Loon Call Lake II

Today some of the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group are taking our annual painting trip to the Knoepfli Inn, located at 5484 Highway #124, in Magnetawan, Ontario.

We had made arrangements with owner Bea Kolman that we would arrive in time to have lunch.

After lunch, we unpacked and then split up to go out to sketch, paint or take photographs on the property.

Even though it was overcast and threatening to rain I went out and took a number of photographs of the roadway from the Inn to our cabin, down to the Magnetawan River at the bottom of the hill.















It wasn't long before we could hear the bell ringing calling us for supper at the Inn.

After supper I wanted to work on something, but I wasn't in the mood to paint; so I pulled out this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 14 September 2014, 13 May 2016 and 23 February 2017) while canoeing on the lake.

A couple hours later I had finished all the trees and rocks on the right hand side of the drawing and added all the small details that were needed to complete the left side of the piece.

This original 5-3/4" x 9" black and white drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

Abstract 38 and 39

This is the another technique we learned called "dipping" in the Pour Your Heart Out workshop with Valerie Kent at the Cavan Art Gallery.

This is another way of using up the excess acrylic paint, rather than wasting by throwing the paint away.



















Abstract 38

As the run off paint collects in the tray, canvas can be set down into the paint and then carefully lifted to create interesting designs.

In both of these pieces most of the other students in the class found shapes of fish. Can you see fish in these paintings, or do you see something different?



















Abstract 39

I found it to be an easy way of creating an interesting abstract painting and some of the others in the class added small amounts of pure paint to create different designs.

Each of these original 2" x 2" acrylic paintings and will be available with its own display easel for $25.00.

ACEO - Dusk 8

After a week without high humidity, we are right back at it with a temperature of 81F (27C) and the humidity making it feel like 91F (33C). I wonder how long this heat wave will continue.

I decided that I would work on this little painting that I had started last year, (see posts on 09 March and 27 July 2017).

I put the pine trees onto the large island at the far side of the lake using French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

I darkened the water with the tree colour to create movement on the surface of the lake.

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.

Driven to Abstraction at KAGS

Today is the first day of the Driven to Abstraction exhibit at KAGS.

It is a wonderful show with a wide variety of different types of abstract works being displayed.

Most of the paintings are in acrylic or oil paint with one or two watercolours.

The sizes vary as much as the styles, with the largest pieces are 4' x 6' (1.22m x 1.83m) to the smallest which are 8" x 10" (20.3cm x 25.4cm).

I put two pieces of poured acrylic paintings into the show. I would have liked to have been able to enter some of the pieces I did in the workshop on the weekend but the need more time to dry.














The exhibit runs from 26 September - 21 October 18 with the opening reception 30 September 18 from 1-4 p.m. I hope you will be able to come out and enjoy the show.

Creation V and Abstracts 36 and 37

This is the fourth technique we learned is called a ring pour in the "Pour Your Heart Out" workshop with Valerie Kent at the Cavan Art Gallery

For this piece, we painted the canvas black first and set it aside to dry before mixing six metallic paints and more black paint.

In a large cup we used gold paint mixed with just enough water so it flows and then added an equal amount of Floetrol and stirred it well.

To all the remaining colours; in my case silver, metallic emerald, metallic amethyst, metallic teal and black just enough water was added to make it fluid.



















Creation V

Into the large cup with the gold paint in it, silver paint was added first in circles, followed by the each of the rest of the metallic colours added in circles and lastly black was added in circles.

For the next layer of paints, the various metalllics were added beginning with amethyst, teal and emerald, followed by the silver and then black, once again all were poured into the gold base in circles.

A final layer was added in circles using only the metallics beginning with teal, emerald and amethyst.



















Abstract 36 SOLD

The paint from the gold cup mixture was poured in a circle over the canvas and rolled slightly before letting it move around on its own.

The run off paint was put onto one of the small canvases which was then set aside to dry.

Then the remaining paint left in the gold cup was poured over another of the small canvases and the paint was rolled around before being set aside to dry.



















Abstract 37 SOLD

Creation V is an original 12" x 12" acrylic painting will be available for $250.00.

Abstract 36 and 37 are original 2" x 2" acrylic paintings and will be available with their own display easels for $25.00 each.

