Acceso

I have finished my last painting for this year. Time for me to get ready for our christmas holidays now. This one was a huge challenge for me and I must admit I found it hard painting with these bright colours but it was a huge learning experience too so I am very glad I did it.  I am calling it Acceso because this is the musical term for 'ignited, on fire'. In spanish it also means bright, enthusiastic and passionate.

Ona

Acceso WIP 3

It is amazing how colour effects mood. I am finding that the vibrant oranges and yellows in this painting makes me want to rush at things. As a result I keep making silly mistakes which I then need to correct. Nevertheless I am making steady progress.

I had some fun today giving the arm a feeling of movement by blurring it just a little. I just thought it would add some more energy to the piece. I can't wait to paint the violin.

Ona

Acceso WIP 2

It has taken me 4 days to paint in the hair, layer by layer. I used the hairdryer as I usually do to help speed up the process. Do you think maybe the settings on it were a little on the hot side? Look what has happened to the hair! (grin)

 
Sorry, the camera is really struggling with capturing the bright colours as they are in the painting itself but hopefully this at least gives you an idea of my progress. Clothes next I think. 

Ona

Acceso WIP 1

I can't believe it's December already. This year is flying by. I have been working on a new watercolour over the past week. It took me 3 days and 27 glazes to build up the background. My subject is Sarah the violinist who I also used for my painting 'Heart Strings'. She is a great model. Heart Strings was all about the quiet inner thoughts as you play on your own and reach that moment when the music can just fly away and you are at one with it. I want this painting to have a very different feel to it. I want it to be full of energy and life with a real sense of movement. 

I've been listening to the music of Lindsey Stirling as I am working on this. It really helps me to get into the feel of what I want the mood of the painting to be. As you can see from the WIP photo I have now basically done Sarah's face, just the odd tweak here and there so I am now beginning work on her beautiful red hair. I am going to have some fun with the hair. If any of you know musical terms, the word 'Acceso' might give you a clue as to what I am planning to do with the hair.

Ona 

'Here's looking at you Kid'

I have been busy drawing out, stretching and masking a new watercolour this week. This involves a lot of waiting time as the stretched paper and masking fluid dry so I used this time  to  have some fun drawing "Here's Looking at You Kid".  Little Act-Ted utters the famous line  of the movie Casablanca with the deepest voice he could muster.  Do you think we should give him the part?

 I just couldn't resist doing this one in scratchboard as it really helped me to capture the Film Noir feel.  It is  drawn on a 11 by 14 inch Ampersand museum grade board.

Ona

Scratchboard

Several of my art friends who do scratchboard have been wanting me to have a go for ages so I decided to try it out.  Harry very kindly posed for me. I used a touch of watercolour in his eyes. Any guesses what he was looking at?

 This drawing sold today. Someone saw it on my facebook page  so will be on its way to the US in the next day or two once the scratchboard is sealed.

Ona

Harry's in print!

My copy of Strokes of Genius 6: The Best of Drawing hardback book arrived in the mail today. Of course my now famous pup Harry had to have first look.

 He was so pleased that he is right at the begining of the book right opposite Rachel's introduction because turning the pages with his paws was quite tricky (grin). After finding page 7 and admiring the drawing of himself he had to read what I had written about him. He liked the bit best about him having a soulful expression. He does do this expression so well don't you think?

Hope you enjoy the photo's. If you would like to order your own copy of this book or Splash 15: The Best of Watercolor both are now available in bookstores or directly through North Light Books

Ona

Wherever my music takes me...

I had so much fun creating this painting, following my imagination and seeing where it took me. Just me and my guitar, with the warm sun on my skin and a faint breeze in the air.

Transparent Watercolour 32 inches by 17.5 inches

Ona

Progress update

 James took this photo this morning. He was behind and above me  as he was taking it but this is almost the view I get as I am painting. Kind of fun isn't it. As you can see, I have nearly finished the giant guitar shaped platform.  I loved the idea of the fret board at this size acting like a long walkway and was reminded of a quote by Angus Young " I just go where the guitar takes me" when I first thought of the idea.

 There really isn't much detail in the painting so far. I am just trying to create the feeling of space, and a sense of depth and distance. How many of you have been high up in the mountains early in the day as the sun is rising? It's a wonderful sight. That's the atmosphere I am trying to capture.

