Bunny and Basket 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I pulled out this painting that I have been working on for a while (see posts on 27 May 2014, 06 January, 22 February and 09 March 2016).

First I worked on the slats on the basket with various mixes of  French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna trying to show a little of the wood grain on them.

While that was drying I darkened the shadows on the vest on the bunny with a little alizarin crimson.

Then I went back and worked on the weaving of the basket with mixes of raw sienna and burnt sienna.

Using burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue I started working on the shadows of the binding at the top of the basket.

I will post this painting at a later date once the basket has been completed.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Coon Lake IV - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to start inking in this sketch that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 29 July 2014) while we were canoeing on Coon Lake.

I started at the top of the pine tree and gradually worked my way down the tree trunk.

It is slow work to add the tree branches, pine needles and the bark on the tree trunk which has to be fairly straight and in proportion.

When I looked up at the clock I was surprised at how much time had passed.

I will post this drawing again at a later date once it has been completed.

ACEO - Abstract Horse Head 1

I thought I would complete this little abstract that I had started a few years ago (see post on 09 December 2015).

Starting with the outline of the horse head I used a STAEDTLER Mars 308 Fineliner pen with a 0.7 tip.

Once the outline was finished I added some shadow beneath the cheek, down the front of the neck and under the jaw. This was followed by adding more detail to the eye and nostril.














Lastly, I put in the mane and forelock and the drawing was finished.

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 Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

Countryside Art Group Blog - Show Updates

On the first of each month I will update the Countryside Art Group's blog with a listing of shows where the various artists in the Group are exhibiting their work.

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

Garden Shed I - A Work in Progress

I worked on this sketch that I had started a while ago (see post on 25 August 2013).

I started with the wooden barrel, by first placing the head hoop, quarter hoop, bilge hoop and the second quarter hoop.

Next I put in the barrel staves, gradually curving them to create the illusion of roundness.

I started working on the two boards leaning against the building.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have fixed the wheelbarrow and completed the building.

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

Lazy River 3 - A Work in Progress

This morning I had to break off just over 1/2" (15mm) of ice from the top of the barrels that contain the bird seed before I could fill all the feeders.

Needless to say, the entire driveway is once again a skating rink and sliding down to the barn to do chores was an interesting experience.

Today I pulled out this painting that I have been working on now and then for a number of years (see posts on 23 December 2011 and 07 May 13).

I started by using a sponge and a mixture of new gamboge and cadmium yellow. Then I added in some leaves to the tops of the background trees and a few into the maple tree in among the foreground pines.

Using a dark mix of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna I added more needles onto the foreground pine trees.

With straight cadmium yellow I added some grasses and growies at the base of the background and foreground trees.

I will post this painting again once it has been completed.

Toadstools 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

The weatherman is right about predicting bad weather including freezing rain for the day.

There are warnings are in place about receiving up to 3/4" (20mm) of ice accretion which may cause power outages for the region. It is currently 24F (-4.4C) with the wind chill making it feel like 16F (-8.9C).

It started with snow this morning, changed to ice pellets and it will change to freezing rain for the rest of the day and overnight.

Toadstool 1

I decided to work on these three paintings that I started last year (see posts on 20 and 31 October and 31 December 2015 and 09 February 2016).

Working from one painting to the next, I the first thing I did was to remove the miskit using a rubber cement pickup and I have on occasion also used one of the white STAEDTLER Mars erasers.

Toadstool 2

Next I put each of the three paintings side by side and placed a piece of tracing paper over them.

With a pencil I lightly drew into the bottom of each piece the pine needles and curled, weathered birch leaves that with time would produce the rich loam around the base of the trees that Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) favour.

Toadstool 3

By using this method I make all my mistakes and erasures on the tracing paper and do not damage the watercolour paper.

I will post these paintings at a later date when I am pleased that the debris at the base of the toadstools flows from one piece to the next and I transfer the images onto the painting.

Clear Lake II - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this sketch that I started a few years ago while out in the canoe on Clear Lake (see post on 09 June 2013).

I started with the pine tree trunks but just couldn't get into finishing them, so I moved onto adding grasses and growies at the base of the main tree trunk.

Next I started adding a few of the bull rushes that were just off the shore by the main tree trunk.















Next I added a few more of the rushes along the front of the island.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more work on it has been completed.

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

Coon Lake VIII - A Work in Progress

After being out most of the day visiting the different art supply stores in Pickering, Scarborough and Whitby stocking up on canvases, paint and paper for the coming season's art projects, it was time to relax and do a little work on another of my sketches (see post on 29 July 2014) that I had pulled out yesterday.

