Sketches

It's the time of year when I spend time looking over the last year and ahead to directions that I wish to go. I have been scanning sketchbooks looking for ideas that were forgotten that can now be built on. It's an interesting exercise looking over many years of ideas. There are echoes that repeat and ideas that I wonder why I didn't pursue. Maybe the phone rang?

Happy New Year Everyone! May it be as wonderful as you dream and plan for.

Abstract ideas. I have a series of these that I like a lot.

Love To Dance

Love to Dance 7"X5" Art Card

Today is my Birthday and we are going out to Harrison. These flowers make me feel like dancing so that is what we will do.

Cheers

Spring Art Card

Spring Art Card 7"X5"

Time to look ahead to New Year and Spring

This card is already folded and comes with an envelope.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Beach Fodder

Beach Fodder 18X36 Mixed Media on Canvas Please enquire by email on price.

This mixed media has paper, gauze, crushed beads and lots of medium for texture.
I have added a couple of detail shots so you get a good glimpse of the detail.

First Snow

First Snow 12X9 Acrylic on Canvas $125

What can you do when the radio is belting out Bing Crosby? I have fun with my cake decorator tubes doing these paintings. Then layers of transparent paint and medium.

Cheers
Bente

Duo

Duo 30"X15" Acylic on Paper, Stretched onto a canvas frame $450.00

This painting was done by first soaking a large sheet of watercolor paper in the bathtub. When it was well soaked I stretched it onto a frame that I had left over from a painting that didn't work. I stretched and stapled the sides and let it dry. The result is an incredibly taut work surface. From there I gessoed the paper and used acrylic paint.

This surface is very different from canvas or paper that lies flat.

The painting needs to be framed, either on the structure it is on or it can be cut off and framed as normal paper. The painting is varnished so it does not need glass.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Art Card Sold

Merry Christmas everyone. May the magic of the season bless you and your family. Peace on earth and prosperity for 2012.

Bente

Morning Mist

Morning Mist 24X36 Oil on Canvas $864

This painting has many layers of transparent oil. The image is from one early morning when Spirit and I got up early and went down to the lake and sat and watched the sun come up over the mountains. It was magical.

Dappled Light

Dappled Light 14X11 Acrylic on Paper $150

This is mostly negative painting, in that all the splashes of blue, green and purple went on first. I then went in and painted the lighter colors to get the actual shape of the painting. This is fun to do but takes a lot of practice.

Bente

On the Rocks

On the Rocks 11X14 Mixed Media on Archival Paper $150

Play on words. What better than "On the Rocks" from a cruise ship looking at such amazing rock structure.

Beach Candy

Beach Candy 10X10 Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper $100

Eye Candy, Beach Candy?!?! How to title a painting? It's an interesting exercise having to find a title to a painting where I don't want to describe the place since it may be an impression in my mind. I am always open to ideas, if you have any.

This painting is done with paper on paper and then transparent washes. That way you see the paint strokes of the gesso put on the paper. It adds texture which I like.

Reflection

Reflection 10X10 Acrylic on Archival Paper $100

Reflection can mean so many things -deep thought, mirror image, memory and so much more. This painting means all those things and more

Bente

Tropical Day

Tropical Day 11X14 Acrylic on Watercolor Paper $150

This painting was done on a cruise ship sailing from Hawaii to Mexico. I was
on the Lido deck, bar about 15 feet away, band playing, buffet around the corner
warm ocean breeze. What a wonderful experience.

Indian Summer Revisited

Indian Summer 30X30 Oil on Canvas $900

I had posted a former image of this painting at the end of September. I kept looking

at it and yesterday- out came the cadmium red, cadmium orange and naples yellow.

The original didn't have the "Bente" punch and so I went for it. This morning I was

outside waiting for the sun to come around in order to photograph it before heading out

to work. The bottom right may be a little darker than it actually is.

Hope you like the change.

Bente

Times Gone By

Times Gone By 10X10 Acrylic and Oil on Gessoed Paper $100

The first photo is taken with the sun shining on it. And the second without!
LIGHT IS EVERYTHING.



This painting is on Fabriano paper which is solid and has been coated with Gesso and then given an underpainting in acrylic. It will be varnished so it can still fit into a standard size frame without glass. Bente

Tree Card

Tree Card Acrylic on Archival Watercolor Paper $10

This card is done on Fabriano paper. The paper has been gessoed. The top coat is acrylic varnish. The image that appears here has not been folded.

