Tied Up 5

I was out back of the barn today and looking at some of our old boats.

I did this little drawing of the old fishing boat that was still on the trailer.















Of course I made some changes and set it up to look as though it was tied up on a shore on one of the many lakes in the area.

At a later date I turn this drawing into a painting.

ACEO - Sunset Island 6

I wanted to complete this painting that I had started a couple of years ago (see post on 12 July 2017).

With a mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I finished adding the needles onto the pine trees on the island.

I lightened and darkened some areas of the rocks on the island to give it more texture. This was followed by adding the reflections into the water.

The painting looked too stark so I added another island onto the right side of the painting and its reflections.

I lifted some of the dark colour from the trees on the horizon line.

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.

Coon Lake XI- XIII

Today we went out on Coon Lake which is one of the many lakes in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park.

This will be the first time we are canoeing since 2016, as after breaking my femur in February of 2017 I was not able to get myself safely out of the canoe.

Even though it was overcast and they were calling for rain we wanted to try out the new canoe and see how it handles as compared to our old Kawartha canoe which was very stable.

Coon Lake XI

It took a little while to get everything set up, but once we were ready we launched the canoe and paddled out into the lake.

It was fairly calm as we went up the lake and turned into the third inlet.

Ron got ready to fish, while I took out my sketchbook and pencils so I could draw some of the trees and rocks at the edge of the lake.

I got a fair amount sketched in of the three pine trees on the point before Ron caught his first fish.

It was a nice sunfish which I took off the hook and carefully released back into the lake.

Coon Lake XII

In the meantime the canoe had shifted as the wind had started up and I started another sketch of another grouping of pines.

But before long he caught a second sunfish which I also released back into the lake.















Coon Lake XIII

With the wind getting stronger and the storm clouds looming we decided to get closer to the landing.

We pulled into another inlet and Ron was in his glory as he caught seven nice bass, which I as usual took off the hook and released.















New Canoe

We moved to the inlet just before the landing and waited there as two kayaks and a small motor boat were ahead of us. I started on another sketch, but it wasn't long before Ron caught another four bass, but with his last cast he almost caught a huge bass.

It was coming to take the lure as Ron pulled it out of the water. To say he was disappointed is putting it mildly, but it was starting to rain and time to head in to shore.

We will just have to come back another day to try for the monster bass, since we know where he hangs out.

Two Guys and a Girl Show Opening

Today is the opening of the Two Guys and a Girl Exhibit at the Kawartha Artists Gallery and Studio, located at 420 O'Connell Road, Peterborough, Ontario.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who came out to see the show, considering the temperature was 88F (31C) and the humidity made it feel like 91F (33C).

I am not sure that I would have gone to a show on a day as hot as this when it continues for another two weeks.

It was interesting to see the visitors interacting with the artists and discussing the artwork among them.















About halfway through the afternoon Ron came out to see the show. This is the first time he has ever come out to see one of my gallery opening receptions.















He spent the better part of an hour speaking with Daniel Marlatt and Emil Varga about their art, before he left to return home to do chores.















I spoke with many people about my art and a number of them were especially interested in my pen and ink drawings and my poured acrylic abstract paintings.















Shortly before closing Christine arrived to see the show. She has always been very supportive of my art and chose her three favourite pieces in this show.















We ended up staying open past our closing time to accommodate the pubic. On the whole it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.















I would like to thank returning collector Ms. Christine Martin of Peterborough, Ontario on her purchase of Creation VI (see post on 10 October 2018).

Young Pine Tree I

Today I wanted to work in pen and ink, so I pulled out my box of pencil sketches and found this one of a young pine tree that I did on location a couple of years ago (see post on 25 December 2017).

First I tidied up my sketch adding a few more details to the branches.

Starting at the top of the tree I indicated the centre of the tree trunk by running a line down from the top of the tree to where it ended in the grass.

From there I added the branches, once again from the top and worked my way down the tree trunk.

Next I added the pine needles onto each of the branches.

I gradually thickened the tree trunk, as I approached the bottom and filled in a few small broken branches coming off from the trunk.

Lastly I indicated the ground line by adding in some grasses and growies.

When matted and shrink wrapped, this original 4" x 9” pen and ink drawing will be available for $45.00.

