Marley

Marley - 16x16", acrylic ... SOLD ...

Here's a gorgeous old boy - Marley. Getting a little bit grey around the muzzle and scruff. Still going strong though!

Tomorrow we are off to Ajax, Ontario for the next three weeks to visit my boyfriend's family and friends. I have packed some painting supplies to bring with me, in the hopes that I will have some downtime. Our first week there is pretty booked up with lots of visits and fun stuff! Hopefully there will be loads of snow for us to play in, we are bringing our snowshoes and cross country skiis. If (when!) I do get a chance to paint, I'll post it for you to see.

View of Heaven

View of Heaven - 20x24", acrylic ... SOLD ...

Unlike most of my others, I textured this painting first with acrylic gel medium, following the lines of my drawing. Then I employed numerous glazes on top of this. It's a technique I learned from artist David Langevin in a workshop I took from him last fall. I haven't done a ton of this style of painting, mainly because they just don't have my "signature" look (since I tend to paint in an impressionistic style with opaque paint). But I'm sure I'll do more as I just love the look of them. This painting sold this past weekend at my art show.

The title is a play on words: "View of Heaven" could mean it's a heavenly looking view, but really it's looking at a distant ski run on Blackcomb mountain called "Seventh Heaven"...

Unique Art Show

Valley Trail View - 12x12", acrylic ... SOLD ...

Yesterday some friends and I put on a "Unique Art Show & Sale". It was in intimate 4-artist show out of my friend's gorgeous home in Victoria. We had a ton of people show up to do some shopping and socializing while enjoying wine and chocolates ... I love these type of small intimate events. They are so much fun. I sold quite a few of my small paintings, including this one, which happens to be one of my favourites. I am happy to report it has found a very good home!

Together

Together - 18x36", acrylic ... SOLD

I did this painting for a friend, to celebrate the birth of her son. It's just a little bit late, he's over a year old now. I delivered it a few days ago and she loved it! I had fun doing the mother and child silhouette - this is the closest I get to painting people. :-)

Spaces

Spaces - 8x10", acrylic on board ...

I love trees! Just can't get enough of them. But sometimes when I start painting them I feel a little overwhelmed, as there can be so much detail and I just can't (and don't want to) paint it all. Trying to simplify all I see is a fun challenge. For this one I focused on the spaces of sky showing through.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

Birches on Blue

Birches on Blue - 10 x 20" (dyptich), acrylic ... SOLD

I've always loved the look of birch trees. Around here we don't have many of them - it's mostly alders, which are not quite as interesting to paint. I had fun with this, I quite like the graphic quality of it. I think I'm going to do more of these in the future, with different colours for the background.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

Snow Day

Snow Day - 12x24", acrylic ...

It seems I'm in the mood for winter again! It's getting a bit cold and we just had our first windstorm of the season. Amazingly we didn't loose our power last night, although it threatened to all night with the lights flickering with each blast of wind. I may be a bit strange, but I like winter.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

Edward and Zoe

Edward & Zoe - 16x16", acrylic ... SOLD (commission)

This is to be a Christmas gift. What a great photo this was to paint from! Normally I don't do any detail in the background as I like to isolate the pets and make them the focus. But since these two were swimming, I painted in the water. I had a great time painting these two...

Afternoon Glow - Whistler

Afternoon Glow, Whistler - 18x30", acrylic ... SOLD (commission)

I just finished this one yesterday - It's a commission piece for a family member. This summer they were looking through all my "to paint" reference photo ideas that I print up and keep in a file in my studio. As soon as they saw it, they said "I want this one"! It just has such a calm feel to it. Soon it will be heading to it's new home in Ajax, Ontario.

The Point

The Point - 8x16", acrylic ...

Lately I've been working on a couple of larger commissions, so haven't had time to post as much. But here is a smaller piece that I did. Another view of East Sooke point from Whiffen Spit here in Sooke...

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

Gifts and Wishes Art Show

Opening Reception - tonight from 6-8pm!

This show is taking place at the Coast Collective. It's an arts collective housed in a beautiful early 1900's stone mansion on the grounds of Royal Roads University. It's an amazing place to visit and see the great art that is on display in the gallery room, as well as in the 4 gift shop rooms.

For the next two weeks, rather than the usual gallery show, they are hosting the Gifts & Wishes Art Show in the gallery room. Over 40 out of the 100 artists involved in the collective are showcasing their work = perfect timing for the coming Christmas gift-giving season! There is something for every budget here - beautiful works of art in all sizes and prices, jewelry, art cards, even honeycomb (Pete's Bees!). And more!

Oct 28-31, Nov 4-7th

Thurs/Fri: 12 noon - 8:30pm

Sat/Sun: 12 noon - 5:00pm

For more information and directions, visit the Coast Collective website...

Whistler and the West Coast

Looking at Heaven - 30x30", acrylic ... SOLD

Sunrise Over East Sooke - 18x36", acrylic ... SOLD

I have recently sold these two paintings to a new client here in Victoria. He loves the west coast, and is also an avid skiier / snowboarder. Having just built a new house with some fantastic views, he needed a few larger pieces for the walls. These really are two of my favourites, and I was happy to see them going to a beautiful home. (But I think I'm rather biased, as lately all of my paintings are my favourites).

