Workshop with Margaret Roseman - Negative Painting and Still Life

Today is the second day of the workshop with Margaret Roseman.

For the first hour we were allowed to continue to work on the lilies from yesterday or if we hadn't liked our background we had the option to do it again.














Clematis

This painting is an exercise in picking out flower shapes and painting in the negative. It was turned until we could establish whether to paint it in a horizontal or vertical format.

Various shades of greens and blues were used to give definition to the clematis flowers. Once their placement had been set, the centre stamen and pistol were painted to give the petals a place from which to radiate outward.

It created some interesting effects and I will post this painting as I continue to do more work on it and once it is completed.














Pears in Blue Bowl

In the afternoon we progressed to working on a still life composition.

I chose to work on a fairly simple composition of pears in a bowl. I will post this piece at a later date.

Tomorrow we will be working on landscape paintings.

Workshop with Margaret Roseman - Florals

Today I started a three day workshop with Margaret Roseman.

I have taken two previous workshops with Margaret that I thoroughly enjoyed even though I had to work hard at painting in a much looser style than I usually work; but I certainly learned a lot from her, which is why I have been looking forward to this class.














Our first painting was to be a floral, and the reference was a bouquet of Stargazer lilies.

Mixtures of blues and soft greens were painted into some areas of the background and sections were left white where the flowers would be placed. Darker greens for leaves were added to give shape and definition to the main lily.

Once the main flower had been established, additional flower and bud shapes were blocked in with pencil to give direction to the painting. This also made it easier to paint them in the negative.
















Stargazer Lilies

I will post this painting at a later date once more work on it is completed.

Before we left for the night Margaret had us use each of the three primary colours (a red, a blue, and a yellow) on a piece of watercolour paper which we threw water on in various areas. Each colour was poured onto the paper and rolled around and we were allowed to spray more water onto the paper to help it move until we were satisfied with the result.

We then left for the evening to wait and see what the results of this would be in the morning. (And if we liked it any better than when we left it.)

This is one of two backgrounds I created.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork.

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Show Updates

I have updated the Buckhorn Artists' Group blog with a listing of shows some of the various artists in the Group are exhibiting their work in during the month of May.

If you get a chance come out and visit them at one or all of the shows.

Winter Barn - A Work in Progress

I had an enjoyable day painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painters. Our instructor for the class was George Elliott, who is well known for his pen and ink drawings of the local churches, buildings and historical sites in the area.

We spent the first hour in the morning doing three minute sketches of various barns, farm houses, and broken down buildings. It was from these sketches that we were to develop the drawing for our painting. I had about fourteen sketches to choose from and worked on a number of them; many are now ready to be transferred down onto watercolour paper and made into paintings.

I chose to work on a painting with a barn that I had started on a while ago and would like to have completed for the May show with the Buckhorn Artists' Group.

The sky was washed in with Antwerp blue and a hint of French ultramarine blue was added to the top left side of the sky. The white of the paper was left for clouds.















Using a mixture of the sky colours and a touch of burnt sienna, the snow was painted in giving the base for various snow drifts. The background trees were painted in with a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

A wash of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna was applied to the roof, leaving the white paper for accumulated snow on the roof. With the paper fairly dry I used various mixtures of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue, letting the paper help to create the texture of the old barn boards. The barn is almost complete.

A mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna was added use to put the shadow under the eaves of the roof, and to indicate where some of the boards end on the barn. One of the fence posts has had some of the dark lines added to it as well as having started on one of the trees. The first layer of wash has been added to the horse using burnt sienna.

I will work on this painting again and post it at a later date.

The Hunter

This is an original 10" x 13-1/2” graphite pencil drawing, framed $195.00. SOLD

I enjoy the control you have when working with pencil. I use a mechanical pencil with a 0.5mm HB lead. It gives a fairly large range of tones from almost black as shown in the shadow to a very soft grey to give shape and a suggestion of the outline. Each line helps to create the illusion of curves, and flat surfaces. The challenge was to have the dapples follow the shape of the body.















