Sunday, December 30, 2012

Hens in the Hutch
12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas, for sale
I am in love with this one!  I actually tried something completely different with my under painting for this piece.  I painted fluorescent yellows and greens and some purple in the background.  I didn't exactly like the look of the under painting at first so I did not have much invested in this painting when I began.  I did quick rapid strokes and before I knew it, this painting just came alive in front of my eyes.  I like the different fluorescent colours and I will definitely try more paintings  like this.    

Night fire
12" x 14", Acrylic on canvas, SOLD

Acrylic on canvas 10in by 12in.  FOR SALE $ 120 CAD.  I painted this piece over the Christmas holidays which was a bit of a change in pace from the barnlife theme.  I am drawn to painting fires because of the abstracted shapes and rich warm colours.  I am interested in trying to capture the glow- quite challenging for me.  I think I managed to capture this fire quite well. There is actually no black paint in this painting at all.  The dark colours are are actually a mix of Ultramarine blue and Van Dyke brown.  I do not use black very often in my paintings.  I find that the black is actually more dull than the dark colours I can make.  It also tends to muddy and dull the other colours. 

Scratchy Stretch, SOLD
12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Private sale

This is a painting I completed over the Christmas holidays.  I love the composure and the character of these cows; makes me giggle.  They were pretty curious about me being up close and personal with them when I took the photograph for this piece.  Cows are hard to photograph because you have to get them interested in what you are doing so they come over and check you out.  I surprisingly, have had a lot of success with this- I just  kneel down and hang out for a while.  Sometimes I feel like I am the cow whisperer!

Investigative, NFS Gift
12" x 12", Acrylic on  canvas
This is one of my most recent paintings of cattle on Wolfe Island completed over teh Christmas holidays.  Subtle tones and prominent brushstrokes worked well in this one. The colouring of the cow on the left made him look a bit like a clown!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Big Baby Blue, NFS- Gift
12" x 12", Acrylic on Canvas


I am in love with the composition, colours, and the quaint and personal touch of the pitch fork on the tractor. This makes me think that this tractor is a worker and has just finished a day's work in the field. The photograph was taken on a road trip I did with my Gran around Amherst Island. 

Holstein Happiness, SOLD
12" x 18", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery

This painting was a pleasure to paint (the first of 3 similar paintings I have done from the same photograph).  It was the most flattering sell I have ever had!  Kim Woodman purchased this within hours of the Stone Heron Gallery opening for the summer.  Kim Woodman is a renowned artist who's paintings are in many galleries in TO and beyond.  I actually walked into a gallery in TO with my siblings and by chance saw her paintings hanging along with paintings from the Group of Seven, Canadian First Nations artist Norval Morrisseau and other inspiring artists. My sister and I were visiting my brother and we just happened to pass by this gallery and it caught our eyes.  My sister saw her favourite artist (Morrisseau)  and I  saw two of mine! We had to go in.  What are the chances!  We were all on an absolute high! Anyway, Kim has given me many kind words about my artwork which means the world to coming from an artist I love with over 30 years of professional experience.  So there you have it- I am proud of this one :)

Bike on Baggot Street, Kingston, ON. NFS- Gift
18" x 18", Acrylic on canvas

Cotton Ball Bails, NFS- Gift
10" x 10", Acrylic on wood

This is a painting that I completed initially based on a photo I took on Wolfe Island, but I abandoned it really early on in the painting. This was painted on a wood canvas.  It was the first time that I had ever tried this and I didn't Gesso it- rookie mistake! The paint soaked right though it so I had to do many layers.  I actually hated it at first so I put it in my fire pit outside for burning.  Months later however, I was at my neighbour's house and noticed that she had rescued it from going into the fire.  She held it out and said - finish this! I love it!  I did and I gave it to them for Christmas last year.  It now proudly sits in their house.  Funny how things work out sometimes.  I actually have to thank my neighbour a lot - she was the one who initially encouraged me to put my paintings in the Stone Heron gallery! Thank you a million times!

Late Day Graze

Acrylic on Canvas, 20" x 20", SOLD


Cows from Amherst Island.  I really like how scratchy and sloppy the under painting is on this one and how it peaks through.  I really enjoy the lighting, composition, and use of paint in this one. I also like the simplicity of the detail and brush strokes. 
T  & C's Massey 156
Acrylic on canvas 12" x 12" SOLD

The picture for this painting was taken on Wolfe Island on the same farm from which I painted the Black Angus cattle.  This is a Massey Ferguson 156 with a sickle mower on the front used for cutting hay.  This is a vintage tractor that T & C took out of the barn so that I could photograph it.  It was really fun to paint.

Cow Cluster, SOLD
2' x 3', Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery
I enjoy the element of design, composition and colours in this piece. I actually painted another version of this piece as a commission because a customer wanted to buy it but it had already been sold. 

Wooly Wonders, SOLD
12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery
These sheep are from Amherst Island.  The picture was taken in 2011 on a road trip with my Gran.  They are such funny alien looking animals when you get up close and personal.  I like the subtle tones in the sheep and the background in this piece. To this day, for me, subtle tones and subtle values are the trickiest aspect to capture. I have had many fails so feels good when I get it right!

