Return to drawing...

This weekend we were out of town and I didn't want to lose an entire weekend of potential drawing time, so I took my sketchbook, pencils, and charcoal pencils with me. I spent most of my 'spare' time this weekend drawing something I haven't drawn in a long time... horses!

Here is my first effort from the weekend. This is from a photo I took in welsford in the spring of 2007. Mare and foal, 2008 pencil on paper, 6 x 8 inches

New and old

Today's paintings are both of the same fish. The bottom one I did in the spring of 2007, and the top one just this past week. Interesting to see the difference almost two years makes!
Calico Fantail, 2008 soft pastel with watercolour underpainting, 8 x 10 inches, NFS (commission)

Koi, 2007 soft pastel, 8 x 10 inches, collection of the Balser family :)

So, my question is this: which one do you prefer?

A view most people don't get to see...

This is another pastel with watercolour underpainting. While instantly recognizable to some, most people haven't seen this particular view. This is a route called "Weeping Whisker" in Welsford that goes up the side of the Welsford nose - as you can see here. Erick climbed weeping whisker several times this year, and one day Adam just happened to be on the next route over snapping photos. I was belaying Erick about 40' below him, and about another 40' off the ground. I should also note that the nose is fairly high above the ground, and once you go out onto the bridge of the nose you get a fantastic view of the Welsford valley. The best part of the climb (for me) is climbing out onto the bridge of the nose (which is about 4 feet wide) and having this incredible feeling of looking out onto the valley and knowing that you're totally exposed. Incidentally this is my first 'climbing' painting.
Erick Burley on Weeping Whisker, 2008 soft pastel with watercolour, 8 x 10 inches, collection of Cory Goodman

A new technique

After all the recent watercolour painting, I thought I'd try some pastels with a watercolour underpainting. I'm sure there are some wonderful affects that can be achieved this way! This is my first pastel with a watercolour underpainting.
Day's End, 2008 pastel with watercolour, 8 x 10 inches, Collection of Jill Nelson and Chris Norfolk

The last pears

Ok This is the last of the pears for now. I promise. Also the end to watercolours for at least a few days. :) The pear that was featured on Friday and Monday is the one on the left. ;)
Three pears, 2008 watercolour, 7 x 10 inches, $65 unframed

Another pear

I think this one is the best of all the pears I painted last weekend. Strangely enough, it wasn't anywhere near to being ripe. I think it still looks good enough to eat, though. ;) Pear Study II, 2008 watercolour, 5 x 6 inches, $35 unframed

Today's watercolour study

This was painted from life from a rather oddly shaped Bartlett pear.
Pear Study I, 2008 watercolour, 4 x 7 inches, $30 unframed

First horse painting in a long time!

This is the first horse painting I've done in almost a year. It's of Prussia and I during a lesson. I see obvious flaws, but I think in this painting the flaws add something. :)
Schooling Session, 2008 watercolour, 8 x 10 inches, NFS

Winter Nerepis *SOLD*

Congratulations to Carmelita Thompson!

"Chamcook Roses" SOLD!

This painting was displayed at BlueFin Pottery and Hand Creations in Digby, NS and sold recently! I painted it in 2007, and it was soft pastel, 8 x 10 inches.

Another quick study

Pretty obvious what this is I should hope! I bought a bag of mixed nuts at sobeys on Friday and did this painting of a walnut. The bag probably weighed a pound or two and they only charged me 4 cents! I noticed that after the fact.. otherwise, I would have gone and got more! ;)
Walnut Study, 2008 watercolour, 4 x 4 inches, $20 unframed

Amethyst crystal - study from life

I am not very happy with this one. I didn't pick very good colours and it was a hard subject to paint. Anyway, this is an amethyst crystal I've had for years. If I were to do it again, I'd use more intense purples, and I'd use a dark brown sepia colour for the background. The crystal is about the size of my fist, and I think it's actually my sister's, but she hasn't ever asked for it back. ;)Amethyst Crystal, 2008 watercolour, ~5 x 5 inches, $25 unframed

New china!

Last weekend Erick's parents came up to our place and brought us a new kitchen table, and some dishes that they weren't using anymore. Some of the dishes are this lovely (and highly paintable) blue and white china. China Cup, 2008 watercolour, 7 x 8 inches, $65 unframed

Tools of the Trade

Here is a small sketch I did of my paints - cobalt and prussian blues to be precise. :) This was quick and fun. The photo is much darker than in real life. Tools of the Trade, 2008 watercolour, 3 x 4 inches, $20 unframed

PS. For anyone interested in seeing the paintings that were in the sunbury shores show, look back to my blog posts from October. They're all posted there.

A crazy little watercolour

I did this rather quickly, trying to use up the leftover paints on my pallette from yesterday's painting. I got a little carried away. :) The colours are more intense in real life - this is slightly washed out from the flash of the camera. I plan to do another larger painting of this same view. Landscape study, 2008 watercolour, 6 x 8 inches, NFS

A little watercolour

Not super thrilled with this one, although I like the sky colours. The sky went in pretty quick, but I need to pay more attention to the concentration of the paint I'm using for washes, so I don't get 'backwash'.
Early Morning Fog, 2008 watercolour, 6 x 7 inches, $45 unframed

Still more pebbles - SOLD

Another painting of beach pebbles from life. This one took about 2 hours. I like the black and white rocks, but in some places the highlights are too bright.
Pebbles Study IV, 2008 watercolour, 6 x 7 inches, $45 unframed

Watercolour Study

Here's another watercolour study. I set up the pebbles in a plastic tray with a layer of sand on top and then added water. I like the white and grey pebbles on the right hand side.
Pebbles Study III, 2008 watercolour, ~ 4 x 5 inches, $25 unframed