Plein Air Excitement - the new Sea to Sky Gondola

Now that the weather is good, it feels great to get outside and experience the best of BC

our Whistler Out of Bounds group ventured out to check out the new Sea to Sky Gondola  south of Squamish, along with photographer Diane Hanna.. dramatic scenery on a dramatic weather day made for interesting and challenging conditions

there are some great view points/vistas and lookouts, and the trails are very accessible  - it feels like cheating getting whisked up to the top with lots of plein air gear, but for those that didn't inherit the "packing lightly" plein air gene,  its just perfect!

Sea to Sky Gondola check out   http://www.seatoskygondola.com

here is one of the lookouts and suspension bridge

and then the vista I painted from all day... complete with overhanging lookout!

 

 

the good news... is that you are on top of a mountain.... paradise... the bad news... is that you are on top of a mountain!... very challenging conditions as the clouds kept rolling in....

 

 

Photographer Diane captured the moving fog and cloud...

 

nothing like some creative composition on the fly!

 

 

 

one of my three pieces from that day in progress

 

 

a fabulous day! highly recommended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plein Airing in Pemberton - always something interesting!

Another great plein air day in Pemberton painting solo in a field... I felt like a kid in a candy store.. so many exciting views!

with the backdrop of spectacular Mount Currie, mountains and farms are very compelling..

I tried three versions from the same vantage point... see below..

 I modified each version, learning more each time.. always with a view to compose and simplify, on a 12 x 16 board

interesting challenges... dry paint in the hot sun... and  tractors in the field throwing up dust in the middle of your value study!   you just have to laugh...

my final piece was on 18 x 24 inch canvas board, the largest I've done in the "field" ( ha ha)...I really enjoyed "going big" as they say..

thanks to Susie and John for hosting...

Experimenting in a new medium ..... I have finally discovered OILS!

Over the years, teachers like Brent Lynch  have observed that I would likely have a natural affinity for oils...

buttery and textural ... I always resisted... but now... I experimented and loved this new medium

I have taken a few oil workshops now... a still life course in black and white first as a foundation course.... focusing on abstract shapes and then "modelling"

below is my first still life pieces in true oils ..( 9 x 12)

of course I just know enough to be dangerous... when first asked to "tone " the canvas... I had about an inch thick layer of paint with no medium and wondered why the paint was sticking like glue

Portraits too... Having enjoyed figure drawing and a few portrait experiments, I jumped right in to a one day  FCA portrait course in oils! 

 nothing like painting from life to make you focus on drawing skills .... it is all about values and proportions

(note: only half the face is totally finished.. you can only do so much in a few hours.)

what I am enjoying about oils...you can really model , shape and blend

Liz Wiltzen  recently offered a great course in painting from photos recently, and I painted in oils as well...    "drills" were very powerful and design focused.. 

here is a lake louise landscape in progress... my first oil landscape..

 

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 next a photo reference and exercise focusing on abstract shapes first

looking forward to trying plein-air painting in oils at some point... can't wait!

Reflections on Art Battle

well it was quite an experience...

painting under time pressure in front of 100's. gave quite the buzz and adrenaline rush ... ( and did I say a case of a bit of the nerves?)

I painted an 18 x 24  mountain landscape in 20 minutes

and I had trained doing  many 18x 24 timed  landscape pieces..

upon reflection, it was a great exercise in mapping in shapes, contrasting values,  and particularly working on an untoned canvas which was different for me

 

 

one surprising outcome .... afterwards  I tried grouping various combinations of my pieces to come up with panoramas I could work on down the road

 

 

 

hmmm, interesting inspiration that came just from laying them out on the floor to dry....

 

I met some great fellow artists in a familial festive environment.  Thanks to Bill Higginson for organizing a great event

the unexpected magic of mixing art with volunteer passions

Sometimes you never know how separate parts of your life will come together and mix....

 Based on my volunteer work , I was asked to provide images for  art cards sent out as a fundraising gift to 25,000 households across Canada...

I was honoured to be asked by one of my volunteer organizations, the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada... I am co-chair of the Arthritis Patient Advisory Board and advocate for patient engagement in research

bottom line.. you just never know where your gift of time and gift of art will take you..
check out http://www.arthritisresearch.ca.

and you never know what strange coincidences of friends and strangers receiving cards will occur!

A change of Plein Air Pace.... southern California

From mountains to palm trees... a change of winter scenery

Painting in desert-like conditions in acrylics is a huge challenge... but perseverance and plein-air go hand in hand

An interesting adjustment.. and a totally new palette .

