I’m pleased to announce that Artfinder has selected THE SIMPLE LIFE for an editorial collection. INSPIRED BY THE GREATS. I’m very proud that my work stands out from thousands of other works from artists around the world. It is a painting that was challenging to create and do justice to Mark Rothko who inspired me. It is one of my personal favorites from the recent solo exhibition 150 YEARS OF ABSTRACT. It can be purchased via Artfinder here. And the collection can be viewed here.
It is strange that I had just selected this painting for a totally unrelated advertising campaign. Big brother is watching! Today I’m selecting more ‘Paint a Masterpiece’ works for my Artfinder gallery.
I’ve always liked the first version of Ocean Breeze, but when I took it out to prepare for my solo I thought the purple was a bit overwhelming for the rest of the collection. I lightened some of the intensity and then added some softer touches all over including some silver. Now it matches a couple of other new paintings for a nice grouping in one section of the coffee house.
I may also go in and lighten the Ultramarine at the top with Light Violet Blue if I have time before Saturday.
This iPad drawing is one of a series of new art cards I’m working on. The colours give this view a peaceful effect, all in the same section of the colour wheel.
This is a painting which I've always liked, but soon after I finished it the stretcher developed a nasty warp rendering it unsaleable. I removed the canvas from the stretcher intending to re-stretch, but I then discovered that the original stretchers were slightly smaller, metric and unobtainable at our local stores. For my SPLIT PERSONALITY solo show I decided to resolve the situation. I realized that cropping to 16" x 20" from the original 60 cm x 45 cm actually made a better composition. It also looked better in a dark frame rather than frameless. This is the before and after comparison. What do you think?
CONCORD I & II IPAD DRAWING
8" x 10" Limited Edition Print
$39 unmounted
$69 mounted on Birch Cradle
You can choose whether to purchase the limited edition print ready to frame or the premium edition which is mounted on an 8" x 10" Birch Cradle.
The Concord grape is a vintage variety of small purple grape used to make wine in the early years of settlement. I've created two of these because after a few days contemplation I felt it needed more
work. It gives you an opportunity to see part of the layering process. Which do you like best?
This drawing serves as my 25th entry into the 30 in 30 challenge. Follow my blog so you don't miss any.
KALAMALKA VIEW ACEO by Sea Dean 3.5" x 2.5" Acid Free Bristol Acrylic
This is another view of our famous local lake. The colors are formed by the crystal clear water, bright sunshine and various types of lake bed including white sand and lake weeds. It's a beautiful place. Now on view at Lake Country Art Gallery Shop on the feature artist wall. I've been an avid supporter of the Art Shop since it was created over two years ago. It used to be housed in the Art House, an annex for working artists next to the gallery. A year ago many volunteers put out a huge amount of effort to renovate the back room of the gallery into a much larger shop, which is packed with the most amazing selection of local art, from jewellery to stained glass to handmade soap and of course art cards, prints and paintings. The volunteers that work in the shop are the local artists themselves, and I am proudly one of them. That way, visitors can be assured that no matter when they visit, they can ask questions of a working artist, see their work and immerse themselves in the local art world. It's easy to follow my blog in a method that works for you. All the links are around the edges. Various links will also take you to my online shops and galleries. Thanks for dropping by.
SUNDOWN
by Sea Dean
10" x 12" Deep Wrap Canvas
Available at Artfinder
I love the sunsets of summer and this is no exception. There are layers of purple, violet, red, maroon, hot pink and yellow with tiny glints of reflected light in the water. It was inspired by a photo I took at 30,000 feet over Georgia Strait in British Columbia.
This dynamic painting is far more suited to Artfinders Urban professional buyers than to Daily Paintworks patrons. So it's on the move along with most of my abstracts, sculptures and collage.
SUN I
12" x 9" Canvas Mounted on BIrch Cradle
Ready to Hang
Available in my Artfinder Shop
This
is a mixed media piece in the Affordable Series. It includes a generous
helping of Ink, texture and acrylic. Many more to come in this
series.
Orginally they were called "Affordables because
they came as rolled canvas sheets, but the early ones have now been
mounted on deep birch cradles and the edges have been painted to match
the subject. These pieces are all experimental in nature and demonstrate
my passion for free flowing, intuitional abstract.
OCEAN BREEZE by Sea Dean - 12" x 24" Deep Wrap Canvas
I will be moving many paintings over to my Artfinder website in the coming months, especially some of my larger pieces. For now, I will continue to present small paintings and challenge pieces on Daily Paintworks, but if you're looking for a larger painting, abstract or sculpture, chances are that it will be found in my Artfinder shop.
