Yummy red apple!

Earlier this summer, my youngest daughter Kate and I decided to paint an oil painting together. We got this one started during an afternoon.

The whole process began by first selecting the subject. A very yummy red apple! Then we continued by photographing the most delicious looking apple we found at different locations, on different surfaces, and with light coming from different angles. Once we chose the photo we wanted to paint, we got started and had a great time together putting on the first few brush strokes to cover the canvas.

The original idea of doing this painting together was good. However, I soon realized that my daughter was not so keen on further continuing with the painting. 

Months went by and the unfinished painting waited and waited for someone to complete it. Recently, I decided to finish it. And I must say, although it would have been a lot more fun to have completed it with Kate, this little painting has been one of the most fun projects I have worked on.

Geordie

This is a drawing was made in memory of a very special cat named Geordie. 

Geordie was my sister & brother in-law's very much adored pet cat that died of a very tragic death. He and a number of stray cats and kittens would regularly drink from a bowl of fresh milk that my sister would make available for all of them on a regular basis. Their next door neighbor hates cats and told them that if he ever saw a cat in his property, he would kill them all. 

Sadly one day one of the stray kittens died, then another, and another, and then their mom, and as well, my sister and brother-in-law’s beloved Geordie. They were never able to show prove that the neighbor poisoned the cats. But the autopsy reveled that antifreeze was the cause of death. 

That was extremely devastating for my sister and brother in-law.  Nothing could bring Geordie back.

I made this drawing during a few lunch breaks and gave it to them as a gift that I hope would bring a bit of joy.

Mallorca

These two paintings were done as a special gift for my brother and sister-in-law. They are done from pictures of Mallorca that they gave me a while ago, as a special request to paint these 2 scenes. However, time went by, and I am sure they thought I had either forgotten or was not up to doing them.

Just recently, I found the photographs again, and decided to paint them. Being that my son was going to Barcelona to celebrate the Christmas Holidays with the family, I thought it would be a good opportunity to send the paintings with him as a special gift. I was lucky to be on the phone at the moment they got together and able to hear their reaction over the phone when they opened the package.  They seemed to be quite happy, which made me happy as well.

Cala de Mallorca - Oil on Canvas - 10 x 5

Posta de Sol de Mallorca - Oil on Canvas - 10 x 5

December - Monthly Painting Challenge

A few years ago I started this painting which became a bigger challenge for me than I had anticipated. I was not happy with it then, and I am not terribly happy with it now either. However, I was compelled to finish it some way or another and being that the challenge for this month is "December", I felt it was a suitable subject. 

Oil on Canvas - 12 x 15.5
 

November - Monthly Painting Challenge

I recently took a photograph on the outskirts of Kemptville, Ontario, with what I thought was a not so typical day in November. We often remember the month of November with shadows of gray. But from time to time, we do enjoy a nice sunny day. Leaves mostly on the ground and plenty of textures from grass type of vegetation that will soon be flattened with all the inevitable coming snow.


However, I must say that after I started painting this scene, I became more aware of other possible November like scenes with beautiful cloudy skies and sunsets and magnificent shades of colors. I guess that may become some day another painting. In the meantime, I am getting geared up for the December monthly painting challenge!

Oil on Canvas - 12 x 15.5

Red Tulip

This project has taken me quite some time. It did not feel complete to me until today. I will be working on a second tulip (white) painting of the same size soon. And soon does not mean it will be completed 'soon'as if it takes me as long as this one, that may not happen for a few months!
We are very fortunate in Ottawa to have the Tulip Festival in the spring. The colors and variety of tulips are just amazing.

"Red Tulip" - Oil on Canvas - 16 x 16

Inuksuk by the Ottawa River

This small oil painting started as a fun project earlier in the summer and did not get completed until now. The photo was taken a few summers ago during my niece Marta's visit to Canada. Fascinated by the history of this stone landmark, we carefully put one together.

Oil on Canvas - 6 x 7.7