Ona

The Journey of Creation

After nearly a month without painting it feels so good to have my brushes in my hands again and to begin another journey of creation. I hope you will enjoy coming on the journey with me.

James took this photo of me earlier this evening well after the light had faded. I was just putting the finishing touches to the background section of the painting and was illuminated only by the strip of halogen lights above me. I have also inserted a separate photo of just the painting so far in the top left side so you can see it more clearly. I wanted to create the atmosphere of a misty morning sunrise in the background. It's sort of symbolic really because in any creative journey, however much you plan, you often have to take a leap of faith and head off into the unkown. It's scary sometimes but very exciting too.

I can't wait for tomorrow when I can continue on my journey of creation.  Hope you like the photo.

Ona

Curry's Da Vinci Award CSPWC 89th Open Water International Exhibition

It's certainly been a week of good news. I had a phone call on Wednesday evening to say  'A Penny for your Thoughts' had won the Curry's Da Vinci Award in the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour 89th Open Water International Exhibition. WOW!!!!!!! The award presentation was yesterday evening. Luckily it was in Toronto so not far to go this time.

In the photo I am standing with my winning painting beside Doug Mays who was one of the jurors for the exhibition. 

The other jurors were Joanne Lucas Warren and Barbara Mitchell.  In the last photo  vice president Rayne Tunley is presenting my award.

Thank you to Curry's Art Store for sponsoring the award and to the board members of CSPWC for organising such a lovely evening. The exhibition is open until November 21st at the John B Aird Gallery, 900 Bay St. Toronto, Ontario.

Ona

'Heart Strings' wins NFWS 12th National Exhibition

Yesterday we went to the NFWS 12th National Exhibition  opening and award presentation. My painting Heart Strings was awarded 1st place. I am so thrilled.

Here are just a few photo's that we took. My painting is hanging right next to the grand piano. Its a perfect position don't you think?

James took this photo as I was receiving my award

and after my painting got its 1st place ribbon

 Pat Fortunato who won 2nd place and I posed for a photo.

It was a wonderful reception. A huge congratulations to all the artists with paintings in the exhibition which is at the Kenan Center, 433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY. The exhibition will be open until November 16th.

Ona

Photo's from the Richmond Hill Studio Tour and Art Sale

It was so nice to see so many people at the Studio Tour this last weekend. Thank you to everyone that stopped by to see my work.  Here are a few photo's for those of you that live too far away to have visited and asked to see the exhibition.

 Boynton House is a beautiful old farmhouse on Richmond Green that has been renovated by the Town and fitted with a hanging system and lighting. Its a beautiful venue to display my work.
The local newspaper Snap Richmond Hill visited to take some photos.

They also posed for a photo themselves with the director of On Richmond Hill Marj Andre who purchased one of my Caffeinate-Ted mugs.

Hope you enjoyed the photo's. If you are interested in any of the paintings or drawings in the photographs please e mail.

For those of you that did visit and entered my competition, the winner  that was drawn at the end of the weekend was Mimi Chan. Congratulations Mimi.  I hope you enjoy your matted print.

Ona

California Watercolor Association 45th National Exhibition Acceptance

Really happy to receive notification that my painting 'Coded Thoughts'  has been juried into the 45th California Watercolor Association National Exhibition. The exhibition will take place at The Harrington Gallery, 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, CA early next year.

 

Ona

Strokes of Genius 6

My very special labrador Harry is now in print on page 7 of the new Strokes of Genius 6: The Best of Drawing published by North Light Books. You can now order or download your copy of Strokes of Genius 6 from North Light books. It will be available in bookstores 10/23/14. The original drawing will be on display at the Richmond Hill Studio Tour & Art Sale on the 17th, 18th and 19th of October.

 Ona

Flabbergast-Ted

Thank you to everyone that stopped in to Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill over the weekend. I thought you would like to see the finished demo painting, 'Flabbergast-Ted' .  

Visitors who came to Hillcrest as I was demoing were asked to guess what the baby and Ted might be looking at.  Some of their ideas were: hundreds of butterflies, snow for the first time, Santa, mommy dying her hair purple, Dad taking a photo with a big flash and a huge hairy spider. I'd love to hear any other ideas you may have.

