Saturday, November 27, 2010

"Downtown Victoria" from Gonzales Observatory



Seen from Gonzales Observatory, this is downtown Victoria in inclement weather  - a narrow break in the clouds illuminates the taller buildings of this wonderful capital city of British Columbia.
Oils, 11 x 14 on RayMar canvas panel complete with a Melamine backing to avoid warping - soft hair brushes were used - five of 'em! (Different sizes).

Thursday, November 25, 2010

"Boats at Seaside, USA" oil 11 x 14



Boats coming in to berth at Seaside. In the background, random pilings of tidal buildings long since abandoned in this cute seaside hamlet on the Pacific Coast of America

Friday, November 19, 2010

"Gonzales Sideloader" oil 11 x 14



It was really COLD up on Gonzales Hill this morning, but a Sideloader vessel passed by while we were painting obligingly giving us a focal point. Those are the Olympic mountains of the USA in the background - the dip in the mountains is where Hurricane Ridge is located, it's a mile above sea-level, so I'm told.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

"Restful and Fragrant" oil 11 x 14



The lavender farm in Sequim, Washington State. A place to meander and rest among the fragrant lavender rows.

Friday, November 12, 2010

"High Tide, MtDoug Beach" 8 x 10 oil


Painted en plein air this morning, there's a bit of shine-back on this painting because of the amount of linseed oil that my Langnickels demand in order to get the strokes on the canvas. While a soft mongoose brush is a pleasure with which to work, one has to change one's way of applying paint! Dry-brush technique is out of the window ...

Thursday, November 11, 2010

"Oranges Wedges" 6 x 8 oil sketch


With my soft mongoose hair brush (no.8 again) I painted this small study using thick and juicy brush strokes.
Should you click on the image you'll see an enlargement,  but press your BACK button to return here.
Thanks, Ron.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

"Captain Bill McKechnie" oil 6 x 8



Today as a guest I painted with the group of seven portrait painters at Goward House in Victoria BC. Captain McKechnie was once the master of the "Queen of the North" many years before it met its end. Nice, chatty fellow with a wonderful Scottish accent. Afterwards group leader Jim McFarland invited our sitter to choose a portrait to take home, much like the "Star Portraits" on television. Captain Bill chose mine which is great.
I used four brushes, two of them Langnickels - the smallest of which was a No.8 so the session was quite a challenge for me, trying to get the finicky detail in.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

"Mount Baker from Cattle Point" oil 11 x 14 en plein air


Mount Baker looks great with side lighting and the challenge was to separate the snow-from-the-clouds-from-the-sky tones. Shaun Cunningham, a photographer with a good lens happened to be passing by and later he sent me his JPG of my scene as it is actually.

Shaun Cunningham's JPG of me painting in the wind at Cattle Point. the wind won, I had to stop play!