Don't Give Up

Sea Shore Sparkle, 12x16, acrylic

This painting is an example of not giving up. I started out with the idea of doing something high key, that is no real darks. I also had trees and beach and water etc. Well I didn't care for that so I then added a full value range but that wasn't working either. I kept feeling that I just couldn't settle. At this point I thought about just putting it aside but I didn't want to give up on it. I decided to open up the composition and have a more open sweeping feeling to the water and horizon. I  pushed the blues which I love to do and now I am pleased. Making changes and building up the paint can even add another dimension.

For the Show

Wind and Sea, 18x24, acrylic

This piece will also be in my upcoming group show. The opening will be on Sat Oct 2 at the Jenkins Showler Gallery, 7pm - 10pm. I wanted to capture the feeling of the wind at the seashore so I stylized the shapes and tried to create some movement in the sky. I find more and more I want to be expressive and paint less of just a rendering of the subject.

More Trees

Falling Leaves, 12x16, acrylic

Fall is in the air and of course I am attracted to the wonderful colours of the turning leaves. This one came from a photo I took last year. I put in the bright colours of the main tree on a white canvas and then the challenge was to create a background that would stay back and not compete. I wanted the whole piece to have some jazzy strokes of colour, overall I am pleased. I constantly feel that I could push things further, more paint, more colour, more interesting shapes. I feel energized and motivated because there is so much left to explore.

Another for the Show

Against the Wind, 22x28, acrylic

This is another piece for the show at Jenkins Showler gallery. I like to add character to the trees and elements in the painting. So I push the shapes and colours, I think it makes for a more dramatic piece. I have heard from the Birthplace of BC Gallery that the CBC was there in Fort Langley with a news team to interview artist Al Colton for a news story. His show will be opening next week at the gallery. The item will be on the Monday evening news. He has trained and worked with some of the group of seven and does wonderful Canadiana type of work.

Show coming up

Blue Beyond, 36x36, acrylic

I will be part of a group show at the Jenkins Showler gallery. It is their 20th anniversary, so certainly worthy of a celebration. The opening is on Oct 2 and I hope that some of you can make it. This is one of my new pieces. I always love seeing the ocean through the trees as you get closer to the end of the trail. I was going to really push the colour but I wanted a tranquil feeling so I kept it fairly soft. I also decided not to make the foliage on the trees too heavy and dark. I am overall pleased with the result.

More Colour

Twists and Turns, 30x40, acrylic

I wanted to try a painting with a lot of saturated colour. The arbutus trees seemed to be a great subject. They have wonderful character and colour. I had a lot a fun just putting on the paint. I am usually concerned with creating sublety and with this one I didn't worry about that. It was quite freeing and fun.

Trails

Rainforest Trail, Tofino, 30x30, acrylic

I just love to paint a trail. It is such a natural way to lead the viewer into the painting. I want them to wonder what is around that corner beyond the trees. I want them to smell the forest and the ocean beyond. There are some wonderful trails around Tofino and the Pacific rim on Vancouver Island. The vegetation is very lush with salal and ferns. The forest is quite shady but as you get closer to the beach the light starts to dance around, and you can hear the waves crashing. I used some brush strokes that almost scrubbed the paint on for some of the foliage, it worked quite well. This much green is always a challenge. This image seems to have a lot of light reflecting off the canvas, sorry about that.