More Bumps lead to a Small Fry!!

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

My adventures with bumps continues!!

Two In The Sunshine - 3.25 x 3.25 - watercolour

After finishing my last little miniature, I have been fired up to try again.  My Christmas commissions were finished so back I went.

The first layers of paint look terrible! Bumpy, flat and uninviting.  Was this really how the colours worked.  It has been over a week so I wasn't sure.  I pressed on.

Glazed with my colours.  The richness started to emerge.  I glazed some more.

"Supper time", my husband said.

"Hold on."I responded.

"Things are getting cold."

"Okay, just a minute."

It was so hard to stop, things were working!  New ideas were flying!  Try a little more blue. Hit it with some yellow. The purple needs more red.  Blue green here.  Don't forget the sun glow on the leaves.

Suddenly I was done!

Black-eyed Susies, one of my favourite flowers, lots of yellows and reds, glowing in the sunshine.  They come late in the summer to help keep that summer glow alive.

Special Note: 
February is Marketing Month for Artists!!
My all day Marketing Workshop is set for Sunday, February 22, 2015.  Build your Marketing Skills to become an Independent Artist.  See my Marketing Page for more information and registration.

 Contact Wendy to purchase any of my Work.  Collectors enjoy a 10% on all original work.

Romancing the Rose

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

ROMANCING THE ROSE - 7.5 x 10 -  Watercolour - $300 Framed

Are roses one of your favourite flowers?  They are mine; peach, red, pink, white or yellow, they all have their own special look.  They are so much fun to draw and paint because of their lovely contrast of billowing folds and sharp lines.  And of course no two are the same. 

 

My rose, is one inspired by the roses in my garden, no I don’t have an amazing rose garden, just a few roses that have learned to live with me.  We do well together.  Take a closer look at my flower, it will fool you.  It has the look of an impasto oil put it is watercolour!!  Enjoy.

As always cards and prints are available for all my pictures starting at $3.50 for cards.

The Little Dancer

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

THE LITTLE DANCER - 10 X 14 - Watercolor - $600 Framed

 

Have you ever been to a dance recital with young dancers? We went to many over the years with our daughter who loved to dance.  She tried jazz, tap and rhythmic gymnastics and enjoyed them all.  It is so much fun to watch the young dancers, full of enthusiasm, loving every moment and moving in their own way.  Of course the older dancers have lots of polish and pazazz but the young ones have that freedom and liveliness that can only be found in the new dancer.  I was really trying to capture that spirit with this painting of my young dancer with her tap group.

My painting is off to the “Just Dance” show at the Newton Cultural Center, 13530 72^nd Ave, Surrey.  The show opens today, April 3 and runs to April 30.  Gallery is open 7 days a week 10-4pm.  The show is in celebration to the Dance Festivals that happen every April in Surrey at the Surrey Arts Center.  There are daily dance recitals as all the groups take part in this month long major competition.  Check out the art show and the festival, they are just down the street from each other.

As always cards and prints are available of all my work, starting at $3.50 for cards.



Mini Irises in the Sunshine

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

MINI IRISES IN THE SUNSHINE - 1.75 X 2.75 - $90 MATTED

Spring and sunshine are in the air and on my paper.  After finishing the larger picture I set myself  the challenge to make the miniature.  I know, who does a large picture as a study for a mini!!  Still I love these tiny pieces, they really are a very up close, intimate kind of art.
Irises have always been a popular flower for painting, particularly the colourful bearded ones, but until I caught the images of these irises on a sunny day I really didn't understand why.  Their colours attract the eye but I think it is the combination of sharp line and the soft curls that keeps it.  Enjoy!

As always all my pictures are available as prints or cards, starting at $3.50 for cards.

Dancing in the Sunlight has danced away

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY



DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT - SOLD

Dancing in the Sunlight has set a new record, well for me, I designed it, painted it and entered it in the Federation of Canadian Artists juried show during my Christmas holidays .  It was accepted and so off it went to the show.  The show opened today and it is gone!!  Certainly an amazing trip for picture.  I loved the picture and I am pleased to see it off to a good home.

Dancing Brushes are making their Debut

That's me in our workspace, one of our gallery areas is behind me.

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Hey, we are really moving into the big times now – a real live artist community here in the ‘burbs’.  Yes, the Langley Arts Council has taken over the old CIBC bank and created an artist community.  Imagine all those little office spaces as individual artist workshops, even the vault is an artist gallery and work space. 




Yes, I am in the vault!!

I know in the city there are warehouse areas with artist’s studios but outside of that it is hard to find this kind of space.  I have moved in to a spot with a small group of artists, we are the Dancing Brushes and our workspace is the area that the tellers would have used and the whole back wall is our display area.  There are already over 20 artists moved in and more to come, very, very exciting for the art community and beyond. 

Entrance has seats and gallery space too!!

