Monday, December 13, 2010

Ebay Offerings

First Catch

Still Morning

Another Working Day

Harbour Breeze























I have decided to sell paintings on ebay,  so here goes. I just listed these paintings so if you would like to bid or have a look at the listing, click on the painting caption.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Bright Beginning

This was from a photo taken at the 2010 Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Horse and handler were beautifully turned out (love that hat!), and they both seem so full of promise.

8x10" Oil on gessoboard
$125

Sold
Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet or horse portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Cooling Off

This is Marshall, one of the dogs that I walk. In the summer time (nice memories) the dogs often take a dip in the creek.

I struggled with this one, but  I'm happy with how it turned out.

6x6" Oil on gessoboard
$75 plus s&h
Sold

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com


Saturday, November 27, 2010

Another Work Day

I have been a horse lover all my life, and I noticed this one earning his keep shuttling tourists around in Charleston, S.C.

5x7" Oil on gessoboard

$85

catgillespie@gmail.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Charleston Doorway

A Yellow Lab waiting in the doorway of a Charleston, S.C. shop.

6x6" Oil on Gessoboard
$75 +s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Kind Eyes

I saw this dog in a park in Charleston, S.C. and couldn't resist the sweet expression on her face. A lot of fun to paint. Sometimes the stars line up, and the paint flows out of my brush without much effort at all!

6x6"
Oil on gessoboard
$75




Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.


Early Morning Creekside

This was a lovely morning scene outside Charleston, S.C. 
 5x7" Oil on gessoboard
$75 + s&h 
Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Lone Bird

This is a painting I did before I went on my Karin Jurick workshop adventure. I finished it off yesterday.


 6x6" Oil on cradled panel
Sold

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Afternoon in Paradise

This another painting from the Karin Jurick workshop. This little guy was having a blissful stroll with his owner.

6x6"
Oil on gessoboard
N/A


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Back from Hilton Head


I am back from the Karin Jurick workshop in Hilton Head, S.C, but my feet have not quite touched the ground.
It was truly an inspiring and exciting experience, and I met a fine bunch of creative people in my class. There were 17 of us all together.
Karin did demos, gave us lots of sage advice and critiqued our work. We worked from photos that we took ourselves.
The painting posted here was the exception - Karin supplied a photo to us all on the first day, and this is the result. All were so different, even though we were painting the same subject.

I think every experience such as this will change how I paint. That is the nature of growth. I will take away a bunch of things that I learned and incorporate them into the artist that I already am.
I used a totally different palette of exciting colours, and I will continue to work with them, and different brushes and supports. The journey continues...

Pink Lady
8x10 Oil on gessoboard

Not for sale

Monday, October 25, 2010

Workshop travel and Little Art Show

There are two upcoming events about which I am very excited.

The first is a workshop being held by artist extrordinaire Karin Jurick.This is going to be amazing. It is taking place in Hilton Head, South Carolina for five days. I am so looking forward to meeting other artists. There will be nineteen of us, and we will be working in the studio for half the day, and photographing subjects for the rest of it. We will be attending an art gallery soiree at one of Karin's representing galleries. And of course socializing, bike riding and maybe even some swimming! I am planning to add a few days and visit Savannah, Georgia, and some more artsy stuff in Charleston, S.C.


The Little Art Show is a fund raiser for the Artist's Network, a group that I belong to. They help artist's career development, have shows such as the Riverdale Artwalk and business seminars. This will be it's ninth annual silent auction, and I have donated a "little" painting. There are over 100 small art pieces starting at $80 and none over 8X10".
Crazy Mouse II - my contribution

Monday, October 18, 2010

Linden Leaves


6x6" Oil on cradled panel
Sold



Saturday, October 16, 2010

Carousel Horse 2

Another old fashioned carousel horse seen at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in August.

 8x10" Oil on canvas
$145 + s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.


catgillespie@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sumac

Some of the most spectacular fall colours come from sumac trees. I see them in the fields where I walk dogs, and they at their peak right now. I tried to bring some sumac leaves to my studio, but they didn't last, so I photographed some trees to paint instead.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85 + s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com
Here is a photo of a sumac in full fall beauty.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Maple Leafs

I though I would have a warmer background in this one.

6x8"

Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85 & s+h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.
catgillespie@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Maple Leaf 2010

This is the colourful season in southern Ontario. Various leaves make wonderful little still lifes. I see these as I walk dogs in fields, and I can't resist bringing them home. Imagine 6 dogs on leashes and a handful of delicate leaves!

 6x8" Oil on cotton panel
$85 + s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Holiday

I asked Holiday's owner how he named her. He said that it was after a character in an old western TV show (I believe it was in black and white, it is that old!) called Gunsmoke. There was a character called Doc Holiday. Anyway Holiday the dog is a very sweet natured and cute girl.

6"x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85 + s&h

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Swing Tower

This is another image from the 2010 Canadian National Exhibition or the "Ex". There is something kind of surreal about these people gliding through the air at twilight. I really love this time of day, and how this almost silhouette creates a graphic image.

8x16" Oil on canvas
Sold






Queen West Art Crawl

This was my first year at the Queen West Art Crawl, a very popular Art Festival in Toronto.

I was in the weekend art show at Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto. It was a beautiful weekend, and the crowds were great. Toronto is truly a city that loves the arts and culture.

I was very happy to sell a number of paintings, and got a lot of positive comments.

