Old Cottage II - A Work in Progress

Even though it is a bright, sunny day with the temperature reaching 78F (25.6C), the welcome breeze kept away the humidity.

I pulled out this sketch that I started at a paint out a few years ago (see post on 14 July 2013) and I decided to do a little more work on the buildings.

Starting on the roof of the garage, I put on the shingles and then added some moss and dead leaves on top of the roof.















Next I added some siding onto the playhouse and onto the one side of the garage.

Lastly, I added some more growies and grasses to the base of the buildings.

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

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

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.

Coon Lake V - A Work in Progress

It was a little cooler today 90F (32.2C) 102F (38.9C) but not much.

I did this sketch a couple of years ago see post on 29 July 2014) when we were canoeing on Coon Lake.

First I indicated the trunks of the main trees and then I put the tree stump onto the island.














Next I drew in the distant shoreline of the lake and added the trees on the shore.

In the foreground I started with some growies on top of the rocks and added a few ripples into the water.

I will post this drawing at a later time once I have put in the main trees.

Faith - A Work in Progress

Today is unusually hot 93F (33.9C) with the humidity making it feel like 109F (42.8C). Hopefully it won't be as warm tomorrow.

Earlier this year when I was painting at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church with the Lakefield Creative Artists' Group I took some photographs of the inside of the Church.

I thought that window with the backlit silhouette of the crucifix would make an interesting painting.

I painted the entire canvas with a pale mixture of French ultramarine blue and titanium white.

I added some burnt sienna to the under paint and blocked in the walls around the window.

Next I need to work on tightening the up the drawing and then transferring the image onto the canvas.

I will post this painting again once the image has been transferred onto the canvas.

Sail Softly on By I - A Work in Progress

Since I had worked on some other sketches of Cuba earlier this month, I pulled out this drawing of the beach at the Iberostar Daiquiri in Cayo Guillermo, Cuba. The resort was partially closed with one half of it newly renovated and the other half under construction.

If I was going back to Cuba I would stay there or at the Breezes Veradero, both were wonderful, but I would not return to the Tryp Cayo Coco.














I didn't have a lot of time before I had to go and meet with some friends, but I put in the sailboat on the horizon.

Then I started working on the woman holding the child's hand and finished part of the wrap she was wearing.

I will post this painting at a later date after I have worked on it again.

Garden Shed 2 - A Work in Progress

Even though the forecast called for warm temperatures 83F (27.8C), high humidity  94F (34.4C) and thunderstorms, today I went and painted with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group at a farm on Cameron Line that was known for its lilac bushes.

The first thing I saw as we turned into the driveway was a peacock walking across the road; needless to say I grabbed my camera and took a picture.

I later learned from the owners that they had eight peafowl on the property but the peahens had already gone to ground and wouldn't appear until after the eggs had hatched.














The farm was a treasure trove of opportunities for paintings and I spent most of the morning taking photographs and making a few quick sketches.

The original barn was built in 1813 and the original section of the stone house was built in 1821 and various additions were added at later times.

There were many wondrous things hidden in and among the flower gardens surrounding the house which also had an enchanting natural stone slab set of stairs leading up to one of the additions.














After taking many reference photographs of the building, gardens, livestock and farm equipment I settled down to work on a painting.

Just before lunch time it started to cloud over and when I went back to do more work on my painting it wasn't long before the first few drops of rain started to fall.

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

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

Today is going to be another hot 85F (29.4C) and humid 91F (32.8C) day, making it a good day to stay inside with the air conditioner on keeping things livable and getting work done on a painting.

I decided to do a little more work on this painting that I had started many years ago (see posts on 09 December 2010, 21 February, 29 May, 10 July and 29 August 2012) and recently found.

I started on the right hand side of the painting beginning with the trunk of the tall pine tree in the foreground.



Next starting at the top of the tree I added branches and needles, gradually working my way down the tree trunk.

I added the background trees in behind the rocks at the edge of the lake.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed the trees on the right side and drawn in the trees on the left side of the painting.

Lakes 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

It is another nice sunny day with the temperature reaching 84F (28.9C) and the humidity it feels like 89F (31.7C).

I pulled out these three little pieces that I started last month (see post on 18 April 2016).

For the first painting I put a line of new gamboge with a touch of alizarin crimson along the horizon line.

I added a little more alizarin crimson and put it in above the new gamboge and blended it up into the sky.

