Best of Show - Raymar Fine Art Competition

"Los Cuatro Amigos"
Oil on Linen - 16"x 20"

I am super happy to announce that one of my favorite paintings I have done so far this year just won Best of Show in the Raymar Fine Art Competition for March.

A big thanks to judge Michael Gormley - Editorial Director of American Artist magazine for selecting it. Please click on the Raymar link above to see the other winners.

Off to Scottsdale

"Daisy Reflected"
Original Oil - 6x6"
Click here to bid

Continuing with the 50 flowers project, I tackled this daisy recently. It was set up on a piece of glass laid over a black cloth, and viewed at eye level. Painting the reflection was a supreme challenge, the brain got very busy telling me what it thought it was seeing and I had to keep reminding myself to SEE what was really there.

I leave tomorrow to Scottsdale, AZ for the Carolyn Anderson workshop and the Legacy Gallery's Salon of Fine Art opening night. Look forward to reporting in with some great new learning next post!

Painting models from life

"Moira"
Oil on Linen 16x12"

My good painting friend Sarah Kidner and I have been hiring models to come to our studio lately to prepare for two terrific workshops we will be taking this spring. (A 5 day figurative w.shop with Carolyn Anderson in April and a 10 day figurative/portrait intensive with Scott Burdick and Susan Lyon in June).

Mostly we have been doing one afternoon a week, but last week in a big push to get our chops down, we had a model in every day for 5 days. And just to add to the fun we invited some other friends to join in, which was huge entertainment value. Lotta whining going on, but we did get lots of work done, and we agreed that 5 days straight made for some clear progress - if not in skill, then at least in focus.

Here is what I find valuable in painting models from life:

• It demands you address your drawing weaknesses
• You can see amazing nuances that simply do not exist in photo reference
• There are a world of subtle color temperature shifts beckoning to suggest form
• It is divinely, completely captivating
• It is hands down the hardest thing you can do as an artist
• It DOES get easier with practice

If you're serious about developing your skill as an artist, I can think of no better way to tackle that goal. You don't need to hire professional models, any warm body that will sit still for you is an ideal subject. We pay our models $20 an hour and usually have them in for 3 hours at a time. We have found that putting a movie on the laptop for the model keeps them entertained for a sitting, and they just take breaks when they feel the need.

L-R: Liz, Sarah, Gaye Adams, Jean Pederson and Bobbi Dunlop in Sarah's studio

Randy Higbee Gallery 6" squared exhibition

"Apple Study"
Original Oil - 6x6"

I'm pleased to announce that 3 of my paintings have been juried into the Randy Higbee Gallery 6" squared exhibition. The show is held in Orange County, CA and runs from April 16th to May 6th, 2011. For purchase info please contact the gallery: 1-800-506-7624.

For all you daily painters, this is a great venue to get your work out there and seen. The next show is December 2011.

Note: I originally didn't post all 3 accepted entries as the other two have recently been posted on my blog, but inquiring minds want to know ;-), so here are they are:

"Rose Study"
Original Oil - 6x6"

"Cherry Fun"
Original Oil - 6x6"

Relief for Japan

"Pink on Green"
Original oil 6x6"

All proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to relief efforts for the devastation the Japanese people are currently coping with.

I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for them to wake up each day and see what has become of their world. I hope as you are reading this you will take a moment to pause and connect with them in whatever way feels most appropriate to you.

Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art

"Peruvian Potato Vendor"
Oil on Linen 18x24"

I am proud to announce that my painting "Peruvian Potato Vendor" has been accepted into the inaugural Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art. Click on the link to check out all the other really spectacular painters that were juried into this show. It is hosted by the Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ and runs from April 21st-May 19th, 2011.

Gallery Ground Rules

"Rose Parade"
Oil on Linen 10x8"

A recent experience has stimulated some serious pondering about the value of a good gallery. What this looks like is different for every artist, and of course galleries have their own thoughts on it.

After a wide range of experiences, and a few years clattering around the planet, I have gained clarity on what is essential for me when choosing to team up in a business partnership with a gallery. The best way I can think of to share this it to list the qualities that exist in the owner of a gallery that currently represents me. Without fail, she shows up in this way:

• She has integrity in all of our dealings.
• She's accessible and easy to talk with about art, and the business of art.
• She respects my opinions and finds value in them.
• She believes in my work.
• She's passionate about art and constantly broadening her exposure to what's out there.
• She 110% supports my quest to grow as an artist, and gives me the breathing room to make that a priority.
• She's curious about my other passions and believes they enhance my art.
• When a sale has been made, she lets me know that a check is on the way and a ballpark time I can expect it. WOW! When you live in world of inconsistent income, this is golden.

What I strive to offer in return are many of the same qualities, as well as honoring my commitments regarding shows, trusting that she's doing a great job whether work is selling or not (not calling her frequently to "see if anything has sold"), never undercutting, fostering great relationships with my collectors and focusing my energy on continually raising the quality of my work.

Your relationship with the person who sells you art deserves the same respect and attention as the other valuable relationships in your life. In many cases your galleries are your future collector's first connection with your work, the impression they make will have lasting effects. Choose wisely, and do your best to honor the partnership and your artistic journey with equal care.

