Sunset Sails

This is an original 5" x 7” framed watercolour.

It is was the one of the small colour value paintings I did for Homeward Bound (see post on 01 March 2011) that I had started and have finally finished.

Congratulations to returning collectors Mr. & Mrs. Don Kortkos of Pefferlaw, Ontario on adding this painting to their home.

This is the last day of the 30 Day Art Challenge and I believe I have succeeded with having at least 30 paintings completed since the beginning of June. Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Morning Shadows

The weather here has taken on a decided coolness with the storm from yesterday clearing the humidity and the continuing showers today.

I thought a snow scene would be nice, using a limited palette of mainly alizarin crimson for the sky, snow and shadows; using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the trees.

Thank you to returning collector Ms. Denise Zabloski of Pembroke, Ontario on her purchase of this original 5" x 7" framed watercolour painting.

Lightning

With the storms we have had earlier this month along with the one we had today, I thought I would like to do a painting of lightning.

This is an original 3" x 4” framed watercolour painting.

I masked out the lightning and then painted the stormy sky, and treetops. Once the paint was dry I removed the masking and added a very pale wash of raw sienna.

Congratulations to Mr. Tim Rowat of Omemee, Ontario on adding this painting to his art collection.

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

Lone Pine

This is an original 4" x 6" framed watercolour painting of one of the stately pines that can be found along Highway 507.

Earlier this morning I took a walk through the fields to look at my old pine trees that I had before the storm that came through earlier this month that did so much damage.

I lost one of them. It was snapped near the base by the force of the wind and is now lying on the ground. Later we will chop it up and use the wood next year once it has dried in the fireplace. Its partner is still standing but somehow seems lonely.

Thank you to new collector Mr. William A. Rayner of Markham, Ontario on his purchase of this painting.

I have to head off to the Executive meeting at KAGS now and give the Treasurer's report.

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

Balance Beam 4

Balance beam routines require superb balance, strength and knowing exactly where your hands or feet are going to land on a 4" (10cm) wide beam.

One slip and you are off the beam and on the floor. In the event of a fall, once you are back on your feet you have 30 seconds to remount the beam and continue, otherwise you will not be permitted to finish your routine. Falls automatically incur a deduction of 1.0.














Deductions are taken for all errors made while on the beam, on the landing of the dismount or a fall. These also include balance checks such as wobbling to maintain balance or stumbling, failure to do all the elements required in a routine, lapses in control, poor technique and execution and failure to travel the full length of the beam.

Small wonder a perfect score of 10 is rarely achieved.

Balance Beam 4 is an original 15" x 20” framed Prisma pencil drawing and is available for $195.00.

Today is the last day of the Art in the Garden Tour, in Peterborough, Ontario. It is put on by GardenRoute. I will be at Horlings Garden Centre, 3056 Lakefield Road, Lakefield, Ontario from 10am-4pm.

Looking forward to seeing some of you this week end.

Balance Beam 3

A regulation-size balance beam used in competition for elite and junior elite gymnasts measures approximately 4 feet (1.25 meters) in height, approximately 16-1/2 feet (5 meters) in length and is only 4 inches (10 centimeters) in width.

Today's beams are covered in leather or suede to help prevent slipping and they are also sprung to accommodate the stress of high-difficulty tumbling and dance skills.

A beam routine can last up to 90 seconds and must consist of acrobatic elements in different directions (forward/sideward and backward), a full turn on one foot, a connection of two dance elements, one a leap, jump, or hop with legs in 180 degree split, a series of two acrobatic skills and a dismount.

Many things are taken into consideration such as all the elements and all the errors in a routine which are noted by the judges and determine the gymnast's final mark.

Congratulations to new collectors Kawartha Gymnastics Club of Peterborough, Ontario on their selection of this painting.

Today is the first day of the Art in the Garden Tour, in Peterborough, Ontario. It is put on by GardenRoute. I will be at Horlings Garden Centre, 3056 Lakefield Road, Lakefield, Ontario from 10am-12 noon and tomorrow from 10am-4pm.

Looking forward to seeing some of you this week end.

Autumn Weeds

This is a scene I often see in the autumn down by the edge of the Snelgrove Brook which runs thrpough the back of my property..

