Killick Coast

Available for purchase from my website

According to the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, a killick is "an anchor made up of an elongated stone, encased in pliable sticks bound at the top and fixed in two curved cross-pieces, used in mooring nets and small boats." In other words, it's a homemade anchor. The Killick Coast stretches from St. Thomas to Logy Bay on the northeast coast of the Avalon Peninsula and includes Bell Island.  It winds through fishing villages, farmland and a mining town.  And it passes through the town where I live, Flatrock. 

The coastline is rough in most places in Newfoundland and if you are in the right place at the right time, as I happened to be, the light is just right and you can capture the sun starting to break through the fog and reflect on the water.  This painting is 8" x 10" in oils.   I wanted to capture the essence and light, not a realistic interpretation of the scene. 

Changing the subject

When I first started selling and marketing my art, many years ago in the UK, my bread and butter income was from animal portraits.  I have evolved (or should that be devolved?) into fish and water, but I still keep a soft spot for painting and drawing animals.

I've been painting water steadily for a few weeks and needed a break so this little pug face was fun to play around with.  Its on a 7 x 5 panel in oils left over on the palette from another painting.  I started too far down the panel for some reason, but the dog was resting its chin on a surface.  Then there's the nose that just won't do what I want it to... If it was a commission, this would be a study and I'd fix the composition on the main painting.  But as it was practice sketch, I'm not worrying about perfection.

And pugs.  Haven't they got such sad little faces, but simply adorable?

Empty

 Available for purchase on my website

 This boat may look slightly familiar to you if you're a regular reader.  It's the same image that I used for a painting done in watercolour previously. I laboured over the original piece, abandoned it, refreshed it, cropped it and set it afloat finally.  And it sold.  

I used oils for this version and a palette knife.  I do like the simplicity I can achieve with a knife.  It takes away my ability to fiddle to much.

This is 8" x 10" on canvas panel and ready to sail to a new owner.