Canada Summer Games - Mural Mosaic

I'm thrilled to have been asked to participate in a national mural mosaic - the Canada Summer Games - Mural Mosaic that will be installed this coming August in Sherbrooke, Quebec.  The theme of this particular mural is sports; there are a total of 223 panels and the 10 provinces and all 3 territories will be represented by the various artists who have been invited to participate in this great Canadian mural adventure.

Part of what makes participating in these murals so much fun, is that we don't actually get to see what they look like until the unveiling.  Like the other two murals that I have participated in, it will be a surprise, but I have heard that this is going to be a special one!  I can hardly wait to see the finished product!!!  But for now, I have my panel (see above) and I know what I will be painting.  I hope you will stay tuned and follow along as this panel changes and becomes my contribution to a larger piece of Canadian art.

Panel #53
16" x 16"
Acrylic

For more information on Mural Mosaic and to see the - Sherbrooke 2013 - Jeux du Canada Games -  mural come to life, click on this link:
http://www.muralmosaic.com/index.html
You can also join a group on facebook to stay in the know, just click on the link and "join" the group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/6276793382/?fref=ts

On Second Thought

When Olivia was fourteen months old, her Grandma had a wonderful idea and decided to take her for an outing to the local swimming pool.  I'm sure Olivia was excited and looking forward to this grand adventure..........but.............On Second Thought............

Original Oil
18" x 24"
Framed
For Sale
Original Photo reference - Jen Brunner - Red Deer, AB

At the End of the Day, Love Remains

In 2011 I came across a beautiful photograph that photographer John Barclay took.  It was of an elderly couple walking down a walk way in Tuscany, Italy.  John had been in Italy in May of 2011 and had taken the photo with his iphone.

I had discussed with John a while back about painting one of his photos; there were so many that I absolutely loved, but when I saw this one there was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be the one.  There was something about this particular photo that touched me deeply and I asked him permission to paint it.

Like most artists I like to initiate my artistic license and change things when using photos as reference.  I didn't feel I had to change too much, I took out a few things and changed the light a little bit and played around with the values, but mostly it is what John captured.  The main thing I changed is that instead of colour I painted it in black and white.

I was thrilled when John told me he thought I did an amazing job bringing it to life.  Well, as much as I would like to take credit for that, it was his photo that spoke to me, I'm just glad to share in capturing the moment and hopefully the emotion that he captured on that beautiful street in Italy.

 (Thank you Michael Bement, who came up with the title of John's photograph, which I am also using).

Check out John's website:
http://johnbarclayphotography.com/

Original Oil
20" x 28"
Framed
For Sale
Original Photo reference - John Barclay

What a Show!! Night of Artists - Straight from the Art

The Art Show

At the Enjoy Centre - St. Albert, AB

My booth

Art at night

Lewis Lavoie 

My wonderful helpers!

Pulse

Phil Alain

On the weekend of March 14th to the 17th, 2013 the Night of Artists, which has been around for 16 years, held it's first (hopefully) annual "Straight from the Art" art show at The Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, Alberta.  What a show!!  31 artists and photographers from St. Albert, Edmonton and the surrounding area put up their art and participated in the festivities.  Hundreds of people came to the show, in spite of the snowy weather.  Phil Alain, founder and organizer of the show did a fantastic job putting it all together in just a few short weeks.  I personally had a wonderful time meeting and getting to know the other artists and photographers and being able to show my art to so many people; I am humbled by the response I have received and I am thrilled to be able to join this group of  outstanding talent and incredible personalities.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the next NOA event!!

Simple Moments

My daughter's third birthday was a great photo op day!  My niece Kim took a bunch of photos of her and I was right there beside her taking more. This is the third portrait from that day.

The first side portrait I ever painted, "A Summer's Wish" was taken at the very moment the photo reference for this painting was taken.  Kim and I could never figure out who took which pose, so I gave her credit for the first painting...............this one.....well, I will just say I took this photo...... ;)

Original Oil
20" x 24" - Framed
For Sale

Autumn Glory

Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  Living in Alberta we don't get some of the vivid reds that the folks back east do, but it's still a very pretty time of the the year.  Living in a city you wouldn't think you would come upon such a beautiful scene but that is what my son and avid photographer Graham did.  When I first saw his photo I didn't believe it was from in town, but it was, right off of Meadowview Lane.  What a beautiful fall day!  I was thrilled to be able to paint this painting.

Come see it in person at the Night of Artists show "Straight from the Art", March 14 - 17, 2013 at The Enjoy Centre, St. Albert, AB!!

