Saturday, March 31, 2012

OSWOA - Bare Branches 1

I woke up this morning to the ground covered in a light layer of snow. We have been fortunate to have such a mild winter this year with very little snow.

The maple trees along the front fence line no longer have any leaves hanging onto the branches anymore due to the strong winds storms we have been having lately.

I thought it would make an interesting painting.

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 paintings using Artist quality Windsor & Newton paint on 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $40.00 and sold unframed.

Friday, March 30, 2012

ACEO - Quiet Reeds 1

It won't be long before the cattails in the marsh start their new growth as the old brown ones from last year are pushed out and fall into the water to be carried away.

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

The ACEO 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 $20.00 and sold unframed.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Gardening I - A Work in Progress

Today I was at KAGS for the Still Life class this morning.

The gardening display was brought in by Gail and Carol.

I chose to do one half of it, with the pink gardening hat, green gardening boots, gloves, a begonia and an old watering can with forsythia.

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

I am looking forward to next week when we will have a silver tea set with china cups.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Horse Sketches VII

This is another of my many horse sketches that I have started and I am gradually finishing.

It is an original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing and is available matted and shrink wrapped for $95.00.

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

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Monkey Shines - A Work in Progress

Today I painted with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painters Group and had taken in a bag of my daughter's stuffed animals for the members of the Group to paint.













I chose the monkey and set him on top of one of the boxes I use to hold my paintings in progress. Then I placed my ceramic container of brushes near him along with a bottle of masking fluid on the box beside him.

I decided it need a few more things to complete the picture and placed a block of watercolour paper in front of him with a couple of my flat brushes resting against one edge and a couple of tubes of paint on the paper.

The final thing added was a paint brush in his hand.

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

Monday, March 26, 2012

Silent Wings - A Work in Progress

Well the temperature has gone back down to the seasonal norm of 18F (-8C) this morning with a brisk wind.

Earlier this morning there was a little bit of freezing fog which gave everything a misty look and I wanted to capture that in a painting.

Using Antwerp Blue and burnt sienna I washed in a greyed background sky. While the background was still wet I brushed in my trees using a slightly darker mixture of the same colours which gave a very soft effect to the trees.

I am going to add an owl to the painting and will post it again at a later date.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sugar Shack 3 - A Work in Progress

Today would have been my father's 83rd birthday. He was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

I thought he would like it if I did one of the sugar shacks found throughout Ontario and Quebec.

Once he entered his teens he worked in the logging camps in Quebec for a number of years as a topper and using horses to skid out logs.

He often said one of his fondest memories was of getting a piece of snow candy. It was made from the boiling maple sap being thrown into a snow bank where it cooled rapidly to an edible temperature.

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

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Anemone - A Work in Progress

This is the under painting for a section of the reef with an anemone set among the coral.














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

Friday, March 23, 2012

Through the Storm - A Work in Progress

While looking for something to paint I came across this piece that I had started a while ago (see posting on 10 Dec 2010).

After looking at the clouds I decided that I would rather do a seagull instead of a hawk even though I will have to use some Chinese white to bring out the white markings on the bird.














I transferred the image of a seagull onto the paper and had enough time to paint the foot of the gull.

I will post this painting at a later date once more of the bird has been completed.

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

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Glass Reflections - A Work in Progress

Margaret brought in today's still life at KAGS. She certainly set out to create two very challenging displays.

I chose the first one with a lemon and lime together with a couple of bottles, a water pitcher and a half filled tumbler. All of the elements were placed on a mirror, which reflected back their images and the blue back cloth backdrop.

Once I had blocked in my sketch I started painting the lime first followed by the lemon and their reflections.

I noticed that the reflected back drop was a lot darker in colour than it appeared with the light shining on it and painted the section between the lemon and line to see how strong contrast it would be.

Using a wash of raw sienna I put in some of the reflected colour from the table on the left side of the clear bottle, into the glass tumbler where the liquid was and into the area the light touched on the bottle at the far right of the painting.

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and burnt sienna I painted in the lip on the water pitcher and a little bit of detail on the handle.

With a pale was of Antwerp blue I indicated some of the areas on the first bottle where the back drop showed through the glass.

A lot of work has to be done in order to finish this painting and I will post it again once more of it has been completed.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Rock Beauty - A Work in Progress

We made it up to the 74F (23C) today; this is unheard of for the season, but I am going to enjoy the bonus weather and not complain at all.














