Lakefield Trail 2-5

Today I was sitting at A Place For The Arts, in Bancroft, Ontario.

Usually, there are a fair number of people going through the Gallery but today it was fairly quiet.

Fortunately, I always bring something with me to work on when there isn't anyone in the Gallery.

I decided I would do some small drawings, from photographs (see post on 28 September 2020) while I was sketching on the Lakefield Trail.

Lakefield Trail 2

For the first one I worked mainly on a large maple tree that was close to where I was set up to sketch.

I added in a small amount of background bushes and tree trunks.

For the second drawing I worked on the trail where it had gone around the bend and in behind a large tree and went out of sight.

On the far side of the trail I indicated the trunks of a few mid-sized tree trunks and added some bushes and growies.

Lakefield Trail 3

For my third drawing I decided to change the format from portrait to landscape and do the section of the trail where it approaches the bend with two of the larger trees on the left side of the trail on one of the mid-sized trees on the far side of the trail in front of the background small trees and bushes.















Lakefield Trail 4

For my last drawing I did a row of the larger trees lining the right side of the Trail.















Lakefield Trail 5

There is only a small amount of the Trail that is showing to the left of the trees.

Autumn Beauty 1

Today I pulled this painting out that I had framed and decided that it needed a little more work (see posts on 05 November and 04 December 2014 and 22 September 2015).

First, I put some pure white in the sunlit side of the birch trees, followed by adding the dark markings on the trunks and branches of the trees.















From there I added some more brighter oranges and yellows to the leaves of the maples and birch trees.

Lastly, I dotted in a few splashes of cadmium red throughout the painting to tie every thing together.

Lakefield Trail 1

Today I went on a paint out with the Lakefield Creative Art Group and did this drawing of a section of the Lakefield Trail near the Lakefield Beach.

While I was there I took many photographs of the beach, the Otonabee River and the beautiful autumn colours.














I was going to do a number of smaller drawings, but the wind came up and the clouds rolled in with a rumble of thunder.

I chose to go home before I got wet.

Mikisew Provincial Park

With this being our last full day at Mikisew Provincial Park this morning we got up early, as we wanted to do both the Beaver Meadow Trail with the red markers and the longer Maple Canyon Trail with the blue markers.


















We went to the start of the trails and after looking at the trail map decided to do the Beaver Meadow Trail first and where it connects with the Maple Canyon trail and follow that trail until it connects with the yellow markers of the Old Dog Trail that we did yesterday and follow it back to the beginning.

The start of the trail took us around the golf course and then through a forested path before coming out into a clearing.

It was there we meet another person who was returning from the wetland. After I spoke to him about his camera, he let us know he had been taking photographs of a young male moose in the pond. We thanked him and continued.

It wasn't long before we once again entered the forest and the ground slowly began to get softer and more moist.

Then came the first of a number of boarded walkways which allowed us to cross through marshland.

This continued until we came to the beaver pond, where there was a long elevated wooden walkway with the pond on both sides.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of the moose in the pond which was disappointing.

The one compensation was that as we started up the hill after crossing the walkway there were moose tracks in the mud at the side of the trail.















The nice thing about this trail was that there were different views of the pond on our left side, including coming close to the beaver lodge.















When we came to the Maple Canyon Trail, it lead us away from the pond and through a wonderful hardwood forest with many of the leaves on the trees in various stages of changing colour.















There were a number of places along this trail, that had wooden benches so you could sit and enjoy the views from the high points along the trail.















Eventually, we came to a point in the trail where we found the trail marker showing all three trail colours and followed it back to the start of the trail.

From there it didn't take long to return to the trailer where we had lunch and then relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine for a couple of hours.

We decided to take a stroll down to the beach and once we arrived there, we took off our shoes and walked along the shore until the sun got lower in the sky. It was time to head back to the trailer.

While I made supper, Ron put the logs into the fire pit so we could enjoy our evening tea or coffee with a fire.

It was the perfect end to an enjoyable day.

Tomorrow we will pack up and make our way back home.

Mikisew Provincial Park

Late yesterday afternoon, we arrived at Mikisew Provincial Park. It is a small 323 acres (130.71 ha) park, established in 1964 in South River, Ontario.















The Park offers three shallow sandy beaches, boating and paddling around the small islands on Eagle Lake, as well as hiking through hardwood forest and past ponds and wetlands.















Last evening, we had a little time to walk to the entrance of the trails and then take a stroll down to Eagle Lake.

On the way to Eagle Lake, there was a sign a the start of a trail going to the Eagle Lake General Store should anyone need groceries or other items that they needed restocked.

We walked to the first of the three beaches and then continued along the pathway through a small wooded area with campsites and it wasn't long before we arrived at the second beach.

At this point we decided to turn around and return to the trailer for the night.















This morning after breakfast we decided to follow the path back to Eagle Lake and continue following the path beyond the beach.















The first trail was called the Lakeview Trail. It took us through, wooded areas, past the boat launch and out to a point of land where you could see a large areas of the lake.















As we continued along the path we came to the first yellow marker for the Old Dog Trail.

We continued following the Old Dog Trail as we knew it would eventually join into the Maple Canyon Trail and take us back to the start point of all three of the hiking trails.

