December Views - Decorating

December Views - The Explanation

December Views

This is the time of year when things get busy and my mind is distracted with things other than art.





When I came across “December Views”
I thought it was a wonderful visual exercise for the month of December (I’m a little late).

This photo was taken during my morning commute!

Christmas Came Early

I always love a good art book for Christmas, this lovely book was waiting for me when I got home from work today. Alfred Currier in the spirit of Thanksgiving was offering his book on his blog. I was fortunate enough to receive one.

It's beautiful, Alfred. Thank you

Peace & Conflict - "Empire"

This is the second painting that I entered in the Peace & Conflict show at the Coast Collective. It is my interpretation of one of the statues (Castor or Pollux I'm not sure which) in the Piazza del Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill in Rome.

There is a lot that can be said about peace and conflict in the Roman Empire, but for me on that day it was about the way the sun was hitting those magnificent marble statues, what they represented and feeling very privileged to be there.

Approx 91/2" x 14" watercolour with gouache- $150. includes frame

Peace and Conflict

This was one of my entries for the "Peace & Conflict" show at the Coast Collective . It starts tomorrow and runs until November 15.


We were encouraged for Remembrance Day to interpret peace & conflict in any form. I chose the painting I had done last April, as something that represents my faith. A faith which can leave me at times internally conflicted but also has given me peace.



7" x 14" mixed water media on 300lb arches paper

$150. includes frame

Kitchen Counter - Pears & Tomatoes

This painting is also at the "Celebrating the Harvest" Show

16" x 16" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas
SOLD

Kitchen Counter - Pears & Honey

This painting is currently at the "Celebrating the Harvest" show at the Coast Collective. It's on until the 25th of October.


16 x 20 acrylic on gallery wrapped 1 1/2 canvas
SOLD

October

Another month, the same walk, the light and colours are changing.

It's been a busy month, but I have been painting some larger paintings that I'll post in the next few days!

8x 10 acrylic on canvas SOLD

Last Day in August

This painting along with "Last Light" are the two other paintings I have at the Juan de Fuca Centre.

The associate members from the "Coast Collective" have a show at this location and another one at the Crossroads Pub in Colwood. I would encourage you to go and have a look. Also go and visit the gallery and gift shops at the Coast Collective Centre. Check out their website for more info.

"9 x 12" acrylic painting on canvas - SOLD

Last Night I Went for A Walk

After a really warm summer day, there is nothing better then feeling the cool marine air comming off the water, I love the smells, the colours, almost everything about this time of year.

This painting along with a few others will be in the Coast Collective Show at the Juan de Fuca Centre, starting tomorrow!

9" x 12" acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

Life Drawing Monotype

This is another early monotype. I was in a life drawing class and using mylar I rolled out the colours and then drew the model with pencil and watercolour crayons (Caran d’Ache).

It's a very satisfying way to work, especially when some of the ink is not quite dry giving me the ability to move the colour into lines and create different textures.

I am now living in a box free zone which feels wonderful, the studio is set up and I have no excuse not to start painting.


Image is approx 8" x 12" - SOLD

Queen Anne's Lace

One of the more fun aspects of moving is finding stuff you had forgotten about or thought you lost. I discovered a whole portfolio of artwork that I had packed away five years ago since our last move.

This is an early monotype, the picture I took makes the edges look worse then they actually are. I don’t have any measurements because I forgot to take them and the painting is packed up again, but it's about 7" x 12".

Five more days and the unpacking begins. SOLD

Moving!

I'm going to miss this view from my studio when we move, but hopefully once we're settled, I will be inspired with a new view, which will result in more consistent posting. That's the plan anyway!

Acrylic on watercolour paper - NFS

Blossoms

It finally feels like spring and I couldn't resist painting the blossoms that were outside my bedroom window.

We have a lot of beautiful pink cherry blossom trees in the neighbourhood, but I was inspired by these simple white blossoms.

5" x 7" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas- SOLD

Angel With The Cross

There are ten sculptures of angels on the Ponte Sant’ Angelo in Rome, each one is holding a symbol of Christ’s suffering and death.

I was fortunate to be able to see and walk across this bridge a few years ago.

7" x 14 "mixed water media painting on 300 lb Arches paper

Harbour Walk

This is the city I see when I walk along the harbour into town. It’s a painting that I did a few months ago but never blogged. I find it so easy to leave paintings at a certain point, thinking that I still might want to change things. But for now Ithink I'll leave it.

24" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Green Apples

After spending time working on monotypes, it felt good to paint something larger with simple shapes and colour.

Monotypes can be technique oriented and the time I had today to work on them felt like time wasted since everything I printed ended up in the garbage. Very frustrating!! But I am pleased with the apples and we did have sun today, after the freak snow storm.

16" x 20" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas SOLD

Low Tide #4, 5, & 6

I’ve been using the term monotype and monoprint interchangeably which is common, but my prints are actually monotypes. I use mylar as my plate and work with water based printing inks. I roll or paint onto the surface and then using a wooden spoon I hand print the image on to dampened paper.

There are a lot of variables in the process, the paper has to be moistened just right, the image is mirrored and if layered the last layer is the first layer on the print. Needless to say for every one print that I like, there might be three in the garbage. I’m hoping with time, that ratio will change. In the meantime there is a lot of experimentation and a few surprises.

Monoprints/Monotypes - Lowtide #1, 2, & 3

It's been a few years since I have printed monotypes, this will give you an insight into the process. The edges are a little rough and the colours messier then I would like, but it's a start.

A big THANKS to Mary of Stillifes for the lovely print I received last week. Her paintings are wonderful and I especially like her series of rings, celebrating 30 years of marriage.

Images are approximately 5" x 5"

Venice Windows 1, 2 & 3

I decided to leave a lot of space around the windows in the hopes of creating a simplistic painting with an obvious focal point.

It was difficult to leave the space as is and not fill it with some sort of detail, it was also a good exercise in tonal balance.

Each painting is 12" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas