Wednesday, October 31, 2012

"Jessamine" oil over Acrylic 8x11

WHY? Why all the space to the left? Well I spray-painted a maple leaf which is barely visible in the underpainting but Jessie knows it's there 'cos she's a Canadian and she witnessed me collecting fallen leaves outside Goward House then saw me use them as a template on her canvas using the new Liquitex Professional Spray paint. Jessamine has a nice strong face and once owned a gallery in Coombes with her late husband, artist Sid Barron.
Happy Halloween. We never celebrated it in South Africa but it's a big deal here in North America. muhwaaaaa....

Friday, October 26, 2012

"Snow Tracks" 8x10 oils

Winter hits the island of San Juan in Washington State, USA. The scene is a private rural road off Schoolhouse No.2.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

"Vietnam Vet" pencil 8 x 8

Because I was struck by the sight of a macho man clutching a teddy bear I made this pencil sketch of this Vietnam Vet on his hog in Arizona. Then I saw the inscription on his vest: "In memory of the 58,044 brothers who never returned Vietnam 59-75."

Friday, October 19, 2012

"Whistler Blackcomb" Acrylic 12.3x14

Charcoal studies like this one bring their own reward, like the finished acrylic which followed. I kept the brush as broad as I could, and stopped when Robert Genn's words echoed in my mind, "will the NEXT stroke improve the painting?"
Click it for a bigger image.

"Whistler Blackcomb"

Thursday, October 18, 2012

"The Smiley Note" Acrylic 11x14

An enamel mug brings back childhood memories of South Africa to me. A good friend searched high and low for a chipped one (YES) for me - eventually she found one and mailed it to me with this little smiley face note. I keep my markers in the mug now, adding notes of colour!
Click the image for a bigger view, and pppuhleese leave this emerging artist a COMMENT?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

"Kathy" 12x12 Conte Pencil


Kathy sat for us at Goward House Portrait painters today.

I used a sheet of 'found' paper of medium tone and used Black then White Conte pencils.
Comments are encouraged.

Monday, October 15, 2012

" The Fernwood Inn" watercolor 8x10.5

The Fernwood Inn is in a suburb of Victoria BC well-known for its theatre folk and visual artists. Coffee shops, art galleries and specialty food shops abound. I parked my Morgan here whilst painting the scene. Afterwards I had a pretty darn nice cup o' Java across the road.
Comments are invited.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"Red Dinghy, beached" oil 6x6

Yachties use little dinghies to ferry themselves from the outer moorings of the Oak Bay Marina - then they bus it to town. This little red dinghy waits on the beach for the sailor to return. Next to the female figure I reckon that a HULL is my next best shape to paint.
Your COMMENT?

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

"The Walronda and the Empress" acrylic 8x10

At this year's Classic Boat Show in Victoria BC the Walronda was decked out in her finery while at berth in front of the Empress Hotel. Many of the owners of these fine old vessels were kind enought to invite visitors aboard - all the nice girls like a sailor...
COMMENTS are encouraged.

Monday, October 08, 2012

The Elk Chair - conversation piece

Conversation piece of novel Canadian and American art. Off the wall (and onto the floor of our dining room).
 Provenance: A found vintage kitchen chair, renovated. Solid wood with firm jointing; an original tapestry of an elk and doe by the late Edna Joan Leach;

and my oil painting of an elk bugling, painted on the top back rest.





There are painted chairs and then there are painted chairs - this one is intended to be tasteful and restrained.
Please click on the images to see bigger views.


Your COMMENT is invited.

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

"Lyle" 8x10 acrylic on canvas paper

"If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium." (If you remember that movie you must be my age).
Tuesdays are portrait days for our small group of painters, and it was Lyle who sat for the Goward House Portrait Painters today.
He told me afterwards that it was a good likeness:
The deal is - if you sit for us, at the end of the three-hour session you get to choose which portrait to take home as a reward. Your COMMENT is invited.

Monday, October 01, 2012

Bushman Mother and Child - print

Here's a double portrait I did for my publisher in South Africa. Of course mothers love their children but the Bushman mother is particularly attentive and nurturing. The shells in her hair are a measure of her wealth.
Your COMMENT is appreciated. I looovve guidance and reaction.
Thanks

Ron