Original Oil
20" x 36" - framed
$1080.00
Original photo reference - Graham Roth - St. Albert, AB
www.grahamrothphotography.blogspot.com

Straight from the Art!!

March 14th - 17, 2013 - The Enjoy Centre - St. Albert, AB
For more information:  http://www.nightofartists.com/


I have tickets available for the Saturday Night Party, email me at memroth7@telus.net


Hope to see you there!!!

The Trestle and The Night of Artists!

I admit whole heartily that I am a procrastinator of the  most advanced and practiced type.  One of my goals  is to overcome this personality trait to some degree; but not completely, because, although I find myself waiting to complete things when the pressure is on, I also don't stress about getting things done until I actually have to do them, and so far I have been fortunate enough to meet deadlines and have enjoyed the adrenaline rush.  This makes life easier and harder at the same time.  I also admit that my motivation has been lacking these past few months, with good reason, but still lacking.  It started to come back when I painted "The Turtle", but this is not enough to get my art career back on track, so I decided I need focus and I need pressure.

I got an email from a fellow artist a few weeks ago telling me that artist Phil Alain, well known for "Mural Mosaic" and "The Night of Artists" an art group he started 16 years ago, was going to have a meeting and lay out his plan for the year.  He was looking for some more artists to add to his group.  My friend had mentioned a couple years ago that he thought I should think about joining the group when there was an opening, and so the idea was already hovering around my brain.

Phil explained his plans for the year, shows he was thinking about doing, background of his group and what advantages you get as a fellow NOA artist.  It all sounded great, shows to participate in, inclusion on the website and a full page in his magazine "NOA", and the best part, especially for someone who needs pressure to get things done quickly, was a show that would take place March 14th to the 17th........6 weeks from the meeting!!  Could I do it?  Could I paint some new pieces for this show?  Would I be able to get enough done?  Would I even be accepted into the art group?  I saw some of the artist's work that were already part of the art group and the standards were set high.

I told Phil I was going to go home and think about it over night, even though I knew this was something I wanted.  It's good to let things rest before you make a decision.  Rest was not on the menu and I couldn't get the excitement to simmer down....so this must be a sign....right?.....  I emailed Phil the next day, sent him some of my artwork to look at, and presto, he said I was in!  Wow!!  This is great!!  A show coming up.....a BIG show coming up....now in less than a month!!

"Straight From the Art" which will be held at the Enjoy Centre.  "Holes", as it used to be called, was a landmark in St. Albert, Alberta for many years.  The Hole family moved their garden centre to a new facility a couple years ago and and now the new building, The Enjoy Centre is the new landmark and it is something to behold.  Not only do they sell plants, but there is a grocery store, bistro, spa, shops, etc, etc.  They have this huge and amazing facility that is rented out for weddings, meetings, banquets and a number of other things, and the Hole brothers along with the Lois Hole Hospital will be part of this amazing weekend featuring a Lois Hole Gala, a silent art auction, live music, a fashion show, wine tasting, choirs, a Night of Artists Art Party, a Pecha Kucha Night, a family day programmed by the International Children's Festival, a live art creation by Lewis Lavoie!!! and of course......the NOA artists showing and selling their art (me too!).  This sounds amazing!!! Some of the events will require a ticket, others are free or a donation to the Lois Hole Hospital.

What has been quite exciting for me so far and has started the adrenaline pumping is creating the painting for the Silent Art Auction.  Each artist gets to participate.  50% of the sale will go to the Lois Hole Hospital and 50% to the artist.  The painting "The Trestle" is my contribution.

So save the dates, mark your calendar, I will give detailed information soon and check out the Night of Artists website!  http://www.nightofartists.com/#!201213_shows/cihc

16" x 20" Original Oil
Black and White
Available March 14, 2013 - at The Enjoy Centre - St. Albert, Alberta
Night of Artists - "Straight From the Art" - Silent Art Auction

The Turtle

Hawaii - November 2013 - A trip of healing and making new memories, that was the hope my brother and sister in law had wanted for my children and I as we embarked on a 10 day holiday with them and my little nephew; and that is exactly what we all got.

Sometimes when you first hear an idea you jump on it; a knee jerk reaction, that is what I did shortly after my husband passed away in August of 2012.  My sister in law offered to take my children and I to Hawaii with her, my brother and their son.  It sounded great! Sun, sand and a chance to get away from all the sadness.  But as the time approached to get ready for the holiday the idea started to lessen in appeal to me; I wasn't sure I could do it.  After all this would be our first family vacation without my husband.  Luckily, my kids were understanding and convinced me this would be a good thing and as uptight as I was about going, I didn't want to disappoint them; they had gone through enough all ready.

