New work in progress - Bluejays

My new work in progress. A 16" x 20". I think the last of my bird series. (unless I get the urge to do a different bird) This is the base for the background.

Now I've added some background colour. Around here we see bluejays mainly in the winter in the pine or mountain ash trees.

I am not sure if you can make out the bluejays or not, but hey are there in rough form. They are going to be perched on a pine branch, with some mountain ash branches mixed in for colour.

reconstructed jeans - boho skirt

Here is a pic of the boho skirts I made my girls (and granddaughter) for Christmas. The theme was "favourite things". Complete with studs, rhinestones and transfers. It's a great way to recycle jeans that aren't quite right anymore. Granddaughter has already ordered more LOL

Storm's End. (Lightning, Summer, Lakes)

When does a yellow blob become a lightning storm? When I'm painting it :) Just a quick study of a work in progress today of the tail end of a lightning storm at dusk. This is a 16" x 20" stretched canvas painting that I have listed on Kijiji. You will find the listing here

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Memories

Posted with permission from photographer

Meteorite Shower over Saskatchewan - Alberta 2008 - Buzzard Coulee

On November 20 a meteorite crashed and burned near Lloydminster at the Saskatchewan/Alberta Border. Pieces were found near the Buzzard Coulee region in Saskatchewan. This is my idea of what it may have looked like near the oil fields at Lloyd. This is an 8" x 10" acrylic painting.

Meteorite at Buzzard Coulee, Sk - Northern Lights

I painted two new aceo (art card editions & originals) today. Both winter scenes, but the first one depicts a strange event that took place over Saskatchewan and Alberta November 20. A large meteorite burned through earth's atmosphere and was seen by both provinces. My daughter saw it and said the scene was spectacular!!! Pieces were found in and around a pond near the Buzzard Coulee region in Saskatchewan

So I named the first painting "Meteorite and Buzzard Coulee"

The bottom aceo is a winter night scene with Northern Lights shining down on a lone snowman.

Both are listed on Ebay here.

Members Choice Award at EBSQart for November

I'm thrilled. My "Allium and Goldfinch" won "members mention" at the EBSQart (click on EBSQart to see the show) Flower of the Month exhibition for November.

Redpolls - Work in Progress Day 3

Almost done. I've cleaned it up. Got rid of all the pencil lines. Added some snow. (Redpolls love snow)

Redpolls - Work in Progress Day 3

Added the main tree branch. Now all I need to is fine tune it. Maybe some fine lines on the birds, and some snow.

Redpolls - Work in Progress

The birds have made their first appearance. Sketched and then painted. A male and female. This is going to be a very minimal painting. Just the birds and a few branches.
Note: This is an 11" x 14" acrylic on canvas board.

About Redpolls:
Redpolls migrate south in winter to Southern parts of Canada and sometimes Northern parts of the US. They show up in Southern Saskatchewan in the winter mainly looking for a supply of food. Some years we have quite a few in the winter and others years hardly any at all. It all depends on conditions further North. They leave here in February. They are very aggresive and usually take over my birdfeeders with only the fearless chickadees willing to take them on.

Redpolls - Acrylic Painting Work in Progress

Can you see the Redpolls? Of course you can't....I haven't painted them yet! LOL. Today I just worked on the background. Winter colours. It would be bleak if it wasn't for the touch of red here and there to warm it up a little.

Coming Soon - Work in Progress

coming soon........Redpolls

Wordless Wedenesday -Memories of Summer - Raindrops

Posted with permission from the photographer - Erica Briere

Waxwings in the Chokecherries. - Acrylic Painting

I think this is done. Or at least as done as it's ever going to be. I added some small details on the feathers etc, but you can't really see them here. Painted the sides black so it doesn't have to be framed. I debated about bugs, spiderwebs etc but I like to keep things simple so left them.

Now to decide if I am "birded" out or if I would like to do some other kind yet. Thanks for looking. Want to learn more about these or have questions, please click on the "contact me" on the page.

