Mexican Hibiscus

Just finished another watercolour. This is an image from a photograph I took while vacationing last winter in Mazatlan with Jeff and my sister in law.

While walking downtown, with all the noisy street vendors and time share people hounding you at every step and the diesel buses flying by kicking up dust and smoke ... out of all that chaos this beautiful delicate flower decided to grow.

I was attracted by the contrast between the soft petals of the flower against the rough brick and mortar wall. This beautiful specimen decided to grow on its own and say "Hola Amigo."

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Understated Elegance

And now back to watercolour ...

I know some of your LOVE my watercolours. I also love creating them. There is something so gentle about working with watercolour paint. There is a rhythm that happens when I work with watercolour, that I don't experience when working with acrylic.

Everything is much more planned, unlike acrylic. This give painting such a piece a very meditative feeling as you simply colour in the different elements, one by one.

This should actually be called a mixed medium as I used black acrylic to get the rich background.

"Understated Elegance", 21 x 13"

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

I've Gone Poppy Crazy

Each fall I collect poppy seeds from my gardens, then in the spring I have fun scattering them around - waiting to see what comes forth, taking many photos to be used when the mood moves me.

Since working on that poppy commission earlier this year, I have gone totally poppy crazy. I just can't get enough of painting poppies.

I love putting the acrylic paint on really thick - impasto like - moving it around layer upon layer and letting some of the brush strokes show through. I often take it straight out of the tube as I build up the painting. Rich with texture and wild with paint!

Here are a couple of more recent acrylic paintings.

"Poppy Explosion", 11 x 14"

"Poppy Dance", 11 x 14"

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

About Commissions

What a busy summer with many visitors, art shows to attend and paintings to deliver.

This summer we delivered a commission to a patron out in Saskatchewan, one that was ordered a year ago! After having several of my paintings in her home already, a client of mine mentioned that she now needed something for over her bed. Measuring the space available, I put it on the back shelf until I was ready. Early this spring, I got an idea to paint a triptych of poppies.

I ordered 3 - 12 x 24" canvases and away I went. On a background of burnt sienna, I started by organizing the poppy groupings; the sizes, the flower directions and which would continue onto the next canvas. I did this by making cutouts of the poppies and moving them around the canvas until I had the desired spacing.

Next I had fun. I wanted the finished piece to be rich and juicy with colour and texture.

The finished piece accomplished all that. Needless to say the client LOVED it - so much so that she now talks about ordering two more!!

If you would like to commission a piece of artwork for your home or office, please visit my website.

"The Power of Poppies" acrylic on canvas

Till Next Time ...

From the Prairies, to the West Coast and Beyond...

Susan

Scout's Lookout

From our kitchen window we are fortunate to be able to look at the ocean and watch as the cruise ships head up to Alaska. We can see if the ocean is rough or calm, whether the tide is in or out ... and we always see the same two eagles sitting on top of the highest tree, having a good look around.

This contemporary painting is acrylic on stretched canvas.

"Scout's Lookout", 16 x 20"

For purchasing information please refer to my online Art Store and Gallery.

Gicleé prints are available.

Till Next Time ...

Love what you Do ... and Do what you Love.

Susan

Hot off the Palette

I love doing these small paintings!

I'll often work on a smaller painting while I am at TOSH (The Old School House) for the day as a resident artist. It's easy to transport, you need only a few colour and it's fun to move the paint around.

This is the fourth in the series of small sea shell paintings.
1) Pink Beauty
2) Scalloped Edges
3) I Found a Dollar on the Beach
4) A Snail's Pace

They are all 5 x 7", acrylic on stretched canvas.

They look great hanging in a powder room as a grouping.
Not sure how many more I'll create ... but am sure that I am not done yet!

Till Next Time ...

Love what you Do ... and Do what you Love.

Susan

Painting in the Garden

On Sunday June 13th, the Qualicum Bay, Bowser area hosted a Garden Tour. Nine unique gardens were selected to be viewed and artists were selected to sit in the garden and paint for the day.

Not having much experience in "Outdoor Painting" (easier to say than en plein air), I decided to throw my hat in the ring. We were allowed to have a sneak preview of our selected garden beforehand, and even take photos. We could start our paintings in our studios, as long as we finished them in the garden. With camera in hand, I scoured every inch of the wondering paths, photographed numerous plant groupings and tried to entice the fish in the fish pond to pose for a picture.

I primed my canvas and worked on it for days, trying to come up with something fantastic.

On the morning of the Garden tour, I abandoned my previous canvas (now with many layers of ideas) started a new canvas and came up with a beautiful little painting.

"Ponderous", 8 x 10", acrylic

The paintings were then put on display at the Lighthouse Community Centre for a silent auction. The owners of the garden that I was painting in bought my painting. I hadn't even had time to get attached to it!!

I enjoyed the spontaneous energy that came forth that morning, as opposed to a planned approach to painting. After three hours the painting was complete, and I was off to the hall for strawberry shortcake!

What a wonderful day in Qualicum Bay!

Till Next Time ...

Love what you Do ... and Do what you Love.

Susan