U100 Blue Fish Mask, Painting and Soft Sculpture Set

This painting is part of my Blue Fish soft sculpture, which also includes a mask. Its funny how my mask sales go in trends. Currently in my Etsy shop this fabric is one of the most popular ones, six months ago it was Grey Grunge. It doesn't show well in this image, but the bubbles in the water are large green/blue sparkles, which add a lively touch.

This art piece, is the fourth of my ten U100 pieces. A soft sculpture entitled BLUE FISH.

Yes it is a mask, but it is also a painting and a sculpture. The piece can be hung as is, for an interesting memento of this Covid year. Alternatively the mask part can be removed and worn and the matching painting hung on the wall. Another possibility is to buy the set as a gift for one person, or split it to make two gifts. There are so many options.

A little about my masks.

I create masks all the way from XS to XXXXL. They are available in my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SEA2YOU  I have included a large comfort mask in all my soft sculptures, it really does fit most teens and adults because of the bias designe. The XL, XXL, XXXL and XXXXL masks are only for people with larger faces and jaws, large men and large men with large beards. Thankfully I don’t need one of those and neither do most mask wearers. 

You will instantly see a difference in quality when you examine one of my masks. They are couturier constructed with no loose threads or open seams. The fabric is top quality 100% cotton, unless you have chosen one with white wicking lining: This is all natural, 40% cotton, 60% lyocell moisture wicking fibre, 300 thread count as opposed to regular quilting fabric at only about 60 thread count; the tight weave gives excellent protection and the wicking effect is amazing for warm climates, those with glasses and highly active people. Lastly the mask has fully adjustable head elastic, adaptable to ear loops and interchangeable for your own cord or ribbon. Wow!

Mackerel Mayhem I - 15/30

MACKEREL MAYHEM I
Embellished iPad drawing by Sea Dean
8" x 10" Mounted on Powlonia Cradle
$99 + shipping
Contact Here

This iPad drawing is enhanced with Golden copper fine, Pebeo bindex DYNA violet iridescent and Golden High Flow carbon black. See Sept 13th for an explanation of the process.

I'm one of the artists taking part in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. This is the ninth time Leslie has held this event and I've taken part in each one. This is # fifteen of the thirty iPad drawings that I plan to complete by September 30th.

I love the energy of this challenge and that it inspires me to create new work each day. I'm pleased to join challenge again and look forward to adding 30 new drawings to my Limited Edition Collection.

See all the Challenge Artists Work here

I'm at #4

Silvery School I, The Run - 14/30

SILVERY SCHOOL I - The Run
Embellished iPad drawing by Sea Dean
8" x 10" Mounted on Powlonia Cradle
$99 + shipping
Contact Here

This particular iPad drawing is enhanced with Pebeo iridescent orange/yellow, red/blue, blue/green and violet blue, as well as Pebeo bindex DYNA violet iridescent and clear brushstroke finish. See Sept 13 for an explanation of the process.

I'm one of the artists taking part in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. This is the ninth time Leslie has held this event and I've taken part in each one. This is # fourteen of thirty iPad drawings that I plan to complete by September 30th.

I love the energy of this challenge and that it inspires me to create new work each day. I'm pleased to join challenge again and look forward to adding 30 new drawings to my Collection.

See all the Challenge Artists Work here

I'm at #5

IPAD DRAWINGS - Ocean Series - Tarpon Tyrant

TARPON TYRANT
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

Believe it or not, this is a digital drawing which was created from scratch. There is no underlying image. I'm building my skills in layering translucent colour and learing to use the primitive drawing tools to their best advantage. This Tarpon is a predator fish in the deep waters of the ocean. His sleek body gives him the advantage of speed and his large mouth allows him to scoop up huge helpings of tiny fish in a flash.

I quite like the greenish colorway and the shiny scales are my favorite part of the drawing.

 

IPAD DRAWINGS - Ocean Series - Mackerel Mahem

MACKEREL MAHEM
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

When Mackerel are under threat they swim in tight balls hoping that numbers are safer than swimming alone. If the hunter breaks them into smaller shoals they are more vulnerable. It's amazing how they manage to swim so fast while being packed so closely together.

Two more colorways.

 

IPAD DRAWINGS - Ocean Series - Blue Fish

BLUE FISH
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print


With this rather graphic image I used different color filters and angles to add interest.  I think this would make a wonderful fabric design.

IPAD DRAWINGS - Ocean Series - Playful Dolphin

PLAYFUL DOLPHIN
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

This Bottlenose Dolphin wants to play. He's having a wonderful time racing through the ocean. He seems to be saying "Come in and join the fun".

