A long time ago I painted a garden and that little painting is one of the few I’ve ever been really happy with that had anything to do with foliage (It’s been hanging in my hallway for years). However, recently, looking at a few garden shots I took over the summer, I had a thought on how to approach painting foliage again in a way that I didn’t find too daunting:
I named them “Foliage 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5” (no comments on how original my naming convention is please), all acrylic on canvas, 10 x 20 inches/25 x 50 cm.
Category Archives: Painting
Effort
Most of the time, for me, it takes effort to draw or paint something. I never really feel like it until I actually begin. I kind of have to force myself. It’s like . . . work. Until I get started. Then it becomes like meditation. Here’s a few recent small watercolour/pen & ink pieces.
Little paintings (4×6″):
In my sketchbook (7×10″):
Weddings
I always (or almost always) make cards for various occasions and this August I had lots of opportunities. I had looked at a few commercial 3D and Pop-up cards in stores and thought I’d like to try some of the techniques.
Here’s a Birthday card with three layers, the bees on the top:
I had a couple of weddings to attend in August – such fun! Here’s one of the cards (forgive the fingers but I wanted to show the little “pocket” inside).
And here’s the other – a three layer card with an image based on a great photo by the bride (who is a terrific photographer). The canoe to me represented their “journey” together. 
It’s about time…
…for a post. I think Spring was busy – I only have a couple of items post-worthy (kind of). Here’s a quick sketch based on a visit to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary earlier this year.
Just last weekend, I joined the Vancouver Urban Sketchers out in Steveston. So many things to draw! But as usual I gravitated to the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site and found a shady spot behind the buildings.
Am I painting? Kind of…
Obligations
Last fall, the Urban Sketchers met at the Roundhouse where one of the many Diwali events around town was taking place. I found a table and did some quick sketches – here’s two of the ones I liked:
One of the photographers came by and took a look, and wondered if I could draw him. I was game, but when I eventually started looking for him, realized the crowd was too dense and it would be almost impossible. As I left I saw where he was and managed to finagle a few photos from a distance. I felt kind of bad leaving without giving him his “portrait” but thought that I’d maybe draw something from the photo anyway and perhaps, one day, serendipity would provide a way for me to get it to him. So, here he is, hard at work, along with a few spectators:
Painting:
I painted a landscape with a blue sky a while back (I had to check to see if I posted it) but it didn’t really do anything for me. So I’ve repainted the sky giving it a bit more drama:
