Evening Peak

Evening Peak - 14x18", acrylic ...

One thing you might not know about me is that I love to surf! I can't even begin to explain the amazing inter-connectedness I feel when I am out on the water, catching (or at least trying) and riding a wave. It's the hardest sport I have ever tried, and yet the most rewarding. I feel as if my soul is soaring when I am out there. I've been surfing now for over 10 years, and sometimes I still feel like an absolute beginner. The power of the ocean is humbling, but I love being out there...

I've been wanting to do more surf-related paintings. But at the same time I don't have a lot of reference photos to work from. I do take photos with my waterproof camera when I'm out there, but most of them are not really compositionally great to work with. For this painting, I took a non-surf scene that I see all the time - from Whiffen Spit here in Sooke, looking south towards the Olympic Mountains in Washington State - and added in a wave that only appears occasionally (when there is a big enough period wave from just the right angle to make it all the way in here). I have surfed here just once, last year, and it was the longest ride I've ever had on a wave...

Dalton

Dalton - 16x20", acrylic ... SOLD ...

I love horses! I've always been a horse freak, they are all I used to draw as a kid. I still remember that eureka moment when I learned how to properly draw their hind legs!

This is done for a family friend, whose horse Dalton is very special to her. This is her in the painting, the closest I will get to painting a person. I still haven't met Dalton, but I hope to soon!

Maggie

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

My latest dog portrait - Maggie! Set for delivery tomorrow ... I love seeing their faces when they finally see the painting live!

If you would like to see more of my pet portraits, please visit here.

Signature member of the FCA!

Hidden View - 16x20", acrylic ...

I just found out today that I have been successful in applying for my AFCA status with the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA)! I am so thrilled!

There are three levels that can be achieved within the FCA: Active, Associate and Senior member - you are juried into each level. I've been an active member for a few years now, which has allowed me to enter into various juried shows. Once you have been accepted into a minimum number of qualifying shows, you are eligible to apply for AFCA or SFCA. Since I had enough shows under my belt and I felt my work had improved over the years to a consistent quality, I thought I'd try to up the ante this year. I needed to submit 10 images, 3 of which had to be provided as originals. My only dilemma was if I should include a few of my pet portraits in the images/originals I submitted - and in the end I decided to include one dog, and one cat, and one crow painting, along with 7 landscapes.

I am honoured to be recognized by my peers (other SFCA's were the jury) and to have been awarded AFCA. Thank you! The successful applicants are now part of the next FCA show called "Success". The three paintings we all provided for the jurying process will be shown here. The painting above is one that you will see there. And, now I can put AFCA after my name :-)

"Success" will be showing from March 8-27th,

at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island, Vancouver.

Release

Release - 10x10", acrylic

It's been a while since I've posted ... I started a full time (non-art related) job in early Feb, and it's been keeping me busy. I absolutely LOVE it (including the regular paycheck) but at the same time I'm a bit bummed that I don't have as much time to devote to my art. I just haven't yet gotten into the habit of spending time in the evenings painting. So far it's been just weekends. I need to stop sitting in front of the TV in the evenings and start going out to the studio ... More paintings will be coming, I promise!

This is from a photo I took with my little waterproof camera. I was sitting on my surfboard watching my boyfriend riding a wave in Tofino, BC.

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