A Painter's Day from the Studio of Judy McLaren

Follow me on Facebook

2011-06-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

You can now follow me at my new Facebook site, just click on the link and "Like" the page.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485847771740&set=a.103435651740.106291.503486740#!/pages/Judy-Mclaren-Artist/112990562067799

The Empress Room

2011-06-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Walking through the Empress after painting on the lawn got the old artistic juices flowing. The light coming in through the gigantic windows, the wonderful white and black uniforms of the staff, the guests milling around amongst the glorious patterns of the upholstery and wall coverings are going to provide me with material for dozens of paintings. I can't wait to be in the environment full time. The painting that I am working on is in its infancy - just a sneak preview.

Plein Air at the Empress

2011-06-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well - today the sun came out!!! And so did the artists! Our day started at midday and I packed up close to 5 - so it was a long day, but very enjoyable. Initially somewhat daunted by the architectural character of the environment, I found subject matter that inspired me - the other artists on the lawn - and - when that was taken as far as I could, my husband sat for a portrait. Lots of interesting people to talk to and other artists to meet, plus yummy lunch boxes provided by the Empress.

Artishow Plein Air Event Empress Hotel June 26th

2011-06-25T17:42:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow June 26th I will be attending this event on the lawns of the beautiful Empress Hotel in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The event will have many Victoria area artists in attendance painting outdoors in the hopefully fine weather we expect to have. The hours will be from noon to six. Hope to see you there.

Artist in Residence Fairmont Empress

2011-06-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Thrilling news! I have been appointed Artist in Residence at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria from mid-August until mid-November. The Empress is one of the grand old CPR hotels, a Victoria landmark, and definitely the ultimate experience for a tourist in the city. This is a great honour and an opportunity for me to expose my art to the visiting public. I shall be painting in the studio/gallery located in the atrium above the registration area most days of the week, so, if you are around in the the late summer or fall, please drop by, enjoy the ambiance and check out my work. This great photo was taken by Benjamin Madison

My Studio Nymph!

2011-06-19T22:27:00.001-07:00

Sculpture in fired clay 18"

This was the little figure on the deck of my studio welcoming visitors last weekend. I still feel a novice when it comes to sculpture and so much can go wrong in their creation that I feel very lucky when something survives the process.

Studio Tour June 11 and 12

2011-06-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of photos from last weekend. The rain held off - which allowed for paintings and sculpture to be sprinkled around the garden. A good number of visitors came by and I sold a few pieces - what more could you ask!

Great Blue Heron

2011-06-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30″ x 20″

Another variation on the heron theme – gave it a lot more drama and more detail in the setting. These birds are all around us, an ever-present reminder of the pterodactyls that dominated the shoreline in pre-historic times. I love them – as long as they’re not taking the fish out of the pond!!

Studio Tour June 11 and 12

2011-06-08T21:28:00.001-07:00

oil on canvas 20″ x 30″

These Coast Guard vessels are stationed at Patricia Bay, just a mile or two away from here. The evening light and the still water made this scene a symphony in purples, blues, golds and pinks. This will be one of several marine scenes featured in my studio for the tour show this weekend. I hope the weather will cooperate and we shall have lots of visitors.

Irises and Forget-Me-Nots in My Garden

2011-05-27T18:16:00.001-07:00

oil on board 9″x 12″

This was another of those forget-what-you-are-doing-and-look-outside moments. There was the sun beaming down on one of my beds – a mish-mash of blues and purples and greens and greys. Of course, plein air painting requires a maximum of speed and minimum of planning – so revisits, if needed, must occur at the same time of day and under the same weather conditions. One is reminded of Monet’s hay stacks as examples of how quickly changes in light affect the subject.

Tanner's Bookstore

2011-05-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

oil on board 9"x 13"

This is the time of year when I am preparing my studio for the annual studio tour on June 11 and 12. This year I will have fewer little pieces, but this will be one of them. Captured on one of our rare sunny days in late winter, this is a scene from downtown Sidney that will be familiar to all its residents.

Elizabeth May Rally

2011-04-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

A gift for my favourite candidate in this nail-biter of an election. Elizabeth May has to be the most vibrant, intelligent, compassionate, honest and funny politician going and I have all fingers and toes crossed that the electorate in this riding are smart enough to vote her in. The country needs her badly!

