Patch - 12"X12" acrylics on canvas My APAD is on hiatus as I work on other commissions. This painting is of our dog who passed several years ago. It was a birthday gift for my hubby and is a prized keepsake that reminds us of him daily from it's spot in our great room above the desk. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015 for 90 days. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to

My brother Ray - 16X20" acrylics on canvas (unfinished) My APAD is on hiatus as my brother continues to battle with COPD. The excruciating Yin/Yang pattern of horrible lows wherein he struggles to breathe, like a fish out of water – to the wonderful highs where his grey pallor is awash in pink - are both wonderfully exhilirating and absolutely exhausting! I felt the need to take some time out and be with friends and experience belly laughs and paint. I felt compelled to paint

Greensleeves – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. I had the pleasure of meeting this horse on the acreage where my nephew's wedding took place. The sun was just right - framing his head so nicely. I felt the need to capture him, as soon all the horses will be sold. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't

PINK! – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. I used my new tube of Opera Rose in this painting and discovered that it is a shade that doesn't scan very well - actually, not at all! So I had to do some Photoshop work in order to post it here. I paintied this from my head as I didn't have any reference with me at the time. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why

Buddy – 12"X12" acrylics on canvas. Buddy is a Polish lowland sheep dog and he belongs to my neighbours. His eyes were important so I painted his head only to accent them as they are usually covered by hair!. I used an underpainting of red and purples and layered the paint to get the hair just right. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waitin

Tribute to Diesel – 12"X12" acrylics on canvas. I guess I do dog portraits now! I did one for my brother-in-law and he loved it. Then Diesel passed and I just had to paint his portrait for my sister and her family. Diesel was my dog-nephew. A weineramer and coon hound cross, he was a good dog, who was gentle, and who thought he was a lap dog! It felt great to paint larger after painting so many miniatures!! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a

Peony Envy – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. This painting of a macro close up of an Itoh Peony is about capturing the vibrancy of the color and the addition of my new tube of Galleria Opera Rose makes it all possible. It isn't so much about the flower as it is about the shapes within the flower which combine to form an abstract. That's the beauty of nature! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized ju

Pop Goes the Peony – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. I added a new tube of paint to my pallette today. Galleria Opera Rose is so vibrant and it really makes the subject pop! I took some time off from my daily painting after 90 days but I am back at it.now. I am also working on some portrait commissions that I will post at a later date. Stay tuned! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how prec

3 Sisters Clouds – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. I tried to capture this amazing sunset we witnessed on the lake. The clouds formed 3 sisters mountain-like peaks above the horizon and the sky was on fire. So beautiful! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't finding the time. It took a while to commi

Sun's Promise – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. I was inspired by a photo my cousin Lynn took. I tried to capture the beauty of the opposing forces of nature. The juxtaposition of the storm in the distance and the sun peeking through the clouds to light the fields. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn

Princess Stella – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. A commission of my neighbour's 10 month old grand daughter, Stella. This took 5 hours and was very challenging at this size. Teeny weeny brushes came in handy for this one! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't finding the time. It took a while to com

Golden Moment – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. Painting en plein air from nature again today. I started with an underpainting in blue and finished with an overlay of yellow. I didn't worry about perspective and just had fun! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't finding the time. It took a while to

Wildflower – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. Painting en plein air from nature is a pleasure. I spotted this wildflower growing on the edge of our property. A very delicate subject. I didn't worry about perspective too much and just tried to keep it simple. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't find

Glass half Full – 4"X4" mixed media on masonite. Painting en plein air from nature is a pleasure. This is a difficult flower to paint but I didn't worry about being too realistic. Instead I focussed on getting the essence of the flower. #blog #APAD #APaintingaDay #art #painting #miniature #originalart #acrylics #flower #purple #yellow #enpleinair #89

Bijou – 12"X12" acrylics on canvas. This commission of Bijou, a pet Havanese, was completed on July 27, but It was a surprise birthday gift for my niece, so I couldn't post it till now. It is a larger piece which was a nice change. I am very gestural so having the space to do that was nice. I love to suggest the shape of things, letting the play of light and shadow define the hair. It would be easy to get too detailed and then I would lose the freshness of the brushstrokes.

Purple Pleasure – 4"X4" mixed media on masonite. Painting en plein air today from nature is a pleasure. Contrasting colors and a gradation in the background makes the flower pop and adds interest. I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't finding the time. It took a while to commit to it, but a year

Pink Orchid – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. Today's painting is of an orchid. I saw many at a family wedding I attended on Saturday. They were delicately suspended with invisible thread from willow branches. Each stem was stuffed inside a test tube shaped vase. So lovely! I started this painting with a blue background and worked with smaller brushes than I usually do. Love the contrast between the dark willow branches and the delicate flower. I started painting one 4"X4" minia

Superheros – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. Today's painting is a bit of a throwback. These are our kids and our dog at hallowe'en in the 90s sitting in front of our large cabinet TV! This painting is a study as I intend to paint this again larger one day. I started with a dark background and laid layers of thin paint. I love the way the vibrant colors contrast with the background. I use a blowdryer to dry the Liquitex varnish and it gives me a wonderful crackle effect. I starte

Delish – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. Still life painting done in my studio today. Check out my Instagram post to see a photo of my studio set up. I am late getting this out as this is yesterday's painting because I had a day at the farmer's market and have gotten some commissions to do. Good to be busy making art! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered wh

Creekside – 4"X4" acrylics on masonite. We pass by this creek every time we drive to our cottage. I have longed to paint it for years. I will have to do a large canvas of this one in the near future. I absolutely LOVE painting water! I started painting one 4"X4" miniature daily on May 1st 2015. After a near fatal drowning experience in 2013, I realized just how precious life is and I wondered why I was waiting to do what I loved most. I just wasn't finding the time. It took