Alan's Art Desk

Tranquil crossing.

2011-01-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

The only connection this image has to this weeks theme is that I painted it 5 years ago, and I had to brush it off, as it was rather DUSTY.

(Acrylic on canvas - 27cm x 35cm)

Winter wings.

2010-12-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

Canada geese - we love them. So long as they keep flying, we have no problem with them. It’s when they land that the trouble starts. At one time, they used to fly south for the winter. Now, we have a large resident population. That creates all sorts of trouble.

(Watercolour Arches 140lb - 28cm x 36cm)

Bad weather brewin'.

2010-11-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

The Fall morning had been lovely, but "Afterwards"!!!

(Watercolour on Bockingford CP - 18 cm x 27 cm)

Misty morning moorage.

2010-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

A weekend form of "Transportation" sitting at the dock on a misty morning.

(Watercolour on Arches 300lb CP - 24cm x 28cm)

Beneath the trees.

2010-10-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees, this young Elk walks with total ease.
A painting I did a couple of years ago, seems to fill this weeks theme, "Beneath".

(Acrylic on canvas - 30cm x 40cm)

Slocan Steamer

2010-09-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

This stern wheeler "Slocan", was built on Slocan Lake in 1891 It spent many years on that lake in the West Kootenays of British Columbia, which makes it pretty old fashioned.

(Watercolour on Arches 300lb CP - 22cm x 30cm)

Winter night in the Kootenays.

2010-08-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Having spent time in the Kootenay area of British Columbia in winter, the night sky is a wonderfull sight with more stars than I have ever seen before. One could spend all night "Star Gazing".

(Watercolour on Bockingford CP paper - 28cm x 37cm)

Song Sparrow

2010-08-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

This week's Illustration Friday theme, "Caged".
Ideally I do not like to see any animal caged, and would much prefer to see them in natural settings. This Song Sparrow often visits our bird feeder, and we love to watch it, along with all the other birds.

(Watercolour on Arches CP - 24cm x 26cm)

A day at the beach.

2010-07-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

This painting I did seemed appropriate for this weeks theme "Double", our two Granddaughters' first visit to an ocean beach. All beach toys etc, have to be double, so there are no arguments.

(Acrylic on canvas - 30cm x 40cm)

"Nevermore"

2010-07-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

When I painted this picture, some time ago, I always thought the raven looked as though it was looking for something, and in keeping with this weeks theme, I think it must have been "Breakfast" that was on its mind.

(Acrylic on canvas board - 25cm x 25cm)

Big sky country.

2010-07-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Giant, made me think of the "Giant" prairie sky, and the time spent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba many years ago.

(Watercolour on Bockingford 140lb 25cm x 18cm)

Sailor away.

2010-05-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

This weeks theme "Early" made me think of this picture I painted from an old railway poster from the 1900s.
Plus an old song, "Early one morning, just as the sun was rising, I saw this old guy dancing, skipping down the beach."
Some of the words are not from the original song, just in case you were wondering.

(Acrylic on board - 26cm x 30cm)

Coopers Hawk

2010-05-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

This Coopers Hawk sure looks fearless, so I thought it fit this week's Illustration Friday theme. We see this bird quite often around the bird feeder, although we have only seen it take one victim over the years we have been watching.
(Watercolour on Arches 300lb c.p. - 24 cm x 30cm)

Winter cocoon.

2010-05-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

My interpretation of this weeks Illustration Friday theme "cocoon".
This alpine hut in the West Kootneys of British Columbia would seem to be a cocoon from the winter storms, and cold nights.
(Watercolour on Arches 300lb. - 23cm x 28cm)

I don't know what I did to deserve being picked for this week's "Pick of the Week", but I would like to thank all the people who have sent me kind messages, not just for this last submission, but over the last year or so. Thank you.

A winter's trail.

2010-04-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

This weeks Illustration Friday theme "ahead" made me think of a painting I did 50 years ago. Also, an old "one-liner", or the case of the misplaced comma:
"What's that in the road, ahead". Pretty lame eh!
(Watercolour - 25cm x 32cm)

Garden treasures.

2010-04-10T10:41:00.001-07:00

These paintings are somewhat "Linked" to my efforts at painting flowers from our garden. I think I need more practice!
(Watercolour - 30cm x 40cm)

Brave Wren.

2010-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

I always thought that the Wren was a brave bird. It is always checking out what we are doing in the garden and talking to us. Or that's what we imagine it's doing. Although, it's probably saying, "Clear off out of MY GARDEN!"

(Watercolour on Arches 140lb CP - 18cm x 27cm)

Little shebeen on the bog.

2010-02-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

I will probably get into trouble for this one, but this is my perspective of a summer day in Ireland.
(watercolour on 140lb Bockingford paper - 18cm x 25cm)

Propagate

2010-02-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

This week’s Illustration Friday theme “Propagate” really stumped me, until I came up with a thought. This abandoned farm could use a “proper gate”.
Sorry about that! :-)
(Acrylic on canvas - 32cm x 37cm)

A common loon...

2010-02-13T19:54:00.001-08:00

...adrift on a misty pond.
My take on this week's Illustration Friday theme "adrift".
(acrylics on illustration board - 20cm x 33cm)

Puppy love.

2010-01-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

Two of our grandchildren, focused for the moment.
I had been trying to get them together and still for a split second, so I could take a photo of them. Then at last the dog next door wandered over.

(Acrylics on canvas - 30cmx40cm)

Clumsy!

2010-01-22T14:32:00.001-08:00

Just watch where you are putting that glass!
There's a lesson to be learned here, don't drink and paint!
Oh well, back to the easel.

