A Short Post For Sure, Angel and Black Cat Painting

This is a short post for sure. I finished one little painting today, which I'm just about to list on eBay. It's a little one, 5 x 7 in on 3/4 inch ply wood, but kind of cute and cheerful I think.

Fair Madonna, Taking A Chance

I'm especially out of words tonight so will just get on to my work. It was a day for finishing a couple of pieces that had been started and left alone for a day or two. I finished another small canvas using the faux copper texture to create a "frame". I was listening to a folk roots singer on CBC by the name of Amelia Curran I liked her music and her name, so I called this little piece "Amelia".




And I got a bit of a start on a nice big canvas, another one reflecting my love of the work of Jean Paul Lemieux. We'll see where it goes.



And I'm still taking that grand leap of faith, listing my work on eBay with low opening bids. I've got my fingers crossed for this one. It's called "Purity In Faith"; this time I painted the Madonna with the fairest of skin, blue eyes and blond hair, quite different than my usual dark haired depiction.

Time for Valentine Hearts

Valentine usually comes and goes before I get around to painting anything specifically for that romantic day. So, to make sure I don't do the same thing this year, I've painted another little angel with hearts on her robe. I've used the same faux textured border and Swarovski crystals as in previous pieces and once again contrasted the rich teal with a coral tinged red. Kinda whimsical and romantic, I think...



I've listed this one on eBay with a low opening bid, so hope you have a second to take a peek.

Two New Paintings For Today

It's late afternoon on Saturday and it's just about time to put my paints away and turn off this machine for the night. But before I go, here are two pieces that I finished today. I haven't named either one of them...I'm hoping that will come to me tonight.

The first one is another in the romantic angel series I started before Christmas. It has sort of a Valentine theme, with hearts on the angel's red robe. I used gold leaf on her halo and studded the stars with Swarovski crystals.



The second piece is more of a contemporary folk piece...you'll see the influence of Jean Paul Lemieux, for sure. I used the palette night to create texture in the grassy background and the big cotton ball clouds.

Return To Romance Mermaid Painting for Today

Friday night and I'm just about ready to snuggle up with the cat and call it a day. But before I finally shut the door on my studio, I've got a new piece. It's called "Return to Romance" and is just a sweet simple little mermaid done in a whimsical folk style. I've used the same faux finish technique as I described in yesterday's post.



I've also put another piece at auction on eBay with a ridiculous opening bid of only $0.99 and no reserve! Yep, I'm serious about cleaning out my studio! It's called "Oh Little Bird".



I just wanted to say a little thanks to all who have subscribed to my blog, I'll try to keep the posts short and the new work coming.

Cyber Housecleaning and First eBay Auction for 2008

I'd love to say I have a brand new piece finished and ready to post, but today was one of those necessary "admin" days. Even though my studio desperately needs a complete cleaning, I decided that my website needed the attention as much if not more. So now all those images that had been in my "New Work 2007" page are now displayed by their rightful category and I have a brand new page ready for all the work I hope to do in 2008.

I hope to have a new piece to post tomorrow, but in the meantime, I'll be running my first auction on eBay tonight starting at $9.99!

So drop by my store and have a look.

Yes, I'm A Daily Painter

As seems to be the case, as soon as I open my blog, I'm stricken with writer's cramp. No matter what my best intentions are, I usually post my blog too near the end of the day and every even remotely interesting thought that I might have had has long since fled my consciousness. So I'll just go ahead and post my work. I finished the Frida I had started on Monday and have another Frida that I think is finished...I might add a flower or two to her dress, but I want to leave it for a day or two to think about it. All of these shots were done indoors with "night portrait" setting so the picture quality is low, but at least confirms I have indeed been at my easel.





I've used texture medium and a faux bronze finish to create a "frame". I like the contrast with the teal background.




And here's the Frida from Monday, finished I think...

Christmas Past and Present

Where to start when I've been gone for so long from my little blog? Christmas flew by me. The Originals show was great fun, long hours, but once again I had wonderful neighbours, caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. Before another day goes by, I want to say a sincere thanks to everyone who supported my art during the past year. "Thank you".

The Originals show was a perfect way to end 2007. As I chatted with folks I learned that many have been attending for years, they wait to do their Christmas shopping there and truly support the arts and crafts community. Many stopped by more than once even when the wheather wasn't exactly co-operating.

So, here we are in 2008, the first week already gone. I've been back in my studio most of the week, but not much to show just yet. I've posted a Frida in progress below. With any luck week two of 2008 will prove more productive. So Happy Christmas to all who keep the Gregorian Calendar, and it's back to work for me!

Originals Christmas Show Opens Tomorrow!

The One of A Kind Show Toronto, is now history. It was an amazing show! I can't begin to describe how much talent is gathered together under one roof - visual arts, crafts, furnishings, fashion, food and everything else created by very special artisans. And if you're anywhere near Chicago, you have to go to One of A Kind , Chicago, Dec 6 - 9! I won't be there, but some of the artisans I met in Toronto were packing up for the trip to the Windy City, so it's sure to be fantastic.
I hope to post some links to some of these artists later in the month.

With my oh-so-patient and loyal hubby I will be setting up at another amazing show tonight. If you're in the Ottawa, Ontario area don't miss Originals . The show runs from Dec 6 to 16 and will be the best place to find something special and unique and of course, support the arts community.

And unbelievably, I'm in a TV commercial for the show!


It was quite an adventure to get the video crew squeezed into my tiny upstairs studio. No one but hubby, the dog and cat ever really come into my little space. I'm still asking myself "Is that really me?"...Of course, the camera must have added ten pounds and ten years...and that voice...do I really sound like that? Well, you'll just have to come out to the Originals
show to find out! At least until I figure out how to load the video on my blog...sigh, maybe after the weekend.

I had a couple of shots of most recent work still in my camera when we left last week, so thought I'd post one today.



I've been fascinated with the work of Gustave Klimt for the past few years. This piece is not intended to be dark in any way. Although the angel holds a skull mask, it is not meant to frighten, but to assure that the mystery continues beyond the temporal. Much in the way the Day of the Dead celebrates of the lives of those past, so does this piece. I’ve called this one “Be Not Afraid”.


Title: Be Not Afraid
Medium: Canvas, Acrylic, Silver Leaf
Size: Size: 18 X 36 in
46 X 92 cm
Date: 2007


The angel is positioned against a Klimt inspired Art Deco background in blue, green metallics. Her robe pattern is an homage again to Klimt. I've used plenty of texture and liquid gold leaf for her halo. This is a large dramatic painting, sure to inspire conversation no matter where it is hung!



Copyright © Wendy Ryan - All Rights Reserved

Paintings! The Night Before

Well, after months of preparation, it's finally the night before the first Christmas art sale! We're off to Toronto tomorrow for the second half of One of A Kind in Toronto. It's been a full day already of painting, packing and wondering if I've done half the things on the list I didn't make.

So before I go back to it all, here's a little sample of the work that's been done since I last posted. I've got just about everything up on my website ...except for one piece that I'll have to get a shot of tomorrow before we leave.



She Was a Goddess




My Tuxedo Tom



Our Star



Stars And Snow



Frida On Ice

All Image Rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan

No Time to Post, Just Paint, Paint, Paint

Time is tick tocking faster than I can believe, Now only a week until my first Christmas show. I'm still a daily painter, but certainly can't claim to be a daily blog poster, that's for sure. So, just to let you know I'm still here, are a few of my new pieces. I've managed to get just about everything I've painted on my website, so if you have a moment, I hope take a browse through.






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*All Image Rights Reserved*

Christmas Angel Paintings

Well, the count is definitely on until Christmas! Yikes, less than a month until One of a Kind show in Toronto! And then right on its heels Originals in Ottawa gets rolling. So, on the weekend, I started a couple of Christmas themed paintings, angels of course. They're both done with acrylics on canvas with plenty of texture and little swarovski crystals for stars.



This one is called "Tree Time".



This one is called "Almost Here"...as Christmas most certainly is!

Angels Painting For Today!

These were done while the camera was ailing, I'm so happy to have it back.



This one is 8 x 16 in and I called it "And A Rose". It's got lots of texture in the background.



This one is done using similar technique, angel times three! It's called "For The Soul and is 16 x 20 in.



