Pirate's Cave

Pirate's Cave — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches

One of those childhood dream images that you might never forget.

Shelter Rock

Shelter Rock — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
An adventure-dream landscape that holds a great deal of mystery and symbolism.

Root Cellar

Root Cellar — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
A historical tribute to the root cellar capital of Elliston, Newfoundland.

Alex Colville

Alex Colville — oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches

Canadian realist painter I had the honour of meeting once. He had a great influence on many art students over his long career, myself included. http://www.alexcolville.ca/

Andrew Wyeth

Andrew Wyeth — oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches

Based on available photos, I modified the subject with what I imagined to be the slight grin of a confident artist who wasn't to be under-estimated by any means. http://www.andrewwyeth.com/

Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper — oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches

The harsh street lighting portrays the artist as a character stepping out of his own famous 1942 painting, Nighthawks. http://www.edwardhopper.net/nighthawks.jsp

Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein — oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches

Such interesting features which demanded to be exaggerated in this serious caricature painting.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol — oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches

The critical eye of this iconic American artist studies the viewer.

Chance Cove Beach

Chance Cove Beach — oil on canvas 18 x 24 inches

Early Summer morning before the fog has fully lifted from this idyllic setting.

Abandoned

Abandoned — oil on canvas 22 x 28 inches
An imagined high-ground retreat remains standing after years of neglect.

Bell Island Evening

Bell Island Evening — oil on canvas 12 x 24 inches
A view as seen from the Newfoundland town of Portugal Cove.

Rounding the Headland

Rounding the Headland — oil on canvas 12 x 24 inches
The memory of a sailboat trip inspired this composition.

Black Pond with White Sand

Black Pond with White Sand — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
A dreamy seascape setting one hates to leave in the morning.

After the Storm

After the Storm — oil on canvas 16 x 20 inches
Based on a mental picture of Outer Cove, Newfoundland.

Reg and Helen

Reg and Helen — oil on canvas 24 x 30 inches
A tribute to Newfoundland's own fine art pioneers, Reginald Shepherd and Helen Parsons Shepherd.

Apple Study

Apple Study — oil on canvas 6 x 12 inches

Pablo

Pablo — oil on canvas 50 x 40cm
A slightly twisted tribute to the ageing, yet intense artist, Picasso.

Oil Painting Tips Using a Palette Knife

Step One - prepare your canvas with a thin layer of burnt sienna (allow a day for drying)

Step Two - choose and mix your paint. Flesh tones and most natural objects can be made from various amounts of the standard artist's colours (depending on the highlights and shadows observed in your subject or photo)

• cadmium red
• cadmium yellow
• cerulean blue
• prussian blue
• burnt sienna
• titanium white

Step Two - sketch in your composition with a little red or dark blue paint on the palette knife (lots of drawing practice will help here)

Step Three - start mixing and applying rough areas of colour

Step Four - continue with "wet on wet" colour blocks and background filling and soon the painting will start to take on some life and realism

Step Five - carefully refine any areas that need more detailed attention–adding, fixing and blending while trying not to overkill the good areas

Congratulations! Be sure to allow at least two or three weeks for the oil paint to dry before handling or framing