Toronto Waterfront in full color (A work in progress)

I have been carrying around in my head an idea for a painting I have wanted to do for some time. I love the view of the Toronto waterfront and have wanted to capture it on cavas but not from a realistic perspective but in my own pop art fashion. Sticking with my love of bright yellow/blue combinations and the sky here is a picture of the predrawn work on canvas. Some paintings I do freehand but some I like to draw and block out in advance.
I'm not going to pretend that I have drawn it to scale or included every single building, now that wouldn't be pop art would it? However, if you are a true Torontonian I am sure you can recognize some of the buildings. I painted it on a 22 x 26" canvas which seems to be a good size. In the picture below I have begun to add the color.
I began wanting to do it in my usual bold primary colors but for some reason I decided to go with a different tone and created my own colors by mixing my paints. It is almost complete and I will post it here in the next day or so. Right now I am off to search for good pictures of Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and maybe some US coastal cities. I think I have the makings of a series here.

A BIT OF EGYPT

I am in the middle of helping a young friend prepare to decorate her bedroom in her new home. She has a very avid interest in Egyptian history and for a 14 year old is very up on the subject. So it was only natural that we decided to create an Egyptian theme in her bedroom. As I love to decorate almost as much as I love to paint I am very thrilled to be helping her with this project. Since we can't actually get into the new home for a few more weeks we are working on preparing accessories and such for the room. I decided to make some paintings for her that would fit in to her theme. We are leaning towards a Cleopatra type setting so of course she wants it filled with authentic looking Egyptian artifacts and art. Here is a painting I created for her based on the "Eye of Ra". Turned out so nice I think I might recreate it on a larger canvas and offer it for sale. Let me know what you think.

PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS

I love to paint with acrylics. I have tried watercolors and I am not great at blending. I have tried oils and I admit I don't have the patience to wait for them to dry. So I love acrylics. They are quick drying, colorful and forgiving...you can paint right over your mistakes (of which I make many!)

I recently came across a great website where an acrylic artist by the name of Sandra Sheetz has a free video you can watch which gives you a few lessons on painting with acrylics. I found it very helpful and insightful so if you are new to painting with acrylics I would check it out. Painting with Acrylics video.

Below is one of my few attempts at oils. I find it easier to paint abstracts with oils as you can blend and create wonderful color and not have to worry about each color drying beforehand. However, I think I will stick with my acrylics. This piece is for sale and is gorgeous in person. My camera needs replaced!!!

THREE FACES OF EVE

THREE FACES OF EVE,
originally uploaded by Trishishere.

This was one of my very first paintings and to date still one of my favorites. People viewing it have compared my work to Peter Max because of my similar use of bold color. Not sure if it fits in the pop art category. I love to paint with acrylics because of their bold bright color. Unfortunately this painting is not for sale but I would gladly reproduce something similar if you wish to commission one. I have also used a similar style on a stool I painted that was quickly snapped up by a client in Pennsylvania.

I love to paint in this pop art style but also in my folk art style so I tend to go back and forth creating in both.