Friend or Foe

Friend or Foe, 12x12 oil

A dandelion and a wasp, inspired by my painting 'Bee's Breakfast'.  I was going to put the wasp into 'Bee's Breakfast', but then I would have had to come up with another title.  I like that it has it's own painting now.  I think dandelions and wasps are probably in the same category of being unappreciated.  

The First Day of Summer

The First Day of Summer, 16x8 oil

I love the changes and beauty that every season has to offer, but there is something about the long hot days of summer that I find irresistible. This was painted on Monday June 20, the longest and hottest (so far), day of the year!   Painted on location on Valley Inn Rd, near the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.   Happy Summer Solstice!

After a Day in (the Country) Burlington - Sold

After a Day in (the Country) Burlington, 24x24 oil

It's amazing how wildlife has adapted to the urban setting.  My dogs have been sprayed by skunks more times than I dare to say.  They have chased many rabbits out of the backyard and have had a few encounters with groundhogs and possums.  This painting started out as most paintings do, an idea.  The idea was then submitted to the upcoming show called  'Urban and Rural'.  I love combining images that don't always seem to belong together, as in this one, a skunk smelling a bouquet of flowers.  This painting is in the current show at the Art Gallery of Burlington which is on until September 5.

One Egg at a Time - Sold

One Egg at a Time, 16x16 oil

When I was planning this painting I was feeling overwhelmed with daily timelines and looming deadlines, realizing that it can all be dealt with 'one egg at a time', (making a list also helps).

Free Run

Free Run, 36x12 oil

I don't usually get my eggs fresh from a farm, but I do try to buy 'free run' eggs at the grocery store.  A few months back I picked up a dozen eggs from a local farmer.  The eggs were extremely fresh and the shells were a lot tougher to crack than the store bought ones.   I think I might look into buying my eggs from the farmer's market, when it starts up for this year's season.

Bee's Breakfast ` Sold

Bee's Breakfast, 24x24 oil

The long weekend in May has come and gone, which in this area of the world means that summer has officially arrived!  The calendar may not say it but the weather certainly does.

I've noticed that one of the first flowers to bloom are the dandelions.   A beautiful sight in mid spring when there are still no leaves on the trees, and no other colour around except for their bright yellow flowers.  A comforting sight, letting us know warm weather is on it's way. 

  

Delicious - Sold

Delicious, 12x12 oil

Besides being fun, painting fruit and vegetables in their most natural form has given me such an appreciation for all of their amazing colours and textures; and then I get to eat them afterwards! 

Roots - Sold

Roots, 48x24 oil

There has been so many changes to the food that we consume every day compared to what our ancestors used to eat.  I believe part of the goal was to make hardier plants that will withstand pests (by covering our food with poison), or processing foods to last longer on the shelf (to the point of removing all of the nutrient value).  The need to eat whole natural foods is a basic human necessity that seems to have been forgotten by the large corporations.  I am glad to see that there is a growing trend, at least here in Ontario, for people to purchase organically grown food from small family farms.

Sweet - Sold

Sweet, 12x12 oil

I worked on this painting as a demonstration at the Art Gallery of Burlington's Kaleidoscope Show a couple of weekends ago, but just finished it today.  I've spent quite a bit of time getting my 'stuff' ready for taxes.  I don't know what happens between this time of year and tax time, but somehow papers, receipts, and all those important things seem to disappear.  In the end I did find everything I needed, but I would have rather been painting!  

Juicy - Sold

Juicy, 12x12 oil

I think seeing the beauty in every day things is important.  Appreciating the small things.  All those small things add up.  I keep getting comments at shows on how I paint regular everyday things.   I've never really thought about it, I just paint what inspires me.  At first it was a test...can I paint that and capture how the light is showing off it's beauty?  Having my studio in my home probably helps to foster this, these are the things I see, use and eat.   I've heard advise given to writers to write what you know, well I guess I'm applying this to painting.

For the Love of Flowers - Sold

For the Love of Flowers, 8x8 oil

On March 18 I returned to Canada Blooms to spend the afternoon painting again.  I am happy to say the trip to the show wasn't nearly as eventful as it had been the first time.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to paint there again!  It took me ages to figure out what to paint, (there were so many wonderful choices), but I was drawn to this display.  I believe it won second place in it's category, but in my humble opinion, it deserved to be in first place.

