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.



Monday, May 21, 2007

Ranunculus WIP - Continued

Hi Everyone, I was able to work a bit on the weekend on my floral painting.
Here is my progress so far of my wip sesssions. I think I might be finished today!
EDIT: This is why I love having my studio blog. Once I loaded the pic and was looking at the painting on screen, I realized..I just hate the flower that is sideways (viewers left). It just sticks out like a sore thumb. There is no symmetry on the other side and my eye is drawn too much to that corner. I am going to make the flower hanging over the vase to be open like the right side. I spoke to my sister - my little muse and she agreed with me. Wondering what you all think of this? Thanks so much.

Okay - I played around in my photoshop and this is how I will revise the painting now. Geez I am not a happy camper! Wish I could have seen this before
or this
This Morning's work: Some outlining in the flowers, need to add some more contrasting lights and the do the centres!




Weekend Work:

Tagged

I've been tagged by my blogger friend: a delightful artist and cheery lady, Bee at Indigo Blah, from beautiful Cyprus.

"Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 things that are a habit, unusual or that no-one else knows, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. "

So here are my 7:

1. I am a real creature of habit. I eat the same thing for breakfast almost every day and enjoy my little morning routine of checking emails, blogs, art-news, weather, etc. Then I put on my smock and paint. Although I love painting and creating the beginning stages of a painting project really stress me out!

2. I can’t stand to walk barefoot in the house. I don't like slippers but I love to wear flip flops. I also just hate flossing (but I do), shaving my legs and wearing a skirt with nylons!

3. I am quite obsessive compulsive. I like everything to be organized and tidy. I even fold our pajamas neatly under the pillow in the morning. All my candle holders are neatly aligned on my coffee tables. I can’t stand may-hem and clutter. My husband calls me Monk (a TV show about an obsessive compulsive detective)

4. I just adore candles and candle holders. I have about 50 glass Danish candle holders, and most of them are displayed in my house and often lit at the same time!

4. I love to listen to Dean Martin when I cook. I adore Italian food and great wine! Would have loved to go out on the town with the Rat Pack. I like to entertain and set my table with different themes. I also love to listen to Elvis when I do housework.

6. I love to give people I love "pet names." I love my bicycle and even named her Betty Blue.

7. I am afraid of bees, spiders, wasps, and any other insects! Gardening is not for me! I usually only put geraniums on my balcony as they don’t attract any flying visitors!

I dont know many bloggers so I am tagging 3 of my fav blogs: my great artist mate Kim in Australia, another wonderful artist friend, Gilberte from Belgium and my sister Mary.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Print Sales

Hi Everyone, I am quite thrilled to say that my "print" sales of my art work have been increasing at Imagekind and also on Sistino.com. If you have a chance, please do visit my gallery at Imagekind to see new prints now available. Thanks so much and have a great day!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Ranunculus WIP

Starting a WIP of my Ranunculus flowers. Finished my drawing on canvas and I slightly changed the arrangement of the flowers. I am now happy with the composition. Going to be blocking in some color now:Blocking in some color now. Cerelean blue and white for background and some red/yellow for the flowers. A violet blue/white for the vase. The color seems a bit dark on the pic. I will need to do a few more coats and the green stems. This is a very boring part of the painting process...LOL

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Back to my Easel

Hi everyone, it has been quite some time from my last post. I was away on a little trip to Iceland. My husband was there for some business and I went to join him for a long weekend. It was an interesting trip and the country was much more different than I imagined. For spring the weather was quite cold and extremely windy. There are hardly any trees in Iceland as it is basically a volcano. It is very barren and there are volcanic rocks all over. It really felt like I was visiting another planet...lol. We rented a car and toured around and saw some geysers and beautiful waterfalls. One of my highlights of the trip was to swim in the Blue Lagoon - the Thermal Baths. The water is so warm and a magnificent blue. We felt so refreshed after our swim. It is also a very expensive in Iceland as everything costs a small fortune. We also ate some wonderful scampi’s at a very nice “cozy” restaurant. I am glad I went but I don’t think I would go back. Coming from Canada, we are quite spoiled with a beautiful, large, wilderness country.
A few pics from Iceland
Driving on the Highway - the volcanic rocks
One of the Geyser s
Andreas and I at the Falls


Then my in-laws were here for a visit and we took them to Berlin to celebrate their 50th Wedding anniversary. They had a great time. It was my first time to Berlin and it was very interesting. They are really re-building Berlin since the collapse of the wall. There is lots of great shopping too. I loved the big department store KaDeWe...which is similar to Harrods in London. They have a super food courts and restaurants on the top floor.
Having Fun at Check Point Charlie
These fun Bears were all over the City and painted in different colors with various Motifs. I really liked them!
So the trips are over and my in-laws have left and I have been anxious to start work on a new painting. I have decided to do another floral for my funky floral series. This time I am painting the interesting, colorful flower - Ranunculus.

Here is my idea and rough sketch for the painting. I wasn’t sure if I should paint the vase like glass and have the stems showing thru. I think I will do it a sold color. I have no idea at the moment what to name the painting. So if you have any ideas, please let me know. Also would appreciate any comments you may have.