Woods in progress + 50% off sale!

Here is what I was working on today. It still needs a lot of time yet, but it is developing! Also, the 1/2 off sale begins tomorrow! All 6"x6" or 6"x8" paintings are $50 - including shipping! I have spent some time updating the "Available" images under my blog  masthead, or you can click here or here to see more. Thanks to the early bird who purchased yesterday. Heck, in order of fairness, I may as well change that to the sale starts right now ; )

Gift Ideas + 50% off sale

Hi friends,
For those of you that don't see the side bar of my blog, I just wanted to mention that I have a book of some of my favourite small paintings available for sale. You can flip through the entire book below if you'd like to check it out.
AND...I am having a special 50% online sale of my daily paintings the entire month of December. All 6"x6" and 6"x8" paintings are marked down to $50 which includes free shipping worldwide!
If you've had your eye on one for your home or would like to give one as a gift, now is the time to shop!
You can see a bunch online here or you can scroll through my entire selection on my blog. Happy browsing!
p.s. Message me and let me know what you'd like to purchase and I will adjust the PayPal buton accordingly.

Kim Rempel ~ small works by Kim Rempel | Make Your Own Book

In where I get dropped into an enchanted wood...

Today I felt like I'd been dropped into an enchanted world. I kept expecting to see some mythical creature pop out from behind a tree and beckon me with a crook of its gnarled finger. Wow.

It was cold: there were wisps of snow dusted here and there. My brush was freezing up on the second pass. But it was magical. I didn't have time to complete my painting but here is my start. As for my other photos here - they're going to be paintings too. A winter project!

Mist

This is a plein air piece I painted in the woods this week. There were lots of trees in the background and leaves and twigs carpeting the forest floor. At first I had more detail in but when I stood back I realized I didn't want it - that it was taking away from the feel of the piece. Now it is simpler, but more dramatic. It's all about editing, right? 

Here is a close up of the trunk in the foreground.

By the way, people often ask me what plein air means. It is simply painting in "the open air" or more commonly, painting outdoors. 

12"x12" / acrylic on canvas

And just another friendly reminder. Come shop, sip and savour THIS weekend!

Bowmen Swamp painting sketches

More paintings from Bowmen Swamp. These are small painting sketches that I will use to work up into larger studio paintings. While I quite like the vibrant red ground in the top piece, in reality it is the magenta colour in the painting below. These are acrylic. By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers. Have some pumpkin pie for me please ; )

Bowmen Swamp + an invitation

This is a small acrylic piece I painted at Bowmen swamp. I love that place. Something about the reflections and the rhythm of the trees, branches and logs in the water. It has the best feel! Some places you just feel a kinship with and that is Bowmen swamp for me.

Also, THIS Saturday and Sunday is the Christmas HandMade Market. I will be at The Good Earth with a collection of my small paintings. There are wonderful artisans there, food and wine (and one year they had sipping chocolate and handmade marshmallows!). Consider this your personal invitation. A great chance to shop local and one-of-a-kind.

Timmy love - SOLD

Those north of the 49th parallel can get a little obsessed...

6"x6" / oil on canvas / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Croton-tastic

This is the tropical houseplant you see at so many grocery stores and greenhouses around here. They're very striking. I think we take them for granted. And it was my saviour. First I tried painting a coffee cup, then a bowl of marbles, then a flower...and they all completely flopped. When I was wandering around trying to decide whether I should just skip it for the day I spied this plant tucked away in the corner, the light hitting it just so.
6"x6" / oil on canvas / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Bowmen Swamp, November

So occasionally the paintings just flow and you wish you could bottle it, you know? I need to tweak this a bit but I really like it. I'm going to try working it up in a large format oil. The funny thing about this day was that the day before it was 17˚. I was driving with the windows open. The next day when we painted it was a high of 1˚. And we had snow flurries. But they were beautiful. And I was bundled up well + in good company. And I got good soup : ) Aside from this I painted two other sketches which I'll share this weekend. Happy-almost-weekend to all of you my friends ♥

12"12" / acrylic on canvas

Tender bloom - SOLD

When I saw this rose pressed against our kitchen window pane I felt I had to immortalize it in paint. This delicate, tiny November bloom. But tenacious. Make analogies as you see fit. I'm particularly proud of this one. I figure I can say that since I also tell you when I'm pulling my hair out and think I can't paint a lick ; )

6"x8" / oil on canvas / SOLD

Untitled

The reference photo for this painting was from a family photo shoot I did a couple of years back (as was the last picture). I've been looking at kids faces trying to bone up on the structure of them for the illustrations I'm working on for my book. I have 25 to do and feel a bit daunted by it all - figures are not my forté. It's a definite challenge but something I really want to complete.
6"x6" / oil on canvas / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Untitiled

Thanks to those who wrote with advice for my illustrations. I really appreciate your input! When I get further along I will share more drawings. Okay, so now another portrait.
6"x6" / oil on canvas / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Characters developed

all illustrations ©Kim Rempel

A question for the illustrators out there: what do you use to help you draw bodies in action? Do you take photos of children in poses, do you use the poseable wooden mannequins from art supply stores or are youamazing and can just do it out of your head? At long last I have settled on what the children will look like for my book. Here they are. What a relief to finally "meet" them. I just need to draw a father and then my characters are complete and I can begin the actual illustrations. Yay!

Untitled

I've been working the past couple of days on faces in developing characters for my picture book so I thought I'd bone up on some portrait painting. As you know I really don't paint people often so it's fun subject to tackle. This is from a photo I took at a wedding. I loved how she stopped for a moment and stared up at the camera, like "You done? I've got things to do!"

6"x6" / original oil on canvas / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

A really good day

It was a cold day but I bundled up (long johns, fleece, toque, gloves) and had a fabulous day painting. I adore this swamp - so much rhythm. I've got more work to do on this but I'm happy with its direction so far.

We were invited to lunch at this charming home... 

and were even treated to a pot of hot, tasty soup. Look at that stove! 

On my way - SOLD

~A flower in its opening stages...the full bloom is coming~

I realize it's been a while since I posted. I've been working away at illustrating a children's book I wrote and it is a lot of planning/researching and sketching. I've only just scratched the surface it seems. So many things to consider in terms of how it will be handled. But I'm excited to finally complete this project. 

6x6 / original oil on canvas / SOLD