bringing season's greetings - i'll be missing in action

to my faithful blog followers...i won't be submitting to my blog very often for the next 8 weeks or so. i fell on the ice and shattered my shoulder. needless to say, i won't be painting for a bit. so i am taking this time to wish you and yours a very merry christmas and all the best in the new year! (no caps and typed all one handed lol) see you in a few weeks

ACEO painting Christmas Westie Scotty Dog

Christmas Surprise 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic painting

Usually by this time of year I have painted and listed several Christmas themed paintings. This is my one and only Christmas painting this year. I don't think I will get to any more holiday themed ones. I just ran out of time! I don't usually paint animals and I never paint dogs, but for some reason I thought I would give this little black Westie a go. I think it's because if we ever got another dog I might consider one of these. As usual you will find the painting listed here on Ebay

moonlight - aceo acrylic

Moonlight.....2.5" x 3.5" Just fooling around with paint this afternoon. Experimenting with the use of light. This is just tree tops in the moonlight. It doesn't photograph well. Any bump in the dark paint shows up as a bright fleck. So that's how I spend part of this snowy cold afternoon. Painting nothing in particular....

Stormy Sea - Lighthouse - aceo acrylic

Sailor's Warning - 3.5" x 2.5" acrylic

I was going to paint a snow scene....Started painting the sky and all of a sudden this painting appeared. I have no idea what became of the scene I planned to do other than...I can't retain a thought LOL Anyway, it's been a stormy week. Lot's of stuff happening, and I think it manifested itself in my painting. This one has lots of turbulence and colours showing up.
It has been listed on Ebay here

Fall Chickadees - Acrylic Painting - Finished

Fall Chickadees - 10" x 8" acrylic painting
added yellows, greays and some whites. Shadowed, filled and brushed and I think I'm finished.

Extended the colours to the sides so framing is optional

Close up of "my little chickadees" Now to decide what venue to list them on.

Fall Chickadees - Work in Progress

Adding the birds now. These look like "ghost" chickadees. They started out the size of pterodactyls but I think I have them about right now.

Looking more like chickadees now. I have to give them all their colours though and make them look a little more alive.

Fall chickadees - Work in Progress

I am finally working on this piece again. This morning I added some leaves in the foreground. Not too many....I decided I don't like painting leaves.

I have sketched in 3 chickadees....I had two...but didn't like the balance. I'm not sure if you can see them here or not. I like chickadees...if you call to them they will "always" answer you back :)

Work in Progress.....Chickadees - Autumn

It's been awhile since I posted a work in progress. I love WIP's because it's fun to watch the painting unfold. I can look back and see the progression for myself :) This will be a 8 x 10 autumn scene featuring chickadees....It starts with a crisp blue fall sky ...

Some background colours....lots of yellows and greens (must do this from memory..all of our leaves are long gone)

Added some blurry leaves of a maple tree. I am going to bring one branch into focus and that's where the chickadees will perch (hopefully)

Blogger's code of ethics....a must read

I think that she nailed the blogger's code of ethics perfectly......a must read if you are blogging or intend to blog.

Go see at "Confessions of a Cookbook Queen" Bloggers Code of Ethics!

Snow Storm Northern Lights ACEO

Angel's Night - 2.5" x 3.5" Acrylic

Day 2 of the first winter storm has brought my lightning painting to a halt and has me painting winter scenes LOL. I did these two little ditty's this morning :)

Winter Night - 2.5" x 3.5" - acrylic

You can find both of these paintings listed on Ebay here

autumn sunrise aceo acrylic painting

Autumn Sunrise 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

We are in the middle of the season's first winter storm. Snow, wind (lots of wind) slush, ice....hate it! So after searching through storage, I found our winter clothes (that we put in storage while we build our house) Then managed to get one painting done today. I was going to paint snow, but decided it was too early to paint winter scenes :)...supposed to warm up by the weekend!

storm's end - horse - sunset painting

Storm's End - 16" x 24" acrylic

I started this painting about a year ago. It's larger than what I usually paint. For whatever reason, I set it aside unfinished. I found it in a box the other day and hung it up to observe for for a few days. I tweaked it here and I tweaked it there and decided it is finally finished. I kept the details of the horse deliberately vague because I think of it as more of a phantom than anything else. Now to decide what to do with it :)

Northern Lights, Night Rider, acrylic painting

Night Ride - 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic painting

I didn't think I would get this finished tonight. I haven't painted Northern Lights in ages. The summer was so cloudy we never got a chance to see any. I am not sure the fall will be much better. Yet in the fall, when colour and senses seem so much more intense the lights are even greater if you get to see them. What a perfect way to watch them. A night ride!!!

This aceo is listed on Ebay here

Horse and Rider ACEO - acrylic painting

Homeward Bound - 2.5 x 3.5 acrylic painting

I didn't think I'd get this one finished this week. Too much going on. I decided to finish it up tonight while my husband was watching a football game. This one has lots of clouds forming, but no storm yet. Just a nice pink sunset and lots of space. You will find this painting listed on Ebay here

Fury - Storm painting ACEO Cowboy art

Fury - 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic painting

Another nice week here in sunny Saskatchewan, although it seems that the temperatures have turned a little cooler. Normal in fact for fall. I still am painting storms and I am still on my Western kick (cowboys, horses etc) Snow will return soon enough and then I will move on to Northern Lights! I have listed this painting on Ebay. You will find the listing here.

Clouds, storms, lightning...acrylic paintings

Storm Rider - 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic painting
Is it real or fantasy. A rider seems to emerge right out of the storm......

Storm Watcher 3.5" x 2.5" Acrylic Painting
A lone rider watches the horizon as a storm forms.

Even though it's fall and I seem to paint "in season", the warm weather still has me thinking of summer storms. I love thunder storms. I just don't like the quick destruction they can some times do. The season for thunder storms is over for another year. Next......blizzards!!!!!

Aaaaaack!!! I forgot to include the link to the listings where they are for sale. Click Here

The Art of Food - or what we had for Sunday supper :)

Pork Ribs with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction Glaze.

Shari of Sharilynn Studios mentioned
today that she was having pork tenderloin with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction sauce for dinner. This set of a whole flurry of fellow artists (artists gone wild) having some sort of "reduction" for Sunday dinner. I decided on Ribs with the Strawberry Balsamic Reduction to glaze the ribs. Start off with ribs, strawberries, honey and vinegar (recipe below) Start basting the ribs when they are about 1/2 way cooked.

Then you have to have the right seasonings. I seasoned the ribs as they were slow cooking. Garlic cloves, thyme and rosemary to taste. I also used freshly ground pepper and sea salt.

The end result. Strawberry Balsamic Reduction Ribs and on the side....tossed greens with pear and blue cheese dressing

Recipe for Strawberry Balsamic Reduction Sauce:

1 cup diced strawberries

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup honey

Place diced strawberries in a small sauce pan. Add vinegar and water. Bring to a boil and reduce by 1/2. Add honey and reduce by 1/2 again. When the ribs are about 1/2 way cooked drain off any liquid. Start basting the ribs and continue to cook until done.

I made a very large slow cooker of ribs so I doubled the strawberry recipe.

Pileated Woodpecker - Work in Progress - Finished

The woodpecker has appeared. He shows up quite well in front of the fall colours. My husband and I were discussing today where it was we had seen these guys. Our conclusion is it must have been at Greenwater Park about 3 1/2 hours from here. They aren't normally around the beach here.

Finished! 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic "Woodpecker"

Here is he sits on his perch among the what's left of the chokecherries. I'll be listing him later.

Pileated Woodpecker- acrylic painting - Work in progress -

What is this blob on the canvas you ask? Why it's a pileated woodpecker of course! Actually it's the background to a 2.5" x 3.5" (aceo size) painting I've started this morning. We'll see if the bird emerges.

honorable mention - miniature art exhibition

Magical Meadows. 3.5" x 2.5" acrylic

I sent 5 paintings to the Oceanside Community Arts Council miniature art exhibition "Small in Nature" on Vancouver Island and was lucky enough to be juried in. I was thrilled this passed week to find out that this piece received Honorable Mention.

Egret - Acrylic - Work in Progress - Finished

Quiet Reflection - 5 x 7" acrylic
I finished the egret this morning. Egrets seem much more stately than herons. I think it's their plumage. Now that I've done the 5 x 7 I think I will tackle this smaller...

Egret - Acrylic painting - Work in Progress

Egret 5" x 7"

The egret is taking shape. I painted all the blue undercoating and have started on the "dark" shade of white. Care must be taken to try and exact the plumage in the reflection **note I said try***

egret - acrylic paintings

Egret - Work in Progress. This is a 5 x 7 acrylic I am working on. A very dark background (deep in the woods) and absolutely still water. I've just sketched in the egret and reflection

This is a 2.5" x 3.5" egret in full mating feathers. I am fascinated by the male plumage during mating season. I wasn't aware of the beauty of these birds until a fellow artist brought it to my attention. Thanks Patricia...you are always such a source of inspiration.

The Accessable World

Here is a new blog that is near and dear to me. Written by someone who will remain anonymous this is a blog about the trials of wheelchair accessability every day
for her 12 year old son. It will give you something to think about on your day to day travels. Please take the time to read and become a follower on her blog. Thanks

The Accessable World

Sunflower dinner

All of the songbirds are gone from here, including the American Goldfinch. They being smart birds have headed south for the winter. Smart because they are getting away from all the rain we are having here. They stick around just long enough for the sunflowers to seed, gorge themselves on the seeds and delicate petals and then they are gone until next spring.

3.5" x 2.5" acrylic listed on Ebay here

Living Sky - aceo

Living Sky - Acrylic - Miniature 3.5" x 2.5"

Saskatchewan's Motto is "Land of Living Sky". The weather has always played great importance here where I live. I love the changing sky. You will find this miniature listed on Ebay here

August one word concept "Jagged" exhibition results

won "Patrons Choice" for this miniature. :)

The Rider - Graphite Pencil Sketch aceo "Cowboy Art"

The Rider.......2.5" x 3.5" graphite pencil

It seems like forever since I actually sat down and did something to list. I did manage to get my paintings ready for the show at Parkside, but haven't really done anything else for awhile. Fall is in the air and I am trying to settle down and get some pieces done.

This is a quick drawing I did this afternoon, just to get the creative juices flowing again (I hope)
You will find it listed on Ebay here

Exhibition for miniature size art.....

You can't tell in this photo hardly but these are 4 of my paintings I sent to this show at Oceanview Community Art Center in Parksville BC (on Vancouver Island) The show is on right now until the end of the month.

Anyway, I'm thrilled that even as small as this photo is, .....they are my paintings :)

click on this....Small in Nature - Miniature Art Exhibition

Happy Anniversary to Adreinne's Blog To see her really cool art blog go here

Member's Mention for EBSQart's July themed show "Rodeo". I couldn't be more thrilled :) You can see it here

Egret - Work in Progress

I needed some relaxation time today, so worked on the Egret for about an hour. I changed the reflection to a softer one and think that I can live with this one. The scene is supposed to be serene and peaceful, so I wanted something soft. I also added some rocks and a small waterfall at the back just for some interest.

Egret - Work in progress

Ever have one of those days? I'm having one. After not working on the painting for a few days I decided to work on the reflection. The result? I have paintied over it twice! I have decided to put it away for the day before I throw it across the room. Some days you just have to know when to walk away. I won't be able to work on it again for a few days, but maybe by then I'll be able to figure out what it is I'm trying to do.

Egret - Work in Progress

I worked on the bird itself for a bit today. I drew the bird in after debating forever on where I wanted it. Then I could barely see the pencil marks so I just roughly painted in the white so I could tell what I was doing.

I started adding some of his detailing. Now you can see the pencil marks on the wings so I have a lot more painting to do. I think you can just make out his legs and feet. I have to give the water reflection some thought on how to proceed with it. I'm a long way away from the reflection though.

Egret - Work in Progress

This is the start of an 8 x 10" painting of an Egret. It's part of a swap I'm doing with a fellow artist. She collects egrets. I've never seen one in person, but after researching them, they seem to be truly beautiful birds. I am an avid bird lover so I want to really do this justice. Doesn't look like much now, but this will be an egret in flight! (oops you can see part of my messy messy cardboard that I place under the canvas when I'm not using a tabletop easel..... I was using those disposable plastic cutting boards and then wiping them off when I was done (a great thing to paint on) but somehow I adopted this sheet of cardboard and it stuck with me now for over a year....not that you care...

This will be an autumn scene (fitting because I will be sending it to her this fall) All the background is done without brushes. Just dip balls of plastic wrap in the paint and dab it where I want it on the canvas. This stage kind of panics me because it really doesn't look like anything but a mess.

Dab, dab, dab....then smear, smear, smear :) All of a sudden the background appears. I haven't decided where exactly I'm am going to place the bird. Either large, in the foreground, or a bit smaller in the background. Either way it will be of full wingspan and landing. Stay tuned.....I will be working on this off and on for the next few weeks.

More photos of food....I may actually get back to painting some day!

Apple and Rice Salad (pretty as a picture)
I am going to a potluck supper tonight. We are to each bring a salad. I like taking "different" salads to these things so I made this today. It's delicious! (and healthy)

Start with 3 cups cooked brown rice (I cheated and used minute brown rice) To the rice add 2 cups chopped apple, 1/2 to 1 cup of dried cranberries, 1 cup chopped celery, and 1/2 cup slivered almonds (you could probably add pecans or walnuts) Dressing: 1 cup low fat cocunut/pineapple yogert (I use Source 35 cal per serving) and 1/2 cup lo fat mayonaise. Add dressing to rice mixture, keep chilled till serving.....enjoy

I swear I will get back to art soon.......

clouds

" I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down and still somehow,
It's clouds illusions I recall....I really don't know clouds
at all" by Judy Collins

It was one of those beautiful hot summer days where the blue sky is blue blue blue and the clouds are fluffy and white......no rain clouds here to dampen the day!