Tuesday, January 13, 2015

WIP - Horse Painting



I had to stop working on this painting, it is not finished. There is something I don't like about it, I think it is the nose, it needs to be shortened or less angled, I don't know yet. The painting still needs depth and more shading before it is completed but I am going to sit on it for a week before I continue on. 

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Midnight - Horse Painting


The past few days have been dreary and dark, perfect for staying home and painting. So here is my latest, completed today and the paint is still wet.


Monday, January 5, 2015

It is Cold Outside.

Image by Stephanie Matthews

It is cold across Canada, the snow is hitting some areas and if it is not snow it is rain. So enjoy it and sit by a fire read a book or create some art. 


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Winter Wonderland.

Jan 2 we had snow. My friend and I went for a walk around Mundy Park with our children. It was snowing as we walked around and we had fun making up stories, spotting a Gruffalo and saying hello to people along the way. 

The shot below is my favourite spot in the park. No matter what the weather, what time of year, it looks so pretty, peaceful and picturesque. I often walk underneath it or by it and on many occassion wished I had my camera with me and as luck would happen I bought it with me.

It looks so dreamy, it should be on a Christmas card.

Without Frame


With Frame. 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a great Christmas and a good start to the New Year. We have had some sunny, cold winter days which is conducive to lovely walks in the parks. Taking my phone camera with me because I often forget to take my DSLR, I took some fabulous pictures on New Year's Eve, 

Posted here are a couple of pictures I took whilst walking around Como Lake. 


Como Lake is located near to mountains but in the middle of a residential area. It is a well used area for picnics, running, walking and so on. The homes that surround the park are somewhat individual in appearance, there is a log house and a historic building and some newer homes too. The mountains can be seen in the background and on days like today the trees often have a sprinkling of snow like icing sugar sprinkled on top of a milk chocolate cake. 



It was a late afternoon walk and as we walked around the lake we watched the sun go down, so pretty. 

You will notice I did a little editing to my images but I don't like to mess around with the colour if I can avoid it. I use PicMonkey which is a quick and easy free editing tool and great for adding text onto an image. 

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas!


Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. 

The Christmas decoration 'Christmas' is on my tree, it is one of my favorite ornaments. It makes for a great shot along with the blue moon and the red bauble.




Friday, December 12, 2014

Looking for a Christmas Gift?

Generally speaking it is not hard to buy a gift for those who love to create. Many artists want paints, paint brushes, art pads, sketch books, pens, pencils, easels anything art related really but what about something a little different and unexpected but has a multi-purpose use?

This product has to be one of the best investments our there for everyone and could potentially be the most talked about Christmas present. 

I suffer with cold hands, I am often tucking my hands in my pockets or wearing cumbersome big gloves when I am outdoors. I like to be able to have easy access to use my mobile phone or touching and feeling textures with my bare hands often when I am outside or something as simple as picking up my keys from my bag.  Even when I am indoors, typing on the computer, painting, sketching or watching the TV I am often pulling my sleeves down to cover my poor freezing cold hands, particularly during the cold months. 

Hand Warmer 2. $89.99 plus tax.

Wearing gloves in an office isn't really the done thing either but there is another alternative. The hand warmer pictured is excellent for artists, office workers, outdoor workers and sports folk alike. However my focus is on artists and more often than not artists are venturing outside to find inspiration, whether it be taking pictures, going out and sketching or painting, it is important to keep warm but also have the ability to keep hands free. To have such conveniences I have been using the hand warmer from iHeat Wear . I have the black one which is now on sale for $69.99 plus tax.

It took some convincing at first, I remember using hand warmers or 'hand muffs' (as we used to call them), when I was a kid and to be honest I wasn't a fan. However, this is different because the iHeat hand warmer has heated elements inside which is controlled by you. It is soft inside and oh, so cozy. It comes with  a rechargeable battery which is attached inside and concealed in the hidden compartment where you can see the zipper. The adjustable strap as seen in the image goes around your waist.

 I am in love with this product, my hands quickly heat up inside the warmer and I can easily release my hands when I need them to be free. My kids also loves sneaking in their hands after a snowball fight.

This is a new Canadian company and they have other available products like heated inner-liner gloves which I hope to get at a later date to go over my normal gloves, great for winter bike rides, hikes etc. They also have ski gloves which I am seriously looking at purchasing for when I go skiing. 

I highly recommend this product, you won't be sorry.