The first couple days were filled with all sorts of wonders for us.  We stayed in Honolulu for two nights and took in all the sounds, sights and smells of this beautiful place.  The kids seemed happy, my brother and his wife and son were relaxed and having a good time.  I too enjoyed myself, but the nights were hard.

On the third day we flew over to the Big Island of Hawaii and stayed in a beautiful condo, again this was hard for me, but as with all things in life, sometimes you just have to suck it up and enjoy the moment, and that's exactly what I did.  I put my face to the sun and felt the warmth penetrate to my bones.  I was starting to feel peace, just a slight breeze of it, but it was there.

We took to the island like it was home and enjoyed touring around and seeing as many of the sites as we could.  One of the things I was worried about when we were planning our trip were sharks.  My kids had a lot of fun with that, but I really had a fear....perhaps it was a little silly, but to me you just shouldn't go into the ocean, after all I was an impressionable teenager when "Jaws" came out and I have a pretty good imagination still.  Of course one of the best things about the Kona area is the snorkeling; again it was time to enjoy the moment and to conquer my fears, so I bought snorkeling equipment for my family and off to a popular turtle cove we went.  This was a particularly good spot to snorkel, it's protected from the open ocean and turtles were known to come in from the ocean to this cove.  The first day we were there was a lot of fun, I do have to admit it.  I took a lot of pictures of fish with my underwater camera and had a great time.  I didn't see any sharks, thank goodness, but I did keep my eyes peeled for them.

The second time we went snorkeling was at the beach our condo unit was allowed to use.  The beach was gorgeous and I spent many hours in the water by myself or with my two youngest kids.  I took pictures and they either snorkeled or paddle boarded.  It was a great day.  As late afternoon approached my oldest joined us in the water.  We swam around, took pictures and got too close to some large lava rocks.  I was pushed up against them, hurt my leg, but all seemed okay.  I was starting to get a little nervous because we were quite a ways out from the shore and I started to worried about sharks.  But by this time I had a new sense of bravery and figured if a shark came by I would bop it with my camera and save my kids.  We started to get cold and decided we had enough for the day.  As we got out of the ocean my daughter pointed down to my leg, when I looked at the direction she was pointing I noticed there was a lot of blood dripping down from the scrape I received on the lava.   It then occurred to me, not only was I not protecting my kids from any wayward sharks, I was the bait.

The day before we were to leave this beautiful paradise we decided to go snorkeling back in Kona.  It was an over cast day, but still very warm.  The ocean was a little bit clearer than the last time we were there and we spent a few hours in the water.  While my daughter and I were swimming around the most incredible thing happened.  Literally out of the blue a turtle came swimming, directly for us.  It was beautiful, it was magical and it wasn't moving out of our way....straight towards us it came.  As it approached I moved out of it's way and motioned to my daughter to follow and we started to swim with it.  With each stroke or kick of my flipper to keep up along side of the turtle it seemed determined to get closer to me, so close in fact that I had to move out of the way a number of times.  A couple other snorkelers approached and one person, to our horror, touched the turtle, this was not allowed and not welcomed by this amazing creature.  The interloper left and we continued on our journey as the turtle continued to swim with us, beckoning us to keep up.  Finally, at some point I decided we should stop and I motioned this to my daughter.  As we said good bye to our new swimming companion we popped our heads out of the water just in time to hear the life guard yelling at someone to get out of the out of the out of bounds area.....oops, I think that was us.  We quickly swam back to the area we started in and rejoiced at this incredible experience.

After our time of snorkeling we all headed back to the van and had a quick look at the photos of the turtle and realized that quite a few turned out really well.  What a treasure, what an experience.

A couple days later when we got back home to St. Albert life returned back to our new normal and everyone got back to their lives.  The memories we made and the bonding we experienced with each other and my brother and his family were true gifts and I will always cherish them. 

As life carried on and the days started to grow into weeks I wanted to get back to my painting so bad, but I just couldn't seem to settle enough to let the creativity flow through me, until I started thinking about the turtle, then I couldn't stop thinking about the turtle and decided it was time to figure out which photos I wanted to use.  I decided on one that seemed to be speaking to me.  Then I decided I needed a little more motivation and started to post my painting progress on my Facebook art page each day.  This helped me keep the momentum going and gave me some instant feed back. 

I am so grateful to all the people who have watched this painting journey and who have followed along.  I am so grateful to this wonderful turtle who seemed to come into my life out of the blue, and in just a few short minutes help me to find my way again.

