Day 4: Duality - Camel No.1: The Dreaming Camel

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

This painting is yet another piece in the camel series. There was no initial inspiration for this painting, other than that.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 1

So many people have given me such lovely feedback on my Sassy Camel piece. And many expats expressed a desire to have something that would eventually remind them of their time here in the Gulf; without it being like everything else available to tourists. So this is how the continuation of the camel series evolved.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 2

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

In these photos of the underlayers, I continued to build up the body and the decorated harness until I decided that those aspects were complete. But when it came time to work on the eyes, I had to come to a decision as to what emotion or look to express.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

But with the idea of "remembering time spent in the Gulf", I chose to leave them as they appear in the final stage.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 3 of Duality: Camel Nose Abstract

What a day! Spent another lovely morning painting away at Yama Yoga Studios. And I thought I'd get to my daily painting description on my 4-8pm shift. But alas, my little girl threw up during suppertime back at home, and had a bit of a fever. I rushed home as quickly as I could.

Luckily, my wonderful husband had everything under control by the time I got there. But my sincerest apologies to the Astanga Yoga group who I was looking forward to speaking with after class. I hope we meet again.

So, here is yesterday's entry in the series of photo essays that highlight work on display.

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50 cm x 100 cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract: underlayer

This particular piece underwent quite a few reincarnations during its process. I had initially started filling in an underlayer when I soon lost interest in that particular pose and composition.

I tried a few different ideas, all the while building up the background.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 1 of snout

I was really enjoying the challenge of trying to take the "too-often-romanticized camel" out of those clichéd "sweeping desert settings" that one can find in a lot of paintings sold to tourists out here. So, this particular shape soon emerged on the canvas.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 2 of snout

I worked with many different layers to imply ropes and tassels around the face, as I built up the shapes and counters of the camel's nose.

Camel Nose Abstract:

underlayer 3 of snout

And here it is:

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50cm x 100cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract is part of the Duality exhibition at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 2 of Duality: Camel No. 3 - Red

Thought I'd try something new and actually paint at the exhibition venue today. The light that floods in is brilliant. The familiar smell of incense and the calming yogic energy that flows through is both invigorating and soothing. And to have a solid block of uninterrupted time to stay focussed on work is something quite lovely to get reacquainted with.

Please stop by Yama Yoga Studios and not only visit me, but check out their schedule of classes. Everything from salsa to wushu, pre-natal to mommy-and-me, intro yoga to pilates...Today's crowd included the cutest bunch of little girls coming in for their beginner ballet class.

I've met such a lovely, diverse group of people over the last few days.

As promised, here is today's installment in the series of photo essays that highlight art work included in Duality.

Camel No. 3 - Red: acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

I was really intrigued by the rarity of black camels, and wanted to include one in my camel series.

Camel No. 3 - Red

underlayer 1
(sketching it in)

Camel No. 3 - Red
another underlayer
(almost done)

However, in the process of filling in all the red under-layers of the camel's face to add depth and texture, the "camel-that-came-to-be" simply couldn't be painted over anymore. So I just completed the background, and here she is:

Camel No. 3: Red - acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

Camel No. 3 - Red is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Duality - Day 1: Sakura

It is officially Day 1 of Duality at Yama Yoga Studios after the opening last night here in Doha. Thank you to everyone who attended! It's not often that there are so many things going on in town at the same time. So thank you for choosing to spend time with me and my paintings.

Sakura - mixed media & acrylic on canvas, 30"x24", 2010

This piece is another ode to Vancouver. I do miss the sight of tree-lined streets and avenues covered in delicate cherry blossom petals like light pink blankets of snow. This painting evolved out of that memory.

Sakura - photo of underlayer

At first, I began with a very loosely drawn branch and leaf shapes - thinking that it would simply become an underlayer in the later stages. And still in the mind-set that I was but in that beginning phase where I normally enjoy the "building-up" process, I continued to loosely paint in the branches.

Sakura - detail photo of

abstracted cherry blossoms

Sakura - detail photo of bird

But when I progressed to the free-form, abstracted blossoms, this was when I was reminded of spring-time at home.

I then decided to include an image transfer of a bird drawing because I wanted to somehow visually represent and express the fact that I was simply there in spirit.
Sakura is on display at Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Sakura - mixed media & acrylic on canvas, 30"x24", 2010

The Big Tree

As promised, here is the first in a series of photo essays.

The Big Tree - acrylic on canvas, 2' x 5', 2010

This painting is a continuation of my fascination with missing the greenery back home in BC. There are grand palm trees and spectacular bouganvilla here, but I do miss the sound of leaves clapping together when a strong, clean breeze flies through. When I lived in Nanaimo and in Coquitlam, there was always a forest just beyond the property line in my backyard. And though most of the trees were majestic evergreens, the leaves of the white birch trees were the ones that made the sound that I love.



In this piece, I at first wanted the leaves to evoke water. So in the first layer, I have painted a stained-glass-like pattern of blue waves around the trunk and branches.


The Big Tree in progress - underlayer 1




I will admit that once I returned to the painting a few weeks later, the piece took on a life of its own, and this is what happened:

The Big Tree in progress - underlayer 2

The Big Tree in progress - underlayer 3

The Big Tree in progress - underlayer 4

The Big Tree in progress - almost there

The Big Tree - near completion

The Big Tree - acrylic on canvas, 2' x 5', 2010

Finishing Touches

I actually began writing this entry one week ago. But I've been enjoying my time completely focussed on painting, and not having much time for anything else . There's only one day left and just a few more finishing touches go.

I've obviously got a lot to catch up on re: daily entries. So what I'll do instead, is post a series of photos of one painting (from start to almost- or near- or completely-finished) over the next week or so while my work is on exhibit at Yama Yoga. So please stay tuned.

The exhibition opens this Thursday, May 27th at 7 p.m. at Yama Yoga Studios inside the Garvey's complex. Work will remain on display from Friday, May 28th to Sunday, June 6th, 2010. And the timings are as follows: Sunday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you would like a personal tour, please email me to make an appointment at fine-art@ceciliafrancisco.com.

Otherwise, please click here for a map to Garvey's and the various times that I will be available at the venue.

I do hope you enjoy my paintings. And I hope to see most of you at the show!