Haying

With it being nice today, we decided that we would bring in the hay for the year.














With the equipment Richard has at the farm for loading hay, it didn't take long for the hay to be put onto the trailer. Strapping the load of hay down so we could take it home took almost as much time.














Once we were back at the barn, Ron removed the strapping and we set up the hay lift and began putting the hay into the mow.

We were back getting the next load within an hour.

Then we repeated the cycle all over again.

Finally, by the end of the day we had our hay for the year safely put into the mow.

While Ron covered the hay lift motor, I went to feed and water the horses.

While he dropped the trailer I went to the house to start supper.














After supper we relaxed outside happy that another chore was completed.

Chemong Lake VI and VII - Two Works in Progress

Today I didn't have a lot of time to work on my art, but as I looked through my sketch books I came across these two drawings that I started last month (see post 02 September 2019), when Ron and I were out on Chemong Lake.

The buildings needed to be straightened and have more details added.














Chemong Lake VI

Time passed quickly and before long it was time for me to go to an appointment.












Chemong Lake VII

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

Chemong Lake VI and VII

Since Ron didn't have to work today, we decided to go out on Chemong Lake in the pontoon boat.

We didn't go too far from the boat launch and stopped in the first inlet and let the current carry the boat along.















Chemong Lake VI - The Orange Barns

I turned and faced a different direction and on a hill there were a couple of barns and a farmhouse which I finished drawing before it started to rain.













Chemong Lake VII - Distant Barns

Ron managed to catch two bass and I did two pencil drawings, so it was a good day all around.

Setting up Northey's Barn Boutique Art Show

Today I went over to JoAnne Connell Northey's farm to set up the art show in her barn as some members of the Buckhorn Artists" Group did last year.

The peg board panels were already set up for me in the same space that I had last year, which I had requested.

First I brought all my paintings into the barn and as I unwrapped them I set them around the walls to be able too see them and decide where I would put them on the panels.

I started with the middle panel and placed the largest painting at the top in the centre.

This was followed by putting up my name sign on the left panel and hanging the second largest painting.

On the right panel I put three quarter sheet paintings near the top and staggered them a little bit.

I went back to the centre panel and thought I would add another barn painting, this was followed by a couple of pen and ink drawings diagonally across from each other and the last piece was another watercolour.

Next I sorted out the remaining paintings.

I set a number of paintings that had yellow, orange or red in them by the left panel.

Since the right panel already had an animal at the top I added the photographs of the pig, the cat and the pencil drawing of the horse.

I finished this panel by adding a still life and abstract painting to the bottom on the left side.

On the last panel I ran the three rubber ducks down through the centre of the panel below the boat.

Lastly, I put two paintings on each side of the rubber ducks and I will set up the tables and the small paintings up in the morning.

If you have a chance please come out to the Northey's Barn Boutique Art Show held at 1981 13th Line, in Selwyn, Ontario this weekend. The show runs from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day.

Abandoned Farm - A Work in Progress

Today I am gallery sitting at A Place for the Arts, in Bancroft, Ontario.

After doing everything that needed to be completed to open the Gallery I thought I would work on this painting that I recently came across while going through an old box of paintings I found in the attic (see post on 10 October 2013).

I started by adding some trees into the background and worked my way forward by adding a few closer trees.












Next I began working on the farmhouse adding  shadows around the windows, door and under the eaves.

I was just starting to do some work on the barn when a number of people came into the gallery and the rest of the day continued to be busy.

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

Snow Scenes

It started off very cold 18F (-7.8C) with the wind chill this morning making it feel like 9F (-12.8C) as I headed down to the barn to do chores. Fortunately it is going to warm up to 27F (-2.7C) with the wind chill making it feel like 16F (-8.9C) and we are expected to receive more snow flurries.

I thought with more snow in the forecast I may as well do a couple of drawings of snow scenes with a building in them.















Moonlight 8

For the first one I thought a log cabin would be nice set in a snow covered field.

As I worked on the drawing, I added some smoke to the chimney and a fence in behind the cabin.

Lastly, I put a moon in behind the tall pine tree on the right side of the drawing.















Snowed In 1

For my second drawing I thought a barn would be nice set back behind a barbed wire fence.

I added some long grasses and growies poking out of the snow in the foreground.

