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.

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.

ACEO - Early Morning 2

This morning I saw a number of flocks of Canada Geese flying in their V shaped formation as they head south for the winter.

I started in the background and put in the distant hills on the other side of the river with raw sienna and a little bit of cobalt blue.

With a grey of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and put in the furthest back tree trunks on the left side and then darkening the colour slightly and put in the closer trees on the left side, followed by using a darker grey for the maple tree in the foreground on the right side.

I wet the river with water first and then using the colours of the sky I brushed in bands new gamboge, alizarin crimson and the cobalt blue for the reflected sky colour into the water















Lastly, I used various mixtures of raw sienna, new gamboge aureolin, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, cadmium red and burnt sienna to put the leaves onto the maple trees and the grasses and growies into the foreground.

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 90lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Changing Season 1 and 2 - Two Works in Progress

Today I wanted to do a couple of small autumn paintings, so I used a couple of photographs that I took while canoeing on Eels Lake earlier this week.

The first one is taken from the dock of the shoreline area nearest where the boat launch is located.

It is a nice mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees at the edge of the lake.

It shows how low the water levels are in the lake at this time of the year, with so many of the rocks and stumps being above the water.

Changing Season 1

Next I chose the area in the inlet on the far side of the parking lot for those using the boat launch.

This view shows even more of the exposed rocks that are normally below the surface of the lake.

Most of the deciduous trees are higher up and further back from the shoreline, while the pines and cedars are lower and almost on the edge of the water.

I decided I would do these paintings just at sunset as I saw them.

Changing Season 2

I started by putting in the sky in with a mix of raw sienna and alizarin crimson.

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

ACEO - Autumn Maples 1 and 2

Today I wanted to finish these two paintings that I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 20 September 2013, 23 January and 17 October 2017).

I decided that I would work on the first painting, beginning with the trees in the background and get it as far along as the second painting and then I would work back and forth on both pieces together until they were completed.

I used various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, new gamboge, burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue for the trees.

Autumn Maples 1

I used burnt sienna and alizarin crimson for the rocks on the far shoreline.

Using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the maple tree trunks in the foreground.

Now I can start working on both paintings together.

Using a mix of Antwerp blue and a small amount of French ultramarine blue I painted in the water adding lighter and darker areas.

With a sponge and cadmium red, cadmium yellow and raw sienna I added the leaves onto the trees.

Lastly I put in the grasses and growies with new gamboge and raw sienna.

Autumn Maples 2

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

The ACEO shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Autumn Rapids

Today I saw my first Robin on the front lawn; although I have seen them a number of them at the bottom of the front field for almost a month.

I thought that I would work with acrylic paint today and pulled out this painting that I had started quite some time ago (see posts on 11 October 2010 and 21 February 2017).

The mass of trees in the distance was just too solid a colour and I decided to add a few more trees into the background.















Using ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna I added a few trees into the background between the maple trees on the right side of the painting as well as a few dark colours into the background between the maples and the birches..

This original 16" x 20” acrylic painting when framed will be available for $425.00.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Elegant Elm I

I set out the way I wanted to place the leaves in his painting last month (see post on 16 October 2018).

I used gold paint on the cluster of elm leaves on the branch first and set it aside to dry before painting the three individual leaves.

Once all the leaves were dry, I used acrylic gloss medium to glue the leaves into place and set aside to dry.

Next, I applied four layers of acrylic gloss varnish, making sure each layer had time to dry completely.

This original 8" x 10" framed, mixed media painting is available for $150.00.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Silent Sumac I

I had set out the sumac leaves on a canvas last month (see post on 19 October 201) and I wanted to complete it today.

First I painted the canvas with a mixture of black and iridescent acrylic paint and set it aside to dry.

Next while trying to keep the colour patterns of the compound leaves, I used the metallic red, emerald green and gold acrylic paint on the leaflets. Each set of leaves were set aside to dry.
















Once everything was dry I used acrylic gloss medium to glue the leaves into place and again set aside to dry.

Lastly to make sure they didn't move and were protected, I applied four layers of acrylic gloss varnish giving each layer time to dry completely.

