The Process: JC x 2

Yesterday Jen Cloutier came to visit my studio and interview me for a project she has been working on, documenting the lives and studio practices of artists in Cuba and Canada.  It's called "The Process"; you can read about it here.  

Near the end of our visit, she graciously sat for not one but two quick portraits, lucky me!

Sharpie marker and gouache in the green portrait book

China marker and gouache in the green portrait book

As I was photographing those portraits this morning, I noticed a bee sitting very still on the deck.  Aren't the shadows of its wings just beautiful?  The flower shadows too.

Sometimes I write in my sketchbooks

Sometimes I paint in my studio

And sometimes I am in the right place at the right time to notice something beautiful.

JP and YT x 2

JP enjoying the morning sunshine with a coffee.  The coffee itself is not shown, but its effect is apparent in his facial relaxation.

Our front wildflower garden.  This patch pretty much takes care of itself; even in this summer of relentless dry heat I have only watered it twice.

TY x 2

Sitting under trees by the river on a beautiful day.

Alberta Landscape No. 2017-3

the view

the palette

the sketch

before the debris-laden wind gust

after the debris-laden wind gust

finished work with debris

on location

in studio, with slight touching ups

Wildfires are burning in Banff and the air is hazy but this does not stop us from going out painting.  In fact the haze lends a wonderful atmospheric effect.  

That wind gust, though: full of sand and ashes and whatever else the fast wind can pick up.  Too much debris to remove completely.  Guess it'll just have to dry in the paint layer; I'll call it "natural provenance".