Grape Vines

2011-04-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

oil on board 11″x14"

This is re-worked from a plein air painting and right now we could do with a little more sunshine in our neck of the woods! It’s been a long, cold spring and we are all looking forward to lush grape vines and lots of summer sun.

Silk Scarf

2011-04-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas and silk 40″x 30

This was an assignment from the Art Gallery of Victoria to incorporate a silk scarf into a work of art to be sold at an fundraising auction. So – I cut into the canvas, covered the silk in gesso and basically just glued it on, creating a bit of a 3D effect. The painting is based on another I did from life.

Striped Scarf

2011-03-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 16″ x 12″

This is a little demonstration piece that I did for a student using a black and white reference photo. Not quite sure why she’s wearing the scarf – but love the contrast between the softness and curves of her features and the stripes.

Morgan

2011-03-10T12:21:00.001-08:00

I am working with a variation on a theme! Stole one boy out of my group portrait and placed him in an abstract setting. I love the ambivalance of his expression and the containment of his pose. Painting a smiling or laughing face is far more difficult than a serious one (not getting the expression pefectly can make the sitter look deranged or diabolical!) and a serious expression allows a viewer to see something different every time. But sometimes a smile says it all!!

Three Brothers and Tess Revised

2011-03-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas 36″ x 48″

This is the final version of the painting. It has been a joy to work on something as demanding as this one. Three very different personalities and a complex composition – lots of different textures and pictoral elements. Paintings really become children after a while and I shall be sorry to lose this one.

Sunset,Downey Road

2011-02-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas 48″x 36″

Driving down the road, I was struck by the wonderful interplay between the deep purplish hues of the road at dusk and the brilliant oranges and yellows of the safety vests worn by the riders. Horses and riders are common sights in our area – a perfect combination of rural and urban.
Just a reminder that I have my main blog on my new website - http://www.judymclaren.com/blog/

Moment to Relax

2011-02-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

This self-portrait is in my loose style – an exercise in visual memory as, of course, I couldn’t draw and hold a cup at the same time! The shape of the pink gown reminds me of an ice cream cone with the feet a couple of wafers (albeit small ones!) balanced on top. The physicality of the figure with its exaggerrated foreshortening is in contrast to the flat geometric pattern of the background, the straight lines complimenting the curves in the gown and cup.

New Blog, New Website

2010-12-25T14:16:00.000-08:00

Another update - please check out the new website - I am very happy with it and think it showcases my work beautifully and there is a blog attached. A few wrinkles to iron out- will probably happen after the holidays, but worth a gander. All the best for the New Year and hope you enjoy my new posts!

We're Moving!

2010-12-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

Hello to all my friends, fans and subscribers! After a lot of work, we have moved the blog to a site that is connected to my new website and I welcome all of you to switch over. The new site is located at http://www.judymclaren.com/blog/ and requires you to re-subscribe. I look forward to reading your comments about my work and getting reactions as I send my work out into the stratosphere. Please also take the opportunity to have a look at my new website. I am thrilled with it and feel it really showcases my work beautifully. Look forward to re-connecting with you and your friends. Cheers and have a great holiday season! Judy

Joe and Coco

2010-12-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas 30"x 24"

A commissioned portrait of a great young kid who lives close by. I love the dynamic between Joe's very relaxed pose and Coco's barely restrained energy.

Maren

2010-12-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas 24" x 18"

I painted this gorgeous young girl at the behest of her mother who also sat for a portrait when she was about the same age. This is, she hopes, to be the start of a family tradition. I have been working on several
major portrait commissions over the last few months which is why my posts have been so few and far between. Shouldn't be long now before I can post them.

Light Airs

2010-11-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 12"x 48"

The latest in my series of boats on water to which my injured state has brought me. I must say, though, that I have found in the subject a feeling of peace and tranquillity that has been most welcome during a frustrating time.

Moonsnail

2010-10-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

oil on board 12"x 24"

A very simple study of 3 aspects of one shell. I tried to keep everything minimal - including the pallet. The ground was textured with the application of a mixture of plaster, glue and sand which gives it a lovely depth and richness.

Boats off Port Townsend (detail)

2010-10-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is part of a larger canvas - the one that I was photographed painting in the last post. The canvas is very long and it is a challenge to tie the detail from the first image at one end with what is going on at the other. This long horizontal format works well with a lovely expanse of sea and sky. I apologize for the infrequency of these posts. My leg is coming along and I will soon be painting up a storm! Stay tuned!

at work on another boat scene

2010-09-21T11:41:00.001-07:00

I am still not walking, but it shouldn't be too much longer. This situation has forced me to slow down and examine things in more detail. Not a bad thing.