So come down and check it out, Artist in Residence Gallery, 20550 Fraser Hwy, open Mon-Sat 10-5pm.  I plan on being there 12:30-3:30 most Mondays and Fridays. 

Rosebud

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

ROSEBUD - 2.25 X 3 inches ($90 unframed)

Flowers are definitely on my mind right now.  I have been saying good bye to all the plants in my flower beds as I dig them up and plant my spring bulbs.  It is so hard to do when they are still in bloom and the sun is shining but it is going down to -2 tonight so I know it is time. 
One of the blogs that has been of interest to me lately is Jacqueline Gnott’s. http://jacquelinegnott.blogspot.ca  Her flower pictures have a sense of simplicity but yet the detail is there(you know how I love detail!) and there is lots of drama. All of this interests me a lot.  I wanted to see if I could create my own dramatic flower art only in miniature.  A timely gift of a miniature rose bush from a friend gave me my model and I was off and running.  Rosebud is my first endeavor and to my surprise my husband, Steve likes it.  I think that is a good sign.

Rosebud is off today to the Positively Petit Show at the Place des Arts in Coquitlam.  The show runs Nov. 15 to Dec 21 with the reception on Thursday, Nov. 15, 7-9pm.  I will see you there.

As always, cards and prints are available for all my work starting at $3.50.

Summer Sunshine

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

SUMMER SUNSHINE - 3 x 3 -  $90 unframed

Remember that wonderful sunshine we had for weeks on end?  I must admit some of those days were a little too hot for me and I complained, only a little bit but I did! After the last few days of darkness and rain I wish to retract those comments.  Painting Summer Sunshine was my way of getting back that sunshine.  When we were at my girlfriend's place in Nova Scotia in September I took lots of pictures of her black-eyed Susans.  She had beautiful ones in several different colours, they just shone in the sun and welcomed us home from our adventures.  They were wonderful! 

This little miniature is just one of my new pictures on its way to the Positively Petite Show at the Place des Arts in Coquitlam.  The annual show draws miniature artists from all over the Fraser Valley and is always a delight to see.  Each artist may enter up to 8 pieces, no larger than 12 sq inches, so there are lots of what I call 'real' miniatures.  My little sunshine is only 9 sq. inches and as you can see a lot can be painted into a small space.  The show opens Thursday, Nov 15 and the reception is that evening 7-9pm.  It runs until Dec. 21, 2012.  See you there.

As always, cards and prints of any of my pictures are available starting at $3.50. 

 

IT'S MARKETING WEEK

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Yes, this is marketing week for me; I am heading up to the Kelowna area to work with artists there on marketing.   Wed, June 13, I will be speaking at Lake Country Gallery, (10356A Bottom Wood Lake Rd, at 7 pm. and then on the weekend, June 16, I will be holding an all day workshop on Marketing: Let’s Get Your Art Out There.   This will be an exciting week to work with artists in another community and really get that synergy going.  The Evening Talk will be an opportunity to get an introduction going and set up some of the grounding principles in marketing while the full day will give an opportunity to delve deeply into the Marketing World and allow each artist to make connections to their situation.  As artists we are a large community but like our creations we travel many different roads and our picture of success is very different.  Learning skills to market out work needs just as much attention as learning the skills to create our work. I am really pleased to have the opportunity to work with so many talented people and help them move forward in their Art Business. 

The Art Talk on June 13 is free so come and join us.  There are still a few spots left for Saturday’s Workshop, June 16 from 10-4pm, (Cost $65) to register email or phone me.  Taking this workshop will be a valuable step in moving your business forward.

TRANQUILLITY -  6.5 x 9.5 $260 Framed

This picture is one of Steve's favourites.  He loves the colours, simplistic lines and the memories.  It is a plein air piece and like anything done in plein air, there are lots of wonderful memories from the experience.

Framing Watercolour Without Glass

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

TULIPS IN THE SPRING  4.5 x 6.5  Available

Tulips and daffodils just seem to be spring to me.   Bringing them home from the grocery store is always fun and we wait with anticipation as they open and then watch in amazement as they do their wonderful contortions while they mature and eventually fade.  Eight days is our record.  (Some may say we pushed it and really they were done sooner but . . )
I used this little arrangement as you know to run some experiments in techniques and I thought I would use the last one for the finish.  As I mentioned earlier, I am looking at framing watercolour without glass.   I have mounted my tulips on a wood cradle and then applied fixative, spray varnish and finally painted on several more coats of varnish.  It is definitely protected and ready to roll.  The big difference seems to be in the colours, they are now deeper, richer and somewhat brighter.  The cradle is kind of an interesting format to use as a substrate; one could also use a board and then mount the picture in any canvas frame.  My only concern is that my tulips will not be taken seriously in this format.   I am not finished with this and will try some of the other types of framing without glass.  Does anyone have a preference for this type of framing?