Waxwings - Day 3 Work in Progress

I spent part of the afternoon painting leaves. It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. And I even remembered to paint some feet on the poor waxwing. Now I just need to detail it, clean it up a bit and paint the edge black (which I did on the last one and darn near wrecked it) And then decide what the heck to do with it LOL

Summer Memories - Wordless Wednesday

posted with permission from Photographer Erica Briere

waxwings - day 2 continued

Chokecherries are starting to show up. They are sporadic because the birds have been eating them. Not the big clumps of berries you see when they first appear. How can you tell I hate painting leaves? I will do them last. (maybe I'll just pretend it's fall and they are all gone!)

Waxwings - Day 2 Work in Progress

Started adding details today. Tree branches and the little stems for the chokecherries. Oh yes....just about forgot.....I added another waxwing too!!! These will have to have more details yet, but that will have to wait until I see how the berries and leaves fit in. The waxwings come back here usually in early March. Sometimes earlier is the weather is warmer and berries from the previous summer are still hanging on the trees. They nest in my hedge and the babies are little replicas of their parents except they are chubby little things.

Element paintings - lightning storms and Northern lights

I managed to get 4 aceo's (art card and editions) 2.5" x 3.5"painted and listed today. All are element paintings of some sort. The lightning ones are kind of what our lake looks like during a storm at night. You can see the lights across the lake. The Northern lights haven't been very pronouced for awhile now. Hopefully they will come out soon. (probably has to get colder and I'm not prepared to wish for that!) Probably not the best week to list, with the American Thanksgiving and people being away, but I listed them anyway. You will find them on Ebay here

Waxwings - Work in progress

See.....I told you there was a waxwing there. First to sketch it onto the canvas, then I painted one. More detail will have to follow of course, but you can see the basic idea. It will be waxwings in a chokecherry tree when it is done (I hope) or if it's a total disaster, "turkey in the straw" lol This is again, a bigger painting. 16" X 20"

That's all for today, because I have to list some aceo's.

Waxwing Painting - Work in Progress

Ok, ok....I am going to have a hard time convincing you that this is the start of a painting of waxwings......but it is. I am just laying out the background this morning. I will fill in tree details later, but first I want to get a general shape and colour. Next I will place the birds and branches in. Check back later.

Wax Wings

I can't seem to paint these days. I think about it, but I don't find the time. Too many other things keep getting in the way :)

I'm going to try to paint WaxWings this week. And with any luck at all, I might be able to get a couple of aceo's done as well. Come back in a couple of days and see if I've managed anything.

I was blog-tagged!

I was blog-tagged!! By the fine artist Shari Dunn (Just click on her name)I have to tell 6 quirky, boring things about myself and then tag 6 more people. think i’ll have a go at this…
Ok….here we go…

1. I love to paint
2. I have 7 grandchildren who I adore!!!
3. I love all things to do with nature!
4. I love my bird feeders :)
5. I love gardening, and can't wait until we landscape....again
6. I love finding and trying out different recipes.

I am tagging Lynn, mousewords, mazoomzee, blueyedduck, redmommycrafts, and craftysue Some from Ebay or Etsy, or other websites :)
Just click on their names to see their art/blogs.

People dancing

Here is a link to a video of people all over the earth who share a common bond. It's a whimsical journey and sure to put a smile on your face.

World Dance

Allium & Goldfinch - Day 2 Work in Progress

I painted more of this today. Painted the Goldfinch and finished the flowers. I painted something similar a few years ago, but on a cement patio stone. This is slightly bigger.

I still have to add some shadowing and paint the edge of the painting black. I also have to remember to erase all the pencil lines and sign.

Painting Goldfinch & Allium - Work in Progress

This is a 16" x 20" (note: Huge painting for me) of (hopefully) an American Goldfinch and Allium sphaerocephalon. Allium is the Flower of the Month exhibition at EBSQart so this is why I've chosen this particular flower.

I started with a blending of 3 colours for the background. Looks like a blotchy mess doesn't it? I then started painting the flowers. Buds really. They haven't really started blooming yet.

You can see where I've sketched the birds onto the flowers. I painted the black on the male just so I could get an idea of where they are situated and if the size was correct. I'll be painting more over the next few days. I should really hurry up if I want it in the November show.

Inukshuk - Northern Lights paintings

Two new aceo's (2.5" x 3.5") tonight. I'm starting to think winter, so lots of Northern Lights now. These are both listed on Ebay here

Storm Reflection - finished - Sold before listing

Added just a few details today. Some weeds in the foreground. Ripples in the water and made the light reflections more intense. It's finished.