This is another painting that is at Showplace until 04 May 2010.

The image is also available as a package of 10 cards complete with envelopes for $8.00 as well as an 11" x 14" decorator print for $10.00. Prints are shipped flat and unframed.

Cold Morning

This is a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2” framed, original watercolour available for $75.00.

While we don't have snow on the ground today, I am sure that winter hasn't quite finished with us for the year.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork and I hope you will return often.

OSWOA - Wild Country

On this painting I was using flat brushes and pouring paint onto the paper and spreading around with the brushes to create trees.

A flat wash of French ultramarine blue was poured onto the paper and rolled around and left to dry.

The next colour to be poured the paper was new gamboge into the bottom of the painting. Followed by a mixture of raw sienna and Antwerp blue, which was rolled around on the paper and then with the flat brush tree shapes were made as well as a few grass shapes in the lower right hand corner.













Finally a mixture of French ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson was poured onto the paper and made into more tree shapes. As the paint was drying and using the slanted end of the handle of the flat brush "dead" trees were lifted out from the paint by scraping.

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is available for $30.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Lighthouse 1 and 2

Lighthouses are always an interesting sight on a beach. I was experimenting with the difference between how a lighthouse would look during the day and night.














Lighthouse 2

The ACEO shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on either 140lb. or 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.














Lighthouse 1

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

Buckhorn Artists' Group - KTTC Paintings

If you would like to see more of the turtle paintings for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre by members of the Buckhorn Artists' Group. I have posted them to the Group's blog page.

Here's Looking at You

This 8" x 10" acrylic painting (see yesterday's posting) is pretty much finished. I may add a little more detail to the turtle after I leave it overnight and look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.

The painting is being donated to "The Art of the Turtle" Auction. This is a fundraiser for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre and will be held on 14 May 10, at the Peterborough Public Library Auditorium, 345 Aylmer Street North, Peterborough, Ont.















All these pieces works will be sold by silent auction. The event takes place from 7-10pm, with extended viewing beginning at 6pm. The silent auction will be ongoing followed by the live auction at 9pm. SOLD

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Here's Looking at You - A Work in Progress

Today I spent the afternoon over at Heather's house and we worked on our turtle paintings for "The Art of the Turtle". Artists were given an 8" x 10" canvas to create a painting featuring a turtle.

All paintings will be auctioned to raise money for the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre.















My first piece didn't come out quite the way I wanted, although it will become landscape painting and will post it at a later date.

So I had to start over on a new canvas and try a different way to create the turtle with a different background which seemed to work better at placing the turtle in a pond.

This is my painting about half way finished. It is still very rough, but should work out better than my original painting.

Spring Arrival

My daffodils are in full bloom in my garden, while above them hovering on jewelled wings the hummingbirds have returned. They are a delight to watch as they flit back and forth from the hanging feeders to the flower beds.


















Congratulations to new collectors Glen and Mary MacDonald of Orillia, Ontario on their purchase of this original 8 x 10” framed watercolour. SOLD

Happy Faces

This is a painting that is currently being exhibited at my solo show at the the Showplace Performance Centre.

I have always liked pansies. They are such a cheerful flower that comes in a wide variety of colours and seem almost to smile at you.


















This is a 10 x 14” framed, watercolour $325.00.

Moon Rise - A Work in Progress

The sun is in the process of setting and the moon is on the rise in the east. The evening sky reflecting back some of the colours from the sunset.

The horizon line was taped and the sky was washed in with layers of colour. Darker cloud shapes were painted in as the paper gradually dried enough to allow some control of where they would be placed and yet still have a softness at the edges.














The painting was set aside until it was completely dry. Using a template and water I lifted the paint from behind the clouds to create the full moon. The masking tape was removed from the horizon line, and as you can see there was a little run underneath it, but it will be covered once the distant shore is painted.

