Patch

I took this photograph of one of the male barn cats called "Patch", who is quite a character.

He usually follows me around when I am in the barn doing chores, and on this day he decided to find a comfortable spot where he could be out of the way and at the same time he could keep an eye on me while I threw hay out of the mow to feed the horses.















As soon as I was finished, he followed me down the stairs into the main barn and waited for me to get out his kibble and feed him. With a final pat I left him to enjoy his meal.

This photograph when matted and framed will be available for $80.00.

OSWOA - Sunlit Buildings 1

I started two paintings with Doug Mays in the spring (see post on 07 May 2015) at which time he showed us how to change a painting from day time into night time.

This painting is the one which I decided would be kept as the one for the daytime and once I have it completed I will work on the other. 

Working with various shades of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, I put in the barn board texture with a dry brush.

I added a little alizarin crimson to get a an almost black colour and painted in the window sills on both buildings, under the eaves, the missing boards on the barn doors and where the tine had lifted on the roof.

Next I used a grey mix with the barn board colours but more to the brown and painted in the tin roof on the barns. I painted the rusted areas using pure burnt sienna.













I removed the tape from the window on the closest barn and painted the light area with raw sienna and added the dark colour to both windows.

With the darkest mixture I painted in some of the dark tree trunks and branches into the background forest.

With various mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna, French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and aureolin the greens and yellows of the overgrown grasses, weeds and growies were added to the painting.

Lastly, the dirt pathways were added to the painting.

The OSWOA shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb.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 - Pasture 1 and 2

Today I wanted to complete these two paintings that I had started a while ago (see posts on 07 July 2012, 17 March 2013 and 21 August 2015).

I started with this one first, which is of the north gateway in the field behind the barn.

Over the years the trees on either side of the opening have grown and formed a canopy of leaves and branches; which in each season has a beauty of its own.

My favourite of course is autumn when the maples are in their fall colours of red, orange and yellow.

Pasture 1

For the second one I wanted it to be more like one of the lower fields with trees along the fence line and one or two trees in the pasture but near the edges.

I used greens made of French ultramarine blue, raw sienna, Antwerp blue, new gamboge, alizarin crimson and cobalt blue.














Pasture 2

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

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.

Loon Call Lake Turtle I

Yesterday while we were out on the lake we came across a turtle sunning himself on a partially submerged log.

Usually they disappear into the water as soon as we start to get close to them. This one seemed unconcerned and we took two passes by him before he decided to leave.













I have the drawing of the turtle and now I have to do some research and find out what kind of turtle it is, so I can do an acrylic or watercolour painting from this drawing.

Loon Call Lake VIII-X

With today being nice and sunny with a mild breeze blowing, we decided to take the canoe out and go on one of the lakes as we will not have many more days like this before it gets too cold and windy.

We headed up toward Apsley and we were trying to decide whether to go to Coon Lake, Long Lake, Loon Call Lake or Wolf Lake.

Since it has been at least a year since we visited any of these lakes and all are beautiful.

We finally decided that we would try Loon Call Lake since it was one of the smaller lakes (see post on 18 August 2014 for more information about the lake).

Loon Call Lake VIII

As with all of these lakes the launch is easy to access and there is plenty of parking.

As usual we paddled to the far end of the lake with me occasionally taking a few photographs of some of the beautiful rocks and trees reflected into the water.

After we had lunch we allowed the current to carry us back down the lake with Ron fishing and me taking photographs and making sketches.

Unfortunately for Ron, this was the first time in a number of years that he wasn't able to land at least one fish. Although, he did have a few that followed his lure back to the canoe.

Loon Call Lake IX

I was fortunate to have gotten three sketches that I can use at a later date reference for either a watercolour or acrylic painting.














Loon Call Lake X

On the way home instead of heading south towards home for supper, we decided to go north on Highway 28 and found the Swiss Bear Restaurant and Bakery on the Highway near Apsley. The food and service there were both excellent.

Koi 10 and 11

Today we brought in all the hay for the horses into the barn in time for the winter. It is a nice feeling to get that job completed and out if the way.

After supper while relaxing and watching television I started doing some simple drawings of koi.

I was interested in capturing the movement of the fish as it moved through the water.

To see how the fins rippled and moved as it went up to the surface as well as when it moved down to the bottom of the pond.

Koi 10

I also tried different positions and angles of the fish.















