Last Day of the Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

Today is a little more busy than it was yesterday and as usual I am sitting at the back of the building working on my art work.

I worked on this drawing of a small island on one of the lakes that had a solitary, large dead tree.

The tree skeleton had been bleached to a shimmering pale grey.

At a later date I may turn this drawing into a painting, but I will have to give a lot of thought to how I can have the tree stand out boldly against a dark background.

All Alone 1

One painting was sold by Rebecca Bilcox and small items were sold by Diane Collins and Emil Varga.

The hours for our show are:
18 Aug 19 - 12:30pm - 4:00pm

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

Tied Up 5

I was out back of the barn today and looking at some of our old boats.

I did this little drawing of the old fishing boat that was still on the trailer.















Of course I made some changes and set it up to look as though it was tied up on a shore on one of the many lakes in the area.

At a later date I turn this drawing into a painting.

ACEO - Tied Up 4

Today I was thinking about being in the Caribbean, with the warm breezes and turquoise waters, so I thought I would work on this painting that I had started last year (see posts on 19 April and 24 July 2017)

Since I already had the sky with the birds completed I started by working putting in the water with a mixture of Antwerp blue with a small amount of cobalt blue. I left the area by the sand with the surf splashing up the white of the paper.

Next I used raw sienna as a base colour for the sand and as it dried I used a wash of burnt sienna I put in the islands on the horizon.

Darkening the burnt sienna was with a little cobalt blue I added the shadows to the islands and into the sand and put in the tethering post.

Using the Antwerp blue and raw sienna I put in some palm trees on the islands and some seaweed onto the sand around the boat.

Now it was time to work on the boat with alizarin crimson.

A lighter red was put on the sunlit side first and a hint of new gamboge was added in a few areas. On the shadowed side darker alizarin crimson was painted in first and Antwerp blue added  into the shadowed areas.

Lastly, with a mix of French ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson and burnt sienna I put in the gunnels and the rope tying the boat to the post.

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.

On the Move Exhibit at KAGS

Today I was at KAGS to open the Gallery in the morning for the Still Life class, but I was unable to stay for the Snow Day theme as I had an eye appointment this morning.








I returned later to stay for the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group afternoon where I thought I would be able to work on some paintings.














Unfortunately, that was not to be. The person who was supposed to sit the Gallery in the afternoon did not bother to show up for their obligation for being able to exhibit.










I ended up sitting instead as I hadn't set up to paint in the studio.











I ended up making a number of phone calls until I had dates for this person to sit in place of this time slot that she missed.












Afterwards I had plenty of time to enjoy the show which featured the many ways that people have travelled from one place to another through the years.
















The show runs from 28 November - 21 December 2018, then closes for the Christmas Holidays and reopens from 02-20 January 2019. The Opening Reception is on 03 December 2018 from 1-4 p.m. If you have a chance, please come out and enjoy the show.

Big Cedar Lake II

I wanted to work on another pen and ink drawing so I pulled out this one that I had started a few years ago (see posts on 25 August 2015 and 30 January 2017).

I started by putting in the rocks at the base of the island on the left side of the drawing and gradually added the trees and growies.

Next I indicated the rock bases on the islands and distant shoreline in the background.















Working from the furthest back trees with the least amount of detail, I gradually added more detail as I worked forward.

Lastly, I put in the ripples on the water, lighter in the background and slightly darker in the foreground.

This original 5-1/2" x 9” pen and ink drawing will be available when matted and shrink wrapped for $40.00.

Tied Up 4 - A Work in Progrress

I thought I would do a little more work on this piece that I had started earlier this year (see post on 19 April 2012) before I had to leave for my physiotherapy appointment.

Since this is going to be a painting of  the Caribbean I decided to use Antwerp blue for the sky.

I wet the top part of the paper first and brushed in my sky being careful to leave some areas of the paper untouched for the clouds.

Before I could mix the water colour it was time for me to go and I had to stop painting.

I will post this piece at a later date once the ocean has been painted.

Burleigh Inn I-V

Today I went on a paint out with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group to the Burleigh Inn located right beside Burleigh Falls.