Holiday Greetings

Greeting Card on Archival Watercolor Paper $10

It's that time of year when we send holiday greetings. Since I am in a bit of a painting funk I thought it would be good to paint a few cards to get the painting inspiration going.

For anyone wanting to do this I recommend 140 lb watercolor paper and I highly recommend putting gesso on before painting. Then throw on the paint and make an original you painting. This one hasn't been folded yet. I also put a coat of medium on when finished and let that dry. Then if someone is wanting to frame your card it doesn't need glass.

Bente

Weathered

Weathered 10"X10" Acrylic on Paper $100

This is from my Nova Scotia trip. Love those boat houses.

Celebration of Life

We had Marion's Celebration of Life yesterday.

One of the things that she said was that even though she had cancer she wanted to live her life to the fullest. She knew lots of people that were healthy and not living.

I say "let's live".

Distance

Distance 18X24 Acrylic $450

This is a mixed media painting with paper, gauze and acrylic paint on canvas.

zipline

Zipline 18X24 Mixed Media on Archival Foamcore $450

I have posted this painting before. I love the textures that I managed and since I am currently working on large rock formations and how to achieve both distance and structure I thought I would revisit the way I did this one.

I am doing a lot of value studies, going back through old sketchbooks and blocking out large areas to see if that structure would make a more interesting painting. Doing this exercise is so stimulating for my imagination that I was up at 4:30 rumaging through the past. Everyone should try this :D)

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach 14X11 Oil on Canvas $150

As a follow up to Gratitude I thought I'd revisit Ruby Beach. The big haystack type formations loom out over the beach and still waters as the ocean rushes in behind them. The three of us visited this beach in June and the formations left quite an impression on me. I believe I will try and do a number of these.

Bente

Gratitude

Gratitude 8X10 Oil on Canvas $100

How do I title a painting? I do love rocks, water, warm colors, happy memories. When I put them all together I am grateful for my life, my experiences and my relationships. I thought gratitude was the best title.
Bente

Golden Lining

Golden Lining 11X14 Oil on Canvas $150.00

I wanted to paint a Blue Painting for the Blue Day. I wanted it to be a cheerful blue painting. Then I thought of the silver lining. Obviously the silver turned into Gold. My paintings always have a mind of their own. Makes me wonder who is in control?

West Coast 12X12 Oil on Canvas $150

This is a picture of our beloved Spirit, walking and travelling companion. He fell

suddenly ill and passed away to join Marion two days ago. We are trying hard

to remember all the good stuff rather than being heartbroken.

Viking Village

Viking Village 8X10 Oil on Canvas $100

There is a Viking Village in Ribe, Denmark that my mother and I travelled to
a number of years ago. I thought it would be nice to revisit the trip.

Susans

Susans 8X10X1 1/2 Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas $100
Painted on the sides so that it does not need framing.

Since I had a long weekend to work on these I decided to work in oils. Marion had many gorgeous flower arrangements sent to her during her time in the hospital. I took advantage of the arrangements and the light for beautiful, cheerful, photographs. I will use them for many years to come.

Angel Bear

Angel Bear 12X12 Oil on Canvas $150

I believe in angels, hugs and warm cuddly things. What better subject to paint
at this time than a cuddly teddy bear with wings. Smile!

Atmosphere

Atmosphere 36X48 Oil on Canvas Sold

I love doing these intuitive paintings where there is no particular place or plan

yet the painting intuites into a place I've been, a feeling, an emotion. That's what

I call an intuitive landscape. Often I start with a gessoed ground where I have added

some acrylic to the gesso for a colored ground and since I use a large brush to

spread the gesso there emerges a pattern or idea and I go from there.

Threesome

Threesome 9X12 Acrylic on Canvas $115

I wanted to paint something upbeat and positive. Flowers are just the
ticket for that.

I am playing a lot with the gesso and acrylic mix to get more of an oil
painting scenario. I use the white gesso instead of white paint and then
if I want the white to truly stand out I use the paint for contrast. When
doing this the important thing to remember is to coat the canvas with
medium to bind the gesso and paint together.

Old Timer

Old Timer 11X14 Oil on Canvas $150

I did this painting this summer. It is from a rural area south of here. There are lots of

old barns, a subject I would like to revisit.

