Afternoon Tea
22" x 30" artist pencil on watercolour paper. $1000
There's been more than a few occasions that we have looked out the window of our house in the Columbia Valley and seen a Black Bear. Most of the time, they are foraging for natural foods. One year we spent the better part of an hour watching such a a bear efficiently eat all the saskatoon berries off of the bushes.
This episode was the inspiration for 'Tea Time', a look at bears - real - and not so real.
Loon Family
11" x30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
Imagine standing on the shore of a mountain lake; the sun's light announcing the coming of a new day. The air is fresh, the lake water is calm.
Swimming into your view are a pair of loons, and for the first time there are two fluffy chicks accompanying the adults. The scene has been made complete; a perfect start to a new day.
Spring
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $650
Here in the Canadian Rocky Mountains chickadees are wonderful engaging four season companions. As the days grow warmer and food becomes more plentiful chickadees focus their energies on the raising of two batches of young before the cooler days of fall settle in.
This painting uses the patterns of the birds and clouds to evoke a feeling of spring's promise. “Spring” is the fourth in a series of four paintings celebrating the seasons.
The Chorus
22" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $1000
The allure of night time winter walks is the magical quality of trees, snow, and a sky that you can almost touch. At these times it is possible to believe in a special connection between both the plants and the animals that are left to struggle through the season that Mother Earth rests.
In this painting I wanted to play with the idea of the magic and imagination that can reveal itself on a night time winter walk.
Underwater Loon Dance
22" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $900
I always marvel at remarkable displays of nature. Once in a while we are blessed with being in the right place at the right time, as my husband was in May in Banff Park. He was able to take some fascinating photographs of a pair of Common Loons bonding as mating season arrived.
Having been totally taken by the images, I felt the need to paint this wonderful under water dance.
Turtles and Dragonflies
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
What could be more enjoyable than a summer stroll along a pond that contains sun bathing Painted turtles? Their simple antics in combination with the insects that are hovering close by lead to many comical moments, especially when you include dragonflies that are hunting for lunch, not wanting to be lunch.
In this painting I wanted to express a simple enjoyable moment of time.
Mallard Feather
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
If you take a few moments to look closely at a feather, you cannot ignore its incredible design and colour pattern. The beautiful purple/blue of a female Mallard’s wing feather speculum opened up the opportunity to celebrate the gifts of spring in a very unique way.
In this painting I was able to combine the details of a feather with a special sighting of a mother duck and her ducklings.
Woodpecker Feather
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
I've been collecting feathers of different bird species for some time now; being intrigued by their structure and patterns. Earlier this year the feathers took on a new significance, as an idea developed of how I could incorporate them into my paintings.
Here a Hairy Woodpecker male, sharing in the duties of raising the young, flies from the nest cavity in seach of more food for the ever hungry brood.
Siblings
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $650
If you ever have the opportunity to look closely at an owl feather you will observe an incredible flannel-like textured surface and frayed edges, designed for silent flight. This Burrowing Owl feather gave me a wonderful opportunity to share a comical moment in the family life of this ground dwelling owl.
In this painting I was able to combine the details of an owl feather with an observant parent watching over three siblings, locked in a staring match, as they emerge from their underground nest.
Light Show
22" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $1000
Our home in the Rocky Mountains in the spring is a time of intense bird activity. In May we enjoy our first invasions of migrating hummingbirds for the year; three species and over two dozen
individual birds creating a spectacular sound and light show. Although spanning no more than two weeks, the intensity and excitement of the visits leave me with many fond moments and
wonderful painting ideas.
The inspiration for this piece came form watching the interaction of sunlight on the hummingbirds feathers. As sunlight passing through a prism creates a rainbow of colour, so to is the interplay between light and the little hummer's iridescent feathers.
Free Spirits
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
Wolves are mysterious and magnetic animals. They need wild places to call home, and are top predators important to keeping ecosystems healthy.
I have been lucky enough to see wolves in the wild and hear their haunting howls. In this painting I combined running wolves and a playful wind to create a free spirit moment.ArtBehaviourCarnivoraDLOGDLPGMammalPaintingRunningWildlifeXWeb
Ravens' Flight
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $650
Strong fliers, curious, smart, and playful are just a few adjectives to describe the Raven. They reside year round in the Rocky Mountains, and as fall turns to winter I find Ravens take on a mysterious persona. Their presence is more visible as they seem to enjoy playing on the strong wind currents that come with the changing season.
In this painting I wanted to combine strong wind currents, Ravens, and a touch of intrigue. Stylized ravens in flight. A 11" x 30" acrylic painting.
Light Dance
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
Hummingbirds never cease to entertain me. Every spring we are blessed with the arrival of the Calliope, Black-chinned, and Rufous hummingbirds. Many of their aerial antics are repeated time after time; their spiralling dance is one of them.
In this painting a Rufous and Black-chinned male hummingbird spiral upwards towards the sun. The white light from the sun sifts through both the birds reappearing as colours of the light spectrum. Each bird reveals three colours which when combined create a rainbow.
Winter
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
The Red-breasted Nuthatch must be one of the extroverts of the bird world. These joyful little birds are here all year round and their almost ceaseless chatter continually brings a smile to my face. At times I have observed only one nuthatch in a tree, seemingly talking to itself as it busily hunts for food.
The winter season where we live in the Rocky Mountains can have quite variable weather, ranging from – 30 C to just above freezing. On those days when the temperature is on the mild side and the sun is shining brightly, icicles start forming. This painting is a celebration of the winter season with all its challenges and beauty.
“Winter” is the fourth in a series of four paintings celebrating the seasons.
Fall
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
Leaves transforming into birds is a theme I have visited before. Why? I’m not completely sure, but perhaps it has something to do with the changing seasons. As the colourful leaves of autumn start falling from the trees along our trail, and the song birds start migrating, I can imagine these little birds carrying some of our beautiful northern colours south to share with those that don’t make the journey.
To be able to relax and amble along a woodland trail, seeing the constantly changing life around you is a gift that everyone should have the opportunity to do. Wishing you many happy wanderings.
“Fall” is the third in a series of four paintings celebrating the seasons.
Summer
11" x 30" acrylic/gouache on watercolour paper. $750
Inspiration is a magical thing – you don’t know when something you see or hear will spark a creative idea. A recent spring/summer was most unusual, with batches of hot weather mixed with cool weather and storms. This stormy weather did not seem to intimidate a male Rufous hummingbird which would bravely challenge the elements by repeatedly returning to perch on the dead leader of an Aspen tree; a prime location for him to survey his territory.
This feisty little hummingbird and the wonderful stormy weather came together to inspire ‘Summer’ - a merging of movement, colour, and joy for life.
“Summer” is the second in a series of four paintings celebrating the seasons.