In black and white he looks classy like he's wearing a dinner suit.

 

IPAD DRAWINGS - Oceans Series - Silvery School

SILVERY SCHOOL
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

I've been working on a submission which calls for new media. All are available in digital or printed form. The beauty of ipad drawings is that you can change the colors with a simple click.

 

IPAD DRAWINGS - Oceans Series - A Bit Fishy

A BIT FISHY
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

I've been working on a submission which calls for new media and what better new media than digital drawing. I also worked in the "Photos" app of my ipad to modify color - some of these modified versions I prefer to the original.

IPAD DRAWINGS - Ocean Series - Blue Ripples

BLUE RIPPLES
Oceans Series by Sea Dean
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

I've been playing with my ipad again. Well, not exactly playing, I've been working on a submission which calls for new media

As you may recall from recent ipad drawings, I'm using the simple draw app in "Notes" which has a very limited palette and set of four tools, shown in the images below. As you can imagine there is quite a learning curve to finding the capabilities of the app, but it does offer fun options of layering and overlays which make it completely different to painting or drawing with real world tools.

From left to right a colored pencil with opaque color. a translucent marker, a translucent fine marker, a rule (haven't figured out how to use it yet), and an eraser. Colors as you see are brights and muted shades plus black, white and 6 grey tones. That's it! You can achieve some different colors by overlaying the translucent colors. I use the white as a sort of moderating force to overlay colors that seem too intense or to soften an edge. 

Below is an effect created in the "Photo" app.

IPAD DRAWINGS - Oceans Series - Plenty of Fish

PLENTY OF FISH
Copyrighted iPad drawing
Available as a one time use download or limited edition print

I've been playing with my ipad again. Well, not exactly playing, I've been working on a submission which calls for new media. Drawing with my ipad has given me a new sense of fun and freedom and the call for new media submissions played right into what I want to be doing with my studio time. Yay!

Of course I should be painting more landscapes for Skyway at Kelowna airport and Ritchcraft Gallery, as well as 10 new paintings for the U100 show which is fast approaching. Nevertheless ...

As you may remember from recent ipad drawings, I'm using the simple draw app in "Notes" which has a very limited palette and set of four tools, shown in the images below. As you can imagine there is quite a learning curve to finding the capabilities of the app, but it does offer fun options of layering and overlays which make it completely different to painting or drawing with real world tools.

From left to right a colored pencil with opaque color. a translucent marker, a translucent fine marker, a rule (haven't figured out how to use it yet), and an eraser. Colors as you see are brights and muted shades plus black, white and 6 grey tones. That's it! You can achieve some different colors by overlaying the translucent colors. I use the white as a sort of moderating force to overlay colors that seem too intense or to soften an edge. 

Below is a "noir" variation of the same drawing which is perfect for printing on home decor items such as pillows, shower curtains, iphone covers etc.

 

USE THIS LITTLE KNOWN TRICK TO IMPROVE YOUR PAINTINGS - LITTLE NAUTI II

12" x 6" Wrap Canvas - After quartering

LITTLE NAUTI II

LITTLE NAUTI - Original

One of my good cyber friends is Julie Ford Oliver, a superb artist with a solid Art School background and the inventor of fracturing. Although Julie is an oil painter, I love to read her informative blogs and when I read this one it seemed important to share.

SOLVING DESIGN ISSUES

One of the tips I use frequently (perhaps from an earlier blog of Julie's) is to keep each corner of a painting different. Because I have an engineers love of precision, uniformity often creeps into my work, so checking the corners has been a very useful trick. However, I have never heard of the trick Julie refers to in this blog and I love her illustrations. It all makes complete sense. Thanks Julie.

So I went straight to the pile I've set aside to rework and tested it out. Check out the original painting and the one based on the quartering technique at the top of the blog. 

In the first version I wanted to emphasize a diagonal composition to add interest to a very centered painting. After reading the blog I noticed that each pair of diagonal corners were too similar, which made for a boring composition. First I added different colour combinations to each corner and then a Seagull and ripples to add interest and mix up the composition. I think this lead to a much more lively painting. What do you think?

Please leave a comment if blogs like this are helpful to you as an artist and/or art buyer. If you would like to share a painting where you have used this technique, I'd be happy to add it to my blog. Just contact me by email.

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE

View my online Gallery of originals here DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

A Face only a mother could love is available in limited edition ACEO

This was one of the most unique paintings I created last year and it looks like he has found a unique home. The new owner just sent me this wonderful photo of where he is living now. I enjoyed creating A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE, and I've been planning more fishy paintings, so stay tuned.

