Painting | ElaineFogel Art

Painting of a saguaro cactus at sunset by Elaine Fogel

Saguaro Cactus in a Glorious Sunset

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

Living in the Sonoran Desert gives me access to the most beautiful sunsets. Add in the stature of a saguaro cactus and you’ve got a painting!

People often ask why I don’t paint more desert scenes, but frankly, so many artists down here are doing just that. Yet, when I discovered the photo that inspired this piece, I was so blown away, I had to paint it!

I love the way the clouds wisp into the sunset colors. The cactus stands proud in a black silhouette against the sky, demanding attention.

When I first showed this one to family and friends, they initially thought that the saguaro didn’t look realistic. Then, I showed them the photo and they now believe!

Check it out.

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Acrylic painting of two young African-American girsl by Elaine Fogel

Sunday Besties in the Backyard

Figurative Painting / elainefogelart

When I saw the public domain photo of these two young girls, I was immediately attracted to their closeness. They appeared to be best friends, one supporting the other on the step down into the backyard.

I imagined that they had just arrived home from church in their Sunday best. Maybe they would play a while before lunch, or explore the wooded area behind the house. It’s a sunny day and anything is possible.

The most challenging and fun part of painting this was the girls’ dresses. I wanted to get the fabric folds and creases accurate. It was certainly a trial and error endeavor.

I also altered the hair style of the girl on the right finding pigtails less cumbersome to paint than cornrow braids. Perhaps I’ll tackle that another time. 😌

Check out this painting.

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Powder Skiing is for the Brave

Figurative Painting / elainefogelart

Powder skiing is not for everyone. According to Claire Barber in her Ski Magazine article, “Powder skiing is the holy grail of ski conditions. Yet surprisingly, many people don’t feel comfortable skiing deep powder.”

Well, I know someone who adores it, lives for it, and dreams about it. My husband, Allen.

Having grown up on skis in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, Quebec, his nuclear family were all avid skiers. It went without saying that both weekend days would be spent at the hill where they had season passes. My late mother-in-law would prepare a knapsack with lunch – often a thermos of hot soup, cut-up veggies, sandwiches or leftovers, and, of course, whichever cookies or cake she had baked the day before.

It was a whole scene.

When I was dating Allen seriously, it was “do or die” on the ski front. If I wanted to join this family, I had better try very hard to enjoy it. And, I did, but I never reached more than an intermediate level – certainly NOT powder level! And, it’s been eons since I’ve had ski boots on my feet.

Years have passed and now we live in Arizona, driving distance to some of the country’s best ski resorts. Allen and his “powder” friends now eagerly watch the snow reports for the forecasts. And, they follow the snow. No flights, no cancellation insurance, just an SUV filled with the “right” necessities.

This painting is for brave Allen. Maybe when he’s too old to ski any longer, he’ll look at it and reminisce the good ‘ole powder days.

To view products and prints with this image, visit my Redbubble shop!

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Painting of Bowen Island by Elaine Fogel

Bowen Island – Within reach, beyond compare

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

One of the best advantages of Facebook is sharing photos with friends. They can open a window to the world we haven’t yet seen, or refresh memories of past adventures.

I am always scouring for photos I’d like to paint, and this one was no exception. Taken by a high school friend who lives on Bowen Island, British Columbia, it captures the beauty of the Pacific, Mt. Gardner, and the majesty of hyacinth-like spring wild flowers. Doesn’t it make you want to add this location to your vacation bucket list?

The Lonely Planet describes Bowen Island as “one of the best days out you can have from Vancouver.” And since I can vouch for the exceptional city of Vancouver, I look forward to visiting the island one day.

With a temperate climate, the island is a four-season destination for hiking, cycling, kayaking, arts and culture, golf, and fishing. The original name for Bowen Island, Nex̱wlélex̱m, is in the Squamish language. The Squamish people used and occupied the area as campsites for hunting and gathering trips. The island has a land area of 49.94 km² (19.28 sq mi).

Update: This painting has sold. Check out art prints and other products with this image at my Redbubble shop!

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The Peace of a Forest Snowfall

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

I grew up in a snowy climate in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I remember bundling up as a child to play outside – making snow forts, snow angels, and tossing snowballs. I enjoyed it immensely. That is… until I grew up.

Somehow, my tolerance for cold and dampness waned, thus prompting my move to Phoenix, Arizona in late 2004. I didn’t miss the storms, the driving conditions, or the wind. The closest I’ve gotten to snow since relocating was when I attended a cousin’s wedding in Kitchener, Ontario during November. There was a dusting of the white stuff on the grass.

