breath of winter

Although currently working on studio paintings indoors, at the end of each session I try to make a plein air sketch -luckily I can just step outside. This direct observation work helps me immensely when addressing middle tones/values/edges in the larger studio works.

 *and I just really love the subtle breath of winter light

 December, remains of the day, oil / cold wax on canvas, 16x20in, copyright Jan Yates 2014

available

and on a field note:

milkweed

October

The leaves were falling on all sides like the last illusions of youth under the tears of irremediable grief. A brood of chattering birds were chasing each other through the shrubberies, and playing games among the branches, like a knot of hiding schoolboys. Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail.

- Henri Frederic Amiel

October

oil on canvas, plein air, 16x20in

 copyright Jan Yates, 2013
available

an August day

So here's an end of roaming
On eves when autumn nighs:  
The ear too fondly listens
For summer's parting sighs,  
And then the heart replies.   

-AE Housman

at the end an August day, absent voices accompany me

August

 remains of the day

 oil on canvas, plein air, 20x24in

copyright Jan Yates 2014

available

 

August

is bittersweet

August

cold wax & oil on canvas, plein air

16x20in, copyright Jan Yates 2014

Earth laughs in flowers

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

With hollyhocks was kept ablaze;
In all my recollections they
In friendly columns nod and sway;
And when to-day their blooms I see,
Always the mother smiles at me;
The mind's bright chambers, life unlocks
Each summer with the hollyhocks.
-Edgar-Albert-Guest

Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. ~Jim Carrey

August, the summer day

 oil on canvas, plein air

 30x30in, copyright Jan Yates 2014

available

plein air painting, short and brief

Got all the way out to the hay field 

only to realize the unimaginable
 

forgot my white

went to ride my bike to fetch it

bungee cord stuck in the spokes
 

 hiked back to get white and knife

 started painting

  everyone and their dogs thought I needed conversion

 dog knocked over easel

 The intention was to bring this out and resume on a 'calmer' evening, but now I quite like it as is..

July, remains of the day

cold wax & oil

 plein air, 16x20in

 copyright Jan Yates, 2014

available

a pretty good day so far

When I think of the horror and heartache that is currently happening in other parts of the world, I wonder how survivors cope-or at least get through. The human spirit is strong and tenacious, but  I am a coward-I don’t think I could get through if I couldn’t create.

Thank fate or god or both that I live where I do- and try never to take it for granted.

 July, a pretty good day so far

oil in canvas, plein air

24x36in, copyright Jan Yates 2014

available

why I like plein air painting

Sky is full

 Blinding when the sun falls

Squint and only see patterns

a circle of brilliant pulsating light-shapes

Illuminating field

Now, the portal

 July, remains of the day

 oil on canvas, plein air 12x24in

copyright Jan Yates 2014 
available

The summer evenings here in Niagara have been comfortably cool. Below, students enjoying the late golden light.

 

If you are interested in coming out for some plein air sessions, just let me know. The lovely thing about painting up here is you can work pretty well undisturbed by passers by-well, if you don't count the odd dog or two...

the longest day

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, when the Sun is at its highest point in the northern hemisphere.

The June Solstice was hugely significant in ancient societies, a time when the Sun’s magnetic power was at its most intense.  It represented fertility, and marked an important time for the harvests of the coming year to be blessed.

This power has carried through in places of worship and burial sites, from ancient standing stones to pyramids and tombs. These structures were designed to align with the sacred time of the year, when the sun was at its most powerful. While spending time in Ireland I was fortunate to visit sites that the Neolithic pagan cultures built and the experience was profound.

Years of living on agricultural land has heightened my awareness of the sun’s power, and this is my annual way of marking it, to somehow hold sacred.  

 

 June 21, Remains of the Day

oil / cold wax on canvas, plein air, 16x20in 

copyright Jan Yates 2014, available

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Mary Oliver

 Images copyright Jan Yates,  2014, sold

Tree stories

Through the seasons this locust tree, framed by a lightning- struck fence, has been a constant source of awe. 

As well as being a social hub for birds, and their families- having been raised in her protective mass of  gnarled limbs- the bees also take nectar from her heady blooms. The honey is divine.

  

 June, the Locust tree, oil on canvas, plein air,  16x20in,  copyright Jan Yates 2014

Among
of
green
stiff
old
bright
broken
branch
come
white
sweet
May
again
~ William Carlos Williams

death for Dandelions.

Upcoming is the Canadian long weekend which means only one thing:

Every man with a lawn tractor will be out mowing down those beautiful yellow dandelions. (why oh why said I??) 

