The still life set up with Ingrid Christensen

Understanding the still life set up is very complicated and sometimes it seems hours go into setting up a still life, Yes thats me; I am so picky, I overthink.  As we try to convey the shadow forms and their relationship to the light and shapes of the set up,  and then trying to make a pretty picture is time consuming.   In this workshop we explored paintings of still life set ups and various artists works.  

It was a great exercise and happy to note everyone thought it was useful and of course our with our very own Ingrid Christensen from Calgary was here to guide us and show us the light, haha shadow!

Demo by Julie Johnston

 Brushstrokes art instructors are able to provide a demonstration; one in the fall and one in the spring, here is Julie's painting.  

I will be demonstrationg in February.

FCA workshop with whitney hall

Federation of Canadian Artists AIMAE 2025 Honourable Mention

Happy to present this little 8x10 of I'm not Dizzy winnng honourable mention!!

The federation of Canadian Artists is showcasing the International Mail in Exhibition

 I am so excit4ed to be partaking in the exhibition.  Here is the Link:

https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/2025_aimae/3974

Let me know when You find my wonderful Piece!  I will post later for all to love.

Grand Opening of the Ronald MacDonald House expansion in Calgary

 Here is the comissioned painting formt he  Ronald MacDonald House and me on May 22, 2024

Workshop with Holly Dyrland

Ok Now I am obsessed with clouds!

Holly Dyrland, the instructor of this workshop was so in tune with providing participants with honest and useful information. As an artist we tend to overpaint and this course really showed me the possibility of success without overthinking.  I love her approach to represent yourself and your emotional connection to your art creation.  

I do not paint in Acrylics but feel i can grow from this experience and experiment with the medium especially for painting large works of art. 

Here is a photo of my art.  

Painting of the Children's Hospital for the Ronald MacDonald House

 The Ronald MacDonald House in Calgary recently renovated and increased capacities of rooms from 27 to 91.  The House is filled with beautiful paintings. I was delighted to be chosen to paint a picture of the Children's Hospital, specifications included adding a family walking form the house to the hospital,  a wheelchair and a sloth.  It was not my specialty and I struggled through it with all the roads and the perspective, but I think the project turned out as expected and now hangs in the main area of the Ronald MacDonald house. Her are the stages and painting:

CALGARY SKETCH & PAINTING CLUB SHOW AND SALE AT DALHOUSIE APRIL 5TH

 

Portraiture

 Here is an iconic character I picked for our portrait lesson. Its a fairly easy painting and has the Rembrandt triangle I like to have in the portrait.  Here is the reference;

Here is the demo painting I have for those of you who like to use the example to paint from:

Animal

Here is a little foal , I know i said cat but I loved this little photo, so it will be our animal lesson.  YUpu may choose a black or white canvas.

Below you will find the referance photos 

Grapes - still Life

 
These are the reference photos

Thank you Ken and Wayne for your giving these a try

February

 Still working on the winter as it is now -25 below, brrr.  Here is a reference photo

i took in Kananaskis, enjoy your painitng day 

You must all be home in the chill so here was the reference last week.

 

Brushstrokes January

 Happy New Year. Well we have had a few cold days and a few very snowy Days. I love the landscape implications and went off to capture the mood and beauty of the snow and trees which we will be working on in January.

On this day it was the coldest and hoar frost was covering most of the trees. Here is the gorgeous view.  I set out to walk around the lake at -23 and was only out for a few minutes but sure froze my fingers.  I wasn't alone as there was another couple returning to the parking lot having taken photographs.  I chose this sunset time to capture the light for the background and the diminishing colour of the snow on the trees. 

Heres the one my grandson finished his very snowy tree and he added the green highlights  Great artwork good insight into making it your own vision

Merry Christmas to all of You!

 

David Kitler Art Talk with the Calgary Sketch & Painting Club

 

Brushstrokes fall class artworks

 

DEMO @ the Calgary Sketch and Painting Club Show

 

Voice and Vision Gala Airdrie Public Library Sept 21 6pm

Writers and Visual Artists presentation

https://www.airdriepubliclibrary.ca/Events/Fall-1-2024/Adult/Voice-and-Vision-An-evening-of-writing-and-art?id=1726963200-665847

Voice and Vision Collaboration 2024

The 9th annual Voice and Vision Collaboration (VVC) pairs 14 artists and 14 writers from Airdrie and the surrounding area for a unique creative challenge. Writers begin the project with a prose or poetry piece, in any genre or style, with a 250 word limit. Artists begin the project with a piece no larger than 20" x 20", but otherwise without restriction as to medium or form. From there, partners are randomly chosen, and each participant creates a new work based on their partner's initial piece.

The end of the project will be celebrated with the VVC 2024 Show Opening on Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 6pm to 9pm at the Airdrie Public Library. This is the public's opportunity to see the artwork displayed for the first time, hear the written pieces in the author's own voice, and interact with this year's participants. Launching the same night is this year's project book, which showcases all the artwork, written pieces, and collaborator information. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please note, all pieces from the project will be on display during the month of October at the Airdrie Public Library and on the library's website.

RSVP to attend the celebration.

Brushstrokes First class

Brushstrokes project One

the reference photo:

starting with blocking in darks or drawing image

 add the transparent red or orange over top step one.

Start with dark green (a combination of green purple alizarin)

Add a lighter green and lighter as you add colour to the ftrees & foliage\Add greys with green to each rock shape

Add sky colours in sky and on lake reflection add the lights of the road and log