Lots of Color

This was one of the pastels I did for my abstract online course.

Happy Holidays

Bente

IPad app

Here's my starting point.  I am throwing a lot of India ink over a pastel painting that got too busy

 
From there I do this pastel painting.

Anyone know how to get rid of this blue underline?

Now I am using the Ipad app.  I like the version above but am saying "what if I do-----?" so I am trying it on my Ipad.

This is another version.  I like all three.  Guess I just need to get out the paint and do it all again.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bente

Pastel Abstract Samples

Pastel Abstract Samples 1

and 2

 

I am taking an online abstract pastel course.

I must admit it is an absolutely crazy time of the year to take such a course. At the same time it means that no matter how busy I am I do need to find time to work on some of these. 

I love color and I love abstract so here are a couple of the many attempts.

This week I am working on adding more line and what I would call Bente details. I will post some of them latter. It will be interesting to see how it comes across.

To me the point of doing these is to then turn around and use them as starting off points for larger paintings.

 

Holiday Blessing to all.

Bente

Abstract Sketch

Working on a new abstract course.  This is one of the pastel sketches that I did for it.  If you turn your head to the right you can see that it works that way as well.
It was fun to do.
Bente

Weathered

Weathered 24X24 Oil on Canvas painted on the sides $ 495

This painting came from a black and white sketch I did in my sketchbook when in Central Oregon.  The trees are old, in desert like conditions and they keep on surviving.  They are a testament to strength and fortitude.  This is one of the many reasons I like trees.  They often parallel human life.

My Lady

My Lady 16X16 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas $295
Painted on the sides so that no frame is required. It is signed bottom left hand corner.

There are a cluster of trees in an area that we frequently walk our dog.  A lot of the trees
look like well dressed women.  One looks like she has a gorgeous evening gown on. This
one caught my attention a few weeks ago so I thought I would give it a whirl.

So to speak.

Trio

 Trio 12X16 Oil on Canvas SOLD

It's amazing what a few strokes of paint will do.  I posted the bottom painting a few weeks ago.  I kept looking at it thinking there was something missing so last night I loaded the palette knife with more paint and with a few strokes I made a whole lot of difference.

Would you agree?  The first painting is below.

Reach

Reach 10x10  Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This painting has been accepted into the 10X10 show at the Federation Gallery in Vancouver.

All paintings are the same size and none are signed on the front.  The price for each painting is $150 with 1/3 going to the gallery.  It is a fundraiser for the Federation.

Do come out and support it. Show date Nov 12 - 14.  Granville Island.  Vancouver.

Fall Colors

Fall Colors Revisited  40X30 Oil on Canvas

I posted an image of Fall Colors in September.  In pursuit of my water mixable oils and big palette knives I thought I would add to it.  I think this has more Fall life to it.

What do you think?

Fall

Fall 10X10 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

More playing with my water mixable oil.  I love this time of the year for color.  Just came back from taking photos with the sun shining brightly on warm rich colorful trees.  Lots to work from.  This painting is from a photo I took a couple of years ago.  It was actually a parking lot.  Great place to stop without disturbing traffic. 

We don't have the rich hillsides like they do back east but there are many individual trees and sometimes line of trees.  I am happy for that. 

We are so blessed.

Have a great day.

Playing

Playing 10X10 Oil on Archival Panel  SOLD
 Ready to Frame

In checking the Artisan website for water mixable oils it said it was OK to paint oil on top of acrylic.

So, I picked up a panel that I had painted and posted Sept 22nd of this year.  It was bright and colorful but the acrylic didn't have depth. With palette knife in hand I tackled it and this is the result.
I like the texture and depth of the oils and some of the acrylic color is showing through.  I used a paste that makes the oil very transparent so in a few areas it has only a slight skim of paint over the acrylic to create the new color.

I think it works.  What do you think?

Summer Storm

Summer Storm 8X10 Oil on Canvas $100

Ready to put into a frame

I am continuing with playing with my water mixable oils. I am looking forward to seeing how long it will take for the thick palette knife paint takes to dry.  The website says 7 days for normal painting but I doubt that will be the case for the thick stuff.

