8 x 10 inch scratchboard "Horse Portrait"

Here is another scratchboard completed today. Boy I love doing this!

8 x 10 inch acrylic "A Single Rose"

This is another attempt with acrylic and my first floral. The background gave me the most trouble. It shows as black but is actually a very dark purple.

8 x 10 inch scratchboard "Fawn"

Another go at scratchboard. I love this picture, so I may try this one in pastel as well, now that I am on a "deer" run (probably because there are so many deer living in my front yard at the moment).

8 x 10 inch pastel "Newborn Fawn"

SOLD - Sept 15/09
I was very productive this weekend, finishing two paintings. This is done on suede matboard as per usual. A newborn deer, maybe minutes old.

11 x 14 inch pastel "Wild Ponies"

I found this wonderful photo on Morguefile.com and fell in love. This is done on suedeboard in soft pastels. I love paintings horses!

8 x 10 inch pastel "Morning Marsh"

I thought I would try another marsh scene. This one is done on canson pastel paper with a lot of different soft pastels.

8 x 10 inch pastel "Sunset Marsh"

I found this picture that I really loved and immediately wanted to paint it in pastels. This is done on sanded pastel paper with a lot of different soft pastels.

11 x 14 inch acrylic "Fall Morning"

This is another attempt at using acrylic paint. It is done on stretched canvas. This is a typical fall morning around here with the mist between the hills. I am working frantically this week at finishing off some ideas I have for my show in January and a couple of Xmas gifts. I have a two pastels that I would like to get done (of horses, my favorite subject) this week while I am off from work. Maybe by the weekend I will get to post them.

8 x 10 inch pastel "A Fine Winter's Morning"

This painting is an experiment on the smooth side of Canson pastel paper. The paper is a beautiful orange color which compliments the blues and purples I have used throughout this painting. The painting depicts the first light of morning as it shines over a snowy field. I love how the orange of the paper glows thru the pastel.

12 x 12 inch pastel "Snow Leopard"

I just finished this painting on suedeboard in soft pastel. I like the colors I used in this painting and already have a square frame all ready for it.

5 x 6 inch pastel "Elk"

I haven't worked on velour paper for awhile so I thought I would try this elk. I might even make a xmas card out of this one.

9 x 12 inch pastel "Wild Pony"

Another painting done on sanded pastel paper in soft pastel. This paper is excellent for creating landscapes but it is a little more difficult to do detailed work because of it's coarse nature. I tried to keep this painting a little looser, especially the horse.

8 x 10 inch pastel "Mountain Road"

I enjoyed doing this little fall scene just for a change of pace from the usual animal portraits that I have been doing lately. This one is done on sanded pastel paper which holds tons of pastel and is a real joy to work on.

8 x 10 inch pastel "Simba"

This painting is of our dear dog Simba who passed away last year. He is sitting on his favorite cushion with his shaggy hair covering one eye like it always did. I have been wanting to do this painting for some time and now I am glad I did, although it was very hard because I miss him very much. I will be giving this painting to my son for Xmas. I am sure he will love it.

5 x 7 inch pastel commission

I thought I would post this little commission that I finished recently. Just waiting for the client to pick up. Hope she likes it!

16 x 20 inch acrylic "Happy Days"

Just finished my first attempt with the medium of acrylic. After many hours of workiing and reworking, I think I am finished and I think I it turned out pretty good. Now on to the next one!

8 x 10 inch oil painting "Leopard"

This is my first attempt with the medium of oil. I found it a little frustrating waiting for things to dry between layers, enjoyed the feeling of the fluid paint under the brush. I think I may use oil again, but perhaps on a landscape painting. I am working on an acrylic painting now for the first time, and I will post it within the week probably.

8 x 10 inch "Stable Buddies"

I did this painting on the weekend from a photo that I found on morguefile.com. It is done on suedeboard in soft pastels with some pencils. I really enjoy painting horses for some reason (don't have one or even ride them) but I love their how beautiful and strong their faces and heads look.

