This painting was done a few weeks ago at the 3 hour painting competition at the Birthplace of BC  Gallery, here in Fort Langley. I painted it in acrylics, outdoors, on one of the hottest days of the summer. Blending the colours was challenging, to say the least. I wasn't totally unhappy with the results but I did feel that oils might be a better medium to use for the subject.

I borrowed the painting back from the gallery and over-painted it today in oils. I think it looks a lot more polished and it didn't take long, as I had already made most of the decisions in acrylics. Once its dry, it will go back to the Birthplace of BC Gallery.

I finished this painting last week- "The Way Through" 40 x 30" acrylic. It's another Calvert Island Piece. A little different for me as the light is quite subtle. Strong light and shadow edits the details and I think, makes the image easier to paint. This one was a lot of work but I'm pretty happy with the results. I love the colour transitions in the rocks.

I've entered the painting in a competition- will report on how I do once I find out. I would like to enter more competitions- I think it's a good way to challenge oneself.  In the past that hasn't been a priority for me but I am ready to be more open to getting my work out there, beyond the commercial galleries.

Speaking of getting the work out there, a group of my paintings were rented out last week to a movie production. One painting had a small featured role with a close up. It represented the transformation of the main character, an artist called Sarah Robertson. They had to use my last name due to the signature on the paintings!

The experience of renting was ok but we did have 4 frames that were damaged by the production. They are going to pay to replace them but this is something that I will consider next time I'm approached to rent.

Here is my finished piece for the Raincoast book and show. "Fly By" 30 x 40" acrylic.

I don't know opening dates yet for the show in Victoria but the show will be in Vancouver from Nov 26th to Dec 1st- at Performance Works on Granville Island. There will be well over 100 pieces in the show, as so many artists want to get involved and lend their voices to the efforts to protect our coast from the threat of an oil spill. Also there will be a coffee table book launched this fall with images from the trips taken in June by the original 50 artists.

Thank you again to Mark Hobson, Brian Falconer, everyone at Raincoast Conservation Foundation and all the others who made it possible for this project to happen. I hope that your efforts will be rewarded and that the Gateway Pipeline will not go ahead.