Coon Lake X - A Work in Progress

Today went to the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo, to paint with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group.

I wandered around on the lower level of the Park but with all the children running around and the noise I couldn't settle down to sketch.

The arched wood bridge that went across the river to the small island had been changed for a metal one that didn't have the same character.

I ended up going home after lunch.

Once at home I pulled out this drawing and did a little more work on the rocks and shadows on the rocks and some of the background.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more work on the rocks and tree trunks.

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.

Clear Lake IX - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted  to do a little more work on this drawing that I started  a while ago (see posts on 09 June 2013, 27 May and 18 July 2017) while canoeing on Clear Lake.

I started by putting in the birch trees on the right side island

Next I put in the leaves on the first maple tree to the left and behind the birch trees.















I added the trunk and a few branches to the first maple tree before starting on the leaves of the next maple.

It was at this point that my friends arrived and I had to set it aside.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have completed the background trees.

Barn XI - A Work in Progress

I picked this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 28 September 2013).

Starting with the drive shed in front of the main barn, I did the tin roof first keeping the bends and twists in the roof. I lightly indicated the grooves in the tin.

Next, I ran the support beams down at the front of the shed, followed by adding the boards along the side of the shed.















I then started working on getting the correct angles for the  front of the hip roof on the barn.

Next I put the facing boards on the front of the barn.

I will post this piece at later date as once I complete the roof line on the barn and more work on it is completed.

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

ACEO - Peach Sky 8

I started this painting last year (see post in 07 December 2016) when a friend of mine gave me a set of opaque watercolour paints to try.

First I lightly drew in the tree trunks being careful to leave space for some of the yellow sky colour to show through the trees at the bottom of the painting.

Using a variety of greens made from Antwerp blue, raw sienna, new gamboge, aureolin and French ultramarine blue I put in the tree trunks, branches and needles.















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

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.

Background 84 - A Work in Progress

This is a background I made using the remaining paint left on my palette from yesterday's art class.















I will post this painting at a later date once I have decided what I will put into the background.

I'm Cute - A Work in Progress

Today I taught an art class on painting a Holstein cow at The Point in in Young's Point, Ontario.

I had the outline drawing of the image already drawn out on a template for the class and all they had to do was transfer it onto their stretched canvas.















Once that was done I had them paint in the sky using a mix of ultramarine blue and titanium white.

Next I had them do the muzzle and nostrils of the cow using various mixes of ultramarine blue, titanium white and Grumbacher (naphthol) red before we took a break for supper.















When we returned they started with the black areas on the cow using Mars black as the base and the highlights were various mixtures of the black with titanium white added.

Titanium white was painted into the white parts of the cow as the base and the shadow colour in the white areas was the same colour mixtures that were used in the black areas for the highlights.















I needed to help most of my students with painting the eyes.

For the most part they could get the brown part of the eye painted in with burnt sienna, but then had problems with the placement of the black pupil and the white highlight.

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

Rusty Stuff 1 - A Work in Progress

After completing the barn chores and as I was leaving the barn I saw the hinge on the window ledge and decided to do some more work on the painting that I had started of it a couple of years ago (see post on 12 February 2015).

The first thing I did was make a wash of pure burnt sienna and painted the base coat on the hinge.

Using a pencil I straightened the top edge of the ledge board, followed by the facing edge.













Next I mixed a very dark grey, using French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a small amount of alizarin crimson for the shadow in the wood.

I painted the wood texture onto the vertical edge of the window and as I was working on the shelf board I had company drop by for a visit.

I will post this piece at a later date once I have completed the barn board and the concrete wall.

Last Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today I worked with pen and ink on this drawing that I started a while ago (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016 and 06 April 2017).

I started by inking in the small apple tree and then began working on the marking on some of the birch trees, but couldn't really get into to doing them.

So I moved on and started working on the old hay barn and put in the roof and some of the barn boards.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have the barn completed.
















Barn IX

Today was a very busy day with fifteen paintings purchased from Diane Collins, Ron Desjardine, Heather Grant, Sharon Harper, Susan Sydney and Bonnie Windover. Pottery was sold by JoAnne Connell Northey and small items were bought from Diane Collins, Penny Little and JoAnne Connell Northey.

