New Works from my Studio

Today I feature two of my recent paintings which are displayed at Pane e Formaggio:.

ART SHOW at Pane e Formaggio - starts Oct 6, 2013

4532 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver (between Sasamat and Tolmie Streets)

"Aurora", watercolour, 14" X 20", matted and framed, $560:

 

 

"Echoes", watercolour, 20" X 14", matted and framed, $560.

You can see all the paintings in the show on the "Art Show Page" of this blog.

I appreciate your visit, Gillian.

Goldfinches come for a visit

One morning this summer as I peered out the kitchen window I saw a family of Goldfinches at my feeder and couldn't resist painting them.

 

A water colour called "Goldfinch Lunchtime:

 

"Goldfinch Lunchtime", 2013

6.5" X 6.5", $165 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Pink Petals

Following the flower theme:

 

Here is my latest painting: it is a watercolour of a rose called "Triple Crown".

"Triple Crown", 2013

6.5" X 6.5", $125 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Seashore Encore

Back by the Seashore again

Here my latest painting: it is another watercolour, and another in the seashore series, called "Say Ah".

"Say Ah", 2013

14" X 10", $300 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Back by the Seashore again

Here my latest painting: it is another watercolour, and another in the seashore series, called "Beach Buddies".

"Beach Buddies", 2013

14" X 10", $300 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

April Showers Art

Here my latest painting: it is another watercolour, inspired by a recent spring flower picture.

Called "Japonica":

"Japonica", 2013

6.5" X 6.5 ", $125 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Getting in the Swing of Spring

Here my latest painting: it is another watercolour called "Swing Shift".

This is another in my series of Teddy and Tiger paintings; stuffed animals and always a tiger, although he is not always obvious (here he seems to have climbed one of the ropes).

"Swing Shift", 2013

8" X 11", $225 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Blossoms

Here my latest painting: it is another watercolour,  this time a flower.

Called "In the Pink":

"In the Pink", 2013

6.5" X 6.5 ", $125 (framed)

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

New for Spring

Here are three new works just in time for the beginning of spring:

I remember many happy hours spent as a child collecting sand dollars and shells.

"Three dollars in the bank", 2013

11" X 14", $300 (framed)

"Sea Urchin Lineup", 2013

14" X 11", $300 (framed)

The teddies and tigers continue, here with a bath time scene. What will they get up to next?

"Splish, Splash, time for a ....", 2013

11" X 8", $225 (framed)

All are watercolours.

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Encore at the seashore ....

We have had some beautiful spring weather recently, a great time to walk along the seashore or on the beach at low tide.

This week I finished another painting with a seashore theme. This time a picture of barnacles, and these ones were each as big as my fist. The painting is inspired by a photograph I took while visiting Cortes Island, they are even bigger on the shores of Haida Gwaii.

Once again this is a watercolour, called "Barnacles and Hearts". Why hearts you may ask, well when I was drawing this one I noticed some heart shapes in the barnacles and decided to add even more as I painted.

Here it is:

"Barnacles and Hearts"

watercolour, 14" X 11"

framed, $300

This is another poured watercolour painting.

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Down by the seashore

I can't think of any place I'd rather walk on an almost spring day than along the seashore. The shells, driftwood and algae thrown up along the tide line and uncovered by the low tide offer many photo opportunities and have inspired me to begin a new series of paintings.

Here is the first of those paintings:

"Shell Colour 1"

watercolour, 11" X 14"

framed, $300

This is another poured watercolour painting but I created the "sand" look by splattering between the "pours". I am really happy with the this painting and you can be sure I will be doing more.....

 Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

The last of my European Scene paintings

Monday, March 18th is the last day of my art exhibit at Pane e Formaggio.

Here is the last in my European scene watercolours (for now), called "Afternoon Sun on the Canal":

"Afternoon Sun on the Canal", 2013

14" X 11", watercolour

$280 (framed)

This painting is inspired by a picture I took while visiting Annecy, France. Annecy is located in the Savoire region of France, it is on Lake Annecy and the old town is crossed by a river and canals, probably that is the reason that it is referred to as the Venice of the Savoire.

Next week I will feature some of my new series of Sea Shore paintings, until then...........

 Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Here's whats new!

Here are two new paintings that I have added to my exhibit at Pane e Formaggio:

The first was inspired by a David Grimble photograph. It is typical scene from a small town in France with narrow cobble or paving stone paths, and archways leading to brick and stone houses. A red door adds distinction to this one.

 "The Red Door", 2013

11" X 14", watercolour

$280 (framed)

The towns in Puglia are rich with sculptural details, one such detail on a public building inspired this painting, which I named "L'osservatore" (The Watcher):

 "L'osservatore", 2013

14" X 10", watercolour

$260 (framed)

The exhibit at Pane e Formaggio ends March 18, 2013.

Thank you for visiting my art blog, follow the contact link above for more information on these and other works.

Gillian

Teddies and Tigers at Image West

The Teddy and Tiger series of watercolour paintings is now on display at Image West Hair Salon at 2885 West Broadway in Vancouver (half a block west of McDonald Street on Broadway).

"The Games' Afoot" 2009 

11" X 10", $225, framed 

Sherlock Holmes theme teddies and tiger painting

"Are We There Yet?" 2009 

11" X 10", $225, framed

The inevitable question on any road trip.

"Storytyme Magic" 2009 

11" X 10", $225, framed

Everyone enjoys storytime.

"Something isn the Air" 2011 

11" X 10", $200, framed

Teddies and tiger painting; reaction after stuffed animal (centre) farts.

For more information about any of these works please contact me using the contact tab above or at 

info@pswhimsy.com

Thank you for stopping by, Gillian.

New works and update on art exhibit

Here's an update on my art exhibit at Pane E Formaggio (4532 West 10th Avenue). (February and March)

Three of the paintings have sold; I have been very busy in the studio as a result and here are two new watercolours:

The first is a painting of a restaurant in the old part of Annecy, France. Annecy is located in the Savoire region of France; sometimes referred to as the Venice of the Savoire. This painting is of the sign and facade of one of Annecy's many restaurants. I call this painting "Old An'Necy":

"Old An'Necy" 2013 

11" X 14", $280, framed

Here is the second painting. It is of a small street, in a hilltop town in Umbria, filled with plants. It is called "She's in her Garden" because there is a woman sitting amongst the plants:

"She's in her Garden" 2013 

11" X 14", $280, framed

"Lunchtime in Lucca" was the first painting to sell, it will be replaced by "Old An'Necy" later this week.

"I Was Just Kidding" and "Truly, Trulli" are sold but will stay up until next week. 

For more information about any of these works please contact me using the contact tab above or at 

info@pswhimsy.com

Thank you for stopping by, Gillian.

My Italian Themed Art Exhibit

I have a art exhibit starting this weekend at Pane E Formaggio (4532 West 10th Avenue). (February and March)

I will be showing a series of my watercolour paintings of places that I have visited in Italy while on vacation. I take lots of pictures and use them as reference for my paintings.

First here is a painting of statues in the Piazza Comunale of Montepulciano in Tuscany:

"I was only kidding!" 2013 

11" X 14", $280, framed

Below is a painting of part of the Piazza dell' Anfiteatro, a unique elliptical-shaped plaza in the old centre of Lucca which follows the outline of the old Roman Arena. This is my latest painting:

"Lunchtime in Lucca", 2013

11" X 14", $280 (framed)

A pathway leading to fortress in a hilltop town in Umbria:

"Path of Light", 2012

7.5" X 10.5", $180 (framed)

A quiet street in another Umbrian town.

"Taking the Path Less Travelled", 2012

9" X 12", $200, framed

A piazza and restaurant in Umbria:

"Your Table is Ready", 2012

14" X 11", $280 (framed)

An archway leads to a restaurant in Sorento, Italy:

"Welcome All", 2012

14" X 11", $280 (framed)

Conical stone houses, called trulli, in Alberobella in the Puglia region of Italy:

"Truly Trulli", 2012

11" X 14", $280 (framed)

For more information about any of these works please contact me using the contact tab above or at 

info@pswhimsy.com

In other art news, my painting "Masked" was accepted into the juried show "Works on Paper" at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island. You can view the whole exhibit at the gallery from February 5 to 17, 2013, or visit the online gallery and view the current exhibition. 

