Reflections 1 and 2

Water is an amazing substance, that is tasteless, ordourless and transparent.
Due to its transparency, aquatic plants are able to live beneath its surface; which allows such a wide range of animal life to survive.

Often in nature you can see it as a solid, a liquid and a gas, all at the same time.


Reflections 1

What I find the most interesting is how something as transparent as water can be so reflective.

On a calm surface it will often reflect a mirror image of things on the shore, or the clouds and sky above it. With a slight ripple on the water it will pick up the shimmer from the setting sun or the moon's glowing light.

Reflections 2

These two original 4" x 6" watercolour paintings when framed will be available for $125.00 each.

Now I had better get my things together and head up to Magnetawan for the paint out.

OSWOA - Mirage 1

I started a series of seven similar paintings with Neil Broadfoot last year in a colour and composition workshop.

The basis for this painting was originally called Colour and Composition 2 (see post on 15 December 11).

It was just yellow washed into the top of a piece of paper.

I thought of the distant mountains I saw from the hotel room when we were in Las Vegas a number of years ago and the miles of desert surrounding the area. This is the result, a small oasis in the desert reflecting the sun.

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 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $30.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Cold 1

The nights are getting colder and the days aren't as warm as they were earlier this month. I won't be long before there is snow on the ground and the ponds and lakes are frozen over.

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.

A New Day

Today we were painting at the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo and I painted this little gem just beyond the bridge looking across the Otonabee River.

I liked the way the birch trees were reflected in the slowly moving water and how the light struck the rocks on the distant shore highlighting them.

This original 2" x 5" watercolour painting when framed will be available for $65.00.

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

Algonquin Morning

I pulled this painting back out (see postings on 05 May and 22 August 2012) and after looking at it on and off for about a month I decided to make a few minor changes to the painting so I can frame it up and take it as an addition to my show at the Visitors' Centre in Algonquin Provincial Park.












I made one of the birds in the sky slightly larger than the other two and then I added a few dead cedar tree trunks into the background.

This original 15" x 22" watercolour painting when framed will be available for $450.00.

Grazing I

I was watching a program on television about mustangs and did a number of quick sketches of the various wild horses which I will post at a later date as each of them are completed.










I inked this small 4" x 9" sketch of a single horse grazing. It will be available matted and shrink wrapped for $30.00.

Forest King I

Hunting season has rolled around again this year and with all the different types of hunting, from bow, black powder and regular rifles the season runs from September through to December.

I did a pen and ink drawing of a does earlier this month (see posting 12 September 2012).













This is a buck that used to feed in the courtyard with the horses over the winter last year; but so far I haven't seen him on the property although there are scrap marks on some of the trees which may be his doing.

This original 5" x 7-1/2" pen and ink drawing when framed will be available for $145.00.

Forgotten Barn

After completing yesterday's collage with a barn I decided I may as well  continue the same theme.

I added a silo with the barn to make it a little different.

I used various mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue into the foreground to give the impression of abandoned fields that have become over grown with weeds.

This original framed 4-1/2" x 7" collage is available for $125.00.

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

Overgrown Weeds

Today I wanted to do something different for a change. So I pulled out some of my Oriental papers and decided to work on some collages.

I washed in the top of the paper with French ultramarine blue for a sky and raw sienna into the bottom of the paper just to have some background colour on a couple of pieces of watercolour paper.

Once the paint had dried I applied various pieces of the Oriental papers onto the paintings using matte medium to fix them to the watercolour paper and set it aside to dry.

I started painting on the smaller piece of paper first and put a barn against the sky, being careful to pull back some of the small wisps of the Oriental papers so they would lie over top of the barn.

Then with various mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue I painted some weeds into the foreground allowing some of the Oriental papers to show through.

This original 3-1/2" x6-1/4" framed collage is available for $95.00.

Silent Passage I

This is another sketch that I have completed for the show up in Algonquin Park.

The haunting call of the loon is a familiar sound across most of the lakes in Ontario from spring until autumn.

This original 4" x 6-1/2" pen and ink drawing when framed will be available for $125.00.

