St Andrews Winter Painting Spears Fishing Hut

St Andrews Winter Painting Spears Fishing Hut

orig. oil on canvas, 8x10in approx. $225

more info and purchase here

This one took me a bit longer to paint. I am determined to not give up with the sub zero temperatures the East Coast has seen lately. So I strapped my oil painting kit and tuckered off down to the wharf to do some paintin'. Smart thinking I was loaded with hand warmer pads, ski pants and triple layers underneath my down coat. I guess I must have looked like the Michelin Man wobbling down the street. I have to say I stayed warm until almost to the very end when the sun went down and my fingers and toes got nippy.

First session, laying underpainting down[/caption]

I couldn't quite finish the painting in one session, so I went down a couple of days later during similar weather. My hope is to see the various colours reflecting in the snow. Not just the dirty, brown snow, but the blue and purple-ish cast shadows, the yellowish snow reflecting the low angle afternoon rays and so on... it is a journey. The longer I am looking at snow (and white in general), the more I learn to see subtle colour variations in the landscape. I hope to continue observation this winter... sun is setting, time to finish the painting

Living the long winter

Making myself go out does my spirits well as they are lifted in the fresh breeze and with the sunshine. Winters are hard for me here, German winters are shorter and not as harsh, and I have to admit that I never really have adjusted to the winter climate here. My dear husband has just put in an order for a 'mood light' to help me beat the winter blues. It hasn't arrived but I'm looking forward to indulging in a daily dose of 'happy rays'. Only 50 more days til Spring, yey!
Hope to being able to share more painting with you soon! Thank you for stopping by!!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Rocks at the Beach

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

A Happy Thanksgiving I'm sending to you! Our family spent the afternoon at New River Beach where Markus flew his RC planes and the kids kept busy playing in the sand and surf while mom (me) enjoyed painting these two watercolour paintings.

Tomorrow it is 'back to school' for the kidlets after a long weekend, I enjoy the drive in the mornings seeing the fall colours and the fog lifting from the meadows, a magical time of year. If you are looking for something fun to do next weekend, check out St. Andrews' 'Indulge Festival' with all good food all over town; from wine trail to gourmet dinners to Taste of St. Andrews food trail. There is something for everyone, if you haven't stopped down for it yet, maybe this year will just be the perfect time to start!

Walking at the Beach

orig. watercolour 4x7in

more info and purchase: click here

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a work-in-progress commission for a client that had purchased a painting in 2008 and was looking for some companion pieces. I have just finished the commission and they are already on the way home to Toronto. Here are the paintings:

Flower Medley- 3 piece

acrylic on canvas 24x54in total

commission, sold

Schoene Erntedankfest Gruesse schicke ich euch! Unsere Familie genoss den Nachmittag bei New River Strand, Markus flog seine Ferngesteuerten Flugzeuge und die Kinder hatten Spass im Sand und den Wellen zu spielen waehrend ich diese beiden Aquarelle gemalt habe.

Morgen geht's wieder in die Schule fuer die Kiddies nach dem langen Wochenende; ich geniesse die Autofahrt jeden Morgen mit den Indian Summer Farben und den Nebelschwaden die aus den Senken steigen, das sieht so magisch schoen aus. 

Falls du noch keine Plaene fuer's Wochenende hast, komm doch zum St. Andrews 'Indulge Festival' mit gutem Essen an jedem Eck, Weinstrasse, Gourmet Dinners und vieles mehr. Da ist fuer jeden etwas geboten und falls du noch nie die Zeit gefunden hattest waere dies vielleicht das perfekte Jahr vorbeizuschauen!

Vor ein paar Wochen habe ich geschrieben von einer Auftragsarbeit; ein Kunde hatte ein Bild gekauft 2008 und wollte jetzt zwei weitere Bilder im gleichen Stil dazuhaben. Ich habe dies nun fertiggestellt und die Gemaelde sind auf ihrem Weg nach Toronto.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ritters- enjoying the day at New River Beach, NB

#enpleinairpainting #thanksgiving #newriverbeach #aquarell

Midnight Painter

'All Done', oil, 6x6in, sold

(10$ from each 30-day-challenge sale will be donated to 'Let's hear it for Debby' Fundraiser for hearing aids) 

It's late again, past midnight while I write this- maybe I am a midnight painter/blogger?
Today's painting is a studio piece after I loved yesterday's mood at the wharf and didn't get a chance to head down today, so a studio session it was... It's one of (if I'm not mistaken) only three actively used fishing boats left in St. Andrews: the 'All Done', who I have painted many, many times over the years. The golden years of the fisheries certainly are over and the licenses are passed down from generation to generation, as it has been with the All Done. She looks weathered, tired, telling many stories of her life at sea. I love painting the All Done and wish her many more years! Thanks for stopping by! 
Blessings,                         Simone

