Sweetwater

 Sweetwater

6" x 8"   Available from Daily Paintworks

I've wanted to try a collage using torn paper as the medium for awhile.  There are some beautiful pieces from artists around the world and the process seems fairly straightforward.  I had some decorative papers in the studio as well as a handful of newspapers and the star of the show - a KitKat wrapper!

Armed with paper and a liquitex varnish medium I made a HUGE mess of tearing paper, gluing, peeling, layering and generally covering myself with a layer of paper and glue.  However, I quite enjoyed the process and will try it again.  Its very similar to painting with a palette knife. The colour goes down in blocks,  mixing on the surface is not possible (with the exception of layering tissue), and the overall look is impressionistic.

I used a prepainted canvas panel for the substrate.  The painting on it was  reject that was due for elimination, so it was a perfect candidate for my experimentation. And with the use of the red KitKat wrapper, the name just had to be Sweetwater...

Iceberg season

Oh I'm slacking again in the blog posting department, but I have excuses, honestly!

Its iceberg season.  This is a bumper year for them and they sail past in numbers, some closer to shore than others.  Some are huge and very spectacular and of course I had to get some photos of them.  It seems like the weekend flew by in minutes and left me wishing I could rewind and do it all over again.

These shots were taken off Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America.   My camera's zoom doesn't do them justice, they are quite beautiful.


I was involved in the art opening for the group exhibition at Peter Lewis Gallery on Saturday night.  The opening was well attended and one of my paintings sold at the opening, one of my favourites - Fox Point, seen on the far right in the image below.  I had five paintings in this exhibition, mostly boats, which are a prelude for the series I'll be working on this year.

I've been working diligently on a 24" x 48" boat commission.  I'm afraid I can't show the piece to you until its approved and shipped to the collector.   While I wait for a layer to dry a little I started another for fun.  This is called Smooch and is 10" x 20" on canvas.  I loved the combination of colours and of course those gouramis ready to lock lips always make me smile.   I hope to have it and the commission finished by the end of the week.

 

I'm doing some planning on where to go for my boat hunting expeditions for my art grant project.  As I, along with a lot of other artists, did not receive full funding for the grant due to government cutbacks, I've had to rethink my travel plans in hunting down the appropriate boats.  That and time, becomes a challenging factor.

But supplies are on their way and I have some sketches up for consideration for the 15 paintings that I'll need to produce before the spring.  Deadlines work wonders for inspiration.