Thank you to all those who support artists by buying their paintings

- so they can do for a living what they love to do!

Behind the Clouds

Behind the Clouds - 10x20", acrylic ...

Been meaning to do this one for a while. I took this photo last year while I was on Gabriola Island taking a week long FCA art workshop (which was fantastic!!!). It was a bit rainy for the week, but this sunset was stunning.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

Tofino Afternoon

Tofino Afternoon - 10x10", acrylic ...

Although most of our camping trip last weekend was wet and windy (but thankfully not all that cold), we had one absolutely gorgeous and sunny day! We hung out at Chesterman Beach on a blanket, watching the amazing pro surfers getting ready for the next day of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic - they make it look so easy!!! This day the surf was rather big and gnarly, with huge close-outs. I knew that if I went out I'd just get pummeled, so I was happy to just watch. Besides, I'd already had a few great surfing days already at Cox Bay (smaller but much cleaner waves).

Here are a few photos from our trip:

Ready to surf

Not my best one, but the only photo that was taken...

Friday: the women's competition day

Definitely a painting-to-be!

Super windy!

Check out the surfer on the wave...

Last Light of Day

Last Light of Day - 24x24", acrylic ... SOLD

Just got back from Tofino! It was a wet and windy camping trip, but we had a GREAT tarp set up to keep us dry and a nice big fire each night to keep us warm. The surf was huge but we got a few great days in. And we got to watch some amazing pro surfers, as the O'Neill Cold Water Classic was taking place (and still is all this week!). Good luck to Tofino locals Peter Devries (who won last year), Sepp Bruhwiler and Benn Murphy who are all still in the running!

I don't have any new works from this trip yet (stay tuned) but this painting is one I did from a recent trip there. Sunsets are stunning there, lighting up the beaches and trees - gorgeous. This painting was hanging in the "Cedar Corner Art Gallery" in Tofino, and just sold recently.

Winter Paradise

Winter Paradise - 8x16", acrylic ...

I'm thinking about winter it seems. Here's another snow painting. This is a photo from trip last year to Whistler during the Olympics. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and later in the afternoon the sun was behind these trees. I love snow-covered trees! A stunning piece of winter paradise...

Snow painting - in progress photos

I decided to do something a little different today. I have a few Christmas art sales to get ready for but not near enough painting days. So I need to be a bit more productive. I have quite a few reference photos ready to paint, so for this one I decided to do a little "assembly line" painting. All in different sizes - the biggest one here is 14x18", the smallest is 4x6" (sizes to suit all price ranges!). Once I had the paint colours mixed up, I used that same colour for each painting stage. In my reference photo the sky wasn't green, but I wanted it to complement the red in the shadows and the underpainting.

Here are my in-progress photos. This was fun! I still have a little tweaking to do, but they are mostly done.

Beach Solitude accepted into FCA show

Beach Solitude - 16x20", acrylic ...

I just found out that this painting has been accepted into the fall show that the Federation of Canadian Artists is putting on here in Victoria (www.victoriafca.com). It's a juried show, so I'm rather excited that it made it in! The show is on from Oct 3 - 13th, in Victoria BC. Here is the poster for it with more details. This painting, and other fabulous ones as well, will be for sale at the show (hint hint...)!

Revisiting a Dream

Revisiting a Dream - 16x20", acrylic ...

I started this painting last week as part of a painting demonstration for an art group called Studio 30. It was my first demonstration in front of a large group - I was a little nervous but had a lot of fun. They were a great group, asked lots of questions and were fun to be painting in front of.

This painting was started on a black gessoed canvas. It's another scene of Tofino, this time from the north end of Cox Bay, looking towards some of the tree covered rocks at low tide. At high tide these rocks are almost completely surrounded by the ocean.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at info@lisariehl.com

First Peak

First Peak - 20x24", acrylic ...

Yesterday we had our first surf of the season! It was great to be back out on the water, after a summer of no surf at all. I'm a little stiff now - I'm not yet in great paddling shape but will be soon enough. Tomorrow should be pretty big, better than it was yesterday. But as it's a weekend it will be crazy busy. Might be worthwhile going either super early for first light (hey: first light at first peak!) or later in the day.

This painting is from last year. First Peak is one of the point breaks we often surf at and it's the one we were at yesterday. I often bring my little waterproof camera out with me, and sit just inside waiting for someone to catch a good wave. This is my boyfriend - I was just sitting on the shoulder of this wave as it went right by me, a perfect location to shoot this photo.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

East Sooke Point

East Sooke Point - 12x36", acrylic ... SOLD

I love these rectangular canvases. It's fun to search through all my photo references and find the right image for this shape, whether horizontal or vertical. This is East Sooke Point (at least that's what I call it), viewed from Whiffen Spit here in Sooke. I have taken my dog for many walks along this spit and always take my camera. Each time the lighting and atmosphere are different. This day was overcast but still had a bit of light peaking through. The Olympic Mountains are in the distance (part of Washington state).

