Nature Painting | ElaineFogel Art

My Excitement Shows at the Herberger Water Exhibit

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

There’s nothing more exciting for an artist than to have a gallery showing! OK, selling a painting is a close second. 😉

For the month of March, 2024, my painting, “Atlantic Outlook” is on display at the Herberger Art Galleries at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix. March is a big deal in the Phoenix art community as it kicks off Phoenix Art Week on the 1st, and the Annual Art Detour – a month-long celebration of the Arizona arts and culture community.

The opening reception saw a steady stream of visitors checking out both the Water and Barrio themed exhibits. It was an excellent opportunity for me to meet other local featured artists.

My thanks go to the Herberger galleries team and the curators who selected “Atlantic Outlook!”

This is me standing in front of my painting.

My Excitement Shows at the Herberger Water Exhibit Read More »

My Biggest Canvas to Date

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

Someone was selling his former girlfriend’s art supplies through Facebook Marketplace, and so, I bought them all for a great deal! With that, came two canvases of 36″ x 48.”

I had never painted anything this large before and yes, I found it intimidating. I had to take the top off my easel to accommodate the canvas on the easel shelf.

I chose to paint this gorgeous photo of Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona taken by, and used with permission from, Jeff Maltzman.

Although it took a long time to fill the canvas and its sides, I am so pleased with the result. In fact, I’m going to keep it, at least for now.

If you like it, and you want an art print of it, feel free to check out my Saatchi Art shop for options.

My Biggest Canvas to Date Read More »

Saguaro Against a Purple Sky My Largest Canvas to Date

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

“Saguaro Against a Purple Sky” is the largest canvas I’ve painted to date! I admit that the size intimidated me at first, but after a little while, things flowed.

The painting is inspired by a beautiful photo taken by David Dubé of Surprise, Arizona. Check out his Instagram @soapboxinthesky.

Although I took a realistic approach, I experimented with a stylized version. For example, I painted the cactus teal rather than the dark green of the original photo. I also made the mountain range less detailed.

I feel gratified with the result and hope you like it, too!

You can read the description of it here.

Saguaro Against a Purple Sky My Largest Canvas to Date Read More »

Tree by the River Sparkles

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

I used to be intimidated by blank, large canvases. So, I decided to buy more and fill them up!

I am so happy with the way this 22” x 28” painting turned out. I tried to let myself go more, and not always follow the realism of the photo. Yes, it takes longer to paint more space, but it’s been so gratifying.

The tree looks like it’s at the beginning of the autumn season, with hints of red and orange. The shadow it casts extends to the right edge and the foreground and river display the sparkling reflected light.

“The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Tree by the River Sparkles Read More »

Beach Paintings to Remind You of Summer

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

Although this summer has been excessively hot, I still wanted to capture a series of beach paintings to keep us warm and relaxed during the winter months ahead. There’s nothing like the waves, squawking seagulls, and sand beneath our feet to make us go, “Ahhhhh.”

Each of the five paintings in this series comes on a canvas panel, 8” x 8”. Check the art gallery for them.

I also wanted to dedicate this series to the victims of the Maui fire who have experienced the worst forest fire in U.S. history. My husband and I were there in September of 2016, enjoying all that Lahaina and the island had to offer. What a tragedy. I hope the people and town can recover soon.

Here’s a shot of the famous Banyan tree in the center of Lahaina.

Beach Paintings to Remind You of Summer Read More »

Inukshuk -An Inuit cultural symbol

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

“Inukshuk,” isn’t a word you hear often, unless you’re Canadian or of the Inuit people. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia:

“An inukshuk is a figure made of piled stones or boulders constructed to communicate with humans throughout the Arctic. Traditionally constructed by the Inuit, inuksuit are integral to Inuit culture and are often intertwined with representations of Canada and the North.”

“Inuksuit have been found close to archaeological sites dating from 2400 to 1800 BCE in the Mingo Lake region of southwest Baffin Island… Among their many practical functions, they are used as hunting and navigational aids, coordination points and message centres.”

Today, its purpose is more symbolic than functional. Because it looks like a little person, its image has become a popular cross-cultural symbol. An inuksuk is the centrepiece of the flag and coat of arms of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, and the flag of Nunatsiavut as well as serving as a mainstream Canadian national symbol. It is also a symbol of both the city of Vancouver and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

This painting is based on the inukshuk on English Bay in the city of Vancouver.

