Awwww.... Kittens

Still playing with kitten paintings. Just having fun with creating the soft fur, the big eyes and the delightful feeling of awwwwww that you feel when you see one. My daughter has just chosen a beautiful gray tabby kitten to join their family. I really want a kitten also but really not such a good time to add an animal to our household, so in stead this is what I will do .......paint them.

Miniature Artwork

Well this month as well as working on several large painting I have been painting several small painting for the upcoming show at SAGA Gallery in Salmon Arm. This will be an entire show of miniatures - 5 inch by 7 inch paintings.

It was different but fun to work this small.  I used it as an opportunity to try a few new working surfaces. This kitten is on linen canvas, the squirrel is on a special art hardboard and the apples are on watercolour paper mixed media with 140 1b paper attached to canvas. All the processes worked well and here are two of my mini results ready for the SAGA Show.

High Water

         There has been allot of high water issues in my area this spring and many home owners have had distressing problems due to this. Sicamous was hit with flooding and several creeks jumped their banks with devastating results.
         This painting is because of one of the happier situations created by the high water. This young mallard hen moved her chicks and found a perfect nesting spot above the water line. This was where I was fortunate enough to get very close to her without concerning her in the least.....viewing her from the raised wharf walk. Their spring time antics were delightful. 
         For years a lovely unique narrow frame has been waiting in my basement for a painting. Finally watching these ducklings through the narrow wharf railings provide the inspiration for it. This painting  is 5x20 inches. Here is an image showing the detail also. 

Artists for Conservation

It is delightful to be accepted as a signature member of Artists for Conservation. This is a society of artists from 27 countries around the world that are inspired by nature and wildlife. Excellent artists creating beautiful artwork and promoting conservation efforts to protect their inspiration. That is the focus of the 500 artists that are included in this group. I am pleased to be juried into such a group of artists. Together we will work to make a difference with our art....to protect and support what we love. 

 

Please go to www.natureartists.com and check out my new web presence as a member of this prestigious art group. 

A Squirrel on a Stick

Squirrels love my yard, playing in our cherry tree, cedars and wood pile. They are always dancing and darting across the lawn, hanging upside down above the bird feeder trying to steal seeds ( they do have their own seed spot below on the ground.)

While painting this painting there was a perfect moment when I had just paused in my painting to study the result of my work and was leaning back in my chair close to the window. Suddenly up on the outside sill popped a curious squirrel wanting to know what I was up to. We looked at each other for 30 seconds or so before he dashed off.

So here it is with full squirrel approval, "A Squirrel on a Stick." I know that I need a better name, but this one does make me laugh as it sounds like he is a corn dog. And this particular squirrel is a bit of a teenage corn dog, a squirrel full of fun and mischief.. You can tell as he is a teenager as he is a bit leaner than an adult, with a face that is youthfully curious and his tail has yet to fill out.

Spring Blossoms

One of the nicest parts of spring time is the flowers that start to flourish all around us. In our area in mid spring we have the old apple orchards come into bloom and the air fills with the most amazing fragrance. These delicate flowers are the source of the delightful smell. Each year the flowers attract my paintbrush away from the wildlife and I find myself painting the dainty petals and leaves of some of the gorgeous flowers that entrance me. Here is this springs floral appreciation painting.  

My Brothers

Everyone seems to have an affinity to one or more natural elements. Something that calls to them more than the other elements. I love the earth, rocks and the wilderness in the woods. My husband loves being on the water. While painting, I think allot about the characteristic of what I am painting, dwelling on all the attractive aspects of it while trying to imbue the painting with those emotions.

Two recent paintings brought my brothers to my mind. My brothers are not only great brothers,  but also great outdoors men. My older brother is drawn to the tops of mountain, that spot where earth ends and sky begins. He hikes and bikes to the rocky peaks in the summer and skis them in the winter. As I worked on the details of rock and snow on this painting....I often thought of Eric and his intense love of the mountains.

My younger brother is drawn to the water that runs in the rivers, pools in the lakes and waves in  the sea. An expert kayak-er, Robert  has taken me on some wonderful paddling trips. One such trip he shared the beautiful spot that is the inspiration for this painting.

 "Healing Waters" was one of the top 4 paintings in the Trout Unlimited Canada 2012 Art competition.