The Puffin - Completed

As promised...the finished Puffin painting. I did enjoy painting it....so to me it doesn't matter if someone tells me it won't sell. However, I would certainly like to prove them wrong in this case....

A special price is available for this painting until the end of February....$50.00 (plus shipping costs if applicable).

The painting is done on a 12" x 12" Gallery Style Canvas (it is 1.5" thick with the canvas wrapped around and painted so that framing is not necessary).

Favourite Holiday Photo Voting Ends Jan31

Just a reminder for you to vote for your favourite holiday photo from the post on January 3....to view that post, scroll down the page and on the right hand side you will see the "Blog Archive" area...click on "Holiday Images" and you will be brought to that post to see the 5 photos and then you can post your vote!

If for some reason you cannot post your vote to the blog, please send an e-mail to brenda@brendarowe.ca with your vote.

One lucky voter will win a print of their fav photo!

Voting closes January 31!!!

Friday Fun Fact - Photographs

Your own photography can provide inspiration for your paintings. Don't forget you can change elements in your photo to create a better composition for your painting.

Friday Fun Fact - Pre-Painting Studies

Completing a small sketch or painting or just practicing one specific element before you put brush to your canvas can aid you in developing your painting.

The Arches National Park, UTAH - Part 1

In 2008 we (I, my husband, my parents, and our 11-year old Shih Tzu Cuddles) embarked upon a 30-day 25 state/5 provinces driving tour. I think I can say with certainty that Utah, especially the Arches National Park, was the #1 memory of our entire trip for all of us, perhaps even Cuddles as a very nice vet saved her life in Utah.

The Arches has over 2000 arches and other spectacular rock formations within its boundaries. We enjoyed Utah and its numerous national parks, that we have all returned to Utah at different times since 2008 to explore more of its treasures. We are even planning to return again, hopefully sometime this year.

For those movie buffs, you may know that the Arches was the opening scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as well as Austin Powers 3. Other locations in Utah have also been the backdrop for numerous Hollywood movies, especially the old westerns.

One of my fav pix is found early in the 76,518 acres of the park...See the pix below....

The Three Gossips are to your left, followed by Sheep Rock and on the right are Tower of Babel and the Organ. All of which make up the Courthouse.

I decided in 2009 to paint the above pix. I've had the custom-made gallery canvas (30 inches x 70 inches) for many months in my living room....blank. Late last year, I put some colour on it. There is a fair amount of detail needed in the rock formations....the canvas is too large to stand on my easels so I have to paint it when it is flat on the kitchen table. This creates a challenge as you can't lean on the canvas, so it has been a challenge to paint comfortably. So progress stopped before the holidays and it is a challenge to get it back out as then we have no kitchen table to use!

I've decided I have to finish the Middle Cove painting before I get back to the Utah one....but I wanted to show you my progress to date....I've only gotten some of the shadows in on the right side of the canvas painted although I have drawn all the formations in with chaulk. Getting the scale right in order to get the formations drawn in was its own challenge as well!

Let me know what you think of it so far....I will be posting updates on this painting as I get to work on it some more. Stay tuned.....

Vote for your Fav Holiday Image

Just a reminder for you to vote for your favourite holiday photo from the post on January 3....to view that post, scroll down the page and on the right hand side you will see the "Blog Archive" area...click on "Holiday Images" and you will be brought to that post to see the 5 photos and then you can post your vote! One lucky voter will win a print of their fav photo!

Voting closes January 31!!!

2011 Goals

I've always had goals for my painting, I've just never put them down on paper. In order to hold myself more accountable for my goals, I have decided not only to write them down (which I did a couple of weeks ago very early in 2011) but to post them publicly. I intend on reviewing them at least quarterly to keep myself on track.

Another artist friend of mine has inspired me and encouraged me to complete this task.  We have similar goals, as one might expect from like-minded people.

In the last few years, I have focused on expanding my teaching with the City of St. John's, which has worked quite well. I have also embarked upon setting up my own studio space which is a major project to say the least. The "shed" as it is affectionately known, is still a work in progress but is functional for classes with heat and light. Grand opening will be scheduled for the Fall 2011....one of my goals listed below. My focus will now get back to what it originally was...the production, marketing and sale of my own artwork.

Most of my goals for 2011 can be subdivided into three main categories - learning activities, productivity, and visibility:

Learning Activities:

Increase my knowledge of various painting techniques and styles through courses online and/or participate in local workshops or classes.

Work on further expanding my existing classes and workshops offered to students.

Research local art groups/organizations to determine benefits of memberships and learning opportunities.

Complete the studio and hold grand opening in the Fall.

Productivity:

Create a defined body of work using a theme of my choice for the purpose of an art show. At least 8 major paintings should be produced for this endeavour.

Create at least one painting a month that is not part of the defined body of work or commissions.

Create more artwork that is focused on the market demands.

Visibility:

Increase my online presence through use of my website, facebook, blog, and venturing into sales online.

Increase my advertising for commissions using online advertising methods.

Creation of an artist's group who will be focused on increasing our visibility and also in sharing meaningful critiques and knowledge.

Participate in more public showcases.

Submit artwork to juried and non-juried art competitions in the Province and globally.

One goal doesn't fit exactly into either of the three categories above....create an artist's statement. I have actually already completed this task and is posted on my blog.

Some of the above goals have already been started. Since this is only the end of the second full week in 2011, I think I have made a great start.

I encourage my readers to keep me mindful of my goals and on the right track for 2011. If there are any goals you think I have missed, please let me know your thoughts!