See the description here.

Inukshuk -An Inuit cultural symbol Read More »

Image of artist, Elaine Fogel holding her original painting of Newfoundland entitled, "Atlantic Lookout"

Atlantic Coast in Newfoundland is Spectacular

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

This original painting of Newfoundland was inspired by a beautiful photo by Tom Cochrane. I follow his Instagram account for images of “the island” and in particular, the Gros Morne National Park, where I camped overnight with my husband (a million years ago).

If you’ve never been to the Maritime provinces of Canada, you’re missing something special. Newfoundland, in particular, is unique with its rugged coastlines, fishing villages, whale watching, and vistas.

It’s made up of two 2 parts: Newfoundland, an island in the Atlantic Ocean; and Labrador on mainland Canada. The musical play, “Come From Away” takes place in Newfoundland during the 9-11 crisis when overseas flights were grounded in Gander for days.

Here’s the painting description.

Atlantic Coast in Newfoundland is Spectacular Read More »

Baker (the Dog) in Georgian Bay

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

This original painting of a dog in water was inspired by photo my niece, Ellen, took in Collingwood, Ontario. When she and her significant other, Adam initially merged homes, they each brought their big dogs together, Baker and Baba.

“Located about 2½ hours north of Toronto on the southern shores of Georgian Bay just 11 kilometres (6.7) miles west along the coast from Wasaga Beach this small Simcoe County town has become one of Canada’s fastest growing communities over the last 20 years and almost 20,000 people now call it home.”
Source: Amazing Ontario

They often take the dogs to Sunset Point Beach Park, where they frolic in the shallow water.

During one evening’s outing, Ellen captured an amazing photo of Baker against a stunning sunset sky. I didn’t tell her that I was painting it until I completed it. Her shock and emotion were so sweet that I shipped it to her. It’s now proudly displayed on a wall in their home.

Baker (the Dog) in Georgian Bay Read More »

Lake Ontario Shoreline – One of a 100 Diverse Beaches

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

Although I grew up in Montreal, Quebec, I was born in Ontario and lived there for 32 years of my life (30 as an adult). It’s no surprise that I gravitated to the reference photo of the lake’s shoreline for this painting.

Here’s what to know about the lake:

It is situated between Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River and is the only Great Lake that does not border the state of Michigan.
Its shoreline consists mostly of low bluffs with narrow beaches.
It is home to approximately 2,000 islands and 100 diverse beaches.
This vast beach system includes the most extensive freshwater sand dunes in New York State.
Every drop of water within the Great Lakes basin flows through Lake Ontario.
It is the 14th largest lake in the world by surface area.
A whopping 25% of Canada’s population lives within the Lake Ontario watershed.

Lake Ontario | Great Lakes Guide

This painting took much more time to create than many of the others I’ve done. There’s quite a bit going on with the merging of water, rocks, trees, and wildflower shrubs. I’m very pleased with the result and I hope you like it, too!

Click here for full details.

Lake Ontario Shoreline – One of a 100 Diverse Beaches Read More »

Love is Like Wildflowers

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

“Love is like wildflowers;
It’s often found in the most unlikely places.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I was a girl, I was fortunate enough to attend a two-month summer camp near the village of L’Annonciation, Quebec. I adored the rustic grounds in the middle of nowhere and relished being outdoors with nature.

On Friday nights, we frequently picked wildflowers to place in vases on each dining hall table. There were many color varieties which gave our “centerpieces” a festive flair.

Now, as an artist, I tend to gravitate toward nature as subjects for my paintings. Wildflowers, in particular, are favorites including these two pieces.

The one entitled, “Purple Wildflowers,” is of an invasive species called purple loosestrife. Unfortunately, they pose a serious threat to native emergent vegetation in every Canadian province and every American state except Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii.

The one entitled, “Summer Wildflowers” is based on a stunning reference photo taken in the Rio Vista Natural Resource Park in Tucson, Arizona by Hildy Gottlieb.

You can read more details here:

“Purple Wildflowers”

“Summer Wildflowers”

Love is Like Wildflowers Read More »