This is a very loose interpretation of begonias and the colour and bleeds are the focus for this piece. I love the hits of ultramarine between the bright pops of red. These bright little flowers seem forever optimistic.
This one will be available later today on my website. Size is 10" x 11" on arches cold pressed paper.
XX
Wendy
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Life has been busy and I haven't been doing as much painting as I would like to but I've been trying to get back to morning painting. Just grabbing a few dandelions and violets and a few other odds and ends from the yard is enough to get inspired with.
Love keeping it loose on this Arches Rough heavy weight paper and adding in just enough detail but not overworking it. The hint of pink in the stem of a dandelion is just "love".
Yellow and purple flowers complement each other because they are opposites on the colour wheel and pop when placed next to each other.
Are you someone who would love to have art be part of your day? It's such a relaxing way to disconnect from the world and just play. The birds were chirping and the rain was falling this down this morning and I was quite content to just be.
If you're interested in learning how to paint, sign up to my email newsletter for upcoming summer workshops here in South Frontenac.
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Big Sky 1, 5x7, Oil on paper
Big Sky 2, 5x7" Oil on Paper
Big Sky 3, 7x5" Oil on Paper
]]>I don't know about you but I'm so ready for spring to be sprung and for the garden beds to start sprouting spring bulbs.
I'm somewhat patiently awaiting for the Maple Ridge Tulip subscription to start. And resorting to painting florals that are either in my head or in my photo library or a bit of both.
I did score a bouquet of hyacinths from the grocery store but the spring bouquets have been sorely lacking here.
Painting is a great way to turn off what is going on in the world and spend some restorative time getting lost in the art of creating.
Here's a few pics of my latest work that will be in the Spring Kingston Holiday Market which runs from April 28th to May 1st and then will be available in a collection launch on my website shortly after.
Hyacinths, 5.5 x 8", Watercolour and charcoal
Yellow Tulips, 5x7" Watercolour and charcoal on Handmade deckled edge paper
Spring Forward, 5 x 7", Watercolour and charcoal on handmade paper
Process shot of working on "Fresh start" watercolour on handmade paper.
Drama Queen, 8x10" Watercolour on Arches Cold-pressed paper.
Take care lovely people.
xoxo
Wendy
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I've always admired loose oil paintings but have been wary of trying them as they seem like a daunting medium and way more complex then watercolour - although some oil painters might say the same about watercolour!
Burning the house down or breathing in toxic fumes always seemed like a reason not to go there to me but as I get older I try to lean into the things that I'm afraid of for no good reason.
I've been watching some YouTube channels on how to get started. Here's a couple things I've learned so far:
1. You don't need to use turpentine or mineral spirits. You can use a solvent-free medium to thin the paint such as Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid and you don't need to use a lot. Reading about the product on Gamblin's website they do recommend adding a bit of Gamsol which is completely odorless.
2. With linseed oil, which is what is flammable if not handled properly, you don't need to use a lot of this either and when you wipe your brushes onto a paper towel or rag, leave it out flat for a few days and then put it in a old paint can ready for disposal on hazardous waste day. You can wet down the used towels or rags in the can if you're worried about it.
3. Just like watercolour, you need to give yourself time to play with the colours on your palette. Swatch the colours, get the right consistency which should be a buttery to cream like consistency.
So for the month of January I will be attempting to do an oil painting a day, all 4x6" on linen paper. Colour is limited to Azo Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose and Ultramarine blue and White.
Here's a few from the past week's daily painting sessions. DM to inquire about purchasing.
Two of a kind, Oil on linen paper, 6x4"
Opposites Attract, Oil on linen paper, 4x6"
Be my Clementine, oil on paper, 4x6"
Take care and stay safe!
Wendy
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This will be the second year that I'll be selling these wooden ornaments in support of a local charity. The proceeds this year will be going to Kingston Interval House. I've already directed my United Way donation towards this charity and will be sending more funds to help support the important work they do.
Did anyone watch Maid on Netflix?
It's a heartbreaking yet inspiring story about a young single mom's perseverance to do the best for her daughter, leaving an abusive relationship and fights every step of the way to get her life back on track. It takes so much courage to leave a bad relationship and do what's right for you and your children. My heart goes out to anyone suffering domestic violence and wish this helps in some way.
The series inspired me to do more to help support our local emergency crisis centre for women and children escaping from domestic abuse.