The soft reflections of trees' changing leaves in the water are a sharp contrast to the hard dried weeds and grasses growing on the bank.

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

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

Work Horses in Winter

These pen and ink drawings are part of a series of draft horses working in the winter.

Eventually I will work each of them up into paintings.












Sleigh Ride

Most of these sketches are of some of the local draft horses that are not only used for working farmland, they also are exhibited at the fairs in conformation classes, in two, three and four horse hitches, in pulling competitions and in parades.












Two Horse Sleigh

Most of the sketches of black Percheron are of Billy and Ben; the greys are of Glow and Silver.

The drawings of Belgians are of either May and Mandy or Charlie and Sunny. The Clydesdale is Jimmy.












Hay Ride

The pictures shown here are all 4" x 6” original, framed pen and ink drawings and are available framed for $125.00 each.

Now I had better go to KAGS to sit the final day of the Temperatures Rising Show.












Along the Trail

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

Evening Glow

I used mixtures of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a touch of alizarin crimson for this painting.

This is a scene often found on the lakes in the evening once the sun has set and the moon is in hiding behind the clouds. Some of the glow is cast on the still waters creating a luminous trail.

Evening Glow is an original 5" x 7” framed watercolour and is available for $65.00.

Study in Green and Gold

This morning I was at the Life Drawing class at KAGS and our model was Julie. If you would like to see my sketches from the class please go to my Life Drawing Portfolio.

This is another painting I had started at the Golden Acrylic workshop held at KAGS (see posting on 06 May 2011).

It was the second time I had taken the workshop and I learned a lot more about the versatility of the various Golden Acrylics products, especially about their Open Acrylic line (see postings for Strawberries 04 June 2011 and Citrus on 11 May 2011).

For this we used the Golden Molding Paste as a base ground for the painting (see post for Study in Sienna 21 September 2010). I used yellow ochre and sap green for most of the painting and a touch of Titanium white for the brightest highlights.

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

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

OSWOA - Haven 1

This is a little painting I started with the Outdoor Painters' Group a couple of weeks ago.

The place we were at overlooked the Otonabee River, which in that part doesn't have any of the faster moving water you will find south of Lock 26 in Lakefield. In that section you will often find kayakers there running the white water.













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 Windsor & Newton paint on 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $50.00 and sold unframed. SOLD

ACEO - Rushing Water 1-2

There are many places in the Kawarthas where you can find rushing water and both large and small waterfalls.

Burleigh Falls is probably one of the better known waterfalls and is found in the Buckhorn area.

There are also series of rapids and small falls on Northey's and Eels River.

Rushing Water 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 Windsor & Newton paint on 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.



Rushing Water 2

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Barbara McGregor

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

Morning

This little gem is an original 3" x 4” framed painting created using a limited palette of three colours: cadmium red, French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

Cadmium red was washed into the sky and water.

While the paper was still wet a pale mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna was used to paint in clouds.

The cloud mixture was darkened as the paper dried and the islands and tree silhouettes were then painted when the paper was almost completely dry.

I would like to thank new collector Mrs. D. Neudorf of Welland, Ontario on her purchase of this painting.

Forest Fire

For this painting I soaked the paper in water then poured Antwerp blue, raw sienna and alizarin crimson onto the paper. I rolled the paint around, sprinkled salt into the wet paint and then set it aside to dry.

The salt had created some interesting effects and had pushed a lot of the colour away from the center of the paper.

Using a mixture of the three colours I painted in trees.

Forest Fire is an original 9" x 12” framed watercolour available for $165.00.

Incoming Waves

Incoming Waves is an original 5-3/4" x 5-3/4” watercolour and is available for $45.00 matted and shrink wrapped.

I had started this painting earlier in the year (see posting on 05 March 11).

I added a few palm trees on the closer island and made another island on the left side of the painting and put some palm trees on it as well.

The waves needed some darks added to create a little more contrast and make the white froth on the waves stand out.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Amethyst

This morning I was at KAGS for the Life Drawing class where our model was Jeremy. If you would like to see my work from the class you can go to my Life Drawing Portfolio.

