Thursday, January 31, 2008

Sheep Farm



I painted this last year, and I wanted to put it up as a comparison to what I have been doing lately. Even though I have only been blogging and painting a few paintings a week for a short time, I think it has already had an affect on my work. If you look at other artists who blog daily, and look at their work from previous months or years, I'm sure you will see a difference.

Apple Orchard

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Rainy Day



A friend cooling down her horse after a class at a horse show.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

High Park Fall 07 No.4


Another in the series of High Park in Toronto in the fall of 2007.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Okanagan Summer Day


Another breathtaking view near Vernon, in the Okangan Valley, British Columbia.

Spring Rooster


This gorgeous little fellow is a leghorn rooster. Leghorns and their descendants are the most numerous breed in North America today.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Workshop Exercise


This is a painting that I did at a workshop held by the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA). It took place in horse country, Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park in September '07 and was taught by arguably the best living equine painter, Valerie Hinz.
Attending this course really changed how I paint. It taught me alot about observing my subject, using a limited palette and mixing it and about persistence and experimentation.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Maple Leaves


This is a bit of a departure for me. These are maple leaves in the fall. I did it from a photo that I took years ago with a soft focus filter, and I loved the way the colours all melted together. Actually it was a bit tricky to paint, because the photo is a slide and I don't have a projector, so I had to keep holding it up to the light and every once in a while I used a magnifying glass, because I really couldn't see what I was doing.

High Park Fall 07 No.1




I walk dogs in High Park and I am always noticing the light effects on the trees and other aspects of the park. It's hard to get too focused on anything other than my dogs, so I have to go there without them and really have a good look around. I did that in the fall, and took some photos that I am using for reference in a series of small paintings.

There is a spot in the park where the light filters through the trees and it is quite spectacular in the fall and winter. There are often people walking their dogs in the area, and I think it would make a nice little painting. I want to set up my easle in the park at this spot.