"A Safe Harbor"

My last painting to post for a while till i can make some more. I have a show to prepare for in Feb. and have to have about 30 at least. So far i think i have maybe 10 hidden away. Yikes! Better get to work. My 17 year old daughter always confides in me about boys, school troubles, school joys, and all that goes with being 17. I am a good listener but the other day i thought i would share with her the stresses of being a lonely studio artist preparing for a show and the task of coming up with new ideas all the time. Hehe! Thought i would turn the tables on her and see what she did. She simply said in a young persons idealistic way of seeing the world, "why don't you just paint what's on the inside?" and then went back to complaining about her biology teacher. They are so cute aren't they? I thought about what she said all day and realized she was so right on. I spend too much time looking at art on the web and in books. Ultimately painting is an inside job. I now have it written on a card and posted in front of me for a reminder. I told her the next day how smart she was, to which she promptly replied "I know!".  Smile!  I am going to paint what is on the inside now. Hope to post it here for you soon. Blessings as always. ross

"Anne Street"

In my sketchbook i find all sorts of little drawings and doodles that long to be made into paintings. This was one such sketch i found from way back. The idea was to try and do a whimsical street scene towards the end of day when the last light is fading. It is about 11 X 14 and done with watercolor on 300 lb. Arches CP paper. My sketch books are running out of fresh ideas though and i think it may be time to get into the habit of using them again. Coffee shops are great places to sit and doodle or draw people. Just have to try and not let them know what you are doing. Smile! Next up; "Painting what's on the inside!'. God bless! ross

 

Boats and reflections are a bit of a passion for me and i love doing them even though they take a while to make. This one is on a full sheet of 300 lb. arches CP paper. My initial plan was to make it quite dark but as the painting progressed it was wanting to stay light. Have to listen to the painting and let it guide me. I love when that happens and a new direction is unfolding as paint goes to paper. I thought i might post the photo i worked from here too for you to see. It was one i took a few years ago in Vancouver and always wanted to do something with it. Hope all are well out there in studio land. Blessings. Ross

"Bowness Lagoon"

This was a commission given me by a neighbor. The lady wanted a whimsical painting of a popular skating lagoon here in Calgary. I took photos of the main points of interest and combined them into a fun, wintery scene complete with fire pit and pooches. "There are no puppies allowed on the ice in winter" i was told by a person who saw the painting. Smile! There are in my painting! Artistic license.....

"The Underlings II"

It has been a while since i have posted anything and thought it about time. This one was from some doodles i did of birds flying around and had fun with the scene they were flying around in. It is done with watercolor, acrylic, gouache, and ink on paper. I find it so freeing to just paint and not worry about realistic renditions and such. Hope all are well. Blessings always.