Winter Fantasy - A Work in Progress

The sky is complete; and the snow shadows have been indicated.

More layers of colour have been added to the mane and tail.

The first layer of wash has been applied to the body of the horse. More details were added to the eyes and the ears.














I will post this painting at a later date as more work is completed on the horse.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Towering Pine - A Work in Progress

The sky and foreground were washed in with a mixture of Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue.

Raw sienna was added to the blue mixture and used to paint in the background trees while the paper was still damp to keep the edges fairly soft.

Growies were painted around the base of the pine tree trunk with burnt sienna, raw sienna, and a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna. Then the trunk was under painted with a mixture of burnt sienna and a touch of French ultramarine blue.

A darker mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna was used to paint in some of the pine needles.

As I complete more of this painting I will post it to the blog.

Using Salt - Three Works in Progress

I often enjoy just playing with paint and salt to see what interesting effects I can get.

Here are three paintings that I started using a limited palette of pure French ultramarine blue, pure raw sienna and a mixture of both colours each mixed in a separate container.

The paper was first wet and the French ultramarine blue was poured into different areas of the paper. Then the green mix was added, followed with small amounts of the raw sienna; always remembering to leave some areas of white paper.

Quicksilver

Salt was sprinkled into the paint while it was still wet and then set aside to dry.

While waiting, various kinds of  reef fish were drawn on pieces of tracing paper.

Hiding

This allows me to place the fish where they will look the best before transferring them down onto the painting. Rather than painting them in and wishing later that I had put them elsewhere.

Hide and Seek

Once the paper had dried any excess salt was brushed off of the paper.

I transferred and painted an angelfish into one area of the painting and will have to plan out what other types of fish need to go into each one and where to place them.

I will post each painting as it is completed.

Peaceful Evening - A Work in Progress

The soft evening colours of the sky are reflected in the calm lake. It is the end to another fun filled, bright and sunny day in cottage country of the Kawarthas. In the stillness you can almost hear the call of a loon.

The background island shows another cottage with the lights glowing softly to ward off the coming darkness as night approaches.

More work needs to be done to the foreground cottage and perhaps a wisp of smoke from the chimney. The foreground land and reeds also need to be finished.

I will post this painting later when it has been completed.

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

OSWOA - Landscape

Spring and autumn are seasons of wide ranges of temperatures and drastic changes to the landscape.

Spring is a time of rebirth and new beginnings like the dawn of each day. The gradually warming weather melts the snow and brings forth new leaves and flowers.


Elegant

Autumn is a time of gathering as animals prepare for the coming of winter and the long sleep for those that hibernate.

The frost causes the leaves to change from lush green to the brilliant golds, reds and oranges in a final show of defiance before they fall to the ground in their final resting place.


A Touch of Colour

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

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

ACEO - Flower Pots 1-2

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

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

Flower Pot 1

These are two paintings that I have been working on as demonstration pieces at a number of shows since the end of June and have just finished.

I hope that you enjoy them.





Flower Pot 2

Birch Lake - A Work in Progress

This is another painting that I started earlier this year on location at the Riverview Zoo with the Outdoor Painters' Group.

I indicated some of the new grasses pushing their way up through last year's autumn leaves that had not been blown away by the winter winds; and then areas where the trees would cast their shadow to give me the direction of the light source.

Once the paint was dry I have removed the masking fluid from the birch trees and the trunk of the cedar tree.

I started on the cedar tree trunk using the shadowed area already indicated put in the light and shadow as well as adding a little of the bark texture. It still needs more work before it is completed.

I also painted the markings on one of the birch trees to give a feeling of what the overall look of the completed painting.

When I have finished more on this painting I will post it at a later date.

In the Past - A Work in Progress

One of the many century old, forgotten and soon to vanish barns in the area.

The glowing colours of the autumn maples add a bright spot to the landscape, but it is also the fore runner of the winter winds which are rapidly approaching.

Hopefully the weathered old barn will be able to survive for another year without too many boards being broken and torn off or sheets of metal removed from its roof.

There is still more work which needs to be done to the barn and the maple tree before this painting is finished.

I will post it once it is completed.

Warm and Cool Glads - Two Works in Progress

I wanted to paint something in a different format, so I chose a long, tall shape to depict Gladiolus.

With an H pencil I lightly drew in the shapes of the flowers on both paintings. Then with a wash of raw sienna and using vertical strokes I brushed in the background.

Since Gladioli come in a wide range of colours, I decided that I would do one painting with the warm colours of red, orange and yellow and the other painting with the cooler colours of lavender, blue and green.


