Sand, Surf, and a Sunrise

I think I had mentioned earlier that going to beach to watch the ocean is one of my favourite things to do. I am lucky enough to live in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, where the ocean is only a short drive away. Lately I have been painting various seascapes and have completed three new, but very different ones. 

Daina Deblette Scarola, the artist giving me lessons, paints beautiful surf art and has also inspired me to give it a try. The first one I did was of Lawrencetown Beach, which is a very popular spot for surfers. I like how relaxing the beach looks, the "easiness" of this painting.  I found the waves were challenging to do and tried not to overwork them. I really like how the sand turned out, you could actually imagine that someone had been on the beach on a beautiful August day.

Lawrencetown Beach 2010

The second place I choose to paint was in Eastern Passage. This is looking towards the mouth of the Halifax Harbour from the boardwalk. The view was peaceful, almost tranquil amongst the busyness of the boardwalk.

This painting is only 5 X 7 so perspective on this was difficult. The women kayaking is tiny so getting enough detail was very challenging. I have been touching up this one more than I should, to try to give it more depth. I think it is done. I have to learn to let it go.

Kayaking in Eastern Passage 2010

I had to leave this one for awhile. I did not know what to think of it. I think it is more raw, not as soft as my other paintings, but it is starting to grow on me. 

Like I said earlier, three very different paintings.

Sunrise from Thebaud Platform 2010

Gladys' Inspiration

Well, since I have been spending time talking about what inspires me and my new obsession, I thought I would take some time to talk about my mom Gladys and what inspired her. Of course, I was only 12 years old at the time so I am making a few leaps here.  Mom was a teacher, and always had her summers off, which was great when I was a kid. Many of those summers were spent at the beach at a cottage on the Northumberland Strait. I know it was a favourite place of her's, and we spent as much time there as possible. The ocean and the sea are the subject of many of her paintings. As a result it is also one of my favourite places too.
I have quite a few of her paintings and many of them are in storage, but I will share three more of them here.

Seascape by Gladys
Oil on Canvas Panel

Seascape by Gladys
Oil on Canvas Panel

Seascape by Gladys
Oil on Canvas Panel

I love the colours and rawness in her paintings. If I remember correctly she used a palette knife a lot when painting. My oldest daughter has the top one in her room and it is very special to her as she never had a chance to meet her.

She was a special person, and though I was young when she passed, her positivity and "joie de vie" has had a lasting impression.

Thanks Mom.


Dedicated to Gladys - who died Wednesday September 22, 1982 age 40.

Mosaic For Mental Health

In my professional career, I have worked in  health care, particularly in the field of mental health for a number of years.  After I went to university I volunteered and worked in mental health and I am pretty passionate about working in this field. I have worked with both children and adults and I am lucky, I love what I do. I have learned so much from the people I have worked with. I think my passion for this field also started with my mom Gladys. She was a Guidance Counselor and taught school for many years. She was also passionate about helping the young people she worked with, it must have rubbed off on me.

By this point, you are probably wondering why am I talking about this...well,  every year the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) holds an Art Exhibition and sale known as the Mosaic for Mental Health.  Artwork is submitted by local artists, on 6 X 6 tiles and then displayed at The Craig Gallery  in Dartmouth, NS.  It is a wonderful fundraiser for a very important cause. CMHA does amazing work with people with mental illness through their various programs, supports and advocacy. I volunteered with them years ago and learned a great deal.

Every year I would see the advertisement for the exhibition and sale and would think to myself, I would love to submit artwork, what a wonderful opportunity for a wannabe artist like myself.  I never had the guts until this year, last year I actually bought materials, and I have yet to take the plastic off the Masonite board! This year I actually mustered up enough courage to go and pick up the tiles from the office, shortly after I took my first oil painting lesson. A  little too ambitious probably... but I am at an age now where I am willing to put myself out there more instead of standing back. I was really glad I did, since then, a few weeks ago, I have completed four tiles for the show. I am really looking forward to the Exhibition which opens on October 14 (Gladys' birthday by the way!) and runs until Sunday October 31th, 2010. It will also be part of the NOCTURNE art at night on Saturday, October 16 6:00pm until midnight.

This year the theme is Hope. Three of the tiles I completed explored the concept of Hope as a window, contrasting a mono-chromed pallette with full colour. This concept was taking from my personal experience as well as learning from the people I have worked with over the years who have experienced a depression in their life. I have been told that it is like a fog, or distortion over everything, like a lens that causes everything to be blue, or bleak. I wanted to try and capture that concept. The contrasting colour of  the circle or panel, represents hope or a different way of seeing that peeks through the greyness which has it's own beauty.

Tree - Oil on Masonite

Sunrise - Oil on Acrylic

The Rose - Oil on Masonite

The fourth tile I completed is of a young girl sitting watching the ocean during her summer break,  representing a quiet time amidst all of the activity and the positivity that many young children portray. I think this one is my favourite so far. I really like how it turned out, I was excited when I finished it, as I was pleased with the depth and life in the painting.

Summer Break - Oil on Masonite

I know I have a ways to go, but with this one, it gives me motivation to keep on working. I am happy with the results coming from a rookie for such an important cause and I hope that my contribution will help a bit.

Creativity & Lessons Learned

Since my last lesson, I have found that the more I paint or think about painting, the more ideas I have for the next project. I also have been thinking a lot about creativity and how we are inspired. There is a video of John Cleese on YouTube talking about the creative process to Flemmish students and I found it very interesting. I love how he explains his experience with creativity and how to nurture the process. (Thanks to Wry & Ginger for tweeting this link!)

I am also reading the book "The Artist Within" by Betty Edwards I told you I'm obsessed! I love the way she talks about art, creativity and the brain in her books.  This has helped me realize that the process is important and I think sometimes I get too caught up in the product or result and I don't give the process a chance.

I have also realized that the space and tools are important too. I decided that if I was going to take this seriously, I need good quality materials, and a space to work in, particularly before my next lesson. I went to an Art Supply store earlier in the week and purchased paint, solvents, Gesso, brushes and canvas. I had been using inexpensive paints before,  but once I had a chance to use better quality paints, I did notice a difference. I also set up a space where I can work. It was important to do this because if I hadn't, the materials would have stayed in a box and I would have given up too quickly.

I had my second lesson the other day which was fantastic!  I have been painting a lot since the last lesson and I had a lot of questions, from how to mix medium, to where to get the best brushes.
I learned a lot from this lesson, Daina is such a great teacher, she makes it look so easy. 

I painted Gladiolus and I am quite pleased with how they turned out, but the composition needs work.  I received great feedback, and the next time I will try to take up more of the canvas because they appear to be just floating there.  As you can tell, it is definitely a learning curve for me.
 

Gladiolus 2010

What it would have looked like if it had filled the canvas.

I also reworked another painting I had done previously because I felt it was flat. It now appears to have some more depth.

Dahlia 2010

Dahlia (reworked)

Light, Colour & Too Much Enthusiasm?

I had my first lesson and have been hooked or "obsessed" with painting ever since. I have completed three new paintings. My new found enthusiasm has caused a few mistakes (but hey, that is all in the process), some very late nights and I have taken over half of our home office!

I have done some self reflection over the past couple of weeks on how I learn.
 For me, when learning something new, I have discovered it is a two step process.

1. I learn by watching or reading, visually seeing/imagining the process. I am definitely not an auditory learner. (Goes in one ear and out the other.)
2. Then I have "to do." My first attempt at something new is usually clumsy.  (You should have seen me learn to ride a bike...not pretty!)

One thing that I do know about my learning process is that I have a tendency to research stuff to death! I have to know every detail about something before I am confident to attempt the task...this is not be the best approach for me to learn how to paint!
(Not very productive either!) Expensive too...do I really need another book? Though I do love books.

From all my "doing" and "reflecting".  This is what I came up with...

Lessons I have learned... 

(Just remember I am a rookie.

1. Colour mixing is tricky. Colour theory is not that exciting, important, but not that exciting.
2. Good lighting is important.
3. Masonite has to be primed first...oops! (Sigh...a story for another day.) (Research would have helped this one!)
4. You can get so caught up in the highlights and colours, that you mess up on perspective!
5. I also learned that I am doing pretty good, better than I thought I would!

Can't wait until the next lesson. :) 

Dahlia

The Road

Sunrise

Rubies & Oil Painting

I have recently reached a certain "ahem" age milestone in my life. I will give you a hint, I received rubies on my birthday to celebrate.

With this milestone a lot of changes have come about;

1. I recently had my second child in May 2010

2. I have rediscovered a passion of mine...art.

I love art history and going to art galleries when I get the chance. I went to Paris last year and was thrilled to be able to see many of the paintings I had studied in the art history course I took at Acadia.

I have always painted and drawn, but never really had the confidence to develop my talents. About eight years ago, I decided to pick up a second hand book titled "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" By Betty Edwards and completed many of the exercises and realized that I could actually learn to draw well! I proceeded to take an introductory art course at MUN, which was fantastic. I learned a great deal and my passion for art began to grow. However, life happens and this new found talent was sidelined by the birth of my first daughter, but the dream stayed with me.

Sketch I did of my first daughter. Conte Crayon 2005

I recently started taking oil painting lessons from a wonderful local artist Daina Deblette Scarola. I was talking to my husband one day about my desire to draw and paint and he told me about a local artist he was following on Twitter and I should follow her as well. We ended up going to her exhibition in Seaforth, N.S. and bought a few of her paintings. I loved her work and eventually got up enough nerve to ask her about lessons.

My first lesson was at my house which was fantastic as I have a new baby and getting out of the house to take a course is not possible right now. I was so pleased with the process and the result, I have spent the last few weeks painting when I get a chance. I can't wait until the next lesson.

Morris Lake 2010