Wednesday, December 23, 2009

POOL PARTY

Hello -- it's getting close to Christmas and I decided to give my husband this painting as a gift; he's flying in today for the holidays from Costa Rica where he's been working this past month and he really misses our very special dog, Coco. People often confuse Coco with Cocoa or even Koko, but our dear, sweet-natured furry friend, a Siberian Husky with ice blue eyes that pierce your soul, has been named after the delicious insides of a coconut, which by nature is white, like her. We thought it apt as she was born in the tropics and does quite well despite the heat. Here she is keeping cool with Victor in our pool.

This is an acrylic on wraparound canvas measuring approx. 18 x 13 inches -- and obviously not for sale! Happy painting to all, and my best wishes for this holiday season and new year to come... Elfi.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

BEARDED LADIES


A goodday to all -- this acrylic on canvas had been sitting patiently on an easel awaiting my attention for some time, abandoned for other projects. I decided to give it some attention and here's the result. This area is abundant in these types of palms and from the first moment I saw them I thought of them as "bearded ladies" with their dying foliage hanging down.

Bearded Ladies measures 15.5 x 20 inches with a wrap-around canvas approx. 1.5 inches deep on the stretcher bars. Anyone interested in purchase contact me here. $125.00 U.S + shipping.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

THREE MUSKATEERS

Hello to all -- I photographed these three pelicans off the tip of Punta Nizuc as they bobbed on the water looking much like an old trio of friends.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on board. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $90.00 U.S. + shipping.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

BRUISED SKY

It's December and the weather at this time of year is unpredictable. Sudden storm clouds loom on the horizon and either dissipate at sea or make their gloomy sojourne over our beaches to pour out their hearts and souls onto the sand.
That black and blue cloud rising off the horizon looks almost like a wave about to crash on the shore as it nears menacingly. The air at such a time is crisp as fresh linen and filled with the promise of a dramatic downpour. Very invigorating.
This is an 8 x 10 inch acryclic on board -- anyone interested in purchasing contact me here. $75.00 U.S. + shipping.

Friday, November 27, 2009

HITCHING A RIDE


Good day to all -- Here are two pelicans from the region of Isla Mujeres taking a ride on a small boat. As is the norm here most days, it was a pristine day for it.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on board, $90 U.S. + shipping. Anyone interesting in purchasing contact me here.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

DON'T RUFFLE MY FEATHERS!!

Happy Sunday to all -- These two pelicans seemed to me to be having a dispute, maybe over who got the better post to stand on? Whatever the case, their lively chatter inspired me to photograph and paint them against their intensely hued background.
This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on canvas board. $90 + shipping -- for those interested, contact me here.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

CROSSWALK

Hi to all -- more on the flamingo theme; they truly are amazing creatures. I snapped a few photos of them some time ago at the X-Caret eco-part on the Mayan Riviera, about an hour's drive from my home, and have suddenly been inspired to paint them.
This is an 8 x 10 on canvas board in acrylic. If interested to purchase please contact me here -- $90 + shipping.

Friday, November 20, 2009

PRETTY IN PINK


Hello once again -- I've been on a bird theme lately as there are so many in this region, their plumage so vibrant that they just beg to be painted.
This is a 10 x 12 inch acrylic on canvas-board. $110 + shipping, if interested click here to contact me.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

RAINY DAY BLUES

Hello -- it's been a while since I've posted as I've been off to visit family in Victoria, B.C. where they were enjoying an Indian summer. I seem to have brought back all that lovely heat though as our own autumn has been hotter than usual, our usual rainy season delayed by months.

Rainy Day Blues is a triple-panel canvas, as much a diversion from my usual tropical renditions as is Blue Riot. I was experimenting with acrylics this time and wanted to create something from my daughter's youth -- that glorious time on the cusp of puberty where innocence still reigns supreme. Yes, those are fairies spreading a magic sleeping potion on her so she can dream the dismal, rainy afternoon away!

I'll get back to my tropical themes very soon -- until then take care -- E.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

PAPAYAS

It's a beautiful morning, the heat not quite so intense, a light tropical breeze blowing. My son just headed for the beach to go kite-surfing and I would have joined him (not to kite-surf myself -- too extreme of a sport for me!) but I've got several paintings going, half finished on their easels, so I'd best reign in some self-discipline and get to work. Sometimes it's like that, you have to be your own task-master.

And on that note, I'm off to paint ... 'til next time, happy brushstrokes to all -- E.

