Lineup Facing Left, Carollyne Yardley, April 2013

Photo shoot on April 16th with the best squirrel models; Chris Wylie (Searles Auto Repair), Jen Steele (Jen Steele Photography), and Teresa Lindsay (Vic42.com).

This was at the end of the shoot, and a great sneak peak at behind the scenes material for new work coming soon.

Many thanks to David Wahl, collector and supporter of Squirrealism.
Masks procured through the awesomeness of Seattle’s Archie McPhee’s.

Check out the Small Works Exhibition and Sale this Saturday, August 4th in the Massey Gallery at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, celebrating the Integrate Arts Walk (Art Crawl, Off the Grid) where local artists Carollyne Yardley and Adam Noonan will be painting and answering questions between 2pm and 4pm. See you there!

I’ll be working on my latest painting seen here, The Mighty Aphrodite

In progress, monochrome underpainting. The Mighty Aphrodite

I’m a maniac, maniac at the easel.
And I’m painting like I’ve never painted before.

Adapted lyrics from the song Maniac, everything feels relative, except that I stay fairly dry while painting.

This next painting is in progress with the black and white layer (awaiting colour). It is called Psyche and Cupid (my interpretation). Whether or not I keep the name by the time it’s complete, remains to be seen.

In progress

I have two new paintings in progress posted below.  They were photographed in the dark, and are much brighter in real life (it’s dark today in the snow sprinkled village). Stay tuned for completion and more from this series!

In progress

in progress

Here’s the first new painting of my latest series. Not officially titled, but it’s a Blue Angel holding a dove.  In progress, still working on filling in the grey scale layer. I started this one at the beginning of November 2011, and must get a hustle on here….

In progress - Blue Angel with Dove

I had the idea for Geisha Girl in my mind and have skipped over to it while I let the sheep rest in the field. I started Geisha Girl Squirrel yesterday and incorporated a QR code at the bottom right hand side, which I had planned on placing in the Shepherdess painting (guiding the viewer to something), but decided I like the idea regardless, and may do series starting with this one!  I’m screwed if the QR code doesn’t work the first time, as it will take ages to find the error. Anyhow, here is an snap of it in progress.

I have no idea if anyone has ever done a QR code in a painting before, and since I think I’m so clever, I’m not going to search to find out. If I am the first person to do it – insert fist pumps while skipping rope with a double back flip and then the splits!

Geisha Girl Squirrel & QR code in progress

Working off  of the latest show at the Red Art Gallery where the portraits of squirrels are hanging in mirrored frames – I’ve decided the squirrels now need lives, jobs, careers!

And the first to hit the job market is Green Bun Squirrel. She is a shepherdess.

Photographed here is the first layer in water based oil and water. The second coat will be oil paint, linseed and stand oil, and will be in TECHNO-COLOUR. Wait for it – this painting is larger than most of my other paintings. It is 40 X 32, and with my attention span similar to a squirrel on crack – sitting in one place for long periods of time is makin’ me CRAZY. Time for yoga pose! Baaaaahaaaaaa.

Green Bun Squirrel - Roaming the Range (title and painting in progress)

Working on SteamPunk Squirrel, and started GeishaGirl Squirrel (will post soon). Then, it’s onto a larger painting with a scene/setting using live models. And when I say live models, I mean real people, rather than squirrels – cause we know how shy and retiring they are when asked to perform or be put on the spot! They ain’t Circus Squirrels – but, you could be. Give it a think about

Finished Painting

Steampunk Squirrel | Oil on Board | 2011 | Carollyne Yardley

SteamPunk Squirrel in progress

This one is in progress, her hair will be green.

Green Bun Squirrel - in progress

I’m still working on Mushroom Hat Squirrel, and have started another one. She will have a giant green beehive hairdo. I’ve added colour to this one below, but it is still in progress.

Mushroom Hat Squirrel - in progress