Sunday, December 25, 2016

Christimas Day Post: Vanishing Arctic Beauty - Hand Embossed Pewter
Vanishing Arctic Beauty - 12" x 12" x 1" - Pewter and Acrylic   







Painting: Acrylic and Metal on Wood.
If interested, click here

Polar bears are currently threatened by the melting ice of he Arctic sea, the bears' habitat and hunting ground. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic and fell in love with Inuit culture and art.

I have been developing a series of artwork to celebrate the North using pewter that I emboss free hand and acrylic gels and emulsions to translate the ice and snow.

This painting of a noble polar bear is on a specially prepared cradled panel; the pewter is top quality and contains no lead.
A beautiful statement piece! It is wired and ready to hang. The edges are painted white to continue the idea of ice and snow landscape on the sides of the painting.The artwork has been varnished to protect the pewter and the acrylic for years and years.

I can produce similar pieces with kayaks, inukshuks, polar bears etc...in much larger sizes such as 24" x 24". Please contact me if interested.


Best Wishes to all for the Holiday Season!

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Art Show - Graffiti's Restaurant in the Kanata Holiday Inn




Christiane Kingsley and Luminita Serbanescu are very happy to announce  their two-women art show at the Graffiti’s Restaurant in the Kanata Holiday Inn.  This show will run at least until late November. Enjoy Graffiti’s Venetian cuisine surrounded by over 22 colourful artworks.





Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Spring Beauty Miniature

Spring Beauty Miniature

Spring Beauty Miniature 4" x 4"


SOLD


This original painting is on an 1/8" Ampersand Aquabord panel that I love more all the time because of the vivid colors and very special effects that can be achieved on it. In "Spring Beauty" I had a lot of fun creating depth and using negative painting techniques to hint at leaves in the background. I finished the painting with a varnish, then glossy resin-like coating that increases the depth and the shine. These miniatures do not need glass!!!
I like to display these little gems on a mini easel which is readily available ; it is so easy to find a special little corner for them on a shelf, a table, near a computer. Naturally, they can also be inserted into a regular photo frame or a painting frame. 

Friday, July 22, 2016

Autumn's Gold

Autumn's Gold

SOLD


This original mixed media painting is painted on an ampersand panel affixed to a 1.5 deep cradled birch surface. This means that it has deep sides and is ready to hang or to display standing on its own on a shelf or on a table.
It is painted with watercolor and gold leaf and was sealed before a resin-like finish was applied to the surface to give an almost glass-like finish which is very reflective and enhances the depth and color of this beautiful painting.The finish adds greatly to the painting; it has just enough texture and irregularities to confirm that it was hand applied.
It is wired at the back, the sides have been painted black. It is ready to hang and enjoy by you or as gift by a special person.

Below are more photos of this artwork. 






Saturday, July 16, 2016

Owen the Owl

OWEN THE OWL
Owen the Owl

"Owen the Owl " is a 16" x 20" original painting on the very archival surface 1/8" Aquabord panel made in Texas by Ampersand. Owen is in watercolour on a faux gold leaf background that has a reflective surface very similar to the very, very expensive 24 kt gold genuine gold leaf. The painting is varnished and is ready to be inserted in a standard frame. Since it is varnished and on aquabord, it is framed without glass!
I had fun painting Owen as a colourful barn owl. I added textured gold relief in the background and on the tree stump. The gold background is guilded and not painted so there is some slight texture and variation in reflection here and there automatically in the gold leaf as it is applied.
Work is sold unframed and photo with frame is simply to give you an idea how it could look framed.  The gold leaf is very hard to photograph since it reflects all the surrounding colors.
I have been working with this gold leaf and the Ampersand surface for several years and just love them both. My customers have always been very happy with this collection.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  
Let me know what you think.


Other Views



Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Latest Watercolor Painting: Notre-Dame Sentinels

Latest Watercolor Painting: Notre-Dame Sentinels


Notre-Dame Sentinels
 
This is an original 12.25" x 10.5" watercolour on top quality Italian Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. It represents some of the gargoyles or chimeras on top of the Notre - Dame Cathedral in Paris. From the top of the cathedral's towers the stone creatures have had a magnificent view of the city for centuries. To see them up close, you have to climb almost 400 steps. The The staircase is narrow and the steps are fan-shaped, so skip the climb if you're claustrophobic, wearing high heels or simply don't want to die of exhaustion. I have managed that climb twice in my life...easily when I was a University student and very painfully a few years ago.

This painting may remind you of such a climb...or may spare you one:-)

This painting will need to be matted and framed


Sunday, May 22, 2016

Solo Show in June

I am very pleased to announce that I will have a solo show from May 29th to June 26 at the Green Door Restaurant in Ottawa.

