"Winter Splendour" first painitng of 2015, by Sharon Lynn Williams

"Winter Splendour", 12 x 12" oil on board
$575 framed
click here to purchase

When I was out for a walk the other day the sun was going down, and I must say I was simply blown away by the spectacular sunset. This time of year, it seems every evening presents a show, almost as an appology for the snow and cold. I was trying to capture the transparency of the sky underlying the magnificently coloured clouds. What fun!

Enjoy!
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"Bird's Eye View" acrylic painting by Sharon Lynn Williams

"Bird's Eye View", 16 x 16" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
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More playing with layering acrylics using Golden's Open Acrylics to slow the drying time down.  I did the background and then painted a raven in flight on top using a stencil I cut. Then I decided to add the clouds as it looked like the bird is in the sky looking down on the earth from way above. Such fun!!! Not the greatest photo as it is 16x16" on gallery wrap canvas -had to take the photo against the window and it is not great sunlight this deep into the winter so you can see the texture of the canvas. I will take a better picture, which I am happy to send you if you are interested. Hope to get more time to paint tomorrow!


Enjoy!

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New Plein Air Oil Painting by Sharon Lynn Williams

"Majestic One", 6 x 8" plein air oil painting on board
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This painting was done as a demonstration for my plein air workshop at the Leighton Centre. I was trying to show the students how to capture rapidly moving clouds. The key is to find a cloud motif that you like and draw that in. Paint the landscape so it looks like there are clouds scurrying by -ie: show some light and shadow patterns on the land. Then use whatever clouds are present to get the colours and values of the clouds, and then paint the shapes you have previously drawn.

I have just joined Daily Paintworks and they will be holding auctions for paintings for me. I will try to list the starting price of the auctions here on my blog. This is a very good way to pick up some very cool unframed artworks at extremely reasonable prices. Payment is made through PayPal, so it is all very secure.

Enjoy!

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New Plein Air Oil Paintings from Mentor's Day

"Early Sring -Leighton Centre", 8x10", plein air oil painting

Yesterday was "Mentor's Day" at the Leighton Centre, just outside of Calgary. This is the third time I have had the honor of being selected to be one of the mentors chosen to share my knowledge with about 35 eager students at the LC. It was a rather blustery day, although the sun was shinning most of the day. I was slated to do plein air oil painting, and the above image is my first painting, done out on the exposed ridge. I was pretty cold despite the multiple layers by the time this was done. It isn't a very good photograph I am afraid -hard to capture the darks when the paint is still wet and shiny.

"Spring Skies-LC", 9x12", plein air oil painting
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This is the second painting of the day. This time I was smart and parked myself on the balcony away from the wind. I had many more observers for this one -I wonder why?? This pretty much captures the feeling of the afternoon, and I am really happy with it. I had to do a tiny bit of tweaking on this one when I got home I will admit.

Enjoy!

"What A Day", plein air acrylic painting

"What A Day", 9 x 12", plein air acrylic painting
Another from my plein air acrylic day. I am really liking these acrylics, now that I have figured out how to keep them workable outside. They work in similar ways as do the oils, but due to the rapid drying, going back into previously painted areas is a dream. Controlling edges can be an issue, but if you are cognizant of edges when the strokes are put down, it is an easy thing to soften them while wet with your finger . This cloud study was particularly nice to do, layering back and forth with the lights and shadows, working with impasto paint and also with transparent glazing.
Enjoy!

"Summer Skies", plein air watercolour painting

"Summer Skies", 6 x 16", plein air watercolour painting
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Trying to keep my hand in watercolours, I did this with friend and student Lindsey Stead. Painting clouds from life is always a challenge, but I believe it is the only way to truly see them. While watercolour painting in the sun and wind does make for some challenges, if you are 'present' with each stroke, there is enough time to soften edges -just. (click to see an enlargement)
Enjoy!

"Thunderheads", plein air oil painting, 8x8"

"Thunderheads", plein air oil painting, 8x8"
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Last week I went painting with a wonderful artist and new friend Veronica Funk (click on her name to check out her blog). We travelled the outskirts of Airdrie where she lives and we found this wonderful view just on the edge of town. The weather has been rather unsettled here for the last couple of weeks, but it has given some wonderful skies. I have been trying to capture these fleeting beauties en plein air with my oil paints, which requires very fast execution. I like living on the edge.
Enjoy!