Coon Lake XI- XIII

Today we went out on Coon Lake which is one of the many lakes in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park.

This will be the first time we are canoeing since 2016, as after breaking my femur in February of 2017 I was not able to get myself safely out of the canoe.

Even though it was overcast and they were calling for rain we wanted to try out the new canoe and see how it handles as compared to our old Kawartha canoe which was very stable.

Coon Lake XI

It took a little while to get everything set up, but once we were ready we launched the canoe and paddled out into the lake.

It was fairly calm as we went up the lake and turned into the third inlet.

Ron got ready to fish, while I took out my sketchbook and pencils so I could draw some of the trees and rocks at the edge of the lake.

I got a fair amount sketched in of the three pine trees on the point before Ron caught his first fish.

It was a nice sunfish which I took off the hook and carefully released back into the lake.

Coon Lake XII

In the meantime the canoe had shifted as the wind had started up and I started another sketch of another grouping of pines.

But before long he caught a second sunfish which I also released back into the lake.















Coon Lake XIII

With the wind getting stronger and the storm clouds looming we decided to get closer to the landing.

We pulled into another inlet and Ron was in his glory as he caught seven nice bass, which I as usual took off the hook and released.















New Canoe

We moved to the inlet just before the landing and waited there as two kayaks and a small motor boat were ahead of us. I started on another sketch, but it wasn't long before Ron caught another four bass, but with his last cast he almost caught a huge bass.

It was coming to take the lure as Ron pulled it out of the water. To say he was disappointed is putting it mildly, but it was starting to rain and time to head in to shore.

We will just have to come back another day to try for the monster bass, since we know where he hangs out.

Coon Lake IV

Earlier this month (see post on 14 April 2018) I completed a drawing of Coon Lake that I started a number of years ago on the same canoe trip that I did this drawing (see posts on 29 July 2014 and 30 March 2016).

I continued to work my way down the trunk and the main pine tree adding branches and needles until I reached the earth.

Next I worked on the two smaller pines on the right side of the main pine tree and on the tree stump.

I put in the horizon line behind the trees and added the small islands in the distance.

From there I returned to the foreground and put in the small bushes to the left side of the main tree and the fallen tree trunk.

Next I added in the rocks at the base of the main tree and at the edge of the lake, followed by adding in the grasses and a few bull rushes into the water.

To complete the drawing I added in the water ripples below the rock as well as a few more ripples at the base of the closer islands on the horizon line.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $95.00.

Coon Lake X

Today there were Meteorological Alerts issued for the area for a winter storm warning, a freezing rain warning and a high wind warning with the wind speeds reaching 45mph (72.4km/h).

I woke up to the sound of ice pellets hitting my window and the sound of the wind whistling. As I tried to look out the window it was coated in ice, so we did receive the freezing rain overnight that we were told to expect.

Since the winter storm would continue all day and into tomorrow, I wanted to finish this drawing that I had started many years ago (see posts on 29 July 2014, 20 July 2016, 31 August and 22 October 2017 and 23 March 2018) while canoeing on Coon Lake.

I started on the rocks and continued developing the areas of light, shadow and cast shadow.

When I finished the rocks I took a break and watched The Weather Network. The weather report was not very nice for the weekend; with the temperature hovering around the freezing mark and the wind chill making it feel like 14F (-10C).

It seems that we will be alternating between periods of rain, freezing rain, ice pellets, snow and as the temperature drops later in the day to alternate from ice pellets, freezing rain, ice pellets and snow.

I returned to my drawing and I wanted to finish the dead maple tree growing up from in between the rocks.

Next I added a few more ripples in the water below the rocks as well as a few at the edge of the lake in the distance.

This original 9" x 12" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $95.00.

Coon Lake X and Long Lake VI - Two Works in Progress

Today I wanted to progress a little further on a couple of pen and ink drawings that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 29 July 2014, 20 July 2016, 31 August and 22 October 2017) while canoeing on some of the lakes in the area.

I started by adding more shading on a number of the rocks on the island.

From there I progressed to adding some cast shadows over some of the rocks.

There is still a lot more to do on the rocks and I left working on them to add a few more ripples into the water.

I will post this piece at a later date.

