The Saturday group met in the beautiful gardens at Villas Las Palmas and everyone found something that inspired them. I think at one point there were 18 artists around the grounds. Most were doing water colours or sketchbooks but Amy, Linda and I worked in oil. It was fun when the first person was ready to leave, we did a "slap down" of our works in progress for a photo. We did not catch everyone but had a good representation. We all had so much fun, we are going back next week. A huge thank you to everyone that lives there for opening up their garden, patios, open spaces, decks, roof top and offered us chairs and tables, gracias! "Villas Las Palmas"
En plein air (on location), 10" x 8", Oil on canvas pad #20025124
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Last year we had a tote that we stored for the winter in Mexico. We had kitchen items, bike items, a few clothes and my oil paints. I had forgotten that I also stuffed in canvas paper (a few sheets were moldy), solvent and oil brushes along with jewelry and sandals. It was like Christmas all over again as I had forgotten what was in it. My suitcase was filled with my tripod, wooden palette for oil painting, acrylic paints and travel palette as well as my water colour travel palette. I used my oil set up last Saturday with my plein air group and was very happy to have it. Now it is set up in a shady spot on our deck. It is so nice to paint in luscious oil again and with everything set up and handy, it is so easy to get started. It is interesting with the humidity here as the paint reacts very differently. Above, my oil painting set up (for plein air and on our deck), small travel acrylic paint set with the pigment names on masking tape on the lid, my travel water colour set with the pigment names on the lids (it is to hard to tell what some of the colours are when they are dark). The water colour set will last me the full 3 months. I will leave the oil paint tubes and solvent here again and take everything else home with me when we leave. Oil canvas paper for oil or acrylic, water colour paper, brushes and 2 sketch books round out my supplies. Not much room for clothes!! Bottom right: my beautiful handmade sketchbook bag, pencil case and carry bag (thank you Sue!!).
.I had enrolled in the weekly "Let's Face It" online course in Kara Bullock Art School for 2022 and 2023. There were enough classes that I have not watched or worked on that I decided that those would be a good focus for inspiration. She offered short, introductory free classes around Christmas so you could see the instructor's method of teaching. I managed to do a couple in oil paint before the offer expired. Top row: Sarah Sedwick (Left: on easel, Right: in progress, Middle row, left: finished). Middle row right: Kim Van der Hoek, barns (using our B.C. neighbour's barn as inspiration), Bottom row: Natasha Ruschka,
Sometimes opportunity is just getting to know the right people! Amy asked 4 of us from our weekly plein air group if we wanted a lesson on values - YES, pick me, pick me!!!!! Amy is what I would call a colourist and sees and paints all the nuances in the scenes in front of her. She does absolutely amazing skies and water as well as great depth through colour. Amy had a planar apple that she had on a tablecloth, with a cloth behind and lit up from the side. 3 of us had easels and one artist worked in water colour on the kitchen island. Amy had moved all her furniture out to make room for us. I unwisely chose to paint in acrylic which dried to fast to make a "mother colour" and paint in the way she demo'd. Above is the apple that I painted twice monochromatically. We then moved on to colour. Again I really struggled with my paint drying but her teaching did not go to waste. I had to almost overcompensate and mix a lot of paint! Interesting to notice the light colour difference when I took the photo of the two apple painting at home. We had wonderful art discussions and sharing of knowledge. Amy is a very good and knowledgeable instructor! We all went home mentally exhausted and thoroughly grateful!! Thank you Amy!!!!. In Melaque the CENAC Galeria Amiga has a show on right now with some of Amy's paintings as well as other artists in our plein air group.
It is interesting trying to photograph my oil paintings in Mexico versus Canada. The sky is such a different colour and intensity; what works at home, gives different results here. These were all taken on our patio in the shade at different times of day! It almost feels like those newspaper squares "Find 6 differences"! "Three Amigos"
8" x 10", oil on canvas pad #20013124 So excited to share my new gift. My friend Sue brought this wonderful art bag, pencil pouch and foldable shopping bag that she made out of perfect material...a print with art supplies, WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!! You can imagine how quickly I discarded my plastic bags and set up my new art bag for my plein air water colour outings. It has 2 outside pockets, inside pockets and zips closed (a must for in a bouncing bike basket!). As you can see, the colours are perfect for Mexico. I am so thrilled and grateful!