The Green Door Restaurant is Ottawa's oldest and best known vegetarian restaurant. Since 1988,  they have specialized in high quality foods and baked goods made from ingredients that are organic and locally grown and produced.

The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm except Mondays.  It is situated at 198 Main St.
I hope you will drop in to see my show. I will try to be there as often as I can.
This summer, there is a lot of road construction in that neighbourhood. Please check the Green Door restaurant website for the best way to get there if you are traveling northbound.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Dance of the Lights

I think I am getting obsessed with abstracts-)
This one started with one challenge: my son said he liked my previous painting, but that for his place, he would prefer a white background instead of creamy yellow. So, this is what I tried to do with this 30" x 30" acrylic painting on deep gallery wrapped canvas. This painting is not intended for my son, however, since he wants one 60" wide ..I thought I needed some practice before jumping to that size:-)
Dance of the Lights - 30" x 30" on deep gallery canvas- $525
This painting is currently on display at the Kevin Dodds Gallery in Ottawa, Canada, but may still be purchased online via PayPal. Kevin ships worldwide. Do contact me if you want more info regarding this painting.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Still Have the Abstract Fever:-)

Yes, I still have the abstract fever. Below is my third in a row and is my favorite so far I think. It is called "Play Time" and is an acrylic original on a 24" x 30" deep gallery wrapped canvas. Yellow has never been one of my colors, but the soft creamy yellow here corresponds to my desire to see Spring finally here.

The painting is currently at the Kevin Dodds Gallery in Ottawa, Canada, but it is also available through DailyPaintworks. Kevin Dodds ships worldwide.

Don't ask me how I painted this...it evolved on its own, layer on top of layer...I hope you like it.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Catching the Abstract Fever

Lately, I have felt like painting abstracts, I keep looking for abstract paintings to admire....I painted one last week and I feel like painting another one right away! This is unusual for me...but I will go with the flow:-)
Here is the one I have just varnished...This is a photo taken with a flash last night, but you get the idea. The close-up shows some of the type of textures I created. The painting will be called "Urban Spirit" unless I can find something more inspiring. Any suggestions?
The painting is 20" x 20" on a deep gallery wrapped canvas. I have painted the sides white.
Let me know what you think...
Urban Spirit

Close-up, "Urban Spirit"


Sunday, February 21, 2016

Small "Happy Giraffe"

The (small) Happy Giraffe - 8" x 8" on 1/8"Ampersand  Aquabord panel. Background in gold leaf and giraffe is in watercolor. The entire painting is sealed and is to be displayed without glass...
Some of you may have seen my large framed "Giraffe" currently at the Kevin Dodds Gallery & Studio. I personally like it so much that I decided to paint a similar one in a small size. Before I get it framed, I am offering this little long-lashed sweetie online..
.Check it out at
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/…/c…/the-happy-giraffe/449974
It is ready to be inserted into a standard frame without glass. The ampersand panel is a most archival surface and I just love working on it.
The gold leaf makes this artwork so special, but it is almost impossible to photograph. When the sun shines on this piece, the gold leaf produces a simply stunning effect. The giraffe herself has such a happy and gentle look that it brings a smile to my face.





Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Golden Nest

The Golden Nest 
SOLD


This original painting is part of my nest series, but this time, with a twist: gold leaf is applied on some of the twigs of the nest and on some branches...thus, the title "Golden Nest".



I love all the symbolism of the nest: family, home,safety, promises, future, hope, anticipation etc....
I consider this painting almost a semi-abstract. It is full of movement!
I used one of my favorite surfaces, an 9" x 12" x 1/8" Ampersand Claybord panel that is ready to be inserted into a standard frame.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Forest Floor Tapestry - A Watercolor painting

Forest Floor Tapestry -Watercolour - SOLD


I have finally finished my 20" x 20" watercolour of millions and millions of leaves:-)
I will put it aside for a day or so before looking at it again to see what needs to be modified.
It is on 300 lb Fabriano Soft Press Paper.


I really enjoyed the hours and hours I spent playing on this piece.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

My New Tapestry Series - Acrylic and gold leaf

My 2016 started with the creation of a new series: original acrylics and gold leaf paintings on Claybord panels. They all have a leaf motif and negative painting technique. Three types of gold leaf add richness to the surface which has a glossy finish. These are mostly intuitive paintings and I find this technique so liberating and so much fun.
So far, these paintings have been fairly small, either 8" x 10 or 11' x 14'. I am looking for the courage to move to a larger size...the claybord is a rather expensive surface, especially in Canada, so I can't afford to ruin any:-)
Here are a few photos. Please let me know what you think.
Floating Tapestry - SOLD

Jewel Tapestry - Sold

Sunshine Tapestry - More info

Fiery Tapestry -More info

Autumn Extravagance - Sold
Golden Oak Tapestry - SOLD