Monday, July 27, 2009

BLUE RIOT

Hello to all -- Looking at BLUE RIOT, a field of white daisies against a blue background, you might see bits of red glowing through here and there. I used cadmium red as an underpainting and it seems to glow through in spots, giving it a wonderful luminosity. It's a remake of an old and faded painting (at the client's request). Good luck friends on all of your painting endeavors -- until next time, E.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

DOLPHIN SUNSET


Hello everyone -- this oil painting I polished off in very little time in one layer, avoiding the over-use of mediums as I'd become prone to do. Cracking is an issue when layering and it can trip you up (at least it does me!) if you don't pay very close attention to the right mediums and the quantity used.

Here's a cool link to an article that explains different types of mediums and their uses, working in layers utilizing mediums for fast or slow drying. Here's a clean up tip for your brushes: use baby oil! Make sure your brushes are thoroughly clean.
Stay tuned -- E.

TREETOP CONFERENCE - SOLD


Hello again. I love to walk and often take Coco my dog out in the early dawn or right at sunset when it's not as hot and use that time to connect with nature, my personal connection with God. On those walks, tropical nature never fails to amaze me with it's palette of colors and textures. So much to see on a grand or magnified scale: a sloping palm tree, a single dewdropped leaf, two or three wildflowers wavering in the breeze.
The painting of the lovebirds above was inspired by walking under a palm tree and seeing a crow perched on a branch... I thought, why not lovebirds, and "Treetop Conference" was born.
More to come -- E.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

SPOTLIGHT

Hello readers! This is a close up on a spotted jaguar, part of a larger piece I completed some time ago in oil on canvas. The jaguar was as sacred animal to the Mayan culture which is apparent everywhere one goes here, especially at Chichen-Itza near Merida about three hours to the north of Cancun. The animal is carved in stone and painted on a variety of surfaces, very prominent as a religious entity.

I enjoyed the challenge of painting the spots. This spotted jaguar was done in stages using a layering process. Before I began I researched exactly how a jaguar's spots are distributed on its body, the likely position of it's body as it lay on the ground, the expression in the eyes and proper coloring. I wanted the viewer to be drawn in by the jaguar but at the same time not allow the jaguar to dominate the entire work. You can view the entire piece on one of my art sites listed in the upper right corner of this page.

I have three cats who loll about my studio as a rule. They do this to avoid contact with the great white beast, our lovely and charismatic siberian husky who has the run of the lower floor; my studio is on the second. Their tranquility lends itself to me, all characters in their own right providing me with a calm, peaceful vibe.
All for now, back soon -- E.

Monday, July 20, 2009

THE BIRTH OF PARADISE STUDIO


Hello to all -- over twenty years have passed since I made the transition from living in a cold, wet climate to this exotic locale amongst people of a different culture. Perhaps some of you readers have also done so and are curious to see how your experience differs from mine. I had already lived in Mexico for many years pursuing a demanding career before I decided to pick up a paint brush and chase the fulfillment that creativity brings to oneself. In doing so I rediscovered a lost passion for painting, one that I'd cultivated in my youth before leaving it behind as my life so dictated.
I am mostly self taught and still learning. I had studied art and applied design in high school and excelled at both, but never pursued a career in either. Back in the day I had little guidance as to what kind of careers were available to artists and it was largely assumed that artists ended up as poor bohemians, struggling to get by. Hindsight and foresight aside, life takes us where we're supposed to go, so it took me a while to get back to the roots of my original passion. I started painting again about five years ago. Cancun is expanding at an alarming rate and now has a more diverse variety of art supplies available, but when I first started, materials were quite limited. I went to the Papeleria Cancun, a large warehouse-like structure that caters to business, scolastic and artistic needs. There I bought my first set of oil paints (I'd always used water-colors), brushes, canvas, mediums and easel. Since I'd never attemped oils before I began to research on the web, educating myself as to technique. I have since then produced all manner of paintings from plein air to layered works completed over time so as to give them luminosity and depth. And recently I've taken up acrylics as well.
Here is a link to one of the web sites I'm associated with. You can view some of my paintings and if so inclined, order an original or a print.
If any of you have questions about the life of an artist here I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability... just leave a comment. I'll be posting my latest works regularly so come back soon for more snippets about life on the outskirts of the rat race and the artwork I create inspired by the magnificent Caribbean ocean as well as the people and culture of the region. Bye for now -- E.