This is the under painting for red sponges and a Rock Beauty. I will post this painting at a later date once the images have been transferred onto the canvas.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Queen Angelfish on Prince Albert - A Work in Progress

Today is a warm 72F (22C) bright and sunny day. The grass is turning green and I will be working in my garden later today.














I wanted to get another canvas started and this is the under paint for a portrait of an angelfish I saw on the Prince Albert wreck in Roatan, Honduras.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have transferred the sketch of the angelfish onto the canvas.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Ploughed Field 1 - A Work in Progress

The warm weather continues and as I was coming home today I could see that some of the farmers were out in their fields ploughing the land.

They were taking advantage of the good weather and getting some of the work done ahead of time.














This is one of the farms I could see from the road.

I will post this painting at a later date once the barn is completed.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Autumn Woodland 1 - A Work in Progress

It will soon be the first day of spring and I am still thinking about my favourite time of the year, which is autumn.

I didn't want to make this painting in full autumn colours so I put the hill in a pale yellow green and then added a few layers of burnt sienna and raw sienna to show that autumn was on its way.

I marked in the trunks of the foreground trees and painted in the needles on one of them.

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

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

Saturday, March 17, 2012

OSWOA - Rushing Water 4

This is a section of the water just above Burleigh Falls as the rushing water splashes up against the rocks on its way towards the falls.

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 $40.00 each and sold unframed.

Friday, March 16, 2012

ACEO - Wistful 1

Today is another nice, sunny day with temperatures still unseasonably warm at 62F (16C).

Almost all the ice is off the lake and you can see the reflections from the shore in the water.

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

The ACEO 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 $20.00 and sold unframed.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Suppertime? - A Work in Progress

We have had a thunderstorm for most of the night and through the morning, then when it cleared the sun and the warm weather came back.

This is the under painting for a hungry Jackknife fish looking for food among the coral and plants on the edge of a reef.














I will post this painting at a later date once I have transferred the sketch of the fish onto the canvas.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Frosty Morning - A Work in Progress

Even though our winter continues to be unseasonably warm with very little snow, in some ways I do miss seeing that mantle of white on the ground.

The under painting for this painting is in soft pink and mauve, with areas of white paper left for the sun touched snow on the ground and snow covered tree branches.

The open water of the river has been washed in with a mixture of French ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson.

Some of the tree trunks have been indicated on both sides of the river.

A few shadows have been placed on the right side where foreground tree branches are showing.

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

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Home - A Work in Progress

Today I painted with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group. I worked on Home ( see post on 21 December 2010) which says it all, as it is a painting of my home.

I worked mainly on finishing the house and how the snow piles on the roof top. I added some shadows to the barn and painted a little more detail into the barn roof and the snow.

More work needs to be done to the foreground and I haven't decided if I will put a couple of horses in the infield or just add some growies.

I will post this painting once I have decided.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Overpowering Forces - A Work in Progress

Today I didn't have a lot of time to paint with errands and working in the barn, but I wanted to at least put a brush to paper.

So I pulled out a painting that I had started a while ago (see post on 10 October 2010). I painted in the sky on the right side of the rock face with pure cobalt blue.

I am going to have to take the time and finish this piece as it has a lot of potential. I will post it again once I have completed either the rock face or the water.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Horse Sketches VI

We are getting unseasonably warm weather, which will probably spoil us for the rest of the month.

Today I worked on this sketch that I had started a while ago and finally finished.














Horse Sketches VI is an original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing and will be available matted and shrink wrapped for $95.00.

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

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Blue Sky 2 - A Work in Progress

As I was going through some paintings I pulled this one out that I had started a while ago (see post on 11 December 2013) and decided to work on getting some trees into the painting..

Since the sky was washes of Antwerp Blue I decide that I would make it a monochrome painting and just use the one colour.













I will post this painting at a later date once I have more of it completed.

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

Friday, March 9, 2012

Fresh Snow 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I was experimenting with using a round brush on its side to create grasses.

I used a sky I had painted last year (see post on 18 October 2011) for the background and it seems to work not too badly for getting the bulk of the grass in fairly quickly.













Once the grasses had dried I indicated a few tree trunks.

This painting will be posted at a later date once it has been completed.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Nautical Still Life - A Work in Progress

Our theme for today at the Still Life class at KAGS was Sailing. Carol volunteered to bring in the elements for the class.

