Trickle 11X11 Pastel on Sanded Paper  $100

This is a continuation of the pond and waterfall.  I did a pastel of one of the deep holes the waterfall created over the last centuries.

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Strata Pond '04  NFS

Dawn Emerson, a fantastic artist, suggested I read "Art and Fear" with a certain area in mind. The quote from this book that I am going to add here is why I have posted this art piece and I will explain that after the quote:

"Fears about art making  fall into two families: fears about yourself, and fears about your reception by others.  In a general way, fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work, while fears about your reception by others prevent you from doing your own work."

When I read this my thought was that this was a true metaphor for LIFE and not just art.

The painting that I posted here was the first painting where I stated out loud," I am not going to sell this painting."  Where we live we have a beautiful pond and waterfall and I believe this was one of my first "plein air" experiences.  I walked up there with what I thought were all my supplies.  I stood in the direct sun (a real no,no), no cover for my paints, sun in my eyes, sweat dripping off my nose and bugs everywhere. I gave it a good try but it just wasn't working. I beat myself up and was ready to pack it in and walk home in disgust. As I started packing up I noticed for the first time the vines hanging down in front of these gorgeous rocks.  I couldn't believe I had been looking at them all along but hadn't seen them. I just put a couple of them in and presto the painting had a lot of meaning to me.  It was a real ahah moment. Not to give up and to remember I was there for me to enjoy and grow and learn and not to worry about creating a masterpiece that I might be able to sell.

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Bam Bam 10X8 Oil on Canvas SOLD

This little guy is a miniature donkey.  I am hoping to go on a great photoshoot of him and his little brothers and sisters.  He is so cute.

I just finished painting him so the paint is very wet.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

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On a Wire 13"X9 1/2"  Experimental

I am experimenting with many things looking for fresh and new ideas.  This piece has acrylic paint, fineline and pastels.  I started with one thing in mind and it kept changing, getting wiped out and then a new approach!  I had fun doing it.  I let loose and thought, it's only paper.  The title came from a song in my head even though I didn't have any music going, just a lot of pent up energy wanting out.

Do give yourself the freedom to try it.

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Moving On 12x12 Oil on Museum Quality Panel $150

This painting had a mind of its own.  The reference was a previously lost image from Bella
Coola.  If you could see the reference you would wonder how I came up with this painting. What can I say other than the photo was the starting off point and then something else took over.  It could be my 10 years of living on the prairies with the big prairie sky and the simplicity of the landscape that made the beauty. Whatever it was, I rather like the results. I hope you do too.

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Blue 6X6 Oil on Museum Quality Panel SOLD

I was going through some backup CDS of photos taken in Bella Coola and found images from an 80 year old lady's English Garden. (Lesson here is always do a hard copy backup). Among her many gorgeous flowers were these Blue Poppies.

This painting is done in transparent oil on Gessobord.

Eagle 8X10 Oil on Canvas $100

I wanted to try this from a campsite.  As is typical of painting outdoors - there are obstacles.  The
first one being crows.  I thought what could a crow want with my paints as I was moving from one
picnic table to another.  THE SEAL ON MY MINERAL SPIRITS.  I couldn't believe it.  They had the
sucker out of there and were about to fly away with it.  I had a heck of a time getting it put back together.

The picture quality is not the best since I didn't bring my better cameras but I think you have a pretty good idea from this.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

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Eagle sketch on paper

I am heading out in search of more bird material.  I did this sketch in prep for giving that a whirl. We have a long weekend here so I am hoping for some good weather and lots of birds.

Cheers

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In the Lilac 8X10 Oil on Canvas  $75

This grosbeak is sitting in the bush waiting for the right opportunity to approach.

The painting is oil on canvas.

Grosbeak 8x8 Oil on Canvas $65

Painting wildlife is new to me.  The birds I saw were so colorful so I am enjoying the challenge of something new. The weather here is finally conducive to going out in search of more material.

Red Breast 8X8 Oil on Canvas $65

Here is my first bird painting.  I have a few in mind since I got some awesome photos the other day.  Makes me want to go and hang out where they meet and see what else I can catch.

The weather is awesome, the birds are singing.  Yeah!

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I had the opportunity to watch some birds while visiting my Mother.  I think I will give them a whirl.
These are a couple of sketches I did.  The top one is a Grosbeak and bottom a Robin.

Happy Mothers Day everyone.

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Danish Bricklayer 9X12 Oil on Canvas $150

In Denmark, Architects need to have a trade before becoming an Architect.  My Dad was a bricklayer.  I thought it would be fun to do this. with the old wooden shoes.

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Focus 12X12X1.5 Gallery Wrap  Oil  $100

The title of this painting came from me trying to focus on what painting means to me. Energy, color,emotion, color, richness, color, texture. You get it.  It felt so good doing this painting with nothing but a couple of random strokes of color on the canvas and one thing leads to another.  No reference other than my memory of many times in nature and what catches my attention.

If you are interested in this painting you will have to wait to have it shipped since the paint is very thick.  I did most of it with a palette knife.

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Learning Curve  11X14

I thought I would post a learning painting.  This is one of many that do not work.

I look at it today as though I was an instructor in a class and what could I say to this student?  The perspective is wrong, the light direction isn't obvious, maybe the background could be more muted to show distance....

I got caught up in the color which is my favourite and in the process I lost the painting.

It's all part of my learning curving.

Happy painting.

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Lily 6X6 Oil on Ampersand  Gessobord  $50

This is a small painting on a panel. I am still working on these ampersand boards.  They are very smooth without any resistance to grab onto the paint.

Blondie 12X12 Oil on Panel $175

This Llama lives in a field just down from our home. I thought it would be fun to try and paint her.  The painting is done using oils on an ampersand panel.