Dad's Rhododendron

In the Spring in Victoria something fantastic happens, the whole city is on fire with colour. The flowers are on parade
Rhododendron everywhere and then of course is the Azalea with its florescent bouquets
My Grandmother in Wales used to collect different types of Rhododendron. She would remove a small piece of stock from a Rhody during her outings to town or from her neighbours,  then root them to place in her garden.
When I used to visit, her flower and vegetable gardens were wonderful
When my Dad and his three brothers were really to go to university, Grandma would help them pay their way by selling her flowers
My Dad loves Rhododendrons, this oil pastel was inspired by one one his photos of the Rhododendrons in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria
Canson paper
30"X20"

Mom's Peace Rose

In my Mom's garden there is a peace rose

Every year it blooms maybe half a dozen times each summer
It is a beautiful rose with a wide spectrum of variegated warm colours
My Mom loves this rose and has taken quite a few excellent photos
Mom's Peace Rose is from one of her photos
I decided to do this piece in oil pastel because of their vibrancy
Canson coloured paper
13"X22"

Holiday in Milan

The little girl on the left was born in Italy came to Canada with her Mom where they settled . The summer holidays were in Milan with her cousin.
I love the expression on her face, oh so bored and he is playing up to the camera.

Watercolour 20"X15"

Buoy Oh Boy 14"X 20"

My very first sailboat experience was off the Pacific Coast at White Rock B.C.
It was stormy and the waves were rolling and I loved every moment .
Across from me on the boat was Jane and her Mom. I took the photo and painted the watercolour mainly because of the different clothing textures, plastic, nylon, cotton, polyester. A challenge! Jane just looked so relaxed, an everyday adventure.

Harlequin Begonia

I saw this begonia when I was in Victoria at Butchard Gardens with my Mom, I just love the name. It was sort of tradition for us to go to the Begonia Garden area. I always took masses of photos

The size of this soft pastel is 20"X30" on canson paper

Spring in VanDusen Gardens

My Dearheart and I were in Vancouver and decided to go see their Garden right in the middle of the city. VanDusen Gardens in the Spring is a must see absolutely beautiful. Lots of different greens and the flower power breath taking.
This soft pastel 19"X15" on canson paper is just a small portion of the beauty of the Gardens

This is Sasha

This is my dear friend and companion for 16 years

She had a great sense of humour and loved people she thought she was one, a person I mean . Sasha is the one looking at us
Watercolour on watercolour paper approx. size 20"X16"

Sasha's Twilight Walk

This is a pastel a soft pastel 20"X30"on Canson paper
Sasha my dog friend and I used to walk everywhere . One day during a walk I looked for her and she was behind me. As I turned I witnessed this amazing sunset through the park's weeping willows .

I think it was the first time I looked at my dear friend and realized that she was getting older . Sasha loved to run she would always be in front so much so that she would have to double back to tell me she was OK and make sure I was OK. She protected me on many outings
"Sasha's Twilight Walk" was inspired by that walk

Just Around the Bend

My Father would always say Just Around the Bend to our destination when we were on road trips . There were a lot of bends though ...
As I worked on this pastel it made me smile to think of the wonderful adventures I have experienced with my parents

Oil pastel on handpressed paper approx. size 35"X29"

I Love Pastels

"Living in a Tree" was inspired by a book I had just read about a woman living in a tree . This is a oil pastel on handpressed paper approx. size 20"X30"of my vision of how her view was from her living perch

These Will Be The First Of Many

The Cardinal Brooch

My Daughter is the model for this piece
I have always wanted to see a Cardinal, so I guess that is what inspired this soft pastel on hand pressed paper
Under a winter's full moon a graceful maiden holds a brown rabbit to keep warm . She has just found the furry fellow huddled in the snow very close to a holly tree.
The Cardinal Brooch is used to keep her velvet cloak closed against the winter chill . In my imagining I see the brooch crafted of copper and enamel.
The young maiden smiles because she now has friendly company for the long dark cold months.

Initiate Priestess

After reading The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley this soft pastel on hand pressed paper was created.
The whole King Arthur Legend has absolutely fascinated me and through-out the years has been a generous well of inspiration

It is Spring, under her flower wreath and in her blue gown an initiate priestess is about to celebrate Belthane, bathed in the light of a full moon
The celtic cross at her heart, a very faint crescent moon tattoo on her forehead. The raven on her right symbolizing magic, the dragon curling around her left arm coming up to protect her heart side.
The Welsh flag has a large beautiful celtic dragon on it still. Arthur's symbol was a dragon.
I added mistletoe and oak for the Druids

Sunflower Maiden

The sunflowers are gathered under the summer sun, a gift for her Mother. There is a slight breeze. It is hot and the maiden is standing in the shade of a birch tree, before taking her flowers back to the village

The hand pressed paper I used is a light sea foam green. I chose this colour because I wanted to show the gentle youth of the maiden, plus the birch bark's smooth texture.
I used coloured pastel pencils
My daughter Lindsey is the model for this piece

Warrior From the Fire Mountains

I started writing a fantasy story awhile ago and this is the cover page, the fantasy is still on going...
Soft pastel pencil on paper with a slight embossing of feathers

The Warrior has her Hawk familiar always protecting her back
Just before the sun goes down over Fire Mountains she preforms her sword patterns. It has been a long day yet it has been a good day ...she is free

This is What Happens When I Start Thinking and Getting Ideas

I was thinking again over the weekend and my thought was that I can have my own gallery on line .
I would like to say though that all of the art work and designs that I am going to download to this site are under copyright, if you require use of part or whole of any image on this site I ask you to email me at tyderw@shaw.ca to receive permission
The Blue Star Dragon Gallery presents Gail E. Thomas'  Paintings , Pastels , Drawings and Designs . A lifetime of art all on the screen