OGOPOGOS LUNCH - Postcard and Fridge Magnet

OGOPOGO is our local lake monster. He is supposed to be related to the famous Loch Ness monster. Legends of the monster go back hundreds of years. He is supposed to live in a cave under Rattlesnake Island near the Mission in Kelowna.

Many years ago my young nephew visited me and during his trip he drew a lovely sketch of Ogopogo. I later copied it in paint and the painting was on exhibit in our local gallery. I love the eyes on the creatures dotted around the painting. All this came from the mind of an 8 year old, I just transposed it in paint. Amazing!


OGOPOGOs LUNCH original is available by contacting me. It is painted on 12" x 12" Deep gallery wrap canvas and is currently on display in my studio/gallery. $100 plus shipping, If that doesn't fit your monthly budget, I'm happy to arrange payment over time. Contact me here

OGOPOGOs LUNCH is also available as the postcard above, which fits a standard 4" x 6" frame. To purchase for only $3 plus shipping, click here.

OGOPOGOs LUNCH fridge magnets can be ordered here. Kids love him and may be persuaded to copy him and eat more fish.

DIMENSIONS
OSWOA Art Postcard - 4" x 6" (100mm x 152mm) 
Art Print Magnet - 2" x 2.5" (49mm x 87mm) 

Small Tote - 14" x 14" x 3" (35.6 x 35.6 x 7.6 cm) - special order
Deluxe Canvas Tote - 19" x 15" x 6" (48.3 x 38.1 x 15.2 cm) - special order
Deluxe 2 Tone Tote - 19" x 15" x 6" (48.3 x 38.1 x 15.2 cm) - special order

Not yet available OGOPOGOs image
ACEO - 2.5" x 3.5" (63mm x 88mm)
Vista Art Postcard - 4.25" x 5.5" (139mm x 107mm)

More prints to be revealed soon, but if you're in a hurry, hop along to my shop by clicking here and see the new spring designs.

OGOPOGO'S LUNCH - Art Through the Ages Intergenerational Exhibition

OGOPOGO'S LUNCH
By Sea Dean and Spencer Arguedas
12" x 12" Deep Wrap Canvas

View my online Gallery of originals here DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

Now showing at ART THROUGH THE AGES Inter-generational Exhibition
Lake Country Art Gallery
10356A Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, B.C. Canada
8 April - 16 May 2015

Wed 8am - 6pm

Thurs and Fri 10 - 4pm

Sat and Sun 11 - 3pm

Painted for the Lake Country Art Gallery Inter-generational Exhibition. The submission calls for a collaboration between at least two people from different generations, so for this painting, I used a drawing made by my nephew Spencer, when he was about 8 years old.

In the Okanagan we have a lake monster similar to the Loch Ness monster, called OGOPOGO. The story must have captured Spencer's imagination on a visit, because he made a lovely drawing with so many fun aspects. I particularly like the eyes of the creatures, the hook and line of the fisherman in the boat above, the speed lines behind Ogopogo and the little fish he is chasing.

The drawing is old, faded and yellowed, as my nephew is now a grown man, so I authentically copied it onto my collage of a weedy lake. I missed most of the childhood of my nephew because he grew up in a different country, so this was a nice way to connect with him as a young boy.

ART THROUGH THE AGES opens Wednesday 8th April at Lake Country Art Gallery on Bottom Wood Lake Road.


Ref 5039 Ogopogo's Lunch

THE RED BARN ARTISAN MARKET

GOLDEN ORB ORNAMENT

Mini Masterpiece Series - 4" x 4"

Canvas Panel

View my online Gallery of originals please visit DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
Bid on my exclusive limited time SILENT AUCTIONS here

Golden Orb is on auction today. These ornaments look lovely on a small easel as pictured. (Easel not included $3 extra). A lovely inexpensive gift.


THE RED BARN ARTISAN MARKET

I've always had a soft spot for some of the original buildings in Kelowna. One such place is the Red Barn in the Mission, so when I was invited to participate in an Artisan show there I jumped at the chance.

The Mission is traditionally an "old money" part of town but "new money" is moving in, ripping down the 60's ranch style homes on big lots and building huge 2 and three story mansions. There are large areas of spanky new and fancy condos and lots of smart SUVs and BMWs around.

Pockets of charm do survive like the Sunshine Market, lost in time which has never lost it's charming wooden plank flooring and handmade shelves. My favourite winery restaurant is up this way and there are still a few cherry orchards dotted up the mountain roads.

