#18 Armstrong Fields

#18 Armstrong Fields  6x8 Oil on Paper/Panel   $125.00

What a view from your kitchen window! And any moment a cadre of sheep are going to toodle on through. 

#17 30 in 30 Red Barn Enderby

#17  30 in 30 Red Barn Enderby   8x10 Oil on Paper/panel   $150.00

I finished up 7 snow scenes in Edmonton yesterday so I'm taking you to B.C. with my paint brush and full disclosure, they won't always be snow scenes!

Unfortunately this beautiful tree got hit by lightning a few years ago but I've heard of them regrowing from a bit of root so who knows!

#16 30 in 30 Heading Home

#16 Heading Home   8x6   Oil on Paper/panel   $125.00

Takes me back in time painting these little ones at a local ski hill. Guaranteed in no time they'll be shooshing down the hill. I wonder how many local kids have learned their tricks on this hill?

#14 30 Paintings in 30 Days Clearing the Rink

#14 Clearing the Rink   6x8 Oil on Paper/panel   $125.00 unframed -Jan.

Most of the neighbourhoods in Edmonton have a rink and keeping them up properly is quite a chore. It's time consuming and very often needs doing when a person would rather be in front of a warm fire. The same industrious fellow has tended our rink for many years which is the height of neighbourliness!
I was drawn to this scene by the golden light in the background and the patterns on the ice.

#8 Terwillegar Park Lone Tree

#8 Terwillegar Park Lone Tree   6 x 6 Paper on Board   $125.00 unframed

I'm taking a turn this week with snow. I've had a yen to paint this scene in our dog walking park for years so I decided I would give it a try today. What a lovely day, first a friend showed up with a latte and a big smile, then one of my boys and his dog popped in. Then to top it off, the hysterically funny radio podcast of Vinyl Street Cafe's "Babysitters" show was playing. If you see any errant squiggles you'll understand it's very difficult to paint while laughing yourself silly!

I realize after I painted this scene that it was just the same sort of day as today, sunny but very cold! 

30 Paintings Collage

Well, this project is finished which leaves me feeling a little excited and a little sad.  If you have a picture you'd like to have painted in this style, you can get in touch on my website. The paintings are available until Feb 15th for $100. They are applied to a birch panel and are unframed.
I have so many ideas for the next project, I wonder what will sift to the top? It is February so there is still lots of time before plein air season. Some of these scenes will be painted on large panels for the Scotia Show.
If you're interrested in seeing the collages of all the participating artists go to Leslie Saeta's blog. If you're interested in doing your own collage we used picMonkey.

Look Both Ways First!

8x6   Oil on Paper

This Mom's using caution before heading onto the ice! Have you notice a familiar theme with the bright jackets? Keeps us feeling excited for Spring!

This is my 28th painting in January but I will finish the last 3 before I close this project and start painting large for the Scotia show at the end of the year. The challenge was posted by Leslie Saeta in California. She promised to direct us to a site for collaging our finished paintings and she's posted it today. Pretty neat, I thought you might want to check it out.

Snugged Under the Trees

6x8   Oil on Paper

This sturdy little shed snugged under the old trees sits patiently waiting until spring. Which comes a lot sooner than here in Edmonton, just saying! -38 today with wind chill makes it a wonderful day to be inside painting and listening to CBC.

 

Riding the Rail

8x6   Oil on Paper

Riding rails in a competition is what get these kids out of bed on a cold winter morning!

This was really fun to paint, the excitement the kids felt seemed to transfer itself to my brush. Looks like the beginning of a series.

Red Barn on a Sunny Day

6x8   Oil on Paper

I loved how the bright sunshine shone through the tree and onto the deep red barn. I have no idea how farmers find the time to keep their outbuildings in such beautiful shape! 

Winter Field

6x8   Oil on Paper

This scene is a field on my cousin's farm east of the city. It is painting 16 in the series and it actually feels like I'm over the hump the last few days. Having said that, I really need to get the Christmas ornaments put away so I guess I'm not that over the hump!

Gathering For Another Run

6x8   Oil on Paper

This family had taken to the little slope away from the rest of the crowd at Silver Skate. I'm sure they thought the hill was huge!

Silver Skate Festival Sleigh Ride

6x8    Oil on Paper

The sleigh ride is one of many things to do at the Festival besides just putting on your skates and going for a spin. This festival is held in Hawrelak Park, a beautiful park in the River Valley. The City of Edmonton does a great job hosting festivals all year but when it really counts is in the winter to get families out enjoying the weather!

Silver Skate Festival Teepee

6x8   Oil on Paper

We're heading back to Edmonton today, I found some pictures from our Silver Skate Festival a couple of years ago that offer the opportunity to paint lots of figures in gesture.  It was a really cold day as you can see from the sky but that never matters, lots of folks were out with their families. 

I'm not naturally drawn to winter sports but fortunately my boys are so it's gets me out to enjoy the day!

Little Snow Angel

6x8  Oil on Paper

This little snow angel will likely become part of a larger painting with her sister and a dog. Her Grandma is a good photographer and she was kind enough to send me a bunch for the project. 

This project gives me such appreciation for the Daily Painters who paint and post while teaching hither and yon across the continent and surely they must still have time for a life. It must require being super organized as well as committed!

May Snowstorm

8x6 Oil on Paper

This is the first painting in a series that I am painting this month as part of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. It's biting off a fair bit to paint and post a painting each day but the benefits are tremendous. Focus on some learning goals, determination and a good reason to go to my studio in the cooler days of winter. It brought back wonderful memories painting this scene, none of could believe our eyes when we looked out the window and saw this big dump of snow in May!

I will put the paintings on my website but will hold them until the end of the month to enjoy them together for a day or two.