8 x 10 inch soft pastel "Kissing Cousins"

I finished this painting yesterday for my Dad. It is done on suedeboard in soft pastel. I really struggled with the background on this one, so I hope he will like it!

5 x 7 inch soft pastel "Lilly Pads"

I did this painting a while ago and forgot to post it on my blog. It is done on art spectrum pastel paper in soft pastel. Every once in a while I really enjoy doing something small like this. It is a change from my usual animal paintings that take a little longer.

11 x 14 inch soft pastel "Cougar"

I did this painting while on vacation recently in a beautiful, remote area of British Columbia. We stayed on a float camp that is used by hunters of bear and cougars in the area. I thought this painting was very fitting even though we did not see any live cougars this time!

8 x 10 inch soft pastel "Canadian Rockies"

I did this painting recently from a photo I took while driving on the highway in Alberta while we were on vacation. I liked how the sun peaked out behind the clouds just enough to shine on the tops of the trees as we drove by. This painting is for sale by contacting me at lyurge@telus.net

8 x 10 inch scratchboard "There's Trouble!!"

Another attempt at scratchboard. This medium could get very addictive! I really enjoyed doing this and I thought the pose was quite cute. We have a lot of coons where we live, and I know what mischief they can get into. This pair look like they have been into something!

5 x 7 inch colored pencil Main Coon Cat

I am into using new materials and trying new techniques lately. Last week it was scratchboard and this week I am using something called drafting film. This product works wonderfully with colored pencils, which is what I have used on this drawing. This drawing is for sale. If interest contact me at lyurge@telus.net

11 x 14 inch soft pastel "Heavenley Heights"

This paintings is a gift for a friend who cruises Narrow's Inlet regularly and loves the area. We are going back there in a week for another holiday, and I am so looking forward to it. This painting is done on sanded paper in mostly soft pastels.

5 x 7 inch "Bear on scratchboard"

I have been having some fun with a new painting technique called scratchboard. It is a hard board that is coated in clay and sprayed with black ink. The goal is to scratch your painting onto the board, revealing the white of the clay underneath. You can also add color after you are finished if you are so inclined. This is my first. The technique is perfect for depicting animals.

11 x 14 inch "Mother & Babe Mountain Goats"

I said I would do some bears, but this is what I came up with instead. It is done on suedeboard in soft pastel. Maybe next time will be the bears!

11x14 inch soft pastel "Mother & Babe"

This painting is the first of a series I hope to do, all mother and babe animals. I think the next one will be a bear with cubs. Maybe I will start that one tomorrow. This one is done, again on suedeboard and is of course in soft pastel.

11 x14 inch pastel "Sable Island Ponies"

I did this painting from a photo of the famous ponies that live on Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The story is a ship was wrecked off the coast of the island many years ago and the ponies swan to shore and have lived there ever since. This painting is done on suedeboard in soft pastel.

5 x 7 inch pastel "End of the Inlet"

This little painting is done on sanded pastel paper which is a dream to paint on. I really prefer this paper to all when doing landscapes. It holds tons of pastel. I did this painting from a photo I took while on holiday in Narrow's Inlet a couple of weeks ago. I loved the serenity of the place.

11 x 14 inch. soft pastel "Lake Moraine"

This painting came from a photo that I took while on vacation in Alberta recently. Lake Moraine is breathtakingly beautiful and the lake is really a deep turquoise in color. This painting is done on sanded pastel paper. I enjoyed doing this one as I haven't done a landscape in some time.

5 x 7 inch soft pastel "Lilly Pads"

This little painting is done in soft pastel on colorfix paper. I tried to keep this one loose and quick. I really like very loose and impressionistic paintings. Quite different from the usual detailed animal paintings I have been doing lately.

8 x 10 inch soft pastel "Sunburst"

This painting is done on black suedeboard in mostly soft pastel. I have tried to do something different from the detailed work I have been doing lately in my animal paintings. In this painting I have gone for a more painterly effect and kept it very simple. I love sunflowers and thought the bright colors played nicely against the black suedeboard.

