Hand Collage, Collage Painting, by Kim Blair

Hand Collage

9x12, mixed media on acid free paper

NFS

I have been trying my hand (no pun intended) at collage art.  One class in the drawing course I completed this past fall at the University of Alberta included one session on collage... we did self- portraits.   That session proved to be very inspiring and I have since been working on a sketch book that will be devoted entirely to collage images.

Yes, there will be some self-portraits, along with some general portrait work, plus a myriad of images taken from life and my imagination.  The freeing aspect of collage is the very fact that it is often cut or torn paper combined with various mixed media applied to some form of support.

It can get out of hand... (again no pun intended), so I have set myself some parameters for the cut and/or torn paper component of my collages.   A shoe box in my studio is about half full of various Japanese and other assorted coloured and printed papers, maps and phone book pages... so I will not and I repeat 'will not' (emphasis is so that I hear myself) purchase any new collage papers until the box is empty!  This self imposed limitation on what I can utilize may make me more creative.

By limiting my choices I am liberating my brain to be as creative as possible while making good use of the materials at my disposal within the 'magic shoe box.'  Of course there is no limit on paint, inks or drawing implements.

Each collage will be different, and I thought adding them periodically to my blog postings would spice things up a bit...  along with the life drawings I will be posting, so be prepared to see some new art on my blog.

* Click on the image to see the various textures close-up

Community Art Wall, Quote by Kim Blair

My Art Quote on  

Community Art Wall

 the new 

Health and Wellness Center

in Lehigh Valley, Allentown PA, USA

A couple of months ago I received an interesting email from Dave Skerpon, vice president of retail strategies and brand management for Capital Blue Cross, the Harrisburg based health insurance provider in the USA.  He contacted me to request my permission to use an art quote credited to me that he found on the web, he said it would be used on the community art wall of their new

 Health and Wellness Center in Lehigh, PA, that would be opening in December 2012.

On the wall below my quote, (as you can see in the photos above) the Center will display community art.  The Health and Wellness Center will be offering a variety of educational classes and community programs to inspire people to take a multidimensional approach to their health and fitness.

*There is a slight reflection on the quote making it a bit difficult to read in the photo(s), so I have included it below:

"The pursuit of art on a regular basis may be the key to healing our minds and bodies."

Black and Red oil painting, Kim Blair

 Beginning Stages of Bolero Red

Bolero Red

18x24, oil on canvas

A Red and Black painting can feel very dramatic, and when placed in a room with red and black furniture accented with a gorgeous area rug, it often creates the link that ties everything together.

Bolero Red now hangs in a living room in Ontario, above a black leather chair, next to a red sofa... adding a touch of drama.

SOLD

Another Look, Iris Oil Painting, Kim Blair

Blue Wings

6x12 oil on canvas

A number of subscribers have been telling me they are missing my daily paintings and are wondering when I am going to be posting some more work.  Well, I have not been idle... believe me!  Right now I am taking a drawing course at the University which requires an amazing amount of homework.   I am not complaining because the class is so interesting... the truth is I absolutely love doing the homework, but it does take up all my studio time.

Drawing is so important for an artist and it really helps to improve your hand/eye coordination, which translates into other areas of creativity... like painting.

The drawing class will be over in mid December, and then I will back at the easel... with brush in hand.

I could see this little blue iris painting tucked in someone's Holiday stocking...

For more holiday gift ideas  click on the following link to my gallery page.

$150.00

6x12 oil on canvas

click here to purchase

Garlic Image on Business Card, Kim Blair

'Blue Garlic' painting used as background image

It's always a thrill when someone takes the time to contact me about my art, whether it's a question, comment, or request to purchase a piece, I always enjoy the interaction.  So when Brian Sharp, a garlic farmer from White Salmon, Washington emailed in early October to inquire if he could arrange to use my ' Blue Garlic ' image on his business card I was tickled.  As you can see, whomever designed his business card did an excellent job!

So close and yet so far....

My husband and I did a wonderful driving trip this past July... down through southern Alberta and into the States, which took us along the Columbia River to the Hood River area, where we stayed one night... just across the bridge from where Brian lives and farms in Washington.   

It is a beautiful area along the Columbia River, and I am so happy to think that my Blue Garlic image will be circulating via Brian's business card.  He has promised to send me some images of his specialty garlic so that I can utilize his photos in some future garlic paintings.  Thanks Brian.

So if you are ever in his region of Washington, make sure to stop by his farm in Bingen, Washington or at his table at the White Salmon Farmers' Market to purchase some of his heirloom tomatoes, garlic and herbs... and please say hi for me.

Golden Light, By Kim Blair

We live in an older neighbourhood in Edmonton, called the 'Highlands' where almost every street is lined with a spectacular colonnade of mature elm trees that are pruned and manicured by the city, which only makes sense when you consider they are heritage trees.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Highlands neighbourhood, and many of these trees must be close to that age... give or take a few years.

I thought I would share a couple of photos I snapped of the brilliant yellow elm leaves glowing in the afternoon light, set against a clear blue sky.  The golden canopy they create over the street puts a whole new meaning to the term "Golden Arches!"

Happy Thanksgiving, Red Barn, by Kim Blair

Red Barn

12x12 acrylic on hard board

It is a gorgeous Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada... at least in Edmonton it is!  The autumn is my favorite time of the year with Thanksgiving being my absolutely most favorite holiday to celebrate.

Fall tones are my colors (any of you still have your 'fashion-color- palette- swatches' from years ago?) as many of you know I will always choose orange tones if given a choice in selecting something... but red is a close second.  Red and orange are hot vibrant colors that stand out in a painting, and life.

Have you ever wondered why barns were (and still are) often painted red?  Perhaps the color was chosen because it allowed the barn to stand out on the horizon and therefore be seen from a distance?  If anyone has other ideas, or the answer I would love to hear from you.

This Red Barn was painted using a credit card and acrylic paint, and would need to be framed to be hung.

sold

12x12 acrylic on hard board

Highland Sun

16x20

Today was such a gorgeous day here in Edmonton, a warm balmy 23 degrees Celsius... outstanding weather for a late September day in the north!

Most of the elm tree foliage is now a brilliant golden yellow, which made me think of sunflower petals... so I was inspired to post this Sunflower painting.

* (click on the image to see the rich texture created by thicker brush work and my trusty palette knife) 

sold

16x20

Yellow Curves

10x10 oil on canvas

It's sunflower season and almost every time I am out for a walk in our neighbourhood enjoying our gorgeous fall weather I happen upon a sunflower or two, or more... glowing (and growing) in the warm afternoon sun.

They like to hang out together along back alley fences chatting amongst themselves as they rustle in the breeze turning their faces towards the sun... teasing the birds.  A profusion of rich yellow petals clustered around a mound of chocolate brown seeds is a signal that the 'snack bar is open' for our local feathered friends.

Did you know that a solar power plant in Spain utilized the natural design pattern/arrangement of the seeds in a sunflower head as a template for setting up mirror reflectors in order to reflect sunlight back to a central collector?  

I read about it in the Corporate Knights magazine.  The article on 'Biomimicry' is fascinating!

SOLD

10x10 oil on canvas

St. George's Flag I, by Kim Blair

St. George's Flag I

12x6 oil on canvas

The only subject I like to do as a commission is a flag... not sure why.

After purchasing a small version of the requested flag, I bring it home, hold it up in the wind in our backyard, and snap numerous (often as many as 50) photos of it flapping in the breeze.

Sometimes I am fortunate enough to happen upon a particular flag flying on a pole somewhere in the city... of course I take full advantage of these larger models when the opportunity arises.

After selecting the shot that offers the most character and energy of the flag, I paint my version of the image on a 12x6 stretched canvas.  This particular canvas format allows me to create a unique perspective... accentuating the ripples and folds of the fabric rather than just a straight-on image.

Did you know that St. George's Cross combined with St. Andrew's Cross created the national flag of the United Kingdom... The Union Flag, a.k.a. The Union Jack?

This oil painting of St. George's Flag will be hung next to a 'Union Jack' I painted previously. 

SOLD

12x6 oil on canvas

Landscape/Mountain Oil Painting, Angel Glacier I, by Kim Blair

Angel Glacier I

9x12 oil on canvas

We drove the narrow switch-back, 'shoulder-less' road up to Mount Edith Cavell in the Canadian Rockies on a day trip from our cabin in Jasper, and survived!  I was white-knuckling the passenger's seat and dashboard as we slowly made our way up the mountain road to the parking lot, trying not to gasp as I looked out the window at the shear drop off on 'my' side of the car.  Once parked I  practically kissed the ground trying not to think about the drive down the mountain later on in the day...

Angel Glacier clings to the side of Mount Edith Cavell.   This is my third or fourth time hiking in this area, and each time I see this glacier I am awe struck at its magnificent size.  Yes, it is getting smaller... melting a bit faster than new ice can form, but this fact does not take away from the rugged beauty of the area.  I zoomed in on the glacier and painted this study from one of those close-up shots.  The melt water cascading down the face of the mountain collects at the base forming a blue/green lake shimmering with reflections of the mountain side, punctuated with bobbing mini ice flows.

We are so fortunate to have such spectacular natural vistas in Alberta!

SOLD
9x12 oil on canvas (needs some time for the thicker paint to dry)

Landscape/Tree painting, Pine Sweep, by Kim Blair

Pine Sweep

12x9 oil on canvas

Pine Sweep works well with my post from August 16, 2012.  The reference photos are both from our recent trip and have a similar feel... with dusty blue 'sky holes' creating uniques patterns amongst the branches and needles.  The trunk of this pine tree had patches of vibrant rusty orange that shimmered next to long strips of silver bark, accented with a sweep or two of new-growth chartreuse needles... a rather luminous vision.

SOLD

12x9 oil on canvas (needs some drying time)