Scenes of Magnetawan Art Show

Today we went up to Magnetawan to hang the Scenes of Magnetawan art show at the Knoepfli Inn, located at 5484 Highway #124, in Magnetawan, Ontario.















The show will run from 18 June - 09 October 2019.











We were greeted by Bea Kolman, the owner of the Knoepfli inn.















We brought all the paintings into the Inn and set them in the lounge.














Just as we brought the last of them inside Bea told us to sit down and have lunch before starting to hang the show.

During an enjoyable lunch of home made beef barley soup and a grilled cheese sandwich we caught up with everything that had been happening at the Inn during the winter.

As Bea cleared the table we unpacked all the paintings we had brought to hang in the dinning room and in the lounge.

We started by pulling out the larger pieces.

These would hang in the dining room between the windows and set everything to go around them.















From there we hung two mid-sized pieces by the hutch in the corner of the dining room.















Next we hung some of the mid-sized pieces on the kitchen wall and then filled in the rest of the wall with an assortment of smaller pieces.

We made small arrangements of a couple of mid-sized paintings together with small paintings on the last to small walls in the dining room.

We put a couple of paintings on the wall by the stairwell going to the upper floor before moving on to hang paintings in the lounge.

We started by putting one of the large paintings beneath the first deer head.

This was followed by putting a smaller painting on each side of the deer head.

There were already paintings in place over the piano in the corner of the room.

On the far wall we placed a small painting below the plaque on the wall.

Then there were two more deer heads one on each side of the window.

Once again we placed a larger painting on the wall below the deer head.

Then we put smaller paintings on each side of the deer head.

















The last deer head was close to the window so we put a mid-sized painting below it and two more to the right side of it and the paintings were all hung.

We will return to the Knoepfli Inn in October when we arrive for our annual autumn paint out. I look forward to that every year.

If you have a chance contact Bea and make arrangements to come out and enjoy the exhibit.

Hanging Two Guys and a Girl Exhibit

Since the Gallery is closed on Monday and Tuesday other than for workshops and studios we decided to set up our displays this morning and do any of the finishing tomorrow if needed.














Emil Varga was there with me in the morning and we spoke with Daniel on the telephone to decide how we would set up the Gallery space.
















Daniel wanted to set up his grids in the centre of the Gallery space and Emil preferred to have the long wall and I wanted my space in the "cubby hole" at the front end of the Gallery.

The remaining space would be divided between Daniel and I, with him taking the short back wall and half of the wall opposite Emil's artwork.

After bringing in my paintings, table and display racks, I went got two sets of panels to cover the pipes in the cubby hole and the and another set of panels to cover the heat ducts in the other corner.

I started with the short wall by the stairs and hung the large painting of the Belgian, followed by two pen and ink drawings of draft horses on either side of the watercolour painting.

On the opposite short wall I hung the two display panels and filled them with miniature abstract paintings.

Between the two panels I hung two mid-sized abstracts.

In the centre of the last wall I placed an acrylic landscape and flanked it wit smaller acrylic landscapes.

To the left side I hung a watercolour painting of a horse.

To the right side I put a conte portrait and a landscape watercolour.















Next, I brought over two of the plinths and placed each of them beneath the centre paintings on the short walls.















On the one plinth I put one of my leather carvings on an easel and on the other I put my rack with shrink wrapped artwork and the small bios and show lists.















I set up my table in below the large acrylic landscape and I placed an acrylic painting on an easel at the back of the table and put out the two books of ACEO to the front.












From there I went to the opposite end of the Gallery and in the smaller section of the long wall I hung five of my larger abstract paintings, which completed that space.















Now it was time to hang some of the remaining paintings onto the grids. I started with the set at the back of the Gallery.















I started with the panel facing the far side long wall and since I didn't want the paintings too close to the floor I put the three rubber ducky paintings on that panel.














On the other side of the grid I put the two small sailboat paintings side by side at the top, followed by two early morning landscapes with pinks and blues in the skies.














Going to the other set of grids I started by putting two floral paintings and still life on the panel facing the other grids at the opposite end of the Gallery.














On the final panel I hung three winter landscape paintings.

My last painting was hung by the desk on the wall on the opposite side of the stairs going down into the studio.

My next step was to put all the labels on the wall or on the grids by the paintings.

Lastly, I cleaned the glass on any of the paintings that I may have gotten marks on while taking them in or out of their boxes.