Time is of the essence so between rains I’ve been outside painting them.

 May, oil on canvas, plein air, 11x14in, copyright Jan Yates, 2014, available

 

It is lovely working a midst the flurry of yellow finches back from their holiday-yellow is good.

what a difference a day makes

Finally. The last two days have been warm. sunny. promising.

The snow has melted.

Although  forceful winds had me tying the easel to a tree as well as wire the canvas to the easel, it was worth it just to be outside painting again.

That warm sun felt SSSOOO good!

 April, oil on canvas, plein air, 12x16in, copyright Jan Yates, 2014

 available

750. secure online payment via Paypal, Visa, M/C. shipping arranged. inquire here

 

Last week; 

the same vineyard, on a cold, wet, grey day.

 April, thaw, oil on canvas, plein air, 11x14in, copyright Jan Yates 2014

mind field

I am working on a few small oil sketches to possibly be made into larger commissioned paintings. Wanting to bring a plein air feel to the work, I wondered about the idea of revisiting May in March.

Apprehensive  about making a study indoors-I was afraid of losing that ‘plein air’ feel. But surprisingly, I found it did the opposite-it took me back outside.

 I was in the orchard, feeling that balmy May breeze, hearing the Spring bird voices, breathing the sweet smell of new-new grass, new blossoms, things were growing faster than I could paint them. 

I can go into the field of my mind. 

Waiting for May, oil/cold wax on canvas, 14x16in, 2014
copyright Jan Yates

remains of the day

After being in Spring (Vancouver was resplendent with new growth-forsythia, daffodils, flowering trees)-I was not thrilled about returning to our Ontario winter. 

 Needless to say it was a pleasant surprise to be greeted with a warm sun melting the mounds of snow-things were starting to thaw.

 

 

It felt great to find my paints after going without for ten days. The spring warmth was enough for me to stand outside on the front porch and make a little painting –a wee promise.

 March, Remans of the Day, oil on canvas, plein air, 8x10in, copyright Jan yates 2014

 under 200 incl. tax. Visa, Paypal, Mastercard. 

 inquire here

Thaw

milkweed, goldenrod, snow. copyright Jan Yates 2014

art adoption

 August, remains of the day, oil on canvas, plein air, 2012 , copyright Jan Yates

Our gallery is featuring a selection of work this month to help support Women's Place of South Niagara Inc.

The auction runs through March and bids can also be made online.
Check it out here

direct dialogue

In a previous post I mentioned working on some larger studio works, and I am deliberately not rushing them.

However, after working so many months indoors painting from intuition, recall, trial, error, and some 2d references, I needed to simply lay down something from direct observation. 

Hence a very quick plein air, worked between snow flurries and freezing rain- 

 February, oil / cold wax on canvas, 14x28in, copyright Jan Yates, 2014

kindred

Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other.
- Rainer Maria Rilke

 November,  kindred, oil /cold wax on canvas, plein air, 20x24in, 2013

copyright Jan Yates

summer birds (sold)

Everything is changing colour early. September is bittersweet. I miss my summer birds. The yellow finches left a few days ago. The yellow goldenrod will have to do.

It is a colourful yet quiet time of year to be out painting.

September, early gold, oil on canvas, 18x24in, 2013, available

Updated Painting Workshops

Studio on the Ridge

Workshops & Classes

upcoming in August 

August, Greenbelt disaster, oil on canvas, 9x12in, sold


 

Plein Air Painting

 Mondays, 6:30 -9PM, $85 for a series of 4 sessions.
series starts Monday, August 6

more info

 

Encaustic Painting

Sunday, August 12, 10AM-1PM, $70 includes most materials

Class size is limited and students have ample time to work hands on with this fluid and luscious medium.

more info

 

Exploring the Surface: Painting with Cold Wax

  Sunday, August 26, 10AM-1PM  $70 includes most materials

more info

Registration for any of these classes can be made conveniently and securely online via paypal.

to sign up please click here

*New Series: OPEN STUDIO

 

 

These sessions are primarily self directed. You can work inside the studio or outdoors ala plein air.The instructor is available to guide you and address your individual needs in a mentor-ship approach. These sessions are ideal for those just starting out or for the more seasoned artists who wish to push themselves in a new direction. This is also an inspiring environment for those who simply need time to work. Participants provide their own materials. If you are new to art-making we will be happy to recommend materials and media most suitable for your needs.

 

Ongoing Tuesdays:

10AM - 12:30PM

Or

6:30 -9PM

$85 for a series of 4 sessions or$35 per session

all classes are held in Grimsby, ON