"Nicolle" conte pencil

You can click on the image to see a larger picture - it's Nicolle at today's session of the Goward House Portrait Painters -- I chose Conte pencil 'cos these sessions are a wonderful way of experimenting with different media without offending the sitter. I mentioned the deal in an earlier post - you sit and then you get to take home the portrait that you like best.

"Maria the Second" oil 8 x 10

We never see ourselves in profile, but others do - if the likeness is reasonable our friends and family may just recognise us.
Anyway, our sitter at the Goward House Portrait Painters Group was Maria, our second Maria. (Scroll down to see my first Maria).
I like contre jour 'against the light' lighting even though I was running the risk of her not recognizing herself by me choosing her side view.
The purpose of the group is to stretch and practise - and I found the benefits of these exercises visit upon all my other media - drawing, still life, wildlife (!) and landscapes. Accuracy and interpretation is what I aim for.
The painting time was just over an hour. Click on it to see a larger view. Add a COMMENT which is great feedback, good or not good...

"wicker waits for thee..." acrylic 6 x 8

As the seasons turn, the garden waits for us to sit a while. Busy bees need a breeze out in the open - if only for a couple minutes or so. I liked the contrast between the turning leaves and the new Spring grass. Maybe I'll take time to go and sit and ponder over the positive points of life...

"The Cookhouse Theatre, Maui" oil 6x8

A flourish of color at the Cookhouse Theatre on Maui - I think I responded to the old-style building with its corrugated roof and top vent for the Hawaiian heat. Great stuff.
Click on't for a bigger view and your COMMENT (link immediately below) will guide this emerging artist, thanks!
Ronnie

"Mount Baker in the winter" oil sketch 6x8

It's TINY - only 6 x 8 inches and it took me 39 minutes to sketch in in oils. Why so quick? Well, there was a chilly little wind a-blowin' at Willows Beach in Victoria BC this morning.
Click on it for a bigger view and leave a COMMENT (below) to guide this emerging artist...

"David" 11x14 oil

Danish-born Canadian David sat for the group of Goward House Portrait Painters today and charmed us all with his gracious persona...

Benefactor, inventor, and art collector.

"Green Bottle" 11 x 14 acrylic on plywood

I bought this bottle from a thrift store for three dollars (empty) because I like the way that light filters through the glass. All I had to do was to add the two brass goblets to complete the composition.

"Blue Ford" acrylics 11 x 14

The funky Blue Ford is the third in my series of old cars. I believe it is a 1934 model but you Fordies can put me right....
Most car paintings are tight and photographic but I wanted a loose, brushy look.
I learnt to spread my colours so that there are little spots placed here and there, adding I think to the harmony.
As you know by now, you can click on the image to see a bigger picture - also drop me a comment should you have a thought about this piece...see the COMMENT option below.

"Marjorie" acrylic 11 x 14

Marjorie sat for the Goward House Painters today. She had a rainbow-coloured cardigan on and I should have included it but I was using my acrylic paints instead of my customary oils today so I concentrated on her features -- I challenged myself 'cos acrylic paint is new to me and I battle a bit.
Anyway, Marjorie liked it 'cos I excluded a wrinkle or two - when she told me this I offered to paint some IN - she laughed.

"1938 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe" acrylic 11 x 14

Ahhh -- what a super duper car - made a year before I was born. Go figure. In fact my dad had one of these and I remember the humungous Dickie Seat at the back.
I used acrylic paint because it's so vivid and clean. This painting could have been painted in a photo-realism way but I like to see that there is an ARTIST behind the style...
Click on't to see a bigger version, and leave your COMMENT for me?
Thanks
Ron

"Vintage Truck - Heritage Acres" acrylics 11 x 14

I like the clean look of acrylic paint - this old truck languishes in a shed at Heritage Acres in Saanich, Victoria BC, a place which serves as a museum for farm equipment mostly.

The vehicle MAY be restored, I'm not sure, but at least it has been saved from the crusher.

I decided on happy colours instead of brown rust - who knows, there may be hope for the vintage vehicle.

If you know the make and year of the truck please COMMENT and I'll post the details.

Friday Fish" oil 8 x 10

If it's Friday it must be fish. On a technical note I used my conventional oil paints today, not my water-soluble oils. It felt good. Just like the days of my youth.
Conventional oils have that honest-to-goodness feel and swishability (my word). I think I'll keep 'em in my paint drawer for forays like this into the future. By now I know that YOU know you can click on the image to see a bigger view. As always I'll value your COMMENT. (See below).
Thanks,
Ron

"Maria - portrait no.3" oil 8 x 10

Maria was our sitter again at the Goward House Portrait Painters group - this time I felt the likeness was better. Scroll down a few pics to see my first attempts.

"Oranges and Blues" 8 x 10 oil

Juicy orange wedges complement the ultra blue of Dunny's mug. In this painting I used a loaded brush "paint like a millionaire" someone once said. Thick and juicy - click on it for a bigger view. Add a COMMENT below if you like.

"Dancing Iris" oil on canvas 8 x 10

We came across this iris in the grounds of Government House in Victoria. Spring is on the way...
My approach was to use expressive and somewhat large brush strokes loaded with paint - very little correction.
Hey, I'm almost pleased with the end result - but then artists are always (quite rightly) self-critical...

"Pearly Onion" 8 x 10 oil

I love the way the light digs deep into the common onion and the veggie seems to have an internal glow like a pearl. A nice challenge which we got to eat afterwards...a double whammy.
As for the painting execution, I could have gone on and on making the work even more realistic but this way of painting is my HOME STYLE, and I respect it.
Sooo...
Your COMMENT (below) is appreciated.
Oh yes, and click on the image to get a bigger view.
Cheers
Ronnie

"Nicolle" oil 8 x 10

Nicolle, one of our artists, took a turn in the sitter's seat at the Goward House Portrait Painters group today.

Apart from the technical need to get a likeness, we also try to reach for some feeling or emotion in the work -  who knows when a painting has feeling - it's inanimate, but I think I know what they mean - a sense of pleasantness and beauty.

Anyway, your COMMENTS (see below) are welcome.

Brass Rubbing 6 x 8 demo by Pat Hindmarch-Watson

At a meeting of artists in Oak Bay this week, Pat Hindmarch-Watson demonstrated the fine old art of brass rubbing and invited several of us to try our hand - this is my rubbing. Pat kept a friendly and helpful eye over my attempt and I'm delighted by the result. Thanks Pat.  We used a special black paper imported from England and rubbed over a genuine brass using  a wax crayon made with brass powder it seems. What fun.  Isn't art wonderful? So different from working with a brush - here's my 6 x 8 oil sketch completed the same day entitled "The Fire Hydrant."

You know you can enlarge these images by clicking on them. Please use the COMMENT feature below.



"Ann" portrait sketch oil 8 x 10

If you're an artist and the sitter you've engaged doesn't appear for this week's session of the Goward House Portrait Painters then it's understood that YOU have to sit instead!

This happened to Ann this week.

Usually at these sessions Ann works with her iPad2 creating portraits in her own unique style. Go to Facebook and search "Goward House Portrait Painters" and check out her digital art, amongst the dozen or so pencil- and brush-wielding artists.

"Mt.Doug from Mt.Tolmie" oils - colour note, 11 x 14

A sunny but cold and windy morn atop Mount Tolmie facing Mount Douglas --
I may decide to paint a large painting here in my studio later but I need this plein air colour note to remind me of the yellow moss, the green grass and the slate-grey rock.
(I don't wish to be reminded of that chilly breeze...) brrrrr