of the demonstrators at the Art Gallery of Burlington, (during the Christmas Guild Show).  Luckily it's dry now, just in time for my open studio this weekend.  We were hanging paintings yesterday, all over the house...I have to say, my house has never looked better!

Eating Like a Bird Series - Sold

Breakfast of Champions, 7x5 oil SOLD

A Light Lunch, 7x5 oil SOLD 

Dinner for One, 7x5 oil SOLD

If you watch birds for a bit of time, you can see so much character in them.  Have you ever heard the phrase, 'eating like a bird'?  Here is a little series of paintings that I created, with that phrase in mind.

Heading West

Heading West, 24x12 oil

I love the drive heading west along highway 8.  Rural Ontario; passing one small town after another, with big expanses of farmland in between, and century old houses.  This is the route I take every time I visit my parents, who live just outside of Goderich.  The highlight of the drive is stopping in downtown Stratford to grab a coffee and visiting a few of the shops and galleries.

This coming weekend I am hosting an Open Studio Show & Sale.  I have invited a few guest artists, and will have paintings all around the house and studio.  There will also be Christmas cards for sale and fresh home baked cookies to sample.

Balancing Act - Sold

Balancing Act, 12x16 acrylic

In the summer, the days seem to go on forever.  There is ample time for everything.  Why is it that when the sun sets earlier, you feel as if there is never enough time in a day?

This is the painting I meant to post last week, (time just got away from me somehow).  Yes, it is painted in acrylic.  I thought that if it was painted in acrylic, there would be no 'drying time' involved, as with oils.  I didn't take into account that I would have to get used to acrylics all over again.  The good thing is that I got to play with the paints and had a lot of fun.  I like the results..... but am happy to be back into my oils again this week.

At Rest

At Rest, 8x8 oil

This past Monday I had the pleasure of getting outside to paint 'en plein air'.  After all the preparation (and then more preparation), for the studio tour, it was almost a self indulgent day of painting.  When I saw this boat with the duck relaxing in the sun, I knew that this was what I had to paint.

The studio tour was a lot of fun, as usual.  I met so many people; some who come every year and do the tour , and some who are new to the area and just found out about it.  Having visited a few studio tours, I think that the Burlington tour is top notch!  There's a good variety of items and styles among the artists to visit.  Thank you to all who came out this year, and for supporting local artists.  

While I was painting the little boat by the water, not too far away, standing at the base of a tree, was a handful of photographers, with lenses longer than my arms.  I went to check out what the attraction was.  Way up in the tree an owl was sleeping.  I took the photo below with my phone.  Unfortunately his eyes were closed.  Can you see him?

Breakfast of Champions- Sold

Breakfast of Champions, 7x5 oil

Happy Halloween!

Guess who dropped by for breakfast! Another little bird painting that will be in my selection of work this weekend in the Burlington Studio Tour!  You can check out all the artists at www.artinaction.ca.

Looking for Something? - Sold

Looking for Something? 8x6 oil

I really enjoy the challenge of combining wildlife with everyday items, to create an unlikely scene. The final painting always makes me smile.  I hope to have a few of these little paintings at the studio tour next weekend.  

I've been so busy trying to get ready for the Studio Tour all week that I almost forgot to post this painting.  There is only a week to go for the tour...and still so much to do!  I may be hanging wet paintings.  I won't be in my own studio for the tour this year, I'll be in Teresa Seaton's studio, by the Royal Botanical Gardens.  A great spot!  

Apple of My Eye - Sold

Apple of My Eye 20x20 oil

I thought it might be nice to finish this week posting such a sunny painting.  I can't believe how much I have been enjoying painting these past few apple paintings!  This one was just finished today.

How time flies!  There are only two weeks until the Art in Action Burlington Studio Tour, (www.artinaction.ca).  The studio tour happens during the first weekend in November, (November 1 & 2).  There is a preview show of all the artist's work on the tour, in the Community Gallery at the Art Gallery of Burlington.  The reception is on Sunday, October 19, 2-4 pm.  This is the first time we will be having our pre-tour show at this gallery.  What a great venue!  All the artists will be at the reception.  Hope to see you there!  The show will be there until November.