 Note to self... when on the road improvising with new and different paints, remember to view first paintings as "colour" experiments  and ... REMEMBER TO BRING A SPRAY BOTTLE when painting in acrylics in 95 degree heat! ...

 

 

 

 

I am inspired to paint more palms, such interesting shapes!

A new trip up the learning curve - Judging the Opus 2014 Outdoor Painting Challenge

Opus Art Supplies has grown a great outdoor painting event over the past few years encouraging the public to come out and celebrate the art of plein air painting across BC

 This year I was asked to judge the event after being a previous participant ..

 It was an interesting collaborative process,  and I was judging in the esteemed company of plein air artist extraordinaire Gaye Adams and fellow artist Eishe .

As the OPUS website describes, it was a highly successful day.... Http://www.opusartsupplies.com/opc2014

I was at the downtown Vancouver store...with a great variety of styles and subject matter. In particular, the downtown store has a particularly strong "graphic design" personality... All ages, all styles, a festive atmosphere all in all!

 

It was very rewarding to make the transition from "participant" to "evaluator" in an official capacity...

unofficially as artists we are constantly in the business of "judging" our work and learning from others... just a different trip up the learning curve

 

 

 many thanks to the OPUS team for a great event 

 

ps for great plein-air tips, check out Gaye's video on plein air painting on the OPUS web site

 

 

 

ART BATTLE #70.... here I come!

Upcoming next week on Tuesday October 8th...ART BATTLE #70

This is a series of live art events ... held at various venues across the country!

I will be competing at this event where 9 artists have 20 minutes to complete an 18 x 24 piece... winner of round one and round two go on to paint a larger 24 x 36 canvas

it is going to be fun and terrifying at the same time!

check out these details

https://www.facebook.com/events/330004670478676/

hope to see you there!

A fall showing at the Omega Gallery in Vancouver

My work will be part of a fall group show at the Omega Gallery commencing October 5th until November 16th.. I will have four pieces in a range of sizes .. all landscapes.. from whistler, desolation sound,  and saltspring .

feel free to drop by the gallery in person... or check out the show online after  October 5th

www.Omegagallery.ca

( for previous summer show works check out

www.omegagallery.ca/july2013.html#SETO)

thanks to Omega for their support!

Federation of Cdn Artist Whistler Plein Air workshop

wow.. just finished an amazing week of plein air at whistler...

the weather cooperated and we had a wonderful mix of venues.. from Pemberton farms to Green Lake to village architecture to the stunning mountain peaks at the top of whistler blackcomb...

some great instruction during the week... values and values and values!

a few of my efforts are shown below...

first from the peak of whistler...

as an intro at Green Lake I did a quick colour study first to experiment with  a palette... ( on the right below)  then tried to capture the dramatic changing sky ( on the left)

really enjoyed the week! the smile at the top says it all!

From piano to art... My first art teaching at Whistler

Inspired by all of my teachers I conducted my first art class at whistler this summer

We improvised in my studio and had an enthusiastic group of six ..

first we experimented with paint just playing with brushwork forming clouds ... then we moved on to a typical mountain and water landscape...  this was an experiment and we worked in stages...  a new experience for most... great to combine friendship and food and  fun!

at work in the studio...

and smiling students showing end of day results..

.looking forward to more sessions!

A new painting experiment - PETS.....

My love affair with my sister's dog Rufus kicked off some interesting experimenting this summer...

Rufus was my first Pet love... just small 9 x 12 pieces

A few pets of my friends followed...  Hua Hua,

 and Roxy

 

I find myself staring at dogs in elevators now... always looking for good subject matter!

Summer Plein Air painting in Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver

On a gorgeous summer day Janice Robertson organized a group to paint outdoors at Whytecliff Park in west Vancouver... a great plein-air day... really hot so the paint on the palette dried super quickly!

I painted the view shown in this photo and ended up with this beach scene...( basically I cropped and  focused on  the top part of the  scene)

another view of my easel with a different rock... a fellow appeared on the rock suddenly and I discovered an instant focal point....  this is a work in progress!

 

 

 

 

. Whistler Real Estate goes live with a video "Whistler Real Estate's ArtWalk" ... some unabashed self-promotion

... whistler real estate has made this great video featuring whistler art...and surprise surprise

my work is on display through much of the video...

  somehow Whistler Real Estate has created the perfect art exhibition space

thanks again to Pat Kelly and his team for their wonderful support...

 

 

do you remember the tune... "video killed the radio star"?.. hope its not the same for art!

