Shades of Grey - A Work in Progress

Today I pulled out this painting that I have been working on (see posts on 22 March and 17 August 2017), which I thought would be fitting for Hallowe'en night.

Using a dark mix of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna I put in the grasses with a little more detail on the closer field, leaving some areas of the white paper showing through which I will fill in later.














With light and dark mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I started painting in the trunks and branches of the three closest trees in the foreground.

I will post this painting again, once more of the trees have been completed.

Extendicare Exhibit

Although the morning started out with rain, today I had to go and set up my display at Extendicare, 860 Alexander Court, Peterborough, Ontario.










It didn't take long for Cindy's paintings to come down and get put away.












I then unwrapped my paintings and used the chains which were already in place.












In all it took less than an hour to have the exhibit hung.













I hope some of you will come out and enjoy the show.

ACEO - Fence Posts 4

I wanted to finish a painting today and decided to work on this piece that I had started last year (see posts on 26 July and 21 October 2016).

I started by putting in the background trees with various mixtures of Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue aureolin, new gamboge and raw sienna.

Next I mixed various greys using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the texture on the old cedar posts.

Lastly, with pure burnt sienna I painted the strands of barbed wire in between and on 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.

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

Front Field III - A Work in Progress

Today as I was looking out the patio doors in the living room at the changing colours in the forest down at the bottom of the front field I decided that I would do a little more work on one of my sketches from earlier this year (see post on 18 Jun 2017).

I started by putting in some of the grasses and growies at the edge of the field and just before the beginning of the forest.

Next I put in the tops of some of the tallest deciduous trees in the forest into the background.

From there I added in a few of the larger pine trees.















I then began to add some of the grasses at the base of the closer pine tree, but before I could get much further I had company drop by and had to put this piece away.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more work on the trees have been completed.

I would like to thank new collector Ms. Sandy Scholes of Cavan, Ontario for purchasing my painting Maple and Fence (see post on 06 March 2010).

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

Hallowe'en Holler - A Work in Progress

Today I spent the day at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

In the morning I was in the Still Life class, where the theme was "Trick or Treat - It's Hallowe'en" and in the afternoon I sat the Rural Outlook exhibition.

I had my choice of a wide variety of masks, bowls of candy, leaves, bottles and a full moon with bats silhouetted against the bright orange.

I started by putting in the full moon, minus the bats and then sketched in the mask beside a wine bottle.

Around the bottom of the mask and bottle I put in a number of brightly coloured maple leaves.

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

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.

Rural Outlook Exhibit

Today my co-conveners Cindy Allan and Norma MacEachern and I measured out the wall space in the Gallery for each of the fourteen exhibitors and then we could start hanging our work in our assigned spaces.















The first thing I did was hanging my featured painting in the centre of my space and then set out paintings on the floor to fill the remaining space.













It took a little while to get the paintings hung on the wall, when I realized that I need another painting to balance my display.

I put the tablecloth on my table and then headed home to get a couple more small paintings to see which one would make a good fit on the wall.

When I returned I finished hanging the paintings on the wall and made up the name cards.

I cleaned the glass on the paintings to remove any finger prints.

Next I picked up all the cartons and put them out in the car to take back home.















I then brought in my print rack from the car and placed it on the table.















Lastly, I sorted the matted and shrink wrapped paintings and put them in the print rack.

Now it was time to go home and relax.

Coon Lake X - A Work in Progress

Today I had a little bit of time to work on a drawing and decided that I would like do more work on this piece that I had started a while ago (see posts on 29 July 2014, 20 July 2016 and 31 August 2017).

I started with the reflections in the water beginning with those in the background and then working on the ones in the foreground below the rocks of the island.

Next I added the shadow from the small tree across the rock on the right side of the island.

I added a few more dark shadows into the rocks to give a little more depth to the drawing.

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

Burleigh Inn Pine Tree I - A Work in Progress

I just couldn't get into painting today so I decided I would do a little work on a pen and ink drawing; and I pulled out this one that I had started earlier this year when the KAGS Ourdoor Painters' Group spent the day at the Burleigh Inn located on Stoney Lake (see post on 08 June 2017).

I started by putting in a couple of the larger background trees on the far shore.

From there I came forward and indicated the rocks at the base of the pine tree and added a few grasses and growies in among the rocks.

Next I started on the main pine tree beginning at the top and working my way down the trunk.

I gradually was adding branches and needles onto the tree.

I will post this drawing at a later date once the pine tree has been completed.

Winter Building I - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to do some work on this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 02 November 2013).

I started with the first drawing and began on the addition on the right side of the building and put a chimney onto the roof.

Next, I straightened the sides of the building and the roof edge. I decided to make it a tin roof instead of shingles. Then I put a heavy blanket of snow on the top of the roof.













