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.

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).