Koi 11

I would like to thank returning collectors Mr. and Mrs. Jiri Spirk of Lakefield, Ontario on their selection of Sunlit Sails (see post on 22 February 2010).

In the Kitchen 1

Today I was at the still life class at KAGS and the theme was once around the kitchen.

There was a wide variety of things to draw and paint, including pots and pans, knives, cooking utensils and cutting boards, a collection of fruits and vegetables as well as a number of herbs and spices.















I chose to do a grouping of a small copper pot, with two different types of spice grinders, one for herbs de providence and the other for a mixture of various types of peppercorns.

I was pleased with the result and in the future I may do a couple more drawings of things that can be found in a kitchen.

Autumn Beauty 1

Today I was painting with the Tuesday Buckhorn Painting Group and I decided that it was time I revisited Autumn Beauty 1 (see post on 05 November 2014).

I wanted more blue in the main area of the sky and painted it in using French ultramarine blue and titanium white with a touch of cadmium yellow.

There was just too much sky in the trees on the right so with various mixes of French ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, raw sienna, cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson I put in more of the green tree leaves, leaving just small holes where the sky would be peeking through the foliage.

I also added a little of the new greens to the left side and into the bottom to keep everything united.














It was time to put in the brighter oranges of the maple trees on both sides of the painting and into the foreground area using various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson and raw sienna.

Using the ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I made a dark to put in the various tree trunks the were showing through the leaves and added a dead tree into the painting to break up the all the vertical trees from looking like a row of soldiers.

Using various mixtures of alizarin crimson, titanium white, and cobalt blue I put in the highlights on the dark tree trunks and the shadows onto the birch trees.

This original 8" x 10" acrylic painting when framed will be available for $125.00.

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

Purple Onion Festival

Today the Countryside Art Group set up their show at the 5th Annual Festival held in Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough, Ontario.














We had a wonderful day for the exhibition, with bright, sunny skies, warm weather and a gentle breeze.














Throughout the day I worked on a number of different paintings, but with the large crowd going through the building I spoke with more of the public than actually had time to do any serious work on the paintings.













I look forward to returning again next year.

Birch Autumn 2

Since the painting I did yesterday worked looks very nice in the frame I had for it, I thought I would do another one today of a similar subject.

The background under paint was already on the paper and I lightly sketched in where my trees would be located.

I already had a mid tone green of Antwerp blue and raw sienna, as well as a dark green of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

With the light green and a sponge, I put in the lighter coloured tree leaves throughout the background on the right side of the painting.

With the dark green mixture, I put in the pine trees on both sides of the painting leaving an open area in the centre as well as being careful to leave the birch tree trunks untouched.













Using a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the rocks and the tree branches as well as some markings on the birch trees.

Next, I used a mix of both blues to put a few in ripples on the water.

I used cadmium yellow and raw sienna to put the leaves onto the birch trees; this was followed by adding in some reflections of the bright leaves into the water on the right side.

Lastly, using burnt sienna I put in some smaller younger trees into the opening in the center between the larger trees on each side of the painting.

This original 3" x 4-1/2" watercolour painting when framed will be available for $75.00. SOLD

Birch Autumn 1

I cut a few pieces of watercolour paper to the size that would fit into a couple of small frames, complete with mats that I had purchased a number of years ago.

I started by brushing a pale wash of French ultramarine blue across the paper and set each one aside to dry.

While they were drying, I mixed a mid tone green using Antwerp blue and raw sienna, followed by a dark green using the other blue with raw sienna.

With the light green and a sponge, I put in the lighter coloured tree leaves throughout the background.













With the dark green mixture, I put in the closer pine trees being careful to leave the birch tree trunks untouched.

Using a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the rocks and the tree branches.

Next, I used a mix of both blues to put a few in ripples on the water.

Lastly, I used cadmium yellow and raw sienna to put the leaves onto the birch trees as well as adding in some bright sunlit spots throughout the painting.

This little original 3" x 4-1/2" watercolour painting when framed will be available for $75.00. SOLD

OSWOA - Flower Power 1

I decided that I wanted to finish this painting that I have been working on for a while (see posts on 09 May 2012, 23 January 2014 and 09 August 2015).

I started with the yellow mass of flowers on the right side of the arrangement and using aureolin and raw sienna I created flower shapes by painting in the negative.

Using burnt sienna I added the stamens to the center of the flowers.