After drawing my sketch in lightly I started working on the buoys. I will post this painting once I have completed another section.

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

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Wharf I

This is another sketch I did when I was in Cuba a couple of years ago.











It is of an old wharf down the beach from where we were staying.

Most of the wooden planks were missing except at the far end and you had to swim out to it if you wished to stand on what was left of the wharf.

This is one that I would like to do in the future as a large full colour painting. I just have to decide if I would like to do it in watercolour or acrylic.

This original 5" x 9" pen and ink drawing is available for $45.00.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Misty Coastline I

It seems that so far this month we have been on a nautical theme and thought I would continue with it.

I can picture this scene as a sunset and will probably work this drawing up at a later date for a watercolour painting.













This is an original 4" x 5-1/2" matted and shrink wrapped pen and ink drawing which will be available for $35.00.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Moon Glow I - A Work in Progress

One of the many nice things about living in the Kawarthas are the lakes and the peaceful evenings.














This is one of those times with a full moon shining down on the lake adding a its glistening pathway and frosting the gunwale of a boat left anchored in the almost motionless water.

More work still needs to be done to the water and boat. I will post this drawing when it is completed.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Warning Tower 1

This is an original 5" x 9" framed pen and ink painting and is available for $145.00.

I often do sketches of different locations while watching television. It takes me to places I have never seen and sparks my imagination.











This was from an old black and white movie I was watching late one night. I saw the lighthouse for less than a minute and this is the end result.

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

Saturday, March 3, 2012

East Coast Lighthouse - A Work in Progress

While watching the weather station I kept seeing footage of one of the east coast lighthouses.

I did a quick sketch of the lighthouse and worked on a drawing that could be anywhere on the east coast.

I transferred my drawing to a piece of watercolour paper and now I have to decide what time of day to make this painting.

I will post it once I have decided and painted in at least the sky.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Confirmed Shows for 2012 - March

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.

The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough Ont.
5-7 Apr Peterborough Garden Show

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
15 Apr - 03 May 12 People and Portraits
Opening Reception 15 Apr 12 from 1-4pm.
25 May - 07 Jun 12 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 25 May 12 from 1-4pm.
10-28 Jun 12 Unfolding
Opening Reception 10 Jun 12 from 1-4pm.
23 Sep - 11 Oct 12 Our Town
Opening Reception 23 Sep 12 from 1-4pm.
28 Oct – 15 Nov Outdoor Painters' Group Show
Opening Reception 28 Oct 12 from 1-4pm.
01-22 Dec 12 and 03-10 Jan 13 Christmas Show
Opening Reception 09 Dec 12 from 1-4pm.

St Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont
BuckhornArtistsGroup
19-21 May 24th Annual Among Friends Art Show
11-19 Aug 22nd Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Lakefield, Ont.
02 Jun Artists in Bloom

Cobuurg Waterfront Festival, Coburg, Ont.
Waterfrontfestival
30 Jun, 1-2 July The Lions Club Art Show and Sale

Settlers' Village, Bobcaygeon, Ont.
SettlersVillage
13-15 Jul 8th Annual Bobcaygeon Fine Arts Festival

Fenelon Falls Fairgrounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
KawarthaArtsFestival
01-02 Sep Kawartha Arts Festival

Kawartha Artists' 2nd Annual Paint Out
14 Sep Griffins Greenhouses, 3026 Lakefield, Rd. Peterborough, Ont. 10am - 4pm and
14 Sep Horlings Garden Centre, 3056 Lakefield, Rd. Peterborough, Ont. 10am - 4pm
15 Sep Elmhirst's Resort, Keene, Ont.10am - 4pm
16 Sep Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo, Peterborough, Ont. 10am - 4pm

Algonquin Park, Whitney, Ont.
Algonquin
03 Nov 12 - 26 Jun 13 Algonquin Palette

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Duck Hunting - A Work in Progress

On the way into KAGS this morning I stopped to pick up a few of the cattails at the side of the road for the Still Life class since our theme today is duck hunting.

Bob brought in his camouflage hunting jacket and hat. Rather than bringing in some from his collection of ornamental decoys to have it more realistic he brought in a couple of his working decoys; one of a goose and the other of a duck.

Since it is illegal to bring in a real weapon he filled his rifle bag with cardboard of approximately the same shape and size as his rifle.

Lastly to complete the scene he brought in the most important thing to bring along when going hunting, a very large thermos of coffee.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed more of the painting.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.