Gallery of Dreams

Poppy Painting - Poppy Field (detail)

2012-02-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

Poppy Field (detail)

This poppy painting is a detail of a larger work that is actually a panorama. I just took the best bit and squared it, so it's easer to frame, making sure to included the little white house.

And althought I've never been to Tuscany, this painting makes me feel like I have.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Poppy Field

Poppy Painting - Two Poppies

2012-02-17T15:48:00.000-08:00

Two Poppies

Last summer I grew my own poppies so that I could photograph and paint them without trapsing through other people's gardens. A worthwhile task, I'd say. This is one of my favourite poppy paintings of the season. Enjoy!

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Two Poppies

Poppy Painting - Pink Poppy Field - Daydreaming

2012-02-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

Daydreaming, 24 x 24 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This poppy painting of pink poppies in a field was one of the last poppy paintings in my poppy series two summers ago. A bit of a departure, as most of the paintings in that series had super tall stalks. What I love most about it is the variations in pinks. I really tried to capture a feeling of vibrancy and whimsy here. And adding in a stormy sky seemed like the perfect compliment.

The original painting is still available, please inquire at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

This image is also available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Daydreaming

Abstract Flower Painting - Dreaming in Orange

2012-02-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

Dreaming in Orange

Another abstract flower painting as we look to the coming of spring. I had a lot of fun painting this one. I didn't realize it at the time, but the blue stems and even the white tendrils coming off the buds, remind me of feathers.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x10 inch print:

Dreaming in Orange

Abstract Floral Painting - A New Day

2012-02-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

A New Day, 16x16 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This abstract floral painting is a favourite of mine. It was painted last year near the end of the summer. I think that's why there are such lovely golden tones. The buds and many of the stems are impasto adding great texture. What I love most is the combination of colours. It really is all about colour for me.

The original painting is still available, please inquire at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

This image is also available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

A New Day

Abstract Flower Painting - Elegant Blooms

2012-02-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

Elegant Blooms

This is another abstract flower painting from the same time period as in my previous post (below), using a very similar colour palette. The two would go quite nicely together as a set.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Elegant Blooms

Abstract Floral Painting - Afternoon Garden

2012-02-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

Afternoon Garden

Last year I went through a period where I was experimenting with a lot with colour and vigorous brushwork, resulting in many small abstract floral paintings.

In the days to come I will be publishing many of these whimsical, colourful pieces.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Afternoon Garden

Birch Tree Painting - Birch Trees

2012-02-11T15:53:00.000-08:00

Birch Trees

This birch tree painting was painted almost three years ago now, but is still one of my favourite images. I was still playing with style very much at that time and exploring different ways of using colour and texture.

I think the square brush technique was an interesting choice. Unfortunately this was one of the few paintings in this style. Something I might think about revisiting. Although a standard in my shop, this is the first time I have offered it in a smaller size.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x10 inch print:

Birch Trees

Winter Landscape Painting - Log Cabin - Ski Trail Series: Cabin

2012-02-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ski Trail Series: Cabin

This winter landscape painting of a cabin in the woods is yet another in my ski trail series. When my husband and I first moved to British Columbia we lived in a log cabin similar to this one. It was built in the 1950's by a trapper and recently updated with heat and indoor plumbing, which we were very thankful for.

It had a loft bedroom accesible only by ladder which the cat learned to climb. Perched in the woods with a view of the lake, it was perfect, and exactly what I expected of B.C. We lived there for two and a half years before buying further up the lake.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Ski Trail Series: Cabin

Winter Landscape Painting - A Winter Day

2012-02-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

A Winter Day

This winter landscape painting of a farmer's field was inspired by winter in eastern Canada. A resident of Ontario and Québec for much of my life, I sometimes miss the wide open fields.

This painting was a gift to my inlaws who lived most of their life on a farm in southern Québec. It was in memory of their landscape that I drew most of my inspiration.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

A Winter Day

Poppy Painting - Red Poppies

2012-02-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Red Poppies

This poppy painting is sort of a signature style for me. A few years ago I started doing lots of poppy paintings, painting between the stalks like this, very loosely and in various colours. I did so many I ended up with an entire series for a local artwalk. I even sold one opening night, which is always a good start to any show.

Since then it has become a style I return to every spring when the flowers start to bloom.

This image is available from my Etsy shop as an 8x10 inch print:

Red Poppies

Snowy Winter Landscape Painting - Ski Trail Series: Dusk - Winter in the Mountains

2012-02-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

Ski Trail Series: Dusk

This snowy winter landscape painting is part of a series I did last winter called the Ski Trail Series. Where I live we have some of the best skiing in the world. People come from all over to go heli-skiing and cat-skiing. I've always been more of a cross-country skiier myself. But anything that will get me into the woods in winter will do.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x10 inch print:

Ski Trail Series: Dusk

Tree Painting - Two Trees in Summer

2012-02-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Two Trees in Summer

This tree painting is another version of the trees in my yard. If you look closely you may recognize the configuration of the trunks and branches. The leaves may change somewhat from season to season, painting to painting, along with the size and shape of the canvas, but the basic composition remains the same.