This original 8" x 10" framed, mixed media painting is available for $150.00.

Silent Sumac I - A Work in Progress

Earlier this month (see post on 16 October 2018) I worked on a couple of pieces using elm leaves and today I thought I would set out sumac leaves.















I laid out a number of the compound leaves in various patterns until I was pleased with the design.

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

Elegant Elm and Elegant Elm I - Two Works in Progress

Today I pulled out a box containing various leaves that I had pressed and dried earlier this month.

I started by picking out all the elm leaves that had been dried so I could decide how I would like to place them on a canvas for a mixed media painting.

I had two different sized canvases that I was planning to use for a series of paintings of different kinds of leaves.

On the larger one I hadn't painted the background colour onto the canvas, but on the smaller one I used a mixture of black and iridescent acrylic paint.

Next I placed the leaves onto the canvases and moved them around.

Elegant Elm

It took quite a while, but I finally found how I wanted them placed

I put the rest of the leaves away and I will have to decide what colour or colours I will paint the leaves before attaching them to the canvas.

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

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.


Elegant Elm I

Autumn Maples 3

Today I was at the Gayle Nelson Keene Historical-Society room, located in the Otonabee-South Monaghan Library, at 3252 County Road 2, in Keene, Ontario.

I wanted to see the room and the amount of space that was available for paintings and photographs for their exhibit called "A Pictorial History of Hope and Lang Mills" which will run from 23 April - 03 June 2019. I thought it may interest some of the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group to exhibit their work.

While I was waiting for the library to open I did this drawing of some maple trees on the lawn of the property next to the parking lot.

I took a number of photographs and at a later date may do a painting of the trees.

Early Morning 2 - A Work in Progress

It continues to be hot 84F (29C) and the humidity making it feel like 100F (38C).

This morning I saw a couple of flocks of geese and pulled out this little painting that had geese flying and getting ready to head south.

Using a grey of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue I indicated the trees on the far horizon first.















I darkened the grey slightly and put in the trees on the far side of the water.

Lastly, with a slightly darker grey I put in the geese and the maple tree in the foreground.

I will post this painting once it has been completed.

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

ACEO - Waterfall 2

Today I thought I would finish this painting that I had started last year (see posts on 06 February and 08 August 2017).

Using a small sponge to put in the autumn leaves on the closer trees I used mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, aureolin and new gamboge.

I started with the larger trees in the middle area and darkened the colours as I worked my way forward to the largest tree in the foreground.

Using a brush I added a few leaves scattered throughout the grasses.

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 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Hallowe'en Holler - A Work in Progress

Today I spent the day at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

In the morning I was in the Still Life class, where the theme was "Trick or Treat - It's Hallowe'en" and in the afternoon I sat the Rural Outlook exhibition.

I had my choice of a wide variety of masks, bowls of candy, leaves, bottles and a full moon with bats silhouetted against the bright orange.

I started by putting in the full moon, minus the bats and then sketched in the mask beside a wine bottle.

Around the bottom of the mask and bottle I put in a number of brightly coloured maple leaves.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed the mask.

Autumn Maples 1 and 2 - Two Works in Progress

This morning I woke up to find the ground outside covered in a thick layer of frost. With the temperature at 30F (-1C), it is just a taste of more cold mornings to come in the future. The nice thing is that by this afternoon the temperature will be 63F (17C).

After doing the barn chores and feeding the birds, I thought I would like to work on these two paintings that I had started many years ago (see posts on 20 September 2013 and 22 January 2017).

I started with the rocks using a mix of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and a touch of French ultramarine blue.

I was just about to start on the trees in the background when a couple of my friends dropped by for a visit and they brought lunch.

It wasn't long before I had made tea, coffee and a provided a variety of desserts.

Autumn Maples 1

After an enjoyable visit, it was time for me to get back to work on my paintings.

I decided that I would work on the second painting, beginning with the trees in the background.

I used various mixtures of cadmium red, cadmium yellow, new gamboge, burnt sienna, raw sienna and Antwerp blue.