EARLY MORNING HUNT - Short Eared Owl

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

EARLY MORNING HUNT  12 x 16 Available

My owl is finished and ready to show. This little short eared owl has been a very interesting project for me.  The background is a mixture of layers on top of some light washes as I wanted it not too busy but still give the feeling of depth and open fields.  I wanted that warm glow of the early sun on everything and of course my love of detail comes through in the foreground.  Let me just say I didn't do all those feathers in one go!!

I am thinking of varnishing this little guy and framing him without glass.  I have a few samples underway and I will post them over the next few days.  If you have experience or thoughts on watercolours framed without glass I would love to hear them. 

Home from Yellowknife and Back to the Green

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Dave, Me and Cindy having a Snow Picnic

A winter holiday in the Northern Canada is really something for someone like me, living in the warmer south.  I just returned from a short holiday and I must admit I had a great time.  As my brother said, when I arrived I thought -8 C was dam cold and by the end of my trip I was saying that -13 C in the sun was nice!!

Dave with me at the wheel, flying down the lake!!

I saw the Northern Lights, they are just as beautiful as they say, I had my first experiences on a snowmobile flying across a lake (well, when I was driving we weren't really flying but when my brother was we were!!)  and I experienced a snow picnic at -17 C.  I was amazed how warm the sun is when it is shining .  If you were out of the wind it was wonderful.

One of those ptarmigans, they really blend into the snow

I didn't see a lot of wildlife but the ptarmigans were in town and often in sight.  It was funny to all of a sudden see this snowball start moving and even take flight.  When we were out on the lakes and in the bush we saw lots of tracks so you know lots of animals are there.

At the door of the Ice Castle, it had a wooden door!!

Out on Great Slave Lake, it seems to go on forever!!

At the Cabin, Do I look like a pro??

Sunset on the lake, aren't the colours lovely??

Visiting Yellowknife and Marketing More

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

Yes, Yellowknife has called me back!  I was there in the summer last year and I heard so much of the winter adventures I had to return and see for myself.  Already it is my last day and time to go home, where did my time go?  I have been out every day, roaring down the lake on a snowmobile, sitting in the sun having a snow picnic (yes a snow picnic) and of course viewing the Northern Lights.  I went Scottish Dancing and I spent all day as part of the safety crew for the FrostBite 45 cross country ski race.  Lots of fun and all at temperatures I could hardly imagine!!
One of the most artist experiences I had (besides the incredible snowscapes) was to run a Marketing Workshop for a couple of artists here in Yellowknife. Shawna and Lynn are moving forward with their art business and we had a great evening working through the Marketing World together.  Having the opportunity to meet with artists in other areas is such an valuable experience.  To see Shawna's work http://dancingravenstudio.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/thursday-emerging-artist-marketing/ 

I will be home soon and pictures of Yellowknife will soon follow.

My Short-Eared Owl – WIP

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY
It was crazy! While all the cameras and binoculars were focused on the snowy owls on the Mud Flats this winter, behind us were lots of other birds.As I walked along the dyke I saw this beautiful short eared owl enjoying the rising sun.When I really started to look around I saw there were several of them, swooping down among the grasses and bushes hunting for their prey.This was very exciting for me as it was a major bird sighting, my third owl species.Now that I have been working on my picture I realize I have seen them before in the distances but never realized it. 

My layout, I used frisket to save my foreground pieces

I loved the glow of the rising sun in my picture so I decided to use my watercolours for this project.I know a blue sky is pretty routine but honestly it was one of those cold, crisp winter days and the sky just had to be blue!!

 This is after I poured on some watercolour and then did a bit of shaping. 

Frisket is off and I started work on my foreground first to get a feel for my colours.  That and the fact I lost most of my pencil drawing when I removed the frisket so I had to redraw things!!

An exciting side note, my tulips, “Singled Out” from my last post has been accepted in the Federation of Canadian Artists juried show “Blossoms” and will be at their Granville Island Gallery from April 3-15.  

Tulips are Flying Off the Paper

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

ABOVE THE CROWD - 5 x 7 - Available

Spring must be on my mind, as suddenly I have all these tulips I want to paint.  We went down to Connors last spring, a place in northern Washington State, for the spring Tulip Festival.  It was a beautiful sunny day and the fields were just bright ribbons of colour.  There was pinks, yellows, reds, and purples; fields and fields of them in full bloom; quite a sight to see!  I took tons of pictures and now I am ready to paint.

I had this interesting arrangement drawn out and I decided to try some different effects.  For "Above the Crowd" I used the smooth side of the paper, and then really intensified the shadows to get some interesting patterns happening.  It looked very weird at first and I really had to push myself to finish.  My husband kept saying "keep going" don't judge it till you're done.  I was glad I listened as now I really kind of like it. 

