The Craftiest Workshop

I had a chance to paint again with my brother Russell this week on a short trip to High River. It was my first time in Birdsong Studios 3.0. I had painted before in Fort Mc Murray in Birdsong Studios 1.0 and again in Birdsong Studios 2.0 in Okotoks. I also did a painting via zoom with Russell last Christmas.

My first painting experience was with my three boys. Russell was painting a photo he had taken of a light switch and he challenged each of us to paint our own interpretation of it. Ironically, the Robin’s egg blue in my current kitchen was a main colour that I chose for my light switch painting.

My second painting foray was with with my friend Jana and a couple of her kids. We were given the choice of an Ostrich, a Wolf, an Owl and a Moose. I chose the wolf. I never did take a photo of my painted wolf but I was fairly disappointed with the way that it turned out and left the canvas with Russell to repurpose. He decided to use my wolf as the base and clean it up to create a proper wolf. I later got a larger print of it from him. So, my painting is under this one…somewhere.

My third painting experience with Russell was last Christmas. My mother in-law was painting a Christmas scene, my son Thomas painted an abstract painting and I did my first gnome painting. This was over a zoom call with Russell helping us with background colours and how to make stars look real. Unlike Russell’s gnome paintings, I have yet to name this one. Any suggestions?

I had asked Russell about doing a country Christmas painting for when I was in High River this week. I wanted a red barn and an old red truck. He sketched the outline of the truck, horse, and barn for me before I started painting. He also helped me with the tree on the truck. His wife Heather was busy painting next to me creating abstract art for an upcoming Under $100 art show in Calgary.

I had coated the painting surface of the wood in a shellac layer. I was hoping to keep the tannins in spruce from coming through the paint when I add the polycrylic coat at the end. It was very hard to apply acrylic paint to the shellac layer. The paint kept sliding all over and I had to add multiple coats. I put polycrylic on the back and a tiny bit dripped on the painting and when I just dabbed it, it started to remove paint. IF I decide to coat it, it will be with a spray coat not brushed on with a sponge like I usually do. If I really don’t want to see the painting, I can just turn it around and enjoy the lovely wood.

I get to paint with Russell so infrequently and I really don’t think I am improving. He talks about shadows and perspective and my eyes roll back in my head. It just feels way over my head.

I will say that I can really get out of my head while painting. 4-5 hours fly by without me focusing on anything but what is in front of me. It is a great distraction for anxiety or stress.

For those of you that haven’t checked out Russell’s Art you can find him on Facebook or Instagram at Russell Thomas Art. Heather also has a Facebook and Instagram page, Heather Thomas Art.