I met a number of artists who were all very friendly and helpful, and I hope to see them again.
I look forward to participating next year!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Crazy Mouse II


I went to the midway at the "Ex" again this year, and I couldn't resist photographing the "Crazy Mouse" ride. Of course I would never actually go on this or most of the rides being a class A chicken. I did sample the cuisine of course. This year it was a corn dog (foot long which I couldn't finish), Tiny Tom's donuts and an ice cream cone. Perfection!

I really love the graphic elements of the rides and how they can be isolated against the fabulous blue of the sky, and just a bit of cloud for some texture.

8x10" Oil on canvas
Sold

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Dog Walker

A dog and his person walks through a park on a sunny fall day.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel

$85 + S&H

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Two Small Boats

Two small boats in the early morning at my friends' cottage at a Muskoka lake.
 
 6x6" Oil on cradled panel
Sold



Sunday, August 29, 2010

Red and Green

Back lighting is one of my favorite light effects of the sun. I discovered it when I did a lot of photography in bygone years.

 6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
Sold

Friday, August 20, 2010

At the Horse Show

This dog seems happy to be at his owners side.
 
 6x6" Oil on gessoed masonite
$70 + s&h


Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.


catgillespie@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

High Park Early Fall 2


This scene is in a from a Toronto park in early fall. It is easy to forget that you are in Canada's largest city while in High Park.


8x10" Oil on Raymar cotton panel $110 + s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting, or if you would like to commission a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Muskoka Canoe

Another magical moment on a July morning at Lake Muskoka. A canoeist finishes her morning paddle.
I was really interested, as I always seem to be, in the sky.

6x12" Oil on cradled birch panel.

Sold


Monday, August 2, 2010

Afternoon Ride

Cyclist enjoy a beautiful afternoon at the bicycle trail near Lake Ontario.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Two Swans

Two swans feeding on Lake Ontario. Every once in a while they stretch their heads down to the lake floor, so all you can see is their bottoms in the air. So cute! They are lovely majestic animals.

6x6" Oil on cradled panel
$70
Sold

Monday, July 26, 2010

Muskoka Morning



















This is a quintessential cottage country early morning when the sun is just about to burst into the new day. It is peaceful and still, and full of promise.

6x6 Oil on cradled panel

$70
Sold

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Maggie and Newman Go to the Park

These are two little dogs that I walk daily. They love to ride shotgun in my car till we get to the dog park. Maggie is a West Highland White Terrier and Newman is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.


 6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85 + s&h

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this painting or if you would like info on commissioning a pet portrait.

catgillespie@gmail.com
catherinegillespie.com

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Three Sailboats


An early morning scene at a sailing club in on Lake Ontario. This is part of a series in which I was exploring brushstrokes and colours to depict reflections, and I continue to be fascinated with skies.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
Sold

Monday, July 12, 2010

Stillness

Morning is my favorite time of day. I just loved playing with these brush strokes, and the reflections in the water.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel

$85

Available at my Etsy store

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Sailboats with Birds

This was a very still morning in Toronto harbour, and birds sat on the breakwater.

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85

This painting is available at my Etsy store.




Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Compliments

Haven't done much in the way of still life, but these orange beauties inspired me. A theme, maybe...?

6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85
Sold

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Maya

Maya finished.

A friend of mine, Caroline, another dog walker, walks Maya every day.
Maya often sits before me, giving me her most appealing smile, in the hopes that I will give her a cookie!
Another story about Maya to come...

6x8" Oil on Raymar panel

$85
Sold

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

On the Easel Today




















  • This is a sequence of photos of how I often work.In the first photo, I have divided the reference photo into a grid of 4, and then sketched in onto the panel in charcoal.
  • In the second photo, you can see I have sketched in the image using thinned oil paint which is a combination of burnt sienna, and ultramarine blue.
  • The dog has started to take shape, and I will finish the painting off later today.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Avery

Avery is a Springer Spaniel I see on my dog walks. She was chillin' in the creek. I'm told she has collections of things in a special spot in the basement of her people's house. You know, sticks, tennis balls, and various dog toys.



6x6" Oil on masonite

$70
Sold

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Back Door Sunrise 2

Another brilliant sunrise that I saw as I let Jade out into the back yard.

16x16" Oil on canvas

Monday, June 21, 2010

Queen and Dufferin

 This is a corner of Toronto where a lot of construction is taking place (one of the areas of Toronto where a lot of construction is going on!). The road is being straightened out, and it will be much easier to go north and south on Dufferin.

4x8" Oil on canvas
Sold

On Deck

I just love the curves of horses, especially the athletic dressage horse. This is at a dressage show in Palm Beach in Florida.


6x8" Oil on cotton panel

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Museum Piece

This is an adult sized vase in the Grand Hall of Whitehall, the home of Henry Flagler which is now a museum in Palm Beach, Florida. Carrère and Hastings designed the entryway to be the largest and grandest of any room in a private home built during the Gilded Age. I visited the museum in February, and was drawn to this piece. As for the painting of this, it was challenging because of the different reflective surfaces in the room; gilding, porcelain, marble, and various light sources.

10x14" Oil on canvas

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Carousel Horse

I did a version of this in a different format. I love the image and the colour. It is so wonderfully old fashioned, and it is a ride I would have no trouble getting on. I really enjoyed painting the gilt frames around the mirrors - for me it required a lot of conscious layering of dark and light tones. It was quite technical.

9x12" Oil on canvas
Sold

Monday, June 14, 2010

Back Door Sunrise 3

The second in a series of paintings that I did from a smaller study.

16x16" Oil on canvas