Cool Glads

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna I painted in the taller spikes on both paintings.

With a mixture of alizarin crimson with a touch of cadmium red light I indicated the basic shape of the red glads.

Then with the red mixture and raw sienna I indicated some of the shapes of the red orange glads.

Adding cadmium yellow light to the orange mix I painted in the yellow orange glads.


Warm Glads

I still need to indicate the yellow glads with cadmium yellow light and a mix of raw sienna.

I will post both paintings at a later date as they are completed.

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

Evening Twilight - A Work in Progress

Even though it is a rainy Sunday I cannot really get in the mood to paint.

For this painting I used French ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson and brushed in a sky and added a little colour into the bottom of the painting as a base whether for water or snow. I will decide what I want to put there at a later date.

Winter Sunset - A Work in Progress

This painting is the opposite time of the day from Long Shadows (see yesterday's post).

The shadows are still very long but the painting instead of showing that it is going to get brighter as time goes on it has a darker quality. That things are getting ready for the night.

The shadows are more greyed instead of having blue tones in them. The sky colours reflected in the snow are more subdued. When the rays of sunlight are touching the snow it does not have the brilliance that you would see in the morning.

It still needs some "growies" added into the foreground snow and a few more shadows added to the base of the trees.

I will post this painting when it has been completed.

Long Shadows - A Work in Progress

In the early morning the sun is so low in the sky that it causes the shadows to be very long and stretch across the snow covered ground.

The bold colours of the sunrise have been painted in using Antwerp blue, raw sienna, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson and a touch of cadmium red light.

The tree shadows have been indicated across the snow using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, with a touch of alizarin crimson.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have added the trees and completed the painting.

Quiet Reflection - A Work in Progress

This is the beginning of a painting in mid morning as the sun is burning off the last of the mist from the lake.

The water is still very calm with hardly a ripple which allows it to reflect the mirror image of the islands and the clouds in the sky.

The painting is about halfway completed and at this stage has only two colours used in it; French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

I will post the completed piece at a later date.

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

Misty Lake

As I was walking down to the barn to do morning chores the sun peeps over the distant hills. I could hear the distinctive call of the loons on Chemong Lake echoing through the mist.














Their hauntingly beautiful voices always makes me appreciate living in the country, away from the noise and traffic of Toronto were I was raised; I know I could never go back to living there.














This is an original 9" x 12" framed watercolour available for $275.00.

Calm Water - A Work in Progress

This was an exercise in using glazes to paint in the background and sponge work for the trees.

The paper was wet first and the yellow, aureoline was brushed into the sky and water. The painting was then left to dry. Then the paper was wet again and alizarin crimson was brushed into the sky and water, then set aside to dry.

The paper was wet again and the third layer of French ultramarine blue was brushed into the top of the sky and into the water. A mixture of the blue and burnt sienna was added while the paper was still wet and brushed into the bottom of the water. The background trees were painted in using a lighter mixture of the same colours.

The base of the foreground islands was painted in with a mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson. The rocks were lifted out using a palette knife to give them shape.

Using the sponge and a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna the tree shapes were put onto the top of the island base.

After leaving this painting to dry and then looking at it, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done. The islands look like two triangles and need to have trees added to change the shape and a little more pink needs to be glazed in the water.

I will post this painting after I have made the changes.

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Update

Today I updated the Buckhorn Artists' Group blog with a few details about what happened during the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale.

Please go to the site and enjoy pictures of some of the paintings that were exhibited at the show.

Last Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

With the last day being a half day only I decided to play with two colours French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. Using the blue I brushed in the trunk of the tree and then had fun using sponges for the leaves.

I then brushed in the base at the bottom of the tree with the blue first and then added a wash of burnt sienna to the bottom. Using the sponge again I added a few areas of burnt sienna in among the blue leaves.

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

















Blue Maple

I would like to thank new collector Ms. Lynne Nicholl-Griffith on her purchase of Snow Squall.

Today is the final day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale. A total of five paintings were sold by Diane Collins, Susan Sydney and Helen Sheppard. Small items were also purchased from JoAnne Connell Northey and Diane Collins.

The hours for our show are:
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Autumn Pasture

Autumn has always been my favourite time of the year with all the glorious colours of the trees. This old horse is unconcerned that winter will soon be on its way as he grazes peacefully in his pasture.

This original 11" x 15" framed watercolour, was purchased by new collector Ms. Denise Figueiro of Brooklin, Ontario. Thank you.