It was too muddy for me to get down to the Falls safely, so I stayed by the Burleigh Inn at their marina and did some sketching.

Cindy helped me get set up at the end of the dock where I had a lot of things draw.

I started with a boat with lovely reflections that was moored at the end of the marina facing out at the lake.

Burleigh Inn I

To the right of me at the end of the dock was a mooring chain.

The chain was anchored in the pink granite rock face that ran down into the water.

The attachment bolt at the end of the chain was under the water.

I found it interesting the way the water distorted the position of the bolt.

It moved it to the side instead of directly following the line down beneath the water.

Burleigh Inn III

On the opposite side of the marina entrance there is a tall white pine which was the subject of my next sketch.

I started with the waterline at the bottom of the rock face and built the rock up to the base of the tree.

I put the trunk of the pine in first and then started to add the branches and pine needles onto the tree.

Next I put in the deciduous tree trunks beside the pine on top of the rock face with some grasses and growies.

Burleigh Inn IV

By then it was lunch time and all of us got together under the shade of the trees and relaxed for a little while.















Burleigh Inn II

After lunch I stayed in the shade and worked on a sketch of the rock face as it goes beneath the water and showing the rock through the crystal clear water of the lake.















Burleigh Inn V

For my last sketch, I chose to do the stone stairs leading down to the marina from the cottages. It was surrounded by ferns and shrubbery, with lights along the sides for night time.

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

Tied Up 3 - A Work in Progress

Although there was a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect for the area, all we received were a few rumbles of thunder and a strong wind.

I thought I would do a little more work in this painting that I had started a few years ago (see posts on 11 September 2014 and 16 December 2016).















I started in the background with a mixture of raw sienna French ultramarine blue, for a soft green to indicate the distant trees. I mixed in a little burnt sienna to the green and put in the posts for the pier.

Using a various mixtures of burnt sienna and raw sienna I painted the sand onto the beach.

I will post this painting again once the pier and the water have been completed.

Tied Up 4

Today as I was waiting for Christine to come and take me to my physiotherapy session I saw a couple of seagulls flying.

I thought that I would do a little drawing of a small boat tied up with its reflection in the still water of a tidal pool.

It seemed fitting that I would fill an area of the sky with a large group of seagulls.

At a later date I may develop this drawing into a painting.

ACEO - Tied Up 2

I wanted to finish this painting that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 22 June 2013 and 09 January 2017).

Starting with the boats, I wanted to give them each different coloured gunnels, the large sailboat I painted with alizarin crimson, the right side one I used Antwerp blue and the centre boat I added a little raw sienna to the blue and painted the gunnel green.

Mixing a dark of burnt sienna with a little bit of French ultramarine blue, I put in the mast on the sailboat, the ties on the boats and some of the islands on the horizon line as well as the dark areas of the waves just below the horizon line and in the foreground.















With a pale wash of aureolin and raw sienna I painted the hulls of the boats, leaving a few areas white.

Using cadmium red I put in the mooring buoys to the end of the mooring ties.

Lastly I added a little bit of seaweed on the beach using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

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.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Waiting I

I saw the surgeon today and the good news is that I am allowed to put half weight on my leg, but the down side is I am still not allowed to go up or down stairs and I am not allowed to drive for at least the next 6 weeks.

When I returned home I thought I would work on this drawing of Eagle Beach in Aruba (see post on 12 November 2016).

I put in the boats first and then added the waves washing up on the beach and in the water.








Lastly, I put in the horizon line, the distant shoal and the clouds.

I can see in the future developing this drawing into a wonderful painting depicting the bold and beautiful colours of the Caribbean.

This original 9" x 12” pen and ink drawing when matte and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

Caribbean - Two Works in Progress

I did a little bit on this drawing that I had started a couple of years ago  (see posts on 24 January 2014 and 27 May 2016).

After putting in the woman's hair, I found I couldn't get into the drawing so I set it aside.














Sail Softly on By I

Next I started on another drawing that was also started a couple of years ago (see post on 12 January 2014).















Along the Beach I

I put in a few boats up near the horizon line and then did a little more work on the seaweed on the shore.