Often when I don't have the time to work on a large painting I will do a couple of smaller pieces that I may have started while I was experimenting with the colours on my palette.

I had applied a flat wash of a pale mix of French ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson and set it aside to dry.

Using the same two colours but more to the blue tones I painted in the background trees and their reflections into the water.

White the paint was still wet I dropped in a little pure burnt sienna and made a tree to add a little interest.

As the paper dried I lifted out a birch tree and rocks with a palette knife. Using a damp brush I lifted out a few movement lines in the water.

Amethyst is an original 2" x 4” framed watercolour and is available for $65.00.

Royal Red

Royal Red is an original 5" x 7” oval, framed watercolour.

I have a pair of Cardinals nesting in amongst my lilac bushes. With the brilliant red colour of the male cardinal you would expect to be able to see him easily against the green leaves, but with the way the light casts shadows he is very hard to see.

Now I had better get to the Creative Art Guild in Lakefield as I am demonstrating framing using aluminum and acrylic frames.

Thank you to new collector Morley Alldred of Toronto, Ontario on his purchase of this painting.

Winter Shadows

Winter Shadows is an original 7" x 10-1/2” framed watercolour.

An early autumn snow storm has coated the ground in a cloak of white for a short time before the warmth of the bright afternoon sun will melt it away. But before it is gone the pine tree shadows will move their way across the snow keeping time with the sun as it makes its way across the sky.

Thank you to new collectors Drs. Z.L. and E.S. Lobos of London, Ontario on their purchase of this painting for their collection.

Daybreak

Daybreak is an original 11-1/2" x 15” framed watercolour and is available for $210.00.

Early morning on the lake is often the most peaceful time of the day; it is a time of tranquility.

The lake reflects a mirror image on its still surface of the trees on the shore and the sky.

It won't be long before a breeze comes up and waves disturb the calm waters and shatter the mirrored reflections into a multitude of pieces.

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

Birch Reflections

Birch Reflections is an original 7-1/2" x 11-1/2” framed watercolour $145.00.

With autumn being my favourite time of the year and I often do paintings featuring the colours of the season.

This is a small lake on Highway 121 where the water seems to be fairly sheltered from the wind and you can often find mirror images reflections of the birch, pine and maple forest.

Fading Light

Fading Light is an original 5-1/4" x 7-1/4” framed watercolour available for $145.00.

I had started this little painting last year (see my post 05 August 2010).

It needed a few more things added to it before it was finished. I added some leaves onto a couple of the trees, more shadows onto the birch tree and more details to some of the trunks and branches.

More growies were added around the bases of the tree trunks and on the trail leading out of the field.

Today I was out painting with the Outdoor Painters' Group. I was amazed at the amount of damage last night's thunderstorms caused. Just going down the road there were two barns with the tops of their silos torn off and Fairview Church had half of its roof torn off.

From what I have heard from other members of the Group the damage is more severe to the north and west. I am very fortunate that other than my patio furniture being tossed around there is no damage to any of my buildings.

Simplicity

Today is going to be another hot, humid and hazy day. It is a good thing I enjoy each and every season and the weather it brings. But with the heat it is time to think of cool thoughts.

A winter scene showing a stand of pines silhouetted against the sky; casting blue shadows across a sea of white, undisturbed snow.

Simplicity is an original 2 x 3-3/4” framed watercolour available for $65.00.

Still Reflections and Morning Silence

This morning I was at the Life Drawing class at KAGS if you would like to see some of my sketches you will have to go to my other blog Life Drawing Portfolio as I cannot post drawings of nudes on this blog.

When I returned home after the class I decided to work in acrylic instead of watercolour for a change.

There are a lot of marshes, wetlands and waterways in the area where I live. Almost 60 acres (24.28 hectares) of my property is considered provincially significant (formerly Class 1, 2, 3) wetland.

I have a lot of wildlife on my property including: wolves, bear, deer, ferrets, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, pheasant and many more species, some of which I hadn't seen until recently even though have owned the property for over 30 years.

Still Reflections

I would like to thank returning collector Mme. Cecile Desrochers of Ste. Ramon, Quebec on her purchase of the original 4-1/2" x 8” framed painting Still Reflections.

