What's new!

Study - "A Studio Visit"

Oil on panel, 11x14

From the time I was a little girl one of my favourite past-times was doing portraits of the special people in my life.   

As a very young teen I stood in rapture watching a local artist doing a portrait demonstration in the local department store.  Looking back, I now recognize the life-changing event that this was; opening up for me a glorious new world. 

In my own by-the-seat-of-my-pants style of learning, I set off to find out more about this incredible world of painting people - my loving and encouraging parents supporting and encouraging me in every way.

Painting people - particuarly my children - has always been a big part of my life as an artist and continues to be. 

I am happy to announce that I will now be taking on additional portrait commissions and expanding this side of my artist life.

I will share more with you on this subject in the coming weeks and months.  However, in the meantime, I welcome any questions and inquiries you might have.

WORKSHOP NEWS: 

RAPIDLY IMPROVE SKILLS,

CREATE DISCIPLINE

AND

KEEP YOUR WORK FRESH!

~ If you missed it the first time ~

here's your chance to get in on the fun!

Join me in my 1-day Workshop

"Dailies"

Saturday, April 18th, 2015 10-4pm  

www.calgaryschoolofart.ca

(register online or call 403-287-7448)  

All levels welcome - Cost: $110

(***Please contact me for a supply list***)

Over the past number of years I've embraced the idea of painting "Dailies", those diminutive, delightful paintings which are overtaking artist's studios the world over.

This fast-growing group of artists, known as "Daily Painters" are painting small paintings daily - or weekly.  There are many variations to this theme as there are artists.

The "Dailies" adventure is there for you to explore, and only limited by your imagination.

I hope you'll join me in discovering your own adventure and experience firsthand the growth and freshness in your own work that every artist seeks.

(more about my workshops by visiting my website and clicking on the workshop link)

Here is one of my "Dailies" ...

"Windmill Blue"

oil on panel, 8x6 inches

 

Horses and Flowers!

"Mystical Might", oil on panel, 24x30 by Bobbi Dunlop

I am happy to announce that my painting, "Mystical Might" has been juried into

the 2015 Calgary Stampede Western Art Auction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ FLORAL WORKSHOP ~

I've been enjoying myself in the studio painting flowers in preparation for my 

upcoming 1-Day Workshop, 

"Painting the  Floral, Beautifully & Simply" From Life, in Oil

Saturday, March 14th, 2015  10-4pm

Calgary School of Art to register

Cost: $110 (includes flowers)

Simple will be the operative word of the day!  Flowers are a joy to paint and these Azaleas were just begging to be simplified with a brushstroke.  Here is a quick demo below.

 Step 1

 Step 2

 "Azaleas Study", alla prima, oil on linen/panel, 5x6 inches

To read more about my upcoming workshops, please visit my website or go 

to Calgary School of Art to register.

** Suitable for all levels, some experience would be good.

"Gazing and Grazing"

 

"Gazing and Grazing", oil on panel, 8"x10"

 

 

Horses being horses. It was a beautiful summer afternoon when I came upon this idyllic scene. The stillness of that  afternoon and the warmth of the bright sun are still so vivid in my mind.  I can't imagine anything more breathtaking than to look out my window to a scene such as this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Do you have a SECRET WISH  to pick up a paint brush and learn to paint?

