The Herd

This is one of those small paintings I can work on while I sit at a show.

You just start by painting in the first horse and then gradually add more until you have a herd of them.










Wash in a sky behind and add some grass beneath their feet and it is complete.

The Herd is an original 1-1/2" x 3-1/2” framed watercolour is available for $65.00. SOLD

Changing

This is an original 1-3/4" x 4-1/2” framed watercolour available for $35.00.

As we approach the month of October the mornings have a hint of frost in the air and the leaves are starting to change colour. Autumn is my favourite time of year.

When looking from the top of my hill out over 400 acres of forest and wetland it is easy to see the changing colours. A few of the maples change to brilliant red, many to orange and the elms, poplars and birch turn varying shades of yellow.

The cedars and pines remain their stately green and one of the last to change is the tamarack whose needles turn golden.

It is a season of change.

Frozen Lake

This was a quick demonstration I did for my friend Heather who wanted to know what she could teach a group of people who had never painted before.

I have found that snow scenes are probably the easiest thing for a beginner to paint.

I also used a limited palette of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna to do this snow scene. These are basics and give a wide range of colours.

I used French ultramarine blue for the sky and on the snow covered lake. I added a touch of burnt sienna to paint in the shadowed underside of the clouds.

Using the cloud mixture I added a touch of raw sienna to get a green grey for the background shoreline trees and also used it for the under painting on the rocks.

Darkening the mixture down with more French ultramarine blue and raw sienna as the paper was drying I added the foreground pines.

I added burnt sienna and more French ultramarine blue to the pine tree colour to get a very dark colour and painted over my rocks. Using a palette knife I lifted out the rock shapes.

To finish the painting I thinned the dark mixture and added a few dead tree trunks to the foreground.

The entire painting would have taken about 20 minutes to complete.

This original 5-1/2" x 6-3/4” framed watercolour is available for $95.00.

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

Red Rubber Ball

This was another exercise from the Golden Acrylic Paints workshop at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio held earlier this month to show the advantages to using their Open Acrylic line which stays wet longer than most regular acrylic paints (see Single Pear in my post on 17 September 10 and Study in Sienna in the 21 September 10 posting).

The purpose of this exercise was to blend colours starting with a dark base colour and changing it to create shapes. In this case a red rubber ball.

Thank you to returning collector Mme. Cecile Desrochers of Ste-Ramon, Quebec on her purchase of this painting.

Winter Birches

This is a painting I had started quite a while ago; I had sketched in the trees while in my car at the side of the road. It was one of the few times I didn't have my camera with me.

It was a bright sunny day just after the first heavy snow of the year and there were a lot of trees that still had not lost their autumn leaves.

Winter Birches is an original 7" x 10-3/4” framed watercolour available for $125.00.

Silent Sentinel

With having taken the Golden Acrylic workshop at KAGS earlier this month I have been doing more work using acrylic paint.

While in my frame room sorting through the frames I had on hand for acrylics I came across a number of small frames in various sizes.

I cut mat board to fit the frames and gessoed both sides of the boards, lightly sanding in between the layers of gesso.

Once the third layer of gesso was dry I started painting. This 4-1/2" x 8” acrylic is the result.

Congratulations to new collector Mr. G. H. Rennie of Peterborough, Ontario on his purchase of this painting.

Early Winter

It is still autumn and many of the changing leaves are still on the trees.

But a cold front moving through has caused the precipitation to be snow instead of rain, leaving everything covered in a mantle of white. This provided a stunning contrast between the rocks and the coloured leaves.

This is an original 7-1/2" x 10-1/2” framed watercolour available for $125.00.

OSWOA - Magnetawan River 1

Today I am sitting on the final day of the Driven to Abstraction show held at KAGS.

With having taken the first part of Neil Broadfoot's Fast Water Workshop earlier this week, I decided to finish a painting of the rushing water from the Magnetawan River while I was spending my time sitting at the show.













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 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $40.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Stormy Skyline 1-4

Autumn has always been my favourite time of the year.

It is not only the wonderful changing colours of the trees from their summer greens to the blazing colours of orange, gold, and red before the leaves finally fall to the ground leaving a rustling blanket on the ground to protect next year's growth.


Stormy Skyline 4

It is the strong, sharp contrasts. The dark storm clouds in behind the autumn trees as the morning sun sets them ablaze, or after a rain when the almost black trunks of the maple trees stand out against the glowing colours of the leaves or the bare deciduous trees casting blue lacy patterns across the freshly fallen snow, or the pines standing boldly out against the sky.

Stormy Skyline 3

It is also the many changes in the weather from the last few warm weeks of the Indian Summer, the frost covering the ground in the morning, the cool crispness of the clear, bright air, the first light dusting of snow on the ground. Shortly after Hallowe'en we can expect a glittering blanket of white covering the ground which will usually stay until the early Spring.

