Less than a week!

This  time, in a week, DoorsOpen will become "doors closed" and it will be over for another year.  So... don't miss it! I will have the full series (well all I am doing for now - who knows if I will return to the theme?) of "City Evenings" - some have been posted on blogs - but there are some that haven't been - so come and be surprised. June 3rd and 4th, 10 am to 3pm. Brochures available at various city locations- community centres etc. There will be a piece in Richmond News and you can also go to the city website www.richmond.ca/doorsopen  I have a draw for a free painting.
    I thought I would post something different  than another "City Evening" this time- but it is also recent. This is "Autumn Hike"from the Mount Baker area- getting towards the end of last year's hiking season. I have a request in for more hiking photos this year- especially waterfalls- so we will see. I used to enjoy hiking - although I never did any overnight hikes. Autumn colours somehow seem especially amazing up in the mountains. I still remember a hike up Mount Arrowsmith when the whole scene couldn't have been more lovely- like it was planted by a Master Gardener. Well, maybe it was!

Wiring paintings with help

I'm getting ready for DoorsOpen on June 3rd and 4th so there were a few paintings left to be  wired. It is not  my favorite job - so I'll take any help I can get. Digby felt he could make his contribution by sitting on the canvas...fortunately on the back and it was face down on a towel. Somehow, even with his help, the paintings got wired. Digby is looking forward to being doorman and welcoming all the visitors.

Feels good to help!

I just got the notice that this painting of Lion's Gate Bridge went for $900 at the Daffodil Ball- the fundraiser for B.C. Cancer Society. I'm glad it has gone to a good home - and glad that it helped raise money for a good cause!  This was painted last year after Men in Hats had the opportunity to paint on the deck of a lovely condo above Park Royal. I painted a smaller one - which I have since turned into "Van Gogh Visits Vancouver" - and then painted this slightly larger- 16 x 24- one in the studio.

This "Van Gogh Visits Vancouver" version will be at DoorsOpen. ( June 3rd and 4th from 10 to 4 when I will have an open studio) It is 12x18 - and will be *much less* than $900!

Another from "City Evenings"

This one is "Seven-thirty" from the "City Evenings" series. Time for a walk with the dog to the corner store, from this winter evenings series. I just used it for my May newsletter.( Question - how did we get to May so soon?) As I said in my newsletter, I was definitely thinking about Edward Hopper when I was doing these paintings but I wanted to put my own spin on the idea and have present-day time too. I started all of these paintings with a dark under-painting, then used white chalk to draw the shapes. Then I used Transparent White over the chalk. I wanted a softer white than Titanium. I then worked at mixing both cool darks and warm darks for the painting. Some of the lights were warm, but fluorescent lighting is cool. There is a fair bit of Alizarin Crimson used in the brick building.
     I've got my 2016 paintings posted now - just go to the right-hand side, scroll down to where it says "View Loraine's paintings" , click on that - and you'll see 2016 - including "Five-Fifteen" - the paintings that started this series. Including "Seven-thirty", there are six more - but I think that is probably it for "City Evenings" at this time and I'm ready for more spring-like and summer-like thoughts. Now, if it would just stop raining.....