Abundance

Abundance, 14x11 oil

Visiting an apple farm at this time of year is a delight for the senses!  Trees abundant with ripe apples everywhere!  Wagons full of excited children.  What a wonderful way to celebrate and appreciate Thanksgiving weekend.

September Paintings 2014

September Paintings 2014

Here are my paintings from September!  They are roughly in proportion to each other.  I love seeing them all together like this.  A couple have already been purchased.  The rest will be for sale during the first weekend in November, in the Burlington Studio Tour, www.artinaction.ca.

Within Reach 8x8 oil

Within Reach 8x8 oil

Here is my final painting of the 30 day painting challenge!  This painting, started on location at a local apple farm last week, was finished on location yesterday.  There were a few fluffy white clouds in the background.  Looking at the painting today, I decided that I didn't like the clouds and painted them out, and here is the final painting.  

Well that was a fun month!  A few of the paintings will be trashed for sure, but overall I really like what I have accomplished this month.  I didn't find this challenge nearly as hard to accomplish as in previous challenges.  I believe this is because I have a regular painting schedule already in place, which for me, is the key.  Tomorrow I will post a collage of all 30 paintings.

Hmmm, what shall I paint next?

Zest of a Lime - Sold

Zest of a Lime, 8x6 oil

Here is painting #26.  When I started to think about it, there are so many ideas of what to paint for the letter 'z'.  Here is one idea.  I didn't know if I would be able to make a curly peel with my handy little zester tool, but after sacrificing a lime or two, (in the name of art), I finally figured out it's all about the pressure applied to the lime.

Wow! only four more paintings to go for the month of September!  A few people have asked me what I'm going to paint after the alphabet is done.  Good question.  This afternoon, as well as on Saturday and Sunday, I will be painting down at Spencer Smith Park, here in Burlington.  It's part of the Culture Days Celebration.  I am hoping that I will be able to post those paintings.  If I'm not happy with them then I guess I'll have to come up with another plan.

Favourite Yellow Paint

Favourite Yellow Paint, 8x6 oil

It took me ages to figure out what to paint for 'y'.  I realized that my subject matter was sitting right under my nose.  I have a few empty tubes of yellow paint sitting in my paint drawer.  I'm not sure why I keep them, perhaps in case of a paint emergency I might be able to squeeze another drop of paint out of them.  I stopped this painting at this point because I really like the way it looks being a drawing as well as a painting.  In fact, I got to this point last night and couldn't bring myself to put another drop of paint on it.  After leaving it overnight, and seeing it in the morning, I still couldn't bring myself to paint anything else on it, so here it is, finished, I think.

Michael Harding's Artists Oil Colours, imported from England.  I discovered this brand of paint at the local art store.  It is superior to any paint I've tried.  I especially love the Cadmium Yellow!  When it was discontinued at that store, I had to find another supplier.  Now I get it from Gwartzman's Art Supply Store in Toronto.

This is painting #25, only 5 more to go for September!

Xylophone Express - Sold

Xylophone Express, 12x6 oil

I found this very well used Xylophone pull toy at an antique market last weekend.  Good thing, because I don't know what else I could have painted for the letter 'x'.  I love the character of old worn toys.  Made of wood and metal parts, nothing plastic about it.  

This is my 24th painting of the month, two more to go to the end of the alphabet, 'y' & 'z'.  After I'm done the alphabet I'm not sure, at the moment, what I'll be painting; perhaps the plein air paintings that I'll be doing on the weekend, if they turn out.

Wasting Water

Wasting Water, 8x10 oil

There is nothing more irritating than the incessant dripping of a tap in the middle of the night.  Well, there might be a few more irritating things than that, like a mosquito in the bedroom or a dog barking outside just when you've fallen asleep.  Come to think of it, I guess there are plenty more irritating things than a dripping tap, except that when the hydro bill arrives you'll be irritated with yourself for not fixing that leaky tap.

Painting #23, seven more paintings to go in the 30 day challenge.

VW Van - Sold

VW Van, 8x8 oil

For my 22nd painting I chose to post this plein air painting that I did in August. The person in the painting was just added today.  It was painted in Dundas Square, Toronto.  My husband, Andy Griffiths, was helping to run the entertainment, raising funds for The Sick Kids Hospital.  This annual event is called Punch Buggy for Sick Kids.  My favourite out of all the cars was this VW van, from the 1960's.  I would love to own one of these!

I would like to sell this painting for $200,  and donate half to Sick Kids Hospital.  I am fortunate that my children had never needed the services of this hospital, (they are young adults now), but my heart goes out to all those parents and their children who do need it.

(Feeling) Utterly Upside-down - Sold

(Feeling) Utterly Upside-down, 8x8 oil

What's a 30 day challenge without a sock monkey?  Here is painting #21.

Next weekend will be a big weekend.  It's Culture Days in Burlington!  I will be painting en plein air at Spencer Smith Park all weekend.  I usually go out to paint on Monday afternoons with a group of artists.  It's with this group that I will be painting next weekend.  This group is based on our commitment to painting en plein air.  We have loosely named ourselves Monday Painters, for a lack of a better name, but in reality we should just be called Plein Air Painters.  There are no fees.  An email is sent out as to where and when we will be painting next and all those who can make it will reply to say when they will be there.  It's wonderful to be part of something like this.

Tons of Toothpicks - Sold

Tons of Toothpicks, 8x8 oil

September 20, here's today painting.  This old box of toothpicks has been around for so long, it looks antique!  In fact I stopped taking any toothpicks from it and put the box in my studio because I knew I was going to paint it one day.  

Sunny Sunflowers - Sold

Sunny Sunflowers, 10x8 oil

'Sunny Sunflowers', even in a darkened room, they almost seem to have a light of their own.  Here is #19 out of 30 paintings, for the month of September.

Last night was the reception for the group show, 'Ordinary Beauty', at the Dundas Museum.  It was a wonderful evening, thank you for joining me.  If you couldn't make it out, the show will still be there until October 13th.

Rolling Country Roads - Sold

Rolling Country Roads, 10x8 oil

For my 18th painting I decided to use a plein air painting that I did a few weeks ago.  I just had to make a few minor adjustments to it and it's perfect for my letter 'r' painting.  After driving out west earlier this summer, and seeing the straight flat roads of the prairies, I've acquired more of an appreciation for the hilly winding roads of Ontario.

3 Quacks

3 Quacks, 10x8 oil

Here is painting #17.  One of the fun things about this challenge is that I have an excuse to paint some things I wouldn't normally be painting.

Today will be a busy day getting ready for the reception at the Dundas Museum.   The reception is from 5:30 to 8:30 tomorrow, Thursday evening.  It'll be a good break from this challenge, but I may have some catching up to do!

Peas and Pods - Sold

Peas and Pods, 12x6 oil

Here is painting #16.  I love how peas have little stems; you never see that when you buy a bag of frozen peas!  Unfortunately I can't grow peas in my garden.  Not because they can't grow, but because the rabbits just love them and eat them all up.

O for Olives - Sold

O for Olives, 6x4 oil

It seems to me, you either hate olives or you love them.  I've never met anyone who is indifferent to them.  For the record, I love them!  In fact I ate the ones I painted as soon as the painting was finished.

Painting #15, half way through the challenge and still going strong!  I must be doing something right this time, like planning my time better or making sure to take breaks between paintings.  Perhaps I'm keeping my paintings simpler, or maybe I'm painting faster, (maybe all of the above).  By this time, in the other painting challenges I've done, I would be exhausted by now!

As I make my way through the alphabet... I'm wondering... what shall I paint for the last 4 paintings?  No time to think about that now, on to the next painting... 'p'.

Oodles of Noodles - Sold

Oodles of Noodles, 24x12 oil

Here's painting #14 of the month, almost half way through the challenge!  I thought since I chose to keep this painting simple, it wouldn't take much time; therefore I should use a larger canvas.  Well I couldn't have been more wrong!  It took me forever to paint those noodles!  