I would like to thank new collector Ms. Lucy MacRae of Barrie, Ontario on her purchase of Serene Place I (see post on 22 June 2012) and Drive Shed I (see post on 09 June 2012).

The hours for our show are:
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hopefully some of you will make it out to see the show before it closes.

27th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today I thought I would work on smaller paintings today and chose this piece that I had started a while ago (see posts on 11 December 2011, 31 January, 19 March and 12 May 2016).

I added a few more cattails to the far bank of the marsh then added some reeds and growies on the closer bank.

I will post this painting a later date once I add some growies to the base of the trees and darken a couple of the tree trunks.














Evening Marsh 1

It was a fairly busy day with six paintings sold by Diane Collins, Ron Desjardine, Sharon Harper and Bonnie Windover; pottery by JoAnne Connell Northey and small items purchased from Diane Collins, Irene Smith and JoAnne Connell Northey.

The hours for our show are:
19 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We hope you will be able to come out and visit the show either today or before it closes tomorrow.

Shades of Summer Art Show

Today I worked on this drawing (see posts on 09 June 2013 and 10 July 2017) of Clear Lake.

I started with the distant background, added in more pines and reflections in the water.

Next I added more trees around the first two in the foreground and then started working on the foreground rocks.

I will post this drawing at a later date as more work on it is completed.














Clear Lake VI

Today, we had a larger attendance than yesterday and eight paintings were purchased from Rebecca Bilcox, Ron Desjardine, Heather Grant and Susan Sydney as well as small items from Diane Collins and pottery from JoAnne Connell Northey.

I would like to that Ms. Sharon Stata of North York, Ontario on her purchase of Cecropia on Barn Board (see post on 08 October 2010).

The hours for our show are:
18 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
19 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please come out and enjoy our art show at some point over the weekend.

First Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

I decided to work in watercolour today and chose this painting that I started earlier this year (see post on 22 March 2017).

It was originally to be a snow scene but I changed my mind and thought I would make it a late autumn scene with a full moon.

Since I didn't like the way the clouds looked I blended them across the sky being careful to leave a light area where I painted in the moon with new gamboge.

Using a mix of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna I put in the distant hill behind the line of trees.

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














Shades of Grey 1

Although not many people came out to see the show today, small items were sold by Diane Collins and pottery was sold by JoAnne Connell Northey.

The hours for our show are:
17 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
18 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
19 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We hope you can come out and enjoy the artwork.

Setting up the 27th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Today we set up the 27th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show at St. Matthew's Church in Buckhorn, Ontario.

While we were waiting for the main grids to arrive, we set up all the tables along the window wall, the ones at the front, the large table at the back of the room and the one in front of the bookcases.

Each table was then covered with long white tablecloths, followed with smaller green tablecloths to create a pleasing contrast from the stark white.

Next we brought in the short grids that I store for the front display tables.

Now that the main grids had arrived they were set up down the centre of the hall in a zig zag pattern that was carefully measured so each panel grouping was the same distance.

Then the narrower panels were set to each side of the main panels to provide stability so they wold not fall down if they were bumped into by someone not paying attention.

Once the grid set up was completed and each artist's name was put in their space we were allowed to bring in our paintings and start hanging our work in our space.

Once I had my allotted section of the grids completed I started on my area on one of the window tables near my booth space and set up my picture rack and filled it with shrink wrapped paintings.

This time instead of putting small paintings on easels as I usually do I set out my two binders of ACEO one on either side of the painting rack.

It was at this point that one of the artists that was to be exhibiting with us was not going to be able to attend the show leaving a number of extra panels.

I was given two extra of the narrow panels to hang more of my artwork. Fortunately, as usual I brought a number of extra pieces with me to be kept aside as replacements in case some of my paintings sold during the course of the show.

It didn't take long for me to fill the extra panels with a number of smaller paintings which went well together.

I then put two paintings on the front grids where all the exhibiting artists had a couple of paintings to give the public an idea of the works they would see throughout the show.

Now that all the paintings were hung, I put up all the name tags with the paintings and then cleaned any glass that had gotten finger prints or smudged.

