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.

ACEO - Sunset Island 4

Since it is a rainy day, I thought I would get this little piece finished that I had started last year while teaching a class (see posts on 31 May 2017 and 27 February 2018).

I started by working on the grasses and growies at the base of all the trees alternating with burnt sienna, raw sienna and new gamboge.

Next I worked on the largest pine tree on the island and finished putting in all the branches with pine needles as well as all the lower broken branches using various mixtures of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue.

From there I moved down and painted in the rocks on the island using the tree branch mixture and adding in a little bit of alizarin crimson.

Lastly, I put in the reflections in the water with a mix of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

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.

Loon Call Lake Turtle I

I thought I would like to complete this drawing of a little painted box turtle sunning himself on a fallen cedar tree trunk that I started a few of years ago (see posts on 27 September 2015 and 07 February 2018) while we were canoeing on Loon Call Lake.

The first thing I did was to redraw the turtle in order to get the proportions of the turtle and the shape of the shell correct.










I gradually added the stripes onto the head and neck, then darkened the turtle's shell leaving the light areas between the plates and finished the turtle by adding in the legs.

Lastly, I added a little more bark onto the cedar tree trunk and put in a few more ripple lines in the water beneath the tree trunk.

This little, original 3-1/2" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $30.00.

Shades of Spring 1 - A Work in Progress

My Grackles have arrived this morning and I wanted to do a little more work on this painting of springtime that I had started last year (see post on 01 March 2017).

First I lightly defined the outline of the main birch trees with a pencil.

With various combinations of burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue I put in the markings on the trunks of the trees.

Using a mix of Antwerp blue and raw sienna I indicated some grass into the foreground and a slight rise of ground behind the birches.

I will post this painting at a later date once the birch trees have been completed.

New Exhibit at the Academy Theatre

Today the members of the Kawartha Arts Network changed their paintings in the Guild Room at the Academy Theatre.














Photography courtesy of Daniel Marlatt

This exhibit will run from 24 March through to 26 May 2018.













For this show I have three paintings on display.

















The first two paintings are hanging over the piano at the far end of the room.












Photography courtesy of Daniel Marlatt.

The third on is on one of the middle walls opposite the bar.














Photography courtesy of Daniel Marlatt.

The Kawartha Arts Network will be holding a silent auction at the Academy Theatre on 04 May at the same time as the Bruce Cockburn: Bone on Bone Tour.

The silent auction is a fundraiser in support of the Theatre and our way to thank them for allowing us to exhibit our art in the Guild Room.

If you have a chance, please come out to enjoy the performance at the Theatre, bid on one of the paintings and have a pleasant evening.

Coon Lake X and Long Lake VI - Two Works in Progress

Today I wanted to progress a little further on a couple of pen and ink drawings that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 29 July 2014, 20 July 2016, 31 August and 22 October 2017) while canoeing on some of the lakes in the area.

I started by adding more shading on a number of the rocks on the island.

From there I progressed to adding some cast shadows over some of the rocks.

There is still a lot more to do on the rocks and I left working on them to add a few more ripples into the water.

I will post this piece at a later date.

Coon Lake X

I added the distant trees into the far shoreline on another drawing that I had started a while ago (see post on 15 June 2013 and 05 July 2016).

Next I put in one of the larger pine trees on the island.















Long Lake VI

I will post this painting again once I have added more of the trees on the island.

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

Dark Skies - Two Works in Progress

Today I didn't have a lot of time to paint but wanted to get a little more work done on a couple of paintings and I thought putting in the skies would be a step in the right direction.














Quiet Place 3

I pulled out this small drawing I started a long time ago (see post on 12 November 2014) and put in the sky using a mixture of French ultramarine blue with a small amount of burnt sienna and set it aside to dry.















City Lights 1

Next I started on this piece that I started earlier this month (see post on 10 March 2018) and using the sky colours from the last painting and added more burnt sienna and a little bit of cerulean blue and brushed in the sky.

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

Viamede Resort Cottage Reflections I - A Work in Progress

I wanted to do a little more work on this drawing that I started last year (see post on 14 September 2017).

Starting on the left side, I put in the closer deciduous trees and added a few growies.











Next, I indicated the trees in the background, followed by putting in the pine trees.

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

Background 86

This is what I did by applying the leftover paint from my palette onto a spare canvas.















I will post this piece at a later date once I decide what I want to paint on this canvas.

Buckhorn Backyard - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to do a painting of the building that is behind the church in Buckhorn where we paint on Tuesdays.

The angle I chose to do the building is from the back of it, where there is a lot of "junk" laying around on the ground.

I under painted the canvas with a wash of raw sienna and set is aside to dry while I decided where I would place the building.

Using Grumbacher (naphthol) red, I put in the building first and added the background trees, snow banks and then indicated all the things at the back of the building and finally the road which is at the back of the church.

I started on the sky using mixtures of naphhol red, titanium white and cerulean blue, keeping it slightly darker on the left side.

Next I mixed up various greens of cerulean blue, ultramarine blue, raw sienna and Hansa yellow for the pine trees in the background.

The background snow was mixtures of titanium white, cerulean blue and burnt sienna.

The weathered white boards on the building were mixtures of white, with burnt sienna, then with some of the green mixes, and some areas with raw sienna.

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

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

ACEO - Granite Cliffs 1

Today I wanted to complete a painting and I pulled out this piece that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 05 November 2016, 05 February, 07 March and 05 July 2017).

