An Interior

Living Room Corner 12"x10" original oil on stretched canvas

Since seeing a book by Connie Hayes called Borrowed Views (which I have kicked myself for not purchasing at the time, because now it is out of print), I have admired paintings of interiors.  Today, I decided to try my hand at one. 

Remembering Summer

Woods and Water 8"x10", oil on stretched canvas

The warmer weather today put me in mind of summer days...soon to be ours!  Well, not quite.  This little stream is probably quite frozen today.  But, our days are getting significantly longer and for that I am very grateful.  For now I can make due with these longer days, memories of time spent by a babbling brook and the happiness that comes with being in a warm place and painting!

Drawing Day

These sketches were done at the live model atelier on Tuesday.  I was mostly drawing with a micro pen in black ink on white paper or with pencil.  The poses varied from 10 to 20 minutes for the most part. 

Back to Barns

Winter Barn 8"x10" original oil on canvas

Here is a small painting of a barn to add to the several much larger barn paintings I did this Fall.  My Dad used to always say "Paint barns, Janet", so I have come to think of this little series as "Barns for My Father". 

Live model atelier

#1 Woman  9"x12" water soluble graphite on paper
#2 Seated Woman with Mask 18"x 24" pencil on paper

I decided today to attend a live model drawing atelier which is something I haven't done for ages.  It was packed with people...all looking to shake off the rust of the holidays and maybe to beat the blahs of a January day.  Drawing is a key factor in painting, or at least, when there is a problem with a painting it is often due to problems with the drawing, so I guess it's a good idea to draw as much as possible...maybe I will attend the live model session more often!

Winter Scene

Running at the Sugar Shack 8"x10" original oil on canvas

This little oil sketch is based on an old photo (1997) of children running at a Sugar Shack.  It was my eldest daughter's 12th birthday and off we went with some friends and neighbours and their children for some fun in the snow and a real sweet meal.  What attracted me in the photo was the movement of the figures through the trees and snow.    

Vast sky on a small canvas

Cloud and Bay Landscape 9"x12" original oil on canvas board

I was reading that it wasn't until the late 1800's that the different kinds of clouds were named. In this scene there is a combination of cloud types. Whatever their names, clouds are a beautiful challenge for the painter.  I wonder what this one would look like on a huge canvas...