PAINTING SUNFLOWERS IN ACRYLIC

I have just finished teaching a workshop in Qualicum Beach at The Collective, which is an artists' studio and gallery. The course was once a week for 6 weeks, and what fun it was to be with a great group of 7 ladies! They all worked really hard, and were very successful with their paintings, even though most had not worked with acrylic paint before. What was especially exciting was that each person's sunflower turned out differently and unique to the person painting.  I was very sad to say goodbye to "my ladies" at the end of the 6th class! 

Here are some pictures of them on the last day, painting their backgrounds. Each person chose her own background colors which ranged from brown to black, to green to red. They really looked lovely, each one!

I am putting together another 6 week workshop, in oils this time,  which will begin mid-April. If you are in the area, and interested, just contact Andrea at The Collective, 250-607-7351 or drop in at 3-177 West Second Avenue, Qualicum Beach. She will be happy to put your name on the list for my class.

Sunflowers - a watercolor in progress

It has been raining more than sunny over the last couple of weeks - which is quite prefect for doing watercolor paintings! Usually the humidity in Calgary is so very dry that it is hard to keep the watercolor paper damp. Not so today!

So, I wanted to show you a little bit of my process... 

 The first thing I have done is to work up a small sketch of what will be the painting, and determine where my darks, mid-tones and lights will be. I have discovered some great pencils from Derwent, called Graphitone, with which to do this easily. They come in dark (6B), medium (4B) and light (2B). You "color" with them, and then use your watercolor brush to wet the "graphite", which then shows up as dark, mid or light tones. Very cool and no smudging or mess like you get with actual pencils.  

I then sketch the flowers/leaves on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper.

Here you can see that I have done a color swatch of each of the potential colors I could use for this painting. After looking at each one and at my photo reference, I decide which ones will be the ones I will paint with in this piece. 

I then paint a small swatch of the chosen colors next to the thumbnail sketch in my sketchbook.

Then I begin to paint, using those chosen colors! 

I will post this painting when it is complete. 

SUNNY TRIO

A number of weeks ago, I completed this painting, and tried to get a good photo of it to post. I never did get a good likeness and when I tried to correct for color in Photoshop, some were too yellow, some were too green. I posted a picture of Sunny Trio anyways, and when I spoke with a new artist friend, Vern, he told me that the colors looked pastel and washed out on his big, beautiful monitor. I was really disappointed, and wouldn't let my husband mat and frame the painting because I didn't have a good enough photo for my portfolio.

But - FINALLY - I have figured out how to get an accurate replication of my paintings!!!!

I have scanned the painting in sections, brought it into Photoshop and merged the sections to make the final picture of this painting - and it finally looks RIGHT!!! You can see the beautiful batik background and the brightness of the yellows and the centers of the flowers. And the greens and blues are the right hues. I am so excited to learn how to do this! It will revolutionize all my efforts from now on with my paintings. No matter how many sections I have, Photoshop will merge them into one picture. I LOVE technology!!!

So Vern - I have reposted this one so that you can see it as it truly is. Thanks for pushing me to find a new way to get it right! :-)

If you are interested in purchasing this original 15" x 22" watercolor painting on 300 lb. Arches paper, please contact me at

jogiesbrecht@gmail.com

Sunny Trio

 "Sunny Trio" is 15" x 22.5" on 300 lb. Arches watercolor paper

This painting of sunflowers is done, and I am very happy with it. As with all of my paintings, the picture you see on your monitor is nowhere near the spectacular colors which you see when it is in person! I have provided some closeups so that you can really take a look at the details in the centers and the petals. I love how my daughter describes the background - she thinks it looks like batik fabric. (She has asked me to teach her this technique, and I am actually thinking of creating a whole lesson on how I achieve my backgrounds, and posting it. When it is ready I will give you the link to access the lesson.)

I am in the process of setting up my Etsy store, which you will be able to access at www.JoGiesbrecht.etsy.com or through the link I will put up on this blog. I will be putting up both large and small pieces for sale, and change up what is offered fairly often.  It should be up and running by next weekend. I can't spend any more time on it this weekend because I have to get ready for the people who will be here tomorrow to watch the Super Bowl with my football-crazy husband. Hockey and football are his passions when it comes to sports. :-) Gotta run and get stuff ready... making home-made pizzas, spinach salad, chips and salsa. Yummo!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sunny Trio and commissions of similar works available by contacting me:

      jogiesbrecht@gmail.com

Sunflowers- a watercolor WIP

These flowers are coming along.  I think another day or so of working on details and they should be about ready for a new home.