Extra deep gallery wrap

Es ist wieder mal spät- nach Mitternacht- waehrend ich diesen Blogeintrag schreibe- vielleicht bin ich sowas wie ein Mitternachtmaler/blogger? Das heutige Bild habe ich im Studio gemalt, nachdem ich die gestrige Stimmung am Meer so beindruckend fand aber heute leider keine Zeit hatte runterzugehen zum malen am Meer... Das Bild ist von einem der drei letzten, verbliebenen, aktiven Fischereiboote in St. Andrews, der 'All Done' (aka: 'Alles Vollbracht'). Ich habe sie schon viele, viele male gemalt in den vergangenen Jahren. Die Bluetezeit der Fischerei ist auf jedenfall vorbei und die Lizenzen werden von Generation zu Generation weitergegeben, so auch mit der 'All Done'. Muede schaut sie aus, verwettert, erzaehlt von ihrem harten Leben auf See. Ich liebe es, die 'All Done' zu malen und wuensch ihr noch viele Jahre!      Danke fuer's vorbeischau'n! Vergelt's Gott!                     Simone

Peeking Over the Fence, Day #6

Peeking over the Fence, oil, 6x6in (15x15cm approx.), plein air, 50$

Today's painting is of my neighbours house's beautiful little back entrance.
The house has a white picket fence which blocks out the view from the Street.
He is very attentive to his yard and the little house is a gem downtown St. Andrews.  The house has
a law office on the ground floor.
It was overcast all morning and looked like rain, so I decided to stay on our deck under the umbrella.
Now it is all cleared up and the sun is shining.
Today is also the birthday of our youngest: Mathias is turning 5! Happy Birthday Mathias!

Das heutige Bild ist der Hintereingang von meinem Nachbarhaus.
Das Haus hat einen weissen Holzzaun, sodass man eigentlich den Eingang nicht sieht von der Strasse aus. Mein Nachbar ist ein sehr guter Gaertner und das kleine Haus ist ein Juwel im historischen St. Andrews. Das Haus hat ein Notariat im Erdgeschoss.
Heute morgen war es bedeckt und sah nach Regen aus, so entschloss ich mich, von unserem Balkon aus zu malen und unter'm Sonnenschirm. Jetzt haben sich die Wolken verblasen und die Sonne scheint.
Heute ist auch der 5. Geburtstag von unserem Kleinsten: Happy Birthday Mathias! 

St. Andrews Cottage

St. Andrews Cottage, oil, 6x6in. plein air, 50$

Today's painting I just finished! After we finished schooling (happy weekend all;-), the kids wanted to go to the playground. They had fun running and climbing and I started today's painting. After I had blocked in and just gained ground I heard that noise which made me crinch... I knew what was coming: a lawn tractor! I was all set-up in the middle of the green space and knew I had to move.
My kids were kind and helped re-locate, but by moving the easel, the painting tipped and fell into the palette- yikes! So, this was a good exercise in 'keeping focus', after all I could finish it from a distance where there was a nice shady spot. I'm off not to cook dinner for the 'gang', while Markus is busy, busy in the restaurant.   Thanks for stopping by!                              Simone

PS: My big 'Pool Painting' will be going to the brand new Algonquin Resort Pool- will post pic's once installed..

Pool Painting, on display at the Algonquin Resort St. Andrews, $7800.-

Jetzt habe ich gerade das heutige Bild fertig! Nachdem wir mit Schule fertig waren (frohes Wochenende;-), wollten die Kinder hoch zum Spielplatz. Während sie Spass hatten mit rennen und turnen fing ich mein heutiges Bild an. Nach einem zügigen Start hörte ich ein gewisses Geräusch das mich zusammenzucken liess: Rasentraktor! Ich hatte mich genau mittig auf der Grünfläche positioniert und wusste dass ich umziehen musste. Meine Kids waren echt suess und halfen mein Gebündel wegzutragen, aber als ich meine Pochade Staffelei wegtrug, fiel mein Bild geradewegs auf die Farbpalette- hiilllffeee! So, was ich heute gelernt habe: Fokus beibehalten und tief durchatmen auch wenn's mal nicht ganz glatt geht (ich muss gestehen, ich hatte ein paar böse Gedanken). Trotz allem war's OK denn ich fand ein schattiges Plätzchen etwas weiter weg wovon ich dann ganz gut fertigmalen konnte. Jetzt bin ich auf'm Weg in die Kueche: Abendessen kochen fuer die Kinder- Markus kocht noch auf Hochbetrieb im Restaurant. 
Vielen Dank fuer's vorbeischau'n!                                                              Simone

