The colour of Ice

Johnson Ice

This Oil painting came about after some consideration on ice and the many colours found within it. My son likes to climb on ice, whether it is glaciers or frozen water falls so this painting commemorates an experience he had while we were hiking in the Canadian Rockies a few weeks back. I call it Johnson Ice, after the water fall we viewed at Johnson Canyon. Sometimes I wish he would take up hiking with his girlfriend on flatter ground!

Bright Skies of March

SOLD

Its seems to me that the light has changed considerably lately, since the first day of spring at least.  The snow can be blindingly bright and the shadows the most amazing blue. When you add in some frost and calm winds you have a recipe for Wonder.  This 12 inch square painting is my humble homage to these days.

A Bouquet

Bouquet of Flowers

Seems like alot of Artists are painting flowers these days, must be the long winter getting people longing for Spring blossoms.  I'm the same.  I do love winter, especially this time of the year when the angle of the sun changes resulting in the most marvelous colours in the snow and shadows. This bouquet of flowers comes from last years garden, I planted Dahlias and they turned out to be the most breathtaking flowers I've ever grown.  Gorgeous blue/purple flowers that were just huge and lasted forever.  The plant must have stood 1 and 1/2 meters tall.  I'm looking forward to another show this summer, I've bought some other Dahlias in different colours.  Anyways, enjoy my bouquet!

Imagine

Imagine

Found myself imaging being near a lily pond in high summer and painted this little piece to commemorate that wonderful experience! It measures 6 x 6 inches and is an Oil on plywood.

Dust in the Wind

Dust in the Wind

Just recently my beloved Blue Hotel was demolished and hauled away. I have to say it was rather sad to see it go and I wonder if it was really necessary, but thats another matter.  The building has been and will continue to be a special source of subject matter for me, to date I have maybe 6 paintings of it. This painting measures 4 feet square and is an Oil on birch panel.  It was actually started last summer at our retreat in Eastend SK and has undergone a number of changes to arrive at the point it is at presently.  Maybe it will have to sit for awhile, no danger of it being destroyed in my studio!  On a happier note I have received word that my painting Mt. Rundle, below, has been accepted into a FCA show in Kamloops to be held this April.

A Pastel

The dogs and I went down to the local park the other day and enjoyed it all to ourselves, if you count out the numerous magpies and other critters present.  Not another human in sight so I sat by the creek and did this 8 1/2 x 11 1/2 in pastel.  The tempurature was a balmy -10 Celcius and the sun shone delightfully.

RV West magazine article

Mt. Rundle in Ice Fog

I recently received word that an article featuring yours truly has been published in the RV West magazine.  The link to the online version is here:  http://www.rvwest.com/article/watrous_and_manitou_beach/art_and_healing_waters
The opportunity totally came out of the blue, so to speak, and I am grateful for it.  Marie featured three of my more traditional pieces.  How cool is that!

Mount Rundle

I promised myself that I'd do a studio painting of some of the mountains I saw in the Canadian Rockies a few weeks ago. This is my first attempt, it is a view of Mt. Rundle as viewed from the east side of the Trans Canada Hwy near Canmore, AB.  I'm having a great time with various grays over an orange underpainting.  I think it will soon be finished.

Rocky Mountain Sogurn

Morning in the Rockies    Watercolour

This is a watercolour out of my travel sketchbook.  I painted it from the window of the Inn we stayed at in Canmore, Alberta last week.  We witnessed some wonderful views whilst out there and I hope to paint some studio paintings from that trip, very inspiring place the Canadian Rockies. I loved how the wind would blow the snow over the tops of these giants.

Alina - under construction

Alina

I'm working on a new studio painting, 60 x 30 inches on canvas.  Taking my inspiration from my daily walk with the doggies in the valleys and dales about home. Loads of paint, especially flake white.

Rocky Mountain High

Rocky Mountain Morning 8 x10 Oil on Plywood

We're just nicely back from a week long holiday in the Canadian Rockies with our kids.  Had a wonderful time snowshoeing and hiking in the mountains and sightseeing in the townsites of Banff and Canmore.  I only had one opportunity to paint outdoors and the result is above.  It was a nice morning but I discovered that it wasn't as warm as I thought it was after being out in the elements for awhile.  There was a pretty stiff wind blowing up the valley, maybe you can notice the shaky knife strokes in the painting attesting to my cold hands!  I plan on doing a few large canvases based on my experiences in those mountains, very inspiring for sure.

New en Plein Air painting

Warm February Afternoon    8 x 10      Oil on Board

I finally had some time and nice enough weather to get outside and paint, boy its been awhile since I've been able to do that!  Found a nice vantage point off of one of my favourite walking trails and painted to my hearts delight.  My long suffering dogs bunked down beside me and patiently waited for us to resume the walk I had promised them.

Crystal faieries

I am   Oil painting on canvas  30 x 60

My wife Crystal commented the other day while we were walking in a splendid landscape of hoar frost laden trees that she felt like she was being watched by tiny fairies hiding amongst the glittering trees and grasses.  I had to agree with her and that walk became the subject of this painting. The gold leaf doesn't show up very well in the photo but it does come alive in the sunlight!