Monday, January 14, 2013

ORANGE STUDY

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ORANGE STUDY focuses on the strong contrast between light and dark, warm and cold, vorm and loose brush stroke. I call is a study as I try to push myself to another level of awareness in terms of the fine balance between a good painting and an exceptional one!



Sunday, January 13, 2013

THE DUCHESS ~ by Paul Emsley

source here
THE FIRST PORTRAIT OF THE DUCHES OF CAMBRIDGE UNVEILED!

Here is a clip of the artist and the protrait

The first official painted portrait of The Duchess of Cambridge has been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, where it is unveiled today Friday 11 January 2013.

The National Portrait Gallery's painting of its Patron was commissioned with the support of Sir Hugh Leggatt, in memory of Sir Denis Mahon, through the Art Fund.




The Duchess was involved in the selection process, from which artist Paul Emsley, the 2007 winner of the Gallery's BP Portrait Award competition, was chosen by Director Sandy Nairne to paint her official portrait.

The Duchess took part in an initial meeting to talk through the process of the painting. This was followed by two sittings, in May and June 2012, at the artist's studio in the West Country, England, and Kensington Palace. Emsley later made use of a series of photographs produced during the sittings. His subjects are frequently located against a dark background and emphasise 'the singularity and silence of the form'; while utilising a meticulous technique of thin layers of oil paint and glazes.

Paul Emsley says: 'The Duchess explained that she would like to be portrayed naturally - her natural self - as opposed to her official self. She struck me as enormously open and generous and a very warm person. After initially feeling it was going to be an unsmiling portrait I think it was the right choice in the end to have her smiling - that is really who she is.'

Following three-and-a-half months of painting, the completed portrait was presented to the Gallery's Trustees at their November 2012 meeting.

http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org



SASKATCHEWAN ROSES

SASKATCHEWAN ROSES ~ 11" X14"
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SASKATCHEWAN ROSES celebrates the time I just spent in Canada, and the beautiful pottery my dear friend bought for me on a visit to The Mckenzie Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan!


Thursday, January 10, 2013

CHATEAU GABRIEL ~ 11" X 14"
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CHATEAU GABRIEL is my take on the beautiful chateau that YSL decorated. Dramatic light shining through the window is a warm backdrop to the very special checkerboard marble floor. I love this grand, vibrant room decorated by one of the worlds top designers!




Wednesday, January 9, 2013

RIDEAUX ROUGES

RIDEAUX ROUGES ~ 11" X 14"
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RIDEAUX ROUGES is a warm, lively painting that celebrates the glow of warm sun against beautiful purples, showing of this French interior at its best!



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

KAARTSPEL


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KAARTSPEL is a lovely setting of an informal card game, emphasized by the cool light from a beautiful French window. An intense setting of warm reds, set off by calming greens that create a warm interior.


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

SUNLIT II

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The second Sunlit painting in a series of interiors that celebrate the warmth of sunlight rushing through beautiful French windows. This lovely room sports beautiful ornate mirror frames and a glimpse of a book on the foot stool, reminiscent of all the most wonderful luxuries life can possibly offer!



Friday, December 14, 2012

VYF ROSE

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VYF ROSE...or five roses is a color study where I tried to really intensify the temperature in a way that looks effortless yet took focus not to push either the composition or color balance too far and in the process retain tension and intrigue.



Thursday, December 13, 2012

SECRÉTARIAT


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SECRÉTARIAT is a painting all about the love of books, and nothing can be more special than a secréteriat to keep them all in!



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

DEUX CHAISES

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DEUX CHAISES is a painting I have really enjoyed creating. Though it is an opulant setting of a French interior, it still has beautiful muted colors to to set off the strong primaries!


Saturday, December 8, 2012

ROOIBOS


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ROOIBOS is a painting that contains everything I love so very dearly, a Martha Stewart teapot, love everything Martha....a French tea towel.....love everything French.....and my mom's chair...love my mom....which I have inherited when I moved to the States...not to mention the best organic apples from a friend's tree!
Rooibos is the best and most healthy South Africa tea, and did I mention it....love Rooibos!




Thursday, December 6, 2012

SUNLIT


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SUNLIT with early morning rays steaming through tall French windows! What a warm and welcoming sight!


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

PINK ROSES


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PINK ROSES is a painting I donated to the Daily Paint Works Hurricane Sandy fundraiser. The proceeds of this painting went to The Salvation Army who helps with feeding the people who were affected by the hurricane.


Monday, December 3, 2012

DIE VOORHUIS

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DIE VOORHUIS is a very special space with very warm highlights complimented by cool, grey and purple low lights. I love how the suns streams in through the window which makes the fireplace look even cozier!


Sunday, December 2, 2012

DAPPLED LIGHT

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DAPPLED LIGHT stream through the large branches of Californian oaks whenever one goes to The Corkscrew Café. This quaint restaurant lies in the heart of Carmel Valley Village, CA where the sun ALWAYS shines! And so I tried to capture it in this scene by juxta positioning intense yellows against cool blues.


Friday, November 30, 2012

THE CORKSCREW Café

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THE CORKSCREW Café is the second in a series of outdoor paintings, reminiscent of quaint Carmel,California. I just love everything about this setting, the dappled light, colorful makeshift, canvas canopies and the bustle of happy patrons!



Thursday, November 29, 2012

THE CORKSCREW

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THE CORKSCREW cafe is a quaint restaurant in the heart of Carmel Valley where you can taste Georges' wine and have THE BEST wood fired pizza's. The place is buzzing all day, every day and after spending lunch there, I just had to capture all the beautiful, earthy colors, dappling through the Californian Oaks!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

ROOI EETKAMER


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ROOI EETKAMER encapsulates everything that is good about eating in a dining room, ambience, warmth, style and fabulous elegance! And that is what I tried to capture in this vibrant, strong painting!


BLUE HYDRANGEA


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BLUE HYDRANGEA is a painting I did for this weeks challenge where we had to basically use blue as the main color of which without relying on reds an oranges to make the blue 'pop'!! Well, what do you think???


Monday, November 26, 2012

SISTER MOON

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SISTER MOON is a music lover's red wine, harvested and bottled in Tuscany by no other than legendary Sting himself, aptly named after his hit song Sister Moon!
This was a commission for a client who love to have a glass of Sister Moon when she plays her beautiful, antique, white baby grande Emerson!

Cheers!



Friday, November 23, 2012

TANGERINES


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TANGERINES are in season and such an inspiration to paint on this crisp cool autumn day! These were in my kitchen window when the early morning sun rushed in.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

TIME FOR THE WILLIAMS'

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TIME FOR THE WILLIAMS' depicts a few of my dear friends, Christine and Kim's special items they have been collecting over the years. I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity to capture what is special to them, as they are to me!



LES PIVOINES

Please click here to buy!

LES PIVOINES is a lovely, colorful and expressive painting of French peonies at their best...in a lovely cream pitcher and would look beautiful in any provincial interior!


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

BLOMMETJIE BLOU

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BLOMMETJIE BLOU is a strong, yet warm and special painting of everyday objects that show of sun in it's most beautiful form....shining through lemons!



Saturday, November 17, 2012

ABIGAIL'S BLUE


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Abigail's Blue is a collection of beautiful Delft from all over the world that my dear friend Abigail and her husband, Don, have collected over the course of their happy marriage. I am blessed to know them both and honored to have been able to capture a few of their favorite things!


Friday, November 16, 2012

DELFT REFLECTIONS

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Here I am with one of those classic blue and yellow pieces that looks beautiful in any setting....though I've tried to make this painting crisp and clean as only lemons against blue and do!