Coon Lake X

I added the distant trees into the far shoreline on another drawing that I had started a while ago (see post on 15 June 2013 and 05 July 2016).

Next I put in one of the larger pine trees on the island.















Long Lake VI

I will post this painting again once I have added more of the trees on the island.

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

Coon Lake III - A Work in Progress

Today, I had a little bit of time to work on a drawing before I had to go out to meet with friends for lunch.

I pulled out this piece that I had started a few years ago while we were canoeing on Coon Lake.

Starting with the rocks in the foreground, I tidied up the outlines to give them more shape.















Next, I started work on the smaller rocks in front of the large rock of the island before running out of time.

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

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

Coon Lake II - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to get closer to completing this drawing that I started a long time ago (see post on 29 July 2014 and 25 March 2017).

I started by putting in the various trees on the far shore, followed by two of the islands close to the shoreline.

Next I put some trees on the island on the right side of the drawing.













This was followed by adding the trees, grasses and growies onto the rocks of the foreground island.

In front of the island I added a few bull rushes and some water ripples around the base of the rocks.

I will post this drawing at a later date as more work on it is completed.

Coon Lake X - A Work in Progress

Today I had a little bit of time to work on a drawing and decided that I would like do more work on this piece that I had started a while ago (see posts on 29 July 2014, 20 July 2016 and 31 August 2017).

I started with the reflections in the water beginning with those in the background and then working on the ones in the foreground below the rocks of the island.

Next I added the shadow from the small tree across the rock on the right side of the island.

I added a few more dark shadows into the rocks to give a little more depth to the drawing.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have the rocks completed.

Coon Lake X - A Work in Progress

Today went to the Peterborough Riverview Park and Zoo, to paint with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group.

I wandered around on the lower level of the Park but with all the children running around and the noise I couldn't settle down to sketch.

The arched wood bridge that went across the river to the small island had been changed for a metal one that didn't have the same character.

I ended up going home after lunch.

Once at home I pulled out this drawing and did a little more work on the rocks and shadows on the rocks and some of the background.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more work on the rocks and tree trunks.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Coon Lake I and II - Two Works in Progress

Today I pulled out these two sketches of Coon Lake that I did a few years ago (see post on 29 July 2014).

I started with the first sketch and working from the background forward I put in the horizon line and added a few details to the cottage at the far side of the lake.

Next, I put the bark on the tree trunks and added the needles onto the branches of the one living tree.













Coon Lake I

From there I added more details onto the rocks and gave more shape to the reeds in the foreground.

Once again starting from the back and working forward I put in the horizon line first and indicated the heights of the trees on the distant shore.













Coon Lake II

Next, I added more details to the rocks and trees in the middle area, followed by doing the same to the foreground trees, rocks and growies.

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

Last Day of the Kawartha Art Festival

Today is the last day of the Kawartha Art Festival and the drive this morning to the show was sometimes challenging with a mix of clear areas and areas of dense fog.

I worked on a couple of pen and ink drawings on and off during the course of the day, beginning with this one (see posts on 27 July 2014, 21 March and 12 April 2016).

I decided that this drawing needed to be a little larger so I extended the rock on the right side as well as the tree line in the background.

I darkened the small rock and added more shadow to the base of the larger rock.

Coon Lake VII

This original 7" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

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

Coon Lake X - A Work in Progress

It is another nice summer day with the temperature at 82F (28C) and the humidity making it feel like 102F (39C).

I picked this sketch to work on today I sketched a couple of years ago (see post on 29 July 2014).

First I drew in the distant horizon line and then put in the water lines below the rocks and started a little bit of the reflections.

I started putting in the shadows and cracks on some of the rocks and then the little dead branch at the end of the rock island.

Next I did the grasses at its base.

Then the last thing I had time to do was put the trunk of a tree on the left side of the island.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more of the rocks have been completed.

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

Coon Lake VIII

It is another hot 90F (32C) and humid 100F (38C) summer day and I thought I would work on a lake scene.

I pulled out this sketch that I did a couple of years ago (see posts on 29 July 2014 and 22 March 2016) while canoeing on Coon Lake.

I started by putting the shading on the rocks first and then added the water ripples below them.












Next I added in the pine trees in among the rocks and lastly added some grasses and growies.

