Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails WIP 2

I have now finished the face and background and I will be working on this larger than life size painting at 'Tastes of the Hill' on Richmond Green, Richmond Hill on Sunday from 11am-8pm.

For those of you too far away to visit me on Sunday... Any guesses what he is going to be looking at? There's a big clue in the title (smile)

Ona

Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails WIP 1

I thought you would enjoy seeing the amusing expression that has been appearing on my paper over the last couple of days.

This is just part of a new watercolour that I am working on. The face is larger than life in size which makes such a pleasant change from all the tiny faces I have recently been doing where every tenth of a millimeter counts. I still have a little more work to do defining his facial features but his expression is defintitely beginning to develop that mischievious look I am after.

Ona

Incarcerate-Ted!!!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to see me painting at Aurora Public Library for Doors Open Aurora. Here is my finished painting:

STOP PRESS!!!! HEADLINE NEWS!!!!

The small furry bear ‘Incriminate-Ted’ who was caught stealing maple syrup has been Incarcerate-Ted! The judge said the bear’s actions were “selfishly gluttonous” as he sentenced the small bear to 2 years in prison.

Poor Incarcerate-Ted is feeling blue and needs your help!!! Do you agree with the judges decision? If you don’t please either let me know a really clever case for appeal or an ingenious way for him to escape captivity so we can get him out of prison.  

Will Ted be ‘ Vindicate-Ted’ ‘Bust-Ted’ ? It’s up to you.  Let me know your ideas.

Thank you Patricia Duke for taking this photo of me painting at the library and sending it to me.

 Ona

Doors Open Aurora

I will be painting a brand new 'Ted' painting at the Aurora Public Library this Saturday (August 15th) as part of Doors Open Aurora. Come and see me paint and meet some of the real Teds that star in my paintings. Its a must for both the young and the 'young at heart'.

The Ted in this publicity photo will be the star of the watercolour I will be painting and will definitely be putting in an appearance with me on Saturday. I wonder what will happen to him next?

 For my followers who live too far away to come and find out on Saturday, I promise I will post the finished painting as soon as I can.

People's Choice Award: Transparent Watercolor Society of America 2015 Exhibition

I had a wonderful phone call this morning from Mary Ellen Segraves, the TWSA Awards Chair to tell me that my painting 'Acceso' won the People's Choice award in the exhibition this year.

Getting a People's Choice Award from such a large, well attended exhibition such as TWSA is so exciting. I am beyond thrilled that so many people were touched by the painting and voted for it.

Thank you everyone!

Ona

Love makes the world go round

If love makes the world go round,

 when we are together

it spins a little faster

I wonder what dance they are dancing as they are spinning around? A waltz maybe?  or something faster? What do you think?

Transparent Watercolour 32 inches by 22 inches on Arches 140lb cold press paper.

Mississippi Watercolor 2015 Grand National Exhibition

Very happy to have received this e mail yesterday

'Congratulations!! Our juror, Paul Jackson, has selected your painting, Midnight Blues, to hang in the Mississippi Watercolor 2015 Grand National Exhibition to be held at the Arts Center of Mississippi located at 201 East Pascagoula St., Jackson, MS 39201 from October 5, 2015 through November 22, 2015. 

Ona

WIP Love makes the world go round

I am going with an old time theme for my next music series painting. My inspiration is the 1966 song by Deon Jackson 'Love makes the world go round'. Of course back in 1966 people listened to their music on a record player so I wanted to encorporate a suggestion of one into my background. I thought it would be a fun 'stage' for my dancers to perform on as well as mirroring their spinning movement.

This is just a quick photo of my progress. The colours are not totally accurate and the graduation of colour in the real painting looks much smoother but hopefully the photo will give you an idea of my progress so far.

 Tomorrow I will start working on the dancers in the painting.  It will be a challenge to capture the sense of movement in their clothing.

Ona

Splash 16: Exploring Texture

Little 'Incriminate-Ted' is so excite-ted to see that he is on p41 of North Light Books Splash 16: Exploring Texture. He is busily practicing his autograph techniques right now so asked me to let you know that the book is now available from the link below

 http://www.northlightshop.com/splash-16-exploring-texture.

Seriously, I am so honoured to have this painting included in this book alongside so many awesome artists. I can't wait to get my copy. 

Ona

Flight of the Imagination

I really enjoy creating imaginative paintings such as this but I am now struggling to think of a title.
'Flight of the imagination'? This was the only idea I had. Let me know if you think of any good ideas.

Even after many hours painting this the baby's delighted expression still makes me smile.

Ona

WIP 1

It's been a while since I have painted a larger portrait so I decided to give this one a go. I really enjoyed bringing her joyful face and soft fine baby hair to life on the paper. I still have a lot to paint before this watercolour is finished including a little more hair but it looks very much like I will be watched as I do so. Any guess what this young child might be so surprised and delighted about?

 Ona

Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 36th Annual International Juried Exhibition Acceptance

I was very pleased to find out today that my painting 'Journey' has been accepted into the The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 36th Annual International Juried Exhibition.



There is a full list of all the accepted artists on the PWS website. Looks like Juror of selection Iain Stewart has put together a great show. The exhibition will take place At the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 W. Pomfret St, Carlisle, PA 17013 from September 25 – November 13, 2015

Ona

Exhibit-Ted

10 of my Ted series paintings are now on display at the Aurora Public Library, 15145 Yonge St, Aurora, ON L4G 1M. The exhibition will be there until August 24th and will be open each day except Sundays and bank holidays during regular library opening hours.

Here are a couple of photo's that the library took of me with a few of the Ted paintings to use for their publicity

 This is the promotional video that was created by the library.  I was asked to talk about the idea behind the series as a whole and about a few of the paintings themselves.

I hope if you are close enough you will be able to visit the exhibition.

Ona

TWSA awards dinner

It was wonderful to see so many good friends and amazing artists at the Transparent Watercolor Society of America Celebration weekend and dinner in Kenosha this past weekend. It was a special moment for me and several of my wonderful friends Saturday evening when we received our signatures at the annual dinner.

Here are some more photos from the weekend. I am on the left with Chihro Yabe, Marilyn Wear and Jane Freeman

 From left to right, Me, Cindy Agan, Mary Jansen, Chihiro Yabe, Chris Beck, Marilyn Wear, Janet Belich, Carolyn Sommer and Kaaren Oreck

A whole bunch of us celebrating together

John Salminen and I

John Salminen, Chihiro Yabe and I

Cindy Agan and I

Jane freeman, Tuva Stephens and Janet Belich

Mary Jansen Marilyn Wear and I

and me with my painting from the exhibition

 I am so proud to be part of this wonderful organisation and to be able to sign TWSA after my name.

Ona

Midnight Blues

It was great fun playing with light and dark in this painting and using the bell of the saxophone to create a misty dramatically lit stage for my saxophone player. I really enjoyed creating the concept for this painting. I used the lyrics from the Gary Moore song Midnight Blues as my stepping stone. I know Gary plays the guitar not the saxophone but it was more the emotions in the lyrics that inspired me.

When the shadows fall
I feel the night closin' in
There must be some reason
For this mood I'm gettin' in

Can't get no sleep
Don't know what to do
I've got those midnight blues

It was a great excuse to use all the different blues and purples on my palette too.

Ona