I wanted to put in a few larger yellow flowers on the left side of the floral arrangement.

With raw sienna and painting in the negative I created the first of the two large blooms.

A little burnt sienna was added into the shadows.

Aureolin was added to the shadow colour and a few small flowers were added around the large blooms.

With various shades of green, leaves were added throughout the 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 painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $40.00 and sold unframed.

ACEO - Four Seasons

I spent most of the day working on a number of small paintings that I had started a while ago and should be finished (see posts on 07 July 2012, 18 July 2013, 14 July 2014, 24 July and 07 August 2015).

With this group of paintings, since they were completed to the same stage I could work on one, set it aside to dry and then work on another.














Spring Forest 3

For the first one I used a Antwerp blue and new gamboge for the lighter leaves and set it aside to dry.

When I came back to it I used a darker mixture of the same two colours and added a touch of raw sienna and did the darker leaves.

Summer Forest 3

For the second one which was again mainly green foliage I used Antwerp blue, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue for the lighter leaves on the background trees and a few onto the foreground tree.

Once it had dried I darkened the mixture with more French ultramarine blue and put in the next layer of leaves on the middle area trees and some onto the foreground tree.

Lastly, I added a touch of alizarin crimson to the green mixture and put in the darkest layer of leaves on the foreground tree.














Autumn Forest 3

The first layer of leaves on the background trees were painted with raw sienna and set aside to dry.

The middle trees were put in with various mixtures of new gamboge, alizarin crimson and aureolin.

It was time to start on the foreground tree. Using mixes of alizarin crimson, cadmium red and cadmium yellow the leaves were painted.

Lastly, I added a few falling leaves and some that had already fallen onto the ground in the grasses.














Winter Forest 3

This last one just needed a few more burnt sienna leaves added to the foreground tree and it was finished.

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 either 140lb. or 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

River Morning 1

It is a cold, wet and miserable day of 42F (5.6C) with the high this afternoon to be 52F (11.1C).

I pulled out this piece of tinted paper and thought I would keep the darker colour into the top of the sky.

I put in the main trees into the foreground and then added the closer bank of the river behind them.

Next I indicated the trees on the far shore, keeping them lighter and less distinct and put the water line below them.

Lastly, I put the horizon line into the background.

Seahorse 5

Last night was the opening of our show at the Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery. The Peterborough County Warden gave a short speech and opened the show which was fairly well attended with around 40 people coming out to see the exhibit.

Today it is pouring rain and cool 51F (10.6C) with the high to be 58F(14.4C).

I thought I would like to spend the day drawing and decided that I would like to do a sketch of a seahorse hidden in among  some seaweed.

Once I had the seahorse completed, it was time to start placing the sea grasses around the seahorse.

I started by putting in the seaweed to the right of the seahorse.

This was followed by the one behind the seahorse and the one it had its tail wrapped around.

Lastly, I added a couple more to the left side of the seahorse.

Opening Night at the Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery

Tonight is the opening night at the Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery for the Helen Shepard and Guests Penny Little and Susan Sydney.














We were quite pleased with the turnout for the opening having over 40 people in attendance.














Most of the people stayed until closing time and a few didn't want to leave the show even then as they were having and enjoyable time.














If you have a chance to come out to see the show it runs through until 24 October 2015.

Setting up the Show at the Douro Dummer Library Art Gallery

This morning while I was out walking the dog it finally started raining and since I got soaking wet I didn't bother to change until after I finished the barn chores. But with the temperature at 76F (25.6C) and the humidity making it feel like 91F (32.8C) so I didn't feel chilled. Hopefully today will be the last day of humidity.

The three of us were going to meet at the Library Gallery at 3:00 to hang our paintings. My friend Helen was already there with her husband, Herb and their son Gord who is always an invaluable help at the art shows.

While we waited for Penny to show up, Helen and I discussed how to hang the show so that our works would go well together.














We decided that since all of us painted in watercolour, as well as in either oil or acrylic that we would have one of the main walls with watercolours and the other with oils and acrylics, so the watercolour paintings would not be overpowered.

In the front area on the wall by the computers there are three spaces between the windows where each of us could hang one painting. I took the narrowest space and that is where I put the leather carving.















There is also a cabinet between the two rows of computers where you can hang one painting on the cabinet door and depending on the size you can place up to five paintings on the top. Helen had a long painting that would be ideal for the cabinet door so we put that one there as a starting point.