24" x 30" - Original Oil

SOLD
Giclee/reproductions available

The Turtle - The progress of the painting

Become a Fan of my Facebook art page!!  https://www.facebook.com/MemoryRothArtist.PaintingMemories?ref=hl

Julie & Dale

Love............42 years of wedded bliss and going strong.

Original Oil

16" x 20" - Framed
Commission  - SOLD




                                                                                               
                                                                                 
                                                                                   
                                                                                       
                                                                                         
                                                                                     
                                                                                     

                                                                           

Original Photo Reference

  
One of the best things about painting commissions is working with the clients.  Julie approached me in the spring and asked me to take some family portraits for her and also told me she wanted to commission me to do a portrait of her husband Dale and herself for Dale's Christmas gift.  I was so honoured to do this for her.  We went through a bunch of photos that I took and both of us loved the one of Dale looking at her.  She also wanted to have the apple blossoms from her apple tree as a background.  She was so much fun to work with and I was so pleased to see the excitement in her eyes when she saw the finished product.  Thanks Julie and Merry Christmas Dale!!




                                                                                             

Jake

Jake is a very friendly, and maybe a little crazy ball of fur.....a big ball of fur!  Jake's breed is a Golden Doodle and he's the friendliest canine around.  He loves people, he loves other dogs, and he loves to visit people in their homes, even when he's not invited. He has been know to "just show up for dinner" from time to time.

My own dog Stella, and Jake are friends, but it's a interesting relationship.  You can read more about that on Stella's Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/StellaRothMyLifeAsADog?ref=hl  If you are a Facebook member you can "Like" her page and become a fan.

Original Acrylic
9" x 12"
Private Collection

Back at the Easel

John Barclay, my uncle and a very successful and talented American photographer, told me once that in order for a blog to be successful you had to post on it regularly.  He takes amazing photos and following his own good advice, he posts regularly and has a huge following.  

Unfortunately, for us painters we can’t crank out a new painting as quickly as photographers can take photos, at least I can’t.  It takes weeks to months to finish a painting to my satisfaction, and then I might post it. But I believe my uncle is right, you do have to post regularly to create a following that will continue to follow.

I had hoped I would have been able to make a few posting since July, but my life and my painting have been put on hold.  My wonderful husband and best friend became ill early this year and passed away in August.  His passing has been very hard on me and my children, but we are moving forward just as he would have wanted us too.  We are keeping strong with the help of our faith and our wonderful support network of family and friends.

My husband was my biggest fan, support and cheerleader and I know it would have upset him to know I haven’t painted very much for many months.  But that is how life has been, and while he was ill my priority was to be with him and to help him the best I could.  Life is starting to return to what ever normal is going to be and I have picked up my paint brush and have started to paint again and will continue on my journey as an artist. 

I want to thank all of you who have continued to visit my blog, even though there was nothing new posted.  I will be posting my latest painting this coming week, and I hope to try to get back into regularly posting paintings in the New Year.  I have lots of work to do including a painting using a photo that John Barclay took and has so graciously allowed me to paint..........this one is going to be special!

Please feel free to leave a message when ever you feel inclined.  Each message will go to my email and then once I have read it, it will be posted.  Thank you for your continued interest and support.

The Ball Player Gets More Press!!

The Ball Player gets more press!

Roth gets second in newspaper contest

Memory Roth sure loves entering painting contests. A few years back, she won an honourable mention from the Torrit Grey Competition sponsored by the Gamblin Artists Colors company of Oregon.

A little while ago, she was reading the Edmonton Journal and saw that they were looking for Father’s Day artwork. Leave it to Roth to send something in for that one, and get to second place for it.

“I just did it on a whim,” she admitted. “I painted a painting of my dad and I thought it might be nice if it got any press at all to honour him that way.”

The Ball Player, Roth’s entry, shows her dad in a baseball uniform sitting atop a large boulder in the middle of a field. She said that she always tries to give him creative presents for that special day. Roth’s dad was pleased with the result, she explained.

“He is going to be 80 this year and has just recently retired his glove. My dad encouraged all of us to do our best and to be our best, whether it was on the field or off. He is the most amazing father, the most amazing man, someone who I am so proud of, someone who I admire and love with all my heart,” she later added in an email response.

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20120630/SAG0801/306309986/0/sag

Thanks Scott Hayes of the St. Albert Gazette!!!

NOA Magazine

If you have ever checked out the art scene in and around Edmonton you probably have heard of, or picked up the NOA magazine.  Editor and artist, Phil Alain has just published it's 8th annual issue.

