Passionate Flamenco 2

Wet Pastels on Printmaking Paper

29" x 22"

$ 400

I hear her heels on the wooden floor, skirt flowing, her posture very commanding.......... all that makes Flamenco dance such a passionate display of body language.

Passionate Flamenco 1

Wet Pastels on Printmaking Paper

19" x 22"

$ 400

Having watched my first ever live Flamenco performance on stage a couple of months ago here in Kelwona, I just had to paint. Did a couple as the holiday season is not keeping me busy with my art classes.

Palette for both is the same as both were painted simultaneously. I had my hands full due to the limited time one has with this technique. The test runs prior to starting the painting is such a great help as colours appear significantly dark on wet paper. For both these paintings I used my favourite Stonehenge Printmaking paper, this time beige in colour. As I use my fingers to blend the creamy paste of dissolving pastels, needless to say, finger nails looked terrible, but it was all worth it. Cleaning pastels off hands is relatively easy.....only takes soap and water

Emerald

Pastels on Canson Paper

26" x 19"

$450

Study from life done a few days ago (22 nov, 2008) during Evergreen, a fundraiser for the Rotart Centre for the Arts in Kelwona, BC. The entire Rotary Centre was buzzing with activities, band playing, wine tasting, auction of paintings and gift packages and much much more. Five of us were busy sketching Emerald as she elegantly posed draped in sheer green fabric. This one of my studies from that evening...... it was a joy to capture light cascading her flaming red hair.

Hidden Exposure

Pastels, 26" x 19", NFS,

Collection of GG

Magical Myra Canyon viewed from underneath trestle # 12. One of the very few landscapes I have painted and what an utter joy it was, for many reasons. The location is very close to my heart as it is a special getaway. Although just 20 minutes away, Myra Canyon is worlds apart with it's majestic beauty and encompassing serenity. Ravaged by the 2003 firestorm, the trestles are magnificently restored now. What a mammoth task and a job very well done. Fortunately I had the pleasure of visiting Myra canyon prior to the fires during my short visit to Canada and with so many trips since then, am still mesmerized by it.

Orange Nude

Pastels, 26" x 19"

$500

Done from a life study. As much as I enjoy working in wide spectrum of colours, limited palette is equally appealing to me. Since the entire surface is so warm, I added one of my favourite colours, ultramarine blue as a colour surprise.

Painting and Seasonal Disorder

Fall is upon us here in beautiful southern British Columbia.
Leaves are changing colours into fiery hues, temperature has dropped dramatically and we are getting less sunlight with cloudy skies and shorter days.
My first winter here, 2004/2005, I noticed something strange about my behaviour. Four or five days without any sunshine, I was a different person, reduced to tears for no apparent reason and a loss of my go-go attitude. Well it must the adjustment process for a new immigrant, I would tell myself and braved on.
Next winter same scenario. Zainab, my daughter had no issues at all with the lack of sunshine. It is then I discussed my sorry state of feeling so low when I talked to friends and aquantences that I discovered seasonal disorder. Having lived most of my life in the tropics, I had no clue of it, thought I had had enough sun for the rest of my life after being in the Arabian desert for more than a decade prior to my move to Canada.
I discovered my solution to seasonal disorder, works great, lists my spirits and ever so simple. I check the weather, if we are heading for a cloudy few days, I start a new painting, sometimes more than one. Painting process for me is so involving and intense that it remains the focal point of my day to day dealings, I am not even aware of the weather. Fortunately here in Kelowna, overcast periods dont last long......... in about a few days the sun is shining again and I end up with new work(s).
Creativity is indeed a gift, delights the soul under every condition.

Myra Canyon - Limitless Temptations

Acrylic on Canvas, 14" x 18"

This painting goes on display on 24 oct, 2008, at Kelowna Art Gallery's 4th Annual Members' Show.

Drawn to the magestic beauty of Myra Canyon, each visit is has been as soul satisfying as the first one for me.
This is a painting within a painting, reflecting the touching vastness that encompasses me inside and outside with no bounderies or borders.
The serene cool hues in the reflections are sharply contrasted with the warm colours in the rest of painting. For obvious reasons, this was painted from a photograph. As with all my paintings, once the topic is selected the next step is the colour scheme. This could be triggered by a random thought, sound, sight, emotion or a long thought process - major players of the palette are rounded up.
Due to my affinity with pastels approach to this painting is similar to that of pastel painting allowing a lot of the base coat to remain untouched. To keep the focus of the painting in the panoramic reflections, including the photographer, treatment of reflections is detailed as opposed to the remainder of painting.

Helen

Pastel on Canson paper, 17" x 22"

NFS

This pastel was selected as a finalist for the Open International Portrait Competition in Toronto in 2003 organized by Portrait Society of Canada.