Admittedly, I miss the beauty of the first snowfall. (For about an hour. 😋)

My painting, “Forest Snowfall,” captures the woods during a blizzard, when tree branches are weighted by accumulated snow. If you’ve ever taken a walk through a storm like this, you’ll recognize how the blowing snow reduces distance visibility, bringing closer objects to the forefront.

Do you have any good photos of a snowfall you can share?

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paining of mountain wildflowers by Elaine Fogel

Mountain Wildflowers Location a Mystery

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

There’s a world of public domain and license-free photos available for use. The challenge for me is to choose ones that resonate and inspire me to paint my interpretation of them.

Nature and landscape images represent locales across the globe. So, when I discovered this image of snow-covered mountains with wildflowers in the foreground, I was determined to learn where it was.

I did a reverse image search on Google only to find that its location is somewhat of a mystery. Based on image tags, it could be in the Alps – possibly near Chamonix, France, or, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, or, at Glacier National Park in Montana.

I couldn’t find similar pink flowers on this website identifying “Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains,” so that leaves the Alps or Montana. Either way, the image was breathtaking.

If you happen to know this location, please share! In the meantime, learn more about this painting in the gallery.

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Kids Make the Best Portrait Painting Subjects

Leave a Comment / Figurative Painting / elainefogelart

When I first started painting, I thought portraits would be a real challenge. So I began with children, thinking they would be a good place to begin. No wrinkles, no bags, no makeup to get right.

I discovered license-free photos of these kids and tackled each one separately. First, I created the neutral background color so as not to distract from their beautiful faces. Then, I sketched each face with a graphite pencil onto the canvas.

The challenge was to get the distance from the eyes to the nose to the mouth correct. Once I completed the boy on the bottom, I stepped back, feeling a genuine sense of accomplishment! This gave me confidence to paint the red-haired boy on the top.

After that, I painted the girl on the bottom followed by the girl at the top. Voilà – a set of four canvases that can be displayed together.

This set would make a wonderful addition to a baby’s or child’s bedroom. Or, you can hang them in the hallway between children’s rooms. They would also make a lovely presentation at the entrance of a daycare, nursery, or elementary school.

Update: These paintings were donated to Child Crisis Arizona.

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The sight of the stars makes me dream

Nature Painting, Portrait Painting / elainefogelart

When I was a child, I spent July and August in a Quebec summer camp 47 km (29 mi) north of Mont Tremblant and 208 km (129 mi) from Montreal where I lived.

The temperatures in the mornings and evenings were quite cold – cold enough to wear a heavy jacket! Sometimes, at night, I would bundle up and lie on my back staring up at the sky. Where else but the countryside can you witness such a vivid star display?

As an adult, now living in the Phoenix area, there are light pollution laws which require all outdoor light fixtures to be fully or partially shielded, with the exception of emergency, construction, and navigational airport lighting. That makes our evenings very dark – a perfect scenario to see starry night skies.

My recent painting, entitled, “Starry Summer Sky” was inspired by an Unsplash image by Czech photographer, Tomáš Vydržal. I loved the way he captured the brilliant stars against the night sky, reminding me of the universe’s infinity.

Update: This painting was donated to Hospice of the Valley art auction fundraiser.

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.” Vincent Van Gogh

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Two Paintings for the Autumn Season

Leave a Comment / Nature Painting / elainefogelart

In many regions of North America, the fall season brings such beauty. For those lucky enough to live in maple tree territory, nothing can compare to the colors these trees produce. That is, of course, unless you’re tasked with raking their leaves! Been there, done that.

Now that I live in the desert, which has a unique beauty all its own, I still miss the changing leaves. Second best? Paint them!

This recent painting entitled, “L’automne au Québec,” reminds me of my youth growing up in Montreal, Quebec and its environs. During the fall season, the drive north to the Laurentian Mountains is filled with color splendor. The leaves send a message that the trees will soon be ready for maple syrup harvesting.

This next one, “Algonquin Park Trail,” displays the very beginning of autumn with only a few fallen leaves. This painting was inspired by a license-free photo taken in Algonquin Provincial Park in southeastern Ontario, Canada.

Update: This original painting has sold. To order prints visit: https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Algonquin-Park-Trail/1796157/8472548/view

If you really want to see magnificent art of the unique character of the Canadian landscape, you must check out the Group of Seven.

Also sometimes known as the Algonquin School, the Group of Seven was a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920 to 1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A. Y. Jackson (1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J. E. H. MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969).

Here’s a stunning painting, “The Woods Interior,” by Arthur Lismer painted in Algonquin Park in 1914.You can also view the Group of Seven at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection online or in person. It is the largest publicly-funded art gallery in Canada that focuses exclusively on Canadian and Indigenous art, both historical and contemporary. Located in Kleinburg, Ontario, just north of Toronto, I’ve spent many hours there enjoying its collections.

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