Where it’s at with the fishes…

I’ve wrestled a few short painting sessions from the clutches of December and this is where the painting is currently at… 

Although this month has been much less intense than the past 3, I’m still finding lots of ways to keep myself busy!  The progress since my last posting on December 9 has been pretty slow.  I’m trying to build the fish up with incremental layers of translucent and transparent glazes to get the appearance of the roiling mass of Koi.  The various colors of the fish and how they appear both above and below the water means much studying of the photos and digging back through my memories from when I took them.  I enjoy this process, but it is extremely slow – I hope you’re not getting bored with this.  One more post and I’ll wrap these guys up…  I promise!

Defining the fish with areas of dark…

Finding more shapes… with translucent glazes.

Continuing Koi

Here’s how I spent my hour painting today…

First I printed one of my photos of Koi ponds from our visit to Hakone.  I used that to better inform the previous vague fish shapes and to make decisions about the value pattern that is developing.

Then I painted negatively around these shapes using thalo turquoise and transparent red Iron oxide.  I also painted into a few of the fishes with tinted white…  using the same two colors but adding some indian yellow for the fish bodies.  I’m enjoying this painting.  It’s the type of painting that can be done in small increments which is just what I need right now. 

Still lots to do on this painting but we’re off to look after grandson Parker [21 months] for the evening so his folks [daughter Kim and SIL Kyle] can take in a Christmas Party.  Should be fun!

Chaos in acrylic – 22”x30”

I’ve been enjoying some short sessions painting from chaos this week.  Here’s what this acrylic on 300 lb watercolor paper looks right now…   

I began with some light washes of orange and blue.  Once dry I wet the paper and dumped a layer of yellow and two reds.  While still wet I used some texturing tools and a brayer to lift some areas.  This made some subtle checkered and leafy textured places.  Some areas were still quite wet and I patted down a garbage bag and left it sit overnight.  Today I pondered the results and it is giving me a feeling of Koi fishes…  I saw plenty of those in Japan and have loads of photos to help me out.  Before I commit to making this about fish, I thought I would add a few general fish shapes.  I made most of the edges soft because I want lots of options tomorrow.

Cheers!

Toku for Matsushima [9”x12”, oil]

On November 3rd, we left Tokyo to spend a few days at “Tak”, a much loved haunt for Candice and Doug’s family.  Tak is a cluster of a few dozen vacation cabins on the south side of Matsushima Bay, Myagi Prefecture… just a bit north of Sendai.  I would have loved to see this area before the Tsunami!  It is hauntingly beautiful, and has a special place in the hearts of many Japanese people. 

When the tsunami hit March 11, these hundreds [~260] of small islands absorbed most of the damaging power of the waves and thus spared many of the treasures in the shrines and museums in town, not to mention the the threat of injury and death for the residents.  I know nothing of Kanji personally but I googled the Kanji symbol for shelter and found Toku.  This little painting is all about that protection and shelter so I added the Kanji.

I have very fond memories of the time we spent in the north.  We enjoyed spending time with the kids and playing the tourist.  We walked on the beach with the kids and listened to their stories and thoughts from March 11.  I’m so glad the kids weren’t at the cottage then!  The tsunami warning system did its job and saved thousand of lives – very few lives were lost in Shichigahama where we stayed, despite the horrific property damage.  The area called “Tak”, where Candice and Doug have their little cottage, is perched high up on the hill overlooking the ocean.  Only two cottages sustained damage – Candice and Doug’s foundation required major repair and their neighbour had water in the basement.  They got off very, very lightly. 

It was hard to grasp the horror of the tsunami when looking out to sea on those gorgeous November days.  But, when one turned away from the sea there was a surreal, flattened landscape of bare concrete foundations as far as the eye can see.  The trees at the beach are bent and twisted but most will survive…  much like the people of this area who are rebuilding their lives as best they can.  Stoically, steadily, slowly.  I’d like to help in some way. 

Here are a few photos we took in Myagi prefecture:

 

Walkabout to introduce Grandma and Grandpa to the area

Living on the old foundation!

Beach view from the Tak cliff

 

Beach view from cottage deck – note the damaged Tsunami warning siren just below the trees.  The water rose to the base of these trees.

 

Cottage and the shed that floated 15 feet from it’s previous home.

Kiera and Kalista hunting for treasures near the beach

22 huge bags of debris awaiting pickup for recycle and garbage

Matsushima Bay – cruise boat and oyster farm

City Rain [9”x12”, oil]

I’ve been home from Japan now for just about 2 weeks.  I’ve had no previous experience with jet lag and I must say…  I’m not a fan!!!  I also brought home a lovely cough so I’ve spent this past week lazing around in the house recovering.  I’m finally back to painting and I’ve got lots of ideas and material to paint from – so exciting!