The first time I came across the magazine was last year as I took in the Whyte Avenue Artwalk.  Phil and a few other artists from Night Of Artists were displaying their art work and were giving out the magazine. It was beautiful, professionally done with lots of interesting articles and of course it was great to see some wonderful art and read a little bit about the artists who were in the magazine.

In this latest 80 page issue I was fortunate enough to be able to get my own art and info into the magazine. So if you are out and about checking out the Whyte Avenue artwalk, Edmonton Galleries, Taste of Edmonton, Mural Mosic showcases, or if you take in one of the Night Of Artist events, be sure to pick up your free copy.

http://www.nightofartists.com/

http://www.muralmosaic.com/

A SPECIAL FATHER'S DAY GIFT FOR MY DAD

I have the best Dad and ever since I was a little girl I always tried to give my Dad a great Father's Day Gift, when I was young it may have been made of clay, sometimes it was bought from the store, lately it's been a subscription to "Popular Mechanics", this year I decided to try to give him something just a little bit different.

The Edmonton Journal ran a Pop Art Father's Day Contest and asked for entries of art you made of your dad.  It didn't matter what it was as long as it was creative.  I had painted a painting of my dad this past year called "The Ball Player" and figured I would enter it, you never know, maybe it would make the paper and I could honour my dad this way.

I am so please to say it did make the paper, it actually won second place and even my little blurb about him is in the article.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!!  I hope you like your gift :)

Cultivate Life - St. Albert Mural Mosaic

It has been a true honour to be part of such a beautiful mural and to have my art, along with over 140 other artist's work, on permanent display in down town St. Albert.

Be sure to check out the mural mosaic website to see the panels up close, along with the name of the artist.....I have two panels, how fast can you find them?

http://www.muralmosaic.com/cultivatelife.html

Kona

In September of 2006 one of my dearest friends Keri, decided to take a oil painting class.  Because we had talked about taking some sort of class together at some point in time, when she told me about this I jumped on the band wagon....even though oil painting sounded kind of boring. :)  As you can probably figure out, my view on oil painting has changed......... significantly :)

Since I have started painting I have only given a couple of paintings away as gifts.  I feel that art is such a personal choice I am reluctant to give something to someone and have them feel obligated to hang it in their home for the next 20 years (or a least when I show up for a visit ;).  I have given a painting to my step mom (you know parents, it doesn't matter what you paint, they will always hang it on the wall or post it to the fridge).  Another painting I gave for a gift was to my late sister in law Pat and my brother law Bob for their 40th anniversary.  I felt good about doing this because Bob is also an artist and Pat was very much into art and was always giving me advice. I felt that if I was going to give a painting to anyone  they would probably appreciate it the most.

Now that I have been painting for a little while longer I am feeling braver about giving a painting as a gift.  So, for Keri's birthday I surprised her with a painting of her dog.  I took this photo of Kona when she was a puppy with the intent of painting it for Keri's birthday and hoping I could keep it a surprise.

I also have a confession to make..........it's not oil......I tried my hand at acrylic......I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and I wanted to know if it would make me paint any faster.  The jury is still out regarding the medium, but my speed was definitely faster, so I may have to try this medium again.

I am very happy to give my friend, who got me started in painting, my very first acrylic painting.  Happy Birthday Keri!!..............and thanks!

Original Acrylic
10" x 14"
Private Collection

                                                        Original Photo Reference

Rachel - Beyond the Monochromatic

Finishing a painting gives me great satisfaction....but to know when I am finished is another matter entirely.  I am most satisfied with a painting when I give it time to rest.  I hang it on a wall in my studio so I can look at it often.  Usually, within a few days to a couple weeks I can tell if I need to work on it some more.  Once I have added a touch here or there I like set it aside where I can't see it.  After a bit of time I bring it out and have another look.  This gives me a whole new perspective on things and I usually see things I didn't realize before.  At this point I will adjust what needs to be adjusted, but at some point I have to commit to letting it be done.

The painting I am doing of my niece Rachel is almost done. She still has to critique it; once she has done that I will make any adjustments she wants and then I will let it rest.  The commitment of letting it be done is hard to come by, but eventually it does.

Original Oil
14" x 18"

New Year's Eve at Seven Hills - Mural Mosaic - 2nd Panel

Every New Year's Eve the City of St. Albert puts on a fireworks display at our local tobogganing hill, Seven Hills.  Despite the cold weather, it's one of those types of traditions that if you want to get a parking spot you better arrive real early. It's also one of those traditions that if you sit in your nice warm car you really don't benefit from the whole experience of 15 minutes of fireworks in the Great White North.