Thank you to Ms. Stephanie Shorter of Toronto, Ontario. on her purchase of Frozen Land.















Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Quinn and Lianna Chu-Liddicoat of Toronto, Ontario. I hope you both enjoy Hung Up and Hello Dolly for the nursery of the soon to arrive baby.

With the Buckhorn Community Care having their annual summer yard sale on the front lawn of St. Matthew's Church a large crowd also attended our show as well.

A total of ten paintings were purchased from Bonnie Windover, Susan Sydney, Irene Smith, Diane Collins, Rebecca Bilcox, Lorraine Ryan and Helen Sheppard; with many small items from JoAnne Connell Northey, Barbara McGregor, Heather Grant, Irene Smith, Diane Collins, and Penny Little.

The hours for our show are:
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

OSWOA - Maple Trees

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

The OSWOA shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper.

It was once again a fairly busy day at the art show and we have had people from as far away as Germany, England, Columbia and Australia.

Red Maples and Rocks

Five paintings were purchased from Heather Grant and Susan Sydney, with small items from JoAnne Connell Northey, Lorraine Ryan, Diane Collins, Irene Smith and Penny Little.

The hours for our show are:
13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug 10 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

I would like to thank new collector Ms. Karen Pashleigh of Burlington, Ontario on her purchase of these paintings.

Green Trees

ACEO - Pine Trees

I enjoy seeing the silhouettes of pine trees against the sky.

To me it doesn't matter what time of day it is, they always look majestic.

I have a magnificent pair of pine trees at the back of my property, that I have painted many times over the years.

Even though it is the same pair of trees when it is sunrise, morning, afternoon, evening, sunset, or night, each painting is different.

Northern Spirit

My friend Heather has a stately old pine tree that is on a point of land that acts as a buffer for the small bay that is just in front of her sun room.

Its top branches have been bent and twisted by being constantly battered by the winds coming across the lake. Her husband, Roy put support cables on it to prevent it from being destroyed by the wind and ice storms.

This solitary pine is another of my favourite trees.

It is one I have painted in the many times of the day and in various media.

Pine Boughs 1

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

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













Pine Boughs 2

Four more paintings sold today from Sophia Kosak, Lorraine Ryan and Irene Smith as well as a number of small items from Barbara McGregor, Diane Collins, Penny Little and Sophia Kosak.

The hours for our show are:
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Fast Water - A Work in Progress

With this painting the rocks had been blocked in using a palette knife, the water was partially painted and the masking fluid had been removed.

A few areas of dark water were painted in and a little more blue was added to the areas where the water is lighter in colour. This was left to dry while I added more details to the rocks.

I will post this painting at a later date once it has been completed.













The temperature and humidity was on the rise today, with the threat of a thunder storm in the evening.

Another painting was sold by Irene Smith and more small items from Diane Collins.

The hours for our show are:
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

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

Autumn Sky - A Work in Progress

With the Farm and Craft Market on next door to the Church we opened earlier today and had a nice crowd come through the show even though the day was hot, humid and hazy.

I chose to work on this painting today, as with the number of people coming through the show it is easy to stop at any point while I am painting the trees and talk with people about the art or show them where to find items in which they are interested.










Three original paintings were bought from Barbara McGregor and Helen Sheppard; as well as smaller items from Diane Collins, Helen Sheppard and Penny Little.

The hours for our show are:
10 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Melting - A Work in Progress

This is the third of three paintings I started at the beginning of the show using a very limited palette of only two colours. The others were Burros and Cactus (see yesterday's post) in which I did use three colours and Pines and Clouds (see my post on 07 August 10).

The colours used in this painting are Antwerp blue and burnt sienna. I find that mixture of colours gives some lovely soft greens. The painting still needs a little more work before it is complete. I will post the finished piece at a later date.

After yesterday's rain we were greeted with a beautiful bright sunny day that continued until the late afternoon.

Then the dark clouds rolled in and we had a heavy rain storm.

Pottery was sold by JoAnne Connell Northey.

The hours for our show are:
09 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
10 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Burros and Cactus - A Work in Progress

This is the second of three paintings I started yesterday, using a very limited palette of only two colours.

I used raw sienna and washed in the background yesterday and set it aside to dry. I mixed the raw sienna with French ultramarine blue and roughly blocked in a few of the cacti. They need more detail added to them before they are complete.

On this one I added a third colour, burnt sienna and mixed it with the "green" to make a dark to paint the burros. It still needs a little more work before it is finished. I will post the finished piece at a later date.














