Sunday, December 30, 2012

Overview 13"X9"  Ink on Rives BFK paper

Having fun playing with ink and paper trying new techniques.  Lots to come.

Happy New Year everyone.

Bente

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Tools 7X11 Print on Watercolor Paper  $20

Now how did I come up with that title.  It was me playing with printing tools.  I have the use of a printer but since the learning curve seems to be high I thought I would play with some of the tools and the printers ink to come up with an image.  I think I am liking this so I may do a few.

I am trying to work out a way of doing some of these things while being on the road.  Oregon seems to be calling and I want to keep posting.

Stay tuned and I will hopefully keep posting.

Happy New Year to everyone

Bente

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Outpouring  22X30 Acrylic on Archival W/C Paper   $540

These paintings are very difficult to photograph.  The color red is difficult to start with and then you have the bounce of the light off of the gloss of the acrylic.  Do I add that it was raining. 

I know.  Excuses! Excuses.

I will try again in a few days and see if I can get a better image.

Cheers everyone

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Outland Abstract Approx 22X30  $540
This paper is very heavy and uneven so the size is an estimate.  I had to photoshop the bottom right hand corner but I think that worked out quite well.

Abstract is my true love and the landscapes seem to pop out of them.

Blessings

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Abstract  22X30 Acrylic on Archival Paper  $540

This was done with a lot of  what I call block printing or stamping with acrylic.  Lots of fun. Many, many layers.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Smith Rock 11X14 Oil on Archival Panel  Price $150
 
This view is within walking distance.  Mind you it was raining today so I was painting in between doing chores.

These are a few of the animals I am looking after.  They are wondering if my camera is something to eat. 
 
Blessings
Bente

Friday, November 23, 2012

Giving Thanks 10"X8" Oil on Panel  Price $75
 
I am visiting a friends studio and looking after their animals.  This is one of the views from her studio.  It is beyond spectacular.
 
 

 
This is the view of last night's sunset.   Smith Rock State Park is like a warm up to Bryce Canyon.  I have been over to the park a couple of times but don't really need to go anywhere.  I can see it from Dawn's studio.
 
Blessings to all.
Bente


Friday, November 16, 2012

Ahead of the Light  7 1/2 X 11  Watermedia on Paper   $25

This is along the same theme as the last two.  Watercolor and Acrylic on Paper with water color crayons and acrylic pens.  Fun to do.

I am heading for Bend Oregon to spend time in Dawn Emerson's studio.  Looking forward
to this.

Happy American Thanksgiving ahead of time.

Bente

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Glow  Acrylic on Rives  11"x15"  Price $100

This started out as a watercolor with watercolor crayons etc.  Then when that dried I felt it was not bright enough.  Then comes the liquid acrylics.  Much better.

Bente

Monday, November 12, 2012

Inlet  11" x 7 1/2"  Watermedia on WC Paper   Price $25

This was started as a painting for the start of my Christmas Card series that I usually do this time of the year.  Then the painting took over and here you go.  An Intuitive Painting.  These are fun to do.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Branches 10X14 Water media on Rives Paper  Price $100

I have used many forms of water media here. I started with watercolor and then added
acrylic,watercolor crayons and pencils and more fine tip acrylic.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Window  20X16 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas  $320
Painted on the sides so that no frame is necessary.

For this Remembrance Day Weekend

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Friends 12X9 Oil on Canvas  $100

I am going to do some paintings of flower arrangements that Marion had in her hospital room a year ago.  People were very generous and we both took photos for future use.

I miss you my friend.  More than words could say.

Bente

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Mistique 30X22 Acrylic on Heavy watercolor paper $540

This painting has many layers of metallic paint with copper and golds.  Even though it is raining today I still get a glare off of the painting so it is difficult to get a true image.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Silver Creek 11X14 Oil   Sold

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Free Spirit  22X30 Acrylic on very heavy watercolor paper  $400

This paper may be handmade.  Don't know.  I treated it with gesso and painted over that. The image is intuitive.  The edging that you see is the pebbled concrete that it was placed on in order to take the photo.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Coloured Memory  Watercolor 5"X 6 3/4" Matted as shown $20 plus $10 shipping

This is a watercolor that is in a double mat that fits a standard 8X10 inch frame..  Bright and cheerful.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Sketch from workshop, 2012

It is pouring down with rain so this is the best I can do for a photo at the moment.  The blues seem to of disappeared. The sketches are 22" wide and they were done in paint and then pastels.  Hopefully you can tell they are horses.  There is quite a story to tell but I will leave that for a day that maybe my
paintings will explain.

Jandana Ranch is a place I will never forget and encourage anyone that wants to learn to communicate to go and spend a few days studying with Janice and her natural horsemanship.  The experience is an eye opener in communication and leadership.  If I told you that on the second day we entered the paddock and were able to ask our horses to come to us, turn either right or left, or back up. ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM OR HAVING A HALTER ON.  Would you believe it.  I wouldn't of if I hadn't experienced it myself.

Blessings

Bente

Monday, October 8, 2012

Morning Light  36X48 Oil on Canvas   SOLD

The inspiration for this painting was the cloud formation out of Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver as the ferry was heading for Vancouver Island.  People were sitting in their cars disgruntled with the weather and I was out on deck taking photos like mad as the light was streaming down and changing constantly.

I am heading North East tomorrow to a horse ranch where we will be doing things with horses in the morning and painting the experience in the afternoon.  I am thankful that I have experience around horses albeit many years ago.

I will try and post some images from the ranch in Kamloops if there is WIFI. If not it will be another week before you hear from me.