It was also added just below the horizon line and then a little more alizarin crimson was added to the mixture and put in below.

Then the phone rang and when I returned the paper was dry, so I rewet the paper and with alizarin crimson I blended it into the sky.

Next I used French ultramarine blue and put into the sky and then I mixed it with the alizarin crimson and painted it into the bottom area of the lake and created a few waves through the orange colour.

I changed the name of this painting from Lake 1 to Rainbow Sky 1 and then decided that I would make all these paintings into sunset scenes.

For my next painting I used new gamboge and put a line across the paper just below the center of the sky.














Next I added some alizarin crimson to the yellow and painted in the lower part of the sky just above the water. To the orange I added water to lighten the colour and painted in the top portion of the sky.

Then I mixed a dark of French ultramarine blue burnt sienna and alizarin crimson for the clouds and before I could apply the paint the phone rang.

After the call I once again had to rewet the sky in order to put in the clouds and finish the sky. I decided to call this painting Evening Lighthouse 1 instead of Lake 2.














For this painting since I had all the colours I needed mixed, I started with the new gamboge and washed it into the top of the sky, followed with the orange mix and then the alizarin crimson into the bottom of the sky. Into the top of the sky I put in the clouds with the burnt sienna mixture and with the mauve mixture I added some more clouds into the area just above the water.

I changed the name of this painting from Lake 3 to Beach Sunset 1 and decided that I would stop painting for the day before the phone rings again.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork. I hope you will return to see how these paintings look when they are completed.

Cuba - Three Works in Progress

I pulled out these three sketches that I did in the various resorts I stayed at when I was in Cuba.

This first one was of the Breezes Veradero, which although it is a little run down on the outside, the food, the service and the entertainment are very good you can walk for miles along the beaches.

I enjoyed my time there, the diving is wonderful and we went out on the boat a number of times during our stay. 

Sharing the Sky I

The next one is of the Iberostar Daiquiri in Cayo Guillermo, which was still undergoing renovations, but the food and service were excellent.















Kite Surfers I

The last one is of the Tryp Cayo Coco, which is fairly large resort and belongs to a chain of resorts that can be found throughout the Caribbean.














Floating Islands I

I will post each of these drawings as they are completed.

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

Trotting 1

Earlier this month I did a sketch of a Standardbred trotting and today I am going to work on a sketch of an Arabian trotting because there is a program on television about training Arabians.

In the program it showed a number of their horses running on pasture as well as their two stallions at liberty in their indoor arena.

















I started with the head and worked my way through the body and finally added the legs and tail.

I have the basics blocked in and I will post this sketch at a later date once more work on it has been completed.

Showcase Asphodel Norwood

It looks as though I was wrong with my prediction of snow for the Victoria Day weekend. Instead we are having a bright, sunny day with the temperatures reaching 75F (23.9C). Fortunately we have a nice breeze blowing, which is keeping the humidity away.

As usual this Holiday heralds the start of the weekend yard sales that can be found along almost every road in most of the towns.














Norwood was no different as I passed many of them on my way to the Norwood Fairgrounds to set up my display for Showcase Asphodel Norwood.

Our display area was in the front entrance called Millennium Hall, in the Asphodel Norwood Community Centre.














As usual when at the shows I worked on a number of small paintings when I wasn't talking with the public about art.

Hopefully you will be able to make it out to the show today.

Bunny and Basket 1 - A Work in Progress

I wanted to do a little more work on this painting that I have been working on for a little while (see posts on 27 May 2014, 06 January, 22 February 09 and 31 March 2016).

I wanted to define the drawing a little more and drew in a couple more pussy willows, added more detail onto the lace so when I put in the shadows the patterns will be easier to follow.

Next I added the folds into the pant legs and defined the ribbons on the legs before I finished the bindings on the top and bottom of the basket.

First I completed the pussy willows stalks using burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue and the fluffs with raw sienna and a grey of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue.

Using a mix of cobalt blue and Antwerp blue I washed in the base colour on the sleeves and pant legs.

While that dried I darkened the shadow on the left side of the face.

I painted the ribbons by the sleeve and the legs with cadmium red, cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed the sleeves, legs and added the highlights on the ribbons.

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

Winter Morning 1 - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this painting that I had started a while ago (see post on 29 December 2014) and wanted to do a little more work on it and possibly have it completed today.

