Lovesick Lake XIII - A Work in Progress

I see that my goshawk is still around. Last year, he worked his way through almost 20 squirrels; this year with not as many squirrels available he did take out a blue jay.

I didn't see him do it but, the jay feathers and the imprint in the snow told the story.

With it being Ron's birthday today and the kids bringing Chinese food for supper I didn't have a lot of time to get into anything that was going to take a lot of set up to get working on a painting.

So I decided that I would work on some of the sketches I did last summer while we were out on the lakes in the canoe or on the pontoon boat.

I chose this one of  Lovesick Lake (see post on 08 June 2020) and started working on putting in the far shoreline.

From there, I put in some of the trees on the island and it wasn't long before Christine and Kyle arrived bring supper.













Christine had baked a "turtle" cake for him, as she felt that at age 65 he would slow down to turtle speed which, we both knew would never happen.

While Kyle went own to the barn to get Ron, we got everything set out for supper.

We had an enjoyable supper, followed by singing "Happy Birthday" to Ron , who managed to blow out the candles with no problem.

After dessert was finished, we decided to spend the rest of the evening playing Chinese checkers.

Time passes quickly when you're having fun and all too soon, they had to go home.

It won't be long before it is Christine's birthday.

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.

As many of the current shows are cancelled due to COVID-19, the Countryside Art Group would like to wish everyone to enjoy good health, peace and prosperity in the new year.

Ron's New Toy

After breakfast and doing the barn chores, it was time to unload the backhoe.















Ron went to get the tractor while I started to undo all the tie downs and chains holding the backhoe in place on the trailer.















It didn't take Ron long to return with the tractor and help me with getting the backhoe free.















Once Ron placed the boards in place to make the ramp to get the machine off the trailer and brought the tractor up and attached the ball to the backhoe hitch it was time to gently take it off the trailer. 















Everything went smoothly, and Ron was able start it up and move the arm and see the range of motion and get familiar with the controls.















He is quite pleased with his birthday present and took it up behind the barn and covered it with a tarp to protect it from the elements.

Ron's New Toy Home

Today we are going to Gownstown, Ontario to look at a backhoe that Ron had found looking through various heavy equipment advertisements.

This small town is north of Listowel, which under ideal conditions this 153 mile (246km), would be a 3-1/2 hour drive away, but it ended up being just under 5 hours.
















Once we arrived, we were able to see the backhoe and Ron was pleased and willing to wait until the owner returned from work to make sure there were no problems once it was started.

The sun was just starting to go dawn when the owner arrived and they got it started and went over moving the arm and seeing that everything worked.
















Ron, was pleased to deal with an honest man, who represented his machine as it was and stated all the problems that it had (which were minor). After that, it didn't take long for Ron to pay for it, get his bill of sale and with the owner's help, get it loaded onto the trailer.

Now comes the long drive home, but it was well worth spending the day to go and get something he has wanted for a long time. I told him it is his birthday present and he agrees.

Eels Lake I - A Work in Progress

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to have a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) come to my fat feeder at the front of the house. She tried to get onto the feeder so she could get to the suet a couple of times before landing on the ground and looking up and studying the feeder.

It didn't take her long to figure out how she would have to land on the feeder to gain access to the food.

These mainly black birds are one of the largest forest birds in North America and I usually see one a couple of times a month.

The name Pileated comes from the Latin word pileatus which means "capped" and refers to the bird's prominent red crest. This one is a female, as the male has a red line from the bill to the throat patch running through the lower black stripe on the cheek.

As they do not migrate, a Pileated woodpecker pair will stay together on their territory all year round. They will defend their territory in all seasons, but tolerate others during the winter.















While walking through the fields and in the forest on the property I have often seen signs that they are in the area. This is because Pileated Woodpeckers digging into dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, of carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae, they leave a unique, large and roughly rectangular hole in the wood.

I hear them drumming to proclaim their territory and they will often use hollow trees to make the loudest sound possible.

In April, the male excavates a hole for their large nest in the cavity of a dead tree, to attract a female for mating and raising their young. Once the young are raised, the nest is abandoned and they do not use it again.

When abandoned, these holes provide good homes in future years for many other birds and a wide variety of other animals.















After she left, I thought I would like to work on this drawing that I started while we were canoeing on Eels Lake a couple of years ago (see post on 30 September 2019).

I started working on the rocks in the water in the foreground, indicating the outline and adding some of the shadows.

I put in a few water ripples to give me a base for the island.

Next, I put the bark texture on the lower part of the main pine tree.

From there I started on a small pine that was just in front of the larger pine.

I put the ground lines in first. This was followed by the trunk and then gradually adding branches and needles.

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

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

ACEO - Splash 1

Today is the first time I have had Evening Grosbeaks come in for food at my feeders in over 30 years.

It was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise.

There were only two males and I hope they return often and bring others next time they come back for food.

I came across a number of small frames in a box that I had purchased a couple of years ago.

I thought it was about time I put paintings into them, especially since I had some small pieces of paper that would fit into the frames perfectly.

I started by putting in a sky into the top of the paper with Antwerp blue.

Next using alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, French ultramarine blue I painted in the area where the rocks would be placed.

While the paint was drying I mixed a dark of the colours used for the rocks and painted over top of the rocks when they were dry and using a palette knife I scraped out the rock shapes.

I splattered a mix of raw sienna and Antwerp blue into the white area above the rocks.

Lastly, I scraped out the splash from the waves below the rocks.

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 $25.00 and sold framed.

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 January.

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, joy and happiness during these challenging times and throughout the new year.

Confirmed Shows for 2021 - January

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 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.

AS OF 26 DECEMBER 2020, THE GALLERY WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO A COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN ONTARIO. THE EARLIEST REOPENING WOULD BE ON 17 FEBRUARY 2021.
11 Nov 20 - 24 Feb 21

Art Gallery of Bancroft, 10 Flint Ave, Bancroft, Ont.
AS OF 26 DECEMBER 2020, THE GALLERY WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO A COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN ONTARIO. THE EARLIEST REOPENING WOULD BE ON 17 FEBRUARY 2021.
15 Dec 20 - 24 Feb 21

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.

Selwyn Public Library - Bridgenorth Branch, 836 Charles St., Bridgenorth, Ont.
02-30 Nov 21

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, peace, prosperity and happiness in the new year.