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

Creation IV and Abstract 35

This is the third technique we learned called a six cup flip pour in the "Pour Your Heart Out" workshop with Valerie Kent at the Cavan Art Gallery.

In this one we were told to choose three colours, one metallic colour and either black or white; with the one not chosen to be used with silicon added to under paint the canvas. Three of the colours were to have silicone added to them and the remaining three to have Floetrol added.

I chose to under paint the canvas with black and silicon, the yellow, teal and red had Floetrol added and the metallic amethyst, lilac and white had two drops of silicon added.

Once all the colours were mixed in separate cups, each cup was turned upside down in different areas onto the canvas, beginning with the ones with Floetrol.



















Creation IV

Once the paint started to ooze out from underneath the cups they were lifted off the canvas allowing the colours to move.

The colours with the Floetrol added will move a lot more than those with just the silicon added as the canvas was tipped and turned to have the paints run together.

As with the previous large canvas, I used a smaller canvas to capture the "run off" and added any remaining paint left from the cups onto this canvas and rolled the paint around on the surface until all the area was covered.



















Abstract 35 SOLD

Creation IV is an original 12" x 12" acrylic painting will be available for $250.00.

Abstract 35 is an original 2" x 2" acrylic painting and will be available with its own display easel for $25.00.

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

Creation III and Abstract 34

This is the second technique we learned called a dirty pour in the Pour Your Heart Out workshop with Valerie Kent at the Cavan Art Gallery.

In a large cup we mixed white paint with the same amount of Floetrol mixing it well.

With the three primary colours I added water to thin it slightly and without stirring any more I added 1 drop of silicone to the bright red paint.  To the teal paint I added 2 drops of silicone and three drops of silicone were added to the Copenhagen blue.

With the black only a small amount of water was added and the last colour mixed in a small cup was the gold paint with an equal amount of Floetrol.



















Creation III

Once all the colours in the smaller cups had been prepared they were added one after the other into the large cup with the white paint mix. Lastly straight white paint from the tube was added into the large cup.

With a Popsicle stick the paint mix was stirred no more than twice in an "S" shape.

The canvas was placed over the top of the cup and were flipped over and set on the table.

When the paint started to ooze out from under the cup, the cup was carefully lifted off the canvas. The paint was then rolled around on the canvas until the top and sides were covered and then set aside to dry.


















Abstract 34

Since there was some "run off" paint left I poured it onto a small canvas and then scraped any remaining paint left in the large cup onto the canvas as well and rolled the paint around until the top and sides were covered.

This one was also set aside to dry.

Creation III is an original 12" x 12" acrylic painting will be available for $250.00.

Abstract 34 is an original 2" x 2" acrylic painting and will be available with its own display easel for $25.00.

Fantasy Flowers

Today I took a class called "Pour Your Heart Out" with Valerie Kent at the Cavan Art Gallery in Cavan, Ontario.

Having tried poured acrylic painting earlier this year I knew how much left over paint there would be so I took along a dozen small 2" x 2" canvases to create some small poured paintings to eliminate wasting so much paint.

For the first painting we did is what called a "Puddle Pour" which can be more realistic as you have more control over the paint as it slides around on the canvas.

We were told to pick three colours and either white or black for the fourth one and I chose white and decided I would use the three primary colours. We mixed the paint together with equal parts of Floetrol.















We layered each of the colours in three different areas on the canvas.

I started in the first corner with my blue as the base, followed by yellow, red and lastly white. From there I went diagonally across the canvas and started with red, followed by blue, yellow and white.

For my last flower I went partway up the canvas and used white first followed by yellow red and blue.

Using a large straw I blew the paint across the canvas to form "petal" shapes. When I was pleased with the results I used the end of a Popsicle stick and indicated the flower stamens.

The final part of this painting I dropped light and dark green onto the canvas to create leaves, vines and stems by pushing the colour around with the Popsicle stick.

This original 11" x 14" poured acrylic painting when framed with be available for $175.00.

Autumn Maples 3

Today I was at the Gayle Nelson Keene Historical-Society room, located in the Otonabee-South Monaghan Library, at 3252 County Road 2, in Keene, Ontario.

I wanted to see the room and the amount of space that was available for paintings and photographs for their exhibit called "A Pictorial History of Hope and Lang Mills" which will run from 23 April - 03 June 2019. I thought it may interest some of the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group to exhibit their work.

