Year End

We have just returned from a few day getaway to Long Beach on Vancouver Island. The scenery was spectacular, the snow laden trees were awe inspiring. Since I was driving I could only commit the images to memory. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful this country of ours is and how lucky we are. I also feel blessed with the ability to see this beauty and hopefully pass it on so that others may feel some of the joy that I feel.

Happy New Year everyone.

Porteau Cove 2

This is from Porteau Cove when the weather was stormy. Spirit and I went for a walk and it was truly cold. We ran back to my camper and I did a few studies of what the beautiful mountains looked like.

New Day

Peachy

And to all a good night

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. May it be everything you wish for.

Peace and Love to All

Bente

Blue Sky

I have a few more in this series and then we have Christmas. This has truly been a good exercise. I have learned a lot and have more ideas for next year. All the best of the year to you.

Stand Alone

We have many big beautiful trees that stand alone in their own majesty.

Winter Pair

We are into the final stretch. These cards have been a blessing. I have spent many hours making them but I would rather do these than get in my car, fight for parking and .... you get the picture. The learning around these cards has been great. I hope you enjoy them

Yellow Light

The color combination in this one is one of my favourites. The warm sky feels right. We were driving to Princeton last weekend through the forest of trees and I looked over to my left and there was a warm peachy color to the sky even though the sky straight ahead was a clear cobalt blue. I pointed it out to Eric and he was quite surprised. Must of been the sun setting and reflecting in that area even though we couldn't see it. Quite enchanting.

Winter Scene

Third in a series. At this busy time of the year I am finding that these cards are a wonderful distraction from the stress. I do two or three at a time and as they are drying I go about my business. Then I come back for a short stint, maybe try a new approach or color or get in there and do some finger painting. It is a lot of fun. Try it.

Winter Scene

This is the front of the card. I have a friend that likes pink a lot so I thought it an interesting challenge to create a winter scene with a lot of pink in it.

This is the full view of the card. On this one I decided to paint the whole card and then it can be seen from any direction.

Season's Greetings

I thought it a good idea to switch to the theme of the holiday season. This is the first of many cards I made. I had them spread out all over the floor and forgot to close the door and here comes my dog. With visions of dog prints all over the hall floor I quickly got Spirit turned around and downstairs with a bone to keep him busy.

Merry Christmas everyone
Bente

Abstract Study

Abstract Study 9"X 12"
This may be an intuitive landscape but it is also a study of Abstract shapes. I am going to work on the structure of abstracts for the next while. In between the busy ness of the season.

Squamish Spit

This is a sketch from the Squamish Wetlands. There were some beautiful wetlands with ditches and long grasses. They would make beautiful abstract paintings.

Pearis

What do you call what is a pear? "Pearis" LOL. I thought it was funny. This will be the last pear for a while. I do love painting them and will be back but I have another idea I am going to work on for a while. I will keep you posted.

Cheers

Pearhaps

Few more pears. This one is another one done in my sketchbook on the cruise ship. It's watercolor. I thought the greyish background was an important contrast to the dark or bright colors.

Shoreline

Shoreline 11X14X1 1/2 acrylic on canvas

It's a very busy time of the year with all the hustle and bustle, charity programs. Some of them are pretty terrific. In the morning our rotary club is delivering toys, teddy bears and pjs for the local transition house. At the same time there is a local school that is setting up a shopping mall for the kids to pick out presents for their Moms and Dads. The volunteers help them to wrap the presents and to sign the cards. Pretty cool stuff, I'd say.

Since I am heading out early I thought I would post this image tonight instead of in the am. This painting was interesting to do because I tried to fit several dimension into it. Let me know if you can see what I mean.

All the best.

Bente

Blue Bob

Something different today. This painting is done on a full sheet of Watercolor paper. 22X30. It is gessoed first and then lots of layers of acrylic paint. These paintings are fun to do. You should try it.

I am open to offers on this one. Send me an email if you are interested bentecreates@shaw.ca

Pearamour

Pearamour is done using Inktense pencils. These pencils truly give some amazing colors. They say that once they dry (they work like watercolor pencils) the color is permanent. I am not too sure about that but know that I love the intensity.

Pair of Pears

Pair of Pears 8X8 acrylic on canvas $40

Pearsonally

The tool used to create these graphite drawings is water soluble. It's very cool. If I am out and about with only my sketchbook and this pencil I can spit on my finger and presto I have some great shading. Obviously, I wouldn't do this often as I don't want to eat the stuff. Usually there is a stream or puddle around. After all we do live in British Columbia.

Appearentlly So

One of the cool things about these pears is the play on "pears" that Marion and I came up with one evening when we were at a painting workshop. It is amazing the inspiration that comes from the synergy of sharing. The ideas are still flowing from that amazing event. Her blog can be found at marionrosefineart.blogspot.com. Have a look at her stuff. It is truly amazing.

Peariffic

For reasons I can't remember there was a morning on the cruise ship when I was supposed to be painting and I couldn't bring my acrylic setup. So, the challenge was - what to do? I decided to sit down in my usual spot and paint and draw pears. Anyone can draw a pear. You can't go wrong. Pears, like people come with all sorts of lumps and bumps and pearsonalities. And so it went. I had a good time doing it and I will share some of these images with you over the next week.

Bente

Winter FlurriesWinter

Winter Flurries on 10"X10" Gessoed Watercolor Paper

I did a number of these. A lot of fun. The paint was flying like a snowstorm.

Grotto

Grotto 12"X12"X1 1/2" Acrylic Painted on the sides so that it doesn't need a frame.

Porteau Cove

This is another sketch from Porteau Cove. I enjoy doing these impression paintings. It gives a real feel for the atmosphere and day. I had gone for a walk along the beach with my dog and because it was a very damp and cool day we went back to my van and I sat inside and did the sketch.