 

DRAW UPDATE:   Angie Nolan was the successful winner of my art print "Inspiration Plateau" from the Art Walk opening...   

OMEGA GALLERY SUMMER SHOW - until August 24th

The weather has been so great... sunshine cooperated on opening night

My work is featured with Jennifer  Olsen's and you can check out our pieces on Omega's website:

www.omegagallery.ca/current.html


We had a nice turnout on July 6th and it was great to meet Jennifer and her family from Victoria

some of my pieces on display are shown below

 

Jennifer's work is very architectural and pieces on display inspired by travels..

Thanks to Jennifer and Jenny for coordinating!! 

Vancouver gallery opening - Omega Gallery July 6th

Just wanted to let you know that my art work will be featured at  the Omega Gallery in Dunbar in Vancouver, starting July 6th with a show opening  from 6:00 to 9:00  pm

visit www.omegagallery.ca ( web site will be updated soon)

Please join us for refreshments and view the work of Victoria artist Jennifer Olson and myself

4290 Dunbar St at 27th

Whistler Art Walk 2013 - Opening Reception July 4th - Whistler Real Estate Company

It's that time of year again.... Artwalk 2013 at whistler has started... come out to the opening reception July 4th  from 6:30 to 9:30....  lots of activities and events

I have new work on display at Whistler Real Estate Company in market plaza until September 2013

Come and check it out and come out and support whistler arts!  It is a fun night

All of my proceeds are donated to Women's Cardiac Research at St Pauls Hospital, and the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, in honour of my mom, fellow artist, Lillian Gulka

Special thanks to Pat Kelly and Carolyn Hill of Whistler Real Estate for their support.

Painting at Lake Louise

Wow, the scenery doesn't get any better than this!!

 

Painting in the Rockies at Lake Louise... LOVED IT!




Lake Louise... one of my Plein- Air  pieces....  12 x 16

 

 

Enroute to a Brian Atyeo workshop at River Rock Studio outside Cochrane, Doria and I painted plein-air at Lake Louise , hiked at Moraine Lake, and took hundreds of photos

An inspired group, an inspiring teacher, and inspiring scenery!

Three contrasting gallery exposures - The Vancouver Art Gallery( seriously)...the Federation of Cdn Artist Gallery, and Galileo coffee shop

Well its been a busy spring and you just never know where your art will be displayed!

First the coffee shop....  just hung a show at the Galileo coffee shop in Brittania Beach on the way to Squamish ( right before the mining museum)... from early June to mid july...

Next ... the FCA gallery , or Federation Gallery... got juried into another show... CANVAS UNBOUND with  a piece... High Altitude Drama  (shown above larger at 24 x 36)  was displayed earlier in may..its now at Whistler Real Estate Company for the ArtWalk summer exhibit through the summer

Finally, My work was in the Vancouver art Gallery... legitimately...  for a fundraiser!
The Arthritis Research centre hosted an inaugural event  an elegant "ARThritis Soiree"  and invited me to participate

This is my piece "Alpine Majesty" in the Vancouver Art Gallery ....  all in all a very rewarding event for a very good cause I am very close to!

Plein Air - The Agony and the Ecstasy - OPUS Plein Air Honorable Mention

Well it's that time of year again...

Time to get the paints out and get outside... its been "agonizing" and exhilarating at the same time...

the first "agony".... Im trying out water soluble oils for the first time... I've never painted in oils before unless you count the time I accidentally bought a tube of phtalo blue oil paint and thought it was acrylic and couldn't figure out why it wasn't washing away and why it was smeared all over my clothes, sink, counter top, etc.

So, rather than try them in the comfort of a studio... I chose to go outside and experiment!

Well... I didn't use any thinner or medium so my first effort was VERY clunky... went to a park with a view of the North Shore in Vancouver

 

 

 

More agony.... experiencing the nasty weather painting in the drizzle , wind and rain.

 

Carol and I entered  the second annual OPUS Plein Air Challenge and went down to Crab Park on Vancouver's waterfront for a day of COLD and WET outdoor fun....  My "happy accident" painting totally feels like the weather we had that day....  one bonus... it won an "honorable mention"!  great to see everyone's different efforts!

 

 

 

 

 

Now the "ecstasy".... nothing beats a day outside on a perfect blue bird day on the water with the wind blowing and great scenery.    Went out in whistler and attempted the water soluble oils once again....  with a bit more success this time!  Just playing with paint.... it seemed to move around better using a thinner...   more experimentation needed!