Inner City Power

Inner City Power

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #47 - This was a fun painting! Who knew there were so many details up there on those posts - how exciting. I look forward to painting more power lines with a variety of birds relaxing up there.

Skating at Prince's Island

Skating at Prince's Island

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #46 - Besides the stairs, this was a fun painting to complete. I had fun painting the people and organizing them on the ice to make a balanced composition.

Driving Past Canmore

Driving Past Canmore

5x7"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #45 - Not the best composition to paint. The painting needs something interesting in the foreground. Too bad a couple big eagles weren't flying around!

Tranquility off Banff Avenue

Tranquility off Banff Avenue

5x7"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #44 - My second daily painting while on my annual painting trip. I did this one quite quickly, which I think was beneficial because I didn't get caught up in all the details.

Bow Valley

Bow Valley

5x7"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #43 - I decided to paint a few small landscapes while on my annual painting trip with Kristina. I need to work on my trees and achieving more values in my mountains.

Outgoing Messages

Outgoing Messages

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #42 - This painting was a little easier than the last one - as it should be when we do something the second time around. I enjoy the process of being in the moment when making decisions about the colour and size of the shapes. Additionally, I take pleasure in focusing on design fundamentals - in this case, using size to create a focal point.

Information Processing

Information Processing

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting #41 - My daily paintings have become a little bigger that usual and they are taking more than a day to complete. I've decided to produce a body of abstract paintings for the following reasons:

- to motivate and stimulate my creativity

- to further develop my artistic skills

- to develop my own style, originality, individuality

- to invoke my feelings, intuition, spontaneity, inventiveness and feeling for colour, shape, composition, etc.

- the process will help me learn how to interpret reality better

Dress Shoes

Dress Shoes

9X12"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #40 - I'm happy with this painting - lots of different textures in these shoes - leather, metal and stitching. I like the little green leather straps and the brown leather heel pads. Improvements could be made on the beige cloth of the shoes - I wasn't sure how to solve that problem but I'll get lots of practice as I work my way through my closet.

Jubilation

Jubilation

24x24"

Acrylic on Canvas

If you look at my blog it looks like I didn't paint all of December. Let me tell you - that's not true. I decided to submit a painting for the 100 Women Show - International Women Celebrate in Ayr, Ontario and I ended up painting frantically to have a piece ready. I completed five paintings in all and Jubilation is the piece that I submitted. We also had to include a written submission with an introduction about ourselves, our views about being a woman and about our painting (see written response below). The exhibition is from March 8th to April 10th at http://ayrspace.ca/ . A book will be published with our work and our narratives. One hundred women from around the world participated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

Jubilation

My name is Tammy Watt. I am 48 years old and live with my husband in Calgary, Alberta. I am an Art Educator and own a small art selling business. My appreciation of art arose from admiring my grandmother’s paintings.

Growing up I had to search for a mother figure. I found the Creator. Consequently, I view myself as a human being before viewing myself as a woman. Thankfully, I do not remember a time when being female has inhibited me. To be a woman means to be strong. I am physically powerful, emotionally resilient and mentally able.

Within me is a mysterious energy that wants me to keep growing. My painting is a tribute to six females who nourish this energy with love, wisdom and fun. I used a predominately primary colour scheme to suggest cheerfulness, vitality and health. I want the energy in these colours to transmit to my viewers, thus sharing the gifts given to me.

Kindred Spirit

Kindred Spirit

12x12"

Acrylic/Gold Leaf on Canvas

Painting #38 - I'm playing around with ideas for the, International Women Celebrate, exhibition. My final painting will include six females who are influential in my life - this is my niece - she is one of them.

Stampede Boots

Stampede Boots

9x12"

Acrylic on Board

Painting #37 - I thought it was time to paint my cowboy boots. They were custom made for me so they may look a bit different from what you would normally see in the stores. They were quite easy to paint, however, I struggled with decisions about the background. I decided to paint swirls and floating shapes to bring a rhythm to the painting, which I hopes captures what these boots do during the Calgary Stampede - they dance.

Stylish Year-Round

Stylish Year-Round

Acrylic on Board

9x12

Painting #36 - Well, white patent boots are difficult to paint - or maybe its the medium I'm using. I find acrylic paint so difficult to blend - especially in Calgary's dry climate. My paint dries immediately after it hits the board. Next painting I will try using a glazing gel - I'll let you know how it goes. I had fun with the background in this painting - the red is so lovely and rich. I really like the circles in my foreground as well - I'm not sure how they found their way in there - I almost want to name them!

Green Patent Bootlets

Green Patent Heels

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #35 - I thought I'd have a little fun with the background - I love swirls and they appear often in my work. The patent was a challenge. I find it interesting that one pair of patent shoes can be so much more difficult - or easier, than another pair. Perhaps its my lack of experience painting this material? My closet is full of patent so I'll be getting plenty more experience!

Waiting for a Night Out

Waiting for a Night Out

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #34 - I bought these shoes within a half an hour of my first visit to New York City - and we explored the night life together! They are easier to wear than they are to paint. Despite my efforts, this painting does not show the true beauty of the shoes.

Purple Magic

Purple Magic

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #33 - These shoes were a bit tricky to paint - there was a lot of shine and subtle patterns. I like the composition and the positioning of the shoe laces. I wish that I would have put a few more washes over the shoes so my values would have blended more smoothly.

In a Hurry

In a Hurry

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #32 - Well, its the start of another school year and I must admit that I'm having difficulty painting daily. However, celebrate small successes - right? When I was typing out the name of this painting I noticed how in line the title was with what was going on in my life. During these past few weeks as I get to know almost 200 new students I feel as if I'm always "In a Hurry." I think the painting strokes in this paint reflect that I'm feeling rushed - it was a big step for me to leave them this way and not go back in and tighten everything.

Red Patent Shoes

Red Patent Shoes

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #31 - I'm back - I needed a short break after my 30 in 30 and then I wanted to work on some larger paintings. I'm happy with these shoes. I thought achieving the shiny look of the patent leather would be more difficult than it was, however, this painting was just like all others. When I find the slight value shifts in my painting subjects I achieve a greater level of realism.

Nectarine

Nectarine

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #30 - I did it, 30 paintings in 30 days. I wish my last painting would have been a master piece... I need say no more! Oh well, on a positive note... I think the background colour compliments the nectarine. What have a learned by the 30 in 30 process? That it takes commitment and a disciplined focus to accomplish this goal. In addition, I learned the value in painting regularly. Painting is a skill - its like learning to play the piano. I will never improve if I do not put in the time.

Half a Pear

Half a Pear

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #29 - Almost there!! Who knew the inside of a pear was so interesting? I like this painting - its simple but yet can hold a viewer's interest.

Yellow Pepper

Yellow Pepper

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #28 - I'm not seeing the slight value shifts in the pepper that I need to achieve a more realistic form. Perhaps I need to use more dramatic lighting?