Once I was happy with the way everything looked it was time to remove all the boxes, cartons and containers out to the car.

ACEO - Autumn Maples 1 and 2

Today I wanted to finish these two paintings that I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 20 September 2013, 23 January and 17 October 2017).

I decided that I would work on the first painting, beginning with the trees in the background and get it as far along as the second painting and then I would work back and forth on both pieces together until they were completed.

I used various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, new gamboge, burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue for the trees.

Autumn Maples 1

I used burnt sienna and alizarin crimson for the rocks on the far shoreline.

Using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the maple tree trunks in the foreground.

Now I can start working on both paintings together.

Using a mix of Antwerp blue and a small amount of French ultramarine blue I painted in the water adding lighter and darker areas.

With a sponge and cadmium red, cadmium yellow and raw sienna I added the leaves onto the trees.

Lastly I put in the grasses and growies with new gamboge and raw sienna.

Autumn Maples 2

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

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Old Shed I

Today I wanted to complete this drawing that I had started many years ago (see posts on 13 July 2013, 03 March 2017 and 16 May 2018).

I started by completing the roof on the building and put in an area to show where the tin was beginning to lift.

From there I proceeding to finish the wooden boards on the side of the  building, leaving areas where the wood had rotted and started to show the inside of the shed.















Next I put in the second wooden barrel on the far side of the boards leaning against the building and added some grasses and growies at its base.

Lastly, after deciding that I wasn't going to put a door on the building, I darkened in the open doorway.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and framed will be available for $150.00.

New Show at A Place for the Arts

Today I went up to A Place For The Arts in Bancroft to help hang the new show.

I was told that I could use the same space that I had my artwork in previously.

First I put the two small paintings in the same place which made the switch easier.

On the large panel I started by hanging the sailboat at the top and this was followed by putting the two paintings that were in the aluminum frames below.

I had to decide how I would place the rest.

I moved them around a number of times before finally deciding on having the larger one to the inside of the panel and the two smaller ones on the outer edge of the panel one on top of the other.

If you have a chance, please come out and enjoy the new exhibit.

The Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and on all holiday Mondays.

ACEO - Long Shadows 4

Today I wanted to complete this painting that I had started a while ago (see posts on 28 November 2014 and 26 March 2017).

I started by putting in the shadows across the snow with a mixture of Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue.

Next I added a little bit of burnt sienna to the shadow colour and put the first layer of pine needles on the trees.

I added more of the blues to darken the colour slightly and put in the shadowed needles.

While the shadowed needles were drying I added a little bit of raw sienna to the green mixture and the high lit needles were painted.

Next I mixed a grey of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and put in the tree trunks and branches.

Lastly, using mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna and new gamboge I put in the grasses and growies.

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.

Lilac Spring

Today as I was out and about, I came across some lilacs in bloom. I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out my sketchbook.

I liked the composition of the scene in front of me, with the contrast of the dark greens of the lilac bushes with their pale coloured flowers against the bright greens of the fields in behind them.















I like the drawing and it has the potential to make an interesting painting.

Before I left, I made sure to take a number of reference photographs as I never know how long it will be before I actually start the painting.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park

Today I took a number of my paintings to Presqu'ile Provincial Park, located at 328 Presqu’ile Parkway, in Brighton, Ontario to be juried into their 28th Annual Christmas at Presqu'ile Quality Arts and Craft Show, which will be held on 02, 03, 06, 09 and 10 November 2019 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.















I left myself an extra two hours of travelling time so I wouldn't be late for my 1:20p.m. appointment time.















As it ended up it was a good thing I did, as there were three different roads that were under construction. Two of the roads were being paved which involved waits because only one lane was open. On the third one they were putting in a new culvert and again only one lane was available.















Finally, I arrived at Presqu'ile Provincial Park and stopped at the gatehouse to get a map to find Stonehedge Cottage , which was located at the far end of the Park and the speed limit on the roads were 25mph (40kmph).















Once I arrived at the Cottage with 10 minutes to spare, I took my paintings into the display room and set them up and went to the waiting area while five adjudicators looked at my art work.















I was pleased when I was called back into the room to learn that I had passed the jury and that they wanted my painting Frozen Barns (see post on 02 February 2010) painting, which usually hangs in my living room to be displayed at the show to be hung over the fireplace in the main display area. I look forward to exhibiting at this new show in November.