Parks wild and otherwise

Day 26 Park

6 x 6 

Acrylic on canvas

Moving quietly up the snow covered ravine this morning our 5 man trail running group searched the ridge line for movement and finally spotted several coyotes which had been serenading us all the way up.  It was eerie and beautiful at the same time and one of the reasons why I obsess with getting out of the city and up into the hills.  The above painting is not up in the forest but down at the lakeside.   You can see the sand cliffs and then in behind are the hills in which I was running this morning.

Bird Theme

Day 13 Heron SOLD

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas

Similar to yesterday's surprise sighting I managed to catch this heron close up with my camera as I was out walking my dogs several years ago and have been wanting to paint him ever since.  This 30 day challenge is a good motivator to get some sketches done of the many resource photos waiting to be painted.  

Winter colors

Day 1 winter study

6 x 6

acrylic on canvas

Today is the start of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge ( see sidebar at right ) and though it is the beginning of a new year I am still sidetracked with the leftovers of a what has been a really good Christmas Holiday so todays painting is a quick plein air study.  My theme for the week is snow as we have an abundant supply these days.  I'm cheating a bit with the plein air part as I'm sitting in the warmth and comfort of my car.  If the wind stops blowing maybe I'll get out for a real taste of outdoor winter painting.

Sorry France, I've fallen in love with Italy!

White Lake Trails

16 x 12

oil on canvas

I ran this trail yesterday, 13 kilometres of jaw dropping beauty and the above painting will be in a show at Leir House in Penticton starting Saturday.  As for Italy we had three weeks there in September travelling mostly by bicycle on my beloved Orbea Diva.  Injuries from my crash in June didn't hold me back much and I managed to climb many of the famous Giro d'Italia climbs including the Stelvio, Mortirolo and the Gavia.  We had three days in the Italian Alps and then three days in the Dolomites followed by a week and a half on the Adriatic coast.  After riding extensively in France through the Alps and the Pyrenees I have to say this was the best trip yet.  If you like cycling and want to read more there are two write ups of our trip on the Granfondoplus.com website, go to the travel section or search for Hillier Italy.  And if you live in the Okanagan come by and see the show, details on the poster below.  

Social side to painting out

Lower Town lakeside sketch

9 x 12

oil on canvas paper

One of the things I find about painting at home is the isolation that I feel from the world.  I may put on a radio talk show for background conversation but it doesn't help with the fact that most of the time it is a solitary activity.   A nice change is to take it outside and into the public.  It's amazing to see how many people walking by can take some enjoyment from watching the process and many have expressed interest in having a go at it themselves.  If you live in the central or southern Okanagan there is a group that meets Tuesday and Thursday for paint out sessions.  Check the Plein Air BC website for more info.  

Plein Air Tips

Penticton Plein Air Study

8 x 10

acrylic on canvas

I've had the pleasure of having company this week with my plein air excursions as well as with cycling, running and birding, life is as good as it gets!   And the blogging community has been active with generous artists sharing fantastic information on the basics of plein air painting!  Check out Stapleton  Kearns one of my favourites with all the basics as well Michael Chesley Johnson on the oh so invasive greens.

What to paint? Go out and find something!

Summerland Blossoms

8 x 10

acrylic on canvas

It's become such a treat to pack my paints and go exploring looking for inspiration.  It almost never fails, I'll be driving around a bend and there before me is a view that takes my breath away.   I park, put the music on, the seat heater, studio dog asleep beside in his portable bed and I paint away, waving at the occasional passerby.  Bliss...

Out on the trails

Lone Tree in progress

40 x 30

oil on canvas

The last fews months have been busy with numerous trail runs and races both on the wet west coast and the dry desert in the interior.  The above painting would be a familiar sight out on the trails and often when I'm out there I'm wishing I could stop and paint.   I've been focussing on plein air painting studies, the last few from the comfort of the front seat of my car but now that the temperatures are dropping it's back to the studio to go big again and a little stylized.  

Shatford Show

Early Morning Calm

10 x 8

in progress

This painting does not reflect my life at the moment but rather how each day begins.  I try to start the morning with either a plein air outing or some cycling but before long manage to get swamped with technology and administration, yesterday being a new cell phone and taxes, today exploring website options and postcard designs.   Later I will visit our local art show at the Shatford Centre where I had my first success at being juried in.  In my excitement I forgot on my last post to thank Peggy Stel,  Picture This custom Framing in Penticton, who also had work juried in and did a great job framing my piece.  Hopefully the show will be online soon but in the meantime check out the winner of best in show, Shannon ford whose wonderful work can be seen at her website here.