Starting with the pine trees on the right side of the painting, I used a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna for a warm green colour and put in the furthest away trees.

I added a little more blue to the green mix and put in the layer of next closest trees.

Before I could start on the distant pine trees in the background to the left side of the painting I had unexpected company arrive.

I will post this painting once the foreground pine trees have been completed.

Clear Lake V - A Work in Progress

I did this sketch a few years ago (see post on 09 June 2013) while out canoeing on Clear Lake.

I started working on the cottage first by straightening out some of the walls, fixing the door and windows and adding a chimney.

Next I tightened up the trees on the island and made sure their reflections in the water matched.

I also added a couple of Kawartha chairs to the front of the island.

I will post this drawing at a later date once is start to apply the ink.

Barn IX - A Work in Progress

After Ron left for work this morning I pulled out this sketch of a barn that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 28 September 2013).

I started with the big maple tree to the right of the barn and continued along the right side developing the two birch trees, another maple further in the background and three young birches.

On the right side I added two more birch trees and then added grasses and growies at the bases of the trees and in front of the barn.















The barn needed to be extended to the left side so there would be room for the panels on each side of the open doorway.

I had to stop work on this drawing as a couple of friends dropped by to visit me. I will post this drawing at a later date once I have completed the barn.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

On the Reef 1 - A Work in Progress

It is a nice, warm and rainy day but it will help the plants to grow and since my Mothers' Day gifts are hanging at the side of the house they won't need to be watered.














I wanted to do a little work on this painting which was originally called Sponge Work B (see post on 29 Dec 2012) and I have changed the name to On the Reef 1.














I washed cobalt blue into the top of the painting varying the colour on a diagonal to give the impression of sun rays shining through water and then set it aside to dry while I decided which kinds of fish to put throughout the coral.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have added the fish.

Loon Call Lake II and IX -Two Works in Progress

Today I saw my first tree swallow. They are late returning from the south as are many other species; but is nice to have them back.

With their return it had me thinking about being out on the lakes and sketching while in the canoe.

I pulled out a couple of sketches from previous years (see posts from 14 September 2014 and 26 September 2015).

I started with the most recent one and inked in the three tall pine trees on an island.

Loon Call Lake IX

I put in the rock outline, the waterline and then added the small bushes and growies around the base of the trees before setting it aside to see what more it needed.














Loon Call Lake II

I started on the next one by putting in the background shoreline, some of the more prominent trees in the distance and the waterline. But before I could go any further I had unexpected company arrive and I had to put everything away.

I will post each of these paintings at a later date as more work on them is completed.

Evening Marsh 1 - A Work in Progress

It is another sunny and hot day with the temperature reaching 83F (28C). We were fortunate that there was a nice breeze blowing to prevent it from getting too humid.

I pulled out this painting that I had worked on earlier this year (see posts on 11 December 2011, 31 January and 19 March 2016).













The first thing was to add in the more of the tree trunks and branches using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

Once most of the main trees were completed, some of the smaller and darker saplings and growies were added.














With a mix of raw sienna and a touch of burnt sienna I indicated where the water in the marsh would show, reflecting the colour of the sky.

Using various mixes of raw sienna, new gamboge, burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue I started to put in the reeds, grasses and growies.

I will post this painting once I have completed the marsh area.

Autumn Snow 1 and 2 - Two Works in Progress

It is sunny and warm, with the temperature reaching 77F (25C) and I was waiting for my friends to pick me up and we would go out and sketch a little later.

I picked these two sketches that I had started earlier this year (see post on 29 February 2016) and decided while I waited I could start to paint them.

Being sure to match the side edge, I wet the paper above the ground line.

With a mixture of French ultramarine blue and a small amount of burnt sienna I painted in the sky on both pieces.

Autumn Snow 1

I set them aside to dry.

As I started to mix the colour for the tree trunks my friends arrived early and it was time to leave.

I will post both of these paintings again at a later date, once more work on them has been completed.

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

Autumn Snow 2

Trotting

It is another nice sunny day with the temperature slightly above seasonal at 74F (23C)

After working in the garden most of the morning I decided to take a break and watch a program on Standardbreds after lunch.

I wanted to do some quick sketches and did this trotter while I watched the program.
















It still needs a lot more work before it is a completed drawing but, I have the basics down.

The back is too long, the body is off kilter and it needs a lot more detail.

