OGOPOGOS ISLAND
8" x 10" Cradle Board
Reserved for Skyway Kelowna Airport
This painting has been submitted to Skyway and I'm sure they'll love it and it will sell very quickly. However, I do have other paintings in the series available. I can also paint one especially for you in a size that suits your space.
If you're in the Okanagan, come out to Ancient Hill Winery for the Frayed and Feathered Studio Tour. There you can see more of my work as well as prints and art cards. The tour is this weekend and you can taste wine and have a picnic lunch at the same time. It's a beautiful location overlooking the valley.
OKANAGAN SAIL
8" x 8" Deep Gallery Wrap
Reserved for Skyway Kelowna Airport
This painting has been submitted to Skyway at Kelowna Airport and I'm sure they'll love it and it will sell very quickly. Skyway keeps the submitted paintings for about six months and if it hasn't sold by then it will be posted in my Artfinder shop. However, I do have other paintings available in the series. I can also paint one especially for you in a size that suits your space.
SPIRIT OF SAIL
12" x 12" Gallery Wrap Canvas
Sea Dean with homage to R. Dow Reid
This painting is for the LCAG annual Intergenerational Exhibition - Art Through the Ages. The Exhibition opens on Wednesday at Lake Country Art Gallery, Lake Country, B.C. Canada, my local stomping ground. This is the third time I've taken part in the Intergenerational and each year I stretch myself out of my comfort zone and collaborate with someone from another generation. This year is no exception. This painting follows a small sketch painted at Opus OPC last Sunday. I've toned down the colors, using mainly Prussian Blue, Yellow Green and various shades of off white. I used metallic white impasto to outline the sails where the sun hits the edges. After OPC I wanted to do a series of paintings based on the well known sculpture by R. Dow Reid. Apparently it is one of the most painted pieces of public art in Kelowna, but I thought one should ask the artist's permission. Dow Reid is 83 years old, but still very much alive, so I attempted contact. So far with no luck, but I will keep trying. This painting addresses the loosest interpretation of the theme. Part of the criteria states
"two or more people having different roles in the making of a single piece of artwork -
for example: one person models, the other draws/paints model; one person tells a
story and/or provides some kind of inspiration, the other illustrates it/turns it into art"
I painted the background first, and when I started on the sculpture I felt as if Dow Reids hands were guiding me with the smooth sweeping lines and whispering corrections in my ear. I'm curious if I painted some of his other works if I would experience the same thing.
Addressing the copyright issue for Public Art
This painting falls into a grey area. If it was a photograph intended for sale and those sales would infringe of the original artists income, it would probably be in breech. With original art it somewhat depends on whether the painter has altered or enhanced the original piece, or added enough personal style. I think I have changed the original piece enough by adding the landscape, composition and colour.
This is part of my new sailing series. Our lake is perfect for sailing and this lucky person has a rather large cabin cruiser to play with. I'm green with envy.
I've started prepping for my next Paint a Masterpiece Class which takes place on Sunday. As usual it's shaping up to be a very interesting group. We are going to touch on texture which is so important to the advanced acrylic artist. I think I can slide in one or two more students if you are interested. The class is for anything from absolute beginner to advanced because in a micro class I can give each individual special attention. Contact me for more information.
THE SAILS
Plein Air Painting
10" x 8" Canson Board
Plein Air painting is so challenging, but it also produces some amazing work. Last year was the first time I had been part of the OPUS OUTDOOR CHALLENGE and I was very dissatisfied with my painting. It was so hot and I had never painted a yellow flowering tree before, so my painting was a disaster. This year I reluctantly signed up, but didn't really want to go. I finally resolved to not make it about winning a prize, but to enjoy the process and let whatever happens, happen.
Although there are rules, such as a mapped area to paint in, a certain size, and an approved white surface, the rest is fairly relaxed. The odds are fairly good at winning something, as there are nine prizes spread among the age groups and over twenty sponsored raffle prizes given out at the end of the day. I decided to focus on finishing early before it got really hot and return for the awards.
This year was cooler and very beautiful. I decided to head down to the waterfront along with most of the other contestants. Not willing to struggle with acrylic, I took my little Koi watercolor box and some pens, but at the last minute I threw together a set of Golden Open Acrylics just in case.
I was excited about trying my new Art Boards. I love Canson Arches for my pet portraits, but I've never used it for landscapes. A few weeks ago I treated myself to three 8" x 10" blocks of 10 boards, intending to practice for the comp., but I still hadn't tried them out. I chose Multi Media, Watercolor and Canva. They say the surface doesn't need any prep which suits me.
