No words, just total awe in the Pacific Spirit Park today.
landscape painting
evolving
Work in progress today, i.e. evolving
Seemed like a good idea to look back 4 years ago today to my post evolved from nothing
Chapter 7 in Tony Smibert’s Painting Landscapes from your Imagination is all about composition.
“Whether drawn as a crisp outline or sketchy…the result is the same:
a landscape which you evolved from nothing; and only a beginning to the possibilities”
This was certainly the case today particularly using the “Three Line Sketch”, which Tony describes as his “secret weapon…the ultimate planning tool for watercolour.”
spirit wall
Pacific Spirit IV
Another opportunity to say thank you to all the heroes and heroines out there.
I just can’t say it often enough.
Spirit Wall
in this together
Written in chalk beneath a rainbow on the entrance to Tatlow Park here in Vancouver these words are perhaps the perfect way to recognize this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. We are indeed all in this together.
Since this is also National Park Week, and following my look back to Antelope Canyon, I thought I would re-post our visit to magnificent Bryce Canyon five years ago today together with the painting that it inspired.
Studio 365: Day 112 April 22, 2015
From the wonder and awe of the magic of Antelope Canyon to the breathtaking majesty of the vistas of Bryce Canyon. It has been another unforgettable day and once again I will let the pictures do all the talking…
…the final shot at the end of a perfect day.
no rules only consequences
12.4.20
Spending time in the studio during this time of self-isolation I have been enjoying putting into action the word’s of Tony Smibert from his wonderful book Painting Landscapes from your Imagination. During the summer of 2016 I undertook all of the exercises in his book and some of you may have followed my progress at that time. Here is a re-post of one of them, which reminds me of how much fun I had during that memorable summer four years ago.
In Chapter 2 of Painting Landscapes from your Imagination Tony Smibert describes the Nature of Watercolor:
“The essence of painting in watercolour is to understand and work with the simple mysteries
of suspension, settling and drying, which takes place everytime we lay down a wash.”
He then adds perhaps the perfect mantra for watercolour painting:
“There are no rules in watercolour, only consequences”
Today’s exercises, which are full of “consequences”, some more successful than others, finishes Chapter 6 with more washes, dots, dabs and the addition of knife work to remove the dried paint creating white highlights from the underlying paper.
There are lots more great exercises to re-visit.
the tulip army
Today I am honouring all our residents, medical students and indeed all of our health care trainees, with my tulip field “army.” As we face each uncertain day it is so reassuring to know that the future could not be in better and caring hands. Thank you from one grateful generation to the next.
music and art, the universal healers
Inspired by those quarantined in their apartments in Italy who have been singing and playing instruments to each other from their balconies, and being the complete Italophile that I am, I selected some of my favorite paintings today that followed various memorable Italian holidays to share in solidarity with this inspiring Italian community musical support.
Thank you also to two great Symphony Orchestras who are broadcasting tonight and tomorrow to let their music bring us together in these difficult times. To quote first from the Seattle Symphony: “Seattle Symphony will continue to share our music through free video rebroadcasts and live-streams to help provide strength, comfort and joy to our community here in Seattle and around the world.”
And secondly from The Vancouver Symphony who will broadcast live tomorrow afternoon Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony: “Music and the arts are the heart of our community. We are facing unprecedented times and we need music now more than ever. In the last few days we have seen a global philosophical ‘coming together’ in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ironically, it’s precisely in times of crisis that the human spirit is compelled to come together. The word Symphony in fact means coming together. As such, tomorrow afternoon Maestro Tausk and the musicians of the VSO invite you to come together with us in a virtual finale to BeethovenFest. At 2:00 pm we will livestream Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony “Pastorale” direct from the Orpheum. This is our gift of gratitude to you during this challenging time.”
Details can be found on their web pages.
I hope this will uplift your spirits as much as it has mine.
seeing the wood for the trees
today’s afternoon tree-time
Earth Day 2019
This landscape painted over thirty years ago has stood the test of time I think.
Let’s all work to make sure our planet does the same.
tuscan reverie
Val d’Orcia – 23.9.18
A visit to Tuscany in the studio this afternoon.
thechangingpalette 