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.

A Fine Day on Ferrie St

A Fine Day on Ferrie St , 12x9 oil

Warm summer days like these will be coming to a close soon.  Signs of autumn are starting to show, as some trees start to change colour, the days become shorter, and the nights are cool.  Despite the weather, I've always felt that summer is over when we hit September.  I'm guessing this probably has something to do with the school year starting in September.

This was painted on location in Hamilton, Ontario.

Miniatures - Sold

Guess what I've been up to lately?  I will be submitting three of these paintings into a Miniature Show coming up soon, the hard part is choosing which ones.

The Best Present

The Best Present, 18x24 oil

Simple things can bring so much joy, especially when we are children.  I found this old pair of roller skates, tucked away among random items in my garage.  I remember how hard it was to learn to skate with these, (no brakes).  This was before wearing a helmet was even a thought, never mind knee pads or wrist guards.  Amazingly I survived!

The Old Farm House - Sold

The Old Farm House, 12x9 oil

When I go outside to paint, half my time is spent trying to choose an appealing location.  I wander around looking for something that gives me a spark.  I always know when I find it.  It's like seeing a complete story that wants to be told.  In this case, I knew I wanted to paint the farm house.  I wandered around the house near and far until I found that story, on the far side of the herb garden.

A few people have asked me recently if I have any shows coming up.  I always try to post my shows on this blog, listed along the left side of the main page.  If you are receiving my posts by email, you probably only see today's posting.  You have to go to the main web site to see the whole page, www.helengriffithsart.blogspot.ca  At the moment I'm in a show with 12 other artists from the group I paint with 'en plein air'.  Each artist has three paintings in the show which is at the Dundas Museum and Archives, in Dundas, Ontario.

The Chicken Coop

The Chicken Coop, 8x10 oil

Chickens don't stand still!  They dart about all the time, running inside the barn every few minutes.  This was mostly painted on location, but I added a few more chickens afterwards.  There is so much to paint on a farm!

Farm to Table - Sold

Farm to Table 22x22 oil

This painting was inspired by the idea of buying local organic food.  They are onions that I received as part of my weekly share, (although I wouldn't serve onions like this),  I am impressed and inspired each time I pick up my food from the market.

I spent last Saturday at Manorun Organic Farm, (the farm where I get my weekly shares from).  It was probably the hottest day of the year!!!  A couple of other artists and I were invited to show and sell our art, as well as paint.  Trying to find a spot to paint in the shade as well as being able to catch a breeze (when there was one), was a tricky thing to do.  We ended up painting under a huge willow tree, while trying to stay as cool as possible.

Around the Block

Around the Block, 9x12

Everyone at the farm is extremely hard working, even the bikes. Whether it's raining outside, or a scorching hot day, the work must still be done. Bikes are left here and there, ready for whenever they are needed again.  

In Wait

In Wait, 12x9 oil

Painting almost anywhere in the summer is an exercise in painting the colour green.  Trying to figure out the differences between them can be quite tricky!

Lately I've been painting en plein air at the organic farm that I had mentioned in my last post, (Manorun).  My next few posts will be of paintings done at this farm.  This coming Saturday, July 18, during the Farm Crawl a couple of other artists and I, will be painting and selling a few of our recent works, weather permitting,  (farmcrawlhamilton.ca).

Kohlrabi - Sold

Kohlrabi, 6x12 oil

I started buying shares in a local farm, Manorun Organic Farm.  Each week I head over to the market to pick up my share.  I have never seen or tried this interesting looking vegetable, but couldn't wait to set up a still life and paint it.  Luckily the farm sends out emails to let you know what they'll be harvesting and even recipes for some of the more obscure items.  I love the way this vegetable looks.  I found that the flavour is fairly mild, sort of a cross between radishes and cabbage.  I ended up making vegetable fritters with grated kohlrabi and carrots, (a recipe I found on the internet).

If you're interested in checking out this farm, there will be a farm crawl coming up on Saturday, July 18, (farmcrawlhamilton.ca).