Image is an example of how the painting would look lined and framed. I'm loving this mahogany plum and dove grey combination.
I sometimes purchase mats and frames from the Mat Shop and so they always send me emails. I was clicking around their website the other day and I found a great tool for seeing your painting with various mats and frames. This is useful when deciding how to present your work, but you can also download files and use them for marketing even if you sell your work unframed.
HAPPY HEART VII (The Patriot)
Original Mixed Media with gold, bronze and silver
6" x 4" 140lb 300 G/M2
I read this article on how successful women start their day and I was struck by the propensity to meditate and exercise. Personally I use the early hours when I'm brightest to accomplish detailed tasks that I will be too tired or disinterested in to tackle later.
5am - 8 am (Time depends whether I've worked into the night or not, which is fairly common)
Get up, stumble to the bathroom. On the way turn on the kettle which I've filled the night before because my eyes are barely open yet.
5:15 - 8:15 am
Down that delicious cup of coffee which I generally take back to bed with me
5:15 - 8:15 am for a few hours
Tackle emails, check blog makes sense and went out OK, read incoming blogs, newsletters etc. and post interesting stuff to GET YOUR ART OUT THERE Facebook Group.
6 - 12 noon - I always have breakfast but timing could be anything before noon. Usually coffee gets me motivated and I eat when I feel hungry.
10 am ish - Have a nice hot cup of English Breakfast Tea. Oh so delicious!
10 - 1pm - Start work on my daily painting(s) - now the fun begins!
I'm curious what your mornings are like. Leave a comment or if you're shy feel free to email me.
THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY 3.5" x 4.75" Pastel and watercolour on French Watercolour Paper
I continue with my tree series with the gorgeous colours of birch trees in the highlands. Such a beautiful part of Scotland, no wonder Robbie Burns was moved to write poetry with sights such as the "Birks" (Birch Trees) of Aberfeldy. It's Robbie Burns Day, so here is my little celebration of all things Scottish.
SHIPPING 16th MARCH 2016 OR LATER - SOME PAINTINGS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DISPATCH FROM MY OUTLETS AS NOTED IN DESCRIPTION ONDAILY PAINTWORKS
To the Birks of Aberfeldie?
The little birdies blithely sing,
While o'er their heads the hazels hing;
Or lightly flit on wanton wing
In the birks of Aberfeldie!
Bonnie lassie, will ye go…
The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream, deep-roaring, fa's,
O'er-hung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldie.
Bonnie lassie, will ye go…
The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,
And, rising, weets wi' misty showers
The birks of Aberfeldie.
Bonnie lassie, will ye go…
Let Fortune's gifts at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,
Supremely blest wi' love and thee
In the birks of Aberfeldie.
Bonnie lassie, will Stay tuned for more new paintings in the next 30 days.
If you are an artist and would like to join in, here is the link - 30 in 30 Posted as # 28 on 30 in 30 Blog
Fine Quality Water Colours on French Watercolour Paper
This painting is an attempt to paint beautiful Jacaranda trees in bloom. In the southern hemisphere they put on a show in November and in the north I think it is May. I've only seen one Jacaranda in Canada, but I'm sure there are more. When you stand under a blooming Jacaranda the large violet purple flowers give everything an unearthly bluish glow because there are no leaves at that time to modify the effect. It's a magical experience. SHIPPING 16th MARCH 2016 OR LATER - SOME PAINTINGS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DISPATCH FROM MY OUTLETS AS NOTED IN DESCRIPTION ONDAILY PAINTWORKS My first sale at Kelowna Airport and I received a lovely note from a patron ... Hello Sea,
"I was traveling through Kelowna last night and happened to see your painting "Alpine Meadow" a little 6x6 dated 2012, for sale at the airport. I simply could not leave without that picture! It draws me in so many ways I could look at it every day for years and years. It's like a lovely piece of poetry or a good book I need to keep so I can always read it over again. You live in a beautiful part of the world and to me, this little painting captures so much of it, and so many other wonderful landscapes I have visited and have yet to discover.
Thank you for including your biographical information and email address. It means a lot to me to be able to get in touch and let you know that piece has found a home where it will be cherished and enjoyed."
Best wishes,
Alicia
Stay tuned for more new paintings in the next 30 days.
