"Wilson and James" #2

16 x 20
Oil on Foam Board

The second attempt at this subject. The composition is a bit awkward. It may need a bit more work, so maybe I'll go back to it later.

"Another Rainy Day in the Hammer"

16 x 20
Oil on Stuff

I wonder if studio painting makes us treat every painting as a potential "masterpiece" rather than as a spontaneous rendering of a subject as is done "plein air". Do we overwork them, lose the sense of the scene? As I often mention, changing to a looser more atmospheric style is my goal. I would like to use bolder more energetic brush strokes, some thicker paint and maintain the sense of time and place. But old habits die hard. I have a solution. After doing a bathroom renovation, we were left with some stiff foam shower material. I have been eyeing it as a potential painting surface. It is light, durable and waterproof and can be cut with an exacto knife. It is cheap, so I can paint larger without worry of wasting canvas. A perfect surface for doing an oil "sketch". It can't be sold, so I won't be focused on sales or "masterpieces". Just for practise, experimentation or anything else I want to do with it. It has a subtle texture, but a couple of coats of Gesso should help. This is my first "oil sketch" on the foam board.
As an example of what I don't want to keep doing is "Lighthouse Fish Market". I loved the quircky signage, and the boxes of fruits and vegetables etc, but I got too laboured in my approach, got out the pointy brushes, and went against all my goals.

8" x 8"
Oil on Gesso Board

"Saturday shopping 2"

11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas

Sometimes I look at a painting(posting May 29) and wonder how I could have thought it was finished. Especially if I leave it near the easel. I think, what the heck was I doing? How could I have thought this was done or in any way an adequate painting? Many times when I leave a painting, thinking its done, its out of fear. Fear of messing it up, fear of painting a certain subject, fear of failure. The tree in the picture was mostly branches and not much foliage yet, so I decided to leave it out rather than paint it. I guess a combination of lack of experience painting trees, and fear. The painting needed the tree. So, I put it in. A nice green one. I think it works better. Any comments would be appreciated, positive or negative. Sometimes others see what we can't.
I hear often that artists want to paint looser, more spontaneous. This is where the smaller canvases come into play. I am much more free with the paint on the 6 X 6 size than the larger ones. I am hoping to be able to transfer this freedom to a larger picture. I have to repeat this again...its that fear that gets in the way.

"Chevys at Timmys"

6" x 6"
Oil on Board

Another rainy night at Tims brings out the diehard coffee lovers.

Saturday Shopping, James North Hamilton On

11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas

James Street North is a street in transition. It is a mix of cultures with Portuguese shops and restaurants, a bit of China town, East Indian Restaurants, and a vibrant artist community that is slowly moving in. It is at the stage where it is still a real neighbourhood, with real people living and shopping, and real artists looking for affordable space to work and market their work. It is also in the North End of Hamilton, known as a tough community. That status is also in transition.
On Saturdays, many vendors put their wares out on the street.

Albacore, Drifting In

8" x 10"
Oil on canvas

Our sailboat "Owl"

I love watching Albacores sail in and out. With no engine as backup, they handle light air drifters or wild windy adventures. On this day, the setting sun brought light breezes with it, and a slow drift home. This Albacore is at the the Hamilton Sailing club, next to Macdonald marine where we keep our boat. Our boat is an old 30' raceboat that my husband and I saved from a certain death at the back of the boat yard. Filled with water, and rotting away, we learned fiber glass skills, and put her back together. I am including a small picture.

"Laundry Day"

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

I love to paint urban scenes with lots of downtown activity, but sometimes a great scene is just around the corner. I haven't been getting out and about much, but walking the dog today was a treat. It seemed everywhere I looked, pictures were being created just for me. This is a scene in Dundas Ontario...just around the corner.

"Neither Rain nor Sleet"

sold

6" x 6 Oil on Panel

Like I said, we Canadians love our Tims. And as it turns out, many Americans are addicted as well. This rainy evening did nothing to dampen the spirits of these coffee lovers.

White Magnolia, Ancaster Ontario

8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas

To all of you plein air painters out there, you have my respect and admiration. This is my first attempt at plein air painting in a long time. I had to take my Mom to a doctors appointment on a gorgeous sunny morning, and knowing the wait would be long, I decided to take along some supplies. Right across the street was this great house with a gorgeous magnolia in full bloom. At nine o'clock, the morning light was wonderful. With fear and trepidation, I began sketching, and then filling in. I have to say that I am kind of pleased, but there is so much to learn.
Ancaster is a pretty town, with wonderful houses and big yards and many historical buildings. Unfortunately, everyone has discovered it and it is now an upscale bedroom community with too much building, too much traffic and too many big box stores.

"Misty Movie night"

11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas

The Westdale theatre in Hamilton is one of those great older theatres that has managed to survive. I have heard that its days are numbered...I hope not. It will be a sad day when the doors close. Westdale is a neighbourhood in Hamilton that was its own community in the thirties and forties when it was built. It still offers a great small town experience.

"Morning Business Meeting"

6" x 6"
Oil on board
A "Board Room" for many people as they get ready for the work day.

The Early Bird Gets the Coffee

6" x 6"
Oil on Board

The early morning crowd at Tim Hortons as the sun comes up. And yes, I spend a lot of time getting and drinking coffee!

"Sharks in the Water"

8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas

Almost all of the boats are stored on land during the off-season. Finally, its time to launch. Shark owners are a lucky bunch. They can launch their own boats any time, and so they are often the first in the water and the last out. The "Shark" has been around for many years, and it is still a popular boat for sail boat racing. These two sharks are moored on the old docks at The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club in Hamilton Ontario.

"Jamesville Rain" Hamilton On

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

Another rainy spring day on James Street North in Hamilton. The leaves are a little more subtle than depicted here, but I am trying to rush into summer.

"Shelter from the rain"

Sold

6" x 6"
Oil on Canvas

Its another rainy Monday. This is one of the Tim Hortons in Dundas Ontario, the one we call "the old Tims" because it was here first. A very popular spot to drink coffee, and in the summer, hang out by your car or motorcyle and drink coffee!

"Last Snowfall" James South Hamilton

16" x 20"
Oil on Canvas

I am being hopeful calling this picture "Last Snowfall". It is unusual to get snow in April, but yesterday we awoke to snow covered roofs and slick roads. I thought I would capture this last winter scene of James Street south in Hamilton. The sun is getting much stronger, and so all of this snow will be gone by the time the picture is done.

"Successive lamposts"

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

We are having our April Showers which could easily become April snow showers. This is a street off of James Street North in Hamilton. I had a short time to paint today, and I was determined to finish the painting. It was done quite loosely, but I think I like the result.

"Nails"

6" x 6"

Oil on Board
More weird and wonderful signage on an older building on King Street East near Walnut. I've been away from painting for a bit, due to family responsibilities, but its good to be back.

A Lexus and a Cadillac

8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas
Click Here to go to Ebay Auction

I love a picture that tells a story. King Street East near Walnut Street tried to make a comeback, but in this area, most of the stores and restaurants are covered with iron gates or boarded up.

"Roll Up the Rim"

Sold

6" x 6"
Oil on Board

After an afternoon of picture taking and frozen hands, we stopped in at our local Tim Hortons to warm up and have a coffee. The famous "Roll Up the Rim to Win" contest is on which will require more coffee drinking and the possibility of winning a donut and even more coffee! Some hopefuls might even win a car. This Tim Hortons is in Dundas.