Mini Mouse for Halloween, Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Who said Halloween is just for kids!
I couldn't resist purchasing this polka dot dress, and then I found some ears...
My husband Ferdinand put together a great Pirate costume... and even though the two characters seem like a bit of a strange combo, we said our connection was both being Disney Characters.

Pirates of the Caribbean meet Mini Mouse... it must happen sometime at Disneyland... or maybe just in Edmonton.
Back to painting tomorrow.

Lily Painting, Highlands Red, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair


We already have snow on the ground here in Edmonton, but the weather promises to be at least +6 degrees celsius for Halloween.   That temperature alone, makes Halloween Scary!  The snow got me thinking about summer... and gardens.  So I began browsing through some garden photos I have taken over the past few years, and came upon one of a red lily that was growing in a secluded backyard garden here in the Highlands.  This avid gardener grows a variety of lilies, and I have photographs of most of them... but this cute little red lily with a lime green throat which was growing along the fence line, caught my attention.  It seemed to be a fairly new addition to her garden at the time, because most of the other lilies in her extensive collection were more mature.  Maybe next summer I will be invited back to take more photos of her secret backyard garden...
What would a garden be without a lily, or two, or three, or .......

NFS
10x10 oil on canvas

Sunflower Painting, Autumn Yellow, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Sunflower fever...

This 16x16 gallery profile canvas was leaning against the wall in my studio and before I could say 'Vincent Van Gogh', it was on my easel!   My palette knife began to mix various tones of yellow and green... while my brush scooped up the oil paint and applied it to the surface of the canvas.  Sometimes, the palette knife, piled high with thick globes of paint, found its way over to the painting surface to add various marks and accents, giving the brush a chance to replenish itself with more colour.  Magical mark-making with the knife and brush... Autumn Yellow seemed to paint itself.


SOLD
16x16 oil on gallery profile canvas






Sunflower Painting, Yellow Curves, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair


Yesterday was International Artists Day which had me thinking about Van Gogh, and sunflowers...
There are many aspects of a sunflower that I find inspirational to paint.  It doesn't matter whether the flower is large or small as long as it has strength of character, which for me, translates into the bloom having thick textured petals that twist and turn into voluptuous richly coloured curves.  Of course when these gorgeous petals are attached to a deep green calyx with similar characteristics as the petals, then I have won the inspirational jack-pot!  This combo beats wining any lottery... well... almost...

*If you click on the photo above, you will get a close-up of the yellow (and green) curves I am talking about.

SOLD
10x10 oil on canvas. (+ 15.00 S&H anywhere in North America)

Ali's Sunflower Painting, inspired by Van Gogh


*October 25, is International Artists Day.

To commemorate this special day I am posting a photo of my young friend 'Ali', posing with her mixed media painting which she created during a 'painting afternoon' we spent together at her home on Sunday, October 17, 2010.  Ali's art project with me, was to create a collage and acrylic painting inspired by a Van Gogh sunflower painting.

The Van Gogh painting called 'Three Sunflowers in a Vase", (on the right) was painted by Vincent in Arles in 1888, and is in a private collection in the USA. Usually, we see his other sunflower paintings which have 12 or more blooms in a vase, so I was pleased to find this particular photo for Ali to use as inspiration for this art project.  I had fun being her assistant while she made all of the creative decisions regarding her painting.  My job was to mix the acrylic paint and keep it wet while she worked on her piece, plus offer her some guidance in the painting process. Ali's Mom and Dad provided us with  tasty snacks to fuel our creative process.

After cleaning up the art table we headed outside to play, taking turns on her trampoline and swing set.   Next time we have an 'art after noon', she is coming over to my studio where she will have the opportunity to paint on my easel.

Ali's sunflower painting is beautiful! 

NFS
20x16, mixed media on canvas 

Inner Beauty X: Lily White, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Back to my Inner Beauty Series for this one...
The petals of a white lily are the essence of  a purity and innocence.  Soft, supple blooms as thick as satin, or as thin a silk, swaying gently on long elegant green stems.  Perfect for any occasion, or any wall...

 October 25, is 'International Artists Day'... a special day around the world to celebrate the Arts.

SOLD
10x10 oil on canvas (+ 15.00 S&H anywhere in North America)

Amaryllis Floral Painting, Amaryllis Red, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

I am sorry that yesterdays posting did not get sent out, Blogger was shut down for maintenance for a few hours, so you may receive two posting today.  But if you missed seeing the painting from yesterday please go to my blog where you will see "Red Gold", the other amaryllis painting.

Last year I painted a similar close-up view of a red amaryllis, but different dimensions.  The deeply saturated reds make this flower a joy to paint. The vibration that oozes from the colour red is a life enhancing energy and in Chinese culture, red denotes happiness, good fortune and joy.  A red envelope is the packet of choice for giving money for special occasions and this red packet symbolizes good luck.

Maybe a red painting could also bring happiness, good fortune and joy...

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12x12 oil on canvas



Floral Still Life Painting, Red Gold, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

This is the time of year when amaryllis bulbs start showing up in garden centers, and other stores.  Usually I try to purchase a bulb that promises to be a rich red, but sometimes my 'choice' turns out to be another colour... you can't always believe the label.  This year I am going to be adventurous and purchase 2 bulbs, a red one plus another colour ... I know that sounds rather decadent, but they are a calorie-free indulgence! (Hmmm.... maybe I have room for 3.)

SOLD
12x12 oil on canvas 

Vegetable Still Life, Green with Red, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Placed upon rich red velvet, the curvaceous green onion takes on a beautiful, sensuous feel...

I think I have been watching too many episodes of 'The Tudors'.  Everything about that show is a visually feast... from the food set out for a banquet, to the sumptuous fabrics used for the costumes, every frame of the show is total eye candy!

Can't wait for Tuesday night...

SOLD
10x10 oil  on canvas

Landscape Painting of Marshlands, Marshlands I, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair




This is a larger painting than my regular daily painting sizes.  Marshland I, is 18x24 inches of green reeds reflecting off still water, just waiting for a few ducks to do a fly by, circle and land...
A bit of nature to pull some of the outdoors indoors... green all year round.

SOLD
18x24 oil on gallery profile canvas.  ( + 25.00 S & H anywhere in North America) *(if you pay via paypal I will reimburse the S & H if you come by my studio to pick-up this purchase)

Sky and Cloud Painting, Blue Sky I, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

When was the last time you took a good long look at the sky?  Now is your chance to do it.  A big blue sky with fluffy white clouds...
Dreamy.

NFS
10x10 oil on canvas



Landscape Painting of Marshland, Green Reed Reflections, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Green Reed Reflections could be anywhere in Canada.  This painting is from a spot I passed every morning when I walked to the art studio where I was taking a summer art workshop in July.  Finally, one morning I took out my camera and captured the view...  and yesterday I painted it.

If a painting is green, is it considered environmentally friendly?

NFS
10x10 oil on canvas



Landscape Painting of Marshlands, Red Reed Reflections Too, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Every few feet a landscape offers a new perspective, or angle for inspiration.

'Red Reed Reflections Too' is just that, another section of the same marsh used for the two other painting in this series... a similar view but with a few subtle differences...
I have 'Red Reed Reflections' and 'Red Reed Reflections Too' drying side by side and they create a lovely diptych, even though I never consciously intended for them to work side by side, they do...

Of course they work just fine on their own...

Happy 'Canadian' Thanksgiving everyone!

SOLD


Wimmin in Wax, Encaustic Show, at Naess Gallery Edmonton

Last night was the opening reception for a group show I am in at the Naess Gallery, inside The Paint Spot , here in Edmonton.  We are a group of 11 women (only 8 are in the photo, and I am the one in the yellow skirt on the left) who are showing our encaustic (coloured bees wax) paintings for the month of October at the above mentioned gallery.

*If you click on the photo it may enlarge...

Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their busy schedules to pop by last night.  If you have not seen encaustic work before this is a great opportunity to see a variety of styles and surface textures.

To view some of my encaustic work click here.  
On the left hand side of my blog, under the LABELS section, you will see a sub heading: 'encaustics'.

Wimmin in Wax
'Impressions in Wax'
October 1 to 31, 2010
Showing at: The Naess Gallery, (Inside The Paint Spot) 10032 - 81 Avenue, Edmonton
Phone: 780 432-0240

Landscape Painting of Marshlands, Red Reed Reflections, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

Did you see my posting from yesterday?  This landscape painting of marshlands seems very abstract and graphic... but in reality it really looks like this.  Have you ever wondered where artists find some of their inspiration for abstract paintings?  You can see from this one that nature is a natural muse... providing real life images that inspire the artist to render what they see.  Albeit from which ever angle suits their needs the best...

NFS
12x12 oil on canvas




Landscape Painting of Marshlands, Red Reeds, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

I feel a series of landscape, and maybe even a few street scape paintings are going to be flowing from my brush in the next little while.  My trip to Ontario was inspiring on many levels, so stay tuned for a few twists and turns of my brush in some new directions.
The graphic, almost abstract look of this scene was my inspiration to paint 'Red Reeds'.  I made sure to let this perspective work to my advantage.  I like it so much that it may just end up being recreated in a much larger format... at some point in the future.


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12x12 oil on canvas


Sunflower Painting, All in a Row, by Canadian Artist Kim Blair

I have been away in Ontario, enjoying all the gorgeous fall colours and flowers.  During one of our drives I spied this row of Teddy Bear Sunflowers growing along the side of a country road, All in a Row.  The strong afternoon light created long cast shadows on the grass next to them and the shadow patterns added a graphic element to the scene.  Teddy Bear sunflowers do not have many 'fringe' petals, because it is the puffy yellow orange centers (rather than brown seed head centers) that give them their cute cuddly appearance.
Van Gogh used this variety in some of his sunflower paintings.

Today is the first day (Oct 1 to 31, 2010) of the 'Wimmin in Wax', group Encaustic Painting show I am in at the Naess Gallery, (Inside The Paint Spot) at 10032-81 Ave, Tel: 780-432-0240.  Opening reception is on Thursday, Oct 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Artists will be in attendance.

SOLD
10x10 oil on canvas