Not a daily painting blog.

It's a good thing I didn't name my blog anything that resembled: Bonnie Heather's daily paintings.  Having a blog has definitely encouraged me to paint more but I still paint less than many of my new blogging friends.  We listed our condo for sale today and I had to pack up all my supplies so the realtor could take pictures that made the place look nice and tidy.  My studio is our diningroom and I'm not tidy.

Now that everything is put away it will probably be a day or two before I get back to painting.  I'll still be visiting all my favourite sites and I'm busy working on a special project that I'll reveal soon.  In the meantime I'll enclose a picture of the view from our condo, just in case someone out there is thinking of buying in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.

2 bedroom Condo

Kelowna BC Canada

$199,800

Water colour is not like riding a bicycle.

The warmer weather had me thinking: water colour.  So a couple of days ago, I went to the local park and sketched the view from the top of Knox Mountain.  My drawing turned out great and I looked forward to posting it BUT first I wanted to add some water colour to set it off and show some of the beautiful blues of the lake and sky. Did you notice there isn't a picture with todays post? That's because the water colour wash I tried, turned out awful.  What a mess. Yuk.

Unlike Myra who painted a pretty water colour picture that turned out wonderfully, mine was beyond bad. Ok, did I learn anything from this experience?  Hmmm, how about practice makes perfect... That was the first water colour I'd tried in over a year.  It is not like riding a bicycle.

I did however have a terrific day off, out in the sunshine, and had a fun day with family.

Another portrait.

I tried painting my husband's portrait.  It's not quite him yet, but I'm going to leave it for a few days and see  if I can figure it out.  I often have to live with a painting awhile before I get it right, especially portraits.

A Floppy Poppy ACEO

"Being Open"

ACEO 2.5"x3.5"

Oil on 140lb. water colour paper with an acrylic border

For sale on ebay auction.

SOLD

I decided to try again with the ACEO.  I learned my lesson and tried something less detailed.  Just for fun I put a gold border around this floppy poppy to set it off a little more.  It was great fun going back to it several times today just to add a few more strokes while I did my house cleaning.

I can hardly wait for the spring flowers to start blooming around here so I can get some more reference material.  I haven't painted flowers in a while and I miss them.  Maybe I'll go blogging and see how many others have painted flowers lately.  Let me know if you have one posted and I'll come visit.

Art Trading Card or ATC

I've been wanting to do ACEO's and Art Trading Cards (ATC's) for a while now.  I also have a painting I want to paint large.  Soooo, I had this light bulb moment where it seemed like a good idea to paint the scene on an art card, 2.5"x3.5", then on a small board for practice and then on a big canvas.  This may end up being a good idea as far as getting the painting organized but my chosen scene was way to complicated for this small format. The water colour paper made it hard to paint tiny detail as well.  Lesson learned.  My next card will have less in it.  I decided to post it anyway just to let you fellow bloggers know that I have been doing something in the last couple days.

Using oil like water colour.

I didn't realize the challenges I'd have when I started this portrait.  The oil was fun to use but having only one colour meant using washes to create depth.  It also meant no covering up a dark area that should be light.  I did find I could go in with a cotton swab and lighten some areas but I couldn't alter any place that included the background.

My son says he's not that heavy but this picture was taken several years ago... besides, after all the years that I heard the tune for the A&W root bear being hummed by my two, then, teenage sons... call it my revenge.

"Nathan"

5"x7" 

oil on board

Painting with water soluble oil.

I normally use Genesis oils.  I like them a lot but as I mentioned before, I love change.  With that in mind I bought ONE tube of Winsor Newton's water mixable colour.  Make that, color, for you US folks.

In honour of my eldest son, who sent me a really cute birthday card, I used my new tube of oil to paint his portrait.  The trouble comes with the fact that it doesn't dry right away.  It's not finished but I can't go any further because the paint starts to lift off when I go back at it.  Did I ever mention that I'm also a tad bit impatient.

"Nathan"

5x7 

oil on board

Oh well, I'll attach what I've completed so far and finish it later on.   It looks like him a little.
 I hope you have a good couple of days until I talk to you again.

I'm back!!!

Hi everyone.  Just a note to let you know I'm back home and to thank the many people who sent me the birthday and anniversary wishes.  No, I didn't get any painting or sketching done while I was away.  I did do a lot of reading and visited an awesome used book store with a great art section.  I bought a book on figure drawing that I'm hoping will help me with my current project as well as in my future paintings.

I'm truly enjoying this year of experimenting and discovering different things in art.  Starting this blog and meeting so many other artists has become the biggest treat of all.
Thanks again.

Another sunny day!

Another sunny day in the Okanagan! I gotta get out for a walk today.

Tomorrow's my birthday and the next day is our anniversary so we're going on a mini holiday.  Therefore, I won't be posting at least until Sunday.  Meanwhile I'm working on a painting for a special project and I hope to sketch while I'm away.  My drawing skills are poor yet, but practice, practice, practice...

Today I'm attaching a spring bouquet that I hope will bring you cheer.

Broad backed Hummingbird painting

Good Morning to all you folks on the west coast of North America and I hope the rest of you are having a good day.  I was stuck for inspiration and luckily came across James Parker's blog:  http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/.  I know it isn't my picture to sell but it was fun having permission to paint one of three pretty bird pictures on his blog and have a chance to win a prize to boot. I know a couple friends who probably wouldn't mind it as a gift. :-)
This is my quick rendition of one of his birds.  Check out his blog and see the wonderful entries he has already posted. I'm honoured to be in such good company.

6" x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

I'm backwards.

Hi folks, I don't have a picture to post today but please note the change in my self portrait.  I had a couple people tell me it was good but....    finally my hubby pointed out that it was a mirror image and backward to how people see me.  So I smudged the signature and reversed the image on my profile.  I guess it's better but i still picture myself backwards.  I wonder if that's where some of my problems come from....food for thought. lol

Painting called "Look Up".

"Look Up"

24"h x 12"w

Oil on wrapped Canvas 

available

Hi folks, I've been working long shifts lately but I wanted to add a picture of one of the paintings I sent off to the Lake Country Gallery for jurying into their next show.  The show is for abstracts.  This painting has an essence of the Okanagan.  As you drive through our area there are lakes beside the road for mile after mile.  On the other side there are hills and rock cuts topped with beautiful pine trees that are dying off because of the pine beetle that has invaded our province.  It may not be long until they are all gone so I plan on capturing many of them in paint before that happens.

Hope you have an awesome, joy filled day.

FCA-COC meeting

Last night I went to our Federation of Canadian Artists meeting here in Kelowna.  One of the things we did was have a critiquing session.  What a great way to grow as an artist.  I knew a lot of the things that were recommended, but often forget to check for them in my paintings.  A session like this always helps me remember to observe my own work carefully.  If you get a chance to attend a critiquing session I highly recommend it....even if it is hard on the nerves when your time comes. :-).

I'm off to work this morning and I hope you have a great day...thanks for dropping by.

My Painting for Today.

I received many requests to view the melted frame but alas it's in the trash. ;-[

Yesterday I decided to try a couple things I've wanted to do for a long time.  First, I wanted to paint a painting in a day like so many of my talented new friends.  Second, I wanted to do a self portrait.   To save a day I did both at once.

Self Portrait

6"w x 8"h

Oil on stretched Canvas

I made the background really dark because I wanted a self portrait to use as a profile picture.  I've noticed that pictures of high contrast stand out the best.  Watch for my yellow rose to be exchanged for this painting.  I'll have to depend on those who know me to tell me if I've made the painting realistic.  I noticed my glasses are crooked, that's normal :-).