Ona

Demoing at Hillcrest Mall this Weekend

As part of the Culture Days | Fête de la culture Richmond Hill Studio Tour & Art Sale preview show, I am going to be painting at Hillcrest Mall this Friday, Saturday or Sunday (26-28th). Watch me as I work on this new Ted painting.

Any guesses from the painting so far what the Ted word will be?

  I will be located inside the former Costa Blanca store (south/east corner of the Mall, where the three pathways intersect). Several other Studio Tour Artists will be there too so come and see some art and watch us at work!

 

 

Thank you to the Northern Ontario Art Association

I have had a wonderful few days in Sudbury jurying the Northern Ontario Art Association's 58th annual exhibition. It was a tough task with so many beautiful works of art entered. The photo below shows only half of the entries which were placed around the room on jury day. From around 130 entries my fellow Juror and I were asked to choose between 35-40  which will tour many of the communities in Northen Ontario for the next year and from these to select 12 award winners.

The selected works were then displayed along with the rest of the paintings for the official opening of the exhibition so that the community could enjoy all 130 paintings and hear the announcement of the award winners.

Many local business sponsored awards. Its always so good to see a local community supporting the arts in this way.  Joe Miller from Cheap Joes Art supplies also donated an award. Thank you for your generosity Joe.

Fellow Juror Joanne and I were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed speaking to many of the artists.

I would  like to thank the local art community not only for making me feel so welcome but also for giving me the beautiful hand made gifts, souveniers of Sudbury and flowers. They are lovely momentoes of the occasion.

Ona

Strokes of Genius 7

It's been quite the week for good news! I was VERY pleased to get a Congratulations e mail from Sarah and Rachel at North Light Books when I got back from Jurying the NOAA exhibition yesterday evening to say my pen and ink drawing 'Paws for Thought' has been selected for publication in North Light Books' Strokes of Genius 7: Depth, Dimension + Space. 

 

 

Ona 

NFWS 12th International Transparent Watercolor Exhibition Acceptance

I was thrilled to receive notification today to say that both 'Taking Time' and 'Heart Strings' have been juried into the NFWS 12th International Transparent Watercolor Exhibition. The exhibition will be held at the Kenan Center Gallery, 433 Locust St. Lockport, NY 14094 from October 19th- November 16th, 2014

Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Open Water Exhibition Acceptance

I was very happy to receive notification today that my painting 'A Penny for your thoughts' has been accepted into The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Open Water 2014 International Exhibition.

It is one of only 40 paintings  selected for this exhibition which will take place at the John B. Aird Gallery, 900 Bay St., Toronto, Ontario from October 28th – November 21st, 2014.

Ona

Tasty

I thought I would finish the little painting of some nuts and seeds in the autumnal sunshine that I have been working on outside today as it is such a lovely day. I put it down for a couple of minutes and ...

 

...Do you think I paint a little too realistically?  (grin)

This was lots of fun to create and a welcome break from all the matting and framing I have been doing.  The painting within the painting is 4.5 by 2.5 inches and the whole painting is 6.5 by 10.5 inches. 

I thought you might also enjoy this photo that James took as I was working on it early yesterday morning when it was not so sunny.

As you can see I needed the magnifying glass to paint all the little details on the tiny chipmunks.

Ona 

Finalist in Richeson 75 International Figure/Portrait 2014 Exhibition

I had some happy news yesterday. My Transparent Watercolour 'Time Warp' has been selected as a finalist and will be on display in the Richeson 75 International Figure/Portrait 2014 exhibition. The exhibition runs from Oct 20-Dec 6, 2014 at the Richeson Gallery in Kimberly Winsconsin US

The painting depicts my son Alex's childhood. I wanted to show him as he grew up and how it feels like the blink of an eye  since he was small and yet him growing up is such a large part of my life too. Time is a funny thing.
 
Ona

Featured Artist

I am the featured Artist this week on the 'Art on the Hill' Richmond Hill Studio Tour Blog.

This is the feature I wrote. I hope you will enjoy it too

Featured Artist: Ona Kingdon

I am taking a break from painting this week as I prepare for the Studio Tour. I have matted about 15 paintings and am in the process of framing them. I have also been creating the designs for many new art cards.