Either of these drawings could be developed into paintings at a later time.

Finishing the Barn Yard

Ron has been working most of the weekend on the barn yard.















He should have it completed later today.















He just has the area alongside the north section of the barn.















Finally, the barn yard has been cleared and hay has been put out for the horses when they come in from the pasture this evening.

Cleaning the Barn Yard

Today Ron had an extra day off and he decided to continue working in the barn yard while the ground is still firm enough that the tractor won't get stuck in the muck.















It is a large job clearing out the old hay and manure that has collected over the winter in the barn yard and drive shed.














It will probably take another two or three days before the it is all piled and waiting to go out to the far hill, where after a couple of years it will make great fertilizer for the flower beds.

Northey's Barn Boutique Show

Last evening seven members of the Buckhorn Artists' Group were at the barn until around 7 p.m. setting up the art show in preparation for the opening today.

Today we are having a wonderful, sunny day, with the temperature reaching 79F (26C) and a gentle breeze blowing to keep away the humidity for the first day of the Northey's Barn Boutique Show.

We were pleased that a number of people arrived early to view the show and people continued to come and see the displays for most of the day.

My booth was located just inside the main barn doors and I had the added benefit of the breeze keeping things cool.

During the lunch time when things slowed down, we were kept entertained by the antics of the seven kittens that live in the barn.

By the late afternoon, all of them piled together in a heap on top of end of the drop cloth at the back my table displaying smaller paintings to have a sleep.

It didn't last for more than hour before they were up and about again.

Richard had his vintage tractors on display just outside the barn, which was an added attraction for many of the visitors.

Another feature for the visitors to our show were the wonderful gardens in full bloom with a wide variety of plants and a small pond complete with turtles, frogs and water lilies.

If you would like to view the various displays featured in this show by the other six members of the Buckhorn Artists’ Group that where here this weekend please click on the Group link.

The show continues tomorrow at the Northey's Barn Boutique, located at 1981 13th Line, in Selwyn, Ontario. It is open from 10a.m. - 4p.m. and if you are able to attend, we look forward to seeing you.

Monster in the Barn

This morning, while I was doing barn shores I got quite a shock when I went upstairs into the mow to throw hay out for the horses.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw what seemed like the face of  a monster. It was just the way the light coming through the knot holes and spaces between the barn boards caught the headlights and grill to give it an eerie glow.

Especially since I didn't know they had put Christine's ATV in the alleyway between the hay mows.

She had it at her place for the winter, using it to keep the pathways clear of snow between the house and the garage.















Now, I know Christine's monster is in my barn for the summer and it won't cach me by surprise again.

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.

ACEO - Farm Buildings 5

Today I thought I would like to work on a painting with some farm house and barns and after going through a number of small paintings I came across this piece that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 13 June 2016 and 22 January 2017).

I started with various greens made with Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge and painted in the trees on the horizon line, the furthest back field, then field by the farm house and then the field by the barn.

With alizarin crimson and French ultramarine blue I painted in the barns, leaving the windows and doors untouched.

Next I used burnt sienna for the roof on the farm house.

I used cadmium yellow to put in the open doors and windows in the barn and some of the farm house windows.















I mixed a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna and put in the the fence rails and the windows in the farmhouse that were in darkness.

Lastly, I lightened the dark colour with water and painted the barn roofs and the silo.

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

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. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

Barn IX

The nice thing about today is that at least the severe cold is over for now and all I had was a few snow flurries as I went to Extendicare in Peterborough to take down my exhibit.

When I returned home I decided to work on this drawing That I have been working on over a number of years (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016, 06 April, 20 August and 09 October 2017).

First I put in the large maple tree in front of the hay barn, followed by the hill and the fence line behind the barn.














Next I worked on the hay barn, starting with the tin roof and followed by the barn boards on the building.

This was followed by putting in the large round hay bales being stored in the barn.

Lastly, I added the birch trees to the left of the hay barn and put in the grasses and growies in front of them and in front of the hay barn.

This original 5-1/4" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $45.00.

ACEO - Farm Buildings 4

I thought I would like to finish this little painting that I had started last year (see posts on 13 June and 09 December 2016).

I started by putting in a few trees along the horizon line with Antwerp blue and aureolin.

Next I added a little French ultramarine blue and raw sienna to the green and put in the pine trees on the right side of the painting.

With a mixture of the blue and burnt sienna I put in the branches and trunks on the pine trees and then added in the deciduous trees on either side of the painting.















I added a little more blue to the dark mixture to grey the colour and put in the barn and shed. I used the same colour to indicate the path leading to the barn door.

Lastly I brushed some of the sky colours into the snow to add a little more warmth to the painting.

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.

Barn VII

Today I pulled out this drawing that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 28 September 2013, 06 November 2014 and 08 October 2017) and did a little more work on last month.

I started by adding the fence line in the distant field and adding in the fence posts and the wire fence into the foreground.

Next I put in the trees starting with the one on the right side and then the one in front of the barn; it was at that point I decided not to put in the tree on the far left side to prevent having three evenly spaced trees in a row.

Now it was time to put in the barn. I started with the roof, darkening in the areas where the tin had been torn off of the roof leaving the dark spaces showing the rafters.









From there I darkened the windows, the open doorway and all the missing  and broken boards on the barn.

Lastly I put in the grasses and growies along the fence line, at the base of the trees and some near the barn.

This original, 3-1/4" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

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

Rural Outlook Exhibit

Today my co-conveners Cindy Allan and Norma MacEachern and I measured out the wall space in the Gallery for each of the fourteen exhibitors and then we could start hanging our work in our assigned spaces.















The first thing I did was hanging my featured painting in the centre of my space and then set out paintings on the floor to fill the remaining space.













It took a little while to get the paintings hung on the wall, when I realized that I need another painting to balance my display.

I put the tablecloth on my table and then headed home to get a couple more small paintings to see which one would make a good fit on the wall.

When I returned I finished hanging the paintings on the wall and made up the name cards.

I cleaned the glass on the paintings to remove any finger prints.

Next I picked up all the cartons and put them out in the car to take back home.















I then brought in my print rack from the car and placed it on the table.















Lastly, I sorted the matted and shrink wrapped paintings and put them in the print rack.

Now it was time to go home and relax.

People's Choice Award

Today I was informed that my painting "Frozen Barns" was the People's Choice for Best Painting in the "150 Years of Canadian History Featuring Peterborough County" exhibit at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.















I would like to thank everyone who enjoyed viewing my painting and selected it as their favourite.

Rural Outlook - A Work in Progress

Today I was painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group and for a change decided to work in acrylic on canvas.

I used various mixtures of Hansa yellow, burnt sienna and Grumbacher red for the sky.

With cobalt blue and various mixes of the sky colours I painted in the fields starting with the one furthest away and gradually moving until the foreground field was complete.

Using various red, yellow and burnt sienna mixtures I put in the trees against the sky and the larger one behind the barn.














With mixtures of burnt sienna and cobalt blue I put in the roadway to the barn and added the fence rails on the far side of the roadway.

Next I put in the red barns, the one on the hilltop and the other one in the foreground and then I added a little titanium white to the road mixture and put on the barn roofs and the under paint for the closer fence posts.

I will post this painting later once I have completed the fence and decided if I would put people walking to the barn to start their morning chores.

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

Barn VII and Barn IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I felt like working on barns, so I pulled out this barn first that I started a while ago (see posts on 28 September 2013 and 06 November 2014).

I put in the trees on the background hills behind the barn and then started on some of the tree branches on the front of the barn.

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









Barn VII

The next barn I have worked on a number of times over the years (see posts on 28 September 2013, 15 May 2016, 06 April and 20 August 2017).

I worked on the smaller birches on the right side of the drawing and then worked on the two very large birches.















Barn IX

Next I put in some of the grasses and growies in the front of the drawing. I will post this piece at a later date as more work on it is completed.

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

Barn XI - A Work in Progress

I picked this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 28 September 2013).

Starting with the drive shed in front of the main barn, I did the tin roof first keeping the bends and twists in the roof. I lightly indicated the grooves in the tin.

Next, I ran the support beams down at the front of the shed, followed by adding the boards along the side of the shed.















I then started working on getting the correct angles for the  front of the hip roof on the barn.

Next I put the facing boards on the front of the barn.

I will post this piece at later date as once I complete the roof line on the barn and more work on it is completed.

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