This is second homemade art bag I have received in my art journey from two creative and talented friends, THANK YOU SUE AND RYLLA!! I think of you both every time I use them! My second outing with the Saturday group was at an open bar on the beach. They were cleaning up from what looked like a wedding and setting up for another! We painted here a couple of times last year and loved the tranquility and the lagoon and ocean views all to ourselves except for a few beach walkers. This time, the waves were pounding like I have never seen. Peg was standing at a table as the huge waves made it up the beach to her feet. There are 2 more tiers of beach below her. At one point a huge wave thundered on the shore and came way up where we were. I jumped onto a raised platform and skinned my knee in the process. Chairs were knocked over and Peg was hanging on to her table while beach chairs and everything swirled in the waves around us. Needless to say that was the end of our session. Another part of the adventure, was a man who said he owned the property wanted us to pay $100 pesos each for "using the tables". We ended up paying $400 for 5 of us as not all of us had money with us. This is common for people renting tables for the day, but we never had to pay before and normally we are the only ones in this open area bar early on Saturday morning. More fun and adventures than we expected!! Four of us celebrated the morning excursion with an iced coffee after. "Waves Arising"
8" x 10" , en plein air, oil on canvas pad, # 2008124 I am so happy to connect with other artists here and meet up every Saturday morning around different parts of the town. My first one was with 3 other artists in the town square where we sat in various places with different views and interests. When the first person has to leave, we all gather and do a "slap down", (the sound of our sketchbooks hitting the tile floor). The paintings are usually not complete at that point but we share them in a private messenger group for everyone to see. I am enjoying my new (Christmas present) dress and gold water colours (thank you Evan!).
We are fortunate to be in Mexico again for part of this winter. The warmth, friendly people and outdoor active living suits both my husband and I. Looking back on some of the art I did while here last year, brought back so many memories. It is doing this review that I realized how much art I had produced and so many memories and moments I captured for myself in paint, not just photos or words. While in Mexico for 3 winter months, I painted weekly with a group of like minded artists at a different location each week. Sometimes our group was big and sometimes just a few of us. I loved it. At the end we had a show in the Galeria Amiga of our en plein air work. I also participated in a month of sketching prompts by Opus Art Supplies for February. After completing the 28 day challenge, I continued on to complete my first 100 day challenge in my sketchbook of small 4" x 4" squares of something in my day. A couple of my gallery paintings were gifted to new home owner friends and one was exchanged for a bedspread and hammock for this year (gracias Cathy y Pedro). Below are a few of my Mexico adventures. Thank you for your support in my art adventures!! I wish you many memorable and soul filling activities in 2024!
Week 3, 9, 10, 11, Instead of "Let's Face It 2023", I thought I would try PYHaS 2023. I ended up winning the "Let's Face It 2023" (thanks Kara Bullock!!) so happily worked on both.
We were in Mexico for the first 3 months last year so I worked on both classes in my sketchbook with the few supplies I had on hand. The results I made were interesting compared to the demo and I had to be creative without having the same supplies. I also watched some of the videos and incorporated bits and pieces into my own work (not posted here). Watching the creative process is so intriguing to me. Again, the course is mine to go back to even when it is over. I would recommend any of the years if you are interested (started in 2017). Right now 2024 is on sale. Below are the sketchbook results of the demos on this year long online course. I have posted them throughout the year on this blog with write up and instructor's names. They are in the order that I completed them, not in the weekly course order.