For "Singled Out" I put lots of colour all over the paper and then drew in my flowers.  I used my blue to really form the flowers and again really intensified the shadow colours.  I love some of the interesting textures and colours that I ended up with.  Not sure if it is too dark but . . .

SINGLED OUT - 4.5 x 6.5 Available

THE SAINT AND PLAYING SHY

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

THE SAINT - 7 X 5 - SOLD

Isn't she a beauty?  The Saint was born July 2011, it was a busy few hours but once things straightened out she was up and ready to roll.  I wasn't able to see her till the fall; she is nearly 3 months old in my picture.  She has a slim line but such a pretty face.  There is no mistaking that she is female.

The Saint belongs to a friend and I was thrilled to get out and take some shots of her.  It was a rainy day in November, what else is new, when we decided to give it a try.  It was a bit of a challenge as she really did play shy and her owners had to really encourage her so I could get some pictures.  We bobbed and weaved around in the rain for quite some time but it was fun and the results were great. 

PLAYING SHY - 7.5 X 5 - SOLD

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY - LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

LUNCH WITH FRIENDS - 11 X 14 -  Available

As you know I am famous for revisiting a picture I am not happy with and trying to save it.  This was definitely the case with my blackbirds.  I loved my birds and my bird feeder in this drawing but somehow my composition did not work for me. (See my original picture below.)  When I was reluctant to take it to a show, I knew I had to do something.  I took it to a critiquing session and listened to all the comments and then I sat with it for a few months while my ideas percolated, finally I was ready to roll.  I developed some background foliage and added another bird to the group.  The picture seems more balanced and  far more interesting now so I am happy.

I am applying for my Signature Status with the Federation of Canadian Artists and I have decided to use my blackbirds as my opening picture.  The application goes in this week so keep your fingers crossed; jurying happens the March 10th weekend!!

THE TEA PARTY - 9 X 12  (No longer available!!)

Snowy Owl Visits Vancouver

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

SNOWY OWL VISITS VANCOUVER - 14 x 18 Available

It's done!! This is one of the largest drawings I have done in a long time and let me tell you, the detail on his chest nearly drove me crazy.  I am really pleased with the drawing;  I love the way the grasses and weeds wind around him.  I really worked to get some texture as well, with burnishing softness for the owl and leaving the tooth of the paper for the log and weeds. 

My original plan was to call this Miss Snowy Owl visits Vancouver as my research gave me the impression that my owl was a young female but as I looked into it more I find that this may also be an immature male.  So hence the name "Snowy Owl visits Vancouver".  Either way it is an amazing sight to see these birds.  We went for a second visit on the weekend arriving just at sunrise (yes, you read that correctly, sunrise).  It was a lovely cold, crisp, morning and the owls although dwindling in number were a wonderful sight to see.   



Snowy Owl Visits Vancouver WIP

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

SNOWY OWL VISITS VANCOUVER - 14 x 18

My first project of the year had to be the Snowy Owls.  They are settled out on the Delta Mud Flats amongst the low brush for our winter.  It is very unusual for them to come this far south and in fact the last time they were here in these numbers, was in the winter of 2005/6.  I was so excited with seeing them over Christmas that I just had to get started on a picture of them.

I wanted my owl to reflect their regal appearance and to integrate him into the surroundings.  I tried several different formats, but it was hard to include the brush and logs and yet give a real sense of his size.  (They are one of the biggest owls.)  This is my final set up and now it is peddle to the metal to finish him (or her) up. 

PS.  Note the picture size, this is my largest drawing. 

ALOHA!!

BIRD OF PARIDISE, SO COLOURFUL AND SO UNUSUAL - 5 X 7

NEW WORKS FROM THE STUDIO OF ART BY WENDY

A SUNNY FACE TO WELCOME YOU TO MAUI - 5 X 7

Yes,  I started the year off with a bang, my husband and I went to Maui, Hawaii for the first part of January and had some fun in the sun!! 

LIFE ON THE BEACH - 5 x 7

It was so nice to leave our gray days, I must admit we have had very little snow or really cold weather but the gray days can be a bit much at times.  The weather in Maui was wonderful, sunny warm, not too hot, the beaches were soft sand, with lovely breakers just right for me to boogie board and lots of great galleries to visit when we needed a break from the sun.  I painted lots and of course everything is now full of sand but it was great.

Not me with the board but I did get a few good rides!! - 3 x 4

OUR CONDO, WE WERE IN THE BOTTOM UNIT - 5 X 7



HARD AT WORK ON THE BEACH

My most prize possession was a little free kit I got from North Lights with a book order, I could keep my paints, brushes, supplies and a dozen 5 x 7 sheets of watercolour paper in this neat little container.  I took it everywhere.

ROCKY POINT - 5 X 7

I am now hard at work on my Snowy Owl and I will post her soon!!