Forest Raven

oil painting of a raven in a forest perched on a mossy stump
Forest Raven (8″x 8″ oil on raised panel)

Ravens are often seen flapping overhead (they have very noisy wings!) or perched at the very top of a tall tree. Once in a while, they will hang out more at eye level and I can enjoy the view closer up. They are surprisingly large birds with an entertaining variety of vocalizations.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Flow

ink and oil painting abstract lines and glowing like a galaxy
Flow (16″x 20″ ink and oil on canvas)

This one started out as a painting of grass-like seaweed glittering in the sun and ended up looking like something from outer space. I love how this one moved into abstraction and became other. Believe it or not, the colours took their cue from reality. Sure is hard to photograph though!

Flow (detail from lower right)
Flow (detail upper left)

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Between

ink and oil painting with a shoreline at evening. An otter makes his way down the rocks.
Between (24″x 36″ ink and oil on canvas)

This scene is between land and shore and between day and evening – hence the title. I really enjoyed painting the arbutus trees with the late sunlight glinting on the red bark and I love the otter tucked into its habitat but noticeable – isn’t he cute hopping over the rocks? I want to celebrate the creatures that live in this beautiful landscape going about their business and trying (mostly) to stay out of ours.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Contemplation

ink and oil painting standing water, ferns and salal leaves
Contemplation (20″x 20″ ink and oil on canvas)

Some paintings feel like work and others just flow and this was a flowing one. An early spring forest floor in the Western rain forest is especially characteristic including standing water with ferns and salal branches leaning over. I love how the light on the water almost looks like Chinese calligraphy. This is one of my favourites from this series so far since it really shares that sense of place with the viewer.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Cedar Reflections

ink and oil painting of cedar trees reflected in standing water
Cedar Reflections (12″x 12″ ink and oil on raised panel)

The forests here are largely cedar and fir. Locally, the winter was fairly wet and so it was good especially to see the cedars – that are more sensitive to lack of water – getting a good soaking. Here they are reflected in some standing water in the woods.
Again, this painting started with a layer of ink mark making with oil paint on top.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Cormorant Rock

a cormorant perches on a large rock in a yellow sea under a yellow sky
Cormorant Rock (12″x 24″ ink and oil on raised panel)

There’s a place where we sometimes kayak where the cormorants nest way up high on the cliffs. Of course we keep our distance during nesting season but this imagined scene shows one perching seemingly precariously as they do. That’s a hint of Vancouver Island in the background.

I had a lot of fun being very free with colours and textures with this one.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Reflected Winter Cloud

standing water reflects trees and sky while yellow grass pokes through
Reflected Winter Cloud (12″x 12″ ink and oil on raised panel)

I do love the patterns made in the standing water in winter. Tangles of yellow grass poke through while trees and clouds are reflected on the surface.

As has been my process lately, I started with a layer of ink and then added transparent oil paint followed by opaque highlights to create the shapes and mood of the piece.

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer

Shore Raven – Take 2

oil painting of raven on rocks at the water's edge
Shore Raven (8″x 8″ oil on raised panel

This is a reworking of a painting that I did last year. Sometimes simpler is better! I painted out a lot of the details behind the raven and a lot of the raven’s details too. I like the clarity of it now and how the raven glows. If you want to compare it with the original, type Shore Raven in the search bar. 🙂

(C) 2024 Hilary Farmer