I started by putting in the water lines at the base of the rocks and a few water ripples.

Next I put in the small pine tree that was trying to grow in between some of the larger rocks.













Then I started to put in some of the rocks and added shading to a couple of them give a little more solidity and ground them into the drawing.

I put in a few grasses in behind the rocks on the right side of the drawing. It was at this point that I decided I had better stop before added lines that I couldn't change.

I will post this painting at a later date once the rest of the rocks and growies have been added.

Coon Lake VII and IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I was with the Lakefield Creative Art Guild and decided to work on one of the sketches I did while on Loon Call Lake last year (see post on 29 July 2014).

First I put in the distant shore and trees.

Next I added the outline of the rocks as a base for the tree and vegetation.

I took my time with the tree to capture the broken limbs and the way the branches were bent from the wind.

I added bushes at the base of the tree and growies around the rocks.

Coon Lake VII

After lunch I decided to start on another sketch of Coon Lake and leave the first one until I decide what else it needs.

I put in the outline of the rocks and a few water ripples below them.

Next I added some bushes, small trees and growies on the rocks.

Coon Lake IX

I will post each of these drawings once more work on them has been completed.

Abandoned House I - A Work in Progress

I did a sketch of this abandoned building while I was travelling on Highway 134 a number of years ago (see post on 19 June 2013).

Beginning with the two large trees on the left side I started to ink in the drawing.

Next I added the pine tree behind the building which gave definition to the back end of the roof.














Then to ground the building I added the tall grasses and growies below the tree trunks and house, leaving the pathway to the door empty for the moment.

I started on the tree on the right side of the drawing before I ran out of time.

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

Evening Marsh 1 - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this painting that I had started working on again earlier this year (see posts on 11 December 2011 and 31 January 2016).

It had originally been called Yellow Sky 3 and after deciding that it would be a nice scene of a wetland area I have changed its name to Evening Marsh 1.

I started by putting in some of the tree trunks with mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.













There will be a number of the trees that will be dead which is often found in the marsh. 

As I do more work on this painting I will post it at a later date.

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

Freedom

Today I set the crow free.














When I took him outside he sat on my arm for almost five minutes looking around, getting his bearings. He flew to the trees by the fence line at the back of the track and stayed there for about 15 minutes before heading off toward the back fields and disappeared from sight.

I hope he survives, now that he is back in the wild.

Foggy Day - A Work in Progress

With the mild temperatures we have had over the last week, most of the mornings have been fairly foggy and I thought for the watercolour class at KAGS a simple foggy morning would be a good painting.

Using a limited palette of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for most of the background of this painting and gradually darkening the colour as the closer trees become more defined would work well; and we may not even require a third colour for this painting.

Then entire paper was wet and then a light wash of the grey mix was applied. Then the paper was set aside to dry slightly as more pigment was added to the wash colour.














With the darker paint the distant horizon was put in with a few soft indistinct trees.

Adding a little more of the two colours the next layer of trees were added as well as a little more of the background.

Some of the students wanted to do a lake in the foreground, while others wanted to have a fence line with trees.

At this point I had each student do another background on a smaller piece of paper and in two weeks we will complete one of each.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Cold Day 2 - A Work in Progress

The first of the grackles have arrived at the feeders, which is nice to see and it means that spring will soon arrive.

I didn't have a lot of time to paint but, I wanted to get a little further along on at least one painting so I pulled out this little piece that I had started a few years ago (see post on 27 November 2013).

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and cobalt blue, I brushed in the sky leaving some of the white paper showing through for clouds.

I darkened the mixture slightly and put in the ice covered water.

Next I added a little bit of burnt sienna to the blue mixture to make a warm grey and indicated the tree trunks on the distant snow covered hills.

By then my friends arrived to pick me up and we would to go to the art supply stores close to Toronto.

I will post this painting again once it has been completed.

Forest Stream 1 - A Work in Progress

I wanted to paint today but didn't really know what I wanted to work on, so as I looked through the many smaller pieces I had started over the years I decided to work on this one (see post on 13 February 2013).

I thought it would make a nice winter forest scene and indicated the placement of the larger trees and also put in a small stream running through them.

This painting was originally called Grey Sky 1 and I have changed the name to Forest Stream 1.














At the back of my property I have 4 acres (1.6ha) of mixed hardwood consisting mainly of maple, birch and elm which I thought would make in interesting painting.