This has been quite the week with President Obama taking office! We wheeled a t.v. into our staff room on Tuesday morning so that we could all watch the ceremony of his swearing-in to office. I have never seen so many expectations placed on one person before. I think he has a HUGE task ahead of him, especially with the economy and world affairs in such trouble. As I was watching the news last night, I was surprised that the number of campaign promises he made are already being tracked! On his first day in office! Good grief - give the guy a chance to settle in!

However, it was great to see so many supporters willing to back him and his tough policies up, no matter what the personal cost. I wish him the best as he begins what will surely be known as the most difficult of all presidential terms ever.

Back to sunflowers and paintings. If you are interested in this painting, please contact me:  

jogiesbrecht@gmail.com

Sunflowers- a watercolor WIP

I know, I know - sunflowers again! But you would not believe how people are drawn to these spectacular flowers! These sunflowers, which I bought back in November, were giant ones which lasted a very long time. They just kept on looking great until in one day they finally faded. They were beautiful though, and really brightened the descent into winter darkness and frigid cold.

Now, when I am finally painting these flowers, it is bright, sunny, plus single digit temperatures, and we are on the upswing toward longer days, shorter nights, and eventually, warmer temperatures and SPRING!!! I am feeling optimistic these days as I get outside and walk my border collies... perhaps the worst temperatures and weather are behind us, and we will have a mild rest-of-the-winter. Regardless, it is just encouraging to paint these cheerful blooms.

If you are interested in purchasing this 15" x 22" watercolor painting, don't wait to contact me at jogiesbrecht@gmail.com. I am sure this painting will not last long! :-)

Oh Canada

Today is Canada Day. There are celebrations and parades in most every city and town in the country. A short distance from my home, there is a farm which has this very old and weathered mail box at the end of their drive. I thought it would be appropriate to paint and post for Canada Day. This is a little study I did - and I have not gotten to the next stage of painting it larger and better. I am thinking that at the rate I am going, it may be next year's Canada Day when the larger edition is completed. 

I am almost finished with the Spanish lady - just a few details and she will be posted. I have decided that full sheet watercolor paintings are not good for quickly finishing and posting on a blog - for me they take a great deal of time.

As well, I have learned a good lesson... Sunflowers did not sell in the charity auction for Empty Bowls - nor did other artists' work which was also on a larger scale. I guess one has to account for the fact that smaller might sell more readily than larger. Next time, I will enter something much smaller.

So... if there are any people who would like to purchase Sunflowers out there, here is the picture of it again. It is acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, and is 30 inches by 30 inches. The edges are painted black so that it is ready to hang as is. You do not need a frame for it.

 

 

If you wish to purchase this painting, or commission one similar to it, please contact me at jogiesbrecht@gmail.com

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians. And in 3 days, Happy Independence Day to all Americans!

CHARITY ARTS AUCTION - SUNFLOWERS

"Sunflowers" has been juried into the Empty Bowls Arts Festival held by the Airdrie Regional Arts Society.  The actual auction takes place on June 19th. Until then, the selected pieces will be on display in a lovely little coffee house in Airdrie named Benjamin's.  I feel really honored to have my piece selected. I hope it sells! All the proceeds will go to support the Airdrie Food Bank which does amazing work in the community. 

My painting "Pink Ladies" which was in the FAC Art Auction sold 3 weeks ago. A portion of the proceeds from it went to support compassion projects in Latin America and Africa. 

I love the idea of being able to reach out and help others in this way. :-) It brings even MORE joy into the painting process.

Sunflowers

30 x 30 inches is a large canvas - it fills my easel!

"Sunflowers" is going to be entered into a juried selection for a black tie/silent auction. If it is selected and sold, all the proceeds will go to support our local food bank, which is putting on a big 2 day event in June, called Empty Bowls. 

Apparently this idea originated in a city in the U.S., and has spread all across North America. In Airdrie, there will be over 1000 hand made or wheel thrown pottery bowls made. On the Saturday of this event, people will gather in the park, and soup will be served in these bowls. When you buy the soup, you also get the bowl to remind you that there are many people who do not have food - whose bowls are empty. Of course, the amount that you contribute for the bowl of soup will be enough to cover the cost of the soup, the bowl, and an amount which will go to support the Food Bank. 

In addition to the black tie/silent auction event held on Thursday night, on Saturday there will be live entertainment for adults and kids alike as we gather in the park. The plans are exciting, and promise to be an amazing and fun event. I hope to contribute through the donation of my painting. :-)

Sunflowers on the easel

Today I am working on a 30 x 30 inch acrylic of some sunflowers that I photographed in December. The original photo is currently in a juried selection for acquisition. I am already liking the way the sunflowers have popped out from the background. The "black" is a combination of Phthalocyannine Blue, Yellow Oxide and C.P. Cadmium Red Medium. I am also using a new favorite in the flower's petals that I recently discovered - Quinacridone Burnt Orange. I just love color - and this one is just so rich! This is a good painting day!