Barbara Weaver-Bosson's Art, Life and Stories: December 2013

I can not believe how long it has been since my last confession.

The truth is....I have been gathering new ideas for my next painting. Read on regarding painting dogs, cats and my process of creating one of my Victoria Neighbourhood paintings or Harbour views.

How I Have to Commit Myself

My preparation and process for a new painting is all about research and I spend many days and weeks looking for a view that "speaks to me". When I have found the ultimate inspiring view, I start creating sketches and line drawings and then think long and hard about the other aspects of doing the painting.

Before I commit myself to a complex project that will take me many months to complete, I get plenty of rest, take my vitamins and make sure there are enough frozen dinners in the freezer for Vic. I do all the housework that will have "do" for several months and ...double check that I am head over heels in love with my view and the concept for my painting.

I then must figure how big I want the painting to be and how the small details of my view may or may not "read" at different scale sizes. Analyzing what really interests me about the view and how I will approach painting the architectural structures, is most important.

Lots of Dogs and a Little Yellow Budgie
Most often my view features Victoria's harbour areas or Victoria's seaside neighbourhoods, I love to add people, cars, cats, birds and lots of dogs. Dogs are a delight to me and I always smile when I see any dog trotting down the street or happily sitting in the front seat of a car or truck.

Rhoda
Over the years, I have added our favourite dog Rhoda to my paintings. If you notice white dogs scattered here and there in my paintings, quite often, one of them will be Rhoda.

Telling little visual stories about people and animals within my neighbourhood paintings started back in 1985 and I have added many locals who are boating, walking, running, biking or standing around on street corners. Many times over the years and sometimes even without the advice of their lawyers I have painted in my family, our friends, neighbours and their dogs, cats and even their birds.

NOTE The smallest bird I have added to date, was my niece's yellow budgie. Many have tried to locate it in my Beach Drive painting and give up part way through the search and declare that the budgie must have been eaten by the neighbour's cat or took a bus back to my niece's house.

Details are important and give life to my city views.
The next phase is drawing my final image on my canvas or panel. This is a slow careful drawing and drafting the architectural buildings, surrounding landscape, mountains, ocean or harbour area onto my canvas or art panel. As I start to paint seriously, many of the simple areas will take on hundreds of finite details in paint which were not indicated or detailed in my line drawing concept sketches.

If I am painting a view in my neighbourhood or the city area, I will visit my location many, many times over the course of doing the painting.

The Only Constant is Change
Over time, many elements in my location views will change. Obviously, people and cars on the streets change second to second and the light quality changes on buildings. During the winter or spring any number of my visits to the location will be disrupted by unexpected rainstorms or strong winds. After my initial concept drawing has been made of, say, a complex neighbourhood view, I will notice on my next visits to the location, a few homes have been torn down or renovations have occurred.
Far too often, on a harbour or water front, a favourite ship or several boats have left or the whole dock in my view has been moved or reconfigured. Snapshots are good for much of the basic reference but I do not rely on photos because they are very deceptive and don't always reveal everything I need to know. What I can not deciphered in a photo, I need to investigate while being there in person and that will help make sense of the structure or detail in question.

It is a Win/Win Situation

As I start work on the painting, I know a few subtle things will change about my location and that is OK. The neighbourhood and the world around me are in constant change and I am happy to paint the view as I see it or feel it. My art is always a personal artistic interpretation of a city view and my impression of a moment in time.
Through the research and painting process, I gain an understanding of the history, the unique character of Victoria's neighbourhoods and harbour areas. It is most gratifying and always an uplifting experience as year after year I learn more about Victoria and the areas I choose to paint.

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The Simple Life

During times when I want to relax and let loose, I paint playful images on paper, canvas, or on my iPad. I love to allow fun and unexpected things to happen. While in my playful mood, I use expressive colour and enjoy creating images that relate to a simple life.

Christmas Gifts
I grew up in Calgary, Alberta and snow was a big part of our lives for many months of the year. After moving to the west coast of Canada where it rarely snows, I get a little nostalgic for snow. At approximately 9 pm every December 24th, I secretly wish and hope it will snow here in Victoria. That little bit of snow will take me back to a simpler time and make the delights of our Christmas morning even more magical.