While I was waiting for the library to open I did this drawing of some maple trees on the lawn of the property next to the parking lot.

I took a number of photographs and at a later date may do a painting of the trees.

Two Photographs in The Link, Autumn 2018

I was just notified that two of my photographs are appearing in The Link Magazine, Autumn 2018 issue in an article "Creativity Thriving in the Kawarthas" by Joanne Culley.

The Kawarthas are a hive of creativity for many artistic pursuits.

Whether it’s being near the water or due to the surrounding beautiful natural scenery, the region inspires many to express themselves in a variety of ways.

The Kawartha Potters Guild (KPG) has been growing steadily over the past 25 years and for the past six years has had a permanent location in Peterborough with 117 members.

“Pottery is becoming popular among those disillusioned with mass market items made and shipped from halfway around the world,” says Karina Bates, administrator. “It is also enjoying a resurgence because of the meditative nature of working with clay. In a world full of beeping cell phones, sitting still with a lump of clay and forming it into something beautiful is really special. To help people explore pottery’s meditative nature, we offer a beginner throwing class with yoga and meditation.”

The values of education and community are at the Guild’s core. Throughout the year, they offer many wheel-throwing and hand-building courses from beginner to advanced, along with a hand-building/beginner sculpture course.

Their courses for young people include after-school classes, a teens’ throwing course, family clay days with seasonal creations and a summer day camp. There are many benefits to children in creating pottery, according to Bates.

“We have worked with children of many ages and abilities over the years and find that working with clay can be a soothing activity for them,” she says. “Many children are very tactile and they can work through the process of making, decorating and glazing to the final stage where they get to see their finished product out of the kilns. Also, sometimes clay doesn’t work the way you want – kids as well as adults learn lessons in impermanence and trying again.”

The Guild’s retail store carries local handmade creations including pottery, wood, textiles and gourds with lots of selection for wedding, shower, corporate or Christmas gifts.

Kawartha Potters Guild 993 Talwood Rd., Peterborough.

Gallery open Monday to Friday, 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

A member of KAG painting en plein air. Photo: Sue Sydney.

KPG Christmas sale: Friday, November 30 to Sunday, December 2.

Another hive of creativity is the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio (KAGS) that was founded in 1990 by a group of artists who wanted a place to paint. Their mandate is to encourage the making of art and the appreciation of art in the area. There are now over 100 members consisting of visual artists and photographers.

“Creating art relieves stress, encourages creative thinking, increases brain function, boosts self-esteem and provides a sense of accomplishment,” says Jane Armstrong, publicist. “Creating in a studio space with other artists is a great learning tool. Each individual uses different techniques and exhibits their own styles from which they learn and grow. Many friendships are made as people already share interests.”

As part of a not-for-profit cooperative, members are actively involved in the running of both the studio and the gallery, serving on the board, organizing and publicizing shows, gallery sitting and more.

KAGS offers a full roster of classes and open studio sessions throughout the year, including workshops in printmaking, life drawing, landscape painting, portraits and still life. Their Outdoor Painters Group paints on location or “en plein air” during the warmer months.

“Our many workshops and studios provide a reasonably priced opportunity for members to learn from each other and artists from around Ontario,” continues Armstrong. “The calibre of work in our exhibitions has risen consistently over the years.”

KAGS puts on approximately 12 shows a year, including six theme shows open to all members, four rental shows, a fundraising show Small Treasurers and The Best of High School Art Show, a juried exhibition with awards presented to student artists.

“Over the years, KAGS has grown in its support for and the development of artists at all stages of their artistic journey,” says Armstrong.













KAG Workshop with Lori Dunn. Photo: Sue Sydney.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio
420 O’Connell Rd., Peterborough.

Gallery open Wednesday to Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm.

Upcoming shows:
Serving Up Colour, from September 12 to 23, opening reception on September 16,
Driven to Abstraction, from September 26 to October 21, opening reception on September 30;
The Outdoor Painters Show, from October 24 to November 11, opening reception on October 28.

Joanne Culley is an award-winning writer and documentary producer from Peterborough. Her work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Peterborough Examiner, and Our Canada magazine.

Douro-Dummer Automotive Flea Market and Car Show

Today is the first day of the Douro-Dummer Automotive Flea Market and Car Show, held at the Douro Community Centre and Arena, 2893 Highway 28 and County Road 4, Douro, Ontario.