#16 and #17, NFS- Gift
12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas

 These are lambs from a farm on Wolfe Island. The family was kind enough to let me onto their property and visit with their children and their many animals.  This place had peacocks, ducks, chickens, cats and hundreds of sheep. The farmers also owns a dairy farm. This is a magical place - the lighting and the feeling was heaven.  I painted this picture for the farmers as a thank you for letting me take photographs for hours on numerous occasions. 

Rooster Ruffling, SOLD
10" x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery

These chickens are from a photo shoot that I did at my friend Kristen's former house.  She has now moved to TO and I miss her and her family dearly.  They had about 10 different species of chickens, including various species of bantam and full sized chickens. It was exotic. In the golden hour, it was really a feast for the eyes. Each chicken was given a name. I believe the golden chicken at the front is named Manny and the other one is Granny.  My favourite chicken was a bantam named Marigold.  She was a loner and loved to be picked up and snuggled.

Cottage life.  SOLD
6" x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery
This piece was FUN to paint.  If you look closely enough you might be able to see that I used paper towel, tin foil, and water colour paper in the painting.  First, I made layers with these materials.  Then I did an under painting, followed by an over painting.  It is a fairly abstract depiction of the view from my parent's cottage in the Canadian Shield.  This piece falls into the category of what I call patterns in nature. It has a very geometric feel to it.  Some people think these are birches but they are actually pines.
White Wonderers, SOLD
12" x 18", Acrylic on canvas
Private Sale



The glazing with dark colours that allowed the fluorescent pink to peak through the translucent browns worked well in this piece. Additionally, the movement and body shape worked well.  I did the under painting at my parent's cottage in the summer and didn't pick it up to do the rest of it until the winter.  I brought it to a talk I gave about my paintings at the Queen's Ban Reigh Centre and a librarian fell in love with it.  It is such a great feeling to fall in love with a painting.  I fall in love with a lot of paintings, many of which are by my painting role models Heidi Malott and Carole Marine.  I have a few Heidi Malotts that bring me joy every time I look at them.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012


Lovely little life.  NFS, Commission
2' x 3', Acrylic on canvas
This was a commissioned painting.  NFS.  I love these little ones.  I just got right into the love, emotion, and new life in the picture.  That being said, the details of the faces were excruciating.  I felt like I was staring at that little baby's face for 3 days straight. I am very happy with the emotion captured in the other two. Also I painted with pallet knives for some of this painting which was the first time I have ever done this.  Kind of frustrating - you have to mix the colours very well... but very rewarding.   


Trudy and Case's Black Angus Beauties, SOLD
Acrylic on Canvas, 12" x 12"
Cornerstone Exhibition
These are Black Angus Wolfe Island Cattle.  I actually purchase my meat from their farmers.  They are free range and grass fed and it is the best red meat I have ever tasted.  I have made a point of connecting and developing relationships with the farmers whose barn life I paint.  It gives the painting an extra little special bit of something.  There is an emotional connection and memory with the moment of the painting and it just feels so good to paint. I only paint things that I get a complete warm and fuzzy feeling from (life is too sort to not do otherwise). I paint only what fits into my set of morals and values and also that has great colours. This painting represents buying local, eating local, knowing where your food comes from and fond memories with Trudy and Case. To me it represents having a conscious presence with the whole process of food.   They are also beautiful cows to paint.  I think this breed is my favourite type of cow to paint. At first I thought there was not enough colour in these cows to make a good painting but I looked closer and I was pleasantly surprised.  All I saw was beautiful and rich blues and reds.  So nice to paint.  The best part of this painting in my opinion is the movement and gesture of the cows.  I have struggled with this a lot in other paintings.  I got it in this one.  FOR SALE $120CAD.  Acrylic on Canvas 12in by 12in. 

Windy Wone.  SOLD
12" x 12" Acrylic on acrylic on canvas
Raymond Gallery

This was a bit of a change in pace. It is one of my latest paintings. I was inspired by the cover of my father's Wooden Boat Magazine.  So many Bright and Wonderful colours.

Wobbly wee one.  SOLD
12 "x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery 

The lighting in this piece is quite special.  My favourite part is the eyelash that is sun kissed (on the right).

Thee ones on the run, SOLD
12"x 12", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery

This is a very light fluffy and impressionistic representation of my chickens!  These ones are Buff Orpingtons.

Happy Holsteins, SOLD
11" x 13", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery
Acrylic on Canvas -SOLD ($100CAD)  to my buddy Brooke!  I am so happy that this painting has a great home with her.  It is called Happy Holsteins.  The photo for this one was taken on Amherst island. 

Purplexed, SOLD
18" x 18", Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery



This painting was my first attempt at mixed media in acrylic with these barnlife paintings. In the foreground I have used feather and water colour ripped into strips. I really like the background and the fluorescent pink under painting peaking through.

Backing up the load, NFS- Gift
12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas


This on was from Amherst Island along with Old Red in the previous post.  I tried a neat technique on this one where I left the under painting showing through to create the weed in the foreground.  It worked quite well. 

Old Red, NFS- Gift
12" x 12", Acrylic and pen on canvas

I think the tractor looks like a lobser.  I gave this one to my best friend Isabelle's son.

Wooley Butt one, SOLD
10" x 20", Acrylic on canvas
Stone Heron Gallery




These are Amherst Island sheep. My Gran was kind enough to drive me around the island to take pics of barn life.  I love the country.  I really do.

 TWO
 THREE
FOUR!!!!!
ONE!