Problems with light

Sometimes taking a photograph of a painting can be a challenge.  The paint could be glossy and reflect too much even if a flash isn't used.  And sometimes the art just absorbs all the light and doesn't show well.  The painting I'm showing here is of the former.  It is a very dark painting, needs a lot of natural light to properly see all it has to offer.  In the photo it actually shows up brighter than the actual painting.  No matter what conditions I try to photograph it in it is never 100% accurate.

July Show at T-Bird Cafe

This new piece, along with eleven others, is on exhibit for the month of July at T-Bird Cafe in Burnaby.  If you are in the area of Production skytrain station T-Bird is just a short walk away at #106 - 3191 Thunderbird Crescent.

A Spring Show

The Burnaby Artists Guild is having their Spring Show and Sale starting this Friday night at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.  If you're interested in local arts this is a good, free event to check out.

A Slow Studio Sale...

As what often happens with artists, at some point one needs to have a studio sale.  And while I don't really have much of a studio to speak of, there is nothing else to call it.  I could use a little space cleared up for new work that is in progress.  So I am going to slowly go through some of the old stuff and one by one offer them at a bit of a discount.  Sale prices do not include any shipping costs.

The first piece up for sale is one I did in 2006.  I have always found it a bit weird, the tree seems kind of flat to me, but the textured background is nice.

Title:  "The End"
Size:  14" x 18"
Regular price:  $202.00
Sale price:  $151.00
Oil on canvas

This piece will be for sale for the next few weeks only.  Please make any inquiries via email...  cocke.jm@gmail.com

Burnaby Artists Guild Spring Show & Sale

If you happen to be in Burnaby April 1 -3, 2016, come and check out the Burnaby Artists Guild Spring Show & Sale and support your local artists.

Nap time....

A working title for this little piece, but one that just may stick.  When the ornamental cherry tree outside went dormant this winter a few of the dead leaves clung to it, refusing to drop.  Their orange / brown colour providing some nice contrast against the sky.  A good subject for trying out another palette knife painting.  Now if only the visiting chickadees and juncos didn't move so fast ... I'd like to use one of them as the next painting subject.

A bit of a change...

Recently, a few changes in my life have left me with less time to paint.  I like to paint slow, coming back to the work over and over again, often while it is still wet and workable (something I love about working with oils).  With my slow style and new time constraints I'll be lucky to get anything accomplished!  I decided that I needed to change things up and encourage myself to work faster in the process.  I chose to use a small canvas, a palette knife and acrylic paint.  By using acrylic I don't have the luxury of putting the work aside and coming back hours later to a still wet painting and therefore have to work faster.  Using the palette knife forces me away from getting bogged down in fine detail and the amount of time that can take up.  The small canvas gives me a chance at completing a piece in one go.  My first attempt at this, shown here, seems to have gone alright.