Great Blue Herons, Evening Light

2010-09-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, triptych, each 30"x20"

We see dozens of these magnificient birds every day and they, more than many, seem to be a living link to our primordial past. Listening to their raw, throaty calls and seeing their pterodactyl-like silhouette in flight, it's easy to imagine oneself transported back to the days of the dinosaurs. I'm not really known as a wildlife painter, but never say no to something new and certainly enjoyed doing this.

Keith at the House Tour

2010-09-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 18"

Today was the annual Art Gallery House Tour and this year, I was invited to be one of the featured artists. In spite of the continual rain and cold (this is September?), it really was a fun event and, of course, great to have the company of my husband - also my subject! The house was gorgeous of course and the volunteers and visitors friendly and appreciate. Luckily for me (and Keith), there was a large covered area in front which protected us from the elements. The painting is bit of a statement about where we would like to be right now - the Hawaiin shirt and blue sky certainly evocative! The tour lasted from 11:00 to 5:00 and was attended by over 900 people - a long day, but well worth it.

Painter loving landscapes

2010-09-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Painter loving landscapes

Waiting for a breeze

2010-09-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 12"x 24"

One of those days when everywhere you look is magical - the light, the reflections - Canaletto would have been inspired. The sagging sails tell the tale as classic wooden boats wait to hear the announcement of the start of a race off Port Townsend, Washington. My limited mobility is forcing me to relax and enjoy detail and nuance. I find the peaceful expanse of blue healing for mind and body.

Schooner Zodiac

2010-08-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 14"x 20"

I think this painting embodies the kind of freedom I wish I had! The leg is on the mend but I'm still weeks off being able to walk. Hope you can feel that fresh west coast air. The schooner, Zodiac, is sailing through the waters of Trincomali Channel.

Country Lane - North Saanich

2010-08-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

oil on wood 9"x 12"

Obviously painted before my present horizontal state! Our area is very rural and is intended to stay that way, although fighting the forces of development is, as would be expected, an ongoiong battle. I painted this in the evening with no disturbances at all other than a couple of horses with riders going by..Thanks to all my friends for their expressions of sympathy over my stupid leg. Only another 5 weeks to go!!!

Grape Vines on West Saanic Road

2010-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 12"x 16

oil on canvas 12" x16"

I spent a couple of hours on one of our now typical sunny summer days at Victorian Epicure - a company that produces spice mixes - and grapes - located at the end of Downey Road. The visual delights were accompanied by the wonderful smells emanating from the plant, I find it very interesting to see these vines so far from the landscapes one usually associates with them - established as they are in front of the huge spruces and firs of the BC coast.

Blue Cast Fashion Statement

2010-08-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled - this is not a happy person!!!

All our plans for the summer - including a 2-week vacation in Nova Scotia - had to be cancelled. I think I will be able to paint at some point, but I'm not allowed to put any weight on the foot for 6 weeks - so will have to be very careful. How did it happen? Well - down at one of our local beaches, I was scrambling over slimy rocks to find a stick for our dog. The break went right across 2 bones. I've never broken anything before and am not a particularly good patient, so please keep my poor husband in your thoughts!!!

Maui Sunset Revisited

2010-07-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

oil on wood 9"x 12"

I decided to have another go at this subject - this time on a rectangle as opposed to the square of the first attempt. I think both formats work and it was a chance for me to work again with these lovely colour combinations.

Tiki Barge Pontoons

2010-07-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

In those famous words of Monty Python........ and now for something completely different!
I've spent the last few beautiful (and HOT!!!) days changing pontoons into driftwood for a friend of ours. His plan is to make a Tiki Bar out of an old Catarmaran. Fun job, but I wouldn't want to do it everyday!

Spirit Stone at Norris Beach

2010-07-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

oil on board 9"x12"

I am posting this with a poem written about this rock by one of my neighbours, Farrell Boyce. Thanks, Farrell.

Spirit Stone

Below the stairs, along the beach,
An upthrust tongue of stone
Emerges from a bed of shelly sand.
Logs assault in winter storms,
Abrade their flanks,
Then lie exhausted in the half-tide mornings.
Sand and weed pile this way and that;
Each day a new opinion,
Albeit conceding to the stubborn rock.