Today's Pick

Today's Pick, 24x30 oil

I picked these hydrangeas the other day with the intention of putting them in a vase and setting up a still life to paint.  Well they didn't get any further than the watering can.

Farm Fresh - Sold

Farm Fresh 12x6 oil

Unless you grow your own vegetables, you can't get fresher food than from your local farmer's market.  This year I decided to buy into a local organic farm.  Once a week I go to the market and pick up my share.  It makes shopping simple, I'm supporting a local farm, and I get some pretty amazing vegetables.

Staying for Lunch - Sold

Staying for Lunch, 16x12 oil

The simple things in life seem to get overlooked when we're busy with our daily lives.  As soon as the weather warms up though, one thing that I can't resist is having my meals outside.  Momentarily forgetting about things that need to be done, and deadlines to meet, just sitting outside, listening and watching as the world does it's thing.  It's clear that this is not just me, since patios open up in all the restaurants, and are the first places to fill up on beautiful sunny days.

A Little Birdie - Sold

A Little Birdie Told Me, 6x6 oil

Thinking of You, 6x6 oil

A Penny for your Thoughts, 6x6 oil

While having lunch on a patio, this little bird and a few of his brothers and sisters decided to join me. Some being more shy than others, this one sat there watching for a while, looking his cutest, in hopes of sharing a bit of my lunch with me.  It worked on me.  We had a wonderful lunch together :)

Laundry Day

Laundry Day, 6x6 acrylic

Just over a week ago I arrived home from holidays.  My husband and I travelled to France and England, mainly to visit family, but we managed to do quite a bit of sight seeing.  We had a wonderful time; I only wish we could have stayed longer.

I brought some acrylic paints with me, but struggled to find the time to stay in one place long enough to complete a painting.  Eventually I had to just grab bits of time here and there, and hope for the best.  In the end I had 6 little acrylic paintings, with varying degrees of completeness.

It was an overcast day when I started this painting, while in the backyard of my niece's home, (in the Bretagne area of France).  The neighbour next door was hanging laundry one day, so I grabbed this painting, and managed to quickly paint her and the laundry in, adjusting the lighting to the gorgeous spring day that it was.  

Macaroon Madness - Sold

Macaroon Madness, 12x12 oil

Recently I dropped by a fairly new bakery called Molly Cake, downtown Burlington.  I usually try to buy the more nutritious items when at a bakery, like blueberry oatcakes, or low fat muffins.  I was so attracted to the colours of these cookies that I really didn't notice anything else in the shop and purchased every single colour of these magnificent macaroons.  I did ask about the flavours, just to make sure that they weren't just all about the colour, but didn't even take note of what the flavours were, only that they were different flavours.  Yes, one colour is missing, it didn't quite make it home.    

Fresh as a Daisy - Sold

Fresh as a Daisy, 12x36 oil

Happy May!
Just for the record, the flower in this painting in not a daisy, but I think the title is fitting for this painting, (plus I just couldn't get that phrase out of my head}.
The cool spring days are gradually changing to be warmer and more summer-like.  Each morning I've started to search my closet for lighter clothing; as those bulky winter sweaters become more and more unappealing.  My garden is emerging with bright greens and yellows, and I find myself looking for excuses to be outside.  

Playing with Shadows - Sold

Playing with Shadows, 20x16 oil

What do you do when there is a white sheet hanging in front of you and a bright light behind you?  You play with shadows of course!  This is yet another painting of my daughter.  There seems to be a very fine line of recognition, as to when a portrait generally looks like the person who is posing for you as opposed to capturing the person you know so well.  I didn't ask her to pose like this.  When the lights were turned on she started to play with the shadows, as she did when she was very young.  My daughter may be an adult now, but she is still that same child inside, which I am sure most of us are.  

A Few Good Eggs - Sold

A Few Good Eggs, 12x24 oil

Well so far, out of all the egg paintings I've done, only two eggs have fallen to their doom.  I'm not sure if it's their beautiful shape or just the challenge to capture their essence, but I've really enjoyed painting them.  They will certainly be back in future paintings.  