The ornaments will be available through the Kingston Holiday Market this year starting November 18th at noon or DM me directly.
Last year I couldn't figure out how to do watercolour on wood and switched to acrylic paint but this year I've figured out a process in which to prep, paint and seal the watercolour paintings.
I use a gloss or matte medium to seal the wood first. Then Watercolour Ground which you can find at a local art store or Michaels. I use a palette knife to spread as consistent layer as possible onto the wooden ornament. Let dry and then do my usual watercolour painting. It’s pretty true to paper in that you can let the water and paint blend together, sponge off sections for highlights etc. As a final step I use a cold wax medium to seal the art. This should protect it from moisture.
They are still watercolour though so avoid bright sunlight or it will loose its colour over time. With them only being out for the holiday season and carefully packaged away the rest of the year, I expect that they will last for many holiday seasons to come.
There are the themes of pine cones, birch trees and landscapes this year to choose from and there are 100 in total (30 have already left the building!).
*update! I’ve created 200! Twice my goal for this year. Next year though maybe I should start sooner!!
These are extra special on a gift as a tag, on a bottle of wine as my girlfriend does, or stuffed in a stocking or card to a loved one this holiday season.
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So excited to be collaborating with Becky from Maple Ridge Farm here in Sydenham, Ontario once again this year with a 2022 Floral Calendar!
Throughout this year, I've been painting floral bouquets and scenes from their beautiful flower fields at the farm. I've hand picked my favourites (which was hard to do!) but feel satisfied with these 12 watercolour paintings.
They will be printed locally on 9.5" x 16" smooth white paper bound with twine at the top to hang. The art is 8"x10" which can be cut and framed to be enjoyed beyond 2022. We're doing a limited print run and opening up preorders today to get a sense of how much to order.
These calendars are a beautiful gift to others or yourself and it's a gift that keeps giving throughout the year with fresh art to enjoy each month.
I hope that the calendar brings some of the joy and memories of those blooms that Becky at Maple Ridge Farm so lovingly picks for you each week throughout the flower season.
July was inspired by the Sunflower Fields at Maple Ridge Farm
Also this year we've also added in the opportunity to get a set of 6 note cards of some of favourite florals Becky and I love.
Sunflower Note Card comes in a set of 6 cards printed in studio as an archival print. Cards are blank inside.
The calendar will be available for pre-order until October 27th so don't delay!
Hope you enjoy it!
Wendy
xoxo
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Many a jutting point with old pines to see. This is inspired by one of them. Painted on Fabriano Cold Press paper.
Eel Bay, 8.5 x 11 on Fabriano Cold Press Watercolour paper
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I had meant to post about the Garden Party and here we are into August and have yet to do that so better late then never I guess!
It was so great to be at an in person event after being in lock down for most of this year. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of food, live music, viewing of the art in various displays throughout the flower fields, a flower bar where they could make their own bouquet or get one made for them to take home and their names got entered into a draw at the end where they got to pick out their art of choice to take home! The names were drawn from an antique washing machine. It was a truly unique event for our community and very satisfying to be part of.
Flower bar at Maple Ridge Farm
Amazing food with scenic farm views
Art displayed around the farm
A fun and exciting art auction for attendees to end the day
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Ready to start an extra long weekend with our "friends like family" annual cottage retreat. We're double-vaxed and ready to enjoy each other's company, camp fires, swimming and kayaking to our hearts content.
We're so fortunate to live here in Ontario where there are an endless amount of lakes to visit and enjoy, with the many islands that host massive jack pines that are sculpted by our northern winds.
I could be forever content looking out onto a still lake, morning or night with the reflection of the trees in the water.
I will definitely be brining my watercolours to try and get some painting time in!
Other existing news! I will be for the first time participating in the Kingston Holiday Market and will have some new pieces to showcase!
I've been packaging up a bunch of work for the inaugural Garden Party Art Auction that will be at Maple Ridge Farm on July 24th. This will be a highlight of this summer for sure and can't wait for the day.
I've been working on a few other things which I'll share with you soon!
Here's a new piece in the shop. Trying to get those summer feels of an evening night and those touches of florals in the foreground. What do you think?
Country Fields 2 6" x 5.5" on Fabriano watercolour paper
Enjoy your summer days and the special moments!
