THE PERCH

6 X6 inch
oil on 1/8th gesso board
$60.00

This was a bird day, while I was at the computer the bird feeder was getting so much action. I used a really large brush just for the background. I used cerulean blue instead of ultramarine blue to change things up a little.

WORM SIGHTING

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

I was away for a week and really missed painting...I just had to paint a bird when I got home, I used just primary colours and kept it simple.

PARTY GIRL

6 x 6 inch

oil on 1/8th inch gesso board

SOLD

I decided to add a really vibrant back ground for this little bird. It always surprises me with how much you can pack into such a small painting.

GINGER SNAP

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

This was my second attempt at this little bird, yesterday after working for quite some time on it never being completely happy, the cloth came out and within a few seconds it was gone. Today I sat with my cup of tea examining the photo, there is much more detail on a little bird than what you first think, tiny little things like the small mark where the beak begins or the small curve at the end of the head where the body begins. These details give so much more character when you are painting.  

B.C. MOMENT

6 X 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

Today was just one of those days, absolutely perfect weather, crisp and bright...my inspiration for this painting.  I don't do many landscapes but I am always pleased when I decide to tackle one.  The tricky part for me is not going to crazy with my detail and paint strokes...I have to keep saying to myself "slow down" stay in the moment.

FLIRTY

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

I played around with the background on this little bird, I like how it turned out. Gold and pink together are just the loveliest combination of colours....sooo warm.

MASTER GARDENER

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

I borrowed the image of this bunny from my friend Ron who regularly travels around our area taking photos of wild life. I bought a new brush when I was in Calgary. The brush is very fine with long bristles, I have been dragging it around the last couple of paintings I have finished. There is an untidy look to the paintings which I am really enjoying.

FEATHERED FRIEND

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
$60.00

This photo had a solid plain background, I decided to add a little more interest when I painted it...I do think birds are happier hanging out in trees, they just seem less vulnerable.

BIRD ON A RHODO

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
$60.00

I took this photo last week through my office window.  Every day the birds come and sit on the rhodo outside the window waiting their turn for a nibble at the bird feeder. I loved the beautiful colour of the maple with its red autumn glow against the bright rich green of the rhodo leaves. 

BIRDIE NUM NUM

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
SOLD

A couple of months ago we decided to introduce our son to the movie The Party starring Peter Sellers, while painting this bird all that kept running through my head was "birdie num num,birdie num num" hence the name of this little beauty . Last year we put up a bird feeder outside the window of our office, I have never seen so much action, below the bird feeder is a Rhodo which the birds sit on while waiting their turn to have a little peck at the food, while some birds are waiting others are just flying around trying to get in on the action. The odd time a wood pecker will end up swinging from the feeder, I never realized how big they are, anyway I have been wanting to paint more birds and every time I look out the window I get a big reminder.  

LATE OCTOBER

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch canvas panel
SOLD

I borrowed this image from my good friend Corinne, hard to believe that this is a late October vision. I started the painting with a dark blue under colour, the greens just popped as did the single flower, I am always a little surprised at what you can pack onto a 6 x 6 inch canvas.

Cow 146 IN THE CLOUDS

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
$60.00

I have painted this cow several times, today I cropped him so I was really focusing just on his face using lots of messy broad strokes.

FOCUSED

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch primed panel
$60.00

I took the photo of this dog while we were away, he was sitting very contentedly with his owner, I was just getting ready to take the picture when he spotted another dog...so much for posing for the camera.

PEACHY KEEN

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch premium canvas panel
$60.00

I started this painting with a midnight blue under painting.  I chose the purple background because I love purple and orange together.  I have been trying to make some of my brushstrokes smaller and finer for the subtle details. You wouldn't think it would make that much of a difference but it really does.

Cow 144 SMARTY PANTS

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch premium canvas panel
SOLD

I have really been enjoying working with the different coloured under painted canvas.  For this painting I used a dark rich blue, everything pops.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch premium canvas panel
$60.00

I started with a red under painting which in a way  gives you a head start as it automatically fills in all those spaces that you are just not sure what to do with.  I didn't use as many darks as usual, I like the whimsy of this painting.

Cow 143 BEAUTY SCHOOL DROP OUT

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch premium canvas panel
SOLD

I have painted this cow several times, she is definitely a favourite.  I started with a deep magenta underpainting, I stuck to just the primary colours trying to keep things really simple and not compete too much with the background.

HELLO LADIES

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch gesso board
$60.00

I took the photo of this handsome lad at the ferry lineup in Nanaimo, I thought his expression was great and loved all the folds and curves of his face.  I started with a burnt umber wash and spent more time than usual sketching out all the details of his face.   Once I started adding the paint it kind of fell into place.  I find that the more time I spend on the initial sketch the happier I am with the finished product.

SERENITY

6 x 6 inch
oil on 1/8th inch premium canvas panel
$60.00

I have painted these tulips several times,I love how they are spilling over the vase to put on such a show.  I started with Payne grey for the underpainting,  There is such an immediate pow when you start painting on a dark background, the direction you take is completely different.

SIMPLE PLEASURES

6 x 6 inch
oil on  1/8th premium canvas panel
$60.00

I started this painting with a transparent red canvas, I like how you can see glimpses of the colour under the blues and golds.