What a thrill it was to get the notification of the selection. I was still living in the United Arab Emirates and was asked to attend the conference with my entry.

I could write a book about my frustrating ordeal for obtaining a visit visa to Canada. I made three trips to Abu Dhabi, the capital city about 250 km away. Although it was spring season, point to remember is, it was the Arabian desert, temps in high 30s.

Each trip to the Canadian embassy made me more anxious as the date for the conference/exhibition got closer and all my travel plans depended on the visa. Finally, I made it to Toronto, my first ever trip on my own, right in the middle of peak of SARS outbreak. The conference was at Art gallery of Ontario in the heart of Chinatown. I braved it all. My adventurous spirit got me to Kelowna for 10 fabulous days once the show was over. I simply fell in love and made up my mind, if I ever move, Kelowna will be home. The following year, 2004, I made the big move, infact, tomorrow, 12 october will be 4 years for me in Kelwona. I am glad I made the move, perhaps the happiest time of my life.

Pepsi Dude

Acrylic paints on life size fibreglass camel.

Pepsi Dude is one of the 4 camels I painted in Dubai in 2004 for Camel Caravan, a public art project. As the name suggests it was sponsored by Pepsi.

What a memorable experience it is for me to be part of the Camel Caravan. We painted our camels in an air conditioned tent in a park during the harsh summer of the Arabian desert. The organizers, Patricia and Ken Palmer went to great lengths to make the artists very comfortable taking care of our need for meals, coffee, soda, snacks, water, you name it. Up and down ladders, paint splatters in hair and skin, listening to music was the norm, sometimes the day would be as long as 15 hours. There were deadlines to be met as the camels went for auction.

Pepsi Dude was a joy to do, in his jeans and tie-n-dye T-shirt. His bandana and sunglasses put a smile on faces of all that viewed him. Please dont miss his tattoos, Zainab, my daughter had to guide me as to the designs which were "in" as opposed to some random patterns I had in mind.

After the Show

Collage on matt board, 21.5" x 31.5"
$ 950

Today I was informed, "After the Show" was accepted for the show Art Visions 2008.
This show is being organized by the Central Okanagan Chapter of Federation of Canadian Artists.
More than 325 images were submitted out of which 50 were juried for the show starting on 25 oct, 2008.

Dorothy

Chalk Pastels on wet Stonehenge paper,

14" x 21"

$ 300, SOLD

(Dorothy purchased this painting earlier this morning, 7th oct).

This is one of the 3 studies from life I did of Dorothy about four days ago at the Rotary Centre for the Arts here in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

We are a group of painters who get together with a different model for each session and paint in mediums of our choice. As we are passionate about portraiture, anyone is welcome to sit for our 2.5 hour session. There is an interesting display of some of these portraits at the Rotary Centre showing the individual styles of each artist.

Resting

Chalk Pastels on wet Stonehenge paper, 14" x 19.5"

$ 300

Grey tinted, wet Stonehenge printmaking paper used as a surface for this pastel study of model from life. As she gently leaned away from me, overhead lights caught the top of her head, I just had to throw in the orange, the colourist in me couldnt hold back. Flat strokes of white pastel in the background were used to add to the serene mood.

Cats 1

Pastels, 17.5" x 23.5", NFS,

Collection of Dee

A life study of model done up as a character from "Cats" musical. She lay on the platform allowing me to explore this unusual angle for a head study, done on the very enjoyable craft paper.

Flamenco Passion

Mixed Media, 11" x 15",

Commission

When lorely Griffiths commissioned me to do this painting, her only requirements were, size and the theme of Flamenco.

This mixed media is on watercolour paper, started with a wet-into-wet wash of watercolour, once dried, chalk pastels used for finishing. Choice of vibrant reds and sweeping strokes in this montage composition were used to convey the passion of Flamenco.

By the Window

Collage with found paper, 16" x 22"

$ 1,300.

An exercise in patience, is how I describe this experience.

The model again, is Gwyneth, as she sat by her livingroom window.

There is no paint or pastels used in this work, the entire painting was rendered by meticulously sticking pieces of paper on watercolour board. Most of the paper is from magazines and a bit of handmade paper is also used.

Once the initial drawing was done on the watercolour board, the labourous task of getting the right colour in the correct value was undertaken. My worktable looked like a paper shredder dump. With fingers covered with layers of glue, was frustrating and comical at times, as I went about bulding up the image. For some of the smaller pieces of paper on the face, particularly the eyes and spectacles, I had to resort to using a pair of tweezers.

Braving the Desert

Pastels on Canson paper, 18" x 24"

NFS

Rendered in a limited palette. Application of pastels move from very heavy to lose, allowing untouched paper to work into the portrait.

I took a lot of breaks while doing this painting as I didnt want to overwork. I simply walked away from it from time to time and as with most of my works, was done standing at my easle. This eliminates the tendency to fuss over unnecessary details.