After getting a number and button at the booth, I headed straight down to "The Sails" a now famous Kelowna landmark, by Dow Reid. Not the best if I intended to win because it's one of the top local choices, however I had never painted the sculpture and I'm always looking for touristy scenes for my gallery, art cards and Skyway. I found a parking spot with a good view of the artwork and I could have painted from the car, but I loaded up my art walker and got a bit closer. As you see, I had a few things blocking my view including another artist, but I was in the shade and a few steps to one side and I had a perfect view to make corrections.
I knew I wanted a bright painting with flowing strokes, so once my gear was set up I launched right into it. My brush flowed, the Golden Open Flowed, the wind blew, the insects flew, the pine tree kept firing pine cones and debris my way, but I was undaunted. In an hour and a half I had a completed painting. I headed back to the booth, handed in the wet painting (Open Acrylics take a while to dry) and went home for lunch.
In case you're wondering, I didn't win a prize, but the experience was far more enjoyable than last year.
WAITING FOR THE TIDE afterCharles-Francois Daubigny
4" x 4" Canvas Panel
Framed in a 4" wide black showcase frame with stand and hanger
This is part of my mini master series painted in honor of Daubigny. This series honors famous artists on their birthday and as Daubigny was born and died in February and this looks like late winter light, it seems like a good choice for today.
If you love ships or someone you know loves old fishing boats, this is a perfect choice.
HOUSE BY THE SEA Mixed Media on French WC Paper 4.75 x 3.5" NFS
This was inspired by a painting I saw at my sister's house. I wanted to see what caught my attention about it so I did a sketch. There are some big triangles and a line leading to the horizon. The center of interest pulls the eye to the left, but the large, bright trees on the right create balance. Three quarters of the painting is nearly empty but complements the colour of the large trees. As this is an unresolved sketch it is not for sale, but stay tuned for another painting tomorrow. SHIPPING 16th MARCH 2016 OR LATER - SOME PAINTINGS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DISPATCH FROM MY OUTLETS AS NOTED IN DESCRIPTION ONDAILY PAINTWORKS
If you are an artist and would like to join in, here is the link - 30 in 30 Posted as # 77 on 30 in 30 Blog
SAILING SERENITY 3.5" x 4.75" Fine Quality Water Colours on French WC Paper
For my Daily Paintworks challenge featuring the Pantone Colours of 2016 - Serenity and Rose Quartz. The artists are producing some fascinating work based on these two colours. To view click here.
This is Day 7 for the January 2016 Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days Challenge. I like the texture of this paper for an ocean scene because it enhances the waves and the clouds.
SHIPPING 16th MARCH 2016 OR LATER - SOME PAINTINGS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DISPATCH FROM MY OUTLETS AS NOTED IN DESCRIPTION ONDAILY PAINTWORKS
If you are an artist and would like to join in, here is the link - 30 in 30 Posted as # 93 on 30 in 30 Blog
SUMMER SOLSTICE by Sea Dean - 12" x 6" Gallery Wrap
Can be purchased on Artfinder
This was an interesting painting to work on because it didn't come together until very close to the end. There is a great deal of variation in the brushwork, from staccato Monet like dashes in the water to dry brushing and palette knife in the sky. That bank of greenish cloud drifting across in front of the sunset was the WOW in this painting.
You may have noticed that I am not creating as many paintings lately because I've stepped back from finishing one each day. However, I think I'm producing some of my best work. All the studying is starting to pay off and I have so many ideas for new series, but I'm forcing myself to go back over works which have troubled me in the past and use new techniques and understanding to make them pop.
I am finally creating paintings which it is very hard to sell. I wish I could keep them all.
VIew my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here
BEFORE THE WIND By Sea Dean 4" x 4" Canvas Panel
$70
View my online Gallery of originals here DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here
With spring in the air my thoughts always turn to sailing. Spring breezes make for great sailing; crisp air, fresh wind on the skin and a feeling of blowing out the cobwebs from your whole being. Of course there is always the refreshment afterwards hot chocolate or Irish coffee ... your choice.
To my eye this image seems a bit dark, but the painting certainly isn't. I think Blogger may be up to it's tricks again.
View my online Gallery of originals please visit DAILY PAINTWORKS Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here Bid on my exclusive limited timeSILENT AUCTIONS here
This
painting is on display at the Lake Country Art Gallery Under $100 show.
The painting may be purchased by contacting me. I will check with the
gallery to make sure it is still available and send an invoice via
Paypal. You will have 24 hours to pay or the painting goes back on the
wall. Whether sold online or through the gallery, I honour their
commission until the end of the exhibition. Thank you for your patronage.
