Blog - SylverDesign

Ilderton, On Fall Fair Art Contest

9/29/2014

I entered 4 paintings and 2 illustrations into the 2014 Ilderton Fall Fair in Ontario. I am very proud of the feedback that I got as well as the ribbons. The largest ribbon is Best Entry First Time, the red ones are first place, the blue ones are second place and the white one is third place.

It never hurts to put your stuff out there!

An illustrator first

9/23/2014

It has been interesting in my discussing my art with others. As an illustrator, I can paint anything which at times makes it difficult on what to focus on next. I have recently have been excited in revisiting paintings of musical instruments and to have them up eventually at London Music Hall.

I also love painting glass, reflections, crystal and still life but I am also working towards getting better at portraits. Sometimes there are just too many options. That is why I love commissions. I create a piece for someone else that speaks to them.

I am very excited in attending the Habitat for Humanity Gala in London this fall since I will be doing a portrait of the feature entertainer that night, Gordon Deppe.

I am so excited in all the options in front of me. I have to admit though, that I have had an amazing year so far and have been in the most galleries shows than I have ever been in the past. It has been an amazing first year focusing on my art.

One thing that I will do this fall is focus on creating 3 paintings to submit for Paint Ontario. I think I will check out locations in southwestern Ontario and have some fun with what I find.

I never stop thinking about what to paint (right Gwen?). We artists are certainly interesting lot indeed.

Old is new again

9/22/2014

Here is an older painting that I did quite a few years ago (the one on the left) and decided to give it a facelift and make it warmer and lighten the background. I feel this update shows more the colour choices for all my current paintings.

I am working on creating a painting of a violin and will share when it is done.

Blackfriars, London Ontario

9/22/2014

This painting measures 16" x 20" and is acrylic on stretched canvas. This is my first "Plein Air" (painting outside) in 13 years! I love this technique as it really loosened up my brushstrokes. I hope to do more plein air painting in the future.

I did this just before the Painting Blackfriars weekend to get back in to the groove. I love the house with the red door near the centre.

Pencil drawing

9/16/2014

Here is another pencil drawing that I have recently done.

All in one sitting

9/13/2014

I wanted to play with my paints and be more free with my artwork. I also pretty much took the paint straight out of the tube or jar and applied it to the canvas. I have always loved Impressionist paintings and so this is an homage to that style. The image is 12" x 16" on stretched canvas.
Also, underneath is a closeup of the painting.

Patio Pots

9/13/2014

Here is my latest, "Patio Pots". 12" x 24" acrylic on stretched canvas. I used photoshop to create the composition. One photo had the pots themselves (actually there were 5) but the flowers were not very good looking. Then I found flower images on the internet that I liked better. Then I used the digital reference for my final painting.

Colours in my world

9/11/2014

I was explaining recently to someone in the London art community on what paints I use in my palette. I do stick to these and I thought I would share them. First of all, phthalo blue and green, cerulean blue, cadmium red, yellow hansa, burnt sienna and if needed, permanent rose. I find I get all the colours I need from these colours alone. I have tried different colours over the last 13 years and that's what works for me.

Throwback Thursday - Use of Phthalo Green

9/11/2014

Here is a painting that I did in 2008 for my friend Patti Conrad with her horse Tess. It was the first painting that I did that showcased strongly the colour phthalo green. The image is an acrylic painting on 22" x 28" stretched canvas. I worked from a photo for this piece.
I love this one because it includes more architectural elements and it shows off Patti's incredible smile as she rode her horse.

Graphic designers come in all spots

9/4/2014

I was on a FB page and saw this post...http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/celebrities-were-designers-81412563 I didn't realize how many of my idols were either actual graphic designers or had graphics degrees. Why am I talking about graphic designers you ask? Well, for 10 years I taught graphic software and theory.

I created and taught the original Illustrator and Photoshop course at Fanshawe Continuing Ed in the 1990s. I created many courses for them as well as taught for FIMS at Western University and had my own corporate clients. Does anyone remember Productivity Point or Executrain? I was the graphics instructor for each company.

I am a self professed typography geek. I still do graphic design and although I would say that It is about 10% of my work now, with painting being the other 90%, it is still a part of who I am and I am realizing that it is still important to me.