The brushwork here, at the time this was painted, was something new I was trying in an attempt to free up my strokes. I have since experimented with this style, adopting many features of it along the way, and have discovered the trick is to not overwork it. Though this way of painting came slowly over time, it has now become predominantly what I do.

To see more paintings in this style please visit my website:

artistsuzannemclean.com

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x10 inch print:

Two Trees in Summer

Tom Thomson Inspired Painting - Lone Tree Lake - Kootenay Mountain Range

2012-02-05T06:30:00.003-08:00

Lone Tree Lake

This is a Tom Thomson inspired painting, not so much in execution, but in subject matter. I've always loved the composition of one crooked tree defying all weather as it perches at the edge of its wilderness.

I have, however, been interpreting mountain ranges for a while now, trying to capture how they've been thrust up on an angle out of the earth. The thought of the tree was actually secondary after the completion of the mountains and the water, but in the end takes centre stage.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Lone Tree Lake

Kootenay Landscape Painting - Across the Lake - Mountain Landscape Painting

2012-02-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

Across the Lake, 16x16 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

Living in a rather rural area caught between two mountain ranges, there is much untouched wilderness. The lake here is deep and narrow, fed by glaciers. Across the lake there are just mountains, mountains and trees, and then some sky.

This Kootenay landscape painting was inspired by my view across the lake, as I gaze into the wilderness wondering what bears, what mountain lions, and what bald eagles live there. I've always wanted to travel to the other side of the lake, to canoe there. But it's much farther than it seems. And so far, a canoe has not presented itself.

This image is available from my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Across the Lake

For purchase information, please contact at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

Group of Seven Inspired Painting - Lake in the Woods

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Lake in the Woods, 12 x12 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This piece was painted when I was starting to paint a lot of tall tree trunks through which more woods and lakes could be seen. There was something in seeing through the vertical lines that I wanted to explore. When the piece was finished my husband said, "Oh, how Group of Seven." It was never my intention to paint in a Group of Seven style.

However, I can see where this influence came from, having spent loads of time in northern Ontario growing up, and now living here in rural British Columbia. A huge fan of Tom Thomson's work never hurt either.

This image is listed as an 8x8 inch print in my Etsy shop:

Lake in the Woods

To purchase the original, please conact me at:
info@artistsuzannemclean.com

Autumn Landscape Painting-Lost in the Woods

2012-02-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

Lost in the Woods

I love to play with light. And this autumn landscape painting of a forest was inspired by those dreamy October afternoons when the light is weaker, and more diffused, as it streams through the trees. We know winter is coming. The leaves have turned and are scattered about the forest floor.

This is my favourite time of year. And it gives me the perfect opportunity to paint with yellow. I tend to like deep golden yellows, and yellows bordering or orange. When I set out to paint this scene, I made a conscious decision to stick with yellow and to make it my predominant leaf colour. I think it brings a certain mood to the woods that I like.

This image is listing in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Lost in the Woods

Maple Tree Painting - Fall Maples

2012-02-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Fall Maples (30x30 inches)

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This maple tree painting is the very first painting in my fall maple tree series (similar to Red Maples - posted below). Every once in a while I take my camera out and photograph the trees in my yard. I like to capture them by seasons, fall being my favourite. And these particular trees seem to photograph so well, their trunks leaning just so.

It was a perfect opportunity to play with a host of different oranges, browns, reds and yellows, and mix them with the most perfect robin's egg blue. A very 70's colour palette. And the perfect jumping off point for a series.

This image is listed in my Etsy shop as an 8x8 inch print:

Fall Maples

Autumn Landscape Painting - Canadian Maple Trees - A Day in Autumn

2011-12-22T09:17:00.000-08:00

A Day in Autumn, 24x36 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This autumn landscape painting of Canadian maple trees is yet another in my series of fall maples. Painted again from a photograph (below) of trees at the side of my house, I have yet again taken artist license and changes birch trees into maple trees. No magic wand required, just a whole lotta paint and a few ounces of imagination.

For purchase information, please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Autumn Landscape Painting - Canadian Maple Trees - A Blustery Day

2011-12-20T14:10:00.000-08:00

A Blustery Day, 30x36 inches

acrylic on 1.5 inch deep gallery wrapped canvas

This autumn landscape painting of canadian maple trees was just a thrill to paint. Those of you who know me know that one of my very favorite colours is orange, and to pair it with chocolate brown and robins egg blue, was a delight to say the least.

It's all about colour for me. Sometimes I see colours in my mind that I want to work with before I even know what I want to paint. Sometimes one painting in a certain colour scheme won't be enough and I'll have to paint another and another until I've exhausted my desire for those colours (for the time being) and move on. So it's a good thing that autumn only comes once a year.