Then I made a list of them for the people who would look after sales at the front table.

Next I hung one of my paintings on the wall near the Buckhorn Artists' sign.

This piece will remain in the Church throughout the winter and will be replaced with another painting after the New Year.















Lastly I set up my table and chair at the back of the Church in my usual painting area.














I put the plastic protector on the table, set out my paints, brushes and the pieces I would work on over the course of the show and to the side of the table I placed my sketches in case I wanted to do some pen and ink work.














The hours for our show are:
17 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
18 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
19 Aug 17 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.














We look forward to seeing some of you at our show during the next four days.

White Cedars 1 - A Work in Progress

Today is another hot 79F (26C) and humid 88F (31C) day and I thought I would do a little work on this painting that I had started quite a while (see post on 29 January 2012) ago when taking a workshop with Neil Broadfoot called "Colour and Composition" at KAGS.

Yesterday, while I was out walking through the bottom fields near the pond I came across some beautiful White Cedar trees that I had taken photographs of and I thought that I would draw some into this painting using my photographs as reference.













I started by putting in five mature Cedar trees into the foreground grouped slightly off centre. This was followed by putting in more Cedars trees of various sizes on both sides of the main trees.

Lastly, I added some trees on the far hill top.

I will post this painting at a later date once I start painting in the trees.

House on the Hill II - A Work in Progress

Between the physiotherapy and doctor appointments that I have; and the errands I have to do today, I didn't have a lot of time to do a very much work on either drawings or paintings.

I pulled out this sketch that I did last month (see post on 30 July 2017) while we were in the bottom of the front field.















I started to ink in the windows on the main section of the building that faces south, but didn't very far on this piece.

I will post this drawing later, once more work on the building has been completed.

I'm Cute - Drawing

Today I wanted to do the drawing of the cow for the art class I will be teaching  at The Point on 23 August 2017.

The transfer will be a plain outline drawing, without markings which will allow each student to paint in the markings they want on the cow.















Since the class is made up of beginners I wanted to be sure that there would be large areas of one colour to keep it easy for them to complete the painting in the three hours of the class.

Now I just need to make a few photocopies for the class and everything is ready.

ACEO - Fence Posts 3

Today I thought I would like to finish this painting that I started last year while painting on location (see posts on 17 July and 21 October 2016).

Starting with the pine trees in the background, I mixed various greens from Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue, new gamboge and raw sienna.

Next I mixed various shades of grey with French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to put the texture onto the fence posts.

Using burnt sienna, I put in two strands of the barbed wire between and onto the fence posts.

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.

Big Cedar Lake V - A Work in Progress

Today I didn't feel like going out to paint so I picked this piece to do some more work on, that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 23 August 2015, 02 December 2016 and 28 May 2017).

I decided to extend the drawing to the full width of the paper.

I started by extending the large rock on the edge of the water across the page, followed by indicating another rock in the background.














This was followed by adding in a large tree partway between the existing trees and the edge of the paper.

Lastly, I added a number of smaller trees behind the new rock that I just added.

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

Suppertime? - A Work in Progress

Today we are under a Severe Storm Warning with the temperature at 86F (30C) and the humidity making it feel like 97F (36C).

We did get a wonderful thunderstorm in the late afternoon, during which I spent my time on the front porch watching the lightning.

I wanted do some work on this painting of a Knifefish that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 15 March, 31 October and 30 December 2012 and 25 March 2013).

Using a Schwan-STABILO All-Surface water-soluble pencil, I drew in where I wanted to place sponges, coral and other underwater plants on the rock surface.














The nice thing about using these pencils is that they was off completely with water; so if I don't go to the edge of the line or change my mind about the placement, it doesn't matter as once the paint is dry I can easily wash it off.

Using Titanium white, ultramarine blue and raw sienna, I started putting in some of the plants and soft coral on the top of the rock face.

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

Waterfall 2 - A Work in Progress

I pulled this sketch out that I did earlier this year (see post on 06 February 2017) and though I would like to add some colour to the drawing.

I put the sky in with a mix of Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue with a touch of burnt sienna. While the sky was drying I used the sky colour and added a little raw sienna to the mix and put in the rapids and the waterfall leaving areas of white for the white caps and froth.

