French Countryside

La Cote-St-Andre SOLD

9 x 12

acrylic on canvas

Here we are back in France again and what a joy it has been to take walks in the countryside, slowly taking in the views and seeing a possible painting every where I look.  This is a scene on a climb above the little village we are staying in.  La Cote-St-Andre is gorgeous, full of beautiful architecture and quaint shops but the best thing is the Michelin rated restaurant at our Hotel France.  The chef has been preparing the most incredible dinners all week and the best part is they are gluten free.

Zion by Bike

Zion South

16 x 12

oil on canvas paper

Recently returned from a trip south and just had to paint my experience in Zion National Park.  As of April 1 it is closed to cars and the only way in are bus shuttle, cycling or by foot.  We decided to cycle with some friends and what a spectacular ride it was up the canyon.  Much more peaceful than our visit a few weeks previously when the route was crowded with vehicles parked or trying to squeeze by each other.  The colors here are very intense and the lighting very mystical.

Year of the Horse

Running Wild  SOLD

14 x 23

Acrylic on Doorskin

We see this herd every now and then up in the hills to the west usually when we are out running the trails.  My first painting done when I was a small child was of a riding stable with horses being walked and tack being cleaned and since then I have had a love for anything horsey.  I think this is a good year to focus on them.

Winter scenes

Waiting Out the Storm

12 x 9

Oil on Canvas Paper

On a walk last week I found this flicker tucked into a berry laden tree sheltered from some very strong and cold winds.  He blended in so well and the colors were gorgeous so I just had to paint him. 

Whistler in September

Whistler 

11 x 14

oil on canvas board

Last September I took a workshop in Whistler through the Federation of Canadian Artists.  It was a fantastic week with not only 4 instructors but many professional artists participating in some of the activities.  The weather overall was excellent but for the day I was scheduled to go up the mountain.  Windy and cloudy I was only able to catch momentary glimpses of the surrounding mountain peaks but  here is a scene I caught where the clouds opened up for about 15 minutes allowing me to get a study done and to be able to paint the above week from my photos and study.

Day 30 of 30

Inuksuk

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

The finale and none too soon.  Although there are great benefits to the discipline of painting daily there can be many drawbacks and some sort of balance must be found.  Having said that I truly enjoyed this final day of painting in the company of my much missed artist friends sharing stories and creations all the while working on this last piece, an inuksuk found at the top of McIntyre Bluff over looking the town of Oliver.

Day 29 of 30

Storm over Vaseau sketch

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

One of the things I like the most about the Okanagan is the volatile weather and the dramatic skies.  Many times I have pulled over and jumped out of the car with my camera to get some reference material to paint from. 

Day 28 of 30

Out to Pasture

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Love old machinery and found this specimen at my favourite lunch and produce stop Covert Farms in Oliver.

Day 27 of 30

Up in the Bluffs

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

High above Skaha Lake and above the famous climbing bluffs is one of my favourite areas to trail run.  Some new growth amongst remnants of a long ago forest fire but the meadows still provide vistas of the mountains beyond and sometimes the lake below.

Day 26 of 30

Desert Colors

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

The golden hour adds magic to the already beautiful colors in the desert just north of Joshua Tree, California.

Day 25 of 30

The Pond

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Another scene crying for a bigger format, this pond and pine tree will be a future project.  Situated along the shores of Skaha Lake it guards the entrance way to trails offering endless lake views and some wildlife if one is lucky. 

Day 24 of 30

Flooded

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

The weather is beautiful so I'm not sure why there is so much evidence of flooding around unless it's the result of the dense layers of fog that seem to drift around. 

Day 23 of 30

North Vaseau

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Here is a view of Vaseau looking north with some fall colours and the 'golden hour' lighting.  One of my favourite birding locations.

Day 22 of 30

Vaseau

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Painted this one in my car while ferrying over to Vancouver Island.  Tough to get good straight horizon lines with the vibrations from the engines and no sadly it is not a plein air of my view but from a photo on my Ipad.  Could have had a view if I was 2 cars forward or 2 cars back.  

Day 21 of 30

Mont Blanc study

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

My first trip to France involved cycling in the Alps where spectacular views of Mont Blanc could be seen.  Beautiful alpine villages with as many goats and cows in the streets as people.

Day 20 of 30

Malbork Castle

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Poland is an amazing country full of beautiful architecture but what I remember the most is the 13th century castle Malbork, the largest castle in the world.  The design in astounding in that it has heated floors, secret passageways from kitchen to dining halls for transport of food and bathroom facilities that are removed from the living space and act as escape routes.  It is enormous and I can now see how a city can thrive within the walls.

Day 19 of 30

Maui Church

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

If you dare to travel this road you will be rewarded by rare and beautiful sights including this quaint little church.  

Day 18 of 30

Mountain Lake

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

A  beautiful BC lake, enjoyed painting this one.  

Day 17 of 30

Australia Shoreline study

6 x 6 

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

A much photographed cove featured gorgeous rock formations and the oh so sandy beaches of east coast Australia.  We spent several weeks exploring the coast from Sydney up to Noosa north of Brisbane most of it swimming and playing in the waves.

Day 16 of 30

Canazei, Dolomites

6 x 6

Acrylic on Canvas Paper

Another one of my top 10 places to go and I must return - the Italian Dolomites.  We cycled point to point in 2012 through the Alps and Dolomites in Italy and they were jaw dropping beautiful, spectacular and worth a revisit to paint and hike.