Welcome to my Studio Blog

Take a peek into my studio and See what inspires me to create my paintings and what’s been happening in my studio and on my travels.

I love to travel, see new places and meet new people. I love to create bold colourful paintings, many of them based on my wonderful travels.



Saturday, June 26, 2010

Table for Two Paris Bistro #2

Hi Everyone, I just finished my 2nd version of my "Table for Two" Paris Bistro painting. The first one sold at my last show. I painted another so I can add to my series for the upcoming FIMA Mtl Show. It is a little different from the first version. The curtains, the lights, and the canopy has more tones. Overall, I am happy to be finished the painting. You can never truly reproduce the exact painting. Although almost the same the same there are differences which makes each piece unique.

Table for Two - Paris Bistr0 II, 30 x 30 cm

Friday, June 25, 2010

Paris painting and some pics to share

Hi Everyone, TGIF! I am busy working on my second Table for Two painting in Paris. I sold the first one and now I need to make another for my upcoming show. Will be hopefully finished today. Then I will start a something brand new. I have to admit, I dont really enjoy painting a painting I have done before. That high I get is gone as I know exactly how will look in the end.

Table for Two in Paris

My sister emailed me this pic of my Mother and the Boo and its just so beautiful I had to post it.

"Listening to Grandma"

A Few More Pics I took of The Boo when I was there last week.
After Swimming Big Girly
Little Drummer

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

FIMA (Festival International des Arts a Montreal)

Hi Everyone, I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had been accepted to exhibit and sell my work at the FIMA art show. The festival will be from 1 – 11 July, 2010 and my time slot to exhibit my work will be from the 8th–11th July. The hours will be every day from 1:00–10:00 pm. On Sunday the show finishes at 7:00 pm. My booth number is C09 and I will be located in “The Gallery Space” (inside) located on Ste. Catherine Street between Amherst and Wolfe. The Gallery space is located basically on the corner of Ste. Catherine and Amherst across from the piazzetta restaurant.

The website has now been updated and the program is no on-line along with a list of the all artists exhibiting, their booth and location numbers. Here is the website for FIMA: http://www.festivaldesarts.org/. *Please click the Exhibitors/Exposants Tab to see a list of all the artists exhibiting. I am exhibiting under the name Lariviere Lorenz Lisa this time. *The link to the Site Plan is also on this page.


FIMA is the greatest open air art gallery in eastern Canada. The BoulevArt expands over a one-kilometre stretch of Montreal’s central artery, Sainte-Catherine Street, closed to the automobile traffic all summer. The FIMA offers festival goers a unique opportunity to meet artists from various backgrounds, professionals and emerging artists, and to purchase artworks directly from the artists (without going through a gallery or an agent). In 2010, close to 300 artists from Quebec, Canada, the United States, Romania, Turkey, France, Rwanda, Mexico, Greece, Israel and Martinique. The exhibitors and performers will take the street during 11 days, from July 1st to the 11th. Over 75 000 people walk on the BoulevArt on a daily basis.

It is the first time I will be exhibiting in Montreal and I look forward to seeing many of you I haven’t seen in awhile and it will also give you a chance to see one of my exhibitions.

Wishing you all a great week and summer! Hope to see you in beautiful downtown Montreal soon.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Promo-Stand Cards for the big Show

Hi everyone, working on some administration things for my big show in Montreal at FIMA July 8-11, 2010. I can harldy wait. I have decided to hand out some Promo Stand Cards. I got an amazing price for printing a batch of 10,000 so it was well worth it and as I do my own graphic work I save on the costs there aswell. Here is a sample of my promo cards front/back.























Moonlit San Barnaba Edits

Hi Everyone, Well the more I looked at my painting this afternoon, I felt the sky was not dark enough. So I added a few darker tones of ultramarine blue and some pathlo blue. I am much happier with the results now. Both pics really look very nice, but in real life it was a tad too light. I find it more now like my previous Moonlit Venice painting.

