“Waiting” — Commission

To date this may be one of my favourite paintings. Unfortunately the photographs don’t do the painting justice–you lose a lot of the colour variation particularly in the sand and water close to shore. That’s probably my fault–I’ll have to figure out a better way of taking photos of my paintings on rainy days when I can’t go outside like I normally do. Maybe that will be one of my new year’s goals : )

This painting was commissioned for a client’s wife as a Christmas gift. He wanted some specific elements included in the coastal scene: trees, ocean waves, orange and blue-tinted sky, a soaring eagle, and a starfish. As much as this painting was about those requested items, it was also inspired by his wife’s favourite Bible verse:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

As the New Year approaches, what a spectacular promise to hold on to! May you be blessed by the scripture inspiration just as I was as I worked on this painting!

 

Waiting 24×36″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2015

 

“Vancouver Island Coast” — Commission

Vancouver Island Coast
8×8″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

A good friend of mine commissioned this painting for her sister-in-law’s Christmas gift. This scene is from the west coast of Vancouver Island where her and her husband (my friend’s brother) got to know each other. There is something about ocean scenes that just inspire me…. They are definitely a joy to paint!

On a separate note: I can’t believe 2014 is already coming to a close! I am so thankful to have had this past year to do what I love: paint! Thank you to everyone that has supported me either by purchasing my work or by championing me along the way. You are greatly appreciated!
Not sure what the next years holds, but I am blessed to know that some fresh tubes of paint, bright white canvases, and crusty old paint brushes will be waiting for me on the other side of midnight!

Series Commission–Four East Coast Paintings

One of my good friends recently got married and as a wedding gift I created a painting for her and her husband. After returning from their East Coast honeymoon spent on Cape Breton Island, I was asked if I would create several small paintings using their honeymoon photos as reference images. I was honoured that they asked me to do so. I must admit that I was initially a little bit daunted as I wanted to do this special trip and time in their life justice. The photos I had to work with were beautiful to start with (as my friend has a true artistic eye), so that definitely made my job a little easier! Together we spent time going through her photographs filtering out which photos wouldn’t work and settling on four that work make a diverse but still cohesive grouping. Since these four paintings are a series, I figured I would post them all together. I asked my friend to come up with titles for each of the paintings as they represent her memories and experiences (and frankly she has a way with words that is truly a gift!). Each painting has an individual title: “Caught” at White Point, “Breathless” on the Cabot Trail, “Between” on Middle Head, and “Secrets” at Meat Cove. When you remove the place names in each of the titles you are left with the poignant phrase: caught breathless between secrets. …Told you she has a way with words! : )

“Caught” at White Point 8×8″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

“Breathless” on the Cabot Trail 8×8″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

“Between” on Middle Head 8×8″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

“Secrets” at Meat Cove 8×8″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014