One Almost There ... Another Looking Interesting ...

Both above photos were taken in filtered daylight, with slightly different adjustments. I think if I overlaid them, I'd be close to having what it actually looks like. So, it's almost finished. I'm having a small niggling thought about maybe painting some soft, barely-there branches at the top of the doorway.

I've started the smaller of the two bridge paintings. I suppose this is something of a practice run. I painted a very w/w drizzly wash, using aureolin, quin. pink and cobalt blue, and encouraged it to run vertically.

This is the second w/w wash - same idea, but I also used quin. siena. I think the next wash, I will focus on the water, using the same technique.


I had two very intense days at work. I think most people believe their hygienist is a heartless soul, but I care very much about my patients. I woke up early this morning, thinking of my last patient yesterday - an extremely difficult case from all dental perspectives.  I had to call the office, to ask the receptionist to check on her.

But now I have two weeks of painting and horsing around  and planning for an open studio in August ahead of me.

As ever, your comments are most welcome!  

A Midsummer's Day

Had a great lesson with the lad this morning. Rhonda really pushed me on more than I have done in a long while. I ignored the little voice in my head saying, "time for a break". We both need to move forward again.

Tootled around Aldergrove, picking up food supplies for me and all the beasties. It was a gorgeous day!!

Took some quick photos of some of the locals. A lot of people are keeping a llama or two with their goats and/or sheep. We've had a lot of very brazen coyotes lately. My friend with all the chickens has lost 14 since March.

This evening, I was crawling around the rafters of the barn, trying to get shots of the baby swallows. Here's their nest - empty- built on an old light fixture.

They were having flying lessons! That's why no one was in the nest. This little chap had been on the floor, and then made it onto an old feed bag to get away from me. The parents were quite agitated that I was in "their" barn taking pictures! I've also started the bridge painting again, hopefully in something strong enough that I find expresses what I feel about the old structure.

As always, your comments are most welcome.
And get out and enjoy the SUN!!!

A Bit More on the Saga ...

I decided it needed some more shadow on the right and definition below both figures, so I painted a w/w with a brown mix and a blue-black mix, keeping it loose. I had a question from fellow artist/blogger Vicki Wood [or St. Vicki, as I think of her, for her great care of rescue dogs] about lighting when photographing paintings. The above was taken under my regular Verilux studio light.

This was taken with the "daylight" bulb alone.

This photo was taken under lighting of the Verilux and a "daylight" bulb. It's an unbelievable difference.


As always, your comments are most welcome.

The Continuing Saga of Bruno

I think I left off here, with just some light washes of color in the two moons.

I darkened the "wall" in front of the horse, and started intensifying the colors in both figures.

More color. This photo was taken in studio light.

Same stage, in overcast daylight.
Again, I must apologize for the color variations.  It's so frustrating, and neither photo is accurately showing the colors nor the values. Is is the camera? the editing system on the computer?


I was hoping to ride today, but it is so incredibly wet. Apparently, we in B.C. are having the coldest and wettest June ever. OH BOY!! Yes, Bruno has his snorkeling gear on, and would like another pair of flippers, as he wore his out last summer.
And I did manage to get over to my vet's, and scale his dogs' teeth. Yes, sometimes this hygienist makes house calls. Anyway, I'm working on this painting, as I still don't know how I will approach the bridge painting.  Considering the weather, I should have a lot of indoor time to think about it.

As always, your comments are most welcome.

AAARRGH!!!

I'd like to use this old photo as reference. I think it's from the late 30's, just after the bridge was completed.

I did have a wet, happy time slopping paint around - on the paper, on me, on the floor ...  I was trying to create the effect of rain. After all, Vancouver is on the Wet Coast! 

I did this without any sketching beforehand, and it looks it.

I think the idea will work. I need more intensity, depth and strength in the bridge. This is just a small practice run, to see what the colors do. All in all, it was a frustrating session this afternoon, hence the "Aarrgh"!

As always, your comments are most welcome.

Before I Knew What Happened ...

I started adding some shadow to the leaves ...

... and adding, and then darkened the background once more.
Now there are only some tiny touch-ups to do on the pistils and stamens.

Instead of painting, I snuggled with the cat, and watched three hours of documentary-style disaster movies. There's  nothing like watching several possible scenarios of the end of the world or just the human race to put everything into perspective.

As always, your comments are most welcome. ;)

A Bit of Catching Up ...

The GRAD, and the dad

Julian and Paulina, my aunt [best art critic and mentor] just behind 

I tried to take Jules' photo as he was coming up the aisle. My sister or niece called his name, he turned, and got my flash in his eyes. He looks like he is a graduate of Zombie High!

I left the rhodo here a few days ago.

If you look REALLY  closely, you might see the colors I've added in the petals, and the shadows in the leaves.  My plan is to do one more wash on all of the background and into some of the leaves, and then take a good long look to see what else may need touching up.  


I had a quick ride on Bruno early yesterday morning, then showered, and dressed up. I zipped into Vancouver to my sister's home, and then all of us drove downtown to see Julian's graduation ceremony. It was actually quite a wonderful experience, even just watching - all those great young people, hearing about their dreams and plans. I was really uplifted by the ceremony.