Christmas Coffee

Happy Holidays everyone. Thanks for all the kind words this past year!

My Christmas Present

Here I am with the wonderful Christmas present my husband and son got me this year. It is a painting by Carol Marine called Red Light District. I absolutely love it. Thanks Noel, thanks Evan.

What Did You Say - It's Windy - SOLD

Another beach scene. I may revisit this one in a larger format, I think I could push it further.

You Don't Say

The reference for the painting is a photo I took this summer of my Dad and Uncle standing in Lake Huron. I took quite a few photos at the beach that I have been wanting to get at for some time. Why now during the winter you ask; I believe I am procrastinating from stretching canvas on the 9 large stretchers that are leaning against the wall in my studio. These stretchers are for a series of large landscapes I have planned, I guess rather than procrastinating I should say I am percolating my thoughts for these pieces.

DSDF Portrait Challenge

This is my submission for the DSDF Portrait Challenge. I really tried to concentrate on the eyes in this painting and figuring out the structure of this fellow's face.

Blue Ornaments

There is a touch of snow on the ground here, but it still does not seem like Christmas yet so I thought I would try and get in the mood.

Haydain

Haydain you will be missed. Rest in peace, we were blessed to know you and your music.

Stripes and Limes

I am finally finished. I set up this still life wanting to challenge myself and I did. This took me about 2 weeks to finish - between painting, contemplating and experimenting. My husband feels it is too busy for him, I shall see what he thinks now that it is finished.

Study of limes on stripes

This is a study for the larger still life I am working on. I am trying to work out how best to tackle the striped background. It has a black stripe in the pattern. I mix my black from ultramarine blue and raw umber. Does anyone else mix their own black or do you use it straight from a tube? Thoughts?

Work in Progress - Striped Background

This is what I am working on this week. I am planning on doing a series of large landscapes next, so thought I would get one more still life in before I changed gears. The striped fabric is going to be quite a challenge.

Commission of a street in Germany

This is the commissioned painting of a street in Germany. It is finished and has already been delivered. The lady that I did this for was so excited that she took it before it was even dry! I am going to varnish it at a later date for her.

Black, White and Violet

And the last one.

Fresh from the Tree

Another demo.

Peter's Pear

This is the second demo I did this weekend. Peter Schlotthauer's studio was my host studio this past weekend and this is Peter's pear. He had just picked it from the neighbour's tree and was about to eat it when I got a hold of it to paint. Please check out Peter's work, he is a really talented artist.

Pink Mums

The studio tour was a lot of fun. I did not sell anything, but I did get a commission for a painting. A lovely lady provided me with a photo of the street she grew up on in Germany and asked me to do a painting of it. I am very excited to get started on the painting and see her reaction when she receives it.

The painting of mums, above, was the first demo painting I did this weekend. I did 5 all together. I will post 4 - the last painting I gave to my host studio, it was of their front door.

Art in Action Video

Orchids

The Burlington Studio Tour is this weekend. Hope to see some of you there. Check out our youtube video here. It features some of the artists that are participating.

Chores around the house

This past week I have been getting ready for the studio tour and my husband has been doing some chores around the house that needed to get done. Here is my son 'helping' his Uncle dig out the foundation of our house where we have a leak. Once he stopped throwing the dirt back in the hole as fast as his Dad and Uncle could dig it out he was a very big help.

First Prize- Best in Show

I am happy to share that my painting Road Home won first prize in the Sunrise Gallery's 1st Annual Juried Show. It is a fantastic show, with incredible works and I am stunned and honoured to have taken home an award. The show is on until November 15  and it is worth a look. 

Flower Necklace

Another painting of a necklace by Liz Meister. Hope you like them Liz!