Vermilion Lakes Autumn-Canadian Rockies

To begin the process I create a mix of color with Ultramarine and Cobalt blue. I wet the sky area with water then add the mixtures of blue, placing more color in areas I want to be bolder.

Vermilion Lakes Autumn-Canadian Rockies

I have been experimenting with painting watercolour on stretched canvas. You first need to paint on a Gesso liquid layer that allows the watercolour to sit on the canvas. It's an interesting process, but time consuming as it takes longer for the paint to dry.
I thought I would take you thru the process of how I create a painting.
First I choose a size, in this case 9 x 12. The I draw an outline of what I want to paint, usually no more than 5 lines. I either paint of sit or from a photo I have taken.

Windless

I was just on the West coast of Canada last week, there was not a breath of wind and the ocean was smooth as glass.

It reminded me of a sketch I did when I was out kayaking a few years ago, not a breath of wind and all the sailboats were drifting aimlessly.

Surfs Up

One summer I was kayaking outside of Tofino near Hotsprings Cove. The barometer fell sharply, the skies darkened and a huge storm hit the area. I was forced to stay huddled on the beach with my 17 foot kayak as huge waves crashed against the shore.

It was a good thing I stayed put, as 3 fishing trawlers, each over 60 feet long, sank during that storm.

This sketch is called "Surfs Up"

I have spent a fair amount of time on the water on the West coast in sea kayaks. In a way you are like a turtle, everything you have is with you, your shelter, food, transportation. There are so many things to see when you are at ocean level in a kayak, but none more spectacular than catching a glimpse of the Orca whale.

You catch your breath, still your paddle and stare in awe as these graceful creatures pass by.

This sketch, "Orca", was created in Johnstone Strait near Telegraph Cove.

I've lived on the West coast for part of my life and find there are always things to catch the eye. From sailboats to ships, orcas and seals, every moment spent on the water is a magical time.

This pen and ink sketch is called "Wind at your Back". The sails are full, the boat is keeled over, and the air is damp with sea spray.

I've never been a fan of doing portraits of people.......I guess because the finished product is supposed to look like something that people can relate to/recognize. This is a self portrait in my early years as an artist, looking into a mirror. I was on the road as a ski rep, in some motel in some small town. Not a fan of TV, drawing was a great way to have some time for self.