Monday, February 24, 2014

Taking Time


'A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.'
(WH Davies)

I finished the painting this morning. One of the things I most enjoyed creating was the contrast between the background and the child but playing with light is always such a joy when working in transparent watercolour too. I wanted to create the backlighting to add to the dreamy feel of the finished piece.

Ona

Friday, February 21, 2014

WIP 3

I started working on the child's clothes today. I still have a lot to do but thought I would share my progress.


I chose orange and a warm cream for his clothes because I want to make us feel as if he is really close to us in contrast to the blues of the background which recede away from us. I hope that this will help us stop and connect with the child and his curiosity.

Thank you for all your title suggestions. I am still open to more ideas if you have any

Ona

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Progress made

I have really enjoyed bringing this face to life on the paper. I will have some minor adjustments to do once I have painted his hair and clothes but the face is broadly done. I wonder what he is looking at.


I used the same colours for his eyes as I had used in the background and have kept and will continue to keep the edges slightly soft focus as I felt it would enhance the dreamy feel to the painting.

I think I will work on his clothes next and leave his hair till last.

Any ideas for a title? the last two lines of the poem 'Poor is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare' sums up what I am trying to convey in this painting but its probably a little long as a title.

Ona

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Work In Progress

Life is still pretty crazy here. I am still making multiple trips to the hospital to see dr's and to Emerg to help keep my PICC line open so I can continue getting the IV antibiotics to beat this infection. I am still painting when I am able though.

 I was recently inspired by the poem Leisure by W.H Davies and a photo that I came across of my son when he was small. I love how, unlike so many adults, children often just stop and stare at things around them when they are interested so I wanted to capture the contrast between the constant hurrying motion of life and the child like curiosity that makes children stop and stare. Over the last week or so I have been working on the background blurring it to suggest the movement of people. I wanted to leave a lot to the imagination though letting the viewer interpret the movement and the location in the way they wished.


I am looking forward to developing the sense of curiosity in the child. I am unsure yet what to call this painting so please let me know if you have any title ideas.

For those of you that do not know the poem by WH Davies I mentioned above, here it is:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Ona

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Watercolor Art Society Houston Acceptance

I was very pleased to receive an e mail yesterday to inform me that my painting 'Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future' has been selected by Juror Laurin McCracken  to be part of their 37th International Exhibition


 The exhibition will open March 11 and run until April 3.

Ona

Monday, February 3, 2014

Impressions of the Heart Exhibition Opens

I have three paintings that will be on display for the next month at the Richmond Hill Centre for the performing Arts. I hope if you live in the area you will go and take a look.

My painting 'Craft-Ted with Love' won the Framing Depot Gold Award for Best in Show (Middle painting in the photo below)


My other two paintings that are on display are 'Baby on Board' and 'Re Unite-Ted'.

The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is situated on Yonge Street. parking is available behind the theatre on Wright Street.

Ona