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Swing Band

Swing Band

24 x 24

Oil on Canvas

Well the year 2016 was a busy one filled with many fabulous days out and about either painting, running or riding the trails and getting used to retirement - well not for me actually but definitely a change.  We celebrated in Vancouver where the company had rented a ballroom and brought in a swing band and I immediately knew I had to take some photos and finish off the year with music themed paintings!  Such fun since my studio shares a building with the music academy and I get to listen to practice sessions while I paint.

I haven't decided yet whether to keep up this blog or not as Instagram for the moment seems to be the easiest method of posting so come visit me @barbhillierart or find me on my webpage barbhillier.ca.

Tugs at the Sicamous

Tugs at the Sicamous   SOLD

12 x 24 

Acrylic

Here is a different perspective on a much painted and photographed Sicamous Stern Wheeler in Penticton, BC.  From across the channel at the dam one can see a nice arrangement some tugs and the paddle wheeler in behind.

Day 5

Apex Downhill

12 x 12

Acrylic on Doorskin

Another winter scene for a very snowy January.

Day 4

Nickleplate Vista

12 x 12

Acrylic on Doorskin

Paused for a pic during my skate ski yesterday and couldn't wait to paint this scene today!

Day 3

Frozen Creek

12 x 12

Acrylic on Doorskin

Day 2 of 30

Forest Trails  SOLD

12 x 12

Acrylic on Doorskin

Just to add to the challenge off I went to the studio today without my glasses.  Loving my new brush though which gives a looser watercolour look to the brush strokes.

Day 1 of 30

Ankle Deep

12 x 12

Acrylic on Doorskin

My first post in a long while and inspired by Leslie Saeta's annual January 30 in 30 Challenge.  I find this month long painting a day exercise invaluable as a kick start to the New Year,  helping me to find some sense of discipline in picking up the brushes more often,  finishing the work and posting it.  Every year it gets easier to accomplish the feat and I'm able to paint a little bigger as well!

Back in Action

Steam Train  SOLD

16 x 16

Acrylic on wrapped canvas

After a month or so of life careening off the rails I am back on track with my latest project, a steam train which is a local summer tourist attraction.  There are many events in the valley these days celebrating anything to do with the railways and the steam powered engines.  My connection to the rail is a journey made as a child across Canada to the east coast by train, ten years spent living next to the tracks and then a journey back to the west coast again.  I've always had a fondness for this form of transportation.

The Farm

8 x 16

Acrylic on canvas

Well spring is on it's way and our plein air group had it's first paint out of the new year.  The location chosen was my favourite valley in the Okanagan between St. Andrews, Willowbrook and Twin Lakes.  It's also a favourite for birders and from now through the summer full of many species of birds but especially meadowlarks and bluebirds.  I did this painting the following day from a photograph as I had taken the wrong bag of assorted paints with me and only had some odd colors to work with.

Day 30 of 30

Whites

8 x 8

Acrylic

This is another subject I have painted before but I wanted to do it a little bigger and practise again with the whites. This is my little cheater of the 30 in 30 painted ahead of time as we are off to ski for a day or two.  It's been a great month with much accomplished and learned along the way.  Thank you very much to Leslie Saeta putting on this challenge.

Day 29 of 30

Sunset on the Dock

8 x 8

Acrylic

I have painted this previously but am drawn to the shapes and contrasts.

Day 28 of 30

Paris Transport

8 x 8

Acrylic

There always seems to be at least one bicycle parked outside every cafe in Paris, even in the rain.

Day 27 of 30

Bachelor Button

8 x 8

Acrylic

Designs in nature can be so astounding.  Which is more stunning, the beautiful long blue petals, the little magenta florets or the receptacle?

Day 26 of 30

Abandoned

8 x 8

Acrylic

We found this old girl out in the bush almost 40 years ago.  I've always wanted to paint her.

Day 25 of 30

Bikes and Umbrellas

8 x 8

Acrylic

France has so embraced the bicycle that you will find them everywhere including window boxes, this one funny enough with an umbrella for protection.

Day 24 of 30

Sunflowers

8 x 8

Acrylic

Flowers to brighten up a grey and dam day in the middle of winter.

Day 23 of 30

Whistler Glacier

8 x 8

Acrylic

Can you imagine a more beautiful back drop for a plein air painting demo by a well known American artist?  While I was waiting for her to set up I took a few pics for future reference.

Day 22 of 30

Alstroemeria

8 x 8

Acrylic

My favorite flowers I'm not sure why but oddly enough I was more drawn to the vase which is clear glass and has no color.

Day 21 of 30

California Bighorn Sheep

8 x 8

Acrylic

This poor girl needs work both on canvas and in real life.  She had chunks of fur missing and what looked like dozens of tics gorging away.  She was standing beside my car and giving me a bit of an indirect stare.