Stormy Skyline 2

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.

Stormy Skyline 1

Study in Sienna

This is another piece I started in the Golden acrylic workshop held at Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

The first was Single Pear (see my post on 17 September 10) which was using Golden Heavy Body Gel.

In this one Golden Molding Paste was used as a base ground for the painting. Golden Open Acrylics were used by putting down a flat layer of paint and then lifting off some of the paint to create highlights. I used ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna to create the painting.

Study in Sienna is an original 6-1/4" x 8-1/2” framed acrylic available for $150.00

Neil Broadfoot Workshop - Burleigh Falls 1-3

Today is the first of a three part workshop with Neil Broadfoot at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio on how to sketch and paint moving water on location and in the studio.














Burleigh Falls 1 SOLD

We were shown the basic equipment that is required to sketch and paint in the field.

How to pack and keep everything fairly light and compact to make things easy to carry and set up with the least amount of effort.














Burleigh Falls 2 SOLD

The rest of the morning consisted of demonstrations using black and white conte or chalk to capture the lights and darks on a mid tone paper for value sketches and for us to do a few practice pieces.

In the afternoon the various media was discussed and demonstrations using charcoal, conte, pastel, watercolour and acrylic paint for quick colour paintings to go along with the value sketches to make it easier when you return to the studio to complete a larger painting of what captured your attention outdoors.














Burleigh Falls 3 SOLD

The pictures shown here are all 9" x 12” original conte drawings and are available matted and shrink wrapped for $40.00 each.

Thank you for taking the time to come a view my art. I hope you will return often.

Winter Twilight

Winter Twilight is the third painting that I had started earlier this week.

You can view Winter Forest (posted on 15 September 10) and Bend in the River (posted on 16 September 10).

This is an original 2-3/4" x 4-1/2” oval, framed watercolour available for $85.00.

The Challenge

The split second before the bone jarring impact of almost half a ton of fighting fury hits the ground, bucking and twisting to throw off the rider who is equally as determined to stay aboard until the whistle blows.
















This is an original 15" x 20” framed graphite pencil drawing and is available for $165.00. SOLD

It is also available as an 11" x 14" hand coloured limited edition of 250 signed and numbered reproductions for $90.00. It can also be remarqued for an additional $25.00 Prints are shipped flat and unframed.

Currently there are less than 50 remaining as the rest of the edition has been sold. Edition SOLD OUT

Single Pear

This is an original 8" x 10" framed acrylic painting and is available for $150.00.

Today there was a workshop at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio put on by Golden Acrylic Paints to show the advantages to using their Open Acrylic line and how to use some of the various gel mediums.

The pear was painted using Heavy Body Gel tinted with yellow green as a base for the pear and burnt sienna for the table top; then set aside to allow it to dry.

Once it was dry (almost four hours later), various mixtures of lemon yellow, raw sienna, burnt sienna, cobalt blue, alizarin crimson and white were used to give some colour to the pear. Burnt umber and burnt sienna was used for the pear stem.

The table top was various mixtures of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, lemon yellow and white.

The background for the pear was painted using vertical lines of raw sienna, burnt sienna, and lemon yellow.

It was a very enjoyable and fun filled class. I think it is about time I did a few more acrylic paintings.

Bend in the River

It won't be long before there is snow on the ground and winter will set in.

I think this year we are going to have a long hard winter with a lot of snow. Hopefully I am wrong, but that is the feeling I have.

This is the second painting of three I had started yesterday. I completed this one today and I have one more to finish which I will post at a later date.

Bend in the River is an original 5" x 7” oval, framed watercolour available for $145.00.

Winter Forest

Today I decided that I would work with a limited palette of two colours: French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. I find these colours lend themselves well with winter scenes and make some lovely greys.

Once I had painted in the trees I threw a little salt into the painting and set it aside to let the salt work and create a few snowflakes.

While waiting for the salt to work I started another two paintings with a winter theme using the same two colours.

I added a little more colour to the painting by putting in the "growies" using raw sienna and burnt sienna.

Winter Forest is an original 3-1/4" x 6” framed watercolour available for $95.00.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Lilacs

This was the third of the three 20 minute warm up exercises for an hour long painting. See yesterday's posting for Abundance (the one hour painting).

For me, I found it was better to break the shapes down into their simplest forms and putting the base colour in and if there was time remaining to add the shading.

Lilacs is an original 3" x 4” framed watercolour available for $95.00.

Abundance

This was a class exercise where we had to complete a painting in one hour.

A bouquet of silk spring flowers was set up and each person set themselves up ready to paint and the timer was set. This is what I had completed at the end of an hour.

I may decide to a more detailed painting of the spring flowers at a later date.

Abundance is an original 11" x 15” framed watercolour available for $195.00.

Splash Dance

As I fill the feeders with seed for the birds I notice it is gradually getting cooler and the birds are starting to flock together before they head south for the winter.

In another week the hummingbirds will be gone soon to be followed by the swallows.

I will miss the haunting sound of the loons' call as it echoes across the lake.

This is a 2-3/4" x 4-1/2” oval, framed watercolour available for $95.00.

A New Day

This is an original 2" x 5” framed watercolour for $65.00.

This was a painting started earlier this year on location at the Riverview Zoo with the Outdoor Painters' Group.

There are many wonderful animals and places to paint at the zoo. Perhaps one day I will be able to complete paintings from all the sketches I have made.

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

OSWOA - Glowing Windows 1

With the coming of winter the days grow shorter and darkness sets in earlier until the Winter Solstice.

The bright spot in the darkness are the warm glowing windows, standing out boldly against the night; offering the promise of warmth and comfort to weary travellers as they return home.

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 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $30.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Branches 1-3

In almost every landscape painting you will find at least one tree.

I have found the best time of the year to see what is hidden under the leaves is in the winter, when the trees are bare and there is nothing to hide the "skeleton".


Branches 1

This of course does not hold true for the evergreens with the exception of the Tamarack, which sheds its needles each year.

Looking at trees in winter gives a better understanding of the shape of each kind of tree, how they differ from one another and the differences between trees of the same type.


Branches 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.

Branches 3

Fishing Place

This little gem is of one of the best fishing spots on the lake for both large and small mouth bass.

I painted this one on location while Ron was fishing. It was early morning and both the mosquitoes and the fish were biting.

It is an original, 4" x 5-1/2” framed watercolour available for $125.00.

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

Water Lily Reflections

Yesterday I started working on three paintings and was experimenting with plastic wrap and the effects that can be created.

The first one Yellow Water Lilies (see yesterday's post) was completed.

For this one I mixed in separate containers dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, alizarin crimson as a red, and a green of Antwerp blue and raw sienna.

The paper was wet thoroughly and the red was poured on in a couple of areas, then the green was poured onto the paper, and the remaining white spaces were filled with the dark mixture.

Plastic wrap was crinkled and laid over top of the wet paint and the painting was set aside to allow it to dry.

Once the paint has dried the plastic wrap was carefully removed and set aside.

Then as with yesterday's painting the pink shapes reminded me of water lilies and lily pads floating on the water.

Using pure alizarin crimson I painted the shadows onto the lily petals. Then at the bottom I added a few lines with the red as though water was covering the bottom of some of the petals and indicated a slight reflection of the flower.

Then I added some French ultramarine blue to the green mixture and painted in some of the shadows on the lily pads.

This is an original 6" x 7-3/4” framed watercolour available for $125.00

Yellow Water Lilies

An original 5-1/2" x 6” framed watercolour available for $125.00.
Today I am working on three paintings and will be experimenting with plastic wrap and the effects that can be created.

In separate containers I mixed a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, new gamboge as a yellow, and a green of Antwerp blue and raw sienna.

The paper was wet thoroughly and the yellow was poured on in a couple of areas, then the green was poured onto the paper, and the remaining white spaces were filled with the dark mixture.

Plastic wrap was crinkled and laid over top of the wet paint and the painting was set aside to allow it to dry.

Once the paint has dried the plastic wrap was carefully removed and set aside.

The yellow shapes reminded me of the local water lilies, and the green seemed similar to the lily pads.

I added a touch of burnt sienna to the new gamboge and painted the shadows onto the lily petals. The added a touch of alizarin crimson and painted in the stamens on the inside of the flower.

Then I added some French ultramarine blue to the green mixture and painted in some of the shadows on the lily pads.

Leaves

This original, 5-3/4" x 9” framed watercolour is available for $125.00.

Looking up into the tree tops there are only a few stragglers that are hanging on tightly against the Autumn winds.

The leaves are starting to change and it won't be long before the deciduous trees are mere skeletons with all their Summer and Autumn finery lying on the ground for the Winter season. They await the coming of Spring to once again don their leaves.

Today I have to take in my paintings for the Driven to Abstraction show at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

Evening Stroll

This is an original, framed 7" x 11” watercolour, available for $185.00

Far from the hustle and bustle of work, without a care or worry. Spending a week long vacation away from it all, taking the time to relax and enjoy the sun and sea.

What better way to enjoy an evening when on vacation than taking an after supper stroll through one of the streets in a resort town.

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

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 September.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2010 - September

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.

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

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
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.

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.

Another 30 Day Painting Challenge

A new month begins with 30 days in it and it is time again for the 30 Day Painting Challenge, which means finishing a painting a day for the next 30 days.

Here is the first of my daily paintings.

Peaceful Time is an original 5" x 7” framed watercolour available for $85.00.

I will continue to post the painting I finish each day during the course of the month. I hope you will return often to see the postings.