Christmas Mountains

I did a couple of small paintings for my mom for Christmas. They started out as 10x10 (which I finished) but we found a great deal on some frames that were 8x10, so I repainted them into the smaller format. It actually worked out better, as I was able to work out some composition issues with the first ones.
I loved doing these, as I didn't just paint pictures, but tried to incorporate a personality to these mountains. I hope my work reflects that.

We grew up in Squamish where Mt. Garibaldi dominated the northern skyline. I could have painted it from memory, as it was so prevalent in my past.

"Garabaldi" 8"x10" acrylic

My mom now lives in Abbotsford, and has another mountain to rule over her land. Mt. Baker is to her south and looks over the Fraser Valley.

"Mt. Baker" 8"x10" acrylic

Painters I am following these days

I have started following some painters whose work I think is awesome.  I hope you get a chance to follow them and see the great works they are doing.

Gaye Adams. A wonderful painter and a really neat lady.
http://gayeadams.blogspot.ca/

Marc R. Hanson. I stumbled on him a little while back and sit and just look at his paintings when I need a lift.
http://marchanson.blogspot.ca/

James Gurney. A watercolourist who takes things to a great imaginative level
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.ca/

Susan Galick, an awesome lady (she looks so much younger than me, yet has grandkids) and a painter who is on the climb.
http://www.susangalick.com/blog

Olga Rybalko. A real sweetie who does amazing things with arcylics.
http://www.olgarybalko.com/


And lastly, Murray Phillips, my instructor, mentor, and friend.
http://murrayphillipsart.com/


Please check these people out. You will be glad you did.
Enjoy

Cold Days Painting

I haven't posted in a while, but I came across a couple of cold pictures that I thought I could post.

This was done on Remembrance Day, and it was really windy and cold. Brenna and I went up to Alouette Lake to do some painting and it was stormy on the lake. I had to pin my box box with one hand while I painted with the other. Brenna wrapped up in a blank and set up on the beach for a bit.
The result wasn't great, (it really needs a foreground) but it was fun none the less.

"Stormy Rememberance" (P.A.) 9"x12"

The second comes from the first day we got snow here. It was about -6' with a heavy wind in my face. Brenna and Champ walked the dike as I painted. At one point, the paint (acrylic underpaint) froze to my brush and I had to move to oils, which were very stiff. The wind was so bad that it blew my brush holder (a plastic bag) onto the ground, and I lost several brushes. I couldn't really feel my fingers during. It was pretty cold.
I loved it, and I turned in one of my favorite paintings to date.
Notice the fat boy pants. I had to do it so I could put the long underarmour underneath.

"First snow" (P.A.) 9"x12"

I also tried to render it to a 16"x20" that evening