Is this rock a story
Like those old Claxton tells
Of ancient spirits turned to stone
To warn or guide all passers?

Once I saw a girl of twelve
In some intense transaction with the rock,
Placing and replacing shining shells
In the black crevices that could hold them.
In movement, her slim body
Traced all the contours of the mound
Like fingers on a rosary,
Lips moving in soundless incantation,
Unheard but potent in its mystery.

Could this girl know or somehow feel
The roots of stone anchored to the matrix of the earth,
Pulled by matter's need to mass
Into coherent shape?

She became my priestess as I, too
Wove my prayer
Around this slow-dissolving stone.

(November, 2008)

Across the Water

2010-07-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 8"x 10"

I think the painting speaks for itself, really. I am busy in my studio and I turn from my painting to look at the view from my door and see something that demands I drop what I am doing and quickly note this down.

Early Morning Low Tide at Patricia Bay

2010-07-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

oil on board 9"x 12"

As much as possible these days, I am painting in the early morning or late afternoon because the light is so beautiful. This is the large bay close to us that has a lovely walk and a government research facility located on it. The bay was important for First Nations communities as well and I once discovered on the shore an arrowhead made of chert -a hard pink rock - which is not found locally. I took it to the museum and the experts told me that it likely originated in Oregon and was 1500 to 2000 years old.

Jillan At Moss St. Paint-In

2010-07-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 28"x 22"

I incorporated some of the background features in this portrait in non-literal sort of way. I do break off and talk to people on these occasions frequently and Jillan, who has been a wonderful sitter for me over the past few years, also enjoys seeing good friends that are among the crowd at the paint-in.

Moss St. Paint-In 2010

2010-07-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Couldn't have asked for a better day! It was sunny but not overwhelmingly warm and people turned out in droves. The numbers apparently equaled those of last year - around 35,000. It's a fun event and a chance to talk to some very nice people - and I sold some paintings. The Art Gallery provides beer and entertainment at the end of the day - too bad it can't do that every day of the summer!

Poppies

2010-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 10"

It is so wonderful to see sunlight again after so many miserable months. This is just a little vignette from my garden in the evening light. Every year delicate pink poppies invade my vegetable beds and the little splashes of colour are welcome amongst the green. The gate leads to my neighbour's garden and there is another gate on another side. Ours is a very friendly community and we're constantly exchanging our surplus fruits and vegetables. Saturday, July 17th, is the Moss St. Paint-In in Victoria! I will be there along with many other artists and will be painting from a life model. Last year, over 35,000 people attended the paint-in - so much fun and great energy. I'm looking foward to it.

Todd Inlet, Vancouver Island

2010-07-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 10"

This lovely vista is at the end of a trail in Gowland Todd Park. The walk is a couple of kilometres, I think, down a steep incline, and about 10 times the distance going back up - with 30 pounds of equipment to carry - plus a wet painting that cannot brush against anything! I won't be doing that again - unless I have a willing assistant to help me! However, it was a great day and there is a waterfall at the end of another trail which somehow I must paint. My dog, Bubbles, was company that day and she, of course, had a lovely time acting as welcoming committee to other hikers and enjoying a swim in the ocean.

Diana

2010-07-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

sculpture in clay 12"x 14"

This little figure looks as though her reverie has been disturbed by a strange sight or sound. I love the contraposto in this pose - the graceful curves and twists. I have exaggerated some of the shapes and proportions and the sculpture seems to be the better for it. It is only human to want to impose our own aesthetic sensibility on what nature has provided. It has ever been thus!

Femmes d'un certain age no. 3

2010-07-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

oil on Yupo 36"x 24"

You might recognize Sandra again - the many facets and moods thereof! This is another of those quick studies that our group does on Wednesdays. The weight of age, the resignation and the submission, the quiet authority, the frank observation, - it takes a lot to impress this lady!

Rose

2010-07-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 8"

I never thought that I would become a 'rosarian' but I have discovered that roses are not only easy to grow but most keep on blooming for the duration of the whole season. So I now have quite a range in colour to please the eye and nose. Enjoy!

Hay Field, West Saanich Road

2010-07-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 10"

The weather just might be looking up and perhaps I can look forward to a few more days of plein air painting. Everything has been growing like mad because of the rain and cool temperatures. I plonked myself with easel right beside the road to paint this scene and shortly after I had begun, a fellow driving a tractor decided to 'fluff' up the hay - not the correct term, I'm sure - right in front of me. He did this twice - forcing me to cover up my painting and my pallet - and then stopped without going over the whole field. Could this have been a deliberate attempt to scare me off? I was undeterred and continued on regardless!

Cyclamen

2010-06-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

oil on wood 8"x 8"

Sorry about the long gap between postings - sometimes happens in the summer when there's a lot going on! This little piece was done as a demonstration to one of my students. I tried to capture the subtlety in the changes of tone as the light hits the translucent petals and the lovely delicacy of this simple flower, while successfully composing to a square (not always an easy thing to do!)

Nude on White Drapery

2010-06-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

oil on yupo, 36"x 24"

This was another quick study, this time of a nude curled up in a fetal position. By quick, I mean painted in an hour and forty minutes. I was thinking of Lucien Freud's amazing nude leaning back on a pile of white rags as I was painting this. Foreshortening is always a challenge that I enjoy taking on. and I found this angle particularly expressive.

The Listener

2010-06-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

sculpture in bronze 14"

This was my first adventure in bronze casting. Very interesting process. Basically you sculpt in clay, make a mold and pour in money - and - voila! Actually, the people at InBronze in Langley B.C. are wonderful and very capable.

Femmes d'un certain age no.2

2010-06-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

oil on yupo 36"x 24"

This portrait has a really sculptural feel. The expression in this portrait sketch is very much inward turning and protective. This woman is not intending to reveal much of herself, but her attitude and the wrapping of her body speaks volumes.

View from the Studio

2010-06-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

oil on wood 10"x 12"

We are extremely lucky in this part of the world to be able to see lovely vistas like this one every day. I was working on another painting in my studio when I turned around, looked out the glass doors, saw a break in the clouds, quickly grabbed one of the small wood panels that are prepared and at the ready and went for it before the light changed.

Clay Face

2010-06-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

I have this head hanging beside my studio - definitely not a gargoyle! This weekend is the studio tour on the Saanich Peninsula. We cleaned out my studio, painted the floor and it's definitely looking more like a gallery
than a work space at the moment. Nice to see paintings framed and hung nicely instead of stacked against the wall. I enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new ones on these occasions and the weather has been gorgeous, allowing me to put some larger works in the garden. May the sunshine continue!

Femmes d'un certain age no.1

2010-06-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

oil on yupo 36"x 24"

This is the first in a series of quick studies of a familiar subject - at least in my 'oeuvre' - of female acquaintances and friends. There's a lot to be said for 'short-hand' painting: the immediate impression, a more casual approach to achieving a likeness, a bold and dynamic composition. Sometimes it seems to me that one achieves something far closer to the actual character of the sitter than when one works and overworks a portrait - anxious as one is to capture a particular expression that epitomizes that personality. I use elements of the environment in these paintings as well - we are in a gallery and there are images on the wall although they are never literally represented.

Candelabra Primulas at the Rhodo Farm, Spring 2010

2010-06-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 18"

Just down the road from where I live is what is commonly known as the Rhodo Farm. Planted by two botanists many years ago, it is now an unmatched collection of rare rhododendrons and other exotics, as well as native vegetation, lovingly cared for by the old couple. The six-acre property is open to the public, but generally visitors are few as it is only by word of mouth that one finds out about this magical place. I went there a few weeks ago on one of our rare sunny breaks and painted this humble offering.

Drawing of Young Woman

2010-06-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

Pencil on paper 24"x18"
Our group of artists occasionally ropes in an unsuspecting relative or friend to sit for us. This lovely girl reminded me very much of my daughter. My blog will be a little sparse during the week ahead. My husband and I are off on a sailing trip - I'm hoping the rain will abate for a few hours at least. A dismal June has followed a dismal May and the days of painting in the sunshine appear to be a long way off.

Blue Bowl and Oranges

2010-05-31T06:29:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 20'x 16"

I first caught this still life out of the corner of my eye. I had just piled a bunch of things together to get them out of the way and saw the beautiful blue glass bowl sitting beside the oranges on the striped cloth and knew instantly that this had to be painted!