Mural Mosaic # 24 -Cultivate Life - St. Albert Mural Mosaic
http://www.muralmosaic.com/cultivatelife.html
Original Oil
12" x 12" on wood panel
Original Photo Reference - Graham Roth, St. Albert, AB
http://www.grahamrothphotography.blogspot.ca/

Swathing A Path

Swathing a Path revisited - January 21, 2013

  

I have been looking at this painting for sometime; I wasn't ready to show it because something didn't feel right.  Today, I took some time and made a few adjustments. The above painting is where the adjustments have been made.  Can you see the difference?

I started this painting back in 2008 and put it aside until just recently.  It's taken me a long time to get this one done.  When I was first drawn to the photos my niece Kim took of her husband and daughter, I thought it would be a quick, fun painting to do.  For some reason though, I had a brain cramp when it came to painting the rows of wheat while I was working on the monochromatic.  Again, putting this aside like I did my previous painting of Amethyst Lake in the Tonquin Valley, has allowed me to learn enough in the past few years to be able to take on this challenge.  I find it ironic though, as hard as it was for me to get passed the stumbling block of the rows of wheat in 2008, grasses and things like that are one of my favourite things to paint.

Original Oil
28" x 22"
For Sale
Original Photo References - Kimberly Collis, Vulcan, AB
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-C-Photographics/143642594932

Amethyst Lake in the Tonquin Valley

I almost gave up on this painting.  I started it at the end of 2008 while I was still attending the occasional art instruction.  While I was working on the monochromatic I was also struggling with the prospect of leaving the security of the art studio where I first learned to paint.  When I finally left the studio I put the painting away and even at one point thought of throwing it out.  I hadn't progressed very far and it was becoming frustrating; it wasn't making sense to me.  About a month ago I decided to give it another try and I'm really glad I did.  Sometimes, you just have to walk away from a painting until you are ready to take on the challenge once again.

The reference photo for this painting was taken by a good friend of mine, Vivian McKay. Viv and her family had just gotten back from a trip to the Tonquin Valley near Jasper, AB when she showed me her photograph.  They had spent a few days with their friends and owners of a back country lodge.  I thought the photo was quite beautiful with the row boat on Amethyst Lake and part of the Rampart Mountain Range in the background.  I really wanted to try painting a mountain scene and not having anything suitable in my own collection of photos, this one was perfect. When I first saw the photo I had to do a double take because I had assumed the mountains were quite close, but in reality they were quite a distance away.

What an ideal place to visit.  Many years ago my husband won a trip to the lodge and took my dad with him.  Because the lodge is so remote it is only accessible by foot or horseback. They had a fantastic time fishing and relaxing in the great outdoors.  Pristine water, crisp fresh air and the sounds of nature surrounding them; you really couldn't ask for anything better.

For more information on how you can visit this beautiful area in the Alberta rockies visit:
http://www.tonquinadventures.com/

Original Oil
20" x 30"
SOLD
Original Photo Reference Vivian McKay, St. Albert

Olivia (Untitled) - The Monochromatic

Monochromatic:

mon.o.chro.mat.ic (mon-uh-kroh-mat-ik) - adjective

1.  of or having one colour
2.  of, pertaining to, or having tones of one colour

When I was first learning how to paint I was taught the methods of the old masters.  At the time I started taking my weekly 3 hour lesson I wasn't sure who the old masters were.  I remember painting my first couple of paintings and I wanted to be done the monochromatic part so bad; I could hardly wait to get the colour on.  As my patience, or lack of, got the best of me I remember asking my instructor a number of times if I was done, and she very patiently told me....not quite.  So I kept working and working on the monochromatics.

What I have learned over the past 5 years is that you can't rush this step, it is the most important part of the painting process.  If you get this part done right, the rest of the painting should come together easily, but if you don't get this part right....well, lets just say, there are many, many layers of paint on some of my first paintings, and that's not because I was layering the pigment, I was fixing my mistakes!  A lot of practise and a lot of patience has brought me to a place where I can really appreciate those old master's technique.....who ever they were.  ;)

So, is the monochromatic done?................not quite.


Original Oil
18" x 24"
Original Photo Reference by Jen Brunner, Red Deer

Sunflower Shade

We all need a little shade, once in awhile.

Original Oil
8" x 10" Gallery Wrapped
For Sale
Photo reference taken at Sunflower Gardens - St. Albert, Alberta (they make the best pickled green beans)

Olivia (untitled)

Portraits and children, there is something that is just magical about capturing a child on canvas.  Happy, sad, excited....whatever their emotions are at the moment, whether they are caught off guard, or posed, capturing those emotions, to be able to paint that in oil... that is what art is all about for me.

