Cuter Than Himself

10x10 Oil on Board

This little fellow made me laugh out loud as we were passing him in the dog park. He didn't seem at all surprised that I would want to take his picture. With every painting I have a feeling like an internal spark that makes me decide I have to paint it and when I can hold that feeling long enough to get it on canvas it's such pleasure. Pure fun!

An author, Denis Dutton, was interviewed on CBC this morning about his book The Art Instinct. He maintains it's no coincidence that we want to paint certain types of scenes or topics, they are imbedded in our psyche. I think if falls into the same category as kids and animals being cuter than themselves. It keeps people smiling at them. I hear about the best books on CBC!

Stuffed Ducky

8x8 Oil on Board
About once a week a group of friends get together to paint for a few hours. In the summer we paint outside but in the winter in Edmonton it's usually inside. We paint from life whenever possible and treat the paintings as exercise and learning along with a dose of laughter and serendipity.
My little colour studies, in protest of the cold temperatures, seem to have sparked an interest in a little children's series. This wee duck is one of a few stuffed things I would haul out every spring when the boys were little and this year painting them seemed like fun.
I got my new issue of Canadian Brushstrokes online magazine the other day and thought I would pass the word. This is a great magazine and the subscription is free, what more could we ask for in these times! Hope you enjoy!
http://www.brushstrokemagazine.com/issues.html

Puerto Vallarta Marina

8x10 Oil on Gallery Canvas

This painting was done from a photo taken from our villa while on vacation in Nuevo Vallarta. It was a totally still, very hot day that reminded me of days when we were kids that seemed to go on forever. We heard that our -35 temps are finished for this year so maybe I'll get wistful about snow again. I would like to paint a picture of the little snow hill that my son works at before they close.

Today we did an exercise that was meant to be monochromatic. Not sure how I did with that part of it but will try it again another time.

Conch Shell Exercise

Plaid Bunny

This was actually last week's exercise but I was working on plums. I think I painted this little guy yesterday in self defense. We're back to very cold weather here and I'm ready for some spring. I do plan to get back to posting actual paintings but right now I have windows for the exercises and then a larger painting. I hope this bunny puts a apring in your step and a smile on your face!

Chinese Teapot and Orange

6x6 oil on board
NFS

This little painting is a birthday card for a friend. It's another of the exercises paintings that must be done in under 2 hours so the fabric looks a bit like snow. So many things to think about at once!

A number of painters having been considering recently, what puts them into the creative space. It reminded me that our parents would coerce us to tidy our rooms by saying "A tidy room is a tidy mind." I don't know if they invented that but I know that if I make my bed and tidy the dishes before I start the day, it helps. Or if I'm stuck and I clean a drawer, it can work.
These days I feel inspired by bright colours, I'll be thrilled to have flowers in the garden again.

Now I'm back to practising plums for a larger commission. Have a wonderful creative day!