This is a big one, 18 x 36 inches. It's called "Bouquet of Peace."

*All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Another Angel Painting

Well, my camera is home, safe and sound. It's just too late tonight to write much, so here's one of the new angel paintings...and more to follow. It's called "A Guiding Hand".



All image rights reserved © Wendy Ryan

Angels, Cameras, and Work, Work, Work!

Here I am another week has flown by and the Christmas shows are looming closer and closer on the horizon! I've been painting angels all week, and have a good start on another in my à la Klimt series. As you might recall from my last post, the impatient "all thumbs artist", that would be me, managed to injure her beloved camera. The camera returned home from the shop with new pins and memory card, good as new, or so I thought. I anxiously lined up all my finished canvases, aimed the camera carefully and click...somehow, something had happed to the shutter! Every shot was overexposed and looked more like special effects for a Halloween prank than art photos! So, the camera has returned to the shop once again. It has been a year of technical missteps for sure.

But happily, my scanner still works, so I can at least post a couple of small pieces destined for the One of a Kind show and sale in Toronto. These are both acrylic on gallery stretched canvas. The backgrounds are textured and they're shamelessly folky and romantic. The angel has a metallic gold halo. Little Swarovsky crystals sparkle in the night sky over the little girl and her red birds.



Title: Roses in the Heart



Title: All I've Seen

Well, it's back to work for me.

*All image rights Reserved © Wendy Ryan*

Nibblefest Angel Painting

Here it is October 20th! The count down to my Christmas shows is on and with it comes the excitement and just a little bit of that heart pounding panic! One of a Kind in Toronto is just around the corner! And Originals in Ottawa follows fast on its heels! My house is filling up with finished paintings and our living room has been converted into a bit of a workshop where hubby is testing and assembling the new display. There are still so many things left to do...so much planning!

In the midst of all this chaos, I managed to break my camera yesterday! Unbelievable! I won't go into the sorry details, it was definitely "operator error", not covered under warranty, but can be fixed. But it means I'm without camera for a week. So, in the meantime, I'll be posting only those smaller pieces that can fit on my scanner.

Today is also the first day of Nibblefest, the themed art contest on eBay that I participate in when able. All listings must be started at $0.99! The theme this month is "Shadows". My painting is an angel emerging from the shadows. I had painted a larger version but I'll have to wait until my camera is fixed to add it here and to my website.



Well, the shadows are lengthening here in my studio, so it's time to finish up and maybe if I'm lucky hit the couch!

Another Angel Naive Painting

I've been at my easel all week painting angels. I didn't get decent shots of the big pieces yet but thought I'd post this little one. I still don't have a name for it yet...so for today it's Angel October 18 2007.



It may be difficult to see, but it has lots of texture, I used sand in the gesso, everywhere but the face and neck. A great alternative to commercial texture medium. I'm continuing my series of naive angels and will be posting them soon.

I just couldn't let Blog Action Day go by completely unmarked...even though I didn't post yesterday. So I thought I'd share an environmentally kind tidbit. I stumbled upon the Low Impact Woodland House several months ago while I was looking for environmentally friendly housing solutions. Who wouldn't want to live in this little parcel of heaven?


Back to my reality with a thud! It's been work, work, work since I returned from celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving with our family. I was reminded to give thanks in so many ways...including giving thanks that the two thousand dollar car repair we incurred didn't prevent our trip or cost even more...Ah the joys of free wheeling down the highway!

With Christmas shows rapidly approaching, every corner of the house is filling up with finished paintings! For more new work and show info I hope you'll drop by my website But for now here are a few of the new pieces.

Naive Angel Painting For Today

Today's painting is a simple little angel, naive, but not quite primitive. It's called "Quietness" and is done on 8 x 10 inch gallery stretched canvas. Although it's hard to see, the stars and halo are done in metallic gold.



“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Bible

Blue and Red Paintings Revisited

While I was organizing my files this week I came across some images of a small series of women in red against a blue background that I had painted over a year ago. I decided to rework this theme again. These pieces are both done in acrylic on 8 x 10 inch canvas. They're sort of stripped down and abstract, and lots of fun to paint.

I call the first one "As You Are."



The second one is called "Not A Big Thing."