Dappled Walk Contemporary Oil Painting by Bente Hansen

Dappled Walk 30x40 Oil Painting on gallery Wrapped Canvas

We are having an Open house at the Dancing Tree Gallery in Powell River  on Thursday from 6-9pm.

I painted this for the opening.

We have such gorgeous weather right now and when we walk the dogs in the bush the sunlight streams through the branches.  How do you even begin to paint something like that?  I started abstractly and think I got the feel for the day.

Blessings for a creative and happy day.

Bente

Gatineau Colors, Oil Painting by Bente Hansen

Gatineau Colors 14x11 Oil on Gessoboard   SOLD

I had a wonderful visit to Ottawa. Saw my niece and her 4 character cats.  We spent time driving through the Gatineaus in Quebec.  The days weren't bright but that didn't dampen our spirits.  The colors were glorious so I had to do a painting when I got home.

We get the fall colors here on the west coast but not with the same intensity as Quebec.  I was very happy for the visit and for the time of year.

There was also a display in Ottawa called Mosaic. I happened to catch it on the very last day.  The sculptures were huge. Celebrating Canada's provinces and diversity. The creativity and imagination was humbling.  That they could make such gorgeous images from plants when as artists we may have difficulty putting an image to paper was quite an eye opener.  I was very proud of this display and grateful for the timing.

Blessings for a creative and happy day.

Bente

24x24 Oil Painting by Bente Hansen

24x24 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, SOLD  painted on the side so that no frame is required

I had fun painting this.  Good thick paint.  Lots of palette knife work.  It came together easily. Depending on my mood, I sometimes like to almost throw the paint and see where it lands and go from there.

Its gorgeous here on the Sunshine coast.  I wish everyone a thankful weekend.

I am thankful to be alive and living in such a gorgeous place and country.

Blessings for a creative day.

Bente

Watercolor by Bente Hansen

Watercolor 6x11 on watercolor paper

In preparation for teaching an Encaustic workshop I thought I should get back to some basics.  The plan was to do some shapes which I could print on my encaustic plate and then glue to a board.  I started with some rice paper and it didn't do what I thought.  Then I grabbed  some standard watercolor paper and this happened instead.  I rather like the standby.

Hope you do too.

Happy Creating.

Bente

Ocean View 6x16 Oil on 1" Cedar Plank

Ocean View 6x16 on 1" sanded cedar plank  $95

I thought I would try something new.  AGAIN.  I am constantly searching for that perfect combination.  I drilled holes in the back so that it can be hung on the wall but I really think it looks best sitting as a display on a table.

I bought some of this cedar to try using with my encaustics and started with the oils.  I never know which way I am going to go until I get to the studio.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

A Day at the beach

A Day at the beach, acrylic mixed media 16x16  $225

Acrylic mixed media painted on wooden cradle board.  Painted on the sides so that no frame is required.

This one started as an acrylic pour.  I felt it needed more oomph and so I started looking through my cache of beach finds.  The dried up seaweed, parts of shells, beach glass and pebbles.  The gauze painted with gold acrylic was the only attachment that wasn't a beach find.

It's quite interesting when I am walking my pooch on the beach.  We are usually looking out at the beautiful scenery but there are times, at low low tide for example, when there is a twinkle in the sand or something that doesn't blend in with the rest.  This gets my attention and I end up going home with a pocket full of small flat pebbles or shells or even dried seaweed.  I also have a huge container of rusty stuff.  I think, this winter, I will be trying to stain rice paper for my encaustics with that.

We will see how this influences my work in the future.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Night Life, Mixed Media, Bente Hansen

Night Life Acrylic Mixed Media 8x10 on Cradle Board  $80

This painting started out as an acrylic pour.  The initial image that came to mind was an evening beach scene but I thought it was too weak.  I added pearlescent acrylic inks and some of my beach finds, including skeletons of baby crabs, shells and small pebbles.  To me this is a true water scene with all the bubbles and little images.

It is painted on the sides so that it can be hung without a frame.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente