The Lake

The Lake, acrylic 25 x 20 cm

Palette knife and three colors plus white. Used cobalt instead of ultramarine for a better water color and brighter greens.

The Sugar Maple

The Sugar Maple, acrylic 12" x 9"

I love how in the autumn some sugar maples have half of the rainbow of colors at the same time, from dark through chartreuse green, yellow, orange and bright red. Like a whole forest in just one tree.

This is another attempt with palette knife and reduced palette, though I did add cadmium red too. 

Mountain View

Mountain View, acrylic 25 x 20 cm

Initial stage

Stage 2

 An imagined view, based on a previous acrylic landscape. Done with a palette knife and three colors plus white.

Cliffview Park

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes to all!
Let there be sun and joy

Cliffview park, acrylic 12" X 9"

 Another attempt with a pallet knife, though I couldn't figure out how to do the water in that technique.

Reflections in the mountains (acrylic)

Mountain reflections, acrylic, 12" x 9"

Tried the same scene that I did in watercolor before. Ended up doing quite a lot of fiddling as there are more smaller details than in the two previous acrylics and I'm still using mostly a palette knife. Well, acrylic is much more forgiving than watercolor and the goal is to have fun.

Mountain views in acrylic

Rila mountain, acrylic 12" x 9"

Hillside shrubs, acrylic 12" x 9"
(based on Gerald Ashcroft's tutorial)

I want to thank my friend, Dina, for making me sign for a painting workshop last weekend. It was at the McMichael's gallery so we also saw the Tommy Thompson exhibition. That unlocked something in me and I couldn't stop thinking about painting. 

For courage, I went through a tutorial by an Australian artist Gerald Ashcroft, whose loose style attracted me. Following it, I did the second landscape with only four colors and a painting knife. Then I applied the same technique to the top view from the Rila mountains in Bulgaria. Each painting took me about two hours and I truly enjoyed doing them.

Reflections in the mountain

Mountain - study

 A hake brush and three colors...

River

River - studies

 

Skyline

a study of the Toronto skyline

 

Sunrise - a quick study

Sunrise at the Bay, watercolor study

 

Keeping the pace

Sunrise over the sea, watercolor study

Sunset over the sea, watercolor study

We each have a different subject that helps us get out of a lull and invite the Muse. Some paint round objects, others sketch expressive portraits. To me it is skies. Skies are a perfect opportunity for wet-on-wet watercolors - drop the need to control, go with the flow and observe...

Stormy Skies

Stormy Sky 1, watercolor study

Stormy Sky 2, watercolor study

 

Sky & Sea

Sky & Sea 1, watercolor study

Sky & Sea 2, watercolor study

Sky &Sea 3, watercolor study

 

Promise

Promise of a good day, watercolor 30 x 25 cm

I can see the light

I can see the light, watercolor 40 x 30 cm

charcoal sketch

 Continuing with the same subject, which is quite rewarding, now that the leaves have fallen and the days  are getting cold and gloomy.

See the Light

See the Light 1, watercolor 20 x 10 cm

See the Light 2, watercolor 20 x 10 cm

See the Light 3, watercolor 20 x 10 cm

See the Light 4, watercolor 20 x 10 cm

Trying this subject with varied techniques, colors and moods to decide how to do a larger one.

Light in the Forest, charcoal sketches

Light in the Forest, the four small watercolors

 

Autumn Colors

Autumn Colors 1, watercolor 40 x 30 cm

Autumn Colors 2, watercolor 40 x 30 cm

Autumn Colors, charcoal sketches

 Many people tell me that with years past the winters become more and more unpleasant to them. I can't agree more! Another change I notice for myself, is that I have started to appreciate and enjoy the autumn more than I used to. This year the summer was nice and hot and the cool nights started steadily in September. Both required conditions for a magnificent display of autumn colors. 
This is passed now and the threes dropped their colorful attire, but there will be some Indian summer days to enjoy.

Industrial

Industrial, watercolor 28 x 25  cm

Inspired by the steel plant near Hamilton, a common site on the highway from Toronto to Niagara.

Abstract Landscapes

A few more loose landscapes done wet-in-wet with palette knife and plastic card. It is so much fun not knowing what will happen with the pigments and shapes. The results give me ideas how to use some of these effects.

Remote, watercolor on Bristol paper, 30 x 23 cm

Rain in the Mountains, watercolor on Bristol paper, 30 x 23 cm

Lake, watercolor on Arches paper, 28 x 25 cm

Keep it simple, watercolor on Arches paper, 28 x 25 cm

Purple landscape, watercolor on Bristol paper, 30 x 23 cm

Goodbye year...

 Let the new year be full of warm and happy colors throughout! 

Yet, blues are fun, especially when you give up control and just watch what happens on the paper

Abstract winter seascape 3, watercolor 30 x 23 cm

Abstract winter seascape 2, watercolor 30 x 23 cm

Abstract winter seascape 1, watercolor 30 x 23 cm