"Marianne" oil on paper 12 x 15

Marianne sat for the Goward House Portrait Painters today. I used oil paper and conventional oils find that they sank a lot into the paper, but is was a nice change from canvas - I responded by using as few colours as possible and tried to exploit the sinking paint. Anyways, Marianne liked the result! Press the image for a bigger view.

"Barry" pastel portrait 10 x 14

Barry sat for the Goward House Portrait painters today. He's retired but collects scrap metal of very kind. So far he has raised over six-thousand dollars for some camp for kids I think.

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"Saxe Point inlet" oil 8x10

You know this is an outdoors painting 'cos of the appearance of a tiny critter which flew onto my wet canvas and got stuck there, it's the badge of the plein air painter and just about every oil-painting artist gets 'em. If you form imaginary cross hairs from corner to corner of my painting it's just about in the center!

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Fall comes to the Marina" oil 6x8

Nature hits back at Fall by giving us a shower vibrant autumn leaves, soon it'll be cold but winter has it's own share of fun. Bring it on!

See it at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Christmas Small Works exhibition.

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"Cadboro Bay Beach" oil 8x10 en plein air

Not wanting to place the legs of my aluminum tripod in the sand I looked around and found this inverted log, so I stuck my paint box on it - it happened to be situated in a good spot!

Then I looked for a centre of interest, and a lone sailor obligingly hauled his yellow boat up on the beach, just where I needed it!

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Museum of Man Totem" acrylic 12x18

Believe me when I say that the original painting has subtleties that a JPG cannot express. Somehow it's softer and less brash if you know what I mean. Anyhow, here it is, a realistic rendering of which my family approves.

This painting was shown at Sidney Fine Arts 2014 and is now on view at the Greater Victoria Real Estate Board.

Want it? Make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Slippers & Scales" oil 6x8

Sometimes we are our creative best first thing in the morning, so even in our slippers we can practise our scales and play them beautifully....
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"Forties Ford Truck" oil 6 x 8

I like the patina of a worn un-restored paint job.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Peanut Lid Biker" oil 6x8

Skid Lid, this biker sports a peanut lid, aka a naked shorty helmet. The red road is fraught with symbolism. Biking is fun, it blows out the cobwebs, yet let's be careful out there. Did you notice the smiley face?

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Macauley Point 2014" oil 11x14

Painted en plein air in Esquimalt, Vancouver Island. I was drawn by the trail of water left by the boats and trailers emerging from the harbour at Macauley Point.
While I was working, there were a lot of strollers-by who were intent upon walking around the surrounding bluff. I counted at least a dozen adults and three "crocodiles" of school children. I think one's hearing is accentuated when concentrating on a painting outdoors.....Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

"Captain Crow" acrylic 11 x 12

Especially painted for you if you like reproductions in the form of a greetings card or something specific. See the image on Fine Art America - search for my name Ron Wilson. OR if you'd like to own the original painting please contact me. Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Kilt Lifter and Naughty Nellie" photos from Friday Harbor

These two bottles of beer caught my eye at Bean's coffee in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Even their cookies are good:

Granddaughter Megan twisted my arm and made me eat Bean's most decadent cookie but unfortunately my butt didn't shrink at all. Bummer!

" cruizin' " - acrylic, 9x12

My sons and I are bike fans - so whenever we see a motorcyclist out and about we give a thumbs up.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Dinghy with red thwarts" acrylic 8x10

Unsigned SkETCH - I may want to paint up this scene in oil some day. Painted en plein air so that my colours will be as I actually saw them, not presented by a camera.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

"Baby Shoes" oil 6x8

After seeing Carol Marine's beautiful 2000th painting on Facebook I went to the cupboard and found my granddaughter Megan's baby shoes. Miss Marine's art is perfect, she inspired me to make my own version of Baby Shoes

Want it? Make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

Click it for a larger view, and THANKS Carol...

"Tame Bantam"

This is a miniature oil on stretched canvas, 3 x 3 inches painted with water-soluble oils for the green people watching me! Your question/comment will be welcome, I like emails. BTW, it will look great in a kitchen - on the countertop with a tiny easel which I can supply too...

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Dog and Dinghy" acrylic and pencil 3x3 inches

I find that ACRYLIC together with PENCIL gives me a bright and happy finish. This miniature 3x3-inch painting on stretched canvas took on its own form. Quite nice colours...I guess a lot goes on in the unconscious mind too.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Crow & Mountain" oil 11x14

See it? Look off-centre in front of the bush. Plein air sketch, two hours.

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"Oak Bay Marina" children's washable markers

'Difficult to judge the size of a sketch when one sees it on one's computer screen, so I'll tell you - 4 x 4 inches approximately.

It's from my sketchbook, done in washable markers. As an experiment I tried washing it out but the colours are still there! Look out, parents!

