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Here are a couple of pen & ink drawings we are working on  in class. The Daisies are finished.

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                     "Mourning Dove" Original WC.  7.5"x10" Framed
                                       (also available in Giclee' Prints)

Hello Everyone: I am pleased to announce that I will be participating in the 2012 Newmarket Studio Tour  as guest artist in the home of my artist friends; Don Chretien & Julie Cochrane this Saturday Oct. 20th., 10:00am.-5:00pm. & Sunday Oct. 21st. 11:00am.-5:00pm. I will have several new water colours & oil paintings and giclee' prints available.
For more information & a detailed map of the various studios on the tour please click the link below:

www.newmarketgroupofartists.org
Follow us on Twitter:
Here is the link for the Newmarket Studio Tour's Facebook Fan Page:
www.facebook.com/NewmarketStudioTour

Hope to see you there!

New on The Easel!

This "little" painting 36"x48" is one I just started. I have 3 on the go now, hoping to get them done in the VERY near future as my Gallery hasn't received any new work yet this year!

My workshop is next Tuesday & Wed. in water colour (painting flowers) so I have to do a mental switch again. My teaching starts in Sept. & I have taken on  6 paintings for a rather large commission all in water colour.

I will try & post more regularly and keep the brushes warm!!!

Well....you would think once you finished your stint of teaching one would have more time to paint!!! Not so. After a 10 day trip to Nova Scotia (not long enough as the place was beautiful!) I just finished a house commission, turned down a HUGE commission due to time restraints..they wanted 4 large commercial areas drawn & completed by Sept. 5th & I was to start today! (Not possible without working like a maniac, & I'm not up to it anymore. So I passed even though the money would have been very nice! Now, I can concentrate on what I LUV to do...PAINT! Hurray!

                                          Leaving Toronto Island Airport

                                          Pleasant Bay, Cape Breton

                                          Atlantic Side of Cape Breton

                                          Just finished House Commission

                                          I took 475 Photos! I have lots of reference now....just gotta paint!

This is the oil painting I'm currently working on. The top painting is after yesterday's session and the lower version was 2 weeks ago.Yesterday, I worked primarily on the upper right side blocking in more background and establishing light filtering thru the trees on the ground. Detailing is still on hold ie. fallen leaves, debris etc. My main concern at this point is to get the "feel" of the place, the "woodsy" damp quiet! So colour and values are very important and getting the colour of moss green correct. So, still quite away to go, but coming along! This is 48"x60" someone needs a big wall space! The Gallery in Clarksburg has requested larger paintings.

The first pen & ink assignment for my spring class!

I finished the first assignment drawing that I gave my class, and just had prints done today to demonstrate the water colour application in Wednesdays' class. Then we tackle a winter scene. This robin was waiting for water in our birdbath several weeks ago and I took his photo. He has his other leg tucked up against his chest. This bothered some of my students so they opted to add another leg to the picture. Artistic licence is always welcome in my classes and I encourage them to use their own photos for reference if at all possible! 

I was at the CSPWC annual general meeting this past Saturday, where we elected in "new members". It is always a pleasure to see new work and faces in our group. It gives us a chance to see our "old" friends and to catch up on their art projects. 

On another note...when my classes are finished at the end of June, we will be going to the east coast where I hope to finally get some plein air work done!!! Can't wait...

My finished Commission!

I just went through the past few posts and realized I didn't post the finished commission of the Heritage House in Newmarket,Ontario. The clients were very pleased and that of course makes me happy!

Here it is...

Finally,back to my oils.

I have been off work this week due to some health issues. So, rather than finish up more water colours I decided to pull out the oils again. I was in the process of this marsh scene I painted last fall near Bala, Ontario and really like the colours. The early morning light is my main interest and I am trying to achieve the mood of this morning. I have a small 6"x8" painting I did on location as a reference as well as several photos.
I still need to add all of the lights in the shadow areas, adjust values and add several hints of sunlight coming through the trees. I will post my progress in the next couple of days.

Another one completed!

This is another demo piece from my watercolour classes. I just added the lace (a time consuming area) and another glaze of reds & yellows on the apples. I do love realism!!! 10"x14 1/4"

Finally...I'm back doing some work!

It's been awhile since my last post! No real excuse except life and teaching have played havoc on my schedule. I am really trying to juggle my time and making an effort to post at least once a week!

I am in the process of finishing many small water colours that I started as studies in my classes in the winter. The spring sessions start next week so I will have many more near June.

On another note, I will be having a couple of small shows (I hope) I have entered into the Newmarket Studio Tour in October jurying is going on now. I also am considering showing my work at the Newmarket "Art Market" the 3rd Saturday of every month during June,July, August & Sept. I may consider another Home show as well. I will post these announcements on my blog and on facebook.

This is a photo of one of the paintings I did in the "Advanced Watercolour" class. I just had to finish up the lace cloth. It is 10"x14 1/4"