This original 6" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

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

Coon Lake V - A Work in Progress

It was a little cooler today 90F (32.2C) 102F (38.9C) but not much.

I did this sketch a couple of years ago see post on 29 July 2014) when we were canoeing on Coon Lake.

First I indicated the trunks of the main trees and then I put the tree stump onto the island.














Next I drew in the distant shoreline of the lake and added the trees on the shore.

In the foreground I started with some growies on top of the rocks and added a few ripples into the water.

I will post this drawing at a later time once I have put in the main trees.

Coon Lake IX

The temperature dropped drastically overnight with the wind increasing and I was greeted to 16F (-8.9C) with a wind chill making it feel like 0F (-17.8C) as I went out to fill the bird feeders, take the dog for her morning run and to do the barn chores.















Looking at the south east corner that we had planned on clearing today, we decided that instead we would continue to repair the walls and work inside the barn.

It doesn't look as though much was done to the window, but it took two full bags of sand mix concrete and a lot of smaller rocks; to get this section of the window finished.















After a late lunch Ron went back to the barn to move hay for me and to work on clearing things out of the east mow in preparation to turn it into an indoor work shop/space for him when vehicles need to be worked on in the winter.















I pulled out this drawing that I had worked on last month (see posts on 29 July 2014 and 21 March 2016).

First I added in the distant shoreline and a few water ripples into the background. Next I put the shadows and cast shadows onto the foreground rocks.


















This original 6-1/4" x 7” pen and ink drawing, when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

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

Coon Lake VII

Today we decided it was time to work on clearing a lot of the dead branches and scrub trees growing along the fence line around the house. The ground is getting harder since it is once again starting to freeze as the temperature drops and we are expecting more snow over the next two weeks.














Due to the brush and sumac growing up around the two large apple trees by the pasture gate, it was almost impossible to see into the fields directly below the barn.














It took most of the day and Ron had to sharpen the chainsaw blade twice, but then apple is a fairly hard wood and should do well next year providing heat as it burns in my fireplace.

After a tiring day outside I still wanted to do some work on a painting.

I brought out this piece that I had been working on last month, (see posts on 29 July 2014 and 21 March 2016).

I put in a few more shadows and the darker area at the base of the rocks caused by the water lapping against them.

Lastly I put in the tree reflections and a few water ripples.

Once I press the paper to remove the few wrinkles from doing the sketch while in the canoe, then erase the pencil lines and mat and shrink wrap this original, 6" x 9” pen and ink drawing will be available for $50.00.

Coon Lake IV - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to start inking in this sketch that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 29 July 2014) while we were canoeing on Coon Lake.

I started at the top of the pine tree and gradually worked my way down the tree trunk.

It is slow work to add the tree branches, pine needles and the bark on the tree trunk which has to be fairly straight and in proportion.

When I looked up at the clock I was surprised at how much time had passed.

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

Coon Lake VIII - A Work in Progress

After being out most of the day visiting the different art supply stores in Pickering, Scarborough and Whitby stocking up on canvases, paint and paper for the coming season's art projects, it was time to relax and do a little work on another of my sketches (see post on 29 July 2014) that I had pulled out yesterday.

I started by putting in the water lines at the base of the rocks and a few water ripples.

Next I put in the small pine tree that was trying to grow in between some of the larger rocks.













Then I started to put in some of the rocks and added shading to a couple of them give a little more solidity and ground them into the drawing.

I put in a few grasses in behind the rocks on the right side of the drawing. It was at this point that I decided I had better stop before added lines that I couldn't change.

I will post this painting at a later date once the rest of the rocks and growies have been added.

Coon Lake VII and IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I was with the Lakefield Creative Art Guild and decided to work on one of the sketches I did while on Loon Call Lake last year (see post on 29 July 2014).

First I put in the distant shore and trees.

Next I added the outline of the rocks as a base for the tree and vegetation.

I took my time with the tree to capture the broken limbs and the way the branches were bent from the wind.

I added bushes at the base of the tree and growies around the rocks.

Coon Lake VII

After lunch I decided to start on another sketch of Coon Lake and leave the first one until I decide what else it needs.

I put in the outline of the rocks and a few water ripples below them.

Next I added some bushes, small trees and growies on the rocks.

Coon Lake IX

I will post each of these drawings once more work on them has been completed.