So much to do :D))

My Dear Friend Marion

I chose this picture of Marion to let you know that she passed away this morning.

In the picture Marion is videoing taping reference material for us to paint and I am using
my camera. The smile image is perfect. Marion's positive upbeat love for life and painting
is like no other.

I will miss her dearly and at the same time be grateful for every minute we spent together.

Bente
NODP

Autumn Air

Autumn Air 11X14 Acrylic on Canvas $150

One of the things that I have tried to do when going out to see my friend Marion, is look
at the beautiful scenery and have a record of the changes of color and atmosphere to tell
her about. We have done so many reference collecting trips together that I figure this is
another one of those journeys. The weather and trees have been very co-operative with
crispness in the air, a slight breeze and gorgeous colors.

Then of course the next challenge is how to represent that in paint. :D))

Bente

Country Road

Country Road 11X14 Acrylic on Canvas $150

This is my approach to a landscape using acrylics as opposed to oils. I do

love my oils but since we now have a nip of frost in the air it is not efficient

to keep my windows open for the oils.

I hope you like it.

Bente

That Time of Year

It's That Time of Year 10X10 Acrylic on Gessoed Paper $100

It's that time of year when we need to look ahead to the coming season and

new year and new beginnings. I will soon start to do a series of these trees.

They make great gift and are fun to do.

Bente

The Pear of Us

The Pear of Us 10X12 Acrylic on Canvas $150

A few years ago Marion and I took a Robert Burridge workshop. Aside from the

great learning we also had the most incredible synergy around pears. One

evening we sat with a glass of wine, a sketchbook, a few pears and played on

the word play of pears. Even the next morning we were coming up with song titles,

and meanings.

In memory of that time I am going to donate the proceeds of this painting to

cancer research.

Bente

Morning Mist

Morning Mist 30X36X1 1/2 $1500

This painting is from Tofino on Vancouver Island. It is one of our favourite spots.
The three of us (that is Eric, Spirit and I) can walk out from our hotel room right
onto the beach. We love it, rain or shine.

Light of Fall

Light of Fall 14X11 Acrylic on Canvas $150

Splash of Fall

Splash of Fall 12X12 Acrylic on Canvas SOLD

This painting has MANY colors in it including touches of pink. If you look carefully
at the fall leaves it may surprise you to see just how many colors there are and
what a difference it makes if the sun is shining onto the leaf.

Bente

Shades of Fall

Shades of Fall 12X12 Acrylic on Canvas $150

With the outrageously beautiful colors I am seeing this time of the year I can't
do anything but try to combine the same color palette. At times like this I have
to be careful driving as I gawk around looking for that place to stop and take some
more photos to enjoy later when the rains set in.

I am enjoying these colors and hope you do too.

Bente

Burst of Fall

Burst of Fall 11X14 Acrylic on Canvas SOLD

I am going to work in acrylics for a while. To me its almost a personality switch.
To me the mediums are so different. I take workshops and marvel at how people
working in acrylics can make them look like oils. Me, I approach them in opposite ways.
It's the same with watecolor. That's a different approach as well.

Vedder Canal

Vedder Canal 10X10X1.5 $100

Painted on the sides so that it doesn't need a frame.

To me the beauty of the landscape is that one day I see the soft and gentle like this one

and other days I see the the stark and colourful. It all depends on the season and the

LIGHT of the day.

Nature's Beauty

Nature's Beauty 1X14 Oil on Canvas $150

On Mt Lehman Rd, just as you get off the freeway there used to be a large vacant

area that looked rather bare in the wintertime. In the early summer it would burst

into bloom. You would often see me tromping around taking photographs and doing

some quick sketches. Now they are building a big Walmart. Sigh!

Fall Colors

Fall Colors 11X14 Oil on Canvas $150

I love the colors of fall. These trees are from a trip Marion and I

took a couple of years ago up into the Caribou. The colors were

magnificent. I treasure the memories and all the photos we took

together. The typical scenario was Marion driving and me hanging

out the passenger window taking photo after photo. Sometimes she

would just drive slowly while I walked along taking our reference

shots. Anyone passing by must of been wondering what in the world

we were doing.

Bente

Forest Highlight

Forest Highlight 20"X16" Acrylic on Canvas SOLD

I do love the mystery and intrigue of a forest and the sudden surprise of light

and shadow.