Misty

Misty, 24x24", acrylic on canvas ... SOLD

I finished this painting of Misty last week. What a lovely dog! She's part lab and part spaniel, small but so cute. This was commissioned as a birthday gift and I'm delivering it to Vancouver on Saturday (I just happen to be going there this weekend and that's where the owners of Misty live). It was a bit of a tricky reference photo to work from, as it was from a low quality photo taken with a cell phone, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I can't wait to hear the reaction to the gift...!

Broomhill Forest

Broomhill Forest, 18x36" - acrylic ...

This is one of my favourite paintings. It's currently part of my art show at the Sooke Harbour House, which is coming down on Wednesday to make way for the new July art show. There is a great hike not too far from my house, on Broomhill here in Sooke. This is one of the trees in the denser part of the forest. Decided to make it a bit more purple, and I really like the finished effect.

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

Beach Solitude

Beach Solitude, 16x20", acrylic ...

Another Tofino painting, from one of my many photos of our trip there last month. I will be going there again to camp and surf in just a few weeks - which I'm very excited about!

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

Sunlit Stream

Sunlit Stream - 30 x 30", acrylic ...

I finished this painting last week. I rather like working on larger paintings (note to self: do this more often). I started this one with black gesso covering the whole canvas, then started painting the rocks on the left, the water and distant rocks, and finally the trees. It's a rather high contrast painting ...

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

Workshop Weekend in Vancouver

Janice's painting, day 1

Blue, Janice's studio dog (he was awesome!)

Janice's painting, day 2

my painting - day 1 (Arbutus Ridge, 16x20") ... SOLD

my painting - day 2 (Peaceful Afternoon 16x20")

I had a great time at the 2 day workshop with Janice Robertson this past weekend in Vancouver! I learned a ton, and now have a new technique with which to paint with. Janice was a great teacher and shared a ton of great information. She demo'd a different painting each day, stopping in between each step so we could work on our own paintings. Most people in the class did the same scene she did, but I had brought my own reference photos that were similar in scene and colour, so I used those instead. I usually do not come back from workshops with paintings I am happy with, but these ones I rather like!

Looking Up

Looking Up - 24x30", acrylic ...

Here is another one of my paintings that is part of my Sooke Harbour House art show until the end of June. I just love this painting. It is the view that I see all the time, on every walk or hike. I suppose it's a bit of an unoriginal title, but that's what I'm always doing - looking up at the beauty of the giants around me. It's on a 3" deep canvas, which gives it a nice sense of "biggness".

I'm excited: I'm heading over to Vancouver tomorrow - I have a 2-day art workshop with Janice Robertson. I've met her before - she was one of the signature FCA members who took part in the art workshop on Gabriola Island last year. The plein air paintings she produced there were just stunning! I know I'm going to learn so much!

And of course I get to see some great friends of mine! I used to live in Vancouver until 7 years ago when my boyfriend and I moved to Vancouver Island. I love it over here (being away from it all is rather nice), but my friends and family still manage to draw me back to the big city on a regular basis.

I promise to post some workshop photos early next week...

Quiet Waters

Quiet Waters - 14x18", acrylic ...

This is a painting that I was stuck with for ages! It started as a plein air painting way back in September, when I attended a week long art workshop on Gabriola Island (which was amazing!!! I learned tons and loved every minute). I was fairly happy this painting overall, except the colour - it was all cool colours. I brought it home with the intention of working on it, but just couldn't decide how to warm it up and with what. I did glaze it with a unifying phthalo blue, but then it just sat there for months. Finally I just took the plunge, added some warmer yellow-greens and the golden yellow water. I'm happy with it again ... (except for the photo, sorry about the glare).

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

Regal

Regal - 24 x 36", acrylic ... SOLD

I have finally finished the eagle painting that I posted a few in progress photos of before. I was debating on whether to put in a blue sky, or something warmer. I finally decided to go with the pale orange-yellow. Since it was a big expanse of background, I added a bit more interest with some slight outlining, as well as horizontal brushstrokes to balance the vertical eagle. He's a 'Regal' eagle! This painting is a bit more representational that I usually do, even compared to my pet portraits. But it was such a fantastic photo showing some great detail that I just had to paint it that way. It was a fun one to work on.