Mmmm Margarita

Mmmm Margarita, 4x6 oil

For painting #13 I chose to paint a Blue Margarita.  When I started painting the first cocktail, 'Kir', I had no idea that I would be painting a series of primary coloured cocktails.  After I had painted 'Lemony Lemon Drop', I realized blue was my only choice for the next painting.  I love the way they look all together!

                              

Lemony Lemon Drop

Lemony Lemon Drop, 4x6 oil

Here is painting #12 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I was searching for a martini recipe for this next painting, and found this in allrecipes.com.  It's very lemony and not too sweet, you can adjust the sweetness to your own liking.  It also has a bit of mint, which is a nice little touch.

Kir Please

Kir Please, 4x6 oil

Here is painting #11.  Kir is a wonderful cocktail of black current liqueur and white wine, a ratio of 1 part liqueur and 9 parts wine.  It can be made with red wine, champagne, or even a different flavoured liqueur, but black current and white wine is my favourite combination.  Actually it's the only combination I've ever tried because I love the black current flavour!

Jam Jars - Sold

Jam Jars, 8x8 oil

Here's the 10th painting of the month.  Well I've made it through the first third of the challenge!  I'm starting to get behind a bit now.  These jam jars were a lot of fun to paint though, I actually had to force myself to stop painting.  There are still a couple of bits that I would like to get to, but sometimes when I leave a painting for a few days, I realize it doesn't need anything.  Most of my paintings this month will be for sale in the Burlington Studio Tour, www.artinaction.ca, (the first weekend in November), unless of course they are sold beforehand.   If something catches your eye, send me a message here or on Facebook and I'll answer your questions.  Now on to the next painting...

The Ice Cream Incident

The Ice Cream Incident, 6x8 oil

Painting #9, 'The Ice Cream Incident', or should it be called 'The I Scream Incident'.   Has this ever happened to you?  The last time I dropped my ice cream cone was actually this summer.  My husband and I had decided to treat ourselves and went to the gelato shop, downtown Burlington.  We waited in a long line, but knew it was worth it; we would be rewarded in the end.  So with our treasures in hand we chose to go for a stroll along the lakeside promenade.  How romantic is that.  We carefully crossed the street.  Not even 10 steps into our walk and oops!  There went my ice cream!  It even managed to hit my clothes on the way down.  I felt like a three year old child, in fact I wished at that moment that I was 3, then I could have screamed and cried my eyes out!  My husband shared his cone with me, which in the end, was sweeter than having my own, and much more romantic.

Hot, Hot, Hot - Sold

Hot, Hot, Hot 10x8 oil

For painting #8, I chose to paint some very hot peppers from my garden.  When I cut these peppers up I have to be careful not to rub my eyes for the rest of the day!  Wow, they are hot!  I grew some of these peppers a couple of years ago.  What I hadn't used fresh, I dried and put in a jar.  I am sure they have lost a lot of their potency judging from the strength of these fresh ones!   I will have to replace the older dried peppers with this year's batch for sure.  I had saved a couple of the little green boxes from some raspberries earlier in the season, with the intention of using them in a painting eventually.

I have no idea at this point what I will be painting next.  Hmmm, what starts with 'I'?

Gorgeous Grapefruit - Sold

Gorgeous Grapefruit, 10x8 oil

Day 7 already?  Here's my seventh painting of the month.  I've had this grapefruit sitting on the counter, waiting to be eaten.  Every morning my husband and I have gotten into making smoothies for breakfast, packed full of berries and other wonderful things.  This grapefruit just keeps sitting there, forgotten.  Since I was nearing the letter 'g' I thought what better day would there be to slice it open and paint it/eat it. 

Finch Food - Sold

Finch Food, 12x6 oil

September 6, my sixth painting of the month.  I had all sorts of plans for this painting, but in the end, I didn't want to labour over it too much.  I like how fresh the flowers look.  There was supposed to be a Goldfinch in the painting as well, but decided that it didn't really need it after all.  There may be a 'Finch Food II' painting in the works at a later date though. 