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

Big Cedar Lake I and II - Two Works in Progress

The temperature has once again dropped down to 9F (-13C) with the wind chill making it feel like -2F (-19C) as I went out to do the barn chores. The nice thing is that by the afternoon the temperature is to go up to 19F (-7C) with the wind chill making it feel like 9F (-13C) and the sun will be shining.

After warming up with a cup of tea I pulled out these two drawings that I started a couple of years ago while canoeing on Big Cedar Lake (see posts on 23 August 2015 and 09 October 2016).













Big Cedar Lake I

I started near the left side of the paper and put in the large  pine tree on the shore first and continued to work my way across the to the left side of the paper adding in the trees close to the shore.

It was time to take a break and after taking the dog out for a walk and having lunch I started to do some work on the other drawing on the same piece of paper.














Big Cedar Lake II

Starting on the left side I put in a couple of the closer pine trees.

Next I decided that I needed a change and instead of continuing with the trees I put the motor boat on the lake.

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

Tied Up 2 - A Work in Progress

I came across this piece that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 22 June 2013) and I thought I would like to get more work on it completed.

With the boats tied to their mooring lines I felt an evening scene would be appropriate.

I started with aureolin at the horizon line and worked upward in the sky, then added new gamboge above the first colour, followed by a little alizarin crimson into the top of the sky.

I added a little burnt sienna to the alizarin crimson and brushed in a few clouds into the sky.














Using new gamboge with a little raw sienna, I put in the water just below the horizon line. This was followed by adding in alizarin crimson and painting down to the top of the wave curling toward the beach.

Leaving some areas white for the waves rolling up on the beach, I put in the sand using mixes of burnt sienna and raw sienna.

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

Tied Up 3 - A Work in Progress

This morning I went out to do the barn chores with the temperature at 9F (-13C) and the wind making it feel like -4F (-20C) and on top of that, we are to get 8" (20cm) of snow today in addition to what is already on the ground.

I pulled out this drawing that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 11 September 2014) and thought I would work on this piece until the snow plow comes by so I can go out and run my errands.














Using Antwerp blue I brushed in the sky into the background, but before I could do more work on this piece the snow plow arrived and is here clearing my driveway.

I will set it aside for now and post it again once more work on the painting has been completed.

Waiting I - A Work in Progress

This is one of a number of sketches I started when I was in Aruba, relaxing on Eagle Beach.

There was a vendor who had a couple of Sea-Doos, a few paddle boats, and some small sailboats for rent. All of them were brightly coloured and stood out against the white sand, azure sky and turquoise water.









I tightened up the details on the paddle boats in the foreground and straightened up the masts on the sailboats.

Lastly I fixed up the little sailboat near the horizon.

Beached 1-3

Today I was watching a program on television about how many small ships and fishing vessels in the Caribbean are often lost during hurricane season.

It wasn't long before I got went and got my sketch book and a pencil and did a few sketches of some of the fishing boats which landed up on the beach, inland as well as a those that were underwater.

Beached 1

The design of the fishing boats were similar, though some were smaller and others larger.

Each boat cabin was painted white for the most part with the rest of the boats painted in different colours.

I will have to decide which drawing I want to have under the water and which ones I want to have beached on land.

Beached 2















Beached 3

ACEO - Tied Up 1

We may have an early spring this year as a flock of Red-Winged Blackbirds arrived today to join the four that have been here all winter.

I thought that I would like to complete this little piece that I had started a few years ago (see post on 22 June 2013).

I started by putting in a sky using Antwerp blue, followed by indicating the beach at the bottom of the paper using raw sienna.

I added a little burnt sienna to the sky colour and brushed in the waves on the water leaving a few white areas for the white caps.














To the wave colour I added French ultramarine blue and more burnt sienna and used this mixture to put in the land masses on the horizon line.

With raw sienna and blue I put in the a few trees on the closer land mass.

Now it was time to put in the boat. I started with alizarin crimson and painted the gunnels.

Using a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I put in the mooring line, then lightened the colour with water and painted in the hull of the boat.














Lastly, I added a few darker areas on the sand at the edges of the waves with raw sienna and burnt sienna.