If you do, I have a new mini-workshop planned just for you or someone you know -

"ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS OIL PAINTING, 101",
Saturday, January 17th, 10-1pm at Calgary School of Art


~~~  Workshops for 2015  ~~~

 

                         ~ Painting the Portrait from Life, Alla Prima   Sat, Feb 14, 2015

                         ~ Paint the Figure from a Photo                         Sat, Feb 28 &

                                                 (2 days)                                          Sun, Mar 1, 2015

                         ~ Paint a Floral, from Life in a Still Life           Sat, Mar 14, 2015

                         ~ Workshop TBA - Save the Date                      Sat, April 18, 2015

Is attending  a workshop on your Bucket List this year?
Read more about these exciting ones I have planned for 2015.  You'll find details here, on my website

I hope you'll join me!

 

 Registration at Calgary School of Art

and

Cochrane Arts Central

Happy New Year to You and Your Special Ones! 

 



2015 Workshop News

 

"Work-in-Progress", 16x12, oil on linen/panel

This unfinished painting of the lovely model, "Amanda",  was started from life at life painting session at my friend's studio and then worked on later in my studio, from photos. It's a long way from completion,  but I do like the unfinished state, too.  It's a lovely memory of the day.

The angle of the model's head - chin up and facing - proved to be a difficult angle in which to tackle a model.  At the time, from life, it was interesting and managable, even exciting, but when I went back to the painting much later and looked at the photos, there wasn't much to work from.  Particularly because the model was lit from several different angles; studio windows as well as a direct light set-up, which didn't translate as well from the photo.

Oh, but this is all part of the thrill of painting the model, whether it be from life or later, from a photo!  Always challenging, invigorating and there's nothing in the world quite as delightful. 

WORKSHOP NEWS:

I'm very excited about my new workshop schedule for 2015.

I think there is something for everyone - still-life/floral, figurative, portraiture - from life and a photo - something for the intermediate/advanced student to the absolute beginner.

I'm building on this schedule so you can look ahead to spring, which happily brings with it, plein air -urban street scenes, landscapes ... and possibly a model in the landscape?

As many of you know, I like to keep things SIMPLE ... and this is the theme of my workshops. 

Each subject, whether it be a flower or a nose, is merely an abstract vehicle in which to make brushstrokes and apply paint.  In this way, each of my workshops allows you to build on knowledge from a previous one. 

"A Painter paints objects; An Artist paints paint" - David A. Leffel

We're gonna paint paint!

I hope you'll visit my website for more information about my workshops.  Click this link  to read more about them.  I will be adding to them, so please check back often.

Click these links for registration at either Calgary School of Art or Cochrane Arts Central.

BOLDBRUSH PAINTING COMPETITION - "FAV15%", September, 2014

"Fleeting Gallop", oil on linen, 22x26

 

I'm happy to announce that my painting, "Fleeting Gallop", was recognized in the "FAV15%" of Boldbrush Painting Competition for the month of September, 2014.

 

 

My 1-Day workshop, "Painting the Figure from Life, Alla Prima", Saturday, October 18th,  was a huge success!  I was blessed with a super group of artists attending and what a pleasure it was for me.  Our lovely model, Brenda,  was one I'd worked with in the past and she made the day even more delightful.

 

The day was challenging, the participants were very pooped at the end of the day and rightfully very satisfied with their efforts.  The best kind of workshop - and day - in my estimation.

 

 

The students did so well and stretched themselves so happily, and eagerly, we've decided to do another one: "Painting the Portrait from Life".  This will be a 1-day workshop and I hope to co-ordinate it around the same model, "Brenda".  I'm really looking forward to working with this group again ... if you'd like to join in, please let me know or contact Calgary School of Art.  Workshop date coming soon.

 

Other workshops planned for 2015: TBA  Check this blog for announcements and on my website in Events and Workshops

 



Step-By-Step

Massing in

Alla Prima - having fun

 

                                           

"A Studio Visit", Study - oil on  panel, 16x12

 

 

In recent months I've been going back to the old practice of doing studies before beginning larger works.  I find these paintings totally enjoyable for a number of reasons, the main one being that I am able to explore possibilities that I might not otherwise encounter, or risk taking, in a larger painting. The study allows the artist to solve potential problems and when I'm really fortunate, uncover something special. 

 

After a summer of plein air studies, I found myself pining to paint the figure. This study, "A Studio Visit", (16x12) was painted in preparation for my upcoming 1-Day Workshop, "Painting the Figure, From Life,  Alla Prima". 

 

I still have some workshop spaces open and I would love for you to join me for a challenging and fun day.

 

Saturday, October 18th 2014 - 10-4:00pm 

Cost: $100 + shared model fee

To read more about the workshop and to Register online at Calgary School of Art

 

OR  (New)  register for my Wednesday "Open-Studio" evening class - 6-9pm

month-to-month, ongoing registration.

Calgary School of Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

UPCOMING WORKSHOP REMINDER - DEMO

"

"Natasha", oil on linen, 16x12

There is still time to register for my 1-Day Workshop

"Painting the (clothed) Figure From Life, Alla Prima"

in oil (or acrylic)

Saturday, October 18th, 2014 10-4pm

Calgary School of Art

Please go to Calgary School of Art's website to register online. Or contact me to register for my class.

To read more about my workshop and classes click on the links below:

Workshop

Wed Evening Class

Note: The Fall Evening Class session has begun, however, if you'd like to join now, 

the classes will be pro-rated.