Instead of being in the Harvest Room as we were for the spring show we were on the pad in the arena.















The people running the show made sure that my space was directly under one of the arena lights so that I would be able to paint as I usually do during an art show.















Cindy due to family commitments was unable to attend this show, but Diane Collins was here for the first time.















I am hoping the high temperatures, 86F (30C) and humidity making it feel like 91F (33C) do not keep the people and the antique cars from coming to the show.















Later I will go out and take photographs of the antique cars as well as many of the flea market items that will be on display.















The show runs today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and if you get the chance, please come out and enjoy the antique cars, the artwork, the crafts and if you need parts to fix your own antique car you may find what you need at the automotive flea market.

ACEO - Pink Sky 6

Today I wanted to finish this little painting that I had started a while ago (see posts on 26 December 2016 and 27 February 2017).

I lightly indicated with a pencil the distant shoreline and using various greens made from French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, raw sienna, new gamboge and aureolin. I painted in the trees on the distant shoreline leaving an area just above the waterline for the rocks on the shoreline.

Using raw sienna, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I indicated the rocks between the water and the trees.

Next I darkened the rock colour with a little more burnt sienna and a touch of French ultramarine blue and put in the rocks in the foreground.

With the green mixtures used in the background I put the needles on the tree branches.

Lastly I used a mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and painted in the tree trunks and a number of the dead branches on the pine trees.

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 $20.00and sold unframed.

Along the Road I

Earlier this week when we went to Gananoque, Ontario to pick up our travel trailer I did a few sketches on the way, while Ron did the driving.

This was one of the scenes I did while we were stopped at a set of traffic lights just outside of Gananoque.















I darkened in the background pine trees that were in behind the autumn coloured maple and birch trees on the hill.

Lastly, I added some of the grasses and growies into the foreground at the edge of the road.

Farm by the River I

Today is the first day of painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group at St. Matthew Church in Buckhorn, Ontario.

I thought since I was there, I may as well change my painting hanging in our display area, so I exchanged Strawberries with Single Pear.

I brought one of my pen and ink drawings that I had started a few years ago (see posts on 11 November 2015, 31 January and 13 October 2017) and thought I would complete it.

I started by putting in the third large tree trunk into the foreground.

Next I added in the grasses and growies on the edge of the water and at the base of the two trees on the right side of the drawing as well as a few small bushes.















Lastly I added in the trees on the far shoreline and the ripples into the river.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $95.00.

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

Travel Trailer

Today we went out to Gananoque to the 1000 Islands RV Centre to pick up our new travel trailer.

This is the only trailer that I have not actually been in, but when Ron came home with all the information about it and that he liked it more than any of the other trailers we had looked at over the last four months.













After I went over the floor plan, saw the colour and it had a fairly large table that I can paint at with plenty of light. It had many of the things we both wanted, the bed and the table that didn't have to be folded down and set back up.

The one thing that both of us liked was that even when the slide out is on the inside there was a separate door that allowed entry to the bathroom; which is a good idea when you are out on the road in the middle of nowhere.











We went through the orientation on the trailer, about all the parts and pieces and how they work as well as showing us how everything worked.

Then we picked up a number of things that we needed in the RV store and returned home with the trailer in tow.

We will probably take the trailer out one weekend soon, before it gets too cold to go camping.

Playing with the Toys

It is nice not, to be dealing with the heat and humidity for a few days as we had a cool morning of 43F (6C) in morning, with the temperature making it up to 63F (17C) by the afternoon.















It was nice to have the family come up to the farm for the day.















Aaron was happy to have the speed on this mower opened up one level so he could go a little bit faster.















Christine was not to be outdone and she brought the barn monster out to go through the fields and the various paths throughout the sugar bush and into the forest.















She waited for Kyle to finish up what he needed to do in the workshop, before he brought out his dirt bike.















Once they were all out together Kyle challenged Aaron to a race once around the top field with the starting point between the two trailers.















As the sun got lower in the sky I went in the house to get supper ready as they would soon be in to eat, after putting their toys away.

Pontoon Boat

Yesterday, before I went over to Christine's house to babysit Aaron I stopped and looked at a pontoon boat. Ron has wanted one for a number of years and I found one that was in good shape and within our price range.