Silverado and Friend

Mixed Media on watercolour paper, 21" x 30.5"

$500.00

A loose base of water colours were allowed to dry before the image was sketched in with willow charcoal. I had so much fun with chalk pastels to play with certain areas of the composition, leaving some of the watercolour to show through.

Silverado's life are her horses. It was such a pleasure to take my first Trail ride in april this year at her ranch, Mandy and Me, tucked away in a picturesque valley in Westside.

One Look.........

Pastels, 18.5" x 26", NFS

Done in minimalistic technique with a lot of paper left untouched. An attempt to capture the intense piercing gaze of the model as his head turned towards his right shoulder.

Is part of my private collection.

Seated Figure

Mixed Media, 11.5" x 27"

From a life drawing study, rendered in water colours, charcoal and soft pastels. Transition from heavy on the top of the painting, to very pale hues towards the lower portion was a deliberate effort to play with the serene mood of the model.

Jazzy Pat

Chalk Pastels on (wet) Printmaking paper

22" x 28"

sold

A limited palette study of young and talented Pat ... so lost in his Sax. His music is so soothing, hence the choice of using cool blues with hints of yellow ochre.

Evening Glow

Mixed media, 8.5" x 12"
$ 200.00

Chalk pastels on watercolour paper, perhaps one of my few smaller works. Prior to the live portrait session, water colour was slapped on the paper and allowed to dry. Reflection of the soft light entering the room in the glasses of the elegant lady, was a joy to capture.

Magenta

Pastel and Charcoal on newsprint paper.

17.5" x 23.5"

$400

This is a study from life. About an hour into the session and having done a few full figure, I just HAD to do a study of the head. While the graceful model was taking her break, I intinctively picked up magenta, pink and ultramarine (square) pastels and let go of my anxious wait. Once she positioned herself, it was willow and compressed charcoal I chose to satisfy my urge as faces never fail to amaze me.

It is Snowing

Pastels(wet) on printmaking paper, 14.5" x 21"

$450.00

Clearing snow during the Canadian winter, Neil paused for a moment, my camera was ready. Rendered in the enjoyable, yet challenging technique of using chalk pastels on wet printmaking paper.

Stuck for ideas to paint

Please remeber what a wise artist said ....... a vacuum is necessary to sustain creativity. Hence, the "quiet" periods between creative blasts are equally important.This is how I deal when faced with an artists block ... for me, yes the surroundings make a lot of difference as well as inner joy and excitement. Nature is the greatest artist,I go for a walk and remain in the moment, not allowing any other thoughts enter my mind. I totally immerse myself in admiration of my surroundings... the sights, sounds the smells. I feel like a child out in the wilderness, exploring, absorbing as much as I can. Often, colours, images, ideas come as flashes...... they are indeed magical moments, perhaps thats what inspiration is.When weather doesnt permit a walk, I go deep within myself and fill myself with positive ideas and tons and tons of joy. I know some individuals tap into happy moments from their past. Me, the dreamer, looks ahead, visualizes and literally feels the joy and excitement my future endeavoures. I firmly believe and have gratefully experienced, "dreams are often the stuff goals are made up of". Another approach that works for me, is the popular method of posing a question to the Universe right before I fall asleep, answers to appear. As Plutach said, "What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality".Tina

After the Show

Collage on matt board, size 21" x 31",

$ 750.00

This collage was part of the well attended first Okanagan Erotic Art Show earlier in 2008.

An immensely enjoyable process, presenting challenges as every stage can be summed up as, creating order out of chaos.

Light weight watercolour paper (approximately 90 gms) is paper is prepared using acrylic paints with a selective colour scheme and saran wrap to create interesting textures. Pieces of this paper, along with some handmade, foil paper and fabric are glued to a watercolor/mattboard board. The image(s) is revealed using glazes of acrylic paints, for both, negative and positive spaces. Point to remember, is not to overpaint as the texutes created by saran wrap will be lost. The result is a unique rendering of the subject.

Magical Gwyneth

Gwyneth, a sculptor by profession, is an extremely spiritual being. In this painting I wanted to depict her strength as well as her gentle nature as she sits in her garden in Sharjah, UAE. Painting is in Gwyneth's private collection.

Mi Gitana

Captured a moment in time. Arabian Gulf sunshine cascades over the model (my daughter, Zainab), soft pastels on Canson paper. Is part of my small, but very precious collection of some of my own works. With the first few strokes of the willow charcoal to set her eyes on paper for the intial drawing, I could see her emerging, was a magical moment for me. Hence I cannot part with this painting although, with most of my works, once I sign, my attachment is over.

Ahhhhhhhhh, the joy of creating

One of the greatest gifts that we, as humans, are bestowed with, is the ability to create. The joy the process brings cannot be surpassed by any other endeavour.