Watercolours are my ‘go to’ medium when going out and about to paint. Light, easy, transportable! Fantastic for loose impressionistic smaller images that capture mood and soft atmosphere. I have found when I’m traipsing outdoors to paint, I prefer to use watercolours. They are so small and if need be, I can get away with […]
What wondrous things a palette knife can do! Soft diffusions of colours and tones and heaped up delicious globs of paint, I think I’m a bit obsessed with my PK 1008 palette knife. But I’m sure you can see why its so easy to get lost in all the delightful patterns, textures and colours that’s […]
My artist’s eye is quick to see what my friends and family often miss. I imagine you can relate! The artist’s eye never slumbers, never pauses. Throughout the day, all day long … its constantly searching…. for textures, colours, shapes, lines, patterns and tones. Maybe that explains why some are just a wee bit tired […]
Henry Matisse has many great quotes, but two especially, resonate within me: “Would it not be best to leave room to mystery?” and “I do not literally paint that table but the emotion it produces upon me.” The spirit in which I paint integrates both of these concepts. Matisse painted […]
Autumn Aglow Landscape is a mixed media painting that I’ve used Prussian Blue to create the tree foliage. The painting was done in a loose, interpretative and impressionistic approach…no brushes! My reference sources were from my recent walks and taking quite a few photographs of the autumn leaves, water reflections in the late […]
Forest Lake Reflections a semi abstract composition using Cerulean Blue in watercolours and Burnt Sienna in inks. I’ve allowed the two colours to merge and flow into intriguing patterns making sure there is adequate light tone, mid tone and dark tone through out the entire design.
“Foulweather Bluff,” Kitsap County painting was inspired by a simple morning walk along the shoreline with my dog Laura when we lived in the Pacific Northwest. We lived on a small hillside overlooking Admiralty Inlet and the Olympic Mountains with the beach a mere half mile away. I’d taken several photos which I’d tucked away […]
A lovely small watercolour landscape using just 3 colours – prussian blue, permanent brown, yellow green. These created quite a great range of natural foliage greens, fiery reds, yellows – perfect for autumn colours. Limited Palette I usually try to use just 3 – 4 colours in my paintings, as this will help me […]
The Masters knew. Make every brush stroke count. Each should sing! It should be easy, painting a single brushstroke onto a canvas creating a mark that is luminous and clean, fresh and lively – not boring! Full of texture, color and of course, with a good tonal range. That doesn’t sound too difficult, but it is […]
Zen of Art. How to tame the Dragon called Perfectionism? In search of perfection. A tantalising empty promise. An Illusion. “How Good” does my art have to be, before I’m satisfied? When will I be content and not frustrated? What does it actually take? And hey! why should I bother thinking about this anyway?! […]