PS: Mein grosses Poolgemaelde wird fuer's Marriott Algonquin Resort abgeholt- in ihren neuen Poolbereich

Plein air paint-out and 'Pool Painting'

Saint John Power Boat Club

watercolour 11x14in approx. 27x35cm Aquarell

225$

yesterday was a busy day painting with the 'plein air painters of the bay of fundy'- annual paint out. this year in Saint John with the show beeing on display at the Saint John Arts Center from June 24- September 4th 2010.

it was great meeting up with the other artists and soon afterwards everyone headed to their chosen painting spot and only a couple of us were still at the Saint John Power Boat Club marina painting away mid afternoon. the morning i spent painting this acrylic near the SJAC to be close for the noon meet-up.

Saint John View

Acrylic on panel 6x8in 15x20cm Acryl

sold

today i didn't make it unfortunately due to restaurant (our business) obligations and our 3 children missing their mom.

below is the big Pool Painting i did a couple months back and never seem to find the time to blog about in depth.

It was meant to go into the humid pool area i choose high quality metal primed sign board and ASTM non-toxic sign paint (for the initial 'block in') and artists acrylics for the over layers.

out came a bright swirly and vibrant painting which i hope the viewer finds joyful and stimulating.

our inn pool will not be built this year- too many delays- but i had great fun 'going big'.

the size is 8ftx8ft and i had it attached to our living room wall while i painted it.

you can see it 'in persona' at the 'fundy artists' sale and show at the fairmont algonquin end of july.

thanks for visiting!

Fire and Ice- and me diptych

acrylic on sign board

8ftx8ft

painting palooza

The day of the Launching

watercolour 30x22in, 75x56cmAquarell

$ 800

'Summer on the Glebe'

watercolour 3.5x9.5in, 9x25cm Aquarell

$ 85 unframed

'Summer lupins'

watercolour 5.5x7.5 approx., ca 14x19cm0cm Aquarell

70$ unframed

the last view days with great weather and gorgeous lupins growing luscious, i just couldn't help but praise the lord with some 'quiet time'- just him and me and the paint brush.

so i escaped the reno (the never-ending-story) and took off with my gear.

i downsized my watercolour travel/plein air kit, as you can see in the picture.

it's now just the palette filled with my three primary colours, one brush, a little portfolio i cut from left over corrugated plastic i had kickin' around and the little stool to sit on. weight incl. water: 2 pounds 12 oz! (without chair: 1 pound). the corrugated platic portfolio serves double: to transport the paper and as a 'pochade box' to set the palette on and to clip the paper onto. i can stand up painting or sit with it on my knee, both work (of course this is not the luxury version,but works great for little 6x8's and sketches. i do not wash the brush directly in the water, but rather dip it in and 'flick' it dry/clean to the side.

Thank you very much for visiting- and please leave me a note if you'd like to know more about a specific topic i could blog a post;-)

die letzten Tage hatten wir super Wetter und traumhafte Lupinen ueberall am bluehen, so konnte ich mich einfach nicht zurueckhalten, hinauszugehen um Gott zu danken- in Stille: nur Er und ich und die Farben. So liess ich die 'Ewig waehrende Baustelle' zurueck und ging hinaus mit meinem Malsach'. Ich vereinfachte mein Aquarell 'Reiseset' um noch mehr Gewicht und Platz zu sparen- siehe Bild. Jetzt wiege Palette, Klappstuhl, Wasser, Papier und Mappe (zum Malpapier transportieren und als Malmappe/Pochade box um Palette aufzulegen und Papier an den hochgeklappten 'Deckel' zu klipsen. damit kann ich im stehen malen und im sitzen- Mappe auf Oberschenkel)

Gewicht inkl. Wasser und Stuhl: 1200gr.! natuerlich nicht eine Luxusausstattung, aber funktioniert super fuer kleinere Aquarelle um 15x20cm und zum sketchen. wenn ich 'en plein air' male, wasche ich den Pinsel nicht direkt im Wasserkanister (die ausgewaschenen Pigmente machen das Wasser sehr schnell schmutzig), sondern tauche den Pinsel ins Wasser und 'schuettle' (in Allgaeu sagten wir immer: schlentzen) ihn zur Seite hin trocken/sauber.

Vielen Dank fuers Vorbeischauen! und falls Du einen Blogeintrag zu einem speziellen Thema haben moechtest, bitte lass' mich wissen.