SAILING WITH MONET by Sea Dean - Homage to Regatta at Argenteuil
We had a delightful day today sailing with Monet. Tracy and Marzio joined me in studying "Regatta at Argenteuil" a lovely sunny painting which transports the viewer back to a sunny day in 1872. Our day was quite grey but Monet showed us how to paint light. Here are our paintings. Can you tell which is mine and which belong to the students? If I didn't know I think I would find it difficult. Great work class!
One of the things we discussed before we started painting was the fact that the dimensions of the original work by Monet were different to the dimensions of our canvas. We each chose different ways to deal with the challenge so each painting is very individual.
You can see my painting for sale at Daily Paintworks here.
This is one of the challenges we have when studying famous works on the internet. The first image is the version as shown on Wikipedia and the second image is the one shown on the Musee d'Orsay website. I would think the more accurate version is the one published by the Museum where a painting hangs, but it's difficult to tell unless you are looking at the image on the website and standing in front of the painting at the same time. It's likely if you did that in the Musee d'Orsay you would quickly attract the attention of one of the docents.
I saw so many beautiful works of art in Paris and I'm sure I must have seen this, but I can't tell you which is more accurate. What I can say is that when you stand in front of one of Claude Monet's works you are struck by his unusual choices of colour. At this stage of his career he was painting largely in the soft and heavily mixed colours of version II rather than the more vibrant version. The Wikipedia version was probably chosen because it is more pleasing to modern eyes used to viewing bright acrylics. Because I'm very familiar with Monet's work, I know he was rather fond of that pale rusty red and sea green combination, so personally I would probably choose to work in those colours.
These are some of the things you learn in my PAINT A MASTERPIECE class. Next class November 1st. Contact me for my fall schedule.
TIP:- When attempting to view or paint a masterpiece, try and get as close to the source as possible.
by Sea Dean Mixed Media 24" x 36" Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas Toview my online Gallery of originals please visit DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here Bid on my limited time exclusive SILENT AUCTION here
Yesterday I was slated to hang a couple of paintings at Sage Realty on Bernard Ave, Kelowna. (Drop by and see them anytime over the weekend). I had decided to hang them facing the street and I was all ready to go first thing.
Then I had a conversation with the office manager who was expecting me to hang work throughout the lobby. That meant a scramble because I have nearly 200 paintings on exhibit around Lake Country and Kelowna this month and I was very low on larger paintings. SUMMER BREEZE was in the studio waiting for a tweak and it's time had come. So my day was all about tweaking, photographing, cataloging and hanging.
The painting at the top is a closeup of some of the changes. I lightened and darkened some values in the sand and water. I widened the trunk of the tree and added more roots. The sail boat had been almost invisible in the big lake, so I added more wake, brighter sails and bow waves. I also tilted the boat to show it was scurrying along on the "summer breeze". As I did quite a bit of work, I think this counts as one of my 30 paintings in 30 days submissions.
BLOG HOPS AGAIN
One
of the artists I introduced you to in the blog hop is talking about me
today and introducing two new artists to the group. I'm looking forward
to reading about the artist's Sheila Delgado has chosen. See her blog here.
How we blog hopped ... Where possible, the first name links to the blog hop blog of that artist and the others are linked to the artist's daily blogs. Hop around and see who you would like to follow.
RED SAILS by Sea Dean 10" x 12" Wrap Canvas - Final Version
SPRING ORCHARD II Original Painting by Sea Dean 5” x 5” Gallery Wrap Canvas Professional Acrylic with UV Protection Purchase via Daily Paintworks As you can see, I went through many changes on this painting. There was something disturbing me and I couldn't put my finger on it. Then I finally realized that the uneasy feeling was caused by the effect of the sail boat sailing into the funnel like effect of the clouds and an apparent storm. I moved the boat to the left and turned it around and voila! The sail boat was sailing out of the storm and towards safe harbour. It's amazing the power you have in your brush. I wonder if the sailors on board were aware of what I did! Cat # 14077 Red Sails Progress Photos
LITTLE BOY - BIG DREAMS PAINTING BY SEA DEAN AFTER WINSLOW HOMER 4" x 4" Mini Master on Canvas Panel Homage to Famous Artists on their birthday
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.
I studied Art History in England, so I'm my knowledge of artists outside Europe is limited. Of course I had heard the name and seen some of the seascapes, but until you make the effort to study an artist in paint, you don't seem to put the two together.
