Tuesday, June 28, 2011

"Faye" 6 x 8 oil



Faye was our sitter at Goward House Portrait painters in Victoria BC today. First I did a face-on sketch in charcoal just to warm up (I won't show it here). 
It is our last session before the Summer Break and everyone did very well ...
 

Sunday, June 26, 2011

"Poppies and Wild Roses" (Saxe Point) oil on canvas board 6 x 8


Painting from my heart with no commercial agenda in mind, only deep respect for the medium and application. I love what I do, and hope you do too ...
First I sketched the scene on my blank white canvas using thinned Cadmium Red then applied the main colors with a broad brush, only hinting at detail, allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
I use water-soluble oils. Some call it water-mixable. I like the Grumbacher Max oils mostly but I also use COBRA from the Netherlands (watervermengbare olieverf) and ARTISAN by Winsor & Newton water-soluble oils too.

Click on the image to see a larger view then press your BACK button to return here. Your COMMENTS are always helpful to me.
Thanks
Ron

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

"Trish" pencil portrait 9 x 11


Our sitter at Goward House this week was Trish. 2B graphite pencil on Robert Bateman bristol paper.

"Hillside Morning" oil on canvas mounted on Baltic plywood 6 x 8


Moss seems to gather on a remote stony outcrop, especially if the only passing traffic is the occasional deer. My friends always want to know where this is - well I'll give you a clue = Nanaimo on Vancouver island where I lived for a couple years.

Friday, June 17, 2011

"Saxe Point Musack" en plein air 11 x 14 oil on canvas board


Although the sun was shining on Vancouver Island this morning we were greeted by a chilly sea breeze - which was good 'cos it makes the tree bend al la Group of Seven and it was no problem to cheat the cold by throwing on a sweater. Following the sale of an earlier painting of mine which was done with juicy brushwork a little light went on in my mind - bing! So I went thick impasto today. 'Hope you like ...

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

"Marilyn" oil on watercolour paper 10 x 12


Firstly I sketched Marilyn's face with Conte pencil just to get the drawing done, then I wet the entire paper with ordinary kitchen cleaning spray. While the paper was wet I used a paper towel to wipe the whole paper down and started applying oils - (water-soluble oils).
I'd never done this before so beware if YOU try it.

Marilyn was our sitter at the Goward House Portrait Painters this week. The likeness isn't accurate - I was going for how I imagined Marilyn might FEEL inside ... so the painting is expressive rather than an accurate representation of who she really is. A different reality, if you like.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

"Japanese Lantern" 8 x 10 oil on canvas, Baltic ply



This is my study in greys - a stone lantern about man-height at the bottom of the Glendale Gardens in Saanich, Vancouver Island. Painted en plein air,  two-and-a-half hours in the wind and dust!