Kitsilano Houses, Vancouver

Hello friends and art lovers,

Today I am reporting on our Fairfield Artists Studio Tour and I have posted my Kitsilano Houses painting.

Our 10th annual ART event, The Fairfield Artists Studio Tour happened on April 30th and May 1st. The weather was so perfect which made the art event even more upbeat and fun. The FAST (as we call it) was Victoria's first artist organized neighbourhood studio tour and we proudly celebrated our 10 year anniversary this April. This year we had 37 artists in the tour and tour visitors were offered the chance to meet a diverse cross section of well known and noted artists from all disciplines and inspirations.

Isabel, our long time friend, was very gracious to help us out that weekend with sales, information and cheerfully welcomed everyone who came through our door. Each day Isabel commented on how excited everyone was to have an opportunity to view the many styles of art, meet the artists in their studios and see their tools and materials for creating their art.

Over the 2 day event,Vic and I were so delighted and very encouraged by the 300 plus art tourists that came by to squeeze into our cozy 5 room home/studio. We encouraged everyone to snoop around and discover all the art in every corner of our art studios.

Finding the Time to Enjoy the Arts
We know how hectic everyones lives can get and if you came by our studio, we are so happy you could take some time out of your busy schedule to visit us. If we missed the chance to say hello and personally welcome you, Vic and I hope you enjoyed the selection of our collaborative ArtLife works and my Neighbourhood Series we had on hand.

Here's a link and a short interview with Vic and I plus few Fairfield artists on the studio tour.
 Many thanks to Efren of Exhibit -V for waiting patiently to capture us on video.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgRz91QqeGg&feature=related


How long does it take you to do a painting?
One of the most popular questions during the studio tour was "how long does it take you to do a painting?"
Like my paintings, I often answer with a detailed answer
" it is a long process with several steps before I start painting. I research the location I want to paint and visit the area a few times. When the weather is pleasant, I do quick colour painting studies on location and pencil sketches and take a few snapshots to take back to the studio and when I have settled on the concept of the view I draw a rough sketch. I then enlarge the rough sketch in order to properly visualize the scale at which I want to create the final painting. When I am happy with the sketched view I want to paint, I start the final drawing."

Note about perspective
In the mid 1980's knowing how complex my Neighbourhood Series works were becoming, I studied courses in architectural rendering and perspectives and began a formal approach of drafting up my house structures and perspectives.

and I go on to say

"After working out all the compositional challenges in a final drawing on paper and feel I am satisfied with the look of the final drawing, I then transfer the drawing to my canvas or panel using graphite transfer paper sandwiched between my drawing and panel. The graphite paper is much like carbon paper but softer and not so harsh. By pressing and redrawing through the graphite paper, I am leaving a pencil like line on the surface of my panel or canvas. Once I have transferred all the outlines for my view, I can start my painting."

The outline drawing is quite basic in it's complexity and the real challenge comes with adding the details and vivid colour during the painting process. If I am working on a very detailed and complex view, I do not cover the whole surface with washes of under painting colours. I stay focused with one area at a time and finish the painting in the area I am working on. This method keeps the light quality and colours and textures of the image the same. Each area has 3 to 4 layers of paint from dark to light to get the textures and patterns of the trees, houses, land and seascape.

The Bottom Line
Depending on the size of the painting, the amount of small details and the number of different paintings and projects I am working on at the same time, the painting can take many weeks, months or possibly over a year to complete.

You might agree... it's a long and involved answer for a simple question.

Kitsilano Houses and the West End, Vancouver
by Barbara Weaver-Bosson
Acrylic painting 14 x 19 inches
Now available as a Giclee.

KITSILANO HOUSES inspiration

Over the years, I have spent many summers in Vancouver and marveled at the massive character homes in my favourite Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano. As we speak the older distinctive residences are disappearing and in their place rise private homes of west coast architectural styles of this century.

 In my Kitsilano Houses painting, I have focused on a group of five homes, all with delightful character and individual charm. This view of the homes and the West End was accessible to me thanks to our good friends John and Terry who welcomed me to use their rooftop patio. My vantage point is so important and I am lucky to have been offered this comfortable setting to begin my Kitsilano neighbourhood painting. If you are familiar with Vancouver, the street location of my view is on McNicholl near Kits Beach and the Maritime Museum.

Like many of my neighbourhood paintings, this painting is a moment in time and as the weeks and months go by, the neighbourhoods in which we live evolve and change and take on new faces and architectural personalities.