Friday Fun Fact - Wet on Wet

Layers of paint colours are applied while all paint is still wet. Origins of wet-on-wet are in oil paints from the 15th century but this technique is easily adapted to acrylics.

Puffins

I was told once by an art promoter that Puffins won't sell....I have no idea if this is true, but thought it didn't really make sense as it was a prominent tourism symbol for our Province. Well, I started a paining of a puffin late last year and I'm going to finish it tonight since I now have a few hours free that I wasn't supposed to have.

SNOW....it finally arrived. And with it, I cancelled my first Artist's Choice class tonight. Which is why I have a few free hours that I didn't anticipate. I'm off this weekend, so I'm hoping to get a good dent into the Middle Cove painting as well.

So, do you think a Puffin painting would sell?

B

Before & After

Today has been a very productive painting day and it's not even over yet! The Puffin's grass is next and then that one will be complete as well!

Sometimes my students tell me they wish their painting was the same as mine....well, I have a rule about that....if I'm teaching a painting, theirs should not be like mine as it is their painting. They should interpret things a little differently and also be focusing on learning and practicing the techniques involved.

Practice is the key to almost everything and painting is no exception.

So I challenged myself to repaint the very first painting I ever did - a fruit still life. I completed this about 15 years ago I guess and was tickled pink with how it came out! Over the last many years, I've hidden it away as I thought it was very bad. Well, it's really not that bad, but I've improved based on many hours of practice.

So, I have finished my new version...I've changed up the composition a little, but not much...even that needed some improving! I'm going to try and remember to repaint it again in 15 years to see the progression. Hopefully there will be more improvements!

Let me know what you think!

Before

After

Feature Work Updated

I've just posted my first Featured Work....click on the "Featured Work" tab at the top of the page next to "Artist Statement" to check it out.

Just finished packing supplies for my first classes of the new year - Winter Scene at Wedgewood Park and Teddy Bear at Mews. Both full....looking forward to getting back to the teaching.

Now on to some more painting......this one is for my students in the Artist's Choice sessions....I've been threatening to show them the first painting I ever completed...a still life of fruit. I was so proud of it when I completed it, now I hide it away! So, I'm always preaching practice is the key, I decided to show them...so I'm re-painting the still life for comparison. Trying to get this one finished before Thursday's Artist's Choice class....which means all I have time to devote to it is today or Wednesday night...wish me luck!

How to Post a Comment on a Blog

Some people have been having trouble posting their vote of one of my five Holiday pix I have posted as a contest (see January 3 post)....so here are detailed instructions on how to post comments to a blog.....

To post (or in this case vote), please click on the "# comments" link at the bottom of the post you wish to comment on (next to "Posted by Painter Gal") and then put your comment in the "Post a Comment" box. Then change the dropdown box "Comment As" to "Anonymous" or "Name/URL". Make sure you include your name in your post if you use the Anonymous option! Then click the "Post Comment" box at the bottom. Voila! Your post should now go to me to approve. After I approve your post, it will show on my blog.

If you have any more trouble, please let me know!

Happy commenting and voting!!!

New Paintings

I have 3 paintings in progress so far this year....

One is WAY overdue and barely started (a commission of sorts) of Middle Cove during Capelin season,

One is for me - a large 30" x 50" gallery canvas of the opening scene in Indiana Jones Last Crusade and/or Austin Power's Goldmember in The Arches National Park - taken during our 30-day driving excursion in 2009 through 5 Provinces and 25 States with puppy,

and One is for hopefully selling - a monochromatic in yellow/gold tones of 3 lonely trees....

The plan is to at least finish the lonely trees tomorrow and start in on the Middle Cove piece. The Arches takes up the entire kitchen table to paint, so it's hard to get that one out and going for any length of time.

I'll post pix soon of these in progress....I think I'll post the monochromatic in the Featured Work section when it is completed....stay tuned!

Friday Fun Facts

I decided it would be fun to do some tips, tricks, techniques, or some sort of trivia fact each week...so I'm going to try for Fridays....we'll see how this goes....suggestions for topics are welcome! And they don't always have to be painting related!!! Month-long themes will work as well!

Washes and Glazes are our friends - Use these in your paintings to create more depth in an image, to change the colour or tone, or to blend colours together.

A wash is created using a large amount of water with a little bit of paint. A glaze is slightly more paint to water. It is always better to err on the side of caution and make your wash/glaze runnier than you think you need...it is easier to put another wash/glaze on top to create more colour than to remove it if it is too thick.

Holiday Images

I recently took some holiday themed photographs....please take a look and vote on your favourite. One lucky voter will receive a 5"x7" copy of their fav!

To vote, please click on the "# comments" link at the bottom of this post (next to "Posted by Painter Gal") and then put your vote in the "Post a Comment" box below by typing in the name of the photo you like the best. Then change the dropdown box "Comment As" to "Anonymous" or "Name/URL". Make sure you include your name in your post if you use the Anonymous option! Then click the "Post Comment" box at the bottom. Voila! Your post should now go to me to approve. After I approve your post, it will show on my blog!

Carollers

Lighting the Way

Holiday Spirit

Red Poinsettia

White Poinsettia

THANKS!
B

Well, I've finally done it.....

Some people have been after me to start a blog focusing on my artwork.....well, here goes!

Welcome!!!

I hope you will enjoy this blog and find it informative, and even mildly entertaining. If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to share.

Thanks for dropping by.

Keep those brushes dirty!
B