Calendar painting - step by step

"Snow and Blowing Snow" Watercolour, 13.3 x 21.5 inches.

 Painted for the 2014 Sharing the View Calendar. This is a project organized by CBC, Information Morning, Halifax and Sydney Nova Scotia.
All proceeds from calendar sales and the online auction of the 12 original paintings by 12 Nova Scotian artists are donated to Feed Nova Scotia. Calendars go on sale November 15 and the online auction begins. Check out the CBC info morning web site for details.

I am thrilled to be part of this project and thought that i would share some of the process that went into making this painting.

 Drawing number 1 - I am working out the composition

 

Drawing number 2 - this is better

 

Getting ready

 

getting the drawing on the watercolour paper

 

The final outline - ready for paint

 

The first wash

 

starting on the buildings

 

ready for the foreground

 

adjusting the value on the barn 

 

adding the final details and it is done

More Drawing Class

The people in my drawing class are doing a great job and I see so much development!
A big Yahoo for all of you.

This week we examined some of the challenges of working from photographs. These pictures of some of the demonstrations I did during the class, some of the prep work that I did before the class and my home work - the piece that I started during class and took home to finish. I know every one is working on their finished landscape drawing.

The charcoal drawing of Reggie (above) was a demonstration of taking measurements, proportion and sight lines on a photo just the same way I do it when drawing from life. The difference is that the dog sits still in the photo.

This charcoal landscape was done before the class. I did another similar one as a demonstration.

 There are a lot of interesting elements in this photo. I chose to focus on the shadow pattern on the oil tank. The windows and doors are another subject for another drawing.

This is a very charming subject but the values need to be adjusted to make the elements make sense.

Last is my "homework". I got as far as laying in the main value pattern in the class and made some changes and added the details and textures the next day.

Our first drawing class

Sunday was our first drawing class and one of the exercises I asked the class to do is that old chestnut "drawing from an up side down image" to fool yourself into letting go of drawing what you think it is and just drawing what you see. One of the sources I used was a drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger. I made an ink tracing of his drawing for us to work from. I thought you might like to see what the original looked like. It is a lovely, sensitive work in chalk.
Your home work this week is to practice contour drawings and try to do at least 20 minutes practice each day.
Here is my 20 minute sketch made while I waited for an appointment.

2 studio views and a new painting

It is hard to find time to paint this time of year but I am getting back into my studio a couple of times a week - yahoo!

Buoys in red and white ( 10 x 14 inches)

Studio 1

Studio 2

My paintings at Swoon

The farm show at Swoon will be up for another week. There is always more than just the feature shows going on at Swoon and Brandt can set up a great display of art any where in the house. The bathroom is a little gallery and is hung with some of my work. It is just off the main room where the farm show is hung. Drop in before the 28th if you can.

The Farm show at Swoon

Swoon Fine Art and Antiques is having another juried show in July. I was delighted to have 2 of my submissions chosen. The show opens on Saturday July 6.

Tupperville Farm (13.5 x 21.5 inches)

Winter cattle (10 x 20 inches)

At the Book Launch

The book launch was a great party - lots of good food, good conversation, a reading by Kate Rose of her animal rhymes, and a good time was had by all. Thanks to all who attended and helped to make this such a fun event. A special thanks to my angels; Deb, Janel and Lorraine who did food and flowers.
Congratulations to Susan Friend who won the "Great Email list door prize"

                                Book signing, Kate and I

                               A happy crowd

                                            Chatting at the launch

                                Fabulous food

                                      The "Email list" door prize

                                The original illustrations were on display

                                                Kate is just as lovely as she looks!