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"Hens Pecking" acrylic 5x7 framed

Hens pecking? I guess the cheeky bantam needs company. SOLD at Moss Street TD Paint-In19th July 2014

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"Bantam Rooster" oil 5x7 on stretched canvas, framed

I painted this cheeky thing for the TD Paint-In in Moss Street Victoria on Saturday July 19th, 2014. 35-thousand people strolled down the parade looking at paintings by 180 artists.

Want it? Make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Victoria Lavender Farm" composite

Farmer Alan Mayfield of Sidney BC invited me to be the resident artist at his Victoria Lavender Farm Festival.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Garden bench" Finnerty Gardens oils 6x8

A most daunting place to paint - Finnerty Gardens. Not because it's pretty but the artist is surrounded by plants at every turn. So I chose to paint like a millionaire with thick, juicy paint.

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Canadian anti-spam law

From now on I need your consent to keep sending you my occasional Blog like this. Do nothing to stay on my list or send me an email ronjbw@gmail.com with UNSUBSCRIBE either in the subject line or within the message. No problem. Meantime, here's my American grandchild at seven in Pelindaba's lavender field.

"Copper kettle, copper bowl" oils

I'm preparing for Moss Street TD Paint-in open air exhibition to take place here in Victoria BC on July 19th, 2014.

Some 35-thousand people are expected to come looking at the art - 'tis very exciting for us artists on Vancouver Island.

Here's the companion piece - "Copper Bowl" (courtesy of the Warren Family) 6 x 8.

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I'm in a Lavender mood

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Monet's Trees" homage oil 11x14

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Monet's Trees - I kept my scene loose and sketchy, much like Monet would have done.

Want it? Make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

"Sig" pastel portrait

'Hard to believe, Sig was a Canadian pilot for the RAF when he was twenty - that's seventy years ago! He still looks good and is a marvellous artist.

"Vern" Goward House Portrait Painters

Vern the husband of one of our artists, sat for the portrait group today.
I used pastel pencils, and after tea, I did a quick half profile.

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"Dinghy and draglines" oil 8x10

In the wild west the steeds used to wait patiently outside the saloon. Now-a-days the yachties drag their tenders above the highwater mark, thus my title - dinghy and draglines.

I've said it before, next to the shape of a woman a hull is almost perfection.

Want it? Put the title of the painting in the SUBJECT line and make an offer at kyknoord@outlook.com

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"Mike" portrait sitter

Mike sat for the Goward House Portrait Painters this week - the deal is that you sit for free but at the end of the three-hour session you get to take home the portrait of your choice - with about a dozen artists painting!

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"Elk Lake" oil 10 x 20

Often what you leave out can make or break a painting. I left a single tree out (it was one third in from the right) and the composition just looked out for itself.

Also, it painted itself pretty much - it was finished within two hours, leaving us time to walk along the water's edge a little ways. There were many Alfrescoes out this morning, I'd say about 30 to 40 (there are 80 artists on the email list).

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"Sheldon" Goward House Portrait Painters

Sheldon sat for us today, and the dozen or so artists loved him. He sat still and was nice and chatty with them at the tea break, making many friends I believe.

And YES, they made the Biblical reference...but who wouldn't?

I did a pastel yet I was happier with the pencil profile that I sketched after tea.

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My Hero! A selfie by Sargent

John Singer Sargent this is his selfie which he painted in 1906. This man has inspired countless brilliant artists. Some critics find him too clever by half but if you've ever struggled with a brush you'll know that THIS is the man!

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"The Rock" acrylic 11x14 plein air.

I believe this rock is "erratic" or at best "eccentric" because it is not local to the area - it's as tall as a six-foot person and HEAVY. It could have been deposited on Mount Doug beach fifteen-thousand years ago during an ice age.
The yellow-green is seaweed found here at low tide. The mountain creek meets the sea where my seabirds are feeding on something.
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"Boathouse" pastel 10x12

Happy day - I went painting with Delia Sansom and Ken Faulks today.
Pastels were my choice. Ken did oils and Delia gouache.

Why Faces and Hands are tough

There's always something a little wrong with a portrait. Even Sargent told his sitters "you can always fix it when you get it home." And, "a portrait is something a little wrong with the mouth." Faces are tough because everyone knows when a portrait is off. Especially a sensitive artist like me. So I battle to get the likeness and I'm still intent on improving. Hands are tough too. My hero John Singer Sargent solved his problem by painting hands like flowers.

Check out my portraits too, many of which can be found by scrolling down this my blog. Thanks for your compassionate ear. Ron

"Marcela" drawings at Goward House

Marcela sat for the 17 portrait painters today. I did three drawings - she liked this first one, graphite pencil and white on grey Sennelier paper.

(Then I did a quickie with Conté which I gave to a fellow artist in the group),

and finally I did Conté washed with watercolour which I enjoy because it's quick, sketchy and colourful...

Here's my photo of the sitter:

Three in three hours. I use various media, what works for one sometimes benefits my home medium which is OIL.

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