Painting poppies

I have finally found the time to finish my project from week 7 of the advanced class. I stopped painting mid-poppie to show you the array of photos I used to guide this painting.

I am about half finished the flowers and have stopped to have a look at the overall image. It is too easy to focus on a single element instead of the whole. I think that the background needs more variety of shapes and values.

Silver Tea Pot

I have been working on the tea pot from the last class. Starting with the darks has really helped me get the values and contrast right.

I am ready to start the background now. I  don't usually finish the foreground objects to this extent before starting the background. The painting so far has been keyed against a light background and may need some adjusting when darks and mid tones are added. 

Advanced class wk 8

This is our last class of the season.

In the last advanced class we looked at painting reflective surfaces. I did not get very far with my demonstration but Peter Smith took some terrific  step by step pictures. I started by defining the darks first so all the other values could be keyed against the darkest dark. I am working wet in wet to create the soft edges of the highlights and the subtle colour changes in the reflections.

I hope I will get back to this one soon. I will keep you posted.

Our final beginner's class

Making cards is a good way to practice techniques.  I used masking fluid, scraping, white paint, wet in wet, glazing and more. Each of these little paintings are about 3.5 by 5.5 inches and are great fun to make. I hope you all have had a good time following along with these lessons.

Sunday Opening

It was a cold, wet evening in Annapolis Royal but people came out to the opening at the Marsh Gallery.

Hanging a Show

Nancy McCabe and I are having a show at the Marsh Gallery, 3994 Hwy. 1, Annapolis Royal. The Show opens Sunday November 7 and runs through November 21.

For me, this process start with choosing paintings and hanging them in my studio to ensure there is a flow and rhythm to the show. Next is the final framing, glass cleaning and compiling tags, bios and artist statements. Just as I was getting ready to print off all of this stuff, the power went off. Oh well, moving right along, it is time to hang the show.

The gallery with empty walls

Grouping of Nancy's paintings

Grouping or my paintings

Adjusting the lights

See you at the opening, 5 to 7 pm Sunday Nov. 7, 2010

The Monday Group

Fifteen years ago I attended a watercolour class given by Cluny Maher  on Monday afternoons in the Anglican Church hall in Bridgetown.  After the class finished, we decided to continue meeting to paint together. The Monday Group still meets regularly.  People have come and gone from the group and there are a few of the original group who still attend. There have been long periods of time when I did not go to the Monday sessions and I am glad to be back in attendance. This is a working group. We share stories, constructive critiques and a cup to tea but mostly we are there to paint. If you can't find a group to join, start one. It is terrific to have the support and inspiration of other artists.

On my way home, I took some photos of the wonderful fall colours still in abundance and gave thanks for the members, past and present, of the Monday Group.

Along the road - Primary colours

In my garden - Shape and Colour

Colour and texture