Collecting Eggs - Sold

Collecting Eggs, 8x8 oil

Eggs, besides a great food, represents so much.  Fresh starts and new beginnings, life.  I guess that's why the egg is so important at Easter, (combined with the spring season in the northern hemisphere).  Maybe that's why it's always been considered a breakfast food, a fresh start to the day, just a thought.  I think eggs are beautiful.  I don't know if it's because of what they represent but I have been a little fixated on them for the past while, or maybe I really have had enough of winter.  As I'm writing this there is snow falling outside my window, arghhh!  Any way, happy spring!

Rosehips - Sold

Rosehips, 10x5 oil

This past Monday was a damp grey day.  I went out to paint, but my time would have been better spent inside my studio.  This painting, 'Rosehips' was painted the week before.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  I could have painted all sorts of snowy scenes but I just loved the way the rosehips looked against the bright blue sky.

The Last Drop - Sold

The Last Drop, 6x12 oil

Recently I saw a bottle of Coke being sold in a store.  It reminded me of when I was a kid, (when glass bottles were the norm).  I was inspired to paint it, loving the green tinted glass with the red label.  I purchased a small case, (six bottles).  Wow!, it was probably about the same price as buying 18 cans in a case.  I just love that there is still the choice of purchasing a glass bottle of pop, but I don't even think the bottles are returnable anymore, they just get recycled.  I'm hoping that glass is coming back and plastic is on it's way out.  Since I bought a case, I think I will have to do a few more pop bottle paintings.  

Kerncliff Park, Burlington

Kerncliff Park, Burlington 8x12 oil

Spring is in the air, (or is that just wishful thinking).  The days ARE getting longer and the temperatures seem to be getting warmer.  This past Monday was the first day that I've managed to get outside to paint.  At -3 C, I thought I might be overdressed, with about four layers of clothing, (including my long down jacket), but with the wind blowing it was much colder and I felt quite comfortable.  There are a lot of wonderfully rocky views to paint at this park since it used to be a quarry.  I chose to paint this lone birch tree standing in the deep snow, with the view of Lake Ontario off in the distance, (no rocks).  I'm crossing my fingers for more beautiful days ahead!      

Counting Eggs - Sold

Counting Eggs, 24x12 oil

Happy February!  Here is the painting I've been working on all week.  I've really enjoyed working on this, (...I think I say that about all my paintings).  I thought it would be challenging painting all the eggs in their perspective shapes, but they just seemed to 'fall' into place.    

January Paintings 2015

Here is a collage of my January paintings.  I have another one on the easel, but that will have to wait until February.  It's been a busy month of painting, a good start to the year.  I feel that I am heading in a certain direction with my art and looking forward to the road ahead!  See you next month.

Sunnyside - Sold

Sunnyside 6x6 oil

Here is egg study number three.  I really enjoyed painting it, and playing with the reflections.  Since the egg is on a blue plate, it almost looks like water to me.  This egg is from a free range chicken.  The yolk is much deeper in colour than the regular eggs you can buy; guessing it has more nutrients as well.  

Prep Bowls - Sold

Prep Bowls, 6x6 oil

Here is egg study number two.  I was going to paint the egg yolk, but decided before I crack it open, I should paint it whole, so guess what my next egg study will be.  My previous egg painting took an hour to paint, this one took twice as long.  I'm trying not to spend too much time on these because I want to move on to a larger painting that will definitely take much longer.

Egg Day - Sold

Egg Day, 6x6 oil

A quick little study of eggs.  I have a canvas ready to do a larger still life with eggs, but I thought I would do a few little studies for practise.  Here is study Number one.

Learning to Fly

Learning to Fly 20x40 oil

This is the latest painting that I've been working on.  It may need a bit of tweaking here and there, but I think its mostly done.  I love painting with this limited palette, and the mood it creates.