Garlic on Yellow Cloth

2010-05-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

oil on wood 6"x 8"

The play of light on garlic is a lovely subject for my brush. The subtle variation of colour and tone and the papery texture of its skin are a challenge and a joy to capture.

Reclining Nude on Drapery

2010-05-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 36"

This nude is, I feel, one of my best so far. It definitely owes a lot to Cezanne. The model appears to be challenging the viewer but is at the same time indifferent. The drapery, as important to the composition as the figure, falls in the same languid but strong diagonals in the opposite direction, complimenting and balancing the nude.

My Studio Sign is completed!

2010-05-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

My husband, Keith, has finished carving and gilding my studio sign and I must say I'm pretty darned impressed with the results. Now to dig holes and plant it in time for the studio tour, June 12 and 13. It will make a lovely (and informative) addition to the front of the house. Thanks Keith!

Escape into the Woods

2010-05-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

oil on board 10"x 20"

This was done during the Royal Roads Paint-In after I extracated myself from the rather unpleasant parking-lot 'station' and marched off with all my equipment to find a truly beautiful spot. Royal Roads was formerly a grand estate belonging to a coal baron which is now a university with gardens that are open to the public. We were on the south-west uncultivated part of the property where it slopes down to the sea. It was a joy to see the sunlight - a rare commodity last month - filtering through the forest.

Marcie Drawing

2010-05-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24" x 18"

Sometimes I find the people studying the model more interesting than the pose. It's hard work and involves a lot of visual memory as my subject keeps moving. Actually, I frequently paint like this as my portrait sitters and I are usually involved in conversation. Only rarely will I ask them to keep absolutely still.

Sandra in Red

2010-05-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30"x 20"

We, in our painting group, are fortunate to work on study after study of one person. I've often talked about the 'Sandra Project' as being a good theme for a group show. The many moods of the subject and approaches of the painters would provide, I think, interesting conversation.

Judy McLaren Studio

2010-05-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

My husband is working on a beautiful sign to put by the road in readiness for the Peninsula Studio Tour on June 12 and 13. If you going to be close by on either of those two days, be sure to put some time aside to come to the studio. There'll be work for sale and the garden will be at its best!

Thoughts of Maui

2010-05-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 36"

This is the first figure painting that I did after returning from Maui. I think you can tell that the colours, the movement of wind and waves and the relaxed state of mind were still with me.

Coast Cooperative Paint-In at Royal Roads

2010-05-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday - Mothers' Day - I participated in a paint-in. This was the first use I've made of a new portable easel - great success! I wasn't too happy with my appointed 'station' - right beside a parking lot with very little choice re: subject matter. This painting you will not be seeing on my blog! However, after 2 1/2 hours of slogging, I moved myself - and paints, easel, canvases - several hundred metres down the road into a lovely forested area. There I produced a painting I am proud of which I will post soon. Stay tuned!

Maui Beach

2010-05-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

oil on board 6"x 8"

That wonderful turquoise sea is just something that we in these northern climes are not lucky enough to enjoy. Paint doesn't really do the colour justice because it is impossible to capture the luminosity of it. However, I hope you can feel that quick in-take of breath that I felt when I first stepped onto the shore.

Apples on Blue Plate

2010-05-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

oil on board 6"x 8"

Catching the ever-shifting light requires quick work and the development of a good visual memory. While my studio is bright and airy, it has almost too much light - from many directions - which sometimes makes painting a challenge. I often have to cover up windows and switch on a standard lamp of some sort, particularly if I'm painting a portrait. Painting apples is something I always love. The wonderful colour of their flesh - that lovely mixture of warm and cool - is what I strive to capture.

Coles Bay

2010-05-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 10"

A southern Vancouver Island scene just a short drive away from home. This was painted on one of the few days in April when I could actually stay outside for any length of time- although the rain was falling as I packed up. This is a lovely secluded little cove, a favourite with the locals when peace and tranquility is needed.

Light and the Yellow Cloth

2010-05-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 18"

Another figure study - this one made magical by the 'evening' light and the wonderful cloth draped over the model's shoulders. I love the mood of this one. The blue of the background reflects the sense of peace and calm in the pose. While the figure seems almost dissolved in the light the solid arm and hand anchor her to the physical world.