Although this is the photograph used for the above painting, I used my artistic license and changed birch trees into red maples! I just loved the relationship between these two trees and was in the middle of my fall venture. Now if I had a magic wand...

For purchase information, please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Autumn Landscape Painting - Red Maples

2011-12-16T10:03:00.001-08:00

Red Maples, 30x30 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

The idea for this flaming autumn landscape painting of red maples came from a photograph (below) of yellow maple trees at the side of my house.

I look at these trees every day from my kitchen window, through all kinds of weather, and seasons. And every once in a while I'll take my camera out and photograph them... again. Their beauty and grace never ceases to amaze me.

Of course you can see by the original photo that I took some artistic license, especially with colour, but their essence remains intact.

For purchase information, please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Bald Eagle Painting - Eagle Perch - West Kootenays Landscape

2011-12-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

Eagle Perch, 12x14 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This bald eagle painting is a composite of a dead tree I photographed against the backdrop of Kootenay Lake (original photograph below) and a bald eagle from reference photos.

As you can see, I took some creative license in painting the mountains in the distance as well as the sky. The rest is pretty much there and I tried to keep the colour scheme pretty much as it was. It wasn't my original intention to paint in the bird. I just loved the tree. But my husband and I had recently gone on a long road trip north and I had managed to capture some photos of a bald eagle, not in a upright position, unfortunately, but they did help with the basic features and I thought it just might add that certain something to this piece.

Since I've lived in this area, I have seen bald eagles many times, often in pairs. But on this recent road trip was the first time I had the opportunity to take photographs. Such amazing creatures!

For purchase information, please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

West Kootenay Landscape Painting - Across the River

2011-12-13T15:51:00.001-08:00

Across the River, 16x16

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This West Kootenay landscape painting, Across the River, is directly inspired by the Kaslo River Trail that runs along the north and south banks of the Kaslo River. My husband and I have spent many hours walking the trail in all sorts of weather, enjoying the peace and quiet, hoping we don't run into any bears along the way.

The trail is well travelled at any time of year, and we often meet others out enjoying the woods and water. Almost everyone that walks the trail has some story of seeing a bear at some time or another on the trail, or across the river.

Though I have many photos of our journeys, this is the first Kaslo River Trail painting.

For purchase information please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Landscape Painting - Log Jam - West Kootenays

2011-12-12T13:54:00.001-08:00

Log Jam, 11x14

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This landscape painting of a log jam in the West Kootenays is a first for me as a painter. I took a bunch of photographs a few winters ago when my husband and I went for a road trip along the New Denver highway. I never thought I would actually be painting a log jam, but there was something so poetic about the bend in the river and the postions of the logs that I liked.

This winter, while mining my many many photographs for something to paint, I came across this photo again (below) and thought, why not? It's something different. I've never painted anything like this before. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For purchase information, please contact me at:

info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Mountain Stream Landscape Painting

2011-12-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Mountain Stream, 11x14

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This mountain stream landscape painting was painted from a photograph I took while leaning over a bridge to capture the flow of the stream as it rushed past this interesting cluster of rocks below. It was a bit of a challege, as I hadn't yet painted 'moving' water before. Now I can't wait to paint it again. Such possibilities!

In the original photograph (below) there were a few trees that were unfortunately edited out when I resized the photo to match the dimensions of the canvas, so I just moved them down a bit to get them in. I also removed that section of bridge that didn't fit into my idea of an asthetically pleasing composition. Oh the magic of cut and paste!

For purchase information, please contact me at:
info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Alpine Meadow Landscape Painting - West Kootenays

2011-12-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Mountain Field, 12x12 inches

acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This alpine meadow landscape painting was painted from memory from many hikes in the mountains over the past summer. Usually the alpine flora is quite colourful, but in this painting I chose to simplify the colour palette and make the flowers white.

I think I may use this piece as a study for larger paintings to come.

For purchase information, please contact me:
info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To view my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com

Lake Landscape Painting - Bear Lake

2011-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

Bear Lake, 11x14 inches
acrylic on deep 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas

This lake landscape painting was painted from a photograph (below) taken at Bear Lake this summer. It was an absolutely beautiful day when my husband and I decided to go for a drive. So many times we have travelled through this mountain pass only to have the most dreary weather. So this day I actually got to take pictures that cast shadows!

While we were there we saw a very large black bear having his lunch on the far side of the lake. But we were unfortunately too far away to see him in the photos. We have stopped at this lake many times and never seen a bear, despite the name of the lake. So perhaps this bear came out to enjoy the sun as well. If you look closely, there is a small section of meadow just under the mountain peaks. There he was foraging at the water's edge, taking no notice of my husband and I at all.

For purchase information please contact me at:
info@artistsuzannemclean.com

To visit my Etsy shop: DreamGallery.etsy.com