One of the spectacular sights we visited in Tokyo was Shibuya crossing.  Unbelievable numbers of people crossing each light – even in the rain!  This painting is roughly based on my memories and photos from our night there.  Cheers!

Maui Big [oil, 8”x10”]

This fall I’ve got a busy agenda of travel and visits.  First up was Maui for a week with the ladies of my family.  We had a wonderful time and I enjoyed snorkeling every day but the last.  During this trip, I spent a lazy afternoon on Big Beach just south of Makena.  I’d hoped to snorkel for one last time but the red flags were up due to shore break.  So, we just soaked up the sun on the beach.  About 20 minutes of that is plenty for me.  So I took off for a little beach walk and decided to climb the rocks between Big Beach and “little beach”.  I was rewarded with this view back down the south shore of Maui – gorgeous!  It was SO worth the climb!

This painting was a struggle technically.  First of all, I’m not really painting what I’m most familiar with – I’m a landlubber.  Secondly, the people are essential to the perspective and I struggled with them, scraping them off twice.  Thirdly, my paint spent 2 weeks in the freezer between paintings and although it was fresh enough, I fought to get to the fresh paint under the skins…  just a learning curve thing for me.  Today I scraped my plein air box and set up a larger palette that completely seals.  That will help combat the skinning issue. 

Kristian, my 11 year old grandson, is here from Ontario for a 2 week visit.  We’re having lots of fun.  Grandpa has had a few days off of work so he’s taken him on several outings.  I’ve set up an area for him in my painting room and we’ve been puttering in there together.  He loves to draw and paint…  I think this science fiction looking guy is so fun!  He’ll be heading home October 24th.  The falling day I fly to Tokyo to spend some time with my daughter Candice and her family.  I’m excited to meet Kole, the newest little member of the Potter family.  Cheers!

Baker from Bowness [oil, 9”x12”]

What beautiful weather we are having right now in Calgary!  It’s perfect for plein air painting.  This is the view from Bowness Park looking across the Bow River towards Baker Park.  The light was amazing – it illuminated the tips of the yellow trees and cast beautiful shadows across the ground.  It’s kind of weird that I stood right beside the Bow River yet and it doesn’t show up in the painting but this is the scene that captured my imagination.  Enjoy!

‘Wing Me [oil, 6”x6”]

I painted this from a photo of Kai [my 2 year old grandson] from this summer…  swinging.  He loves swinging.  At Moose Lake family camp this summer he was either swinging or begging, “wing me, wing me, wing me” until mommy was way past done with it, haha.  It was fairly entertaining for Grandma but less so for Candice at 7 months pregnant.  Ah, the life of a Grandma – SO much fun!

Sunshine Waterfall [oil, 12”x12”]

It’s a beautiful day here in Calgary, but I didn’t feel up to the preparation and carting that painting on location requires.  I opted to paint indoors and went just a little bit larger canvas than I use outside.  It was fun to have the space to use slightly larger brushes.

I used a photo reference in black and white taken at the Sunshine Meadows paint-out 3 years ago.  It was miserable up on the meadow that June day – we had all kinds of active weather including sleet, tiny hail bits, rain, and lots of wind.  When I’d had enough of that and my fingers were too stiff to paint, I gathered my gear and retreated to the cafeteria to visit with my painting buddies.  This little waterfall is immediately behind the cafeteria/lift building and we took lots of photos of it once we were warmed up.  I changed the lighting to make it more dramatic and painted it on a red ground which gives this cold subject a warmer feel.  Cheers!

Busy Art day…

Me with Rudiger Ranch before the opening…

Today was a fun art day.  I was up early [lousy bed, another story] putting the final touches on the framing for my paintings.  I had a circuit of errands to run before dropping my painting off for the hanging committee at 2:30. 

We had to be back to the special evening wine and cheese for artists & sponsors by 6pm.  After mixing and visiting while we went through the show, we got to the exciting part.  Scholarships were presented to students from the U of A and U of C.  Ron and I spoke with the young lady that won from the U of A and her parents…  they were VERY excited and it’s nice to think that our group can provide these special $1,000 scholarships to these young people for their education.

Most FCA shows have prizes for the bride [1st] and bridesmaids [2nd & 3rd] and “flower girls” [honorable mentions] and are selected by the jury at our Canadian office in Vancouver.  Generally they are hung with the paintings and artists find out they’ve won a prize when they see the ribbon or somebody congratulates them.  Since this was the 30th Anniversary of the Calgary Chapter, prizes were presented during the program.  I was fortunate to receive an honorable mention [yay for flower girls!] for my painting “Rudiger Ranch” and gift certificates from both Art Supplies Direct and Atlantis Fine Framing Studio [thank you!].  Prizes are NOT why I paint but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this type of recognition is pretty exciting for me!  It’s nice to know that jurors see something of value in my work.  It’s all part of the package…  and it’s fun.  Okay, enough tooting my own horn.  Have a great weekend!