Pair of Pears

2010-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

oil on board 10"x 8"

Our rainy April forced me to focus on some still life subjects. This simple fruit arrangement definitely brought some sunshine into the studio. We have an abundance of apple blossoms on our trees this year - perhaps due to the rain, but possibly because of some courageous pruning - so I will likely have more fruit to paint when the gloomy weather returns at the end of the summer.

Cows and Egret, Maui

2010-04-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 10"
Another fun little scene from Maui. Watching these beautiful white birds running between the cows - so relaxed around those massive animals and so nervous if humans come anywhere near - was an early morning activity for me. I always sing to cows, generally they like it although these weren't too receptive.
Perhaps I need to brush up on my high notes!!

Spring at the End of Downey Road

2010-04-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

oil on board 12"x 8"

We've had a pretty horriible April on the peninsula. However, there were enough sunny breaks like this one to remind us that beautiful days lie ahead. I'm really enjoying painting directly - just drive along and jump out at a spot I like the looks of. So I hope the rains diminish somewhat and I can do more of this!

Surf Fishing at Baldwin Beach

2010-04-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

oil on board 8"x 24"

Another scene from Maui. Amazing that these guys get any fish this close to shore and with the sea churning around. But apparently, they get really big ones on occasion. They do, however, lose a lot of lures!

Maui sunset

2010-04-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

oil on board 6"x 6"

My husband and I had the best vacation ever on Maui this year. What an amazing little paradise it is and you can see why almost every one you talk to has 'come from away' and stayed. The waves, the warm breezes, the beautiful plants and fish - it's all a feast for the senses.

Pears on Mexican Plate

2010-04-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

oil on board 9"x 12"

I am painting a series of small works, still lifes and landscapes, to have ready for a studio tour in June. I really enjoy the opportunity to talk to total strangers about my work and it's nice to have a focus as well.
Keeping my work loose and bold and colourful on a much smaller scale is always a challenge, but one that I think I can overcome.

Sandra Reading

2010-04-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

oil on Yupo 32"x24"

Another sketch of our willing victim! This was my first experiment with a new support. Yupo is a plastic product - so perhaps not environmentally a good choice? Hard to say these days. I think it's primarily used with watercolour, but I really enjoy using oil. The surface is very smooth which means that brush strokes are very visible and it's possible to get that energy immediately into the image. The white of the surface bounces through and gives it the sparkle that I really like in watercolours. Anyway, there will be more of these quick studies to come. I'm enjoying doing a whole series of them.

Sandra - head and shoulders

2010-04-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 22"x 18"

This is one of many studies of the mover and shaker in our artists' group, Sandra. She is a 'martyr for the cause' and offers herself up as a subject when other unsuspecting volunteers cannot be found. I think it would be interesting to have a show of 'Sandra Portraits.' There are certainly enough of them around and it is always fascinating to see the many different interpretations that come from the hands of our little group.

Blue Mood

2010-04-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30"x 24"

Another non-smiling nude!! This is such an expressive pose. I think that a lot of effort can be put into arranging a model - making sure there are twists and movement, but most of the time I find that a position a sitter assumes naturally is more meaningful and subtle and makes for a powerful image. Apparently Lucien Freud never poses his subjects - he takes them as they are and creates marvelous work.

Dan

2010-04-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30"x 20"

Dan is a former bush pilot and father of a dear friend of mine. What a great character and huge flirt! He tells endless stories - so basically closing his mouth for the portrait was done from memory!! The size of his hands is only slightly exagerated. This is a big man who has led a big life. I completed this work quickly - it is one of three that I have painted of Dan - and, if he is willing to sit for me again, I will do more.

Widow Maker

2010-04-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 48"x 36"

The title of this piece refers to the bowsprit where the crew is furling the sail under windy conditions. It was easy for these men to slip through the footropes and be dragged under - hence the name. The reference I used was an ancient black and white photo. I love the monumentality and sculptural feel of this composition - in fact, I could see it as a sculpture - along the waterfront of Halifax or Gloucester.

John and Hilda's Wedding

2010-04-11T11:50:00.001-07:00

oil on board 18"x 24"

This was a surprise wedding present for two friends of ours, tying the knot after many years together, painted with the aid of photographer, Jude Robertson. The surface texture is really evident- the difficulty of painting impasto, particularly on a flat surface. I hope I caught the warmth and affection that these two clearly have for each other. This was definitely a union of soul-mates.
May we all be so lucky!