Tumbling Water

This painting need a few more things added before I felt it was complete (see posts on 29 January 2011 and   21 December 2010).

I took out a little more mist by the top waterfall, and some from behind the lower rock on the right hand side.

Then I added a touch of yellow and pale green to the water at the bottom of the falls and dry brushed in more texture to the left side of the waterfall against the rocks.

This is an original 7" x 11" framed watercolour and is available for $195.00.

Light Show

This is a painting I had started last year (see post on 29 December 2011) and decided to finish.

I added a few more trees to the right side of the painting and a couple more dead trees to the background.

I think it will make a nice addition to the collection of paintings I am taking up for the show in Algonquin Provincial Park in November.

This is an original 5" x 7" watercolour painting and when framed will be available for $165.00.

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

Golden Moments

There are times during the early morning or late evening when everything is calm and peaceful on the lake and light causes everything to turn to gold. This was one of those moments.











This original framed 4-1/4" x 7-1/4" watercolour is available for $125.00.

Enamel Water Pitcher

After doing yesterday's small still life I decided to work on another piece a little larger in size.

I made a few changes; since I already had some reference sketches and photographs of the old enamel water pitchers they have at the church for holding flower arrangements.

Once again I drew in the pitcher and where I wanted the daises I made small circles to keep those areas white.

For the background I put down washes of raw sienna and burnt sienna and before the paint had a chance to dry completely I added washes of French ultramarine blue with a touch of alizarin crimson to warm the shadows.

A pale wash of shadow mixture was applied over the tablecloth and used to give shape to the pitcher.

With French ultramarine blue and a little raw sienna the green of the foliage was applied and the petals of the daisies were painted in the negative.

Using raw sienna the centers of the daisies were painted. While they were still a little wet using pure burnt sienna the shadows were added, as well as the rust spots on the enamel of the pitcher.

The shadows on the daisies were put in with a pale wash of blue, then alizarin crimson was added and a darker shadow was put at the base of the pitcher.

Burnt sienna was added to the shadow mixture to make it darker and the handle and edge at the top of the pitcher were added.

This original 5" x 7" framed watercolour is available for $95.00.

Water Jug II

This is a small still life of a copper pitcher with red silk flowers that I worked up from photographs and sketches I did last year of various containers with flowers (see posts on 13 and 14 March 2011).

I lightly drew in only the pitcher.

Using French ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson I washed in the background with vertical strokes, keeping it fairly pale.

The copper pitcher was painted in with layers of raw sienna, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson.

Once the pitcher had dried the red flowers were painted with alizarin crimson and the shadows washed with a hint of blue.

The leaves and stems were a mix of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna. The shadow was brushed in using the blue. Lastly cadmium yellow was used for the center of the flowers.

This original 3" x 5" watercolour is available matted and shrink wrapped for $20.00. SOLD

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

OSWOA - Autumn Birches 2

This is a painting I started while at the Bobcaygeon Festival of Fine Arts in July.

To cover many of the "texture" lines that were put on the main birch tree, I ended up adding another wash of French ultramarine blue down the centre of the tree and covered some of the marks with the dark patterning on the tree.

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 and sold unframed.

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

ACEO - Calm Lake 1

Lately there hasn't been a lot of colour in the sky at sunset; unlike during the summer when the skies lit up with brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. Now there are mostly the soft pastel shades of greys, muted blues and pale peach.

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.

Sunset Silhouette

Most of the cottages on the lakes were closed over the Labour Day weekend and will sit silent and empty until spring arrives next year and the cottagers return once again.

There are a few that return each weekend and will continue to be here enjoying a more quiet and peaceful time on the lake until next month when they close their cottages for the season on Thanksgiving weekend.

This is one of those cottages on Upper Chemong Lake that can be seen from Highway 507 (also called Buckhorn Road or County Road 23).

This is an original framed 3-3/4" x 6-1/4" watercolour available for $85.00.

In the Forest I

I am slowly starting to get everything ready for my show up in Algonquin Park.