I couldn't resist a photo of my sweetheart!.  The eyes are saying "why don't you take me for one more walk?" Of course he has already been for 2 and it is only 7:30 in the morning.

 

Have a GREAT day!

Reach

Reach 10X10 Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas

Here's the thing.  You know I love my oils.  It's already getting too cold to paint with the windows open.  Then a friend says she is trying water mixable oils.  I tried them about 6 years ago and didn't like them but technologies change quickly so I thought.  OK.  I will try them again.

This is it.  Rich colors.  Thick juicy paint.  Apparently, they will dry faster because there isn't so much oil.  We will see since this paint is very thick.

Connections

Connections 48X36 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Small change.  Big difference.  I had finished this painting in June and hung it so I would walk past it every day.  Kept looking and looking.  Finally, I decided to make one small change.  I think it made a big difference.  Now when the paint is dry I will varnish it.

See if you can see the difference.  Previous post was in June.

Trio

Trio 12X16 Oil on Canvas $210

This painting is from my trip to Sun Peaks.  Gorgeous sunny day, good company, awesome shadows. Loved it.

There is a lot of palette knife work.  I started with pumice gel for the tree trunks to give the texture in case the paint wouldn't do it.  Then the paint didn't absorb into the pumice that well so I got out my trusty palette knife. So it's good and thick.  This was the first time that I used water soluble oil paint. It is a good brand and I couldn't tell the difference.  I still used my odorless mineral spirits which I
didn't think would hurt.

Autumn 2013

Autumn 16X20 Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas $350

With the Gallery Wrap canvas there is no need to frame it.  Painted on the side.

So what happens when a 5 month old white poodle takes a lick at the purple paint?
Since there was pumice underneath not much of the paint came off but when he licked his lips he ended up with a purple muzzle.  Sigggh!  I do love his energy!  Let the chase begin.

Joyous Reflection

Joyous Reflection 9 1/2 X 13 1/2  Mixed Watemedia on Gessoed WC Paper  $150

This is a technique that I used to use with watercolor and acrylic on watercolor paper treated with strokes of gesso.  The gesso makes the paint color stronger in tone because it does not soak into the paper.  Instead it floats on the surface.

Keeping it Simple

Simple

Keeping it simple in preparation for other larger more abstract paintings.  I took a 4" brush and did a series of trees like this.  The paper is maybe 9X12.  The 4" brush turned on its side is just a small brush and turned flat gives the big swoop of the evergreen limbs.  I do love my large brushes.

Enjoy your weekend
Bente

Still playing

I am still playing with color, texture on an archival board with paper and acrylic paint.

This time of the year can be so beautiful and I am affected so much by my environment.  When walking with a dear friend and looking at how blessed we are that we can freely do that I thought I should paint some trees.  They are so green.........................  What do you do with that?  I started adding bits of paper and layers of color, reflections.  Something to liven it up.  Yet when I look at it
in nature all that green seems to be OK.  There's a big question there, I think.  I like to liven it up and add some joyous color to it.

Enjoy your day!

Bente

Playing

Playing   Acrylic on 10X10 Archival Panel $100

The Art Fair is over, everything put back and tucked away and then what?  Open House in November and what to do in between.  Start playing again.  So here is the first of my "play".  It's really a play on composition and color.  I think I will do some more before I take out another of my big canvases.

I love making my trees the opposite color of what you expect.  Bright and cheery.  Uplifting.

Hope you are having a great Sunday.
Bente

Fall Colors

Fall Colors 40"X30" Oil on Canvas $1250
painted on gallery wrapped canvas painted on the sides so that no frame is necessary.

It's a little early but the air seems to say it is fall. The true colors are a little more vibrant.

Mixed

 

Mixed 10X8 Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper $80

 

I was going to call this many hats.  I wear many hats with my art and I never know which one is going to show up.  Must have many personalities.  Oil is my favourite but too many things are happening today so I do bits here and there.

