I’m about to send this “double” painting off to Vancouver for display in the Federation of Canadian Artists show “Scenes from Western Canada.” What you’re seeing here is two separate cradled birch panels totalling 24” wide. I started in the studio drawing in the figure and applying some initial colour washes to set the stage. Then, I worked on location to paint the scenery and back again in the studio to finish up the figure and tie it all together. It was fun! The only hard part of the whole project was learning how to combine the two separate photos of the finished work into a single digital image… but now I know!
Success!
I am super pleased that my application to the Federation of Canadian Artists for “signature” status was successful. I am now Oiseau AFCA!
The Federation is a wonderful resource for Canadian artists and the art-going public, through its Vancouver gallery and its online presence. For me, its has been the framework for my engagement with development and professionalism as an artist. Today I am musing over what my next goal might be…
Portfolio works of successful applicants are on view at the Federation, both in its Vancouver location 1243 Cartwright Street and online.
Turtle Bend
On a recent outing I ended up painting two versions of this spot, both on 10 x 8 inch panels. I decided I like both of them! But the real point of the outing was the spiritual exercise of seeing whether I could be as patient as the turtles. Would they come back while I was there?
Turtle Bend One
Turtle Bend Two
Among the Cattails
Lately I’ve been experimenting with combining my two genres, portraiture and landscape. Since it’s a bit too early in the season to reasonably expect anyone except a mad painter to stand around outside for hours at a time, I’ve been choosing a photo reference that seems evocative and positioning the person on the canvas before I head outside. I may also add a wash of colour to set the tone, in this case the orange of the hair. After laying in the landscape portion I return to the studio to paint the person and adjust the whole work to fit together. Much fun!
Among the Cattails, oil on canvas 11 x 14 inches
Noemi's painting
Here is a somewhat larger landscape painting that recently re-emerged during a grand sort-out. Since the weather is still too dismal for new outdoor work, I thought I’d post this one here. This one is 18 x 24 inches.
New photos!
Today my friend Louis Bockner visited my studio to document my paintings. As an ace professional photographer he was able to do amazing things with my work, and I’m super pleased to have been able to post better versions of many of my images on this site. When he’s not helping out his friends he’s a writer and photographer, have a look at louisbockner.com
“What Remains” oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
'Swan' on show in Vancouver
My work ‘Swan’ is currently on display in the Granville Island gallery space of the Federation of Canadian Artists, as part of the Active Members Exhibition which runs until January 19. For those of us who don’t live in Vancouver, the Federation also makes each of its exhibits available online through its website .
The painting ‘Swan’ started with photos I was granted permission to take of two models as part of an impromtu drawing session last summer. This was in conjunction with a Robert Liberace drawing and painting workshop hosted in Bruges, Belgium. I cannot speak highly enough of Liberace, both as an artist and as an instructor, and I feel that I’m only just beginning to tap into the depth of guidance he imparted in those two weeks.
As always, my bank of photographs is a rich source of inspiration for years to come, and I often browse through it either in search of something specific I remember or just open to the tug of inspiration. This young woman’s name is Celia, and I love the way she holds the entire space of the canvas and beyond. In Bruges I also photographed many swans. At one stage I thought I might include that imagery in this work, but as it turns out the swans remain only as a trace in the posture of the young woman herself, and in the title of the painting. ‘Swan’ is painted in oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 16 x 20 inches, and is available for sale through the Federation.
Soon there will be ice...
This one was painted in the late fall, on one of my last trips down to the flats. I’m thinking that if the promised sunshine blesses us on Boxing Day, I will try my luck again! Don’t think there’s any ice yet, though.
Soon There Will Be Ice, 8 x 10 oil on panel
Largely Sky
When you paint in the same location time and again, you look for what has changed since that last time - in the place or in you. This time it was the big sky that drew my attention.
Oil on panel, 8 x 10.
Largely Sky
Blue Swirl
The temperature was well below freezing but there was no snow, so I ventured out. I bring a hot water bottle to keep the paints at a workable temperature, and then pour out the hot water over my hands to rinse them before hiking back up the hill
Oil on panel, 10 x 8 inches.
First Snow on Willet
Change in the weather, not much of fall left. Painting while I still can…
Oil on panel, 8 x 10.
Looking South, Red Flag Tree
In contrast to my portrait and figure work, my landscapes are becoming increasingly abstract. Here’s an example, where a highly suggestive approach seemed to better indicate my experience.
Like many of my plein air pieces, this is oil paint on a 10 x 8 inch panel.