The Progress of A Painting

The following photos show the progress of my painting "Hush". From the background being completed through to the finish. 

You can see how as bits and pieces of detail are added, changed the painting takes on life. I have been told that many of my painting have a feel that you could just walk into it. I would want to walk in on this cat. "Hush" the quiet before the storm as this magnificent cat awaits some kind of prey to cross its path.

This piece took a month to get to the point I was satisfied with its finished state. From a flat non dimensional cat to a cat that has taken on dimension and life. Watching and waiting in the "Hush" of the forest.

Patiently working on a piece making adjustments here and there. Adding detail, working to give dimension to a flat animal, adding colour over colour to work the dimension. All part of the creative process, all to bring the animal to life.

Working with a piece to bring the inspiration that brought you to start on a piece to allow the inspiration to flow.

The Love of Seeing A Piece Come Together.

When you start a new project you have a vision for what you want it to be when it is complete, yet you are never sure until the brush starts to lay paint on the canvas. 

This is the same no matter what the subject, no matter what the surface. I will draw out the base image then start to paint. As I am painting I have the opportunity to adjust the colour, change an area that is highlighted, work the image to suite what inspired me to paint it. 

Every piece of art is based on the artists' vision, their inspiration to create that piece. The artist will work with that piece until they are satisfied with that the piece fits their vision. I have set aside a painting and come back to it later, have repainted portions until I am satisfied that I have what I was looking for. 

As I look back on some of my pieces from before I see how I would have done it differently if I was painting that image today.  That is what happens as you work your craft more, as you advance and try new things.

I can look at an image one day and be inspired, look at it another day and be inspired or see no inspiration. When you are inspired you see that image in your minds eye on canvas, wood or some other surface.

That vision and inspiration flows even when you aren't doing the type of work that you feel is your main thrust as an artist. I love to paint landscapes and wildlife, but I also know that selling a "painting" is the gravy. Painting other items like paddles, decor signs are the meat and potatoes to me. It could be newspaper articles for the novelist, teaching a dance or a drama class for the dancer or actor. 

It is working your craft seeing what you I visioned becoming a realty that I love. It is taking, in my case, your brush in hand pouring your inspiration out and onto the surface. Every piece I create even if it is the same image, as in any of the decor signs I make, are all individual and unique. All of them are painted with a vision of the finished piece. 

What do we see that is man made in the world that hasn't been someone's vision, someone's inspiration. All of them would have had that persons love poured into their creations. 

It is seeing that vision that further inspires me to work on a piece and seeing it come together that I love. I love to see every piece come together, I love to see the finished piece. 

The following six photos  all grew out of the other. The "Daddy Śuperhero" with the white background was the first I did, the stained background came later. I like both, but prefer the stained background. The "Welcome to our Porch" developed into "Welcome to our Trailer" and "Welcome to Our Lake House". "Mystic Beach" with the eagle became "The Beach Revisted" All inspired me to change something, customers seeing photos of one and requesting something for themselves brought about changes. The vision changed, the inspiration grew and became a finished item. 

I love painting, I love being inspired to continue to grow, I love having a vision of something and working towards that goal.

Backwoods Country Arts

Backwoods Country Arts, the new name for my studio. Why a new name, well I wanted to have a name that suggested something more than fine art, but would include fine art.

I have been painting since I was a teen, don't ask how long ago that was, let's leave it that it was some time ago. Starting with oils on canvas board, dabbling in water colours for a while, I  mainly use acrylics these days. I paint on canvas, burlap, rock, wood, canoe paddles and more.

I am a firm believer in supporting local businesses, smaller companies, even though it may cost a bit more. I support buying Canadian Made products when ever possible. If we don't support the local business person, those that hire your neighbours, your family, why should we expect them to show us support.

With my paintings I try to capture Canada and the wildlife that lives in this great country. Our children and grand children should be able to see what world awaits outside the concrete jungle they live in. So much of our world has been plowed down, paved over, built up.  Canada is a beautiful country, you only have to go down the road less travelled to see it. 

One of the surfaces that I paint on are canoe paddles. I have lost count of the number of paddles that I have painted, showing people fishing, the Western starting point of Highway One, family farms, fish jumping out of the water, just to name a few subjects.

Decor signs for home or cottage are popular. Quotes, sayings, encouraging and loving words. Painted on; canvas, pine and cedar boards, Masonite, plywood and almost any kind of surface. 

I also hold workshops that teach people how to make / create anything I do here in my studio. Backwoods Country Arts is an open studio that allows me to help others with their creativity but also to broaden mine. 

I will be sharing tips, how to lessons, projects I have completed and more in my blog. Let me know what you think, all comments and questions are appreciated.