The faint impression of the foreground shore and the main tree trunks has been drawn. I will post more on this painting as it gets closer to completion.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork. I hope you will return often.

Gentle Snow - A Work in Progress

Irene and I were over at Heather's home today painting. The three of us are some of the founding members of the Buckhorn Artists' Group and often get together to paint or do framing.















We were finishing a number of paintings that have been stated over the winter to have more new works ready for our 22nd Annual Among Friends Art Show, held over the Victoria Day weekend at St. Matthew's Church in Buckhorn, Ontario.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and this is one of two paintings on which I was working. While I am still not happy with the overall composition it is closer to completion and I will set it aside to look at until I decide what more it needs.

Stained Glass - A Work in Progress

The Outdoor Painters Group meets at the KAGS on Thursdays from October through to the middle of April and then they paint outdoors at various locations in the area, weather permitting.

I decided that this one would be a good choice to work on while there as in the afternoon (see posting on 13 April 2010), it was my turn to sit the "Faces and Figures" Show which closed today at 4:00pm. It is the kind of painting I could leave it at any time to talk with the people who come in to view the paintings on display in the gallery.

With the areas masked out with liquid friskit that I wanted to keep white, I didn't have to worry about how I applied the colour.

To try and capture the feeling of stained glass, I added brighter, more transparent colours to some of the areas to give the impression of the various sections "glowing" as though light is passing through glass.

Trying to keep the painting fairly bright and clean looking I added various blocks of colour to the painting. To create interest I added darker lineal shapes and then some smaller simple shapes into some of the areas of colour so they wouldn't be just a solid mass of one colour.

I wasn't able to finish the painting today, but then tomorrow is always another day. When I come back to working on this piece again I will post the changes.

Wild Flowers - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to do a little more work on this painting (see posting on 12 April 2010). Using various mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue. I started on the seeds of the Curly Dock on the left side first and added some of the detail to a few of the many seeds that are there on each branch.

With a darker mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, I painted in the main stalk, some of the dead leaves and the tiny twigs that are at the end of the seed bundles.
















I added another Curly Dock into the background fairly loosely as it is behind most of the Queen Anne's Lace which is still masked out so I didn't have to worry about being careful to control the paint in order not to lose the "white".

I then started working on the Curly Dock on the right side of the painting, painting in the main stalk to join the areas of seeds together. Then I worked on the bottom area of the seed bundles putting in a little detail as before.

I still have to decide on where I want to place the golden rod and chicory in the paintings before I go too much further.

Stained Glass - A Work in Progress

Today I paint a half day with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group. I gathered together a number of paintings that are in various stages of completion and took them with me to do some work on and hopefully finish at least one.

Every so often I will work on an abstract, usually I work with Oriental papers and make collages (see posting on 26 Mar 2010 for Enchantment), other times I will just throw paint onto the paper and add salt, or apply cheese cloth, leaves, plastic wrap and let the paint dry and wait and see what I end up with. (See postings on 18 and 19 Feb 2010 for Underwater Playground and Coral Reef.) Then I add what I feel is necessary to complete the painting.

I had started this painting in a workshop with Sterling Edwards a number of years ago. As a base for the painting I used a photograph I had taken of a trellis and blocked out the areas of strong contrasting lights and darks with very little detail.

Using an assortment of colours to the areas that I had marked out, I worked at keeping the painting fairly bright and open without a lot of tight detail.

The large blocks of colour reminded me of stained glass. With the parts of the trellis still left unpainted I decided that it looked vaguely like a cross and masked the area out to save the white of the paper while I applied more colour to the painting.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at the artwork.

Wild Flowers - A Work in Progress

For this is the painting I masked out the areas where I wanted to keep the white of the Queen Anne's Lace and let it dry.

I use 300 lb. d'Arches watercolour paper and find that I do not have to stretch the paper when working wet on wet and it holds a fair amount of water allowing me plenty of time to apply my paint.















