MORE SMALL WORKS

All paintings are 4"x6"

They frame to a 5x7 and the medium is Watercolour, watercolour pencil, india ink and some oil pastel 

                                                                            

(sold)

                                 

(sold)

BOLETUS, HYDNUM IMBRICATUM AND OTHERS

Title:  Yukon Mushrooms 

Medium:  Watercolour

Size: 9x12

I really enjoy mushroom hunting and they are popping up everywhere.

The hydnums are really nice to look at but they are not edible. Squirrels 

love to eat them tho. I like to eat the boletus 

and the red caps and of course morels.  I had a discussion today about 

very large mushrooms that are edible. They sound like a portobello 

mushrooms but I have no idea if we have them in the Yukon.

BETTER LEFT AL0NE

Title:  Dragon Lake

Medium:  Acrylic

Size 3ftx4ft

Well this painting no longer exists.  It became another painting 

because I  added to it and it became a new painting. I was looking 

through my photos and came across it and it caused me to pause

because I actually like it just like this and wonder why I 

felt a need to change it.  

That's life, I guess sometimes I can keep working on 

a piece when really I should have just left it the way it was.

The revised painting is in an earlier posting and it has never been 

hung anywhere because the canvas warped and I need to fix this:

I'm not sure how so it sits in my basement.

ART CARDS

In the last year of have started making Art Cards. I really enjoy making these.

Here are a few samples

POND ON THE ROBERT CAMPBELL

Title:  Robert Campbell Highway

Medium:  Mixed Media

Size:  16x20

(sold)

I really enjoyed painting this picture, this pond  is at about km 457 

on the Campbell Highway.  

It rained at Magundy for most of my three days off, so I worked on and off on it.

Yesterday Jeff and I went 

mushroom hunting and picked some morels and King Boletus mushrooms.

We cooked some laketrout and pan-fried the mushrooms in butter.

What a great life.

My friend Nina Toeller took the photo I 

used as reference.  I have painted this place before but it was darker and 

the dead trees were in silhoette.

YUKON BLOOMIN FIREWEED

Title:  Yukon Fireweed

Size:  4x6

Medium:  Mixed Media

When I say mixed media I use watercolour, ink, pastel, 

watercolour pencil and india ink.

NEWEST PAINTING - ANVIL RANGE

Title:  Anvil Range, Faro Yukon

Medium:  Watercolour and Pencil

Size 4x6 inches

(sold)

Yet another teeny tiny work.  I have started another painting that will frame to 16x20

ANVIL RANGE PAINTING

Title:  Anvil Range

Medium:  Acrylic

Size: 2ftx3ft

(sold)

My friend Nina Toeller took a photo from behind the Faro mine. 

 I used the photo for

reference and this work resulted.

I would like to start another big painting soon.

After my son's graduation things should slow down a bit.

I have been making lots of art cards as they have been selling well.

THUMBNAIL POND ON MITCHELL ROAD

Title:  Pond - Mitchell Road

Medium:  Watercolour

Size:  4x6

(sold)

I have always loved to do these tres petite paintings.  I don't think I will ever

tire of doing them. I intend to do a series of plein air ones this summer.

The firesmart crew made a trail down to this little body of water just outside of Faro one year.

I love the little ponds in the Yukon.

MY CANVAS CONFIDENTIAL REVEALED

Title:  Mystic Moon

Medium:  Acrylic

Size: 12x14
(sold)

This little painting was done at about 4am in the morning.  No references just pure imagination.

That's what the criteria was. Just do something spontaneous.

This is for such a good cause.  It is an artist fund for emergencies, illness etc.

Yukon Artist at Work spearheaded the effort.

All the donated paintings sold for about $100.00 each. It is a good

start to the relief fund.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING AT MAGUNDY

Title:  Lupins in Boreal Forest

Medium:  Watercolour

Size:  5x7

Glorious summer is upon us. 

I have spent most of my spare moments out of town at Magundy.

The lupins are in bloom and they are on the side of the trail so I decided to paint a few. 

I am looking forward to painting outside this summer.  There is nothing like it.  I intend to take advantage of the warmth of summer and get out of the studio.

NEW PAINTINGS

Title:Little Salmon Lake

Medium:  Mixed Media

Size:  4x6

(sold)

Title:  Aurora Borealis

Medium:  Watercolour & Ink

Size:  4x6

It seems that I don't have as much time when summer hits to paint large paintings.

The  small ones that frame to 5x7 are kind of nice to do because they take

not that long and I take them to the Interpretive Centre and to our local Arts and Craft Store

Castle Glass and the tourists like them.

ANOTHER THUMBNAIL - SUBJECT DENA CHO TRAIL, FARO

Title:  Dena Cho Trail, Faro Yukon

Medium:  Watercolour and Pencil

Size:  4x6

*sold*
I have not had a lot of time to paint in the last little while because I have started work again.  The Sheep & Crane Festival was great but the weather was pretty rainy on Saturday.
I did this little guy about a week ago. I seem to be in bit of green phase.