I was in Mexico for the first 3 months of the course and worked in my sketchbook with the limited supplies I had. It was interesting and frustrating trying to get similar results. The wonderful thing about this course, I watched the videos (without working on it) and incorporated some of the methods in my own work. This worked well for me as I paint what inspires me and what I see/feel in the world around me. The great news is I won this course last year (thank you Kara Bullock!!) and it doesn't expire so I can keep going back. Each of these demos is to give you an idea of how the instructor teaches and if it resonates with you and you want to learn more, full courses are on Kara Bullock's website: karabullockart.com I also signed up for the course in 2022 so have that to work on as well. I did not sign up for this year as I have more than enough to work on, but am enticed for next year. I would highly recommend any of the "Let's Face It" years on her website. @karabullockart @olga.s.furman Week 7 was a demo by Angela Kennedy @angelakennedy. Once again, supplies were minimal. I did not have acrylic inks, various pencils, and white conte. I used a 2B pencil and watercolour. The first photo is the demo half way through when Angela decided she wanted to change the hair, what fun following along. Week 8 was a mixed media demo by Holly Beals @hollybeals I used acrylic and mixed papers. I did not have acrylic ink, stencils, mixed textured papers, gloss medium, mat varnish and airbrush medium. This was a fun piece but difficult watching the wonderful effects Holly created in hers.
In the Red Barn Arts Centre in Sicamous B.C. the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club has a space to hang the group's paintings. Betty has a monthly theme and September was vegetables. I saw this avocado on Ali Kay's @Freshpaint group and thought that would be perfect. Well it turns out (after I painted it) that an avocado is a fruit! Good thing I had also painted a drying rack with onions on it. Betty had the group over for a day of sketching/painting/visiting/pot luck lunch/laughter and games. I found a shady spot in her garden and painted the onions using oil paint. I put both paintings up, to see if anyone else notices or finds the avocado as funny! The end result was I pretty much was the only one that thought it was a vegetable! Above: "Ripe and Ready" 10" x 8", Acrylic, framed and for sale
Below: "On The Drying Rack", 8" x 10", plein air oil, framed and for sale We are so grateful to have almost 2 weeks on Vancouver Island with our daughter, her husband and their son Jack. Being around Jack is like watching my heart walk around. Our time together is very special, loving and fun, just as it should be with a grandchild. When possible, I sketched in my homemade sketchbook (a mix of watercolour paper and computer paper), noting the memories and not so much the accuracy with my limited time. I wanted the essence, not a labour intensive painting.
With a borrowed pen and an empty sandwich wrapper, time is passed sketching a barista , It always surprises me with what little is needed, time is usually the hardest thing to find. Sketching and enjoying a coffee on a raining day while waiting for the ferry was a perfect way to spend an hour. The second sketch was done on the ferry in my sketchbook with ink and watercolour.
Every Christmas season the Courtyard Gallery has a new show that includes "Little Treasures". This show has the gallery full of new paintings, knitted gloves and hats, felted treasures, wood treasures, pottery, jewelry and cards to name a few. The artists also create small handmade treasures to go on the tree or to tuck in a special stocking or gift for Christmas with a variety of price points. This year I have hand sewn booties for keeping young ones feet warm in a stroller as well as Christmas tree decorations (thanks Shannon for showing me how and picking up supplies for me). In the show, I have 4 paintings for sale of wrapped gifts to pull out for any celebration year 'round as well as "River's View", a large 24" x 31" oil painting. Enjoying all the artists beautiful work is free to look and enjoy. Instagram: @courtyardgalleryenderby Website: https://courtyardgallery.ca/ Facebook: Courtyard Gallery Enderby
My husband and I went for an overnight visit and birthday celebration for my friend Sue. Part of this celebration was a delightful afternoon on their patio boat. Ross snapped some celebratory photos which I used as the basis for the painting below. This is one of my favourite paintings because of the fun we have together which was embedded in the fun I had painting this! "Celebrating, Lake Style"
36" x 22" Acrylic A late birthday gift for Sue. Two things I love to do are plein air (outdoors/on location) sketching and spending time on my stand up paddleboard. It is a solitaire endeavor that I love! Snacks and a cold beer are often in my sketchbook bag to celebrate the event.