Dissecting how we see

"Rose Study"
Original Oil 6x6"

Hey, I just watched a great TED talk on how we perceive things visually. Beau Lotto, founder of Lottolab, a hybrid art studio and science lab, uses optical illusions to demonstrate the way we are wired to see things.

Pretty fascinating stuff, especially interesting to contemplate for artists.

Check it out here:

Carol Marine's new challenge

"Lottsa Tulips"
original oils (4 - 4x3" panels)

If you haven't heard about it yet, Carol Marine has started up a new online challenge. Not sure exactly what the deal-io is, but it looks like she's mixing it up each time. This one was the "10 minute challenge". Paint the same thing 8 times, max. 10 minutes a painting.

So to be right up front, a couple of times I totally forgot to start the timer (really), and a couple of others I just let it beep away while I kept on a paintin'. I did not, however, spend more than 15 minutes on any of them. Can't get much done in that time, really had to wrastle with my 'need to complete'. I was a bit cranky, but definitely got looser each one. By #6 (bottom panel, bottom left) my poor tulip had completely wilted under the heat of the lights and I needed to recharge for the last two (right side of the bottom panel).

Super good learning. Follow the link and give it a go!

50 Flowers in 100 Hours

"Menagerie"
Original oil - 6x6"

This is the first painting of my new project: "50 Flowers in 100 Hours". Yup, that's 50 flower paintings in 100 hours. (To be clear, that's 100 painting hours, not 100 calendar hours.)

The goal is that they will all be painted from life, and no more than 2 hours a painting. So far I'm 3 paintings in and averaging 3.5 hours each, so failing miserably. Being WAY too finicky, haven't painted from life for a while and it's showing. In addition, it's a stretch for me to tackle flowers, not something I am typically drawn to paint, and definitely an area where I will need to build some skill. My words to live by: "Simplify, simplify, simplify."

In keeping with the theme of past blog projects, each painting will be offered for sale by auction on ebay well below market value for a 7 day period, after which it will be available on my website at full market value.

Anyone care to join me?? :) Double dog dare ya....

Richeson 75: Small Works 2011 Finalist

"Repose"
Original Oil 6x6"

You might remember this painting from a recent post. It's a demo from a Vancouver workshop I taught this October. The exercise was to apply paint as thickly as possible right from the first stroke and it was really fun to paint.

I'm pleased to announce it was just juried as a finalist in the Richeson 75: Small Works Competition, and will be hanging in a show at the Richeson School of Art (Kimberly,WI) from Feb.7th to March 25th, 2011.

More news: I have cooked up my newest painting challenge, and will be jumping in this week. Watch for the first painting of the project next post...

Merging Time

"Dusk"
Oil on linen 24x36"
for purchase info click here

This larger studio piece was inspired by a combination of two paintings from the 100 in 100 project, #97 and #100 (see below). I loved the overall mood of #97, but I wanted the feeling of a little more light in the sky, closer to dusk than nightfall, which I was captivated with when I painted #100.

It was fun to combine both elements, and I also added a more definite mountain range. Interestingly, a couple of folks remarked when seeing this piece at my show that you wouldn't actually be able to see the mountains from that vantage on Sarcee trail, you would need to drive about a kilometer further and be pointed a little more west. Which is exactly what happens each time I drive out of Calgary, and it crystallized for me one of the greatest joys of painting. One moment following another can be combined into one painting to express the full experience of moving through time.

Love that!

#97 - "12:01"
Oil on linen - 6x8"

#100 - "And to All a Goodnight"
Oil on linen - 6x8"

A new year of adventure!

"Mountain Patterns"
Original oil - 6x6"

This is a little 6x6 I did from a photo last year, quick and fun, I loved the rhythmic patterns and simple, abstract shapes.

I have to say it was great to finish painting for a show right at the end of the year. Now it feels perfect to launch into the new year tackling some fresh subject matter and continuing to keep that bar moving higher.

There are 3 tough competitions coming up in the next month and a half that I will be painting for. Here are the links if you want to take a crack at them as well:

• Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art (1st annual) (Deadline Jan.15th)
• Greenhouse Gallery's Salon International (Deadline Jan.21st)
• Oil Painters of America National Show (Deadline Feb.18th)

I'm rooting through my resource material looking for the most exciting, challenging subjects I can find. This is what gets me jazzed to get into the studio, it's so fun to step waaaay out of the comfort zone and watch what happens...

Merry Christmas!

"Starry Night"
Watercolour 14x21"

I want to thank you all for the tremendous support and encouragement you have sent my way in this past year. Having an online journal and so many great people who are interested enough to follow it has been such a wonderful addition to this artistic journey.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with wonderful moments under star filled skies!

It's Show time!

"Alberta Sky"
Oil on Linen - 18x24"
(for purchase info click here)

Finally, the paintings are painted, photographed, varnished, framed, delivered and hung. Yay! This is always my favourite time - the "I can stop going at a million miles an hour" time.

My show of 20 new works + 20 of my 100 in 100 paintings will be on display at the Avens Gallery in Canmore until January 1st, 2011. The show opens tomorrow and I will be there from 1-4pm. I would LOVE to see you there if you can make it!

PS: The above painting was done from field study #70 in my 100 in 100.

"Rain Approaching"
Oil on Linen 6x8"
(not for sale)