The background was created by applying pure colours first in French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and raw sienna. I use artists' quality Windsor & Newton watercolour paint.

As the paper begins to dry a little I put in upward strokes of mixtures of the two blues with the raw sienna to indicate background grasses. Using pure burnt sienna I indicated the areas I wanted to have some of the dark seed bundles. French ultramarine blue was added to the burnt sienna for the darker areas.

This painting was then set aside to dry.

OSWOA - Landscapes

One of the many nice things about living in the Kawarthas is the beauty of the land and the lakes no matter what the season, weather or time of day.

The Snelgrove Brook runs through the back part of the property, it is a part of the Miller Creek system and a haven for wildlife. This wetland habitat is a nesting area for many species of waterfowl, and houses two beaver dams. The 60 plus acres of forest is home to a small wolf pack, deer and many other smaller animals, wild turkeys, many types of game birds and an unbelievable number of species of birds.

On the Edge SOLD

In the autumn many migrating birds pass through the area and often spend the night in safety on the Snelgrove Brook.

I do not allow hunting on the property, with the exception of a neighbour who goes deer hunting during one week of the hunting season.

In exchange he keeps my fences posted and helps to keep unwanted trespassers off the property.

Autumn Visitor

Even when the weather is overcast and grey, with rain falling the land has a peaceful beauty all its own.

Often on a still night or after a rain sound carries a fair distance and you can hear the call of the loons on Lake Chemong which is about 2 miles (3.2km) away.

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

After the Rain

The OSWOA shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on either 140lb. or 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $40.00 each and sold unframed.

ACEO - Flower Beds 1-3

Today I was just playing with colour and paint as I did last month (see my post from 25 March 2010). I decided to work on more than one ACEO using the same colours.

I wet part of the paper and applied a wash of French ultramarine blue.

Next I splattered in Antwerp blue, alizarin crimson and raw sienna.

Using raw sienna and the blues on my palette I mixed various greens and painted it into the bottom of each painting as a base.

Then I splattered in some areas as well.

Flower Bed 1

Using the back of paint brush I scored some areas of the paper to allow paint to run into it and create some of the stems for the flowers to join them together.

To create a little more interest in the green base I dropped in a little clear water and allowed it to work with the paint.

Lastly I added new gamboge.

Flower Bed 2

The ACEO shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on either 140lb. or 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.



Flower Bed 3

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Isabelle Blewett

I have posted the biography of another founding member of the Buckhorn Artists' Group, Isabelle Blewett to the blog as well as an example of her artwork.

I will try to get another one posted to their blog within the next two weeks.

Going to the Fair

An original 15" x 19” watercolour, framed $980.00.

It is amazing what you can find when you go through old portfolios. This painting was on the cover of the November/December 1997 issue of Horse Talk Magazine.

My father started working for Canadian Breweries (when E.P. Taylor owned it) in the 50's driving transport. With his experience working in the lumber camps in Quebec skidding logs during the winter months with horses he was a good choice to be given the responsibility in the 70's for hauling the number one show team of Carlsberg Belgians throughout Ontario and Quebec.















Because of this I have a special place in my heart for the Belgians. The painting shows the calm, gentle nature of the Belgian as she follows patiently along behind her tiny owner.

This painting is a part of my solo exhibition at Showplace Performance Centre, Peterborough, Ontario which runs from 31 Mar - 04 May 2010.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my artwork and I hope you will return often.

Foggy Morning

This is a painting in grey tones using just French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

With the wet rainy weather we have been having lately many of the mornings here are foggy.












This original 4-3/4" x 7-3/4” framed watercolour is available for $135.00.

