Free Ranging Chickens

No Fences!
oil on canvas board 5" x 3"

Study in Black & White

Black & White
Though if you have overheard 'chicken conversation' there is no black or white, only infinite variations. Especially on things to cluck over.
oil on canvas board 5" x 3"

The Brahmas

The Light Brahmas
Don't tell the rest of my hens, but these two are my favourites!
oil on canvas board 5" x 3"
(sold)

Storm brewing over Nuttby Mountain

Storm Clouds.
Very dramatic clouds at the top of the mountain.
Oil on Canvas Board 5" x 3"

Fall Blueberry Field

The Blueberry Fields
Can you feel the cold wind?
oil on canvas board 5" x 3"

undefeeted...

Ahh

End of the day
Oil on Canvas Board 5" x 3"
I have had this idea for awhile...

Cobequid Valley Farm

Cobequid Valley Farm
Another in my min-scapes series.
5" x 3" oil on canvas board.

Tractor

Tractor
Oil on Board 4" x 4"
(sold)
I have an affinity for this little tractor down the road. I learned to drive on one very like it. It has a presence.

Three small and one from the summer...

Main & Park St. Truro
5" x 3" oil on canvas board

Sunset in Port Howe, NS

5" x 3" oil on canvas board

Farm in the Hills, Earltown, NS
5" x 3" oil on canvas board

Summer Day in the Shade

8" x 8" oil on Canvas Panel

Here are three more for the small series for the Market.  And finally finished one from the plein aire work in the summer!  Had to look at it for awhile.

Small Works...

Introducing my new small works...for my market stall.  The launch is November 19.  Don't know how many I will have ready, but the paint is flying.  At 5 x 3 they are quite small, but fun to do.  The spring calf I may do some more work, but it needs to dry a bit.  I am so used to watercolour, the timing on oils requires a different planning!

House

Ashton House
Watercolour 7" x 5'
A commission to paint from a photo. Always hard to keep it fresh, but I think it worked here.

Gardens at the NSAC July watercolour

July painting day at the NSAC.  Amazing gardens on one of our rare hot sunny days this summer.  The Truro Art Society was invited to come paint on the College's Open House day.  It was an enjoyable time and wonderful to discover this delightful spot in Truro.

Lost Camera...Found!

New posts coming.

Oyster Boat

Oyster Boat in Merigomish, NS
7" x 5" watercolour

Last Fall we went to an oyster tasting. It was a bright, windy fall day. The seafood was amazing. This boat had been pulled up on the edge in the fall tinted grasses. I could not resist and squirreled away the photo until I had time to paint it. I hope to do a larger piece now, just deciding watercolour or oil?

Spring Hope from theGreenhouse

Spring Hope
Oil 12" x 18"
The larger oil painting as a follow up to the smaller one. I had it for while, and needed to tweek it, took awhile for me to see I needed to darken some areas and highlight just a little more on the begonias. Then I decided time to move on to the next!

Garden excitement

Spring Rituals
oil on gessoboard 6" x 6"
I am helpless in the flower section of the greenhouses. We have a lovely one here in the village and it is one of my favourite places to go on a dreary-or lovely-day. There is something so optimistic about it. I had this little painting in mind for awhile. Thinking of a different composition for a larger painting.

First Tiny Radish

First Radish
6" x 6" oil on gessoboard
Wayne brought in the first radish from the cold frames on a cold rainy day. What a sign of hope for spring! It was so delicate and I could immediately see the painting. I had to keep spritzing it with mist to keep it from wilting ....and paint fast

Winter Rose

Winter Rose
Oil on gessoboard 6" x 6"
A cabbage sort of rose. The pink was a challenge to get the values. But fun!

Delicate Balance Oil on canvas panel 6" x 6"

A yellow rose. I wanted to focus on the petals and the light behind them. I was surprised it would balance in the small jar...thus the title.
I have not done an oil painting for awhile, nice to be back.

Storm at Sea

Storm 1
7" x 5" watercolour

I really had fun with this one. At one point it 'bloomed' on me, but I just worked with those edges and poured on more paint. I also let it dry for a few days and I think that helps.

Wet brushes again!

both Watercolour 5" x 7"
After some serious angst, I just started splashing some paint around. Watercolour is an easier place for me to start and I am comfortable with it. I tried a small oil, but after two hours and a knot in my stomach, I wiped it. The little canvas no longer mocks me as I wiped it and took charge! Ha!
It feels good though. I am working on some more abstract-ish seascapes.

Circling the Studio....

No pictures, except a new photo for my dashboard!
I just realized it has not been a full year since my last post...this is reassuring! I have been blocked--okay I know I am the only person to ever experience this, that is why it is so uniquely painful! It is a longer story than I want to go into, but it has been a complicated year with some major losses and family transitions. My call away from art making to taking care of family is something I just had to do. Now I am circling the studio. Have been for some time. I cleaned it out (after some renos in other parts of the house). Then re-arranged it and built new shelving. Abandoned it. Yesterday I went down to just be there. Ended up vacuuming the stairs--dust on them don't you know!
I did find a new easel that will not have my paintings popping off and landing face down on the floor-we are talking oils here.
Still a lonely room.
So I circle. I think about painting all the time. Imagine paintings, compositions.
How to return? It feels like I (I, Me) have such heavy expectations! Okay, so maybe we just go down and play. Yes. That is a start.