Bente

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Abstract III 21X29 Acrylic on Rough Watercolor Paper

This paper is VERY rough with deckled edges.  I couldn't photograph the edges so I cropped it. I inherited the paper so I don't know if it was possibly hand made.  The result is quite interesting with the deep pockets of texture.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and relatives. I count you as a precious part of my life.

Bente

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Abstract II 30X22 Acrylic on Watercolor Paper treated with gesso

This one I had a hard time deciding which way to present it.  If you turn the image on all sides it works quite nicely.  Finally decided on this one.

We are still having summer.  Broke a 100 year record for sunny days.  Yeah.

Bente

Monday, October 1, 2012

Abstract   22X30 Acrylic on treated watercolor paper

I've done a series of abstracts to take to Vancouver.  This is the first one.  I put a coat of gesso on the watercolor paper which allows me to be more adventurous than I can be using untreated paper.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Summer Garden 8X8 Acrylic on treated watercolor paper $40

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

 Sunburst 6x8 acrylic on paper  $25

Below you will see the notan I used to start the painting.
 From there I coated it with a Pyrrol Red acrylic color.
How I ended up with this flower configuration _  I have no idea !

Monday, September 24, 2012

Sol Duc Pastel on Sanded Ground 12X8.5  $50

Sol Duc Falls are in the rain forest on the Olympic Penninsula.  This is
from a stream nearby.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

 Holiday  11X14 Pastel on Richeson Premium Sanded Paper  $150

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had purchased some deliciously colored pastels which I was anxious to try.  I knew I likely had those colors already but couldn't resist.

I started this painting in a completely abstract way and soon the images that were prevalent on our holiday showed up.  Amazingly this usually happens.  This might be one reason that I like going places. My husband can't see what the images are.  And here I thought they were pretty obvious.

I haven't posted for a few days.  Explanation below.  I like painting standing up and somehow I couldn't do that for a few days.

Below, you see on very sore big toe and big toe nail that ran into an even bigger steel ferry door.  The nail came off half way lengthwise and I said, "Oh darn!"  I actually didn't say anything.  I hurried back to the van to wrap it up as best I could and find the strongest pain killers we had on board for I knew I would need them.  I was right.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Port Townsend Watercolor 6x12 , looking towards Lighthouse

Its beautiful here with more dog taking their people for a walk looking out at the expanse of water and sea gulls everywhere.

Got very close to a heron this morning, eating its breakfast so watch for paintings to come.

Yesterday we drove all day to get to the sol duc waterfalls and the parking lot was so full that we had to give that hike up for a lost cause.  Next time we won't try to do something like that on a weekend. 
After all we know better.That is why we chose to take time off when the kids are going back to school.

Bought some beautifully colored pastels yesterday.  Couldn't resist.  It certainly isn't that I need more.  Itching to get home and give the colors a try.

Happy Long Weekend everyone.

Bente

Friday, August 31, 2012

Early Morning 6x12 Watercolor
I show you the second one first.  The photo doesn't begin to show the richness of the colors . This one is simple as was the light first thing in the morning.  The one below is trying to catch some details and to me it doesn't work at all.
Oh the joys of painting Plein Air

Port Townsend 6X12 Watercolor
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Christmas Image  SOLD

Tourism Abbotsford is using this image for their Christmas brochure.  I am honored.

Bente

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dreamscape II 36X48 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas $1,500
Can be hung without a frame.

I have been working on larger canvases.  This being one of them.  The light in this
one is amazing but difficult to photograph.

I will let you put your own interpretation to it.

Bente

Sunday, August 19, 2012


Three sketches from Chilliwack Lake


We just got back today.  4 days of camping and three sketches. Everything is green, green, green.  Not that I am complaining.  It truly is beautiful and quiet until the party animals arrive.  They were evicted and then we went back to being quiet.  It was a great rest with no cell service or showers.  Guess what the first thing was that I did when we got home?

Monday, August 13, 2012

 Over the Bay 16X16 Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas, Painted on the sides

This is one of three tree paintings that may be going to Texas.
I started with a canvas that I treated with Gesso tinted with acrylic paint, as below. I drew a brief outline freehand with vine charcoal that you see photographed below.
 Part of the original painting that started this commission is on the left.  I like the image of the tree that you see on the right better.  I thought it had more character.
 The colors that I used to paint the canvas are on the aluminum foil which I use as my palette.  It is a neutral grey, easy to clean  or fold over and use the other side and when I am finished the clean up is very simple.  Yes, it may waste paint but I don't want to spend hours cleaning.
 This is the outline and design after my first go around.  I got to this stage and left it to dry for a few days before finishing the image at the very top.  In the final go around I used thick paint and two different sized palette knives.  One for small detail areas and a larger one for the rocks and large branches.  Most of the paint in the branch area was mixed randomly on the canvas.
I hope you have enjoyed my explanations.

Bente

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Old Growth  20X16 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I am currently revisiting trees of every sort.  This one is of an old growth forest that reaches to the heavens.It was fun to do.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Teachers 40X30 Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas  $800

There are teachers of many sorts.  Flowers are great teachers with their vibrancy, color and ability to take on human characteristics. 

Then there are art teachers and formal teachers and the best ones of all are "friend" teachers. This particular friend helped me to see things I already knew in a totally different way. Then this morning I looked at this painting which I have been wanting to finish for about a year and here you are. After looking at it in a different way I felt I could tackle it.

I am grateful for all my friends.

Bente

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

From Above 11 1/2X11 1/2 Acrylic on Watercolor Paper SOLD

I have no idea what kind of a flower this is.   I think it's THAT kind.  It was fun and distracting to do this.  enjoyed it.

The sun is shining and we are happy again.

Bente