From there I moved to the front of the main section of the building and straightened up the walls and the peak of the house. I moved the chimney a little further back from the peak and added the brick work.

I added another window on the lower level, squared up the windows and added the window frames.

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

Garden Shed 2 - A Work in Progress

We have a frost warning in place and with the high for the day being 32F (0C) I can understand why, so I decided to work on a painting that reminds me of spring that I had started last year (see posts on 26 May 2016 and 29 May 2017).

I started by finishing the boards on the shed and then adding the shadows cast by the edge of the roof and the shadowed side of the shed.

Next I darkened in the open doorway leaving and area near the bottom blank for when I draw in the wheelbarrow.

Using Antwerp blue, raw sienna and new gamboge I indicated the leaves of the flowerbed on both sides of the shed.















I added French ultramarine blue to the light green colour and put in the grass on the side of the pathway.

I scattered flowers throughout the flowerbeds using cadmium red and a few dandelions through the grasses with cadmium yellow.

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

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

People's Choice Award

I just received a notice that my painting Frozen Barns won the People’s Choice Award in the 150 Years of Canada's History Featuring Peterborough County exhibition at KAGS.














The information has been posted on the KAGS Facebook page and on the KAGS website of People's Choice Awards.

Autumn Maples 1 and 2 - Two Works in Progress

This morning I woke up to find the ground outside covered in a thick layer of frost. With the temperature at 30F (-1C), it is just a taste of more cold mornings to come in the future. The nice thing is that by this afternoon the temperature will be 63F (17C).

After doing the barn chores and feeding the birds, I thought I would like to work on these two paintings that I had started many years ago (see posts on 20 September 2013 and 22 January 2017).

I started with the rocks using a mix of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and a touch of French ultramarine blue.

I was just about to start on the trees in the background when a couple of my friends dropped by for a visit and they brought lunch.

It wasn't long before I had made tea, coffee and a provided a variety of desserts.

Autumn Maples 1

After an enjoyable visit, it was time for me to get back to work on my paintings.

I decided that I would work on the second painting, beginning with the trees in the background.

I used various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, new gamboge, burnt sienna, raw sienna and Antwerp blue.

Using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the maple trees.

Autumn Maples 2

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

ACEO - Fence Posts 6

I wanted to finish a painting today and I pulled out this one that I had started last year while on location (see posts on 26 July and 08 December 2016).

Making various greens from French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, raw sienna, new gamboge and aureolin I painted in the coniferous trees in behind the fence posts.

With a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I put in the cracks and fissures on the weathered cedar posts.

I put a little of the bright green on the posts for the moss.

Lastly, using burnt sienna I ran the barbed wire between and across the fence posts.

Thank you for coming to look at my 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.

Farm by the River I - A Work in Progress

Today I couldn't get into painting so I flipped through the many sketches I have created while drawing on location and thought I would apply some ink onto the drawing.

I pulled out this one that I had started a couple of years ago while I was on River Road in Lakefield (see posts on 11 November 2015 and 31 January 2017).















I started with the large foreground tree on the right side of the paper, but before I could get it completed I had to go out and help a friend who needed a ride.

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

People's Choice Award

Today I was informed that my painting "Frozen Barns" was the People's Choice for Best Painting in the "150 Years of Canadian History Featuring Peterborough County" exhibit at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.















I would like to thank everyone who enjoyed viewing my painting and selected it as their favourite.

Background 85 - A Work in Progress

This is the canvas I used yesterday for my leftover acrylic paint from the painting on ehich I had been working.













With the pastel colours I think it may be turned into a morning scene and I will post this background at a later date once I decide what image I put onto the canvas.

Rural Outlook - A Work in Progress

Today I was painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group and for a change decided to work in acrylic on canvas.

I used various mixtures of Hansa yellow, burnt sienna and Grumbacher red for the sky.

With cobalt blue and various mixes of the sky colours I painted in the fields starting with the one furthest away and gradually moving until the foreground field was complete.

Using various red, yellow and burnt sienna mixtures I put in the trees against the sky and the larger one behind the barn.














With mixtures of burnt sienna and cobalt blue I put in the roadway to the barn and added the fence rails on the far side of the roadway.

Next I put in the red barns, the one on the hilltop and the other one in the foreground and then I added a little titanium white to the road mixture and put on the barn roofs and the under paint for the closer fence posts.

I will post this painting later once I have completed the fence and decided if I would put people walking to the barn to start their morning chores.

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

Loon Call Lake III - A Work in Progress

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! While I am waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, I thought I would work on a drawing that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 14 September 2014 and 23 February 2017) when we were canoeing on Loon Call Lake

Starting with the boathouse, I finished the tin roof and the boards on the side of the building.

