I’m working on some more landscapes…just kind of seeing where they’re going…I want to stay open to what possibilities arise as I go…I’m asking questions, and finding answers. Here’s how they look this evening…I know there is areas that need developing more but trying not to push it too quickly, but consider options.
Category Archives: landscape paintings
Summer Haze - oil on canvas - 28″ x 24″
I was trying out a new product called Garrett’s Copal Painting Medium. It is a blend of linseed stand oil, copal, gum spirits & turpentine. Larry Seiler recommends it. It leaves the painting with a glossy finish, no varnish needed. I had to make sure to really ventilate the studio, and with it being so cold outside, this makes the studio pretty uncomfortable to paint in. I think I would prefer to use this product in future when painting plein air.
I’m experimenting a lot these days to try and figure out what I prefer as a medium for my oil painting. It seems there are so many different methods and products. It seems the only way I am going to learn is to try working with them.
Yesterday I attended the Open Studio workshop with the Portrait Society which was held at the studio of the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto. What a fantastic refreshing experience that was!!! Painting with amazing artists and being immersed in that arts environment has left me feeling refreshed and invigorated! I have resolved to attend the next one which is in May as well as the International Portrait Artists Festival which will be held in Toronto for 4 days in December. Below I have posted some little thumbnails of the day and my attempt at painting the model’s portrait…I say attempt because I had major difficulties with getting a likeness, but enjoyed myself non-the-less. I am also posting a new painting ‘Spring Trees’ completed this week.
Spring Trees - oil on canvas - 28″ x 24″
Vladimir - oil on linen - 12″ x 12″
This Kingston landmark was built in 1873 for the Warden of the Kingston Penitentiary. It was entirely built by convict labour and served as the Warden’s official residence between 1873-1933. It was later used as office space for the penetentiary, and now serves as the Penitentiary Museum. Below is my autumn oil painting of the museum,(a commission) and a postcard from the Kingston Penitentiary from the 19th century.
Cedarhedge - oil on canvas - 20 x 16″
Kingston Penitentiary Postcard
My experiment with showing painting steps of a painting on this blog was dissappointing to me …in the beginning I was excited about what i was doing in the painting, however somewhere along the way i began to lose the plot, and ended up overworking. So definately time to move on to something else…i’ve been looking at the skies, and started this one yesterday.
Daybreak - oil on canvas - 30″ x 24″
Work in progress
Today i laid on a blue/violet glaze, and worked on the hills/trees a bit more, trying to bring in that evening glow, without looking too schmaltzy, difficult to avoid the schmaltz with a subject such as this…the blueish spots in forground will be rocks, haven’t finished them yet…i can see the blue areas are reflecting in the photographing of this, but they do not reflect that way in real life. I’ve been thinking of titles for this piece but haven’t come up with anything yet.
Untitled - work in progress
“Visual art is not only about the celebration of perceiving the world anew through our eyes, it is also the celebration of our ability to grow by seeing. The truth is that we are not seperate from the objects we paint…painting is not only observation, it is sensual engagement and a visual conversation that moves, changes and develops. In that conversation lies delight and magic and your growth.” - Jerry Fresia
I liked this quote I read recently. It kind of resonated with me while working on this piece today. I’m finding my way as I go, and having a good time in the process.
Untitled, work in progress - oil on canvas - 48″ x 30″
I got a start on this painting yesterday…I’ve sketched 3 different versions of it, and finally decided on this composition…I’m kind of exploring the painting process as I go… using my ideas and my responses to this place as a guide. I’ll post it again when I complete it…I am also working on some small ones of the same theme.
Snow In Barriefield - watercolour - 22″ x 9″
Almost monochrome, the cloudy snowy day I painted this. I think I felt there was no way out of winter at this point.
City Snowscape - watercolour - 30″ x 15″ - SOLD
We’ve had a January thaw, but today it’s back to winter…so I’m posting one from the archives painted last winter. Pain in my right arm is keeping me from oil painting this week. If it doesn’t improve next week, will make an appointment for physio. In the meantime I am sketching lightly and perculating ideas.