There is also an additional space over top of the bookshelf which is seen as you enter the library through the front door.















When Penny arrived she wanted each of us to have our own section and Helen should have the one long wall, she would take the area over the book shelf in the main library area and that everyone should have a painting on the other wall and I could have the rest; since to me it didn't matter that is what we did.

Before I started to sort my paintings I wanted to get the far section completed where each of us would have a painting.













As it turned out Penny gave me her two abstract paintings which we stacked one over the other and since I had a couple of abstracts that would go with hers they were put beside each other and I picked out a lovely painting of leaves by Helen that would continue the earth tones along the wall.

I helped Helen arrange her paintings on the long wall and Gord helped her hang them while I put my pieces out along the opposite wall, where I felt they would look best.













Then Gord came over to help me hang the remainder of my paintings, which took very little time and we finished hanging the front area by stacking two of Penny's paintings on one side of the window and putting one of Helen's on the opposite side of the far window.

Helen and Penny shared the top of the computer cabinet and Penny took the area over the front book shelf as well as getting an easel to put up even more of her artwork in the front vestibule.

The opening for the show is on Friday 11 September 2015 from 7:00-8:00pm. all are welcome to join us, the show will continue through to 24 October 2015.

Bath Time

Today was another hot 87F (30.6C) and humid 103F (39.4C) day and also the first meeting of the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group.

I decided that I was going to complete this painting of the rubber duck complete with a towel, bath oil and bars of soap that I have been working on for quite some time (see posts on 11 and 16 July and 28 December 2014, 21 January, 08 February, 24 May, 23 July and 17 August 2015).

One of the first things I had to do was fix the bottom of the bath oil bottle. I mixed up a dark blue and removed the little bubbles at the base of the bath oil by putting in a shadow.












Now it was time to finish the sea shell container that held the bars of soap.

The inside of the shell was various mixes of greys made from French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

For the outside of the shell, the markings were painted with pure burnt sienna and the shadows with more of the grey mix but more to the brown tones.

This original 6-1/2" x 11” watercolour painting when framed will be available for $175.00.

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

Shady Place 1

It is unbelievably hot for the first week in September with the temperature reaching 91F (32.8C) and with the humidity making it feel like 106F (41.1C).

I spent the morning on the front porch and did this drawing of the main trunk of the big willow tree on the front lawn.















The tree just by itself was too stark, so I added a couple of cows around the base of the tree settling in for an afternoon in a shady place chewing their cud.

I may add another couple of cows, but I will leave that choice for another day.

OSWOA - Moonlit Forest 1

It is very hot 93F (33.9C) and humid 107F (41.7C) for the last day of the Kawartha Arts Festival. But we are fortunate that there is a little bit of a breeze blowing that is keeping it bearable inside the building.

Today I worked on this painting that I had started last year (see post on 08 May 14).

It didn't need a lot of work and I wanted to complete it while at the show.

I started with the main birch tree and added the markings onto the trunk with various mixtures of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue.

I added some grasses into the bottom of the painted with raw sienna leaving some of the background colour showing.

Next I added a little French ultramarine blue to the raw sienna and painted in more of the grasses.

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

ACEO - Foggy Day 1 and 2

Today is the first day of the Kawartha Arts Festival and it was very busy in the morning and once the heat 84F (28.9C) and humidity 102F (38.9C) crept up the crowds slowed down considerably.

I was fortunate with being in the agricultural building that there was a slight cross breeze going through the building.

I started with the two foggy paintings that had had worked on earlier this year (see posts on 17 March 2013 and 21 July 2015).

For the first one I decided to have it as a pine forest shrouded by the fog.

Foggy Day 1

I used mainly Antwerp blue and burnt sienna for the distant pines and gradually added French ultramarine blue and raw sienna to the closer pine trees.

The foreground rocks were painted with the dark pine colour with a little alizarin crimson added to the mix.














Foggy Day 2

For the second one I made it a hardwood forest in late autumn just before the snow covers the ground.

The tree trunks were painted with various mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna lightening the colour as the trees went further back in the painting.

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.

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

Setting up the Kawartha Arts Festival

So far it has been a very hot, humid and busy week and things won't slow down until after this long holiday weekend.

The heat and humidity came back with a vengeance starting on Monday and by mid-week it reached at high of 91F (32.8C) and 105F (40.6C) and the temperatures are slowly starting to come back down with today being 84F (28.9C) and feeling like 94F (34.4C).