If you are an artist and would like to join in, here is the link - 30 in 30
Posted as # 21 on 30 in 30 Blog
8" x 6" on Windpower To view my Gallery or purchase this painting visit Daily Paintworks
Today's task for Leslie Saeta's Art marketing class is to create a new painting and take progress photos at intervals. This month I've been painting PEOPLE'S CHOICE for my online DPW Gallery but today I felt like cutting loose and doing a natural abstract. I find it quite fascinating to watch a painting change, especially an abstract.Here are 7 progress photos showing the birth of "Sunset"
I've painted from this particular photo session before because I love the colour combinations. It was a from flight over Georgia Strait a couple of years ago. There is something very magical about aerial photos; because we are partly above the atmosphere the colours are even more spectacular than at sea level.
This time I chose to paint "Alla Prima" which, means a wet on wet or "Bob Ross" type painting done in one sitting with no drying period in between. Because Acrylics dry so quickly they allow you to layer very soon after you have painted a section which gives a crisper, brighter look, different to Oil painting.
I could have stopped at any stage, because I like them all, but after rotating the painting and adding iridescent highlights, I knew this was it. I will try and capture the shimmering highlights in a photo tomorrow. I LOVE the result!
Image # 1 - Blocking inlayer. I think this is wonderful and if I was Henri Matisse I may have put it on the side as a record and started again. I pressed on.
Image # 2 - Continuing to block in. Here I am testing which colours make the painting pop, with one eye on the original inspiration photo. I am always aware that upper layers including washes, will change the intensity and colour.
Image # 3 - Starting to mix colour and blend. In Oil painting it's a challenge not to create mud at this point, but with Acrylics you just have to wait a few minutes while working on a different area.
Image # 4 - Creating texture. One of the challenges with Acrylics is that they like to suck onto the substrate and flatten. If you are skilled you can create a 3D effect by layering flat surfaces. The only other ways to create depth is to use modelling paste under the paint or to mix thick gel into the paint.
Image # 5 - Thicker texture. This is where the gel comes in.
Image # 6 - Intensifying light with iridecent white. I find this type of paint adds a touch of mystery to a painting but it took some time to understand that in photos and from some angles it appears like a dark splodge rather than a pretty flash.
Image # 7 - Finishing with bronze/gold highlights. These are the ones you have to be particularly careful with the shapes they create.
I didn't set out to paint like Ruth Andre and we use different media, but the end result is somewhat reminiscent of her style. The original photo had Magenta on the bottom, but this painting works either way, or rotated 90 degrees. The portrait aspect converts "Sunset" into a completely abstract painting and makes the iridescent paint look amazing.
Moonlight on the lake. Lovely shades of teal and prussian blue with moonbeams hitting the silent lake. Perhaps not a common sight to most visitors that have been out boating all day and are probably tucked up in their hotel rooms at this time. This is when peace comes to the valley and the locals go out to enjoy the cool night.
This was painted during the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, but I didn't get a chance to post it.
TREE I
Affordables Series
12" x 9" Canvas
Special $75 for one day then regular $100 including shipping.
This is the penultimate painting of the 6th running of the 30 paintings n 30 days challenge. I always say I will never do this again, and this time I signed up with the full intention of putting no pressure on myself to complete a full 30 paintings. However, I've done it again.
This painting was initially inspired by a video shared by Sharon Greaves
Then as I was painting I added some negative painting ideas gleaned from Kim Rempel. http://www.kimrempel.com/
Finally I used my favourite paint of the moment, Amsterdam Zinc White.
http://www.amazon.com/Amsterdam-Acrylic-120Ml-Zinc-White/dp/B003LK2YXW
I saw another artist using what I thought may be Zinc White in her abstracts this weekend and wanted to see if I could make layers in the same way. I think I need several more layers to get the effect she achieved, but I like how it looks here, so I decided to stop at one layer.
Day 30 of 30 paintings in 30 days
Posted on Leslie Saetas Blog as #11
SUNSET I
Affordable Series
9" x 12" Canvas
Regular $100 - Special $75
Today I worked on an AFFORDABLE abstract based on a beautiful sunset photographed by my friend Bob Jones. I fell in love with the dove grey and brilliant orange combination.
There are only a couple of days to take advantage of my special price on the AFFORDABLE series. All the paintings will revert to their $100 price on October 1st. I will still include shipping to North America and the UK.
Day 29 of 30 paintings in 30 days
Posted on Leslie Saetas blog as #4
+-+Acrylic+-+6+x+8+-+$119.jpg)