It is like a rodeo ride in the summer with all the surf boats ploughing big waves and coming in every direction. All my supplies are well contained in plastic bags in case I'm dumped (so far, so lucky). Now, the water barely has a wave and I can look up more and enjoy the views. I often go to the same point and sketch slightly different views from the shore, legs stretched in front of me with my sketchbook on my lap and paints on the sand. I feel perfectly grounded and it feels like everything is alright in my world for the moment. The Kamloops TNS (Thompson/Nicola/Shuswap) Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists extended the invite for a collage demo and creative time with Krystyna Laycraft teaching. Three of us drove from Sicamous B.C. to Blind Bay to enjoy the workshop and critique offer by the TNS FCA chapter. It was a fun and informative workshop and painting critique that everyone participated in. Thank you to the TNS Chapter for extending the invite and the Blind Bay Artists for hosting in their community center. The drive was a glorious sunny fall day, perfect for artists' eyes! "Lakeside Fall View"
12" x 12" mixed media collage on board #20118023 Krystyna's beautiful art and collage work can be seen on her Instagram page: @krystynaart, Website: https://krystynaart.studio Facebook: as well at The Courtyard Gallery and the Enderby Arts Center both in Enderby, B.C. Today is the first day of a brand new show at the Enderby B.C. Courtyard Gallery. The five paintings below will be on display and for sale. They were painted in oil, en plein air (on location) in Mexico last winter. Top row (left to right) "Calle Alejondrina, 8' x 11 1/4", "La Pina" 11 1/4" x 8", "Villa Obregon Malecon" 8" x 11 1/4", Bottom row: "Styx" 11 1/4" x 8", "Azteca Bungalows" 8" x 11 1/4" framed and individually for sale ($110) at the Courtyard Gallery.
Combining things I love to do, being out on the lake, paddle boarding and sketching is a lovely way to spend some afternoon time. Two of the outings are shown below. I have a favourite spot that I can pull my board into and the views feel like they are always changing, especially as this lake is not dammed. You can see the "light house" looking rock marker out in the water in the above sketch. The hills and mountains burnt 2 years ago so there are very few green trees. The sketch below was painted yesterday and you can see how much of the rock is showing now. The last painting shows the beautiful view down the lake.
I took a free class then signed up for artist Ali Kay's workshop and continued with her Fresh Paint group. I like to paint in oil with chunky brush strokes showing and her style is very similar in acrylic but I wanted to learn layering. I had so much fun following along and then continued my journey with what inspires me. The Volkswagen van was her design and the other vehicles are ones that I have taken photos of at car shows or on the street. I don't know anything about cars but do like the sleek lines, colours and shadows on the chrome. Left: First attempt following along. "Beach Bug", 12"x12" Right: "Happy Traveler" 7"x9" Acrylic (same basic design but smaller and colours I like) Left: "Orange Bug" 7"x9" Acrylic, framed Middle: "Date Night" 8"x10" Acrylic, framed Right: "Good Old Days" 8"x10" Acrylic, framed
It is wonderful when local businesses support local art clubs and artists. That is the case in Sicamous B.C. where "SASCU" as it is known, has a whole wall to showcase the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club in Sicamous. Artists change monthly and it is completely up to the artist what they display and how, what a treat for customers and staff. The wall is mine for August 2023 and I chose to put up 5 of my abstract Travel Series and a new painting inspired by the artist Emma Pettit. I absolutely loved doing this painting. #salmonarmcreditunion As the Featured Artist at the Courtyard Gallery in Enderby, B.C., I have all 16 painting of this series displayed together. I have been waiting for an opportunity to show them together and then sell them separately.
This series begun as my Mother-In-Law was going through both her and her Mother's photo album as she was downsizing and moving to a different province and city. Her memory of the photos events and places were fascinating. Some of her Mother's very small photos were of people unknown to her. Noreen allowed me to keep what I wanted and I started painting without any plan to do a series. The memories she shared and the stories I made up with the poses, clothes, home, work fueled my on to the next one. Thank you Noreen. A selection of some of the paintings are below. The frames are made from recycled wood by The Men's Shed in Vernon, B.C. |
Karen Oliver's Art JourneyThanks for stopping by to see my art journey and what I am currently working on. Archives
April 2024
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