(Almost) Empty Egg Carton - Sold

(Almost) Empty Egg Carton, 8x8 oil

A little late posting painting #5 today, the internet had been down for quite a few hours.  I love painting every day items.  There are so many stories that they can tell.  It may be just a reminder of a moment in the day or time spent preparing something special.  An item that you see all the time, but have rarely ever looked at.  If you think about the egg carton, some one had to design the box to house the eggs, and keep them safe.  It doesn't always keep the eggs safe, but does a reasonably good job.  I wonder when the egg carton was first invented?  Years ago I did a painting of an egg carton that my eldest daughter (who was in preschool at the time), had painted to look like a caterpillar.  It was brightly coloured, had pipe cleaner antennae and Pink Fruit Loop eyes.  It was the first time a child of mine had brought home a project that she had created, plus I was afraid it wouldn't last, (and it didn't, the cat ate the eyes before the next day had arrived).
 

(Dubious Decision), Green Tea - Sold

Dubious Decision, 6x8 oil

Painting #4 in the 30 in 30 challenge. The cups were very unstable when stacked like this.  As I set this still life up, the thought of painting them in this precarious position didn't seem like a good idea.  One tiny bump and my painting would be called 'Disastrous Decision'!   In the end, while balancing the top cup with one finger, I took a photo.  I am pleased with the painting, disaster avoided!

Curious Cow - Sold

Curious Cow, 12x6 oil

Painting #3 in the painting a day challenge.  Have you ever noticed that when you stop to look at cows, they all stop grazing and look at you?  I'm sure they are curious as to what you are doing there.  This was a half painted plein air painting that I decided to finish off for this challenge.  It also fits into my scheme.  So far I have been naming my paintings alphabetically.  I have a feeling that there are going to be some very oddly named paintings!

Beautiful Boxes - Sold

Beautiful Boxes, 18x24 oil

Painting #2, The mystery of the box!  There is something intriguing about an unopened box.  The mystery of what could be inside.  These boxes are from a store in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  My husband and I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake to celebrate our anniversary this year.  We love touring the wineries and discovering new wines.  The downtown area is pretty, with some unique shops.  One shop that we stopped in sold all kinds of hats.  We both found hats that we fell in love with, and when purchasing them the sales girl asked if we would like them in boxes.  As soon as I saw the boxes I said yes to both of us having boxes, knowing that they will become part of a painting!  

Abandoned Apple Core

Abandoned Apple Core 6x6 oil 

The first day of September is here!  Tomorrow life will get back to 'normal' for those who have children at home.  They'll be sent off to school, wearing new outfits, ready to start a new year of challenges and accomplishments.  Shiny and new, just like the apples that will be left on the teacher's desks.  Do children bring apples to school for their teachers?  A Norman Rockwell sort of image comes to mind.  Happy Labour Day!

This month for me represents a month of paintings!  I have chosen to join the hundreds of artists and do a painting a day, for 30 days.  I can't believe this will be the fourth time doing the Leslie Saeta 30 in 30 Challenge.  It's a lot of fun and hard work, and definitely a challenge!  I will be posting here every day, as well as on lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca. 

Grazers - Sold

Grazers 8x8 oil

A couple weeks back, on a beautiful summer day, I painted this painting (mostly 'en plein air').  It was the kind of day that if I had to go to an office I would have been late, taken an extra long lunch and left as early as possible.  I hopped into my car not knowing where or what I was going to paint.  As I was driving, I decided I needed a game plan, so I started with searching for sunflowers, imagining that that is what would inspire me on such a gorgeous day.  I found the sunflowers, only to find that there wasn't any way to get around them, with a 'NO TRESPASSING' sign at the only access point.  I drove around. seeking another sunflower farm.  On my way, I passed this field of cows.  The sun was getting lower in the sky, creating amazing intense colours, (my favourite time of day to paint outdoors!).  I stopped to take photos, knowing that they will probably move away soon...but they didn't.  I set up my easel and started painting as fast as I could.  Eventually, as the cows were grazing their way across the field they ended up way back at the other end of the pasture.  Not bad, I managed to get most of the painting done.  Back in my studio I added the black and white cow in the centre of the painting.  A few days later, painting barely dry, I inserted it into a frame and managed to get it into my current show at the Dundas Museum!  It sits nicely among my other paintings featuring cows. 