BECOMING A PART OF THE ARTIST COMMUNITY

Title:  Summer Rain: Pelly Valley Near Faro

Medium:  Watercolour and Pencil

Size:  5x7

(sold)

It seems so long since I last posted. A few new things have happened. 

I am proud to say that I am Yukon Artists At Work's newest member.

This Whitehorse based artist co-op has great energy and

I feel that I am part of something bigger than just myself. 

 I will keep everyone posted as to when I am in

Whitehorse to do some shifts at the gallery as it is

an artist-run gallery.

I have also started working at the Campbell Region Interpretive Centre

for the summer. 

We are officially opening tomorrow and have a busy

weekend ahead with the 8th Annual Sheep &Crane Festival.

ANVIL RANGE PAINTING

 This is an example of another small painting. My photographer friend, Nina Toeller

took a photo on a hike up behind the Faro mine and I made a painting from it.

Title: Anvil Range

Medium:  Watercolour and ink

Size: 4x6
(sold)

THUMBNAIL - SPRING YUKON CROCUS

This weekend I am going for a hike to see if there are any on the South facing slope

across the highway.  I love to see a carpet of crocuses - Spring is really here!!

Title: Yukon Crocuses

Medium: Watercolour

Size: 4x6

NEW PAINTINGS - VERY SMALL!

Title: Little Salmon Lake Sunset

Medium: Watercolour

Size:  4x6
(sold)

Title:  Fisheye Lake

Medium:  Watercolour

Size:  4x6

(sold)

I have painted hundreds of paintings this size. I usually do them with waterolour and 

use ink, pen, coloured pencil and oil pastel as well to enhance details.  

ROSE MOUNTAIN, FARO YUKON

More private collection works

Title:  Rose Mountain, Faro Yukon

Medium:  Acrylic

Size: 2ftx3ft

(sold)

This painting was one of my first acrylics .

The photo reference was taken by my husband and it was an incredibly beautiful fall day. 

Jeff took the photo from down the Pelly River after a bit of a hike in.

This work now has its home with fellow blogger, Heather Grantham.

Title: Sunshine Trail, Rose Mountain - Faro, Yukon
Medium:  Acrylic
Size: 20x24
(sold)

Yet another photo from my husband. 

This is from behind the mine. I had an artist demo at

the Anvil Range Art Gallery behind the Interpretive Centre in Faro  last summer and this was

the result. It belongs to Marlene Crellin in Faro now.

PRIVATE COLLECTION WORKS

Title: Yukon Boreal Forest

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 20x20

(sold)

Title:  Swim Lakes Trail, Faro Yukon

Medium:  Acrylic

Size:  16x20

(sold)
These two paintings were done a few years ago and are now sold. 

They have a home in my friend, Judy Freake's  B&B right here in Faro.(Valley B&B)

Incidentally this is a lovely place to stay - Clean, Friendly and Very comfortable.

I really like it when friends own my artwork and every now and then I get to see it again. 

Sometimes when I look at work of mine that I haven't seen in awhile it takes me by surprise. 

It is hard to get an objective perspective of your own art.

So when I see these "old friends"  I always feel happy.

I also see how my work has evolved and changed with different colours, mediums etc.

LETTING IT ALL GO

"It is the act of creating, the process of creating... this is the reason , the why, the meaning of painting for me.  Once the creation is complete... it is out there "in the universe"  and what happens to it is really irrelevant."

Jackie Irvine

THE CHOCOLATE CLAIM IN WHITEHORSE



By the time my daughter Caitlin and I had hung all the pictures in The Claim
 I only got these two pics to show of our progress.
I felt exhausted because we could not get the pictures straight on the walls as we
had lost the level from our bag of tools.  Must of fell in the snow!!
As to letting it all go: 
Once the work is done and I put it out there my job is done this is the time to:
LET IT ALL GO!!

DOWN TO THE WIRE!

Title:  Aspens in Fall

Medium:  Acrylic

Size:  5x7

 I am hanging my show in Whitehorse on the 31st which is the day after tomorrow.  I do not feel ready but this is normal.  What I cannot believe is that I leave for Whitehorse tomorrow and I am still painting!!

Time to stop so I can make my inventory list and painting labels.

TWO NEW PAINTINGS - ASPENS AND SUNSET

Title:  Aspen Trail

Medium:  Acrylic

Size:  5x7

Title: Sunset Study

Medium: Acrylic & Oil Pastel

Size:  5x7



ACRYLIC PAINTING - ALPINE BLUE

Title: Alpine Blue

Medium:  Acrylic

Size:  16x20

This is not the blue that I actually intended but this happens a lot: 

What I had imagined before starting is not what the end product ends up looking like.

Life is like this too that's why I should let go of too many expectations.

 The cliffs in the background remind me of the cliffs near the turn-off to Faro, this painting is from imagination though.

WATERCOLOUR OF DRURY LAKE

Title:  Spring at Drury Lake

Medium:  Watercolour

Size 5x7

These small paintings make great studies for bigger paintings. 

This little lake is way back in from the Campbell Highway.

A great ski-doo ride when the weather is nice.

