Friday 19th September 2008 - Taos Ski Valley

Shari and I took a drive up t the ski valley to see if we could find some aspen trees with Fall colours. They are only just starting to turn, little patches of bright yellow here and there. We found a shady spot to paint in but got quite cold when the sun went behind a cloud and then too hot when it came out again - these high altitudes!



Taos Ski Valley - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 18th September 2008 - Grand Canyon

I saw a painting of the Grand Canyon this week with lots of juicy mauves in the distance and found a photo I took at the Grand Canyon a while ago and decided to work on this in Ray's class this week. I also took it in with me for while I was on duty in the gallery this Saturday and did a little work on it. It still needs a lot more work.

Grand Canyon - oil on canvas - 24 x 30" - unfinished

Wednesday 17th September 2008 - Nina

Nina is such a lovely model!

The day before I was on duty, manning the gallery, and I brought along a book by Richard Schmidt and his painting techniques for the figure. It was very interesting and he gets some very unusual effects. I let what I had read influence me in this painting and started with a darker and looser under-painting for texture and depth to make the skin tones glow against the background.

I was pleased with the way this one came out and will experiment with these new ideas some more.

Longing - 16 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,175

Saturday 13th September 2008 -

This model is a neighbour of one of our regular painters and stood in at the last minute when the booked model cancelled. I was re-using a canvas board, painting over another picture that hadn't come out so well. I had only sanded down the surface to make it smooth but not put a coat of primer on it so that the old painting showed still. It gave an interesting, mottled effect in the background that I enhanced a little rather than covered over.

Portrait in Pink - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 11th September 2008 - Misty Gorge

I painted this one over 2 sessions at Ray's class. I originally did a small painting of 8 x 10" on the day I took the photo. This piece sold in a fundraiser at the Country Club last year. I thought a larger sized piece would work quite well - not as big as the 30 x 40 Elk at Maroon Bells but still larger than I usually paint landscapes.

I really enjoyed the colour mixing for the gorge and sky in the distance. I told Ray that I was going to paint the sky a shade of orange and he fought me all the way but when it was done he agreed with me that it worked.

Misty Gorge - 24 x 30" - oil on canvas - sold

Wednesday 10th September 2008 - Lesley

Lesley modelled for us this Wednesday. It was a lovely session, all women artists for some reason. We put on nice music as we were painting and sculpting and sang along.

The next day I got a phone call from Lesley saying that she wanted to buy it. It had turned out well and it was a good likeness and I was delighted to sell it to her.

Lesley - oil on canvas panel - 10 x 8" - SOLD

Tuesday 9th September 2008 - a Field of Sunflowers

It was a glorious day! A whole bunch of us painters gathered in the field of sunflowers to paint - Barbara Bartels, Ken Daggett, Kemper Coley, Michelle Chrisman, Shari and I. It would have been hard not to be cheerful with such glorious yellow shining out at me.


A Field of Sunflowers - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Saturday 6th September 2008 - Tony

Tony was the model for this Saturday's group. Although it is a reasonable likeness, it is not the favourite painting I've done recently - something to do with the hangover I had that morning?

sold

Thursday 4th September 2008 - Ray's Class

see next Thursday's entry for the painting I started in Ray's class this week

Satruday 30th August 2008 - Ewan

Ewan is Rosa's brother and the son of a good friend of mine. I think he was envious of his big sister earning the model fee and was eager to have a go at modelling himself. he did a great job and held very still.

Ewan - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - sold