White and Blue Iris

6 x 6 inches - Oil on Gessoboard - These flowers offer an almost infinite variety for compositions. I tend to gravitate to images of high contrast and saturated colours. For small paintings like this I use commercial boards and occasionally  ones I prepare myself. I like the smooth, not slick, Ampersand boards. For larger (8 x 10 inches and above) I like the texture of oil primed linen. I glue these onto panels unless they are too large. For larger works I paint on the linen while taped to a board and then stretch it on a frame.

Orange Iris

6 x 6 inches - oil on gessoboard - We don't have many of the tall bearded irises in our garden anymore. It is just too much trouble dealing with the iris borer.  The smaller irises and Japanese irises are not as prone to the problem. It is a shame because the tall ones are spectacular.

Zipper on a Footstool

6 x 6 inches - oil on gessoboard - SOLD -
We had him and then we didn't
We held him in our arms and then we couldn't
He was here and then he wasn't

Rose of Sharon

6 x 8 inches - oil on gessoboard - The tropical hibiscus has a number of relatives including this Rose of Sharon which is hardy where we live in Canada.

Geese in the Park

6 x 6 inches - oil on gessoboard - These two came up from the river to clean the park of weeds and bugs. Last night a whole flock of their friends had a slumber party on the lawn. It looked like a thousand dogs came to visit but don't worry, goose poo breaks down quickly. Just the same, I would watch where you step.

Top Cat

6 x 6 inches, oil on gessoboard. I wonder if these people know that I am in charge here. I am wearing my best tux so that should be enough of a sign for them. Well if they don't understand the way things are, then what can I do. It's their loss.

Iris and Bellflower

6 x 6 inches - oil on gessoboard - I have not stopped painting all this time but I have not been posting. I decided it was time to start again and here is one that I painted recently.