Prairie Reflection - Work In Progress

See......not an upside down painting. It's a water reflection. A dying scene here in Saskatchewan as most old elevators are being torn down. This is a 8 x 10" acrylic. Unframed, signed on the back. It isn't listed as of yet. (I have to decide what I want to do with it.

Prairie Painting - Work in Progress

Did I make a mistake and post this painting upside down? Check back later and see if I did or not. 8 x 10" acrylic work in progress. The end result should be posted here some time today.

Painting of Lightning - Work in Progress

This is a painting that I started for the November Group challenge "The Sea". I tried two times to come up with a decent painting of the movement of the sea etc from the reference photos. It just didn't work today. So I painted over them and did what I like best. Still has water, but it's calm. The "Calm before the Storm". I am not finished this one. It needs little details here and there. Not sure what I'll do with this one when I'm finished. It's larger than what I usually paint. An 8 x 10 acrylic.

Horse - Equine Painting (aceo - miniature)

I'm still painting "eyes". These are two new horse eye paintings. I used stock reference photos for both. (I don't know any horses personally) As usual ACEO size (2.5" X 3.5") unframed and not matted. I listed these tonight on Ebay here I saw some interesting elephan eyes that I might try next week if I find some time. I'm still trying to catch up on Theme week and challenges in groups.

Love Now
The New Religion of the 21st Century
On the surface of the world right now there is war and violence and things seem dark
But calmly and quietly, at the same time, something else is happening underground
An inner revolution is taking place and certain individuals
are being called to a higher light
It is a silent revolution
From the inside out
From the ground up
It is time for me to reveal myself
I am an embedded agent of a secret, undercover
Clandestine Global operation
A spiritual conspiracy
We have sleeper cells in every nation on the planet
You won't see us on the T.V.
You won't read about us in the newspaper
You won't hear about us on the radio
We don't seek any glory
We don't wear any uniform
We come in all shapes and sizes
Colors and styles
Most of us work anonymously
We are quietly working behind the scenes in every country
and culture of the world
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys, in farms and villages,
tribes and remote islands
You could pass by one of us on the street and not even notice
We go undercover
We remain behind the scenes
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done
Occasionally we spot each other in the street
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way so no one will notice
During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront, at night is where the real work takes place
Some call us the 'Conscious Army'
We are slowly creating a new world with the power of our minds and hearts
We follow, with passion and joy
Our orders from the Central Command
The Spiritual Intelligence Agency
We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking
Poems
Hugs
Music
Photography
Movies
Kind words
Smiles
Meditation and prayer
Dance
Social activism
Websites
Blogs
Random acts of kindness
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways
with our own unique gifts and talents
'Be the change you want to see in the world'
That is the motto that fills our hearts
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place
We know that quietly and humbly we have the power
of all the oceans combined
Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates shall be moved in the centuries to come
Love is the new religion of the 21st century
You don't have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it
It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings
Be the change you want to see in the world
Nobody else can do it for you
We are now recruiting
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have....
All are welcome...
The door is open

Brian Piergrossi
(From the book 'The Big Glow')

Tall Ship - Storm at Sea - miniature painting

Continuing my series of paintings of Tall Ships, I painted this one today from a different perspective. Caught in a monsterous swell, the ship is tossed around like a toy. ACEO sized (2.5" x 3.5") it is done with acrylics. Signed and dated on the back. I have listed it here on Ebay

Limited Edition Prints.

I'm going to start offering limited edition prints of various art pieces. Small editions of no more than 18. This is one of the first ones. I painted this last year when I took part in Art for 1000 Wells. The original is a 4" x 6" acrylic. I wanted to paint something that showed the hardship, but the quiet dignity of the day to day chore of trying to collect clean water. The first of this limited edition print is listed here

Autumn Sunset - acrylic painting aceo

I painted this one this morning. Although it is sold unframed, I decided to show how it would look if it was framed and matted. Even the tiniest paintings can look great framed and shown in a grouping. This one is listed here on Ebay

Or you can see all my listings under Southshoreartist

Pirate Ship - Tall Ship Painting Commission

I thought I would post this stormy scene. A private commission. ACEO size (2.5" x 3.5) A Pirate ship in a stormy sea.