Working from the back forward I put in the distant tree line with a pale mix of French ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Gradually darkening the mixture slightly I added the first of a slightly closer tree, then the next closer tree and for a change put in the markings on one of the birch trees to get an idea of the values needed for the painting.













I will post this painting as more work on it is completed.

Autumn Forest 4 - A Work in Progress

Today I sat the show at Art on Kent which is called Blast from the Past.

It is a display of some of the artifacts and historical photographs from the collections of the Victoria County Historical Society focusing on the people and places throughout the Kawarthas.

This is the first part segment of a two part collaborative exhibition.

The second part will be exhibited in the fall.

This show was well attended and I was only able to do a small amount of work on this painting which I will post at a later date once it has been completed.

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

Cross Roads - Winter

It is another warm, sunny and beautiful day with the temperature reaching 54F (12.2C).

The crow wouldn't have survived outside on his own. His eyes had sealed shut overnight and after I cleared all the crusting from around his eyes so he could open them and see again he is doing much better.

He is eating well and is a little more active than he was yesterday and I moved him from the box into one of the large dog crates and put a couple of branches across for him so can sleep on a perch.












If he keeps improving I will release him back into the wild once his eyes are clear.

Today I wanted to do the last of my Cross Roads sketches (see posts on 13 and 25 February and 06 March 2016) which is Winter.

I thought it fitting to do a sketch of two sleighs having a race to the cross road.

I will post this sketch at a later date, once it has been completed.

Crow Rescue

Due to the warm weather, the ice and snow melting and the temperature dropping overnight we have a very foggy morning. But we are having above another seasonal temperature day at 51F (10.6C).

Today I saw one of my little hawks has arrived back from the south and will be nesting in the hawk box under the eaves on the house.













I have an injured crow to nurse back to health. I saw him this morning when I was filling the bird feeders. Usually the crows fly off when I appear on the front lawn, but this one stayed in the elm tree.

This afternoon he was eating a little and slowly hobbling around; when he stopped he just stood shivering with cold.

I got a small blanket from the house and walked very slowly toward him and he didn't move, not even when I dropped the blanket over him. There was no struggling, he let me wrap him in the blanket and bring him into the house.














It looks as though he was attached by other birds, most of the feathers are off his head and neck, fortunately there is no damage to his eyes although they are weeping and I have cleaned most of the crust from them.

Once he was warm I moved the box out onto the porch with food and water, but he is proving to be an escape artist and has gotten out a couple of times. But he stays quietly even when I pick him up and carry him back and put him in the box.

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Bunny and Basket 1 - A Work in Progress

It is another warm, although overcast day with the temperature reaching 62F (16.7C). It won't be long before all the ice and snow is gone.

The cow birds have arrived and it won't be long before the grackles make an appearance, just a few more signs that spring is not far away.

Because it won't be long before the pussy willows are out, I decided to do a little more work on this painting that I have been picking away at each month (see posts on 27 May 2014, 06 January and 22 February 2016).

I completed the pussy willows that were already started and will decide what I wish to do with the rest later once more of the painting is finished.

Using various mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue I painted the head covering.

Next I worked on the vest with alizarin crimson adding Antwerp blue into the shadows.

I painted the ribbon with cadmium red, cadmium yellow and aureolin and will do the ribbons on the lower sections of the bunny once I have painted the lace.

Lastly, I painted in the head with aureolin and raw sienna. A pale wash of alizarin crimson was put into the cheek area.

A black made from French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson was used to put in the eyes, freckles, whiskers and mouth.

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

Backgrounds 81-83 - Three Works in Progress

Today is unbelievably warm with the temperature making it to 52F (11.1C) and a lot of the snow melting. Tomorrow is supposed to be a lot warmer; perhaps I will be able to work in my garden.

These are three backgrounds created by using the remaining acrylic paint from yesterday's workshop with Lucy Manley.















Background 83

The first one was a mix of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, titanium white and a little raw sienna.














Background 83

This second painting was a combination of titanium white, cadmium red, Cerulean blue and ultramarine blue. 














Background 83

The last piece is various mixtures of alizarin crimson, titanium white, ultramarine blue and Cerulean blue. 

I will post each of these pieces at a later date once more work on them has been completed.

Backyards - A Work in Progress

It is a nice mild day with the temperature at 47F (8.3C) and the ice on the driveway starting to melt.

We are having the second to last workshop with Lucy Manley and are going to do a street scene on black canvas using a mosaic style of painting.

I was supposed to do a painting last year (see post on 19 October 2015) but was unable to start painting in that style as I had to leave early.