I started by adding in the trees on the distant rocks and put in the snow covered land at the end of the lake.

Next with a little Antwerp blue and burnt sienna I brushed in the areas of the lake where the winter winds uncovered the ice beneath the snow.















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

Lone Pine 2 - A Work in Progress

I wanted to work on smaller painting today as I didn't know how much time I would have before my friends came over to the house.

This piece I had started a couple of years ago seemed ideal (see post on 10 April 2016).

Using French ultramarine blue mixed with Antwerp blue I brushed in the sky leaving some white areas for clouds and then darkened the blue with a little more ultramarine to put in the water.

While the paint was drying I mixed various greens using the sky colour plus either raw sienna or new gamboge.

First I put in the trees on the shoreline.

I darkened the greens slightly and did the under painting for the needles on the pine tree.

I mixed a dark for the tree trunk by adding burnt sienna to the green.

Next I added some alizarin crimson to the trunk colour and put in the rocks at the base of the pine tree. While the paint was still wet I dropped in a small amount of Antwerp blue to add some mottling to the rock.

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

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Changing the Painting at St. Matthew Church

Today the temperatures are starting to get milder at 34F (1C) with the wind chill making it feel like 28F (-2C), but we are also going to get some more snow in the afternoon.

I decided that I would go out and paint with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group and while I was there I would also change my painting at the church.

City Lights 1 - A Work in Progress

Today while watching television I did this little sketch of a city at night and added a little sepia paint to the bottom of the paper.














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

Phantom

Today my patience was rewarded with one of the many wild cats that often winter in the barn finally, came down into the barn to eat from the food dish with me still in the barn.

It is the third year this large male cat has been coming here when food is hard to find.

He has grown a lot from the first year, when all I would see is a glimpse of this small ball of fluff in the mow as he quickly disappeared from sight.

Or at a distance, in the barn paddock before he went under the fence and slipped away like a phantom.

The second year he was a lot bigger and not quite as afraid of me, often taking his time to look at me before disappearing in the mow, but I would often find him watching me through the opening in the loft door for my cats to get into the main barn.















This year he stayed at the opening in the loft door and I started putting food on one of the steps to entice him to come down while I was still in the barn.

Perhaps next year, I will have gained his trust to the point where he will allow me to touch him. Time will tell.

Moonlight 7 - A Work in Progress

I pulled this drawing out that I started a couple of years ago (see post on 17 September 2016) and thought I would like to do a little more work on it and decided that this would be a snow scene.

I wanted to try a different coloured night sky, so I started with a mix of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and a small amount of alizarin crimson to warm the colour.

Working with the darkest colour of the sky at the edges of the painting and I gradually lightened the colour toward the full moon creating a halo.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have added the river and the snow.

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

Small Treasures Fundraiser Exhibit

Today is the first day of the Small Treasures Fundraising Show at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio (with all proceeds going for prize money for the Best of High School Art Show held at the Gallery each May).

The opening reception is on Sunday, 01 March 2018 from 1-4 p.m.















If you are interested in purchasing a $30.00 ticket for your chance at an original 8" x 10" painting, be sure to get them soon because the number of tickets are limited to 82, which is the number of paintings that are available.

All ticket holders are guaranteed an original painting, with the draw for the order of selection of the paintings to be held on the final day of the exhibit which is on Sunday, 25 March 2018 beginning at 2:00 p.m. with the first name drawn having the first choice of one of the paintings on display. This will continue until all the purchased tickets have been drawn.















If you have a chance, please come out and help support our future artists and at the same time you have the opportunity to select a new painting for your home, or to have a wonderful gift to give for a birthday, a wedding or any other occasion where you want something that is a one of a kind gift.

I look forward to seeing you at the show.

Creation II

Today I wanted to try a different style with the poured acrylic paint. This one is known as a "flip pour" acrylic painting.

I used titanium white, Mars black, gold, silver, raw sienna, medium blue and turquoise green.















This pour gives an interesting effect which I like and I will probably try a few more with different colours.

This original 8" x 10" acrylic painting is available for $125.00 unframed.

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 - Pink Sky 5

Today isn't too bad outside with the temperature at F (6C), with the wind making it feel like F (-2C).

I pulled this painting out that I started a couple of years ago (see post on 16 October 2016) and lightly drew in the top of a pine tree.

Using combinations of French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge I painted in the needles on the pine tree.

Next I put in the pine tree trunk and branches using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

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.

Creation I

This is a "puddle pour" acrylic painting that I did yesterday while I was at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

The colours I used for this one are titanium white, Mars black, gold, Hansa yellow, raw sienna and bright red.

They are a lot of fun to do and I will probably experiment more with this style of painting with acrylics.
















This original 8" x 10" acrylic painting is available unframed for $125.00.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2018 - March

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

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
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 02-20 Jan 19 On the Move - A History of Transportation
Opening Reception 03 Dec 18 from 1-4p.m.

Academy Theatre, 2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, Ontario
Guild Room
03 Feb - 24 Mar 18
24 Mar 18 - 22 Apr 18

18th Annual Peterborough Garden Show,
The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough Ont.
13-15 Apr 18

The Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery, 425 Douro Fourth Line Road, Hamlet of Douro, Ont.
04 May - 04 Ju1 18 Countryside Art Group
Opening Reception 11 May 18 from 7-8p.m.

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
Buckhorn Artists' Group
16-19 Aug 18 28th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Kawartha Arts Festival
01-02 Sep 18 Kawartha Arts Festival

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