After speaking with the owners we agreed on a price and I gave them a deposit on the boat.

I let them know I would be back tomorrow to pay the balance and to take the boat home.

As the owner went to take the "For Sale" sign off the boat another vehicle pulled in to look at the boat. He wanted the boat as well, but he was too late.

I am very glad I didn't wait until today to go and look at the boat, or I wouldn't have been able to get it for Ron.

Once Ron came home today he went to the shop to get all the things together that he may need to bring the boat and trailer home. He is always ready for anything that can go wrong and may need to be fixed while we are in transit.

As it turned out it we needed a set of lights to attach to the trailer.

It didn't take long for Ron to hook it up since he brought all the tools he needed with him.















Once all the paperwork had been taken care of we were on our way home.















Even though the boat is a little smaller than what he had wanted he is quite pleased with his boat.















Especially since the previous owner took excellent care of the boat, motor and trailer.















We will probably go out in the boat at least once this year before it gets too cold.

Long Lake VI

Today I wanted to complete this drawing that I have been working on for a number of years, (see posts on 15 June 2013, 05 July 2016, 23 March and 31 May 2018).

I started by completing the large pine tree in the foreground first, before going to work on the background trees behind the large rock on the left side of the drawing.















From there I worked on the large rock in the background first, indicating the outer edges before proceeding with adding the shadows over the rock and the water at its base.

Lastly, I completed the middle ground rocks by adding the shadow and details.

This original 6" x 9" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

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 September.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2018-2019 - September

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.

Academy Theatre, 2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, Ont.
Guild Room
22 Apr - 30 Sep 18

Knoepfli Inn, 5484 Highway #124 Magnetawan, Ont.
26 Jun - 03 Oct 18 Scenes of Magnetawan

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
08 Aug -09 Sep 18 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 12 Aug 18 from 1-4 p.m.
26 Sep -21 Oct 18 Driven to Abstraction
Opening Reception 30 Sep 18 from 1-4 p.m.
24 Oct - 11 Nov 18 Nature's Splendour - Outdoor Painters' Show
Opening Reception 28 Oct 18 from 1-4 p.m.
28 Nov - 21 Dec 18 and 02-20 Jan 19 On the Move
Opening Reception 03 Dec 18 from 1-4 p.m.
23 Jan – 24 Feb 19 Monochrome and Black and White
Opening Reception 27 Jan 19 from 1-4 p.m.
27 Feb - 24 Mar 19 Awakenings
Opening Reception 02 Mar 19 from 1-4 p.m.
27 Mar – 02 May 19 SPARK Photography Show
Opening Reception 07 Apr 19 from 1-4 p.m.
21 Aug - 22 Sep 19 Stems and Stuff
Opening Reception 25 Aug 19 from 1-4 p.m.
25 Sep – 27 Oct 19 Faces and Figures
Opening Reception 29 Sep 19 from 1-4 p.m.
30 Oct – 17 Nov 19 TBD - Outdoor Painters' Show
Opening Reception 03 Nov 19 from 1-4 p.m.
04-22 Dec 19 and 03- Jan 20 Harvest of Colour
Opening Reception 08 Dec 19 from 1-4 p.m.

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

Automotive Flea Market and Car Show
Douro Community Centre and Arena - The Harvest Room
2893 Highway 28 and County Road 4, Douro, Ont.
15-16 Sep 18 9a.m.- 4p.m.

The Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery, 425 Douro Fourth Line Road, Hamlet of Douro, Ont.
09 Jan 18 - 22 Mar 19 Scenes of Canada, The Art of Daniel Marlatt and Susan Sydney
Opening Reception 11 Jan 19 from 7-8 p.m.

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

ACEO - Peach Sky 1 and 4

Today is the first day of the Kawartha Arts Festival, held at the Fairgrounds in Fenelon Falls, Ontario.

As usual I will be working on a couple of small paintings during the day and I pulled out these two pieces that I had started a couple of years ago (see post on 06 December 2016).

I decided that I would work back and forth between the two paintings starting with the background and working forward.















Peach Sky 1

The background had been painted, by using various of Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue, raw sienna, burnt sienna and new gamboge. I darkened the greens and painted the foreground pine trees.

To complete both pieces I used mixtures of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and both blues to paint in the rocks at the base of the trees.















Peach Sky 4

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.