Using various mixtures of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue, I painted in the rocks along the river banks and in the water.

While that was drying I mixed a grey of the blues and burnt sienna for the tree trunks. Starting at the back of the forest and gradually working my way forward by darkening the color and adding more detail.

Next using raw sienna, burnt sienna, new gamboge, alizarin crimson and Antwerp blue I painted in the grasses and growies at the basses of the trees and started with some of the leaves on the trees in the background and the middle ground.

I set this painting aside to dry completely before I put in the closer leaves on the trees. I will post this painting at a later date once it has been completed.

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

Back Forty II - A Work in Progress

I wanted to work on this drawing that I started earlier this year (see post on 25 June 2017) while Ron and I were out in the side by side.

I started with the large maple trees which grew clumped together by the opening to another field.

Next I added some grasses and growies at the base of the maples, along the fence line and into the foreground.
















I added a small maple to the right side of the large maple trees.

Then I started on the trees on the other side of the opening with a small pine tree and started on a larger maple tree, but I didn't have time to finish this piece.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more of the trees have been added along the fence line.

Riverview Pines and Horses I - A Work in Progress

Today we were bringing in the last four loads of hay for the horses. Since it was a nice 72F (22C) day with a breeze keeping the humidity away, it was ideal weather.

While the first load of hay was being put onto the trailer I started this sketch of the windswept pine trees in the upper field which had always been a favourite view of mine.

For the second load of the hay, I finished most of the main pine trees in the sketch and since they were on a hill I put in the first ground line.

On the third time there I added in the middle ground trees and then the distant background trees and started adding in some of the bushes and growies at the base of the main trees.

On the last load of hay I added in the grasses and growies into the foreground and then put in a few of the farm's many horses grazing in the field.

I will post this sketch at a later date once I have added more horses into the field.

Upper Stoney Lake II - A Work in Progress

Today I worked on this sketch that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 24 August 2015) of one of the islands as seen from Quarry Bay Beach on Upper Stoney Lake.

I liked the way the wind had bent the tops of the large pine trees on the island. Some of the tops had broken off and the new branches are also bent due to the wind.

After the pines had been inked in I put in the rocks of the island, added some of the large cracks in the stone and started on some of the shading.















I added in some of the smaller trees and bushes on top of the rocks as well as some grasses and growies.

Next I started putting in the water below the rocks and will add more reflections.

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

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

The Point

Today I went to The Point - the Young's Point Diner and Pizzeria, at 403 South Beach Rd., Lakefield, Ontario to hang some paintings.










Norma MacEahern and I will have paintings on display from 03 August to 30 November 2017.















Norma will be teaching a children's class on 16 August 2017 with Cindy Allan and I assisting at The Point from 12:00-3:00pm.















On 23 August 2017 I will be teaching a painting class from 6:00-9:00pm at The Point.

Confirmed Shows for 2017 - August

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.

Knoepfli Inn, 5484 Highway #124 Magnetawan, Ont.
31 Jul - 04 Oct 17 Scenes of Magnetawan

The Point - the Young's Point Diner and Pizzeria, 403 South Beach Rd., Lakefield, Ont.
03 August to 24 November 17

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
16 Aug - 10 Sep 17 Faces and Figures
Opening Reception 20 Aug 17 from 1-4p.m.
13 Sep - 08 Oct 17 150 Years of Canada's History Featuring Peterborough County
Opening Reception 17 Sep 17 from 1-4p.m.
25 Oct -12 Nov Outdoor Painters' Show- Rural Outlook
Opening Reception 30 Oct 17 from 1-4p.m.
29 Nov - 22 Dec 17 and 03-21 Jan 18 The Winter Show
Opening Reception 03 Dec 17 from 1-4p.m.

27th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show, St Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
17-20 Aug 17 Buckhorn Artists' Group

28th Annual Kawartha Arts Festival, Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
02-03 Sep 17

Millennium Park, Peterborough, Ont.
7th Annual Purple Onion Festival
24 Sep 16 from 11am-4:00pm.

Extendicare, 860 Alexander Court, Peterborough, Ont.
30 Oct 17 - 01 Jan 18

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