Thank you for stopping by ............ Gillian

Knock, Knock?

Have you ever taken a close look at door knockers? Some of the designs are quite fascinating. On a recent trip to Europe I took many pictures of doorknockers. I found many intricately patterned and whimsical varieties and this week's art feature is one of those.

Titled "Oh-fish-al Greeter", it is drawn with colour conte (see below).

"Oh-fish-al Greeter"

10" X 8", Colour conté, 2009

$150

Door knockers at once are both decorative and practical. They express the personality of the owner while they save the knuckles of the visitor. No longer as useful as they once were they continue to be popular today for their own sake.

For my website I did a series of door knockers that I called called "What Knockers!" Each knocker image features related iconic symbols in bottom left hand corner. The "fishy" example above is completed with a "hook, line and sinker".

What is conté?

"Conté, also known as Conté sticks or Conté crayons, are a drawing medium composed of compressed powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with a wax or clay base, square in cross-section. They were invented in 1795 by Nicolas-Jacques Conté, who created the combination of clay and graphite in response to the shortage of graphite caused by the Napoleonic Wars (the British naval blockade of France prevented import). Conté crayons had the advantage of being cost-effective to produce, and easy to manufacture in controlled grades of hardness. They are now manufactured using natural pigments (iron oxides, carbon black, titanium dioxide), clay (kaolin), and a binder (cellulose ether). Conté crayons are most commonly found in black, white, and sanguine tones, as well as bistre, shades of grey, and other colors." Wikipedia

I used a colour conté for the door knocker series.

"A Walk on the Cinque Terre"

Here is the newest painting as seen in the PSWhimsy - Behind the Brush Blog:

"A Walk on the Cinque Terre"

13.5" X 19.5"

Not for Sale

Cinque Terre, which translates literally to "five lands", refers to five small villages in the Liguira region of Italy. From south to north they are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The coastline, the villages and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and a UNESCO world heritage site.

My husband and I have visited the area twice and walked the coastal path between the villages which is an easy walk at the southern end and becomes steeper and more challenging as it progresses northward. The coastline is steep and public access to most of the villages is only by foot or train. It can take hours to hike the entire distance, and then only a few minutes to return by train, but then the train goes throught the hillside rathere than up and down over them. The weather can be very challenging, on our first visit the day started out beautiful but when we got about half way along dark clouds gathered and a thunderstorm with heavy rains produced waterspouts and made the trail very trecherous.

The villages (especially Venazza and Monterosso) were badly damaged by rain and mudslides in October 2011. The picture I used was from before the damage.

"A Walk on the Cinque Terre" is a painting of Manorola, the second town (going north), and as you can see the lower town is filled with boats. It is a watercolour.

I have made a few minor changes to "Masked" and added it to the "My Watercolours" tab.

Thanks for dropping by .........

A New Year and a new blog

A New Year and a new blog. This one is an online gallery of my work including what's new and what's on sale. The Watercolour and Drawing Tabs are still "under construction", expect more complete selections soon.

A closer look at works, with more details on the subject, size and with prices.

Here is the newest painting as seen in the PSWhimsy - Behind the Brush Blog:

"Masked"

Details: 

• 13.5" X 19.5" watercolour painted largely with just 3 colours (aureolin, alizarin crimson and pthalo blue)
• white matt, black wood frame (18" X 24", 1" width)
• $400.00 framed 

This painting was inspired by a picture, taken by friends, of a masked and costumed participant of Carnival in Venice, Italy. Beautiful and elaborate costumes and masks are worn at this annual festival that ends on Ash Wednesday with the beginning of Lent.

Masks have interested me for some time, I have seen many beautiful ones in Venice and Verona in Italy, so I will be painting more in the future.

I thought I'd share a few pictures of a decorative mask and glimpses of masks worn by friends at a recent event.

....and here's one I wore, that left temporary blue patches on my face, to general amusement. Here it is pictured on a wooden giraffe. A lesson to me not to buy a mask at a dollar store.

Thanks for visiting this first instalment of GillinOlsonArt ............