From there I started putting the rocks in along the shoreline on either side of the boathouse.















To ground the rocks I added some ripples into the water beneath them and through the reflections of the boathouse.

Next I added the large pine tree beside the boathouse and then started to put in the larger pine trees into the background, but before I could do more the timer went off and I had to baste the turkey and put the vegetables on for supper.

I will post this drawing on a future date once I have completed the rest of the rocks and the water.

Barn VII and Barn IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I felt like working on barns, so I pulled out this barn first that I started a while ago (see posts on 28 September 2013 and 06 November 2014).

I put in the trees on the background hills behind the barn and then started on some of the tree branches on the front of the barn.

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









Barn VII

The next barn I have worked on a number of times over the years (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016, 06 April and 20 August 2017).

I worked on the smaller birches on the right side of the drawing and then worked on the two very large birches.















Barn IX

Next I put in some of the grasses and growies in the front of the drawing. I will post this piece at a later date as more work on it is completed.

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

Birch Tree Trunks I

While at the Knoepfli Inn in Magnetawan earlier this week, a number of us worked on drawings and paintings of the birch trees by Cabin 5.

I had the chance to finish most of this drawing while we were there that I had started a while ago (see posts on 11 June 2015, 01 January and 13 May 2017).

Today I added a few more details to the birch trees to complete the picture.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

Back Forty II - A Work in Progress

Now that I am back from Magnetawan I thought that I would work on a couple of pieces from my property that I had started earlier this year (see posts on 25 June and 07 August 2017).

I added a couple of younger maple trees to the right of the larger trees by the entryway to the lower field.

Next I put in a few very small saplings to the right of the young trees.

















I wanted to add a little more depth to the drawing so I started with the distant fence by the treeline which is the start of 60 acres (24.3 hectares) of class 1 through 3 wetland and mixed forest which makes up the southern boundary of the farm.

I will post this drawing again at a later date once I have more of the tree lined boundary fences finished.

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 October.

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

Autumn Trees 2 - A Work in Progress

Today is our last day at the Knoepfli Inn and we will head home after breakfast.

Having gotten everything ready to go last night, I spent the morning working on this little painting that I had originally started here a couple of years ago (see posts on 20 October 2013, 17 February 2014 and 10 July 2016).

With having both oak trees and maple trees in front of the balcony, I sketched in the tree trunks and branches, as well as the pine trees in the background.

Next I painted in the tree trunks on the main trees when I heard the bell ring for breakfast and had to put everything away.

I will post this painting again once I have put the pine trees into the background.

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

ACEO - Dusk 14

We arrived at the Knoepfli Inn, located at 5484 Highway 124 in Magnetawan, Ontario yesterday and spent most of the afternoon settling in and taking photographs. I am limited by my leg as to where I can go on the property but hopefully by next year it will be a lot better and I can get down the hill to the river behind the cottages.

Bea Kolman mentioned at breakfast this morning she would really like it if for next year she could have some paintings of the various cottages for the Scenes of Magnetawan" show for next year. While the light was good in the morning I most my time out taking photographs of the cottages on both sides of the road, then I took pictures of the Inn, the farmhouse and the boathouse.

After lunch I spent some time working on a number of sketches of various birch trees on the property.

This evening after supper went down to the dock by the boat house, which is on Ahmic Lake at the start of the Knoepfli Falls which become the Magnetawan River at the end of the rapids under the Highway 124 bridge.

I thought I would use the opaque watercolor paint that I had used earlier this year, as it seems to lend itself to painting late evening scenes.

I had to work quickly so I kept the painting fairly simple before I lost the light as the sun set.

Thank you for looking at my 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. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Confirmed Shows for 2017-2018 - October

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
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.
24 Jan - 04 Mar 18 Beauty of Stillness
Opening Reception 28 Jan 18 from 1-4p.m.
07-25 Mar 18 Small Treasures
Opening Reception 11 Mar 18 from 1-4p.m.
Draw 25 Mar 18 from 1-4p.m.
28 Mar - 03 May 18 SPARK Photography Show
Opening Reception 08 Apr 18 from 1-4p.m.
20 Jun - 15 Jul 18 Interactions
Opening Reception 24 Jun 18 from 1-4p.m.
08 Aug - 09 Sep 18 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 12 Aug 18 from 1-4p.m.
26 Sep -21 Oct 18 Driven to Abstracrion
Opening Reception 30 Sep 18 from 1-4p.m.
24 Oct - 11 Nov 18 Outdoor Painters' Show- Nature's Splendour
Opening Reception 28 Oct 18 from 1-4p.m.
28 Nov - 21 Dec 18 and 03-20 Jan 19 On the Move - A History of Transportation
Opening Reception 03 Dec 18 from 1-4p.m.

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

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at one or all of these shows.