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

Communion - A Work in Progress

Today I am painting with the St. John's Art Group who was formerly called the Lakefield Creative Arts Guild.

It was decided that the Group would hold an art show in the fall of paintings of the Church to celebrate its 150th Anniversary.

We went through the Church both inside and outside making sketches and taking photographs of things that we would be interested in painting.













What caught my attention was the light coming through the stained glass window and touching the communion tray. I took a number of photographs of it and had plenty of reference material.

I also took photographs for at least three other paintings I may do for the exhibition from inside the Church.

We then set the dates and times for the show before we left for the day, which are as follows:
St. John the Baptist Anglican Church - 150th Anniversary Art Show and Sale
10 Sep - 29 Oct. on Saturdays from 11am-2pm.
Opening Reception 10 Sep 16 from 11am-3pm.














Once I returned home I started on the drawing and transferred it onto a piece of watercolour paper.

I masked out the areas where I didn't want covered in paint used for the background with liquid masking fluid.

Then I set this painting aside to dry and will complete it at a later date.

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

ACEO - Cold Day 2

Today I thought I would like to finish this painting that I had started a while ago (see posts on 27 November 2013 and 14 March 2016).

Using French ultramarine blue I darkened some areas of the ice on the water.

I added burnt sienna to the blue and painted in the tree trunks and branches on the larger trees, a slightly lighter mix was used on the twigs and bushes into the foreground.

Next I used various mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna and new gamboge to put on the leaves as well as the grasses and growies at the base of the trees and bushes.

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. Lanaquarelle 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Petals Art Show at Art on Kent

Today I sat the morning shift for the Petals exhibition at Art on Kent in Lindsay, Ontario.

Normally, I sit for the last shift on Saturday on the closing day of the show; but tomorrow we are going to Toronto and taking Ron's mother out for supper for mothers' day.

I had three paintings in this show which features many lovely paintings and photographs of a wide variety of flowers, weeds and gardens.

If you have the opportunity, please drop by the show before it closes tomorrow at 3:00p.m.














It is well worth the drive to Lindsay.

Sailboat 2 - A Work in Progress

Today I sat the final day of the Floral and Still Life show at the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio.

While I was there I thought I would try and complete this painting that I have been working on and off for some time (see posts on 29 August 2015, 24 January and 28 February 2016).

I painted the distant shoreline with trees and set it aside to dry before removing the miskit.

Unfortunately for me the Gallery became very busy and I wasn't able to paint.

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

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 May.

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

Evening on the Lake - A Work in Progress

I didn't have very much time to paint today before I had to leave and go to KAGS to take photographs of the Best of High School Art show and put it into a slide show for the Awards night.

I decided to work on this piece that I started last year (see posts on 29 August and 08 December 2015 and 08 February 2016).

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna I put trees on the horizon line for the distant shore.

I set the painting aside to let it dry completely and then removed the miskit.

I will post this painting at a later date once I start painting the sailboat and maybe lift a moon out of the sky.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2016 - May

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
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.

Showcase Asphodel Norwood
Millennium Hall, Asphodel Norwood Community Centre,
88 Alma St., Norwood, Ont.
21 May 16 from 9:00am - 1:00pm.

Art in the Garden, Peterborough, Ont.
Griffins
16 Jul 16 Griffin's Greenhouse, 3026 Lakefield Rd. 11am - 4pm.

Lockside Trading Company, 2805 River Ave, Youngs Point, Ont.
23-24 Jul 16 5th Annual Art @ the Locks from 9am-6pm.

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

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

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

St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, 81 Queen St., Lakefield, Ont.
150th Anniversary Art Show and Sale
10 Sep - 29 Oct. on Saturdays from 11am-2pm.
Opening Reception 10 Sep 16 from 11am-3pm.

Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, Ont.
17-18 Sep The Uncommon Marketplace

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

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

Shades of Morning and Scales - Two Works in Progress

These are the other two pieces I started in the watercolour on canvas workshop at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio with Valerie Kent.

For the first one I used various mixes of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, permanent rose and alizarin crimson.

I have to go back over this painting with darker colour to make it stand out as a background sky.

The second painting was inspired by a photograph of scales from different butterfly wings.

Shades of Morning

As with the first piece I will have to go back into the painting with darker more vibrant colour.

I will keep this painting as an abstract as the shapes seem to work well and create movement.















Scales

I will post each of these paintings at a later date as more work on them is completed.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.