Marsh or mirage?

2010-01-16T14:32:00.000-08:00

A bit of warm wilderness for this cold winter.
Acrylic on matte board, 12cm x 26cm

Climb every mountain!

2009-01-23T13:10:00.001-08:00

I have always been fascinated by the mystery of mountains, and climbing seems to be the thing that we all think of when we see mountains, always wishing we could see the view from the top.

(Acrylic on canvas board - 30cm x 40cm)

Watchful and wise.

2008-11-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

"Yes," said Owl, looking wise and thoughtful, "I see what you mean."

(Water colour on Bockingford - 26cm x 32cm)

Anarchist Mountain farm house

2008-09-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

A couple of times a year we pass by this abandoned century old farm house near the summit of Anarchist Mountain, B.C.. Standing alone and not another building in sight for many miles, we have always thought it must be "packed" with ghosts from the past - if only it could talk.

(Acrylic on canvas - 30cm x 40cm)

A morning stroll.

2008-09-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

My interpretation of a picture by C.J.Vine. It appears to me that these geese are in the process of forming a "Clique".

(Acrylic on canvas - 28cm x 35cm)

Memories

2008-08-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Fifty-six years ago my wife and I were married in this church, Saint Mary's, Cottingham, UK. Painting this picture brought back many memories of years gone by, and the journey that brought us to Vancouver Island.
(Acrylic on Masonite - 36cm x 60cm)

Canada Geese.

2008-08-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Canada Geese start their routine migration, although around these parts, many are starting to stay all year.
(Watercolour on Arches CP - 28cm x 38cm)

Detach.

2008-08-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I call a really detached home, even the leaves on the trees have become detached.
(Watercolour on Bockingford - 21cm x 28cm)

Full sail.

2008-08-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

I painted this picture a couple of years ago, but thought it fit this week's Illustration Friday "sail" theme.
(Acrylic on masonite board - 24cm x 30cm)

Never enough!

2008-07-18T14:56:00.001-07:00

No matter how much you feed them, some kids never seem to get enough. I've painted so many Herons, I think that's enough, at least for now!
(Mixed media, on Bockingford CP - 20cm x 30cm)

Saint Helens

2008-07-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Morning fog at Mount Saint Helens, Washington.
(Watercolour on Arches CP - 20cm x 27cm)

A rose by any other name.

2008-07-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

There is nothing sour about this rose "Double Delight", one of my favorites, the scent is one of the sweetest.
(Watercolour on Canson Montval - 22cm x 26cm)

Batten down the hatches.

2008-07-02T09:49:00.001-07:00

Running before a fierce gale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
(Watercolour on Arches CP - 19cm x 28cm)

A winter savings withdrawal.

2008-06-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

My take on this week’s theme "Hoard". This little guy is the ultimate hoarder, although a lot of times he forgets where he put his stash!
(Watercolour on Bockingford CP - 24cm x 30cm)

Cast away.

2008-06-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

This old boat seems to have been forgotten in a backwater.
I took a photo of this boat on a visit to England some years ago, and always wanted to paint it. I am sure the boat is long gone by now, but it will not be forgotten by me.
(Watercolour on Arches CP - 27cm x 22cm)

Shocking weather.

2008-05-09T16:45:00.001-07:00

My take on this week's Illustration Friday theme of "electricity".
(Watercolour on Arches CP - 18cm x 27cm)

From seed.

2008-05-02T15:30:00.001-07:00

My thoughts on "Seed" - to think that this stump was once a seed, maybe 150 years ago.
(Watercolour on Montval 140lb CP. - 19cm x 26cm)

Wrinkles in the snow.

2008-04-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

A back road in the Slocan Valley, situated in the West Kootenay area of British Columbia.
(Acrylic on illustration board - 17cm x 26cm)

This could be the start of something big.

2008-04-19T11:56:00.001-07:00

My interpretation of this week's Illustration Friday theme, "Primitive". I couldn't think of anything more primitive than the "Big Bang".
(Acrylic on illustration board - 18cm x 24cm)

Patience, patience.

2008-04-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Our local Raptor seems to have failed again, so the Robin gets to live another day.
(Water colour on Arches CP 300 lb. - 20cm x 20cm)

Another Great Blue Heron.

2008-03-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

This time on a piece of driftwood, picked up on the beach. I had attached this to the fence near our pond, hoping it would deter the other herons, but to no avail.
(Acrylic on plywood - 45cm x 80cm)

Home of heavy stone.

2008-03-14T10:02:00.001-07:00

I was fascinated by the thought of the stories this abandoned cottage could tell, so I concentrated on the door and a window, to give a feeling of the people who lived there.
It must have been back-breaking work to build houses out of heavy stone - and without machinery.
(Acrylic on illustration board - 15cm x 20cm)

Great Blue Heron

2008-03-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

I love painting this bird, as it always looks so elegant. Goodness knows why I should have such a liking for them, as they are always dropping by our pond for a little goldfish lunch!
(Acrylic on illustration board - 22cm x 35cm)

Our little garden oasis.

2008-03-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

A view of part of our garden - summer can't be too far off now.
My submission for this week's Illustration Friday theme "Garden".
(Acrylic on hardboard - 35cm x 40cm)

A slow leap across the Humber.

2008-03-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

During the early 1950's, I often used to travel across the Humber River in England on this ship, the P.S.S. Wingfield Castle.
This picture was painted in acrylics on Bainbridge illustration board (19cm x 29cm).
Click on the image for a better look.