The Canson Award Pikes Peak International Watermedia 2015

I was very pleased to receive a message this morning to say that Juror Ted Nuttal had awarded ‘A penny for your Thoughts’ the Canson Award in the Pikes Peak International Watermedia Exhibition in Colorado Springs US.

What a great way to begin the month of June.

Ona

I Got the Midnight Blues WIP 3

Several of you have been asking about the size of the painting so this is a photo of my progress as I was painting this afternoon with my hand and my brush to show you the scale.

There is still heaps left to do but I am happy with how it is progressing. I have just blocked in the colour on the section you can see me working on today and yes, I do work by putting in the darks first. Tomorrow I will work on the lettering which is on this section of the saxophone.

Ona

I've got those Midnight Blues WIP 2

It's been slow progress this week but the saxophone is beginning to take shape.

 I can't wait to let my creativity loose in the inside of the bell but I must be patient... more keys and levers and shiny bits to do first. My total admiration goes out to my artists friends that paint glass and other shiny stuff. I have lost count how many times I lose where I am on my ref photo and have to follow my way back from a spot I can recognise! Whoever invented the saxophone didn't really think about us poor artists with all the keys, levers and shiny metal rods.

Ona

I've got those Mightnight Blues WIP1

I thought you would enjoy a sneak peak of the painting that I am working on now. I am loving the colour palette for this one. Blue is my favourite colour and in this one I am using the complete range of blues form the warm purply blues to the cooler aquas.

Painting this is a bit like working on a jigsaw puzzle as you look for the shapes on the reflective surface of the saxophone.  I have been enjoying listening to Stanley Turrentine's saxophone music as I worked on it today and thought you might enjoy hearing it too.

Ona

Commission

I finished the commission I have been working on today.  I hope you all enjoyed following my progress as I painted it. Thank you Sally for allowing me to share its development with everyone.

Ona

Commission WIP 2

I just love the stage in a painting such as this when my subject starts to appear on the paper. I enjoy painting any subject matter but bringing people and animals to life on the paper has to be my favourite part.

 
I still have a long way to go before this painting is finished and the number of reference photo's I am working from now has gone up to 15 but I am enjoying putting them all together into one image.

Ona

Commission Work in Progress

I am currently working on a commission and have been given permission to share it with you as I paint it.  Thank you Sally.

As I 'set the scene' I am working from about 7 different photographs to capture both the lighting and the detail. My subjects are masked because there are a lot of light areas on both of them that I do not want to accidently get paint on.

Ona

International Watercolor Artists Book 2: Handbook for Aspiring Artists and Art Lovers

I am very excited to be one of the 48 artists featured in this newly published book. It is now available for sale through both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

  

Amazon lists this book as: 

"A Handbook and Coffee Table book, to be both enjoyed and studied for artists, artist aspirers and art lovers alike. There are 48 artists in this book from 39 countries. Each artist has two pages 8.5x11 where his/her paintings are shown along with bio backgrounds, picture of the artist, answers to many questions relevant to their work, and advice for aspiring artists. They exemplify the best in watercolor world wide."

Thank you to the editor K Coralee burch Ph. D for including me in this book.

Ona

International Watermedia 2015 acceptance

I had some more good news this morning.

'We are pleased to inform you that our juror Ted Nuttall has selected 'A Penny for your Thoughts' to be displayed in the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society's International Watermedia 2015 exhibit. This exhibition is being held at the beautiful and innovative Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado.'

The exhibition will open on June 1 and run until June 30, 2015


Ona

CSPWC Watermark Ontario Exhibition acceptance

I had some good news last night. Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future' has been selected to be part of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour 'Watermark Ontario' Exhibition.

The exhibition will take place at the Santa Fe Gallery, 828 Third Ave. East, Owen Sound ON. May 23 to June 20th.

Ona

Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society demo

I had a lovely evening yesterday demoing for the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society.

This was the high key painting I created using just 5 colours, each glazed individually.

and a couple more photo's of the evening as I was working and talking to the members.

 

Thank you to everyone at NFWS for making me feel so welcome.

Ona

Don't Fret

Sometimes an idea for a painting just pops into my head and I have to stop and create it right away. This is exactly what happened with my latest transparent watercolour 'Don't Fret'.

Seems the cat in my painting has found a sunny spot on the fretboard of a guitar. What unusual places have you seen cats sleep in? Please share any stories if you have them. I would love to read them.

Eleanor Farjeon's poem is so true:

"Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.
Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.
Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.
Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.
Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere"

Ona

On the Wings of song

I found out yesterday that my painting 'On the Wings of Song' has been selected to be part of 'Art Muse' a celebration of Music and Art, in Toronto later this month.

It will be projected onto a large screen during the performance which is based around the theme of music in the natural world. I have also been asked to make a brief presentation about the inspiration behind my painting afterwards.

Ona

Sugar Sugar

 These little hummingbirds are eager for sweet nectar at this time of year and seem to have discovered or 'noted' an unusual source for their energy rich drink. You know me, I just can't resist letting my imagination fly away with me at times like this.  I don't know how musical you all are but I also took some artistic license with the musical term at the beginning of the music. 'Volante' means light and fliting/flying. I thought it would make my little hummingbirds feel right at home.

 The painting is 25 by 15 inches in size and is painted on Arches 140lb cold press paper.

Ona

'Sugar Sugar' WIP 1

It seems like this little hummingbird is watching what I am painting very closely. I wonder what she is hoping for?  This is a small section of another fun Music themed painting that I am working on this week. 

I am longing for these little magical creatures to return to Canada once the spring weather finally decides to stay. It's tempting us to believe its on the way with the odd warmer day. Hopefully it won't be long.

I have two more hummingbirds left to paint and some shadows to add in. I will post again once I have finished. 

Ona