I love the light in this little excerpt from one of Winslow's water colours. It is created with light naples yellow and warm blue, with quite deep shadows in the foreground, thrown by the backlight of the sun. This little boy was so whimsical and I'm curious what his companions are doing. To me it looks like they may be painting plein air, which would be very challenging in a boat.
This may be a little over the top, but this wan't painted in my studio, I had no lamp and it was getting dark. I had my paintbrush in one hand and a Sylvania Dot iT in the other and painted till I was done. Then I wanted to blog a photo of my crazy idea. Trouble is that I needed another hand because I also had to hold the camera. You get the idea. :)
Winslow Homer was born February 24, 1836 Boston, Massachusetts. He came from a long line of New Englanders. It is not surprising therefore that he is best known for his nautical subjects. He started out as an illustrator and moved to landscape and seascape painting mainly in water-colour. He was also a printmaker. In 1859 he opened a gallery in New York City but it wasn't a wild success.
Winslow produced a lot of work for Harper's Weekly and was hired for some major work illustrating the civil war. After the war his work became far more nostalgic, focusing on women and children. He was not very successful during his lifetime, and many of his paintings took years to sell. During the rough times he was supported by his mother and brother Charles.
WAITING FOR THE TIDE BY SEA DEAN AFTER CHARLES-FRANCOIS DAUBIGNY
WAITING FOR THE TIDE PAINTING BY SEA DEAN AFTER DAUBIGNY 4" x 4" Mini Master on Canvas Panel Homage to Famous Artists on their birthday
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.
This is a detail taken from "Boats on the Seacoast of Etaples" 1871. While I was painting this Mini Master I discovered that Daubigny worked with quite a limited palette. I achieved the result with Raw Titanium, Burnt Sienna, Sap Green and Brilliant Blue with a touch of Matisse Indigo.
Both the original and my version have quite a warm feeling, like a quiet summer afternoon. As you can see, the sky was very reminiscent of Monet and it is apparent that they worked together. The treatment of shadow and highlights is also very like Manet. A very enjoyable painter to study.
Born in Paris 15 February 1817
Studied under his father and Delaroche
Painted in Holland, Spain, England, Northern France
1870-71 Visited England
Influenced by Impressionists Monet and Pissarro
Daubigny painted on his custom made boat and Monet loved the idea and copied his example
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.
FINDING YOUR PALETTE
I just found a great tool for those that have trouble figuring out what colours to use when painting. You can upload an image and it will give three palette choices, or you can select your own from the colours it has identified in the image.
Once you have the colours identified, you can mix them, dot on white paper and when dry, hold them against the suggested palette to see if they match. With acrylic you must wait until they are fully dry because they change colour, some more than others.
Here I uploaded an image, clicked "select palette" and this is what I got. Then I painted a semi abstract, using the palette for inspiration. As I continued to work, I "pushed" the colour into luminosity to experiment, but still retained the essence of blue/green and red/orange.
The website also has other tools which I will cover in later posts.
SAILING by Sea Dean after Philip Wilson Steer 4" x 4" Canvas Panel Mini Master
"Sailing" (left) is part of my Mini Master Series. The original "Summer in Cowes" (below) was painted by Philip Wilson Steer in 1883.
THIS PAINTING IS SOLD - HOWEVER, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO CREATE A SIMILAR PAINTING IN ANY SIZE. FOR DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT ME
During the month of January, I will paint a Mini Master each day to post in the the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. These small studies are not intended to be exact copies, but focus on the essence of the master work through colour and composition.
The studies make wonderful collectables and gifts. Several framed and hanging together look spectacular. I use them to practice for demos in my 'Paint a Masterpiece" classes.
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.
PHILIP WILSON STEER photo by George Charles Beresford 1922
PHILIP WILSON STEER
Continuing with my birthdays of famous artists, Philip Wilson Steer was born 28 December 1860, at Birkenhead, near Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Confusingly, he was the son of Philip Steer, a portrait painter 1810 - 1871.
In 1878, after failing his civil service exam, (from the looks of his picture he should have done well) he applied and was accepted at the Gloucester School of Art. After graduation, he went on to Paris to complete his studies.
1882 under Bouguereau at the Academie Julian
1883 under Cabanel at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
SUMMER AT COWES - Philip Wilson Steer c 1883
He returned to England in 1884, and in 1885 he helped found the New English Art Club where he continued to develop his unique style. In 1889 he exhibited at the London Impressionist Exhibition.
Philip was a master of sunlight and often painted beach scenes similar to Eugene Boudin.
21 March 1942 Died in London
Cat # 13278 - Sailing, Mini Masterpiece - after Summer at Cowes, Philip Wilson Steer
3rd Day of Christmas