Away from the Light

2010-04-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

oil and gold leaf on canvas 36'x 24'

This painting was originally done at the request of a gallery owner in Whistler and rejected because of the expression on the subject's face! The owner informed me that she had never sold a nude that was not smiling. Clearly, this was the wrong gallery for me! A smile is such a limiting expression - it leaves little room for the projection of a viewer's thoughts and interpretation. It takes away the mystery. The tremendous and continuing popularity of the Mona Lisa is largely the result of the successful and unusual combination of a smile and mystery. The idea that all nudes must be happy is particularly abhorrent to me - it dehumanizes and objectifies the female body.
This was my first foray into the application of gold leaf. I found that the background I was painting very much resembled gold - it was warm and flickering - so finally I just went ahead and used the gold. The image is iconic and suits it. I also like the irony of the body that because of the angle and the drapery reveals nothing and the facial expression that is neither sad nor happy, but deep in thought. The pose is relaxed and tense at the same time and the background, which has no depth at all, bounces light back at the viewer.

Jillan at Moss St. Paint-In

2010-03-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 3' x 4'

Jillan was kind enough to sit for me at the Moss St. Paint-In, an event that happens every July in Victoria. Over one hundred artists participate and last year, more than 30,000 people walked the route to admire the art. The original goal of the Paint-In was to have all the artists actually producing art for the day - between 11 and 4, although now it has become more commercial and people put up displays of their work for sale. You can't really blame artists for wanting to make a bit of money! I love painting directly - en pleine aire! And I actually enjoy chatting to people and having them watch as I paint away- so this was a fun day for me! The weather was perfect and Jillan's outfit with the hat very inspiring!

Portrait of Teva

2010-03-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is a painting of a friend and neighbour of mine done last fall. I am finally getting my blog back on track and have a lot of work done since my last posting that will be finding its way soon onto the blog. Teva was a delight to paint - every session (4 of them) revealing more of her personality - writer, linguist, teacher, thinker. I think you can tell by the expression on the portrait that this is a very direct woman, who says what she thinks and sometimes gets into trouble for it! Once again, I was reminded of why I enjoy painting people - usually my subjects become friends and the experience of getting to know them makes my life a little richer. Thank you, Teva.

In Thought

2008-11-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas 24"x 20"

I really enjoyed playing with the contrast of the red sweater and the coolness of the palette and the general mood of this portrait.

Potted Nasturtiums

2008-10-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 14"x14"

These brave little nasturtiums seem unaware that November is almost upon us. A little reminder of those warm, sunny days long gone.

Young Woman with Drying Prints (the artist's daughter)

2008-10-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 40"x30"

My lovely daughter, Kate, sat for this. I love the dynamic quality of the stripes justaposed with the static pose and the cool palette. The prints in the background are not mine - part of a wonderful exhibit at Xchanges Gallery.

Woman in white gown

2008-10-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30"x 40"

I restricted my palette to primarily white, ultramarine blue, viridian and alizerin crimson in this one - mellow greys to reflect a contemplative and benign mood.

Shale Outcrop at Horth Hill

2008-09-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 30"x 40"

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Editing seems to be the primary goal when

painting 'en plein aire.' This is a favourite dog-walking spot nearby my home.

Maraysha

2008-09-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24" x 30"

One of my daughter's friends who posed for us one day. This is a rare breed - an

unselfconscious beauty and a charming young person - haughtly look aside!!

Peter Unaware

2008-09-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 30"

Another of my snapshots of my painting/drawing group. The capturing of a gesture adds even more urgency and energy to the brushwork.

Peter

2008-09-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 18" x 14"

One of the willing victims in our painting group. I began this canvas with some rough markings from the beginning of another image and incorporated them into the portrait. The colours were

a development from the sitting. I liked the juxtaposition of patterns and the psychological insight

that came with the frontal stare.

In Doubt

2008-08-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas

28" x 36"

Portrait of Blake

2008-08-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 14"x 18"

Amaryllis in Green, Black and Gold

2008-08-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 18"x 24"

Another portrait of our vivacious Hungarian. She keeps us entertained with

her wonderful stories; the one involving the smuggling of blue roses out of Turkey is

my favourite!

Amaryllis - black, white and blue

2008-08-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 36"

Arielle

2008-08-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 36"

This charming young girl is leaving home to persue the study of mosses. Bonne chance!

Nude on Blue Cloth

2008-07-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas 24"x 36"