"Connecting" (6"x8") oil on canvas panel

This one is for this week's DPW challenge. I had more trouble taking a proper photograph of it than I did in painting it. The colors are not exact because of the dark, rainy-weather lighting conditions I photographed in.

"Bowl of oranges"(5"x9")

This is my entry for last week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. It's the Color Challenge, I chose combination of complementary and split complementary(blue, purple, turquoise and orange)

Contemporary (10"x12")

Watching contemporary dancing is one of my favorite things to do. There is something magical about it.

Mugshot(5"x5")

My first chicken ever. I really enjoyed this challenge!

German Landscape(5"x7")

Another challenge from DPW.

Magnolia(5"x7")

This was last week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. I'm finally getting over a nasty flu bug, so I'm about 5 days behind with... basically everything.

"Beautysleep" (10"x 12")

Mango(5"x5")

Another challenge from DPW. One stroke, one color. It was very messy, but so much fun. Thank you Carol.

Zippo(6"x6")

This is my submission to this week DPW challange. This was the first time I painted using only three colors. I never expected that it would be so much fun.

"Summer walk"(12"x10")

It's about time I started bloging again. I can't believe it's been this long. First I had my Mum and sister visiting me for a couple months. Whenever I tried to paint, I felt guilty that I should be spending time with them. Then...Christmas fever, but finally everything is back to normal.
I signed up for the "Streetscapes in Oils" class at Visual Arts in Mississauga. The course is run by Dermot McKeown (who I have already mentioned here before) and he is great, that's why so many of us keep coming back. And this is my streetscape painting.

"Pamela" (12"x10")

I don't know how many times I painted her hand. It was a real challenge. I could see that something was wrong, but I had trouble fixing it. I'm sure I could work for hours on finishing touches, but I think it's time to move on to the next one.

"Blue cup"

I have few old canvases which have been painted over couple times. I don't know how many times I can do that, so I use them for practice. I noticed when I posted this that the plate has a funny shape and I should of work little more on the cup. Oh well, it was a good exercise, and there is always next one.

"Cruising" (6"x9")

It was beautiful day for biking, but even better for people watching. I love taking pictures in summer. Everything looks brighter, more colorful and everyone looks more relaxed .

"Sidewalk scootering" (8"x8")

I saw this girl scooting in downtown Oakville couple of weeks ago. I had to be fast, because in seconds, she was gone.

Best Mama Ever (12x10)

This is one of my favorite pictures of my Mom and I. Mothers Day is coming soon, so this is for you Mom. Now I just have to let it dry and send it to her in Poland.

Figs (6"x4")

It was fun to paint this one. Like usual, I had trouble trying to get the colours right, but I think I got them pretty close. I may go back and add a little more light to the fruit, but for now I will leave it alone, so I won't mess it up.

Waiting for a train (8"x8")

It is so hard to find people wearing bright colors in the winter. Almost every one wears black or gray. So when I saw this girl with an orange scarf and blue jacket and standing on the yellow line, I thought it would make a nice picture.
Most of the time, when I post my pictures, the colors don't turn out exactly the way they look in the painting. I'm using an SLR camera and I've tried shooting it outside and inside the house, but somehow it never looks quite right. What is the best way to do that? Any suggestions on how I could fix this? It is very frustrating.

Touch of spring (8"x8")

It feels like spring is here, so I went out to find inspiration for my next painting. I had taken a few shots but nothing great. Then, just when I decided I'm done and ready to catch my train home, I saw a lady with flowers and I knew I found my picture.

Karin Jurick

This is my version of Karin Jurick for the "Thank you project" organized by Jill Polsby. Because of my inexperience blogging, I lost my posting and my chance to participate in the original project. I'm very grateful to Karen for putting her time in to the "Portrait exchange" and I would like to add myself to the group of 119 artists who painted her portrait.

Barbara (8"x10")

This is my best friend window shopping last summer in Oakville. She has no idea I painted her, I wonder if she is going to like it.

Pam (10"x12")

This is one of many pictures of my daughter I made last summer at our family cottage. While she was trying to catch some minnows in the milk container, standing still, it was perfect pose.

My favorite earings (9"x 6")

I like wearing them, and the way they look, so I thought I should paint them. I enjoyed working on the loops the most. A good day of practice.

Walnut (8"x6")

When I first started painting it, my walnut looked more like a brain. But now, I'm proud of myself that I finished it within one day. I just realized that I should practice more with smaller projects like this one. It takes less time and there are not as many things I can mess up...instant gratification.

End of the year portrait swap ( 8"x 10")

Somehow I managed to delete my last post, so I guess I will do it again. This is my entry for the end of the year portrait swap. I didn't know who the person was. It was exiting to participate but because I am new to portraits (my second) it was challenging. I also lost all the great comments and words of encouragement from another artists when I deleted the post and that is what I'm really sad about. You can view all the portraits on you tube too, just click part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.

Persimmon 5x7

This looks like it is finished but knowing myself, I will probably go back and touch it up here or there.

Shades of brown (16"x 20")

My affair with art started when I decided to enroll for beginner classes at the Oakville Art Society with Helen Hendry. I always liked drawing (even though I wasn't that good at it). First challenge, abstract. I knew right from the beginning, that it wouldn't be my style... I hated that picture. That's where my journey began. I still have a few pieces in my closet waiting to be painted over, but who doesn't? I created this one when I took classes in "Visual Arts Mississauga". For a last few years I found myself always going back there, so most of my achievements are thanks to a great teacher Dermot McKeown.

Airport Travelers (8"x 10")

This is my version of Airport Travelers from Karin Jurick "Different Stokes from Different Folks". I came across this blog first looking through Youtube's artists demonstrations. One of them was Karin Jurick. I love her work. I found the link to her site and ended up looking through her painting collection for hours. Beside her great work, she is also doing a blog DSFDF where all different artists paint their version of the picture which she posts every few weeks. This is my first entry (and it was challenging) but I enjoyed every minute of it. So, if you like painting or maybe always wanted to paint, check this site out, it is amazing.

Tulips (16'x20")

This was my first painting ever (sorry second) but I painted it over the first one. It was when I took classes. I thought that if I could do this just after couple of classes then it would be really easy, really soon. It is couple years later and I still struggle with almost every painting.

Apple blossom (30"x24")

A summer at grandma's (14"x 18")

Fall colors (16"x 20")

My first portrait (20"x 16")

Like the title indicates this is my first portrait. It began as a painting of my daughter but it didn't really end up looking exactly like her. When I finished I was still extremely happy with it.