This year my theme for the tour is going to be based on our senses. My section of the tour will be designed to encourage visitors to discover the art through many senses not just our sight.  So if you live in southern Ontario, come and visit me at Boynton House on Richmond Green on the 17^th 18^th or 19^th of October and see how many of your 5 senses you end up using or see being used in the paintings or drawings. There will even be nibbles to tempt your sense of taste and music to listen to as you look around.  I often use music as an inspiration for my paintings or to help me set the mood as I paint. I will have some of the music playing so maybe you can identify which music I listened to for some of the pieces on display.

My popular demand I have also been designing Ted series bookmarks. I can't wait to get James to print them on canvas and varnish them. They will be ready for sale in time for the Studio Tour and yes, I will be selling them on line too Have you got a favourite?

 

Ona

 

Paul Jackson Kolinsky kayak brushes

I have been trying out the 4 Paul Jackson Kolinsky kayak brushes over the last few months

 The info on Paul’s website says-‘These double-ended brushes are perfectly balanced and weighted for the ultimate painting experience. Sizes: 0/2, 2/4, 6/8, and 10/12. Sold only as a complete set.’

Having a brush both ends is so useful. I have been able to load one side with paint and the other with clear water which makes softening an edge of a wet on dry wash so much easier. I can also load the other side of the brush with a different colour allowing me to merely flip and then continue to paint. Previously I would need to either use two brushes or stop and clean my brush and reload with the new colour for a variegated wash. Thirdly I can load both ends of the brush with the same colour and merely flipping the kayak when one brush runs out of paint. This allows me to cover a larger area with one glaze before the paper goes past its optimum dampness and I need to let it dry fully before rewetting. Lastly I can also have one end of the kayak dry giving me a thirsty brush always at hand to lift any unwanted paint.

The brushes hold a point well making detail possible, even with a larger brush than I am used to, but at the same time they are extremely soft (a quality I really look for in a brush so that I can achieve my ultra smooth washes that I so enjoy creating).  

 I still use my Winsor and Newton series 240 goat hair mop/wash brushes for glazing large areas as I have yet to find a large wash brush that ‘kisses the paper’ as gently as they do without moving the paint on the previous layers around but must say having to use two brushes (one for paint and one for water) feels cumbersome after a couple months with the kayaks.

I also use my existing tiny brushes sizes 002-004 for very detailed work e.g. painting eyes or fur or hair but would happily have a kayak version if one existed.

My ideal brush set? Paul’s 4 Kayaks with an added 2 kayaks- a kayak mop and a kayak teeny tiny brush.

An added bonus… the care instructions the brushes come with are very amusing and make me smile every time I read them. 

Ona

Silverback

I still haven't decided on the title for this. I would welcome any ideas. I guess the message I was trying to convey is best said by this except of the poem by Lysa Schuler.

They are beautiful, proud, and can be feared.
But understand, they are a creation revered.

 We protect to keep the remaining alive.

But who knows how long the few will survive?

The drawing is done completely in pointellism and took just over 21 hours in total to complete.

Working in pen

While I have been planning  and drawing out my next watercolour I have also been working on another pen and ink drawing. The whole drawing is created with dots using a technique called Pointillism. This has taken me about 12 hours so far and I am guessing it will probably be close to 30 hours before it is finished. Its easily transportable though so I can keep it with me and draw at odd moments throughout the day wherever I happen to be.

I just love his developing expression. I wonder what he is thinking. Any ideas?

Ona

The creative process: an analogy

To all my creative friends whether you are an artist, a writer, a photographer, a composer, a choreographer… 

...don't give up, remember the creative process is not a linear one. You don’t begin at one point and travel upwards in a straight line to your chosen goal. Very much like the seed cracking open and completely destroying its outer shell in the process, or the caterpillar breaking its very essence down to the absolute basics and then completely re-inventing itself, the creative process is more of a metamorphosis of thought, of understanding and most of all of belief that the power of your ideas is worth pursuing through the ups and downs. In the words of Cynthia Ocelli,

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To some that don’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”

This has happened to me this week as I worked on the idea for my next painting. I had sketched away for days on the idea. On Friday morning I had a finished outline but as I looked at it I knew it wasn’t what I wanted. It was a big fat lumbering catterpillar with too many legs and no wings. So I took it back down to the very essence of my message again. To many, that stage may have looked like almost total destruction, but I had faith because I knew it was just a stage in the process. My greedy fat caterpillar of an idea had to be broken down, and then reformed into the outline idea that I am just finishing now which I hope, when painted will be a beautiful butterfly ready to take flight. Hope you enjoy my analogy. I have too much fun with my pencils and wild imagination sometimes.