XO
Wendy
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Last Sunday of June and it's really starting to feel like summer. Temperature is suppose to be in the upper 30s celsius today and the garden is switching over to those warm colours. Yellow, orange and hot pinks, with the poppies, day lilies, rudbeckia, primrose and cone flowers.
Here's a couple paintings from this weekend's art practice.
When we meet again, 5" x 7" watercolour on arches paper
Things are finally starting to open up here in Ontario and my heart is hopeful for the many social outings that we can start to look forward to. This bouquet of poppies, bee balm and irises are just bursting with joy.
Stillness, 5 x 5" gouache on handmade paper
As I'm a gemini and not satisfied with experimenting with just one medium, this is the latest of the mini gouache paintings that are on this lovely handmade paper. There's so much texture and detail in the painting - it's part of the design, letting it show and adding to the overall painting!
These and others will be available at the upcoming Garden Party and Art Auction July 24th at Maple Ridge Farm where flower lovers can take the afternoon or early evening to bask in the flower gardens, view art and beautiful photos by Susan Torrible of the flowers and farm and leave with your own original piece of art and a floral bouquet after a lively art auction.
Find more of my daily art practice on Instagram.
xoxo
Wendy
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I've been enjoying the peonies over the past few weeks and only a few remain in the garden. These flowers are stellar from their tiny round buds to their full blown blooms.
Peonies in the garden
Daily art practice with peonies.
Peony 2, 5"x 5" on arches watercolour paper
Peony Bouquet, 5"x 7" on arches watercolour paper
Peony 1 5"x 5" on arches watercolour paper
These and other recent paintings will be available at the Maple Ridge Garden Party. A local event not to miss!
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I just love how the irises are looking in the garden this time of year. I have the purple and yellow ones and my neighbour has these amazing dark purple kind. They look like they have a personality of someone regal and charming.
Iris, 5" x 7" original watercolour painting on archival paper
Iris Garden, 5" x 7" original watercolour painting on archival paper
Iris Garden 2, 5" x 7" original watercolour painting on archival paper
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Highlighting the journey of creating a summer collection of flowers that come into season and the local scenery of Frontenac County.
I don't know about you but I find May to be the best smelling month of the year here in Sydenham, Ontario. Everywhere you look, you're bound to see lilacs growing wild in fields or in people's yards. This flower holds special memories and significance to me as it was our main flower for our wedding - oh so long ago!
Daily walks down my neighbours path to Sydenham lake and strolls along the cataraqui trail and Clearwater Road are heavenly this time of year in May. You can smell the lilacs before you even see them. I also have this lilac shrub that you can see from our living room and porch which, for some reason this year has been it's best year so far - fully loaded with dark purple blooms.
Lilacs are not the easiest of florals to paint. You have to choose how much to paint in detail and how much to just be a hint of the flower. My process had me experimenting with both watercolour and gouache, along with some oil pastels in the mix. I have these handmade watercolour papers from Montreal that I'm loving for it's rough texture and deckled bottom edge and smaller handmade paper from Parwana paper that you can see the cotton and silk fibres coming through.
I purposefully tried to capture the lilac colour, details in a minimalistic way - not trying to paint in every detail but choosing areas to highlight and others to leave vague.
With the mini gouache paintings, my focus is on a simplified floral with a block of colour to pop out the painting as well as showing the raw natural handmade paper. A bit more on the illustrative side of my brain for sure.
I really like trying to start with some structure but then let go during the process and just paint what I feel. This doesn't always work out and not every painting will make it into the final collection but I feel each piece is trying to teach me something new.
Launch date for summer collection: August 2021. More to come!
Sign up to my subscriber list to get notified first as well as a 10% Collector discount. Follow me on Instagram where I often share my daily art practice.
Morning Sunshine, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge, approximately 4.5" x 6.5"
Some day maybe, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge approximately 5"x 5"
Silly Dreams, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge, approximately 5"x5"
Over the moon, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge, approximately 5" x 5"
Ochre Mood, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge, approximately 5" x 5"
Royal Lilac, gouache on handmade paper with deckled edge, approximately 5" x 5"
Sweet Lilac 9"x10" on handmade watercolour paper
Lilac Envy 9"x10" on handmade watercolour paper
Lilac Branch 9"x10" on handmade watercolour paper
More to come! Take care and stay safe.
Wendy
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