Kawartha Arts Festival

Today I went in early to the Kawartha Arts Festival to make any needed changes to my display.

First I made sure all the glass was clean, the tags were with the correct paintings and everything that was hanging was straight.

Next, I filled the rack with the shrink-wrapped originals, filled the holders with biographies and show schedules.

Lastly, I opened the binders filled with ACEOs and OSWOAs.

As usual, it was a busy day with many people coming through to visit the show, which is always nice and I spoke with people about my art and about doing animal portraits.














I would like to thank new collector Ms. Heather Fairly of Toronto, Ontario on her purchase of White Picket Fence (see post on 07 June 2018).













With it being so busy I didn't have much time to work on my drawing of Barn II (see posts on 25 September 2013 and 15 November 2014) but I prefer it that way, as I can always work on my art at home.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Setting up the Kawartha Arts Festival

Today I went to Fenelon Falls, Ontario to set up my exhibit for the 30th Annual Kawartha Arts Festival.

I arrived shortly after the 8:00 a.m. opening and after finding my space I started moving in the foundation of the display.

Once the table, table cloth and the grids were in place I brought in the boxes containing my paintings.

It was now, that the time consuming part was about to begin, hanging the paintings.

I started by putting the larger paintings on the centre two grids and then filled in the area around them with smaller pieces.

I had already decided that I would put the abstract paintings on the outer side of the display panels so I put them up next.

This was followed by putting paintings on the two inner panels.

From there I moved to the wall behind where my chair would be and I hung my display panel for the miniature paintings.

I also had room to hang a couple of smaller pieces on the wall as well.

Once I put the miniatures into the display panel, it was time to place a couple of pieces onto the small easels on the table.

Next, I cleaned off any fingerprints from the glass on the paintings.

Lastly, I put out the biographies, my shrink wrapped originals  into the rack and set out the two binders of unframed ACEO.

I set up my chair, put away all the extra paintings under the table and put everything else into the car.

Now I am going to head home and set out my art supplies and he drawing and paintings that I will work on over the next two days.

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

The hours for the show are Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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.

Lovesick Lake IX, XI and XII - Three Works in Progress

Today I wanted to do a little more work on these drawings that I had started last month (see post on 07 July 2019).

On the first one I worked on the tall pine tree on the small island and managed to complete the one side of the tree and some of the ground at its base before I was interrupted.















Lovesick Lake IX

After lunch I thought I would work on another of the drawings and I started with this one. I managed to get the cottage indicated with some of the trees and bushes around it, as well as the tree tops on the larger pines before it was time to get supper ready.















Lovesick Lake XII

I started to work on the next, but I wasn't destined to get more than a few of the top branches finished and indicating the branches on the largest tree, before I had unexpected company arrive. 












Lovesick Lake XI

I will post each of these drawings as more work on them is done or they are completed.

ACEO - Morning Fisherman 2

Today I decided to finish this painting that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 07 February 2017 and 08 December 2018).

First, I mixed a couple of different greens with French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge. I painted in the distant shore on the right side of the lake and then using a sponge, I dotted the leaves into the area above where a tree would be located on the rock spit.

Next, I mixed a brown of burnt sienna and the remaining green paint for the tree trunk and branches.

With burnt sienna I put in the rock reflections into the water.















For the fisherman I used cadmium yellow for the shirt, French ultramarine blue for the jeans and a mix of the blue and burnt sienna for the hat.

Lastly, the all important fishing pole and line were put in with the hat colour and a small amount of the tree trunk colour to darken it slightly.

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 look at my artwork and I hope you will return often.

Last Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today is a little more busy than it was yesterday and as usual I am sitting at the back of the building working on my art work.

I worked on this drawing of a small island on one of the lakes that had a solitary, large dead tree.

The tree skeleton had been bleached to a shimmering pale grey.

At a later date I may turn this drawing into a painting, but I will have to give a lot of thought to how I can have the tree stand out boldly against a dark background.

All Alone 1

One painting was sold by Rebecca Bilcox and small items were sold by Diane Collins and Emil Varga.

The hours for our show are:
18 Aug 19 - 12:30pm - 4:00pm

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

29th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today as usual, I was at the back of the Church at my table working on a drawing. In this case it was one of the sketches I did last month (see post on 21 July 2019) while out on Chemong Lake.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten to bring along the photographs so I could put the cottage on the island. Instead I worked on the land in behind the island and left the area where the cottage would go blank.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have added the cottage.















Three paintings were sold by Ron Desjardine and Rebecca Bilcox, as well as pottery by JoAnne Connell Northey and small items by Emil Varga and Diane Collins.

