Catching up!

I just attended a weekend workshop and have spent the last few days catching up with all the chores that didn't get done while I was playing!

I have to say that I think the Graham Flatt workshop is the best I have ever attended. I learned a number of new techniques and a different style and approach to painting. Here is a link to his FB page - Graham Flatt - check it out!

Here are the paintings I did at the workshop.

#1032 - Birches In Autumn - 5 x 7 watercolour

#1033 - Autumn Journey - 7 x 10 watercolour

#1034 - Strays - 7 x 10 watercolour

#1035 - Orange Glow - 5 x 7 watercolour

It will be interesting to see if I incorporate the things I learned into my future paintings, after all, old habits are hard to break - lol.

30/30 January Challenge #22

I am on a roll! The weather has been such that I just wanted to stay home which gave me a lot of time for painting and that means I am ahead of the game.

#999 - Autumn's End - 5 x 9 watercolour

The painting was roughly based on a piece in "Perspective Secrets" by Phil Metzger, one of the Watercolor Basics series. I have given a number of lessons on perspective using this book as my reference so I am usually pretty good at it. However, I like to paint old buildings, so if I goof I can always say that the building is old and falling down - lol.

I am very happy with this piece, although the colour in the original is more vibrant than the photo so the purple really pops. I also like the looks of the leaves scattered on the ground which was achieved by rolling a #6 round brush lightly over the paper using a number of different colours.

Now, I just have to add this to Leslie's 30/30 page and then I have to go out and - you guessed it! - shovel more snow!

2016 Day 3

I wonder how many of us doing this challenge feel like we should have our heads examined. What was I thinking? I am writing this in between fixing dinner and I am afraid that I am going to burn the rice or have something boil over because I get caught up and forget what else I am doing. See? Crazy!

At any rate, I did manage to get a piece done for today's post. Another challenge participant gave me the idea when I read her blog for Day 1 - http://nelviasworkshopchallenges.blogspot.ca/

Three in a Row

 "Three in a Row" is a 6 x 8 acrylic on a gallery wrap canvas. It was painted using a palette knife - oops! I just caught the rice - I think I had best leave this until after dinner - lol.

.........Time lapse.........

As I was saying, I used a palette knife, some left over paint and white gesso. The canvas had been painted black so I was able to scratch out the back ground trees and some of the branches. Although this painting has some things that are frowned upon (like straight lines and an object smack in the center) I am quite happy with it.

I hope tomorrow's piece works as well!

DAY 10 - If at First You Don't Succeed...

Try, try again! That was one of my mother's favourite sayings and it certainly applies with this painting.

Heavy Snow

I find it extremely difficult to do washes on rice paper! Load up the brush with lots of pale bluey-gray, touch the paper and, suck, it is all absorbed before you can even move the brush. It doesn't move, won't blend and doesn't look at all like the reference photo. Grrr!

Using lots of wet paint also tends to make the paper warp so I thought I would give it a light touch with the iron. Everything that had been painted flattened but the whites all wrinkled. Another grrr!

This is definitely a scene that I will have to try again - and again and again probably - but that is all part of learning something new.

Don't forget to have a look at the other paintings submitted for this 30 day challenge -   http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and go and vote for your favourites at - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

Catching up

As it has been quite some time since my last post, I have a fair bit of catching up to do. I managed to get a few of my mixed media pieces finished in time to include one in the Art Club's Fall show.

Feathers & Flowers

I started this piece at a workshop last February with local artist Win Dinn https://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-Dinn-Artist/138761966191277?fref=ts It took some time before I decided what to do with the start but I am very happy with the end result.

As I look through my list of completed art I am surprised (as always) by how much I have done. I number my paintings and since the middle of August I have gone from 670 to 709. I have done some acrylics:

Sunset Forest

Cypress Swamp

I have done some watercolors

Shadowed Stream

Old Barn in Autumn

And, I have painted on fabric with dyes at a workshop with another local artist Eileen Gidman. You can check out her work at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eileen-Gidman-Watercolour-and-Textile-Artist/310557619037972?ref=ts&fref=ts

Poplars in Fall

And finally, I have done a number of small (3 x 5) watercolors thinking they would make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. To see more of these 'Little Gifts' check out the album on my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mellowood-Studio-and-Art-Gallery/120412094734638?ref=hl

Winter Grove

Painting with Friends

Yesterday two friends came out and we spent most of the day painting with oils. It was a challenge! Carrie and I hadn't painted with oils since last summer and it was Lori's first time to use them. I paint using the Bob Ross method and the large brushes are almost alien to Lori.

Fire

Carrie got started first and before too long she was turning her canvas and asking "What do you think?" Both Lori and I thought "WOW"







While Carrie was moving right along, Lori and I moved at a slower pace. I had had Lori watch a Bob Ross DVD to familiarize herself with the process but he makes it seem so much easier than it is. I did a similar picture so I would be able to demonstrate on my canvas.

Lori's painting

For a first attempt, Lori's painting turned out very well. She is already wondering how oil will work on rock which is her normal painting surface. You can see Lori's work on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelf-Life-Studio-Unique-Stone-Art/302195519841293?ref=pb

Ice Cold

I am pleased that my painting turned out as well as it did as I had a number of interruptions while I was working. The Bob Ross method of oil painting may be less detailed than traditional oil painting but it is definitely quicker and it is fun.

Ice

While Lori and I were working away on our larger paintings, Carrie finished her first and did another one. Fast and furious (very much Carrie's style) this one is the opposite of her first and is only loosely based on a photo.




Although some paintings require solitude and concentration, it is lots of fun to paint with friends. You can bounce ideas around, help each other with techniques or loan materials. But, the biggest benefit is the encouragement we give each other. And it is important to remember the Bob Ross saying 'There are no mistakes in painting - just happy accidents"