Moonlit San Barnaba (revised)

The older first one

Moonlit Venice

Monday, June 21, 2010

Fresh Off the Easel - New Venice Painting

Hey Everyone, I finally got around to finishing my latest painting. A lively, colourful scene of Venice's beautiful Campo San Barnaba and Bell Tower.

Moonlit San Barnaba, 40 x 50, acrylic.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Happy Customer

Cheryl bought my original painting "Colours of Tuscany" about a week ago and sent me some few pics of the painting now residing in her beautiful home. I think her house is just beautiful and I wanted to share a pic with you. As an artist, it's a real treat to see your painting hanging in a happy customer's home.

Colours of Tuscany, 60 x 80, acrylic in Cheryl's home:

Moonlit Campo San Barnabas - WIP

Hi Everyone, Firstly TGIF. Its a beautiful sunny day here in Ottawa. I have been working steadily on my new Venice painting and I am progressing well. I have about a good 13 hours of work left and it will be completed. Here is what I have done so far.

Rough Sketch

Drawing on Canvas (sorry a little messy) as I had to resize the bell tower and I changed the position of the moon Blocking in most of the colour.

All the colour is blocked in now and I did a bit detail work. Next I will outline and do all the modeling work, lights and darks, etc. My favourite part of the painting. About 8 hours of work left

Added a some contrasts, shadows a few more lights and I outlined the entire painting with a number 2 brush in Paynes grey.


I actually revised the painting later this afternoon and added more darks to the sky - some ultramarine blue and some pathlo blue. Both images look nice but in real life the first version was too light...Voila the Finished Painting

Friday, June 11, 2010

Featured on Imagekind Homepage

I am very pleased to announce that my work "Colourful Regatta" was featured on the Homepage of Imagekind.com


Illustration Friday - Ripple

This week's Theme over at Illustration Friday is "Ripple".

That romantic evening under the moonlight, there were a few ripples under in the beautiful canal water's of Venice.

Valentine Venice, 30 x 40, acrylic

Featured Artwork - Imagekind

I am pleased to announce that my Colourful Regatta painting was one of the Featured art works on Imagekind's front homepage June 10, 2010.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Montreal School Project & Visit

A few months ago I was approached by Grade 4 art teacher from a Maimonide School in Montreal, Quebec for permission to use my funky floral paintings in her class art project. The children were to use my floral paintings for their inspiration and paint their own projects using coloured pastels, pencil crayons etc.

On May 18th 2010, I was in Montreal and visited the school and the children. I brought in some of my original paintings with me and gave them a little presentation about paintings, colour, etc. I had a lovely meeting with them and they were all excited to meet a real artist. Later the teacher showed me their works and I was very proud to see their creations. I love to interact with children and see how enthusiastic they are about art.

Here is a picture of me in front of their "Project Board"
in the school with the students works

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

New Venice Painting Sketch

Hi Everyone, well I am back working full force in my studio after my recent show. I was busy preparing for the exhibit that I have done any painting and I need to do quite a few new paintings for the next show big FIMA show in Montreal. I am going to be working on a few Italian scenes.

So here is another rough sketch of my next painting idea. Again, I will be doing a little scene from beautiful Venice. I love Venice....does it not show? lol. This scene is from Campo San Barnaba with a view of the Campanile di San Barnaba. I will make the bell tower higher then what is appearing on the sketch. I will be doing this one on a 40 x 50 cm canvas.


Moonlit Campanile in Venice

Monday, June 7, 2010

Great Art Show and Festival

Hi Everyone, It was a great weekend here in Ottawa. The Orleans festival and art show at the Senkman Arts Centre was a great success. There were lots of people and I had a wonderful time I sold a couple of paintings and many art cards. I met lots of interesting new people and enjoyed the wonderful festival and day despite the rain.

A picture of the Beautiful Shenkman Arts Centre
(This pic I obtained from ottawa.ca)

The Beautiful structure and so much light. I see lots Danish Architecture in this building, particulary the gorgeous Opera house

My booth all set up and fellow artist neighbours

All ready to open the doors

Even my Adorable Boo came to visit my show. Her first Art Exhibit

A long day but it was well worth it.