Poppies

 

Poppies 8X8 Acrylic on Watercolor Paper  $75

By the Sea

By the Sea 36X36 Oil on Canvas  $1150

Here I will mention the difficulty of photographing large paintings without getting size and color distortions.  The bottom left for example is more of an iron oxide golden orange color and here it looks garish.  The blue in the middle left is a Cerulean and white and I am not sure what color it looks like on your screen.  I will try to photograph the painting in the early morning light to see if that color is better.

Transition

Transition  Sold

Transition 24X24 Oil on Canvas $450

We had a great visit at Sun Peaks.  Star is one pooped puppy after playing with his new friend Penny and I have aching knees after going for a short 3 hour amazing hike.  Just a little hike!  LOL! Would do it again in a heart beat.Elevation 6744!

Summer

Summer 14X11 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas  $195  Painted on the sides so it can be hung without a frame.

This is an abstract painting.  I title it so that you may interpret the painting with your own vision or story.

Bente

Poppies

poppies  36X48 Oil on Canvas  Sold

This painting found a home in Abbotsford.  I know it will be happy there :)

Walkabout

Walkabout  12X12 Oil on Canvas $195

Sunshine

Sunshine  Oil on Canvas 12X12    SOLD

This is a larger version of one done before.  The sun is shining and all is well.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Bente

Dugout

Dugout  12X12 Oil on Canvas  This painting has been donated to The Reach auction night September 14th

A lot of our history with first nations involves water, fishing, dugout canoes and our beautiful scenery. I imagine people enjoying that life.  The painting is still wet so if you are purchasing and I am shipping it please leave enough time for the paint to dry.

My puppy is growing in leaps and bounds.  We should of called him Jack.  He jumps straight up. My choice of taking him to agility when he gets older is a good one.  I think.

Cheers

Bente

The Edge

The Edge  12X16 Oil on Canvas $225

Playing with my oils and palette knives.  Do love them!

Light

Light 15X30 Oil on Canvas $550

Relaxing

Relaxing 12X12 Oil Painting on Archival Panel  $195

 

Here is my first "bear" from Whistler.  Loved the wistful look.  And then we have Star who has the innocent expectation.  Somehow they seemed to go together.

Connections

Connections  48X36 Oil on Canvas

This is the second painting that I have entered.  We will see what the jurors think.  I will let you know.  It sure felt good using my oils again.  For the winter I use acrylics because I can not open
my windows.  Now its not a problem.  I will use them as much as possible for as long as possible.

Runes

Runes  22X22 Mixed Media on Paper

I am stepping out and taking a chance by entering in an International Show.  Once I know whether or not they are accepted I will price them for purchase on the site.  In the meantime I am feeling bad that I haven't been posting and thought I would put this one out there.

And The Winner is____________

Morning Mist Sold

We had the draw yesterday.  A total of $610 was raised for the Oklahoma disaster relief.
Rich Hartlen was the winner and when he realized the money was going to Oklahoma he handed me a $50 bill so the total donated was $660. I phoned and donated the money a few minutes later.  I wanted to post the receipt but was told it takes 6-8 weeks even for the email receipt.

My sincere thanks to everyone that participated.  Together we make the world a better place one step at a time.

Blessings

Bente

Dollars for Oklahoma

Dollars for Oklahoma

Morning Mist 24X36

What you can't see from this photograph is that there is a relief image of a large tree on the left side of the painting.

I am doing a draw for this painting.  Every $5 sent to me gets your name in the hat.
100 per cent of the proceeds will go to Oklahoma disaster relief.  The draw will take place June 7th.

I will accept cash, cheques and paypal.

If you are sending me a cheque please let me know so that I can put your name in the hat.

Bente

Colors

Colors 10X10 Mixed on WC paper  $100

Of Life

Of Life 23X22 Mixed Media on WC paper $400

This painting has a long history.  It started in Oregon with the torn paper.  Then after looking at it I decided to take it to ISS. Lots of changes.  The final run was this weekend when I put some transparent washes on to tie it together with the 80/20 rule. 

Cheers

Bente

Layers

Layers 7X11 Mono print

More of me playing. The diagonal going from the bottom to the left was me running over a large feather with a brayer.  It didn't do what I thought it would but I rather like what it did do.