Dancing Flowers - Sold

Dancing Flowers, 8x10 oil

Here is my painting from March 16, painted at the Canada Blooms Show in Toronto.  

The long story:

On March 16, (a cold and rainy day), I headed to Toronto to paint at Canada Blooms.  I had to stop and pick up a coffee on my way to the train station of course, making me miss the train I was hoping to catch.  It was still fine because I had planned to get to Toronto a bit early to check out some of the show before starting to paint.  Well, with my luck being the way it is, over the loud speaker there was an announcement that the train will be 10 minutes late, and then another announcement that it was cancelled.  When the next train finally came it got me to the show just in time to set up and start painting, at least I made it in time for that.  Upon arriving at the show there were all sorts of booths selling various items and services promising to 'enhance' your garden/home life in some way, so I wasn't disappointed that I had no time to look around, but when I entered the horticultural part of the show there was so much to explore and amazing displays all done with plants and flowers that I couldn't wait to explore.  There was a wonderful display of gerbera flowers with a very large gnome.  It would have been fun to paint the gnome, but the true attraction for me were the flowers.  I love gerberas!  So after I finished painting, I ended up staying at the show until late in the evening to check out some of the beautiful displays.  

It's been A Long Day - Sold

It's been A Long Day, 18x24 oil

I'm always looking around for things to paint.  Stopping in shops to perhaps find a piece that I can include in a painting.  Sometimes I'm lucky, but more often than not there is nothing that inspires me or the cost doesn't merit the purchase.  Who would have thought I should find something in my own house; there's an idea!  Over the years my family has acquired a few items from various relatives, (mainly my husband's parents).  You get so used to these things being around that you actually stop seeing them.  The piece that I used in this painting has been in my studio for the past few years, usually with a small plant or two on top.

A Slippery Path

A Slippery Path, 6x12 oil

Way back at the beginning of this month I went out to paint en plein air.  It's the only day I managed to get out to paint this month.  This was painted on a farm in Dundas, Ontario.

Early Spring

Early Spring, 12x6 oil

One day last month while I was doing the 30 paintings in 30 days I had gone out to paint en plein air.  Since it didn't fall into the subject of painting food related items and my 'before and after' theme, I chose not to use it as one of the paintings in the challenge. So in reality I could call it 31 paintings in 30 days challenge.

This was painted on location in Dundas, Ontario.  It was such a beautiful day!

 

30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016

30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2016

Here are all 30 paintings from this month!  I love seeing them together like this.  Now to clean up my studio and move on to projects that are waiting to get done.  Thank you for following me this month.    

XO

XO, 6x8 oil

Here is the final painting of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey this month, and can still say that I can't think of a better way to start the year.

Spending Time Together - Sold

Spending Time Together, 8x8 oil

Two of my favourite perks of the day!  Taking a walk and grabbing a cup of coffee.  Allowing myself time to think about things other than the task at hand.  Recently I'd forgotten to bring a reusable cup, so I thought I would use this one as a prop for a painting.

Toast and Coffee? - Sold

Toast and Coffee?, 10x8 oil

I never make soft boiled eggs.  Probably because I don't care for eating them that way.  I imagined this painting to have a soft drippy egg.  Well after making three hard boiled eggs, then this one, that was as close as I was going to get.  The yolk is more like gelatin than liquid, (more to my liking, if I was going to eat it).  This is painting #28 of the month!

Soft Boiled - Sold

Soft Boiled, 8x8 oil

I decided to paint eggs for my 27th painting; just three more paintings to complete over the next three days.  I really haven't found this challenge as hard to keep up with as in past challenges, although it did get a bit tough around the two week mark.  The 'before and after' theme that I chose to follow for the month has been fun, as well as limiting myself to the subject of food or food related items.

A Study for Jam Jars and Daisies

A Study for Jam Jars and Daisies, 6x8 oil

I actually set up this still life with five jam jars in a row.  When I thought of the time it would take to paint it, and the size I would want it to be, I decided that it'll have to wait until after this challenge is over.    