Even though it rained off and on all day, it certainly did not stop the crowds of people from coming in today.

A total of ten original paintings were purchased today from Tom Young, Heather Grant, Barbara McGregor, Irene Smith, Diane Collins, Sophia Kosak, Penny Little and Bonnie Windover. As well as a number of smaller items from JoAnne Connell Northey, Lorraine Ryan and Diane Collins.

The hours for our show are:
08 Aug 10 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm
09 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
10 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

20th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today was the opening of our Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale. We were greeted with a hot and sunny day. It was nice to have the crowds come out to visit our show and I spent most of the day speaking with people and demonstrating.

This is one of three paintings I started today, using a very limited palette of only two colours.

The colours used in this painting are French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. It still needs a little more work before it is complete. I will post the finished piece at a later date.














The show is off to a good start so far with five paintings sold from Sophia Kosak, Helen Sheppard and Tom Young. A number of smaller items from JoAnne Connell Northey, Irene Smith, Lorraine Ryan and Heather Grant have sold as well.

The hours for our show are:
07 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
08 Aug 10 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm
09 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
10 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Tomorrow should be another nice day.

Golden Birches - A Work in Progress

I had started this painting a while ago in a class. It is a painting using a limited palette of three colours. The main colour is raw sienna, with burnt sienna being the secondary. French ultramarine blue is mixed with the burnt sienna for the darks.

I have added a few of the birch leaves and started adding some of the trunks and branches for the leaf masses in front of the birches. I still have to glaze some colour into the water, and add a little more colour to the leaves to give them more shape.


















Today I have to finish hanging my artwork at St. Matthew's Church in Buckhorn for the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale which opens tomorrow.

The hours for our show are:
07 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
08 Aug 10 - 12:00pm - 5:00pm
09 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
10 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
11-13 Aug 10 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 10 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug - 12:00pm - 5:00pm

I hope you can come out to the show and enjoy the artwork.

Fading Light - A Work in Progress

Today was a very busy day for me.

First I had to go to Keene to hang the Outdoor Painters' Group show at the MacKelvie Gallery, at the Lang Pioneer Village,Museum, which will run from 05 August - 03 October.

From there I had to go to the KAGS and sit the final day of the People, Places and Things Show and take down the paintings.

I worked on this painting while I was there. It is almost finished and I will post it at a later date when it is completed.














On my way home I had to pick up paintings from one of the new members of the Buckhorn Artists' Group, Carol Francisco as due to prior commitments she was unable to be there this week.

Then finish loading my paintings into the Blazer to take up to St. Matthew's Church in Buckhorn to set up the panels for our 19th annual Shades of Summer Art Show with the Buckhorn Artists' Group

Right now I am going to put my feet up and relax for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow is another day of hanging paintings and completing the final preparations for our show.

Brief Moment

It is in the brief moment before night falls when the breeze causes the soft rustling of the reeds and cattails along with that of the dying leaves still hanging tightly on the tree branches to a create a soft symphony of sound.














This is an original 5-1/2" x 7” framed watercolour available for $165.00.

Grand Lake

This is an original 5-1/4" x 8-1/4” framed watercolour for $145.00.

After a warm day and the temperature dropping during the night the fog quietly creeps in across the lake covering it with an ever changing misty blanket.












The early morning is always a peaceful time to watch as the sun chases away the fog and brings another bright and sunny summer day.

I have to go and sit at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery for the People, Places and Things Show there from 1-4pm today. This is the final week for the show.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2010 - August

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.
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.

Lang Pioneer Village and Museum, Keene, Ont.
05 Aug - 21 Oct MacKelvie Gallery

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont
Buckhorn Artists' Group
07-15 Aug 20th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

The Lindsay Inn, Lindsay, Ont.
18 Nov Canvas Confidential Art Sale

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

I look forward to seeing you at some of these shows.

Battle Royale

This original 15" x 20" framed graphite pencil drawing is available for $325.00. SOLD

I have always had a fascination with mythical creatures, dragons, unicorns, phoenix, Pegasus, hippocampus and centaurs. This is just one image of many I have created.















It is also available as an 11" x 14" limited edition of 500 signed and numbered reproductions for $45.00. It can also be remarqued for an additional $25.00 Prints are shipped flat and unframed.

There are currently less than 30 prints remaining in this edition. Edition SOLD OUT

I would like to thank the Great Blue Sky Gallery for selling The Mustang (see posting on 12 June 2010) and unfortunately no information was kept about the purchaser.