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

October Update

A couple of my more recent paintings. Finished off the blueberry rows and a new one inspired by the Birches and Storm. I am going to try and enter them in a show for December 12 - 14, 2014. Gotta love the bright colours.

"Blueberry Rows" 16" x 20"

(the same painting as below, but I finished it. I think it is my favorite to date. Stupid iphone camera doesn't do it justice.)

"Last Light on the Birches" 18" x 24"

Recent Plein Aires

Some updated pics: I will be updating the blog in the next day or so ...

Some small plein airs (outside painting) for your perusal. I love getting out and painting outside. It is SO FUN.

 

"North Alouette Colours" (P.A.) 9" x 12"

"Deception Pass" 10" x 10"

"Birches and Storm" (P.A.) 9" x 12"

"Heron Fields" (P.A.) 9" x 12"

The Finishing Touches

Tips on the finish.
I think I mentioned it earlier, but I am part of a painting group who bring their recent work to the be critiqued by the group. I am quite overwhelmed by the talent of the people around me, but am so pleased with their kindness as they contribute direction and sound advise.

"Quiet time on the South Alouette" 16x20

The advise from the group was ...

1. Make the Star the Star (Emphasize the middle section)
2. Check your lines (make the lines on the back mountains consistent)
3. Light changes things (add back lit foliage where sky holes are / add highlights to the front grass)
4. Brushstrokes need to reflect the direction of your object (water reflections need to be completely horizontal)

Here is the same picture with the changes added (and a different frame)

The highlights and foliage seemed to add depth to the picture. 

These were great lessons, on seeing those things that help the picture get to the finish stage.... Thanks to the power of the group.

Blueberries and Cranberries

Here are today's pictures.
Svengoolie ("The Wolf Man" with Lon Chaney Jr.) picture for this week is

"Blueberry Fields and Pump Houses" 16x20

Similar to the one with three trees (Can berry fields be much different?) but I liked how the buildings looked against the dark reds of the bushes. See pump house (8x10) down below.

Also today, I got out to paint onsite at those cranberry fields. I enjoyed the day. What a beautiful spot. 

"Cranberries & Pump House" 8x10

Cranberry time

It is cranberry time, and they are starting to flood the fields to harvest the cranberries. Pretty cool process, They draw water from the Alouette River, run these machines to stir up the berries, and then suck/push them to a spot where they can get them into the trucks.
The reds and the blue where really cool. Here are some photos ...