Heather fields - SOLD

We were there in September and the fields of heather and scrub were gorgeous. 
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / SOLD

Scotland cairn - SOLD

We came across a large rock pile that people had built small cairns on. I believe the intent of these was akin to wishing safe travel. We each added one to the lot. In Canada we call them Inukshuks, which come from the Inuit. The farther north you drive in Ontario the greater chance of seeing Inukshuks built by passers-by. I love looking for them whenever we head up north. And hey - just because I'm in the spirit of things - Cheers Will and Kate! 
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / SOLD

Stein Inn - SOLD

This is the Stein Inn at the Isle of Skye, Scotland, est. 1790. Can you imagine? We had a drink in the bar. It was great. The sign above the door was carved wood that had it's own warps and curves, the exterior white plaster. 
On a personal note - we had a wind storm of epic proportions here today. Giant old pines were snapped like matchsticks laying all over the roads and on top of cars. Shingles were blown off roofs like sheets of paper, a roof was even torn off a school. Some high school rowing teams were on the lake early in the morning and the boats capsized. Thankfully everyone was saved. Glad today is over.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Eilean Donan - SOLD

This is from another photo I took in beloved Scotland. Eilean Donan is said to be the most photographed castle in Scotland. It certainly is stately, atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. Although I must admit I found all the castles there to be heartbreakingly lovely. 
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / SOLD

Rushing water - SOLD

Today I painted from a photo I took when we went to Scotland a few years ago. I have wanted to do more plein air daily paintings but the weather has been cold and/or rainy. Hence the photo. I find painting landscape in oils a huge challenge. My comfort with plein air painting is with acrylics, which I will be getting back to next week when things (hopefully) warm up and dry out ; ).
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Invitation to the Spring HandMade Market!

Well, I had a small window of time to paint today and unfortunately after I stood back and looked at what I'd done, it was a mess and I had to wipe it down! Ach! Anyway, I've been wanting to promote and invite everyone to the Spring HandMade Market so I'm taking this opportunity. The Christmas Market was a huge success and this promises to be just as wonderful : ) Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8 (Mother's Day weekend) from 11-5 at The Good Earth Food and Wine Co. The Good Earth is located at 4556 Lincoln Ave. Beamsville, ON. You can check out the link and see some of the vendors who will be there. In December I was REALLY impressed with the wares being offered. And it takes a lot to impress me...lol I'll be mentioning this again but save the date! A very nice thing to do with your Mom!

Egg stash

Some chocolate eggs in coloured foil. I love coloured foil and once kept a mason jar full of these wrappings. It was pretty to look at and I was always planning to do something cool with them. After a few years I finally ditched them but every holiday I look forward to that colourful, shiny, crinkly wrapping.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Olive oil - SOLD

It's been an emotional couple of weeks. It is hard to say goodbye to someone you love. I was able to spend a fair bit of time with my grandmother in her last days and a lot of time with my extended family since her passing. I thank my grandmother for the gift of a large family who enjoys having fun. I also want to thank all of you for your comments of sympathy left on my blog. I, and members of my family who follow my blog, were very touched by your kindness : ) 
Now however it is time to get back to work. There is a shop in town - Casa Toscana -  that sells olive oil, cheeses and olives imported from Tuscany. I've painted their bottles of olive oil before but when I went back last week for a refill I got the larger sized bottle which comes in a clear glass container. Look at the colour of that oil! Beautiful ; ) Delicious too.
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (free shipping worldwide included)

In honour and memory of my dear grandmother Annie.

~A life well lived~

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.  ~Author Unknown

Annie was a grandmother to 21 grandchildren and their spouses 
and 39 great grandchildren.

First daffodil

I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts regarding my grandmother. I didn't expect such a response and was sincerely touched by all your kind comments. Things haven't changed much since Tuesday but I found a few hours where I felt like ducking into the studio today so I just went with it. Our first daffodil bloomed Monday so it seemed I should mark the occasion. Even though it felt like winter today, the calendar tells me it really is spring ; )

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping) 

Hiatus

Due to my grandmothers declining health, I will be taking a brief hiatus from my daily painting. I found this quote that reminds me of my grandma. She's a beautiful, wonderful woman.

I loved their home. Everything smelled older, worn but safe; the food aroma had baked itself into the furniture.  ~Susan Strasberg

Congratulations!

Spider mum

Fresh fruit tart

And the winner of the draw is....Kathy Cousart! Kathy, you can pick between these two and let me know which you'd like : ) I want to take this opportunity to thank the people who follow my blog and receive my paintings in their inbox. YOU ARE AWESOME (yep, all caps :)!! I love painting and writing my blog, but it's not much fun if no one is watching. So again, I offer my thanks : )

Leap! - SOLD

Okay, I'm on a frog kick ; ) 

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping)

Thanks!

Thanks fellow followers! I'm going to give away a painting this weekend. Yay! If you are a follower, you're entered : )

p.s. - to those that receive my paintings in their inboxes through an automatic feed, I'd like to enter you in the contest too, because you're definitely followers as well : ) The only thing is is that I never see the addresses of those who subscribe online - they are all handled directly through FeedBurner. So if you'd like to enter this draw, please just leave a comment with your name, and I'll enter you. If your name is picked I will ask you to send me your email for shipping purposes.
Happy weekend all!!

296, 297...

Three followers away from hitting 300! I feel a painting giveaway coming on!!

Ribbit - SOLD

I am currently reading Burton on Burton and in it Tim Burton talked about how he would get frustrated in art school with life drawing - that he just couldn't draw the body the way they said it was "supposed" to look. He said one day "something clicked in my brain. I was sitting sketching and I thought, '**** it, I don't care if I can draw or not. I like doing it.' And I swear to God, from one second to the next I had a freedom which I hadn't had before. From that point on, I didn't care if people liked it. There was almost a drug-induced sense of freedom." I loved reading that. Tim Burton can draw! - masterfully in my opinion - but he had a different vision. And he decided to follow it. 

My son and I saw the Tim Burton exhibit in Toronto on Sunday and I can't say enough about it. Art lovers and Tim Burton fans will be in heaven. Thanks Tim. Your work is awesome.  

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping)

Wood duck

I haven't painted many animals. I don't know why. My friend sent me a photo of a wood duck and it was insanely colourful. A vision of beauty. So I decided to give it a try. What about you? What subjects do you realize you have shied away from?
6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping)

German landscape II

So in this weeks challenge at Daily Paintworks, they gave 2 photos you could paint from. I had so much fun with Saturdays that I decided to try the second.

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / nfs

German landscape - SOLD

This is my offering for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. The challenge was to paint from a landscape photo taken in Germany - editing as you wish. I really enjoyed it. I've been wanting to get outdoors to paint so this challenge came at the perfect time ; )

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping)

Odd couple

...but I think they're a perfect pair ; ) 

6" x 6" / oil on archival panel / $100 (includes free shipping)