Using French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the maple trees.

Autumn Maples 2

I will post each of these paintings at a later date as more work on them has been completed.

Autumn Trees 2 - A Work in Progress

Today is our last day at the Knoepfli Inn and we will head home after breakfast.

Having gotten everything ready to go last night, I spent the morning working on this little painting that I had originally started here a couple of years ago (see posts on 20 October 2013, 17 February 2014 and 10 July 2016).

With having both oak trees and maple trees in front of the balcony, I sketched in the tree trunks and branches, as well as the pine trees in the background.

Next I painted in the tree trunks on the main trees when I heard the bell ring for breakfast and had to put everything away.

I will post this painting again once I have put the pine trees into the background.

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

Waterfall 2 - A Work in Progress

I pulled this sketch out that I did earlier this year (see post on 06 February 2017) and though I would like to add some colour to the drawing.

I put the sky in with a mix of Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue with a touch of burnt sienna. While the sky was drying I used the sky colour and added a little raw sienna to the mix and put in the rapids and the waterfall leaving areas of white for the white caps and froth.

Using various mixtures of alizarin crimson, burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue, I painted in the rocks along the river banks and in the water.

While that was drying I mixed a grey of the blues and burnt sienna for the tree trunks. Starting at the back of the forest and gradually working my way forward by darkening the color and adding more detail.

Next using raw sienna, burnt sienna, new gamboge, alizarin crimson and Antwerp blue I painted in the grasses and growies at the basses of the trees and started with some of the leaves on the trees in the background and the middle ground.

I set this painting aside to dry completely before I put in the closer leaves on the trees. I will post this painting at a later date once it has been completed.

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

ACEO - Autumn Trees 14

This is the last of five small paintings I started while staying at the Knoepfli Inn  in Magnetawan, Ontario a couple of years ago (see post on 05 October 2015).

I started with raw sienna, new gamboge and alizarin crimson and painted the distant trees and gradually darkened the colour to put in the middle ground foliage.

The dark foreground was putting in with a mix of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

Using the foreground colour plus burnt sienna I painted the tree trunks through the middle area and into the background.

With a sponge and mixes of new gamboge, raw sienna, cadmium red, cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson I added leaves onto the bare trees.

Cadmium red and cadmium yellow was added into the foreground to create interest.

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 $20.00 and sold unframed.

September - A Work in Progress

It was going to be a miserable, with the temperature at 14F (-10C) and just under 1/2" (10mm) of ice accretion to accumulate over the course of the day I decided that I would like to work on some of my acrylic paintings which had been started a number of years ago (see post on 03 October 2010).

First I mixed some of the background greens with ultramarine blue and raw sienna and covered the areas where the tape had lifted the background.

I darkened the colour with burnt sienna and more of the blue and added in a couple more pine trees to the right of the large one.

Next I added a small amount of titanium white to lighten the colour slightly and added a few more pines on the right side of the painting.

With burnt sienna I put in the middle area where a path runs through the forest.

Using raw sienna I put in some dead grasses below the trees and into the foreground on the left side.

Using various mixtures of Hansa yellow and cadmium red I scattered some leaves across the ground.

Using the white I added a couple of birch trees in front of the pines and the dark mix to add the markings onto the trunks.

Lastly, I used Hansa yellow and raw sienna for the leaves on the birches.

I am not happy with this piece and I will post this painting again at a later date once I have made a number of changes.

Four Seasons 3 - Four Works in Progress

Today was a foggy, grey day but the temperature 48F (9C) is remaining fairly mild for February.

I pulled out this set of the four seasons that I had started a couple of years ago (see post on 14 April 2015) and wanted to put the sky into each of them.














Spring 3

The first one I put in a grey sky using French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a small amount of alizarin crimson.














Summer 3

On the second one I used a mix of Antwerp blue with a small amount of cobalt blue.














Autumn 3

For the third one I used a wash of cobalt blue.














Winter 3

On the last painting used a mix of Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue.

I will post each of these paintings at a later date after I put in the land on each side of the road and the roadway.