I already had a couple of canvases painted black and used this one called Background 52 (see post on 21 October 2015) from that workshop.

The outlines of the buildings were sketched onto the canvas using cadmium red.

Since the background was already the darkest dark we started the painting with the lightest light, in this case titanium white for the sunlit snow, the white window frames and the clouds.

Adding Cerulean blue to the white for the next lightest colour, the snow and the brightest part of the sky were indicated.















For the next darker colour ultramarine blue as added to the white for the darker area of the sky and the cast shadows in the snow.

The background trees were indicated with various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, white and a small amount of alizarin crimson.

Next was to start painting in the various buildings. Using the tree colour and adding a little ultramarine blue to grey the colour, the larger background house was painted and then the shadow under the eaves of the garage, the small area of roof from the house and the smaller shed in front of the garage.

Adding a little more white to the grey a few highlights were added to the larger house and the shadowed side of the garage was painted.

After adding a little more white to the grey mix, the sunlit side of the garage was completed.

Lastly a mix of raw sienna, burnt sienna and white was used to indicate the front of the house across the street on the right side of the painting.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed more work on the various buildings.

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

Cross Roads - Autumn

Today I wanted to work on the third sketch in a set of the four seasons at a Cross Road (see posts on 06 and 25 February 2016).

This one is of my favourite season, Autumn with all its beautiful colours.













It is a team of harness horses pulling a carriage. I just have to decide which type of carriage I want.

I will post this painting at a later date when the horses, carriage and background have more work on them completed.

Morning Reflections 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I didn't have a lot of time to work on painting as I had friends coming over; so I thought I would go through some of my unfinished pieces and at least draw some basics of what the painting needed.

I pulled this one out that I had started a couple of years ago called Peach Sky 1 (see post on 10 January 2013) and thought an early morning snow scene in a woodland setting would work well, so I lightly drew in a river and some of the main tree trunks and branches. Next I changed this painting's name to Morning Reflections 1.














My friends have arrived and I will post this painting at a later date as more work on it is completed.

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 March.

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

ACEO - Twin Pines 1

The storm has finally passed and the wind is no longer screaming, although it is still blowing strongly enough to make the 9F (-12.8C) temperature feel like -10F (-23.3C). The ground is once again covered with 8" (20cm) of snow with the drifts along the fence being much deeper.

I pulled out this drawing that I did last year (see post in 06 June 2015).

Using French ultramarine blue I put in the sky and the base colour in the water.

While the paint was drying I mixed a green of Antwerp blue, raw sienna and aureolin. I used this colour for some of the background trees on the far shore and as the under paint for the twin pines.

To the green mix I added a little French ultramarine blue and put in the large pines on the far shore. Then, I added a small amount of burnt sienna and painted over the some of the light green on the twin pine trees.

Next I mixed a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and put in the bare branches and tree trunks on the foreground pines.

I lightened the dark colour with a little water and put in the rocks on the far shore and I added alizarin crimson to the dark colour and painted in the foreground rock.

Using various yellows I put in the dead grasses.

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 Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Confirmed Shows for 2016 - March

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
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 Nature's Palette
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 Warm in the Cold
Opening Reception 04 Dec 16 from 1-4pm.

Kawartha Arts Network - Art on Kent, Lindsay, Ont.
KAN
14 Apr - 07 May 16 Petals
Opening Reception 16 Apr 16 from 1-3pm.
09 Jun - 02 Jul 16 Annual All Members' Show
Opening Reception 11 Jun 16 from 1-3pm.
07-30 Jul 16 Transportation
Opening Reception 09 Jul 16 from 1-3pm.
01-24 Sep 16 Mixed Masters
Opening Reception 03 Sep 16 from 1-3pm.
29 Sep - 22 Oct 16 Then and Now Part 2
Opening Reception 01 Oct 16 from 1-3pm.
27 Oct - 19 Nov 16 Feast for the Eyes
Opening Reception 29 Oct 16 from 1-3pm.
24 Nov - 17 Dec 16 and 05-14 Jan 17 Affordableism
Opening Reception 26 Nov 16 from 1-3pm.

The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough Ont.
08-10 Apr 16 The 16th Annual Peterborough Garden Show

St Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
BuckhornArtistsGroup
11-14 Aug 26th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

MacKelvie Gallery, Keene, Ont.
PioneerVillage
01 Sep - 06 Oct Lang Pioneer Village Museum, Keene, Ont.

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
KawarthaArtsFestival
03-04 Sep 16

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

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

I look forward to seeing you at some of these shows.