Urban Quagmire - Sold

Urban Quagmire 30x30 oil

This new painting, Urban Quagmire was completed a couple of weeks ago.  I usually paint much smaller paintings, but this one needed to be large.  The good thing about painting larger is that I can really get into the detail and play with it.  This was so much fun to paint!  I managed to get it done just in time to hang in my current show, (just hung yesterday). 

The Sentry

The Sentry, 10x8 oil

This majestic row of trees was painted on July 7, at Courtcliffe Park in Hamilton, Ontario.  I know ... over a month ago ... just a little behind with my postings.  The funny thing about painting 'en plein air' is that I remember everything about the time I spend on every painting.  I remember why I chose a certain view, as opposed to one in a different location and what the particular circumstances were while I was painting, as well as the decisions that I made during the painting.  It's almost as if time stands still, all that matters at that moment is the painting.  Sometimes it can take 3 to 4 hours to complete, but feels like only an hour had passed, while other times it may only take an hour and I can't believe it's completed because it felt like 10 minutes.  Either way, I'm always surprised when I look at a clock afterwards. 

When I painted 'The Sentry' it was a warm day with a bit of a breeze.  The trees looked so impressive with the sun behind them, creating a strong silhouette.  I chose to stand under the shade of a large tree in the open part of the park. I wanted to be away from the forest where the stream runs through because the mosquitos were particularly bad that day, (I forgot to pack sunscreen and bug spray).   

Dragon Boats, Bayfront Park - Sold

Dragon Boats, Bayfront Park

Last week my plein air group painted at Bayfront Park in Hamilton.  It was a busy day at the boat launch area, with people coming and going all afternoon.  A lot of people were out for a light stroll along the path and a family of swans swam by.  An idyllic summer afternoon.   The dragon boats are almost always moored alongside the dock by the boat launch ramp.  I thought since there were only two dragon boats, (usually there are a lot more), it would make a simple little painting.

Doing the Walk

Doing the Walk, 24x24 oil

I love visiting farmers markets and being able to get fresh picked fruits and vegetables.  The other day there was a local farm tour.  We were able to visit private farms and watch them at work and sample the produce.  One farm we visited was called ManoRun Organic Farm.  We were given a tour of the farm and an explanation of the goals for the farm etc.  I love that you can actually buy into the farm and get a share of what they have to offer.  Another farm was Lots'a Hostas and Jerry's Berries.  Of course I picked up a hosta, a staple in most gardens around here, so easy to care for and look great in any garden.  In the pouring rain we also managed to pick a few raspberries, yum!

'Doing the Walk' was inspired by my visit to The Royal Winter Fair last November.  I've always been captivated by farm life.  When I was a child my grandparents had a small farm outside of Toronto.  Being a city kid, it thrilled me to visit them.  Beside the chickens, cows and the vegetable garden was a pear orchard.  The ultimate playground for me was being able to climb the trees to get to the crunchy unripe fruit.  I still prefer my pears that way.  

The Two Sisters - Sold

Time flies when you're having fun!  I can't believe it's almost a month since my last blog post.  This past spring was a busy time for me.  One commission I had was to paint the portraits of two sisters.  Since I was going to be painting from photos, I chose ones where the girls were smiling.  It's funny how we're conditioned to smile when put in front of a camera.  I thought it would be nice to paint smiling portraits, although harder, it's a rare opportunity.  When painting from life a person can only hold a smile for so long before the cheeks start to quiver and the face loses it's expression.  I'm pleased with these portraits, I smile every time I see them.

A week ago, I got back from a road trip out to Alberta.  My husband and I drove through the northern states in the USA to Montana, then up to Canada, to visit some friends in Alberta.  We drove back across the prairies to Ontario.  I had prepared and packed my art supplies, ready to paint up a storm.  I knew we would spend a lot of time driving, but wow!  We saw a lot, did a bit of hiking and touristy stuff, and camped on the nicer days, but I only managed to do a few sketches.  I did take thousands of pictures though, and painted a couple of times with my friend in Alberta.  It was a fun trip!