Tag Archives: landscape painting

Incense – painting timelapse #12

February 13, 2018 Donna Grandin 2 Comments

Incense

Sandalwood, patchouli, bergamot, jasmine, frangipani… incense can be a fun way to set the mood for creative work.

I stocked up a few years ago when I visited Primitive Designs in Port Hope with a friend, and every now and then I remember I have them.

You choose scents that you enjoy, but I think really it is the deliberate choice you make when you pick one and light it up, that leads to the benefits.

It is a signal to your brain that you are ready to relax, to take care of yourself, to be in tune with your senses, to be IN the moment, to meditate, to be open to insight, to create.

I think we can condition ourselves to get into that mindset – and gain those benefits faster – by lighting incense whenever we are about to start a painting session.

It’s my hypothesis anyway.

I might try to test it out, starting by burning incense at the start of each painting session so that I begin to correlate the two.

The truth is, I’d like to get to my easel earlier in the day but I’ve always been a night owl, doing most of my creative work at night.

So, it might just be going against the tide.

Work Flow

I discovered my perfect work flow in University – alternating painting days with non-painting days.

That way I could fully immerse myself in long hours of painting without feeling guilty about other things. I might still have had a couple classes to attend, but then I’d go right back to the large studio I shared with 5-7 other art students. While they were around I’d enjoy their company, feedback on my work etc. Basically, charging up my batteries.

Then in the afternoon, most of them would go home, and I’d really settle down to work. Even if I was painting on and off all day, this was when I got the bulk of my painting done. I’d walk across campus to my student house between 1 & 4am, knowing that I could sleep in.

After lunch the next day, I’d I catch up on all my non-painting activities. In those days it was school assignments, socializing, and grocery shopping.

These days, as a responsible adult and parent, the non-painting activities are an every day thing. The household chores and the business activities (not to mention volunteer work) have multiplied.

And I have not-so-little-anymore people who depend on me. Who will wander into the studio to talk about their school day, to ask for homework help, to ask “what can I eat now?”.

So, I have to work harder to balance it all.

Hence the need for incense, and yoga, and the Journey to Self.

Sorry for the quality of these timelapse videos. I just can’t figure out how to do them and cut myself out entirely.

I wish I had a camera that attached to my glasses, so you could almost get a look of the work in progress THROUGH MY EYES!

Do you burn incense, if so, which scents do you enjoy most? And do you associate specific activities with specific scents?

30 in 30 challenge

Tease – painting timelapse #11

February 12, 2018 Donna Grandin 2 Comments

Tease

Yes, I’m being such a tease, showing you parts of the canvas in these wip photos. Partly it’s because this painting could take me 2 weeks to do, and it would get boring if I didn’t try to show you something different each day.

And partly it’s because I’m hoping for a big reveal once the painting is done. I hope the photographer who took the original photograph, Dani Devaux, will like the finished painting. But this is not a commission, so I could still interpret it how I want.

For example, so far I have not been concerned with catching the likeness of the model. And I’m thinking of having her eyes closed in the painting, though they were open in the photograph.

I think the closed eyes suits the peaceful environment and meditative pose.

My addiction

Late start today, even though I slept well, had a good breakfast. It’s due to my addiction. I just couldn’t shake myself free, and get down to work.

And of course, as a Mom I also had the meals, laundry, helping kids with h.w. etc. sprinkled into the mix.

My addiction? Binge-watching everything on Netflix. To the point where Netflix could blackmail me by threatening to share my watch history with the world, because it’s so extensive, so eclectic.

In fact the other day I had to wonder if Netflix was throwing me some shade. It recommended a category, based on my recent viewing habits, called “Soapy International Dramas for Hopeless Romantics”!

I’ve always enjoyed watching foreign films, in the original language, but with English subtitles. I understand just enough French and Spanish to realize that a lot can be lost in translation. Low budget movies that have been dubbed into English are the worst.

I like to listen to the actors speaking in their own voices, to hear the tone and nuance. It is like a ladder to a window into another world, where I can experience the lifestyle of people who walk in wildly different shoes than mine. From the comfort of my own couch.

Last year I watched a few Turkish romantic drama series, and a strange thing started to happen. The Turkish responses for certain situations would come into my head, before I could answer in English – simple things like thank you, good night!

Anyway, I’ve also watched various shows and movies from India, Malaysia, Korea, Iceland as well as British, Scottish, Irish etc

When I was younger I used to love to curl up with a big book, the bigger the better because it lasted longer.

And it’s the same thing with watching a series, the characters become very familiar. And it’s like having company in the studio.

That’s how it works with shows in English. The problem is, you can’t watch a show with subtitles and paint at the same time.