I finished this drawing earlier today. If I have the time I may develop this sketch into a painting in either watercolour or acrylic, otherwise it will have to wait until I have the opportunity to show there again.

This original 4-1/2" x 6-1/4" pen and ink sketch when framed will be available for $125.00.

Mid Afternoon Snack

This was part of a much larger arrangement of still life items that was set up this morning for the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group.

I chose to work on this section because I liked the way the dark blue cup was reflected off the white pitcher holding the bouquet of mixed flowers.

I also liked the way the light created the shadow patterns on the folds of the material.

This original 7" x 9" framed watercolour is available for $195.00.

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

Ted D. Bear

Every so often I will set up one of my daughter's old stuffed animals and do a small painting of it.

In this case I did one of her many teddy bears. I wanted to keep it fairly simple without a lot of clutter.

This framed 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" original watercolour is available for $95.00.

Fallen Birches

This is a painting I had started a while ago from sketches and photographs that I had taken the last time I visited my aunt's cottage on Lac-Sergent, Quebec.

It is fairly close to Lac-Blanc where I spent many hours as a child catching tadpoles and minnows; exploring the area with its many abandoned charcoal huts on the edge of the lake.

The trees around this small, shallow lake had grown a lot since I was there as a child, but the peace and quiet only disturbed by the sound of the bull frogs still remained.

This original 10-1/2" x 15" framed watercolour is available for 235.00.

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

Movement

Today I just wanted to play with colour and what better way than with a limited palette on an abstract?

For this painting I used white, black, alizarin crimson and burnt sienna and applied the paint with a palette knife.














It created some interesting effects and has some movement going through the painting.

This original 8" x 10" acrylic painting will be available when framed for $135.00.

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

The Ones That Got Away

This is a painting I started a while ago (see postings on 08 July 2010, 31 October 2011 and 16 July 2012)and every so often I have been adding things to get it completed.














I added some shadows to the lures to give more of an illusion of roundness.

This original 10-1/2" x 11-1/4" watercolour painting when framed will be available for $345.00.

Out Buildings

This is a small sketch of some of the out buildings on the first horse farm we used to live at many years ago.












This original 3" x 5" framed pen and ink drawing is available for $125.00.

Winter Twilight - Reworked

I have had this small painting for a while (see post 19 September 2010) and decided that it need a few more details added.

I darkened the foreground trees and give them more definition, then put some additional growies beneath their lower limbs to give the painting a little more colour.

This is another painting I will set aside to go to Algonquin for next month; it will be available for $85.00.

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.

Buggy

This framed 4" x 6" original pen and ink sketch is available for $135.00.

This is a sketch of a buggy found on Selwyn Road close to Highway 507 (now known as the Buckhorn Road).

It is used as a lawn ornament and is decorated for the spring, summer and autumn season, but when winter approaches it is put into storage and well maintained.

It is in kept in excellent condition and could easily be pulled by a horse on the roadways.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2012 and 2013 - 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.

MacKelvie Gallery, Keene, Ontario
PioneerVillage
30 Aug - 04 Oct Lang Pioneer Village Museum, Keene, Ont.

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

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

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
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 & 03-10 Jan 13 Christmas Show
Opening Reception 09 Dec 12 from 1-4pm.

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

The Lindsay Gallery, Lindsay, Ont.
LindsayGallery
20 Nov - 21 Dec Christmas Show
Opening Reception 22 Nov from 7-8:30pm.
30 Jul - 24 Aug 2013 Above and Below the Reef
Opening Reception 01 Aug from 7-8:30pm.

OSWOA - Magnetawan River 1

Today is the opening day of the Kawartha Arts Festival which is held at the Fenelon Falls Fairgrounds, in Fenelon Falls, Ontario. It is also the first day of September and the start of another 30 day challenge.















I spent most of the day working on a variety of paintings and speaking with many people about painting in watercolour. This is the painting I completed while at the show today.

The biggest surprise is that I was recorded by the CTV News camera while I was talking with a couple who were interested in my artwork.













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 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $40.00 and sold unframed.

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. Needs something here