And now for something completely different ...

Sweet Thing - 30x30", acrylic ... SOLD

This was something completely different for me. I was asked to do this as a commission and I just couldn't say no. Who could resist painting this subject matter? Not me. The best part was painting it on such a nice big scale. The only downside is the whole time I was craving something sweet ...

Summer Days

Summer Days - 10x10", acrylic ...

This is a view of the Sooke Basin through some close-up trees. I am drawn to this kind of view, but haven't done a lot of paintings to reflect that up to now. I had some fun with the colour scheme in this.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

Sunshine

Sunshine, 16x20" - acrylic ... SOLD

This cat commission was so much fun! Sunshine is a gorgeous black and white cat and I'm so glad I could paint her in these colours. I love it when people allow me to have fun with their commissions. This was a high contrast photo, with her in the sun, and it worked very well as a reference.

For more information on my pet portraits, please see www.lisariehlpetportraits.com.

In the Corner

In the Corner - 12x12", acrylic on board ...

I can't help myself, she's just so paintable. Here's another painting of my dog Lucy - hope you are not sick of seeing her yet. I added some texture to a cradled board with modeling paste, then painted on top of it, starting with black gesso.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

Pete's Bees

My boyfriend Pete has been keeping bees now for two years. He's always wanted to do it - he grew up with a neighbour who had bees and his interest grew from there. It's been tough on beekeepers in the past 5 years or so here on Vancouver Island - many beekeepers lost 90% of their bees last winter alone - but first year bees seem to have a higher survival rate. Pete's did just fine. He's been taking good care of them (treating appropriately for the mites which are the main downfall of hives) so hopefully their second winter will be a good one.

Today he sold a TON (almost literally!) of honey at the Metchosin Market. Although it was raining for the first part of the day, that didn't stop people from buying up the sweetness. The label for his honey is above, it's based on a small painting I did last year with the idea that I would use it for this purpose. I might paint a few more little bee paintings, as he has a few different varieties of honey (wildflower, fireweed, honeycomb) and a different painting could be used for each variety.

But don't think you can make money at this venture, at least in the beginning on a small scale! Pete might just break even this season - all the equipment to get started is not cheap. And if he works out his hourly rate based on labour, he's probably making $0.20/hr. It's a labour of love. However, he is a honey addict so at least he can fuel his addiction. Honey doesn't last long in this house!

View Over Cox Bay

View Over Cox Bay - 11 x 14" ... SOLD ...

Here is the view in the opposite direction of my previous Tofino beach painting. This is from the top of the hill, at the south end of Cox Bay, looking north. It was a gnarly hike in flip flops (I wouldn't recommend it, but that's all I had with me at the beach that day) but soooooo worth the view!

Rosie Bay Rocks

Rosie Bay Rocks - 16x20", acrylic ...

Another Tofino painting. I stuck to blue and purple for this one. This is the rocky headland at Rosie Bay, just south of Chesterman Beach. Cox Bay is just behind it. The distant hill is what I hiked up a few months ago to get an absolutely amazing view of the beach. Of course I did a painting of the view, but just realized I never posted it! Stay tuned ...

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

At the Edge

At the Edge - 30x30", acrylic ... SOLD

I absolutely loved doing this one! I started it on a purple background, and think it's a pretty good balance of cool and warm colours. It's from the cross-country ski trails up at Cypress Mountain, just north of Vancouver. I spent a few days there at a friend's cabin and we did a bit of snowshoeing through the woods while the sun was out. This scene captivated me with the funky shadows at the edge of the ski trail.

Boo

Boo - 16x16", acrylic ... SOLD

My latest pet portrait commission - Boo (also known as Buddha). He's a great little dog, so cute and super friendly!

Through the Mist

Through the Mist - 6x24", acrylic ...

I had this long thin canvas sitting around for a while and was debating what to do with it. When I looked at all my reference photos, one of trees in the mist just jumped out at me - perfect for the vertical shape. This is a very typical west-coast scene in the misty fall/winter.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

Evening Surf

Evening Surf - 10x10", acrylic ...

I can't wait for fall/winter to arrive! I am feeling a bit of withdrawal from surfing, as there is rarely any surf here in the summer. We live in Sooke, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and in order for waves to get in here there has to be some decent size storms in the Pacific with enough force to push them in here at the right angle. This doesn't happen much in the summer, but come fall ... (see map below so you get an idea of this.)

The last time I surfed was in early July in Tofino. This is on the open west coast of Vancouver Island so they have surf year-round, although it's usually much smaller in the summer. The painting above is a scene from there.

I'm looking forward to the winter surf season!

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

Lost in the Moment

Lost in the Moment, 18x24" - acrylic ...

Finished this one last week. A few years ago I was in the Queen Charlottes (now Haida Qwaii). It was an overcast morning, but just a little opening in the clouds allowed the sun to light up these trees. It was so beautiful! I have painted this scene before, but I wanted to revisit it and also paint it in a larger format.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at info@lisariehl.com

Here are a few in-progress photos: