Stevan's Funeral

Today we held the funeral service for my brother Stevan.

He passed away last week at the age of 63, due to a combination of C.O.P.D. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) complicated by pneumonia.

May he rest in peace.

Queen Conch and Sand Dollars - A Work in Progress

Today I was painting with the Lakefield Creative Arts Group at the St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Lakefield.

Since I wouldn't be able to stay the entire day, I chose to work on small pieces in pen and ink.














I brought along three pieces that I had started a long time ago (see post on 26 September 2014).

Beginning with the first one of three sketches featuring Queen Conch shells, I finished the first Sand Dollar and started on the Conch shell before I had to leave to for a number of appointments.

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

Aaron's Dragon

Today I am at Christine's place babysitting Aaron. We played with various of his toys until suppertime.

After supper he got himself ready for bed and we settled down on the couch to draw until his dad came from work to put him to bed.

Aaron asked if I would draw a dragon for him to put on his wall. So I asked him what kind of dragon he wanted an he and he told me it had to have horns, big green eyes, long claws on its feet, a long tail and its scales had to be blue.














Once he approved of the drawing, I started to colour in the horns, while Aaron picked out the colour for the dragon's eyes.

Next he gave me a pink pencil to do her nostrils, and he gave me a dark brown pencil for the claws.

Lastly, he picked out the blue for the dragon's body and I started colouring in the dragon's body when his dad came home.

I offered to finish colouring the dragon before I left to go home, but he insisted on taking it to his room with him and put it by his bed.

ACEO - Sand Bucket 1

Today was going to be a very busy day; most of it was spent running errands leaving just a small amount of time for painting.

We started off by going to Wimpy's diner, at 1080 Landsdowne Street West, in Peterborough, Ontario for breakfast.


I enjoy going there as they play music from the 50's, have a wide variety of choices, good quality food and wonderful service.

The décor is in keeping with the time period, having advertising on the walls of the foods, motorcycles, cars and trucks, pictures of the actors and actresses, some of the cartoon characters and a number of the slogans.

In one corner there is a junk box with flashing lights changing colours in time with the music.

From there we went to two hardware stores, the lumber yard, the bank and three different grocery stores. On the way home we picked up lunch.

After having our meal, I put the groceries away before getting out my art supplies to paint.















I picked this painting that I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 21 June 2013 and 22 July 2017).

I worked on the sand bucket first and washed in alizarin crimson on the main body of the pail. I darkened the paint slightly and added another layer of paint into the mid tone and shadowed areas of the pail. Lastly, I put in another layer of darker colour into the shadowed areas to complete the body of the pail.

Next, I worker on the trim and handle of the pail using a wash of new gamboge first. This was followed by using a mix of cadmium yellow and new gamboge to complete the pail.


















Next, I used a mixture of Antwerp blue and raw sienna and put in some seaweed, that had been washed up on the shore.

I added a small sea shell on the right-hand side of the beach below the pail. 

Lastly, I added some texture to the sand using a sponge with mixture of burnt sienna, alizarin crimson and French ultramarine blue. 















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.

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.

Oil Lamp Trio - A Work in Progress

Today was the first session in the New Year with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group.

Last year we spoke about having a small still life display set up on the first session of each month for those that were interested in working from life.

To start the year off with a challenge I brought in glass objects which are always interesting as well as challenging.















Three of the group decided to take up the challenge. Next month another person will bring in the still life treasures.

I managed to complete the outline drawing for two of the glass oil lamps and made some progress on the third one.

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

Front Field II - Lone Pony - A Work in Progress

Today I was painting with the Lakefield Creative Arts Group and brought along a number of pen and ink drawings that I have been working on for a while (see posts on 18 June and 19 July 2017).

I started with this one beginning with the closer stand of trees on the right side.

I put the foliage onto the trees and added more details to the tree trunks and branches.












I finished this section of trees by putting a few smaller young trees in around the base of the mature trees.

From there I moved to the other side of the drawing and began to put in the start of the forest at the lower edge of the field.

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

Zor

Today I was babysitting my grandson Aaron.

We played for a while with his Lego building fortresses and had battles with our armies. He won, of course.

After supper we settled down to draw our monsters for our upcoming battles. We each used a sheet of paper from an old calendar and Aaron decided he was going to keep his monster a secret until I return to baby sit him in two weeks.














Mine is called Zor.

He is eight feet tall and has large bat like wings, with razor sharp edges. He has a pair of large curved horns on his head, a single eye and a long sharp pointed tail which can be used as a weapon.

I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with for his new monster.

Rain Clouds - A Work in Progress

Today I had a little bit of time ans I thought I would work on this painting that I had started many years ago (see post on 14 January 2011).

I washed in a sky behind the clouds using Antwerp blue and set it aside to dry while I decided what to put into the foreground.









Next, using a pencil I lightly drew a few trees into the foreground against the rain clouds.

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

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 January.

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

Weeping Willow 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I was sitting at my kitchen table looking out across the front lawn watching Ron removing the snow from the driveway and I looked at my weeping willow tree which we planted 36 years ago to celebrate the year my daughter, Christine was born.














This tree has grown to a height of almost 50' (15.24m) and my arms will only reach a little over half way around the trunk.

Using a pencil, I lightly drew in the trunk and main branches of the tree. With it being winter they are no longer hidden by the multitude of leaves.

Once I was pleased with the drawing, I got out my watercolour paint and started putting on leaves.

Before I could get very far, Ron came in for lunch. I will post this piece later as I do more work on it.

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

Spooky

It is a New Year and I have to come to terms with myself that my little Spooky cat won't be back again.















The last time she was here was on 27 November 2019 and she hasn't returned, which is unusual, as she always stays for the winter and in late spring she leaves for the summer and comes back when the snow returns.

I can only hope she is with my other animals which have passed over before her and is enjoying a peaceful existence.

Confirmed Shows for 2020 - January

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.

A Place For The Arts, 23 Bridge St. W., Bancroft, Ont.
19 Nov 19 - 16 Feb 20
21 Feb - 15 Mar 20
20 Mar - 10 May 20
13 May - 14 Jun 20
17 Jun - 12 Jul 20
01 Jul - 03 Aug 20 Solo Show in The Annex
Opening Reception 11 Jul 20 from 1-4p.m. 15 Jul - 16 Aug 20
15 Jul - 16 Aug 20
05-31 Aug 20 Buckhorn Artists' Group in The Annex
Opening Reception 08 Aug 20 from 1-4p.m. 19 Aug - 20 Sep 20
19 Aug - 20 Sep 20
23 Sep - 25 Oct 20
28 Oct - 29 Nov 20
03 Dec 20 - 17 Jan 21

Northey's Barn Boutique, 1981 13th Line, Selwyn, Ont.
23-24 May 20 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Miskwaa Art Studio and Outdoor Gallery, 250 Edwina Drive,Trent Lakes, Ont.
27 Jun - 31 Aug 20

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.

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
Buckhorn Artists' Group
14-16 Aug 30th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Kawartha Arts Festival
05-06 Sep 20 31st Annual Kawartha Arts Festival

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