 

Ona

Heart strings

I have listened to the following piece of music by Danny Wright quite a bit as I was painting this.  It's called 'keys to the heart'. I thought you might enjoy listening to it as you look at the finished painting.

I nearly used this title as the title of the painting too but James and I both felt 'Heart Strings' was the one to choose. 

So near and yet so far

There is always the temptation when you are reaching the last stages of a painting to want to get it finished but there is still a long way to go. The dress I will be painting is a dark one so there  will be many layers or glazes to create a similar rich dark feel to the background colour. The reflected colours and shadows need to be developed and enhanced on the skin and white piano keys from the dress skin and violin, the music needs to be painted  also and lastly the jewellery added.

There is actually a little more colour in her skin in the actual painting than the camera has captured in this wip photo but hopefully it gives you some idea of my progress.

I am also working on the outline for a painting of my model Sarah's sister who plays the viola.  I am hoping to get the basic idea finished so its ready to draw out once this one is completed.

Ona

Violinist WIP 4

Anyone who paints miniature portraits has my complete and utter admiration. This painting is a big one (31 inches on the long side) but the actual face of my violinist is only just over 2 inches from chin to hairline. It was fiddly enough work getting a likeness at this size. Every 10th of a millimetre counts. How on earth artists get a likeness when portrait is smaller than this is mind boggling.

I will be working on the violin next.

Ona

Progress Update

I am so relieved. 15 layers of paint later and I have got past the ugly, oh my, what was I thinking stage and am now hoping this painting might actually work.

As I am sat here thinking about what to do next though I am starting to wonder why on earth I wanted the figure to be only a small part of the painting. Getting a likeness when the face is smaller is much harder work. We don't think of that sort of thing when we have these great initial ideas do we though. I tend to be thinking of the overall look and feel of the piece at this first stage and not little details such as how I easy or hard it will be to paint. Oh well, here goes....Wish me luck 

Ona

The creative process

I often get asked about my creative process so I thought it would be fun to tell you all about my own 8 stages of Creativity. Have a read through and let me know if the process sounds familiar Oh by the way I'm at stage 4 in my painting at the moment and thinking seriously as I write this about stage 5 Eeeek! 

Ona's 8 stages of creativity

1. I’ve just had the most awesome idea.

Usually these happen at the most inconvenient times but the creative flow just doesn’t happen on command so I try to be prepared and carry a pencil and paper around with me so I can jot ideas down wherever I am. Then I can focus on other things until a more suitable time when I can work on the idea.

2. It’s so tricky to put this idea onto paper

Once I have the idea its research time. Which way do people hold violins when playing, how does a dress or hair blow in the wind, what happens to light on objects, how are the shadows formed and what colours should I use to create the atmosphere I want. So many questions need answers.

3. The elation that I have completed the outline and then the realisation I now have to actually paint it.

How on earth am I going to tackle it? What do I do first? How long is this going to take me? Why did I decide to do it this big or this small? I must be crazy to think I can pull this off.

4. This looks really ugly

Every painting goes through its ugly stage, some more than others. Creating a rich dark background or giving a face shape and form is a huge leap of faith for each are going to look ghastly before becoming presentable again.

5. Who do I think I’m kidding… will it ever work?

No matter now experienced I get, when I try new things I have huge doubts. Even when I am doing things I have done many times before I still have doubts.

This just can’t possibly turn into a rich deep dark background can it?

Hopefully it will work and I will progress onto stage 6 soon. 

 6. Oh, maybe it might be ok, I just need a bit of faith

I’ve turned the corner and I can see the end in sight. The hard bit is done

7. You grow in confidence and let you guard down and then suddenly you make a blunder

What on earth was I thinking! That’s was so the wrong colour or why did I drop my paint filled paintbrush right on the lightest area of the painting? Thank goodness for Mr Clean’s magic erasers, what did we do before it was invented!

8. My god, it actually worked!

The last strokes and I am exhausted both physically and emotionally. I walk away but when I return after a bite to eat or time away I look and think ‘hey, that’s not bad’ maybe I could have done this a bit differently and next time I will remember to do this instead but I am proud of what I have created.