Leighton Centre View

This is another sketch begun June 14th at the Leighton Centre and finished today from a photo. The Leighton Centre is a fascinating place to visit. Please feel free to check out the hours for visiting for the Museum and Gallery on this link: http://www.leightoncentre.org/index.html

I enjoy each visit to the Leighton and I'll certainly be back there to paint again. Jun 14th was an interesting day of weather transition from west to unsettled... unsure.... and then sunny, sunny sunny!!! Our entire group was excited about the sunshine and the blessing of being outdoors on such a day.

Blessings to you all... Cheryl

Jackamanii and mosquitoes

My daughter Candice & her little ones have been here visiting since Monday. Today they left for Saskatchewan to visit their memere and the entire Orieux clan - the first reunion weekend for Candi in 3 years. So, since their departure at 5:45 this evening I have been resting, reading and... I have done this quick sketch of my blooming Jackamanii clematis. When I say quick l mean it -the mosquitoes are horrible despite sitting in the smoke of a citronella candle. Wow! l definitely had no time to fiddle with this little painting. There are a few jerky pen lines caused by swatting while drawing... next time I'll spray before I venture out. This is my first clematis and it has lovely huge flowers which are really quite impressive! How does your garden grow?

Wishing all my fellow Canadians a happy Canada Day long weekend!

stuck on tulips...

The 1st painting (9.5"x6.5") began well and finished poorly in my opinion... I like a couple of the tulips shapes but I had some real issues with the background becoming way too dark. In the end I gessoed over it and lightened it up quite a bit... but there it is... I believe it is time to move on to other subjects although I'm really enjoying painting florals.

Second image is a 4x6" from my sketchbook. I liked the composition and I will try it on a larger format at some point...

The 3rd painting (10 1/4" x 10/1/4") is one I began several months ago that I thought needed some more work. I lifted quite a bit of the heavier red color out as well as taking back a few whites by scrubbing and, in one area, I added a bit of white paint too. I think I'm done now... Kim likes it as is and she's worried I'll wreck it - lol.

Candice and her two girls arrive in about an hour so I'll be on Grandma duty through July 7th and I'm not sure how much time I'll have for painting... so, I'll blog when I can.... ttyl.

Saturday Afternoon Art See

Size appox 10x8 (excluding mat) ...
I painted this yesterday from a photo taken last Saturday afternoon at the Leighton Centre. The backlighting was challenging but I love the photo that this is based on. I could see the artwork hanging just inside the door and it was beckoning me to come have a look. This one REQUIRES a dark mat... IMHO. It is sunny and warm here (Calgary) today-l hope you are enjoying your Friday! God Bless! Cheryl

Excelsior Creek near Jasper

Okay... I'm cheating today and posting a painting I did early this year. This one is approximately 15 1/2" x 11 1/2". If you get a chance to hike in to this creek this summer, take it. The stroll in was easy even for me... altho I do use a walking stick these days. The colors in the moss banks are incredible. This was September so I imagine the creek is running high right now and would have a completely different, gorgeous look to it.

Have a great day!

Lennard Island Lightstation

I snapped a photo of this view of Lennard Island Lightstation when Kim and I visited there in March of 2006. We were out on the "west coast of the west coast" whale watching this particular day. I admit that I messed with the sky color... and I'll even admit that there is too much sky for proper composition but for now this is how it looks. I loved the Canadian flag proudly waving....

I found a great little poem penned by Donna Phillips Roberts when she was asked by RR Wolf, the editor of the Splash series "Why do you paint?"...

I paint to share that part of me that marvels
at mountain lilies
drenched by morning yellow light

I paint to share that part of me that gasps
at giant cedars
glittered by filtered lace-like light

I paint to share that part of me that sings
at pristine waters
shimmered turquoise by skies reflected light

I paint to share that part of me that jubilates
at jumping trout
jeweled, gilded gold by day's late light

I paint to shre that part of me that awes
at earth abundant
filled with feeling, pure delight

Have a wonderful day friends!!

Beautiful Leighton Centre!

I spent part of Saturday practising a new sketch technique out at the Leighton Centre... a wonderful art centre southwest of Calgary where I live. Although the weather was gloomy to begin with, we were blessed with several hours of sunshine. These two sketches were completed there yesterday. They are each 4" x 6".

I hope you are enjoying a nice Father's Day!

Cheryl

Manitou Springs sketches

This was my first opportunity to grab my sketch book and paints and make a dash for a painting session. I thoroughly enjoyed the painting process - all of these sketches were fast - I was running out of light. The first picture is a quick 5x7 sketch done quickly in my sketch book with a sharpie marker and my mini palate of colors. I was attracted by the lovely door and the solid rock structure - true colorado!. I will need to spend some time to do a painting of this door - I find painting doors very engaging.

In the garden just below where I sat to sketch the door of the church there was a single, lovely, Iris. She had a yellow border on the petals and the center of the flower was entirely white. I was amazed at this lovely flower... I sketched it in my 5x7 book and I threw in a few more to keep it company....

Paintings from Grandma daze... I mean days

Sigh... I may well have left the "daze" in the title of this post. If I hadn't committed to myself to paint daily and post I'd be copping out right now.

For the record - I am balancing looking after myself (ie... sleeping enough to avoid crashing), painting daily (at least a bit), and spending some quality time with my daughter and Kiera and Kalista. Needless to say, I am getting a bit of all of those things accomplished. There are many things to do, many decisions as to which toys to move to Japan and which to sell ---- NOT THE FUN CONVERSATIONS....

Here are the paintings that have come out of this uptight environment. Loosening up a bit would help I realize... Also, when I get a little time to paint I just draw and paint. Spending some more time in the planning phase would be a great thing to do.... I'll get right on that when I arrive back in Calgary on Thursday.

We do have some art prepared by Kiera for her daddy Doug. She'll be spending Father's Day with Grandpa so we are sending some to him on Grandma's blog tomorrow.....