How does one carry over from drawing to painting the vitality and spontaneity achieved in preliminary drawings? My paintings usually look better in the early underpainting stages than in the final product when it tends to become stiff and "studied". 

My mentor said one way is to do lots of quick plein air paintings so building up confident brush work which can be taken into slower studio work. 

Made my first foray into figure painting as part of a painting class. Challenging but so stimulating. I'm hooked!

Painting at the Edmonton Legislature grounds in June with my class. I learnt to paint with a much larger brush to what I'm used to but guilty of not keeping it up.

Challenging assignment in my recent Painting II class (U of Alberta Extension Faculty) – referencing a well known artist. My choice was Pierre Bonnard. I chose to reference his subject matter, colour and flattening (though I did end up with some atmospheric perspective in the backgrounds).

Borrowed a book from the Edmonton Public Library called "Alla prima : a contemporary guide to traditional direct painting by Al Gury". Found it interesting. 

I'm a fan of Tom Thomson. Other alla prima painters to look at? 

Well, not quite but close enough.

In July 2010 I started to do small 8"x10", quick oil studies finished (as much as possible) in under 1 hour. Alla Prima! I love the style! Here are some of the best or more interesting ones.