Outlook

Outlook 10"X10" Acrylic on canvas, painted on the sides so it may be hung without a frame.

Cluster 15"X11" Acrlic on gessoed watercolor paper $100. Available on Ebay tomorrow at lfsgr805

Reach

Reach 8 1/2"X 11" acrylic on foamcore

I am having fun experimenting. I think I will try and do a very large image of this.

Watercolor Sketch

This is one of two successful sketches that I did at Porteau Cove. It was a cloudy, moody day with the mountains being covered and bits showing here and there.

Viva

Viva 10"X10" acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper $100

Tidal Change

Tidal Change 8"X10" Acrylic on Canvas $40
This image is posted on Ebay under lfsgr805

Sunny Bouquet

Sunny Bouquet 10X8 on canvas

This one started out as a tree. LOL! I liked it better as a bouquet. I will be listing this on Ebay tonight.

Play on Bird

Play on Bird, acrylic 8"X8" on canvas
This one is me having some fun. I was priming the canvas and putting a base color on and suddenly this bird appeared. So, here we are. I will post him on Ebay on Sunday

Tidepool

"Tidepool" 10"X10" acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper. This is another scene I will be entering into the Federation show this weekend. I have posted half a dozen images on Ebay. Do have a look at lfsgr805.

Forest Scene

This is a 14"X11" acrylic painting done on foamcore. This is an interesting surface to work on in that the surface is very slippery. So to combat that I have gauze and bits of dried acrylic paint and strips of acrylic soaked paper towel.

I am entering this piece into a Federation show this weekend. It will be interesting to see how it is received.

Abstract Floral

Abstract Floral


10"X8" Acrylic on Canvas





Here we go! I am going to try to list a new painting every day from now until Christmas. Will likely miss a few days but I am going to give it a try.





This image is part of a new style of painting for me. It is in acrylic and acrylics behave quite differently for me but after my 3 week period painting with them on the cruise ship I have learned a lot and am looking forward to sharing many of these images with you.





I have started listing on Ebay, starting with this one. My call sign is lfsgr805. I will try and list a new one every day. Of course I would love for you to spread the word and see if I can get some people watching me on Ebay. I always check to see how many people are watching so do join in.





Love to hear from you.


Bente

Pearsonally

"Personally" 8"X6" Acrylic on Canvas

This is another painting that I did on the Zaandam, Holland America ship. This was a lot of fun especially when someone said they liked my Apple painting. Must of been a language barrier. I sold this image as soon as I got home.

I am going to start posting on Ebay again, either tonight or tomorrow. I am going to try to post a new painting every day until Christmas. All things going well. I am looking forward to seeing how Ebay has evolved. Do send me an email if you have any questions.

Cheers

Bente

The Dance

The Dance 10" X 10" Acrylic on Paper

I am back from my fabulous cruise. There were two in fact. The first went around the Hawaiian Islands and the second was a Rhythm and Blues charter that went from San Diego to Cabo, Mazatlan and Peurto Vallarta. The above painting sold on the R&B charter which I thought was quite fitting. The ship was a rocking from morning to the wee hours of the morning. Quite an experience.

Tropical Day

This is another acrylic on W/C paper. 14"X18" In preparation for my Artist in Residency on the Zaandam I thought I would do a few tropical scenes. This is one of them. When I go on the cruise ship I will be out of touch for nearly a month. Available only by email. Hope everyone understands.

Zipline

Zipline, Acrylic and Mixed Media on 18X24 foamcore

This painting is convincing me that I may have a future in Acrylics. It was a lot of fun, creative and hopefully you will be able to put your own interpretation into it.

Happy End of the Summer and here's to the good news. On October 2nd I will be boarding the Zaandam, of Holland America Cruise Lines, as Artist in Residence for 3 weeks. Heading to Hawaii and then Mexico. Hope to do some phenomenal painting onboard.

Bente

Lady

Continuing on my acrylic theme here is a 10"X10" mixed media on watercolour paper. I think this one could be the start of a new theme.

Green Tea

10"X10" Acrylic on Archival Watercolor Paper

This is once of my new attempts at Acrylic. I am finding some very cool applications. I will be posting quite a variety. I image that eventually I will find a way that works for me. In the mean time I will experiment to my hearts delight.

Experimental Stuff

This is one of many acrylics on paper. I am having a lot of fun with it. I think I may start posting some on Ebay in the next week and see how they are being received.

Distance

This is an acrylic painting done on canvas 18" X 24". This painting and 11 others are going sailing on the Zaamdam. Quite exciting actually. It is a new venture and hopefully a win win for all concerned.

Acrylic AbstractHi

Hi Everyone. I am back. It's been quite a summer with lots of travel to Arizona, Hawaii and Washington and its not over.

Aside from the travel a couple of very cool things have happened this summer. The first is that my friend Marion is in remission!!! Yeah. That is the best news.

The other is I am painting in acrylics. I am working very hard at doing this since the oil paints seem to make me cough. Which is not a good thing.

Do let me know what you think.

Cheers

Bente

Overview

Overview 24" X 24" X 1 1/2" Oil on Canvas painted on the sides so that it is ready to hang.

I am looking forward to going on some helicopter tours in a few of my favourite spots and if you look at this painting you can see why. I leave the interpretation to you.

The Edge

The Edge 48" X 36" Oil on 1 1/2" canvas, painted on the sides

We are heading out to the area that inspired this abstract painting. The red earth, dramatic shadows and incredible skies. When I start my abstract paintings I don't have a particular image in mind. The painting tells me which direction to go. Now the paintings are telling me where to travel for inspiration. Stay posted.