Confirmed Shows for 2010 - April

This is a listing of confirmed shows that I will be exhibiting my artwork at this year. I will update the list as more shows are added.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
28 Mar – 15 Apr Faces and Figures
Opening Reception 28 Mar from 1-4pm.
06-24 Jun Spring into Summer
Opening Reception 06 Jun 10 from 1-4pm.
11 Jul - 05 Aug People, Places and Things
Opening Reception 11 Jul 10 from 1-4pm.
05-23 Sep Driven to Abstraction
Opening Reception 05 Sep 10 from 1-4pm.
24 Oct – 11 Nov Outdoor Painters Show
Opening Reception 24 Oct 10 from 1-4pm.
05-22 Dec & 04-13 Jan 11 Christmas Show
Opening Reception 05 Dec 10 from 1-4pm.

Showplace Performance Centre, Peterborough, Ont.
30 Mar - 04 May Solo Show

Envinrude Centre, Peterborough, Ont.
01-03 Apr Kawartha Home and Cottage Show

Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough, Ont.
Turtles
14 May The Art of the Turtle

St Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont
Buckhorn Artists' Group
22-24 May 22nd Annual Among Friends Art Show
07-15 Aug 20th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Art in the Garden, Peterborough, Ont.
Garden Route
25-26 Jun Griffin's Greenhouses, 3026 Lakefield Rd., Peterborough, Ont.

Settlers' Village, Bobcaygeon, Ont.
09-11 Jul Bobcaygeon Fine Arts Festival

Kingston Kennel Club Show, Kingston, Ont.
24-25 Jul

The Lindsay Gallery, Lindsay, Ont.
23 Nov - 18 Dec Christmas Show
Opening Reception 25 Nov from 7-8:30pm.

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at these shows.

Pink Sky

This is an original 9-3/4" x 13-3/4" framed, watercolour.

The soft pastel pinks and peach tones of the early morning sky reflect into the calm water of the lake. The mirror reflections disturbed only by the passing of a shoveller duck.












Thank you to new collectors Mr. and Mrs. Homberg of Midhurst, Ontario on their purchase of this painting. SOLD

This image is available as a decorator print. It has a 9-3/4" x 13-3/4" image surrounded by a 1-1/2" white border for $15.00. It can also be remarqued for an additional $25.00. Prints are shipped flat and unframed.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights have always held a fascination for me. I miss the brilliant colours that can be seen further north than where I currently reside.

Here in the Kawarthas all I am able to see are the palest of yellows, soft greens and on rare occasions a light red. Regardless they are a wonder to behold.

I had started this painting a while ago and recently started working on it again (see posting on 30 March 2010). Today I completed the rocks on the left side and added a little more colour to the water and background shoreline.

 This is an 11" x 15" original, framed watercolour and is available for $345.00. SOLD

Here Kitty Kitty

Chalk pastel is a medium I enjoy working with (except for the dust, but that is why they make fixative).

This painting was created from a few quick sketches and a couple of photographs I had taken of my daughter when she was about 18 months old.












She was trying to coax one of the barn cats over so she could pet its soft white fur. She did eventually succeed even though White cat was unsure about it at first.

This framed 18" x 24” original is available for $395.00 is currently hanging at Showplace as part of my Solo show. SOLD

Poodle Puppy

An original, 5 x 6” graphite pencil drawing, framed. It is available for $125.00 by contacting the artist.

This is the puppy clip that poodles are usually shown in from ages 6 months to 1 year. After that, they will have to change into either the Continental clip (see yesterday's post or the posting on 02 February 2010) or the English Saddle clip (see posting on 03 March 2010).


















This image is also available as a package of 10 cards complete with envelopes for $8.00.

Show Stance

This is an original, 5" x 6” graphite pencil drawing, framed for $125.00.

Having bred, raised and shown both Standard and Miniature Poodles for many years, it is only fitting that I start with a drawing of them before going onto some of the other breeds.


















This is an adult groomed to perfection, ready to compete and hopefully go on to win Best in Show.

This image is also available as a package of 10 cards complete with envelopes for $8.00.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at the artwork. I hope you will return often.