Wind Damage

So far this year we have had quite a few Meteorological Alerts and Warnings from Environment Canada; and today we are having another batch.

We are under a severe  thunderstorm warning, a severe wind warning with the wind speeds to reach 55-60mph (90-100km) and a severe rain warning with another 3/8" (10mm) and the temperature to reach 70F (21C).

It was overcast and fairly calm until around noon and then the wind started to pick up, the thunderstorm rolled in bringing the rain.

With all this going on, we also lost power a number of times during the course of the day and into the evening.















At the end of the storm more branches came down from the willow tree, a few of the pine trees lost the top branches and the maple in front of the house also lost a few more branches.















The maple tree at the back of the house lost a large limb and the old apple tree along the fence line had its trunk snapped in half.















The south walls on the east and west barns took  a major hit with the west barn losing eight boards and the east barn losing more than ten boards and the wind breaking one of the doors.

Although, the damage could have been a lot worse than what happened.

Twisted Trees 4-6 - Three Works in Progress

With this last week of unseasonably warm temperatures and today's high of 56F (13C) making it feel like a nice spring day.

There is very little snow remaining on the ground and I decided to take Kyora along to keep me company as I went for a little longer walk along the fence line.

I brought my sketchbook with me and planned on doing a few more drawings of the bent trees. Hopefully, I will find some more of the birds we have in the area and be able to add into my drawings.

Twisted Tree 4

I went along the fence line at the back of the barn to the north west corner and started sketching one of the maple trees.

It wasn't long before I heard a crow calling as I looked around and I soon found my crow, which Ron named "Squawky"  that I rescued a couple of years ago (see posts on 10 and 18 March 2016) perched in a nearby tree watching me.

Twisted Tree 5

I will put out some bread for him when I go back to the house.

The next tree I did had a black squirrel in it, which scolded the dog for sitting under the tree watching him.

As we headed back to the house I stopped once more to do a drawing of another tree, this one had a nuthatch peaking around the tree trunk at Kyora and I.

Twisted Tree 6

I will post each of these drawings as more work on them is completed.

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

Twisted Trees 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

Along the fence line of the farm there are a number of windblown trees which have had their branches twisted due to the elements.

Most of these trees are found along the north fence line which takes the full force of the north wind.

There are also a few of these bent trees on the higher hills just south of the north fence line.

Many of these trees are fairly large and with the exception of the pine trees are hardwoods such as maple, beech and apple.

Twisted Tree 1

It was a fairly mild day with the temperature reaching a high of 45F (7C) and it had been raining overnight and during the morning which melted a lot of the snow.

I thought I would take Kyora out for a short walk along the fence and take a sketchbook with me so I could draw some of the trees without any leaves on them to hide the trunk and branches.

Twisted Tree 2

As I stopped and sketched different trees along the fence I encountered a different bird in each of the trees and decided to add them into the sketch.

In the first drawing there was a pileated woodpecker, in the second drawing there was a bright red male cardinal and in the last drawing I was fortunate to capture a great horned owl on a branch of the tree who sat motionless.

Twisted Tree 3

I will post each of these drawings as more work on them is completed.

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

Last Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today I worked with pen and ink on this drawing that I started a while ago (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016 and 06 April 2017).

I started by inking in the small apple tree and then began working on the marking on some of the birch trees, but couldn't really get into to doing them.

So I moved on and started working on the old hay barn and put in the roof and some of the barn boards.

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
















Barn IX

Today was a very busy day with fifteen paintings purchased from Diane Collins, Ron Desjardine, Heather Grant, Sharon Harper, Susan Sydney and Bonnie Windover. Pottery was sold by JoAnne Connell Northey and small items were bought from Diane Collins, Penny Little and JoAnne Connell Northey.

I would like to thank new collector Ms. Lucy MacRae of Barrie, Ontario on her purchase of Serene Place I (see post on 22 June 2012) and Drive Shed I (see post on 09 June 2012).

The hours for our show are:
20 Aug 17 - 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hopefully some of you will make it out to see the show before it closes.

Clear Lake I

Overnight we received almost 4" (10cm) of snow and was still snowing and blowing in the morning with the wind at a fairly steady 20mph (32kmph) with the temperature slightly warmer at 18F (-7.8C) and a wind chill of 4F (-15.6C) than yesterday.















However, in the afternoon the sun came out and some of the snow melted and we were able to start working on the rest of the east fence line and into the south east corner.

It didn't take a lot of time to clear the rest of the east fence, everything was cleared with the exception of a couple young maples and one of the magnolia trees I had planted a couple of years ago which has once again survived the winter.

After lunch we started on the big apple tree in the corner and cleared all the fallen limbs out of the way.

Next we had to cut all the dead limbs off the tree being careful that they didn't drop on top of my second magnolia tree which also survived the winter.















After supper I pulled out this partially completed pen and ink drawing of Clear Lake I (see posts on 09 June 2013 and 24 February 2016).

All the drawing needed was the reflections from the rocks and trees added into the lake.

This original 5" x 8-1/2” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

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.