Wild Blueberry - Sold

Wild Blueberry, 6x8 oil

Here is today's painting.  I think I like the label on this jar just as much as I like the jam/spread inside.  This is my 25th painting of the month, getting close to the end now! Five more paintings to go.

Golden Beets - Sold

Golden Beets, 8x16 oil

For my 23rd painting of the month I chose to paint this bunch of golden beets.  I can't believe I've already painted 23 paintings this year!  All of the paintings have been painted from life, without the use of photos.  It's a really good exercise, although sometimes the still life will tend to shift or move while I paint.  Flowers start to wilt or in this case the beets began to lean to the left more and more.

Hot & Spicy - Sold

Hot & Spicy, 10x5 oil

If you've ever chopped a jalapeño pepper, then you know never to rub your eyes afterwards.  I have done this more often than I care to say.  I have tried wearing rubber gloves while handling the cut peppers, but the gloves just seem so cumbersome.  This is painting #22, only seven more to go!    

A Few Jalapeños - Sold

A Few Jalapeños, 6x6 oil 

Here is painting #21.  I chose to paint jalapeño peppers because I love their deep green colour, (and the spicy hot flavour).  

Just Because

Just Because, 8x16 oil

I would say Gerberas are one of my favourite flowers.  I love that they come in a lot of colours and are fairly large in size.  Unfortunately they have no scent.

This is the twentieth painting of the month...only ten more to go!

Milk and Cookies - Sold

Milk and Cookies, 5x10 oil

Here is painting #19.  Who doesn't love a nice cold glass of milk and a few yummy cookies for a snack.

Happy Day - Sold

Happy Day, 8x10 oil

There's nothing like a few fresh flowers to brighten the day.  Here is painting #18.  Happy Monday!

Refreshing

Refreshing, 16x16 oil

For painting #17 I decided to get a bit larger.  I looked at my stack of smaller canvases and thought how nice it would be to sink my teeth into something larger.  What was I thinking!  With this size I and amount of time I could have painted at least four small paintings.  Oh well, I enjoyed painting it all the same.  

Two Cups

Two Cups, 7x9 oil

Here is painting #15.  Fifteen more paintings to go for the month of January!

Party of Pears - Sold

Party of Pears, 12x6 oil

Here is painting #14 of the painting challenge.  Almost half way there!  Out of all the 30 day painting challenges that I've done, I'm finding this to be the easiest.  I'm thinking that it's partly because I have developed good work habits and have learned to manage my time well, but I also think I have become more efficient in how I paint and know where I want to go with each painting that I start.  Let's see how the next 16 days will go!

A Lone Pear - Sold

A Lone Pear, 6x6 oil

Sometimes the stars just do not align properly!  I made an attempt to paint a pear last night.  It took me about four hours and I was struggling with it the whole time.  I know I wasn't focused, but it was a simple little pear.  I looked at it this morning and decided I should try it again with a different pear.  I painted it within two hours without a hitch.   So I took a photo and uploaded it to post here.  After typing the title my keyboard stopped working.  Luckily I'm able to use another device to post it.  Then I looked at the date and yes, it's the 13th day, 13th painting, hmmm.   

Dessert is Coming - Sold

Dessert is Coming, 8x10 oil

Sometimes, before painting a still life, I would have all sorts of ideas as to what I would like to paint.  Setting up one arrangement after another.  That's how it went with this set up.  In the end I chose to go with this simple set up.  I love this point of view and seeing the layers of colours.

A Good Start - Sold

A Good Start, 8x8 oil

Here is painting #10.  Already a third of the way through the challenge.  I think the biggest challenge is what to paint next.  Since my theme is 'before and after',  the 'before' painting is hard, because I also have to think about the 'after' painting at the same time.

Fast Food - Sold

Fast Food, 12x6 oil

Here is painting #9.  All my paintings this month are from life.  I've been asked what my painting set up is.  I always stand when I paint.  To get this angle I've place a small table on top of another table.  I find that sitting and painting is hard on the back.

