Temptation - Acrylic Painting

One of the pleasures of summer is the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Is it possible to resist this tasty temptation with its cheesecake base, creamy whip topping, sweet strawberry glaze, and luscious plump red berry.... ah no I confess after the photo shoot I devoured it right down to that last little drop of strawberry glaze.

Just like music, artwork triggers memories both during the painting process as well as when I look back on them.  As I sit here looking at this painting with the song Summer Wine by Deana Carter playing  in the background my memory spirals me back to other summers. Gorging on fresh fruits, the strawberries being the first fruits of the summer, running around barefoot, swimming in Harrison Lake, sleep outs with friends, endless days and long hot summer nights, first loves, temptations.....

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Temptation

12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Print Sale - Cuba Street View

Sending out a special thank you to the collector from Torrance, CA who purchased a print of Cuba Street View

Wave Riders - Abstract Reflections III

Opportunities can be fleeting we often do not recognize them or fear holds us back from reaching out to capture them.  Reflections on the other hand see their opportunities and leap forward and ride the waves without fear.  I am a Wave Rider are you?

Wave Riders

Abstract Reflections III

12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Abstract Reflections II - Acrylic Painting

A couple of summers back I went to a painting class in Gibsons, BC a southwest coastal village on the Straight of Georgia with my friend Barb.  It was a wonderful creative fun filled week.  I could not have asked for a more suitable traveling partner, not only are we both artists, but also photography buffs.  As soon as class let out we were off exploring with cameras in hand.  This painting is from a small section of a image I shot at the marina.

Primaries Red, Blue, and Yellow

Abstract Reflections II

Water Reflections - Acrylic Painting

Taoist Proverb

"We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."

I've tried to meditate, but trying to shut down the conversations and thoughts that scamper through my mind is not an easy thing to accomplish; yet I can sit for hours watching the play of color and movement in a body of water without a single thought in my mind. 

I'm currently working on a group of small paintings featuring water reflections, some are from images that I shot purposefully but others were pleasant surprises that I found as I culled my photos.  I hope you enjoy my walk on the abstract side.

Abstract Water Reflection I

12" x 12" Acrylic on canvas

Painting Spaces

Work in Progress Lupins 24" x 20

When i'm painting with acrylics I prefer to paint in my kitchen rather then the downstairs studio.  The lighting is better, water is available and the coffee is handy for refueling.  The view is also much more inspiring, out the window I can see the forest, hear the birds chirping and the squirrels chattering.

I usually stand my canvases on the counter if they are larger sized, and pull out the tabletop easel if smaller.

I'm a pretty neat painter so I don't usually worry about getting paint splatters anywhere.  If i'm going to be doing any paint flinging I take it outside.

I have a wooden board that I place across my sink on which I place two heavy squares of glass that I use as my palette, once one is dirty I switch to the next.  I love using glass palettes, they are so easy to clean up.  I just pop them in the sink for a few minutes to soften up the paint, scrape off the paint with a painters putty knife and put it into a plastic container so that it's not going down the drain.

Out of sight is the clutter of a painter, tubes of paint, wiping rags, odds & ends it's a mess lol.