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.

Lovesick Lake I-V - Five Works in Progress

Today was a beautiful, sunny day with a nice breeze blowing and the temperature went up to 82F (27.8C) with the humidity making it feel like 89F (31.7C). It was a wonderful day to go out on the lake with the canoe.











Lovesick Lake II - Sunken Boat

We originally had planned to go to Coon Lake up near Apsley, but as we were going up 28 Highway through Burleigh Falls, we decided on Lovesick Lake instead. We hadn't been on that lake in over 20 years and we would be out on the water sooner, especially since there was to be a thunderstorm later in the day.

Burleigh Falls Lock 28 which allows access between Stoney and Lovesick Lakes has a Parks Canada public boat launch and parking available so it was an ideal place for us to stop and enter Lovesick Lake.













Lovesick Lake I

We left the boat launch and went across to the far side of the channel markers by Cut Island and stayed outside of them as we passed Ruba Island and followed them as far as the inlet on Richards Island where we backtracked and went up the shallow chancel between Richards, Taylors and Beaver Islands.

Once we were past Taylors Island we eased left and took the scenic route and went all the way around Marshall Island and saw some of the opposite side of Taylors Island before heading back down through the same shallow channel where we would let the current carry us back to the Lock.












Lovesick Lake IV - Abandoned Landing

The lake has a maximum depth of 82' (25m) but there are many shallow areas with submerged trees and large rock shelves, which provides wonderful fishing spots for the many game fish including: large and small mouth bass, muskie, walleye, perch, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie and carp.

Ron enjoyed himself and caught two large mouth bass and two walleye, all of which were quickly returned live to the lake. He also had numerous fish that he almost landed but got away just shy of the canoe.














Lovesick Lake V - Porters Island Cottage

As we came out of the channel we passed close to Porters Island and stayed fairly close to shore until we had to cross the between the channel markers making sure there were no boats coming toward us in either direction and returned to the boat launch.

Perhaps next time we go to Lovesick Lake we will follow the shore on the opposite side of the channel markers and follow the shoreline into Lower Buckhorn Lake and Deer Bay.















Lovesick Lake III - Survivors

I will post each of these sketches at a later date once I have gone over them with pen and ink.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

ACEO - Beached 1

It is a cold day today with the temperatures dropping 2F (1.7C) per hour last night until it bottomed out at -20F (-30C) this morning and the wind chill making it feel like -39F (-39.4C).

My flock of snow buntings are staying close to their food supply and are becoming a lot less shy of me when I fill the feeders and put the feed out on the ground in the morning for them.

I thought that doing a painting of a nice, warm place like in the Caribbean would take away some of the chill of what I see and feel when I go outside.

I selected this drawing that I did a few years ago (see post on 14 November 2013) and started by putting in an evening sky using a mixture raw sienna and new gamboge at the horizon line and working upward I added a little alizarin crimson.

Making a grey of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I put in the lower layer of clouds in the sky while the paint was still damp. Then, I added more blue and a little alizarin crimson to the grey mix and put in the clouds at the top of the sky.














Next I put the sand on the beach using raw sienna, before adding various colours from the sky throughout the water being careful to leave an area of white between the beach and the water.

Using various combinations of the cloud colours darkened with burnt sienna I put in the distant land masses on the horizon and the dark areas of the waves.

Using the sky colour I added it to the foreground rocks on the edges closest to the evening sky.

This was followed by using the dark wave colour and adding more pigment to put in the shadows and to indicate the cracks and crevices in the rock face.

I continued using both rock colours into the water to create the foam in the water at the edge of the beach.

Now it was time to start work on the boat. Using alizarin crimson I painted in the gunnels first to define to the boat.















With a dark of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a small amount of alizarin crimson I put in the shadowed areas beneath the seats, being careful to leave the boards of the seats white.

Next I gradually added water to lighten the shadow colour as I worked from the darkest shadows on the boat the lightest.

Once the paint dried I added a small amount of the sky colour onto the bow of the boat.

Mixing a green of the blue and the sand colour, I scattered some seaweed across the sand that had been washed ashore by the waves.

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.