Trois Petits Macarons - Sold

Trois Petits Macarons, 6x8 oil

This is my 'after' painting of Les Petits Macarons.  Originally I had the idea to paint the pink cookie by itself with a bite taken out of it, but that painting will have to wait.  These cookies have become part of my collection of still life objects in my studio...they are a couple months old, (hard as rock unfortunately).  I'll have to wait to take a bite out of some nice freshly baked ones.

Les Petits Macarons - Sold

Les Petits Macarons, 6x8 oil

I love macarons.  I love that they are so colourful and have wonderful flavours.  I also love that they remind me of my trips to Paris.  

Simple Things - Sold

Simple Things, 12x6 oil

I love doing a painting a day!  Here is painting #6, as I continue painting from life with my theme of 'Before and After', in this 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

The Sweetness Within - Sold

The Sweetness Within, 12x6 oil

Here is painting #4 of the challenge.  I enjoyed working on this painting, it came together very quickly.  Hopefully the rest of my paintings in the challenge will come together as nicely as this one.   

Bowl of Sunshine - Sold

Bowl of Sunshine, 10x8 oil

It's the third day of the year, and it already feels like New Year's Eve was ages ago, as we all get back into our regularly scheduled lives.  The only difference is, the house is still filled with Christmas.  Besides the clementines, chocolates, and games still around, the house is filled with festive decorations.  Even the beautifully decorated Christmas tree is still looking almost as fresh as the first day we got it.  Too bad Christmas can't last just a little bit longer.

The Hidden Treasure - Sold

The Hidden Treasure, 9x7 oil

Here is my second painting of the year.  Well, actually I lie.  I did do another painting of the whole pomegranate that I may post at another time.  After cutting open the ripe pomegranate and painting it, I made a salad and added some of the pomegranate seeds to it.  Yum!

A Pomegranate - Sold

A Pomegranate, 9x7 oil

Happy New Year! I can't think of a better way to start the year than doing a painting a day.  I always have good intentions in December, but my time seems to get eaten away somehow, finding very little time to do the thing that I love most, painting.  My goal this month is to get back to basics, doing simple little paintings from life.  My theme of the month will be 'Before and After'.

The Waiting Game - Sold

The Waiting Game 24x18 oil

Oh Canada! was almost going to be the title for this painting, but I decided to call it The Waiting Game because at this time of year, unless you play hockey with a team in an indoor rink, you're waiting for the ponds and rivers to freeze over to get into those skates and play.  In fact, I borrowed the hockey stick from a friend who is doing exactly that...waiting.

Colour Blind

Colour Blind 12x9 oil

I love to paint!  In fact, I've been so busy painting that I've forgotten to post my work.  This was painted a couple of weeks back, inspired by the bold vibrant colours of the plates.

Colour Me Crazy - Sold

Colour Me Crazy, 24x12 oil

Since my other macaron painting sold, I just had to paint another one.  Painting macarons allows me to indulge in colour!

It's that time of year again.  The first weekend in November means The Burlington Studio Tour.  Visit www.artinaction.ca to find all the artists and studios.  This year I will be in Studio #1, Dave Lawson's Studio.  Hope to see you this weekend!

Oranges and Lemons - Sold

Oranges and Lemons, 30x24 oil

As I was setting up this still life, I accidentally brushed past the table upsetting the tablecloth.  The movement it created in the composition worked beautifully!  I love the huge assortment of tablecloths that I have to choose from.  The one referred to in this painting is an April Cornell design.

Seedless

Seedless, 48x24 oil

It's interesting playing with the scale of things.  Sometimes, when I paint on small canvases, I would choose small items and make them larger.  Here I've painted small items and have made them so much larger than life on this large canvas.  It has a very dramatic effect!

Shedding Skins

Shedding Skins, 36x12 oil

I found these gorgeous tomatillos at the farmer's market last week.  I was attracted to the purples and greens...what a beautiful combination.

Approaching Room Temperature - Sold

Approaching Room Temperature, 12x12 oil

I find it funny that usually, after completing a painting, I don't know what to say about it.  It's not that I have nothing to say, but more likely the contrary.  While working on a painting there is a constant conversation going on between me, my paints and the subject.  Decisions being made and directions being determined.  My goal is that when I've finished the painting, you will look at the painting and know what that conversation is about.