Congratulations to new collector Mr. Charles Ball of Peterborough, Ontario on his purchase of the original, framed 7-1/4" x 9” painting Morning Silence to add to his art collection.


Morning Silence

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

OSWOA - Cloudy Sky 2-3

The most common types of low clouds include cumulus, stratocumulus and stratus; when low stratus clouds are raining, they are usually referred to as nimbostratus. Middle clouds include altocumulus and altostratus; high clouds include cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus. Cumulonimbus clouds also known as thunderheads(thunderstorms) will often span all three cloud heights, with bases ranging from 1,000'-5,000' (304.8m-1,524m) and tops sometimes reaching upwards of 60,000' (18,288m).


Cloudy Sky 2

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 Windsor & Newton paint on either 140lb. or 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $40.00 each and sold unframed.

Cloudy Sky 3

ACEO - Experimenting

Three primary colours were used in these paintings; French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and alizarin crimson.

Water was splattered onto the paper and then the paint was dropped onto some areas and rolled around allowing the colour to mix on the paper.

As the paint was drying water was applied to the paper using a spray bottle.

Blowing Leaves

A pale wash of French ultramarine blue was put into the background.

Using a flat brush and a mix of the blue and raw sienna an impression of pine trees were painted.

Raw sienna and alizarin crimson were dropped into the green and across the bottom of the paper.

Using the flat brush another paler background tree was made from a mixture of the colours dropped on the paper.


Evergreens

Water was sprinkled onto the paper and a dark mix of the three primary colours was painted in across the top and in some areas towards the middle of the paper.

Raw sienna was brush across some of the center of the paper and then alizarin crimson was put into the bottom of the painting.

Using mixes of the primaries and a flat brush "grasses" were painted in being careful to leave some areas of white paper showing through.

Some of the individual grasses were lifted out using water and the thin side of the flat brush.

Waving Grasses

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 Windsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

Strawberries

The strawberries finally dried enough that I could paint them (see posting on 06 May 11). I brushed all the strawberries with Napthol red first leaving the calyx area unpainted.

With most acrylic paint I could have painted the entire strawberry and let it dry within 15 minutes, but with the Golden open acrylic paint it stays wet for at least 4 hours and I wanted to finish the painting today.

Using Hansa yellow I blended it into the highlight areas of the strawberries. I blended Dioxadine purple into the shadowed side of the strawberries and onto the table top for the cast shadows.

The calyx was painted first with green gold as a base colour and then sap green was used for blending in the mid tones and shadows.

Sap green was also painted into the darkest areas of the cast shadow.

Strawberries is an original 8" x 10” framed acrylic and is available for $195.00.

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

Against the Sky

We have a quarter mile track beside the house on the farm where we have jogged countless miles with the various racehorses we have owned.

This is the view we see when approaching the farm from the north on the road, just the horse and driver silhouetted against the sky.












Thank you to new collectors Towering Oaks Farm Inc. of Meator, Ohio USA on their purchase of this painting.

Thank you for looking at my artwork. 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.

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 June.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2011 - June

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, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
05-23 Jun Temperatures Rising
Opening Reception 05 Jun 11 from 1-4pm.
11-29 Sep Changes
Opening Reception 11 Sep 11 from 1-4pm.
30 Oct – 16 Nov Outdoor Painters' Group Show
Opening Reception 30 Oct 11 from 1-4pm.
04-23 Dec & 02-05 Jan 12 Christmas Show
Opening Reception 04 Dec 11 from 1-4pm.

Art in the Garden, Peterborough, Ont.
GardenRoute
25-26 Jun Horlings Garden Centre, 3056 Lakefield Rd. 10am - 4pm

Norwood Legion Hall – Branch 300, Corner of Alma and King Street, Norwood, Ont.
01-03 Jul Norwood 3rd Annual Art Show and Sale 10-4pm.

Settlers' Village, Bobcaygeon, Ont.
SettlersVillage
15-17 Jul 6th Annual Bobcaygeon Fine Arts Festival

St Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont
BuckhornArtistsGroup
06-14 Aug 21st Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

MacKelvie Gallery, Keene, Ontario
PioneerVillage
18 Aug - 06 Oct Lang Pioneer Village Museum, Keene, Ont.