8 x 10 inch pastel "Tiger Cub on Tree"

This one is done on dark blue suedeboard. It was very hard to get the right colors on this suedeboard. I think I will stick to the lighter colors from now on in. I am not altogether sure about the look of the tree stump. I really struggled with this one. I think I will try to do some more work on it after letting it sit for awhile. This sometimes helps.

5 x5 inch soft pastel "Red Squirrell"

This little painting is done on black suedeboard. I did this one on a rainy day during our holiday a couple of weeks ago.

8 x 10 inch soft pastel "Red Horse"

No sleep for the wicked! Just finished one and did another right away! Love this color suedeboard for doing horses. Again this one is in soft pastel. One of these days I am going to try a animal painting in watercolor. I just have to get motivated to drag out all those supplies!

8 x 10 inch soft pastel "Sleepy Puppy"

I just got back from my holidays in southern Alberta and the sunshine coast of British Columbia. I had a wonderful time but was itching to paint something! I found this photo of a little puppy that I thought was adorable, so i gave it a try. It is done on suedeboard in soft pastel.

8 x 10 soft pastel "Grizzley"

I tried a new paper for me today called colorfix by Art Spectrum. Not sure I like it as well as my suedeboard for animals, but I think it will work well for landscapes.

8 x 10 inch pastel "Macro of an Iris"

This painting took a little longer than usual for me. It was harder that I thought it would be. It is done on velour paper in soft pastel from a photo I took in my backyard. The irises are really beautiful this year and this one especially was a beauty.

8 x 10 soft pastel "The Belgian"

I wanted to do another horse portrait since I so enjoyed the last one I did. I really love how his mane looks, all those curls. It is done on chocolate suedeboard in soft pastels.

5 x 9 soft pastel "Night Stalker"

This painting is done on black suedeboard in soft pastel. I wanted to do another tiger painting to go with the "swimming tiger" I did the other day. I liked the long narrow format although it wasn't the smartest move as far as framing goes. Now I have to have one custom made! This painting is for sale by contacting me at lyurge@telus.net.

5 x 7 soft pastel "Gorrilla"

I did this painting very quickly, about 1 hour. It is done on black suedeboard. I wouldn't want to meet this guy in a dark alley!

8 x 10 soft pastel "Narrows Inlet"

I did this painting today for a change from my animal paintings and to excite me about my vacation in a week. It is done from a photo I took while at Narrows Inlet, B.C. a couple of years ago. I love this place, and we are going back for some vacation time in another week. I can't wait! This painting is done on Murano pastel paper in soft pastel and is for sale by contacting me at lyurge@telus.net.

7 x 14 soft pastel "Swimming Tiger"

This painting is done on black suedeboard. I really like to work on the black, especially when there is a lot of black in the picture. This is the first of 2 that I plan on doing of tigers. The next will be of a straight on shot of a tiger walking towards you. I will probably start this one tomorrow, so stay tuned!

8 x 10 soft pastel "Great Owl"

Just finished my third painting for the weekend! I guess I am just on a roll. Thought I might give this one to my Dad for father's day. It is done on suedeboard.

8 x 10 soft pastel "Cheeta and Baby"

This painting is done on blue suedeboard in soft pastel. I loved how mama looked so relaxed with her baby in this pose. The painting is for sale by inquiring at lyurge@telus.net.

8 x 10 soft pastel "Lion's Portrait"

This painting is done on black suedeboard in soft pastel. I liked the pose facing into the light with the back fading to black. This painting is available for purchase by contacting me at lyurge@telus.net.

8 x 10 pastel "Lounging Tiger Cub"

This painting is again done on suedeboard. I thought the pose was really very cute. Inquiries for purchase info at lyurge@telus.net.

5 x 7 pastel "Old Black Lab"

This is a small painting of an old black lab. I thought I would have a try at doing a black dog. Not as easy as it sounds! This old dog reminded me of our old dog we had when I was a kid.