The hours for our show are:
17 Aug 19 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
18 Aug 19 - 12:30pm - 4:00pm

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

Big Cedar Lake VII-XII - Six Works in Progress

Today was going to be a nice day with the temperature reaching 81F (27C) and the humidity 84F at (29C) with a gentle breeze blowing.

After doing the chores and having breakfast, Ron thought we should go out canoeing.

While Ron got his fishing stuff together and got everything loaded in the car, I made our lunches and got my sketching things together.

It wasn't long until we were on the road and the only thing left was deciding which lake.

We passed by a couple of the lakes we often go to but didn't want to go too far and finally picked Big Cedar Lake.

Big Cedar Lake VII

Once everything was unloaded and Ron went to park the car, I did my first sketch of a birch tree that was on the shore.















Big Cedar Lake VIII

While we went up the lake, I took photographs until Ron found a spot where he wanted to go fishing.

We stopped by one of the islands, about halfway up the lake and Ron fished and I did started a sketch of the island.












Big Cedar Lake IX

We let the canoe drift and as my view of the island changed I didn't bother to paddle back, I simply started another sketch of the island from a different angle.

Once we were past the island and I was looking at the shore I started a new sketch of that as we drifted past.















Big Cedar Lake X

We stopped for lunch and let the current carry us back down the lake.

The breeze changed into a wind and we decided that we would go to the inlet near where we launched the canoe.















Big Cedar Lake XI

In the quiet, sheltered inlet, Ron continued to try and catch a fish while I worked on sketches of the rocks sticking out of the water.

Ron finally caught a sunfish which made him happy and we headed home after spending an enjoyable day on the lake. 









Big Cedar Lake XII

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

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

ACEO - Pink Sky 4

Today I wanted to work on a small painting, so I chose this one that was part of a series of paintings with "pink" skies (see posts on 16 October 2016, 14 May 2017 and 05 June 2018).

I started with the background and added in a few pine trees throughout the distant shore.

With the dark green I put the needles on the branches of the largest pine tree.

From there I added some Antwerp blue to the green and put the needles onto the middle tree, followed by adding a few needles onto the branches of the far right tree that had lost many branches through the years.

At the left side of the island I added a young tree.

Using the dark green, I painted in the trunks and branches.

Grasses and growies were added to the base of the trees and in various places by the rocks.

Using burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue I added the shadows onto the rocks.

Lastly, with a light tint of Alizarin crimson I brushed a few lines of pink across the surface of the lake to change it from one solid colour.

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.

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.

Fire - A Work in Progress

Today I was babysitting my grandson, Aaron and after supper he wanted to draw and colour.

So, I had him get washed and into pajamas so he would be ready for bed when his dad came home on his break to put him to bed.

While he was getting ready I got out coloured pencils and paper. When he was ready, I asked him what he would like to draw and he said "A campfire."

So, we sat together and I had him follow along with me.

First, I made a curved line near the bottom of the paper and using brown I ran lines out from the curved line to make the logs.

Next, we ran dark lines outward on each log to give the illusion of bark, followed by colouring them in.

Now it was time to put in the flames, using yellow, green, red, blue and orange.

Before we could finish the drawing his dad came home and it was time for him to go to bed.

Confirmed Shows for 2019 - 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.
18 Jun - 09 Oct 19 Scenes of Magnetawan

Miskwaa Art Studio and Outdoor Gallery, 250 Edwina Drive, Trent Lakes, Ont.
28 Jun -29 Aug 19

A Place For The Arts, 23 Bridge St. W., Bancroft, Ont.
16 Jul - 18 Aug 19
20 Aug - 22 Sep 19
24 Sep - 17 Nov 19
19 Nov 19 - 16 Feb 20

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
Buckhorn Artists' Group
16-18 Aug 19 29th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Kawartha Arts Festival
31 Aug - 01 Sep 19 30th Annual Kawartha Arts Festival

Selwyn Public Library - Bridgenorth Branch, 836 Charles St., Bridgenorth, Ont.
04 Sep - 01 Oct 19

Peterborough Square, Artisans Centre, 350 George St., Peterborough, Ont.
Creative Hands on Festival
13-15 Sep 19
10am-4pm

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, 328 Presqu’ile Parkway, Brighton, Ont.
02, 03, 06, 09 and 10 Nov 19 28th Annual Christmas at Presqu'ile
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery, 425 Douro Fourth Line Road, Hamlet of Douro, Ont.
08 Jul - 27 Aug 20 The Buckhorn Artists' Group
Opening Reception 10 Jul 20 from 7-8 p.m.
05 May - 30 Jun 21 The Buckhorn Artists' Group
Opening Reception 07 May 21 from 7-8 p.m.
05 Jan - 30 Mar 22 The Art of Daniel Marlatt and Susan Sydney
Opening Reception 07 Jan 22 from 7-8 p.m.

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