Northern Lights

It is a miserable day with the temperature hovering around 41F (5C) and we have mixed precipitation falling to put the icing on the cake.

I decided I would get this painting finished today as I have been working on it for a long time (see posts on 09 December 2010, 21 February, 29 May, 10 July and 29 August 2012, 25 May and 25 July 2016 and 09 July 2018).













Using mixtures of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson, I finished the trunk and broken branches on the dead tree on the left side first.

From there I completed the pine tree on the far left side before working on the smaller trees on the far side of the lake.

This original 7" x 11-1/4” watercolour painting when framed will be available for $245.00.

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

Today is another hot 91F (33C), hazy and humid 95F (35C) day and I thought I would do a little more completed on this painting that I have been working on for quite a while (see posts on 09 December 2010, 21 February, 29 May, 10 July and 29 August 2012, 25 May and 25 July 2016).

I started by putting in a base colour of burnt sienna and cobalt blue on the remaining rocks in the painting.













Then using a mix of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson, I worked on the three main trees on the left side of the painting and started by getting the trunk finished on the first one, as well as some of the branches and needles onto the tree.

Next I worked on the dead pine tree and was able to get over half of the trunk completed.















I finished one of the small trees on the far shore of the lake and indicated the trunk of another of the background trees before adding some of the branches and needles to the last pine tree.

Now that Ron is up, I will put this painting away and I will post it at a later date once it has been completed.















It is nice having him home for an extra day and I had gotten him a little toy helicopter to play with in his "spare" time.

Fortunately, there was very little wind and in the afternoon after he had finished everything he wanted to do, he was able to relax and fly it on the front lawn.












Perhaps I will get him a larger one for Christmas or his birthday.

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

Today is going to be another hot 85F (29.4C) and humid 91F (32.8C) day, making it a good day to stay inside with the air conditioner on keeping things livable and getting work done on a painting.

I decided to do a little more work on this painting that I had started many years ago (see posts on 09 December 2010, 21 February, 29 May, 10 July and 29 August 2012) and recently found.

I started on the right hand side of the painting beginning with the trunk of the tall pine tree in the foreground.



Next starting at the top of the tree I added branches and needles, gradually working my way down the tree trunk.

I added the background trees in behind the rocks at the edge of the lake.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed the trees on the right side and drawn in the trees on the left side of the painting.

Light Show

This is a painting I had started last year (see post on 29 December 2011) and decided to finish.

I added a few more trees to the right side of the painting and a couple more dead trees to the background.

I think it will make a nice addition to the collection of paintings I am taking up for the show in Algonquin Provincial Park in November.

This is an original 5" x 7" watercolour painting and when framed will be available for $165.00.

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

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

Today I was at KAGS waiting for an artist to come in and sign her contract and pay to rent the gallery for an upcoming show.

I decided to do something productive and work on this piece (seeing postings on 09 Dec 2010, 21 February 2012, 29 May 2012 and 10 July 2012).

I finished painting in the background trees and started to paint a lot of the rocks. Then I indicated where I wanted to put the foreground dead tree trunks.

After getting the contract signed, the person realized that they had forgotten to bring a cheque and had to go out and return with the funds before the rental agreement could be completed.

While I waited some more and finished painting in the rocks and still had time to draw in one of the large foreground pine trees.

Next I will have to decide where I will place the rest of the closer trees.

I will post this painting at a later date once it is completed.

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

Since we are having the June KAGS Executive meeting this afternoon, I decided to go and take the life drawing class in the morning and while I waited for the rest of the Executive committee to arrive I thought I may as well work on one of my many unfinished pieces.

Since I didn't have a lot of time, I added a few more rocks and trees to this painting (see postings on 09 December 2010, 21 February 2012 and 29 May 2012).

I will post this painting again at a later date as more of it is completed.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

I came across this painting that I had started a while ago (see postings on 09 December 2010 and 21 February 2012) and decided to do a little more work on it.

Using a dark mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I started painting in some of the background trees.

I will post this painting again at a later date when more work is completed.

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

It was a busy day at KAGS with many people coming through the gallery. I didn't have very much time to work in this painting (see post on 09 December 2010).

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and burnt sienna I painted in the sky using a dry brush and leaving areas of colour showing through for the Northern Lights.

Once I have completed more work on it I will post it at a later date.

Light Show - A Work in Progress

Today I decided to play with plastic wrap and see if I can create the Northern Lights with a twist.

Using masking fluid I splattered a fine spray across the top area for stars and let that dry while I mixed the colours I was going to use in the sky.

I wet the paper and poured French ultramarine blue into the sky leaving some of the areas white. Then into some of the white areas I painted in some aureolin and kept some of the colour pure and allowed the colour to mix with the blue in other areas.

I placed the plastic wrap on the top of the wet paint and set it aside to dry.

After removing the plastic wrap from the painting I used mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to paint in the trees and foreground.

This painting still needs something before I consider it completed. I will post at a later date once it is finished.

Aurora 1

The paper was wet with water and using Antwerp blue I put down vertical strokes across the paper leaving a few areas without paint.

While the paper and paint were still wet I applied alizarin crimson in the centre of the picture overlapping some of the Antwerp blue and the white paper allowing the paint to blend on its own.

With the paper still wet raw sienna was applied to the left side leaving some areas of the Antwerp blue and alizarin crimson untouched.

The painting was then left to dry completely before the trees were painted in using French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna.

This little gem is an original 2-1/2" x 3-1/4” framed watercolour available for $65.00. SOLD

Northern Lights - A Work in Progress

I was shown another way of doing Northern Lights and thought I would like to try it.

The colour is painted into the background for the Northern Lights and allowed to dry. For this I used new gamboge, alizarin crimson, Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue.

Once the paint is dry then the trees and background are drawn into it. This is so you know where you want the darks to be left and where you want to lift out the lights.

I will do the next step at a later date and post the results.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork.

Aurora - A Work in Progress

I enjoy seeing the Northern Lights even though here in the Kawarthas, they are not very brightly coloured. I still find them fascinating and will watch them for as long as they light up the sky.

For this painting the sky was painted in using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, leaving some areas white.

The paper was left to dry completely, then washes of alizarin crimson and raw sienna were painted into the sky for the colours I see in the skies here and once again the painting was left to dry completely.

With a mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a touch of alizarin crimson for a dark I started painting in the one of the more detailed treetops.

I will post this painting at a later date when I have more completed on it.

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

Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights have always held a fascination for me. I miss the brilliant colours that can be seen further north than where I currently reside.

Here in the Kawarthas all I am able to see are the palest of yellows, soft greens and on rare occasions a light red. Regardless they are a wonder to behold.

I had started this painting a while ago and recently started working on it again (see posting on 30 March 2010). Today I completed the rocks on the left side and added a little more colour to the water and background shoreline.

 This is an 11" x 15" original, framed watercolour and is available for $345.00. SOLD

Aurora Borealis - A Work in Progress

This is a painting I started a number of years ago and I wanted to try and complete it in time to have it for the Hone and Cottage Show at the Evinrude Centre for next month.

I painted in the water and finished the rocks on the right side of the painting.














The painting doesn't need much to complete it. The distant shore needs to be blued slightly and a little of the sky colour should be added to the water on the left side and the rocks on the left side need to be painted.

I will post this painting once it has been completed.