Unfortunately, they are going to climb higher each day during the course of the long holiday weekend.

Fortunately, today there was a breeze to keep it from becoming unbearable while the artists brought in their tables, grids and artwork.

To get everything from the car brought into the building took almost two hours due it being like old home week with catching up on everything going on with all the other artists I knew and I hadn't seen at the other shows this year.

Then it was time to get to work and start setting things in place and then hang my paintings.

The nice thing about Kawartha Arts Festival is that there is usually a bit of a breeze going through the building and once again I have my same display area which I really like.















First my name sign went up on the wall in the middle of my display area.

Then I set up the main table, put the tablecloth over it and then joined the small grids together that go on top of the table.














Next I pulled out the paintings I wanted on the peg board wall and hung them first so I could get the step ladder out of the way.













Then the chair and table where I demonstrate during the course of the show were set in place and the table was covered.

I could also use this table to set out many of the small paintings that I would put around the larger pieces on the table panels.













Soon all the paintings were hung on the grids, the labels put in place and any fingerprints had been removed from the glass, the bios, business cards and information about other shows I would be exhibiting at were set out on the main table.

The extra paintings were set under the main table along with the containing bags and wrapping materials, I took a last look around to be sure everything was in place.














Now it was time to head home and relax for a little while before starting on the barn chores.

I hope to see some of you at the show over the weekend.

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 2015-2016 - September

This is a listing of confirmed shows that I will be exhibiting my artwork at this year and into next year. I will update the list as more shows are added.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
26 Aug - 27 Sep 15 Faces and Figures
Opening Reception 29 Aug 15 from 1-4pm.
11-29 Nov 15 Outdoor Painters' Show - Elements of Nature
Opening Reception 14 Nov 15 from 1-4pm.
02-20 Dec 15 and 06-17 Jan 16 Christmas Show and Sale
Opening Reception 05 Dec 15 from 1-4pm.
24 Feb - 24 Mar 16 The Abstract Show
Opening Reception 28 Feb 16 from 1-4pm.
13 Apr - 05 May 16 Floral and Still Life
Opening Reception 17 Apr 16 from 1-4pm.
15 Jun - 10 Jul 16 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 19 Jun 16 from 1-4pm.
24 Aug - 11 Sep 16 Black and White Plus 1 Colour
Opening Reception 28 Aug 16 from 1-4pm.
28 Sep -23 Oct 16 Fall Show
Opening Reception 02 Oct 16 from 1-4pm.
26 Oct - 13 Nov 16 Outdoor Painters' Show
Opening Reception 30 Oct 16 from 1-4pm.
30 Nov -18 Dec 16 and 04-15 Jan 17 Christmas Show and Sale
Opening Reception 04 Dec 16 from 1-4pm.

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
KawarthaArtsFestival
05-06 Sep 15 Kawartha Arts Festival

Township of Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery, Warsaw, Ont.
08 Sep - 24 Oct 15 Three Good Friends
Opening Reception 11 Sep 15 from 7-8pm.

Millennium Park, Peterborough, Ont.
5th Annual Purple Onion Festival
20 Sep 15 from 11am-4:00pm.

Dancing Blueberries, 360 George St. N., Peterborough, Ont.
02-28 Oct 15
28 Sep - 03 Nov 16

Kawartha Arts Network - Art on Kent, Lindsay, Ont.
KAN
03-31 Dec 15 and 07 Jan-16 Jan 16 Affordibleism
Opening Reception 05 Dec 15 from 1-3pm.

Extendicare, 860 Alexander Court, Peterborough, Ont.
07 Nov 16 - 02 Jan 17

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at these shows.

Run Wild, Run Free 1

Today, I decided that I would do a quick sketch of the various horses I have owned over the course of many years.

The only things I pre-decided about the drawing was that Co-Co and Buck would be placed at the front of the herd as the lead mare and her foal and that my first horse, Tom would bring up the rear as though he was the stallion guarding his herd.

Next, I made a list of all the horses I or the family has owned since 1972 and I was surprised at the number that we had over the 43 years.









I did sketches of a dozen of the earlier horses that we had owned and moved them around in the herd and added their names to where they were placed.

After doing this, I already know that I will do another drawing of the remaining horses. 

I will post this drawing at a later date as more details are added to each of the horses I have placed in this sketch.