We crossed one of the roads going through the Park and found the Old Dog Trail marker and the marking post showing both the yellow and the blue line for the Maple Canyon Trail.

It was a nice walk through the forest until we came to the starting point of the three trails near the entrance building and the golf course.















After lunch, Ron wanted to go fishing, while I took the dog along the pathways through the campsites taking photographs of the autumn colours.

Unfortunately for Ron he didn't manage to catch any fish, but he did enjoy being out on the lake. I got some wonderful pictures of the trees and the lake.

It wasn't long before we were back at the trailer and I was making supper.

We decided to have an early night as we wanted to do both the Beaver Meadow Trail and the Maple Canyon Trail.

Wild Grapes and Post 1

Today some of the members of the Buckhorn Artists' Group went to a paint out at JoAnne's farm.

We were spoiled by the number of things available for us to draw and paint.

Her wide variety of different themed gardens, her husband's collection of International Harvester farm tractors, old farm equipment found throughout various small planted areas, and the various barns and out buildings.

I spent most of the morning taking photographs of the tractors, garden sculptures, sunflowers and the barns before I finally chose to do a drawing of wild grape vines beside the barn.

They were growing so thickly over an old wooden loading chute that it could barely be seen. This is of the main post at the lower end of the chute.

Drawing on the Otonabee River

Today, Norma and I went out along River Road to find a place to sketch.

We came across a lovely location with two cottages on the opposite side of the Otonabee River, which had stone stairs leading down to the water and a wide variety of blooming plants in their gardens which were reflected into the calm waters.















Cottage on the Otonabee River I

After doing my drawing of one of the cottages, I walked a little further up the river and did this sketch of the branches sticking up out of the water of a cedar tree that had broken and fallen into the river.















Dead Cedar on the Otonabee River I

I will probably come back and do a little more work on each of these drawings at a later date.

Eels Lake V and VI

Today we went out in the pontoon boat to Eels Lake and invited my friend, Norma and her dog Buddy to come along with us.

We both brought our sketch books along and Ron of course brought his fishing rod.















Eels Lake V

We first went to one of Ron's favourite fishing spots and we sketched while he fished. After he caught his second fish that I had to unhook and release we went to a quiet inlet and had lunch.

From there we toured the some of the lake and after about an hour Ron decided to try for another couple of fish while we sketched.















Eels Lake VI

Unfortunately, for him he didn't have any luck at his new location.

It wasn't long before we headed back to the dock and from there headed home.

Pigeon Lake I

Today Christine came out to the farm to visit for the day and we went out on the pontoon boat in the afternoon to take her fishing. 

While they got the boat ready, I packed a supper for us to have while out on the lake.

Once we launched the boat at the dock onto Chemong Lake, we went under the James A. Gifford Causeway which links Bridgenorth to Ennismore.

We headed up Chemong Lake and turned into Pigeon Lake, then continued into the lake until we found a promising spot to fish and I had a number of things that I could draw.

Unfortunately, they only succeeded in catching various weeds and water plants. Although Christine did get a few nibbles on her lure which "lost" its tail to a hungry predator

While Ron and Christine tried to catch fish, I worked on this drawing of a series of islands on Pigeon Lake.

We stopped in one of the sheltered bays on Chemong Lake to eat our supper before heading back to the house.

At home, we had an enjoyable evening playing Tri-Ominos, before Christine left to return to her home.

Buckhorn Artists' Group - 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.

The Buckhorn Artists' Group wishes everyone good health during these challenging times.

Eels Lake IV

Today we went to Eels Lake with the pontoon boat, which was a great improvement over last year when we took the canoe.

We went up a different channel and found a quiet spot where Ron could fish and I had plenty of things to draw.

I had barely started my drawing before Ron caught a perch, which made him happy as last year he didn't catch anything when we were here last year.

After I removed the fish from the hook and carefully released it back into the lake I returned to my drawing.















It wasn't long before he caught another perch (but not the same one) and I returned it back into the lake.

Once more I returned to my drawing and this time, I managed to get a lot more work on it completed before he caught a large mouthed bass and we went through the same routine again.

I did a little more work on my drawing before Ron decided he wanted to explore the lake and see what other fishing spots he could find.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and I took many photographs of the islands, shoreline and some of  the boats out on the lake. Giving myself a lot of reference materials for future paintings.

Confirmed Shows for 2020 - September

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 or cancelled.

A Place For The Arts, 23 Bridge St. W., Bancroft, Ont.
DUE TO COVID-19, THE GALLERY WILL BE OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AND HOLIDAY MONDAYS FROM 11AM-4PM AND SUNDAY FROM 12-4PM.
19 Aug - 20 Sep 20

23 Sep - 22 Nov 20
24 Nov 20 - 15 Feb 21

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19
Kawartha Arts Festival
05-06 Sep 20 31st Annual Kawartha Arts Festival

St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, 81 Queen Street, Lakefield, Ont.
Lakefield Creative Arts Group
07 Nov 20 World War II Show from 10am-4pm

Presqu’ile Provincial Park, 328 Presqu’ile Parkway, Brighton, Ont.
CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19
07, 08, 11, 14 and 15 Nov 29th 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.
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.

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

As many of the current shows are cancelled due to COVID-19, I would like to wish everyone good health and to be safe during these challenging times.