Anyway I diverge. The Artisan market at the Red Barn attracted an interesting collection of people. There were the over 50s that came early, then a few straggling over 30's, then a couple of hours of very pregnant women and young mothers with busy little kids. Scattered amongst these groups were serious buyers looking for unusual gifts and special additions to their decor.

I thought as usual with this kind of market I'd be skunked, but late in the days sales started to happen. Those serious customers came back and told me I had the best booth in the show and the best Art; nothing like that for stroking your ego. As usual people were interested in my pet portraits and took the information; one has already contacted me and I may get more emails.

Then the paintings started to leave home (note to self, have some tissue paper and nice dollar store bags ready to pack them in). First A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE found a new owner. He's going to grace a chic powder room.

Then ICEFIELDS went home with one of my regular patrons who loves my blue scenes.

 

Then BERT QUAIL AND CLIVE QUAIL packed their bags for Australia. I can't go, but my lucky paintings get to vicariously have a change of climate.

I also had many bids in the SILENT AUCTION, so if you're lusting after one of those bargains, pop over to the website here and make sure someone hasn't over bid your offer.

Now the work table gets cleared for the under 100 show. This year I have created mostly new work specifically for the show. Some have already sold so today I need to count, catalog, check edges, varnish, complete the certificate of authenticity, layout to check congruent style, box and complete the final list on the website. I think I'll be busy. Then I need to pant new works to replace the ones I sold just in case more than 50% sell during the opening and I get asked to submit more. That would make my year! 

If you are planning to visit the U100 I suggest getting there for the opening because so many works sell, especially the most competitively priced ones. As soon as they sell the paintings leave with the customer and you miss some of the nicest work if you go later. Once the dust settles the spaces are filled with new works, but that takes a few days, so a visit a week or so later may reveal a special piece that has been missed by the crowd.

Gotta run!

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE - A DAILY PAINTWORKS PICK

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE
Original Painting by Sea Dean
5" x 7" Canvas Panel

To view my Gallery please visit Daily Paintworks

This was a challenge by Carole Marine on Daily Paintworks. When I first saw the photo, I was quite intimidated because I had never painted a fish before and I wasn't sure I could capture his beauty. However, when Carole posted her version I was inspired. I thought it would be interesting to use a similar palette to Carole to see if I could capture the same energy that her painting has. I used Titanium White, Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cerulean Blue and some Phthalo Blue ink for the darks. 

It took quite a long time to paint because I had trouble getting dark enough and light enough values, but after I added straight T White and Phthalo it was better. I like my fish. He's so ugly he's beautiful don't you think?


Cat # 14118 A Face only a Mother could love.

JELLYFISH II - ACEO OR ATC

JELLYFISH II
PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC ACEO ORIGINAL 
PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
2.5" x 3.5" on canvas card

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

Another painting in my jelly fish series. This is swimming (do jelly fish swim?) through sun dappled water.


Cat # 14048 Jellyfish II

JELLY FISH I - ACEO or ATC

JELLYFISH I
PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC ACEO ORIGINAL 
PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
2.5" x 3.5" on canvas card

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

This was inspired by a photo I saw of a jelly fish and I decided to do a series. I don't know a lot about them except they sting and can be deadly, so this is going to be interesting. In England we used to find giant saucer shaped ones washed up on the beach, which I think were called "Portuguese Man o War" . In Australia they have the pretty, but nasty "Blue Bottles". 

Do you have a native variety where you live?


Cat # 14047 Jellyfish I

HEADING HOME - iPad and Painting Give-away - Day 25 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

HEADING HOME
ORIGINAL PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
10" x 8"Gallery Wrap Canvas with painted sides

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me. 

TO ENTER THE GIVE-AWAYS USE BOTH BOXES AT THE END OF MY BLOG
You must click and enter each Give-away separately because you are submitting for two different draws. Leaving a comment on this blog, tweeting, Like-ing on Facebook etc. does not enter you for the draw, you must come back to confirm what you did in the Give-away box to earn the points. The more points you accumulate until January 31st the more chances of winning. You can enter many times each day. 

Some paintings go through a few adjustments until you are 100% happy and this is one of them. I really love the magenta, orchid tones of this sunset and the golden highlights. I love the ocean and have a real connection with the story of hard working fishermen heading home for much deserved rest. But there was something not quite right... 

I've studied the painting many times and tried to think it through, but it wasn't until today that I had the answer. As the subject, the boat needed to stand out and in life it would be silhouetted against bright water. A quick look at Google images confirmed that the shimmer needed to circle the the boat. Aha! 

I added about half an hour of careful brushwork and now I think it's just perfect. I'm learning so much from making these small adjustments. I find it very exciting to see what a difference they make.



Cat # 12026 Heading Home