I love the photo I am using for reference for this painting.  The first time I saw the photo it grabbed a hold of my heart and made me laugh.  This was Olivia's first time at the pool with Grandma.  The expression on her face is just too cute.  I really do wonder what this 14 month old was thinking when Grandma was trying to convince her to go into the pool.

This first stage of the painting is the monochromatic, stay tuned to see the progression of finished monochromatic to finished full colour painting.

Original Oil
18" x 24"
Original Photo Reference by Jen Brunner, Red Deer

Sunset Wake

When I was taking painting lessons I remember my instructor telling the students that every artist should paint at least one sunset. I liked that idea, and when I came across the reference photo for this painting I knew I had found the painting I needed to paint.

My cousin Paul is really good with a camera and has taken some wonderful shots.  When I started actively looking for photos to paint I came across some of his on Facebook.  The one I used for reference for this painting was one of my favourites.  The colours were gorgeous; it was like looking at liquid fire, with only the breaking of the wake to cool the ocean.  The photo was taken in the Queen Charlotte Sound area in BC. The fact it was taken from the stern of a boat with the wake breaking the water was something that really appealed to me.  It was so great of Paul to let me paint this and I’m pretty sure I will be coming across a few more that will capture my interest, after all, Paul lives in one of the most beautiful areas of Canada and has the perfect opportunity to take some great photos.

Paul is a great guy, easy going, lots of fun and very kind.  Besides taking great photos, Paul loves to fish.........perhaps that’s an understatement.  He moved out to Vancouver Island a few years ago and has his own sailboat “El Sueno” and his best friend Tubby to keep him company out on the ocean.  He charters salmon and halibut fishing trips for the locals and tourists, and when he’s not out on the ocean he’s working at various marinas repairing docks and boats.

Besides looking forward to seeing more of Paul's wonderful photos, I am looking forward to a ride in his sail boat; maybe even a little fishing.

Every artist should paint a sunset.  This one's mine….thanks Paul.

Original Oil

30” x 36” Gallery Wrapped

SOLD

Reference Photo by Paul Pudwell, Sooke, BC

The Ball Player

As long as I can remember my Dad has always loved baseball.  As long as I can remember he has always played baseball; he even played the game into his seventy's.  It was just recently that he reluctantly decided to give up the game and watch from the sidelines.  When I asked him why, he told me it was because he just wasn't as fast a runner as he used to be.  I admire my Dad for the dedication he has shown for playing the game he has loved all his life, and he may not run as fast as he used to, but he can still hit the ball.

In my late teens, when my husband and I were dating, we played in a local merchant team with some of the staff from the company my husband worked for. It was always a good time playing with the "Home All" bunch.  Lots of good ribbing and baseball lingo flew through the air at each other, along with the baseball.  I remember my Dad coming to watch many of those games and it wouldn't have matter if the game was for fun or if we were in the major leagues; my Dad was always out there cheering and giving the umpire a few hints on how to call the game.

I came across an old grainy picture taken in 1958 of my Dad sitting on a large rock in his baseball uniform. I remember seeing this photo when I was a young child as I rummaged through the picture box.  I always loved this photo and being partial to painting in black and white I decided to take it upon myself to paint this for him.

The day I planned on unveiling the painting and showing it to my Dad was the first day of my first solo show. I could picture him getting all choked up and being totally thrilled over it. I showed the painting to a couple friends who knew my dad and they recognized him right away. When it was time to show my Dad the painting I felt quite emotional and knew this was going to be really special. As I barely held it together I took him over to the painting and showed it to him. I knew he would be really happy to see himself immortalized in oil paint, especially in his ball uniform. After all this, the waiting, the anticipation, the excitement, my Dad looked at the painting and his first remarks where: “Who’s that? Is that Bob?”

Needless to say, the painting hangs in my studio waiting for Bob to claim it!

Original Oil

18” x 24”

Framed
Private Collection

Steeee....llaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Stella – The Perfect Name for the Perfect Puppy!

If you ever had a dog you will understand how important these wonderful animals become to your family. They are not just a pet, but an individual family member. We have been blessed with two wonderful dogs. Skyler, a Doberman Pincher, our first dog who died 8 years ago, and Stella, who will be 5 on February 15.