So far during this challenge, I’ve been listening to podcasts while I paint. It was working great, but then this morning I was watching a Korean series and I just didn’t want to stop.

Eventually I compromised and put on a movie in English, and watched that while I painted. By the time it was over, I was deep into the painting, so I was able to carry on with nothing else playing in the background.

My plan for this week is to go to the library and pick up an audio book or two to try out.

Yeah, yeah, I know. First world studio problems.

30 in 30 challenge

On the easel – timelapse #10

February 11, 2018 Donna Grandin Leave a comment

Easel

A view of my easel set up at the end of today’s painting session.

Painting progress is slow, I’ve been working at the easel for much shorter bursts than normal. I’m feeling tired & worn out, need to take better care of myself.

Anyway, the underpainting is almost complete, and I think it’s coming along ok.

Still loving the composition, which is all due to the photographer, Dani Devaux.

Thanks so much to those of you who have been following along as I do this 30 in 30 challenge. So happy to be one third of the way done.

Burnout

I think I’m experiencing a bit of burnout at this point. And that’s to do with the blogging, social media etc, not the actual painting.

It just takes up so much time each day. And I’ve been delaying after painting, and then writing & trying to post just before midnight.

Then going back in to finish writing the post, after I’ve posted the link on the official 30 in 30 blog.

Posting so late means that when the link gets shared to social media, it isn’t getting as much engagement as it should.

I was going to get ahead of the game today & record another painting timelapse after dinner, but I got caught up looking at YouTube timelapse videos.

Ok. One account in particular. And I think that after this challenge, I might do what she does, and post one timelapse video for each painting I do.

Maybe as a special bonus to my Blue Roots Art Studio News subscribers. Who actually haven’t heard from me in months.

Now, how do I make it up to them?

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, why not go to the Menu and check out my flower, landscape & acrylic paintings?

And please share, so that more people get to see my art!

Commission, Landscape, Painting in a day, Special event

RBG Rock Garden – live painting at LUNA

May 21, 2016 Donna Grandin Leave a comment

Luna RBG Rock Garden — Setting of Luna, opening reception of RBG Rock Garden, Burlington

I had the honour of painting live at Luna, the grand opening celebration of the David Braley & Nancy Gordon Rock Garden on Thurs night.

As a painter of landscape, flowers & foliage, I have long had a membership at the local Royal Botanical Gardens, and have been waiting for almost 3 years for the Rock Garden to re-open, to see how it has been transformed & updated.

So I was thrilled to get the call from Jeremy Freiburger of Cobalt Connects inviting me to be one of three artists painting live.

Here is a description of the sold-out event, from the RBG website:

There was also a silent auction – as Sanjay B. Patel and Amanda Immurs & I painted, people were able write their bids down on the sheets next to us.

live painting — Donna Grandin painting live at Luna, the opening celebration of the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, ON

Thanks to the gentleman who took this photo of me painting. I was so focused on doing a good job in the time I had, that I forgot to take photos myself, which I regret, because I’d love to show you what the place looked like. You can search #RBGLuna for images online though.

Several people did ask if they could photograph me painting, and there were some video cameras, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see their footage. In the photo above I’m calm, but if there is video of the last 20-30min, I probably look like some crazy person with blurry hands and six paintbrushes on the go!

Donna with painting — Donna Grandin with painting she created live at Luna, opening of RBG Rock Garden

It was almost dark by the time I took the painting up to the main building, to where people would pick up the items they’d won at auction.

There were several names on my bid sheet, but I had no idea who they were, because when I looked up from my easel I’d just see a sea of business suits and fancy dresses. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed painting in public, chatting here and there with people who had questions and comments, but I mostly kept my eyes on my painting or my subject, so I didn’t remember too many of the faces.

Luckily after the light show the couple with the winning bid came by to pick up the painting, and they seemed happy with it.

auction painting — Plein air painting done during the LUNA grand re-opening of the RBG Rock Garden

This photo is a little fuzzy, it was taken quickly with my phone, at night, with indoor lights.

I spent a long time laying in the composition, because that is key, but then I was rushing near the end, adding in colour and detail. I can still see areas I’d like to address. But really that’s the difference between a plein air (outdoor) sketch – painted from life, with a time constraint – and one of my regular paintings which I may spend a week, or two, sometimes longer on, in the studio.

All in all though, I really enjoyed the experience, getting to do what I love to do for a few hours, while lovely people stopped by and complimented my work. I’d certainly welcome the opportunity to do something like this again.

Meanwhile, I have been working on a floral painting from photos taken at the Rock garden when I did the guided tour last week. I will be posting it in the next few days, so look out for it!

DONNA GRANDIN