While painting with the Al Frescoes this past Friday at Government House in Victoria, A young woman (Rachel) came up to me and gave me a random act of kindness card and stated she liked the fact I was out there in the blustery weather to paint. She stated she would post a pic and my web info on their twitter account; which she did! Cool. Oops, it's .ca not .com. The painting worked out, but I plan on working on it in the studio. I'll publish it when I'm done. Pay it forward.

Some Plein Air studies and images from this past fall.

Just a few shots from this past summer.

Painting with the Al Frescoes a couple of weeks ago at Mitchell's Farm. I allowed myself to paint a more difficult subject matter - People in the painting. I have been painting in Oils for 4-5 years and Plein Air painting for as long. It has taken me that long to be comfortable with the materials, how I set up, colour theory (still working on that) internalizing the basics I guess.

I have been going to the same spot to paint for the last week or so. It has been a interesting experiment. Painting the same view 4 or 5 times. I have painted small panels (12x6) and larger ones  (12x24). Lots of learning. I am more comfortable painting in general. I'm rethinking focal point, cold and warm, light and dark and of course my composition. I was saying to my wife that I'm glad I focused on trees and landscape. There is a unrestricted openness to organic subject matter. I now want to move toward a more demanding subject - People, buildings, etc. I can draw which helps immensely. The challenge is producing a believable rendition of what I see that is pleasing to my eye and a work of art that has skillful merit.

A couple of locations around Victoria this past week. I tried a larger format board than usual - 12/24 inches. The piece took two days in the field and then some touch ups are happening in the studio now.

Great summer of painting. Three spots from around Victoria.

A two hour study from last Friday. Not a inspiring spot. However, I am quite happy with this sketch.
8x10 oil.

Great morning plein air painting session from July 18th. Lots of fun. I thought of adding to the painting at home I have since changed my mind. Very happy with this one.

Lots of painting lately. Studio landscape, portraiture and long pose (one session left to do), a small plain air sketch and another plain air painting. Learning lots about color, keying the painting. I have a habit of keying the painting from darkest dark. Which makes for a dark paining. Now, I have learned,  to key fro the lightest light - which is counter intuitive for me yet I think I'm on the correct approach.

3 Plein Air paintings from the last week or so. 12x9, 8x10 and a 6x12. I have a new brush that has opened up some expressive painting. I like these three because of the light, composition and that each painting is respective of the time and place of the painting. And it was a lot of fun.

It has been a while since I have posted. Haven't painted in either - Mom passing, weather etc.  I've been plain air painting with my wife and with the Al Frescoes in Victoria few days. The last three I have painted have been fun to do so the time off may have been helpful. These shots are from a stream by Sooke Potholes.

Good news. The Gallery in Oak Bay Village has taken three of my paintings. I'm delighted to have some representation. Hope they sell. Thanks Dale!!!!

Limiting the pallet on this to practice painting values to create depth. The photo was taken on a trip to Drumheller, Alberta. Taken from the car while driving. I was driving my wife took the picture. Fun. Also trying the grey gesso'd boards.

My wife bought me this gift for Christmas. I'm trying to see this  as supportive?

Final image with working the Zorn Pallete.

Practicing with the Zorn Palette; Black, Cad Red Middle, Yellow Ochre and white. Self portrait. Also this is the first time working with a grey gesso on board. I did like it. I don't like white gesso. I usually end up tinting it, which led to uninspiring results. The grey is worth exploring. I'll be doing more of these. THe colour combinations are quite varied for a small colour palette.

Out with the Al Fresoe's December 10th. We were painting at Viaduct Flats, Victoria. Beautiful Morning. I favor a 6x12 (or proportionate) panel for some reason. The piece turned out. I am working on value differences. I lean to a darker value set in general. I have to make a pointed decision to check the value at each step of the painting. The back ground is dark to my eye it doesn't sit back in the panting. New brush in the box a Dagger from Rosemary and Co. in England. Beauty eh.

Glencoe Cove-Kwatsech Park, Victoria. Beautiful day but cold. I got a good start but brought it home to finish. Lucky to live in a environment that offers this kind of view.

And done. Photo doesn't do it justice. Very happy with the result. Fun exercise. Next!