WATERCOLOUR OF ROSE MOUNTAIN

Title:  Rose Mountain Area, Faro Yukon

Medium:  Watercolour

Size 5x7

Am trying to get some smaller works done before next Thursday.  I feel like I don't have enough for my show!

"SHOW US HOW IT''S DONE" CHILDREN AND ART



Ruby and Grandma (Marilyn Boyle)



  


Berkley painting with watercolours.

 



Jackie, Berkley and Ruby

 
An afternoon of fun at my friend, Marilyn Boyle's place.  Her grandchildren are so spontaneous, natural  and fun when it comes to creating art.  We used watercolour, oil pastels and watercolour pencils.


WE ALL HAD A  GREAT TIME!!



 

LOOK AT THEIR BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK!



 

REPLENISHING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT

Spring - Magundy River

(Would make a lovely painting)

Elisabeth Barrett Browning  wrote: 

 "The earth is crammed with Heaven and every common bush afire with God"

I don't know about the rest of you - but when this weather hits - it's like a miracle to me! The sunlight and the warmth.  I love going for walks and yet I am so used to being at my easel indoors that I have to make sure that I get outside!  Once I step out and walk- my spirits lift immediately. I soak up the light and feel the wind on my face.  I feel energized.  This time of year is so phenomenal!  Being outside rejuvenates, invigorates and provides much needed energy after a long winter (it feels like it's over)

I am going out to Magundy today.

My final word is this: 

"We all need to replenish our creative spirits... this is best done by being in the great outdoors. Something as simple as a walk can fill  your creative well for the rest of  the day."

BEING IN THE MOMENT

Title:  Little Salmon Lake

Medium:  Mixed Media

Size 8x10

This little painting was no thinking - just playing.  Somewhat like the Dragon Lake painting but I put hills in the back.. I wanted to do a small painting so I could experiment with glazing a painting that has acrylic and oil pastel.  So I hope I don't ruin it.

I sprayed the painting with a workable fixatif and it worked quite well.

MORE FOR THE SHOW!

Dragon Lake:  Sunset of Fire

Medium:  Mixed Media

Size:  3ftx4ft

Another painting that had to be worked and worked and worked.  This painting was done by memory

We used to fish at Dragon Lake and I really liked our camping trips there. 

Study: Robert Campbell Highway

Medium:  Watercolour and pencil

Size:  5x7

This is the first small painting I have done in months. The area seemed so small!

The location of this painting is across the Highway from our home.  We hiked up quite a ways and

the stump caught my eye.

ART IS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

I was reading my Twice Weekly Newsletter from Robert Genn and the topic was :"A Spiritual Event

A spiritual awakening is often found and developed in a wilderness. It can be a poem or a parable of a deep forest, a mountain meadow or a cactus-studded desert. The outdoor spirit of plein air refreshes and further enables the indoor studio chapel. Each new creative beginning is a confirmation of the simple truth of taking care. And while it may all appear to be self-indulgent and isolating, every thought, every stroke, every caress of the brush adds a small refreshment of meaning and purpose to our universe. "Work is love made visible." (Kahlil Gibran)

I find  this to be so true in my life as a painter. It is important for me to have a place where I can focus and work.  Magundy is my sanctuary. My place to do my art. The act of living in the wilderness amongst the trees and by the river replenishes my creative spirit. 

I have finished the Magundy River -The Bend

MAGUNDY RIVER - THE BEND



NEWEST WORK - MAGUNDY RIVER

Title:  Magundy River - The Bend

Medium:  Acrylic

Size:  2ftx3ft

This painting is not quite complete - I not sure what has to be done yet but I

will be working on it a little bit more.  The reference photo was taken in the fall and the

the snow was not on the back hills but it looked very strange when I left the snow out so I put it in.

OTHER WORKS TO BE FOR SALE AT MY APRIL, 2011 SHOW

Magundy River

Fall 2010

3ftx4ft

Medium: Acrylic

This was initially a plein air painting but was finished in the studio. This spot is just down our lane from the yardsite.  We have 8 acres of heaven in the Yukon Wilderness.  I could spend the rest of my life with enough material to paint just from our acreage on the Magundy River.

I have added this picture because it is hard to photograph this painting because of its size.

Spring Break-up Yukon Ri ver

2ftx3ft

Medium: Mixed Media

(sold)

This painting is hanging in my living room - I am rather fond of it so if it doesn't sell in my show at the

Chocolate Claim  in April, 2011- that will be ok with me! I like the Sun, it was hard for me to do and

sometimes I do things and don't even know how I did it! 

In December, I did a much smaller version of this painting for a benefit fundraiser. 

It was painted in memory of Dot Rogers.

MONDAYS UGH!!

Magundy River

Work in progress

Stage 1

Having three teenagers in the house does not make it conducive to getting a  lot of sleep on the weekend!  Don't get me wrong - I go to bed but the rest of the house is up  and that disturbs my sleep.  So Mondays are a bit of a low energy day for me as I haven't had great quality sleep from the weekend.
Nevertheless I had better get myself in gear as I have my show in April at the Chocolate Claim and it is now March 7th. - DISCIPLINE. 

I am working on a painting (shown above) that is halfway finished and I need to get it done.