Everyone always said, don’t buy a dog from a pet store. We even preached that tune until one day my oldest son Graham and I went up to our local pet store to have a look at some of the puppies. My daughter and I had previous seen a cute ball of fur and thought Graham should have a look to see if he liked the breed. It was a Maltese cross of some sort, cute as a button. We had a look, but decided we would keep looking for the breed we wanted; then we would contact a breeder, just as we did for our first dog. Just as we were going to leave we looked into another window that had been previously empty at my last visit, and we saw her. She was so little, 5 lbs and so cute, she was a cross between a Miniature Pincher and a Shih Tzu and had the markings, fur, and snout of a miniature pincher, but she had those big eyes and curly tail of a Shih Tzu; we were hooked. She was busy playing with her siblings and as they got tired she sat down and literally just fell over sound asleep. We knew right then that she was the one for us. A staff member took her out of her pen to let us hold her, wow, what an adorable dog. We went home to get my other two children and talk to my husband. Sure enough, someone else wanted to buy her while we were gone, but luckily I put down a deposit for her…she was going to be ours!

My son Braden and daughter Christina and I went back up to the store to get her. Both of my kids fell in love with her immediately and we proceeded to make the purchase and buy all the necessary equipment, foods, toys and paraphernalia. What a great day this was!! And that thing about not buying from a pet store….I would make an exception this time, for this particular pet store.

When we got her home our puppy was excited and nervous, we were all just as excited. We decided we needed to name her. Oh course my kids didn't like my choices of names and came up with a few of their own. One name both my boys thought of individually was “Stella”. I didn't really like it at first and thought we could come up with something better. A few minutes later my daughter came running home with some of the neighbours to show them our puppy, including Brenda, one of the mom’s. We asked Brenda what we should name the puppy; we did not mention any of our choices, and the first name Brenda mentioned was……”Stella”. What a coincidence....or was it?  This had to be our puppy's name and it was perfect!

Original Oil
10" x 10" Gallery Wrapped

Mural Mosaic - Cultivate Life - St.Albert Mural Mosaic - St.Albert Cardinals - The Catcher

St. Albert Cardinals - The Catcher

The Making of Panel #120

Cultivating life in St. Albert can mean many things to many people. To me it’s about the life my family has enjoyed in this wonderful city. When I became one of the artists who are participating on the Mural Mosaic – Cultivating Life – St. Albert, I had so many things I could have painted, but what stood out in my mind were the years that my son Braden spent playing baseball with SAMBA (St. Albert Minor Baseball Association).

There’s something about baseball that speaks to me and my family. Maybe because it’s a game I played myself as a young person or maybe it’s because we lived in St. Louis and got to enjoy many of the Cardinal games in person, or maybe it’s because of my son Braden’s love for the game. What ever the reason, it was an important part of our life. When we lived in St. Louis, Braden started playing ball in grade 2. When we moved back to St. Albert he continued to play for many years. From the age of 11 to 16 he played on a St. Albert Cardinals AAA team.

As a family we spent many enjoyable hours down at the ball diamonds watching Braden and his teams. Many friendships were made and we have many memories to cherish.

Braden loved baseball and played many positions very well, but catcher was one of his favourites.

   Finished Panel - St. Albert Cardinals - The Catcher        Original Panel #120   

Wanna Play?

Little girls and baseball.  Even in her party clothes its fun to get a game going......do you wanna play?

Wanna Play?

Original Oil

24" x 36"

Framed

Private Collection

Giclees available

People's Choice Winner - 2nd Place - St. Albert Painters' Guild Fall 2011 Fall Show and Sale

Sunkissed Poppies

Summer mornings are my favorite time to take a walk. The bright sunshine and deep shadows bring out the brilliance of the flowers in the gardens along the way.  Everyday there is a new delight in what mother nature and avid gardeners have planted and grown right before you eyes.  Poppies, delicate but strong, fiery oranges to excite the senses, sunkissed to always remind you of those summer days.  

Original Oil

16" x 20"

For Sale

Alberta Spirit - ACACA Provincial Award Winners Show

Come and join me for the opening of The Alberta Spirit Art Show

Friday, September 9, 2011 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at VAAA Gallery – Harcourt House – 10215 – 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta.


Alberta Spirit (Provincial Award Winners Show) runs from August 25 to October 1, 2011.
http://www.acaca.ab.ca/ab_wide_2011.html

Alberta Wide Show - Red Deer Museum - Now until August 6

"Summer Sweetness" (in above photo - bottom right), "Welcome to Las Vegas" (winner of the Northern Zone - Intermediate Category and the Alberta Wide Show - Jean Stephenson Award) and "My Ride" will be on display at the Red Deer Museum from June 19 to August 6, 2011 for the Alberta Wide Show.  Read all about the show in the Red Deer Advocate - link below!

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/entertainment/Juried_show_first_rate_after_26_years_124366649.html