Woodland Nymph - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this drawing that I had started in the late 80's. I had set it aside because I had to make changes to the little girl in the drawing.

I wasn't totally happy with the nose; it was a little "bulby" at the end and needed to be smoothed out.

I started with the top of the head to get rid of the flat top first, followed by adding strands of hair going across her forehead at the sides of her head and going across the ear.

The fingers of the hand needed more definition as well as the back of the hand and wrist.  I also added a few details to the elbow and defined the arm from the shoulder down.

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

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

Woodland Nymph

Today I wanted to work on this drawing of a little girl and a fawn that I had started a while ago (see posts on 30 November 2015 and 20 April 2016).

I worked on the fawn first. I wasn't totally happy with the muzzle so I reworked it.

I added more details to the eye, the forehead and the ear.

Next, I positioned the girl where I wanted her to be in relation to the fawn. Although I lost a lot of the fawn's body this seemed to work best.

Now I just have to decide which media I would like to use when I do a painting from this drawing.

Woodland Nymph

Since we have an Executive meeting today I am picking up my paintings from the Elements of Nature Art Show which closed yesterday and will be dropping off my paintings for the upcoming Christmas Art Show and Sale at the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio.

I doodled while there were some discussion going on about whether it was worth keeping the Gallery open late on Thursday nights.

When they asked if there were any other comments, I made mine which was "Those that want to sit from 4-7pm Thursday night can put their names down in that time slot and do it, since no one is coming out in the dark."

It seemed that those that wanted the Gallery to be open were not inclined to sit at night in the winter. Needless to say, the Gallery will no longer be open Thursdays from 4-7pm.

I continued working on my rough sketch until I pretty much knew how I wanted it be with the placement of the girl and the fawn.

It wasn't long before the meeting was over and we all headed home.

When I got home I did the barn chores, had supper, made myself a cup of tea and then started working on the outline drawing.

In the end I was pleased with the drawing of the girl. Since it is getting late, I will do the drawing of the fawn another day.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Please Mom?

Today, I am doing a double shift at the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio which is open from 1-7pm on Thursday.

While there, I thought I would spend my time working on a drawing of Christine holding a Poodle puppy.

My father had always wanted a white poodle and needless to say my parents ended up purchasing Teela.

Christine showed her in Junior Showmanship classes and in Conformation classes to earn her Canadian Championship, while I showed her in Obedience Trials at the same time and she earned her Companion Dog title.

After she earned her titles, she was bred to my male, Sootie and she produced a litter of five puppies; three males and two females.

I was given my choice of one of the puppies from that litter and I kept one of the females and called her Ariel.

All five puppies (Ariel, Crystal, Midnight, Skippy and Stormy), from that litter ended up earning their Canadian Championships, making both parents Top Producers.

Playing in the Waves

It is not going to be one of the warmest days for close to the end of April with the morning starting off at 21F (-6.1) and the high of a balmy 49F (9.4C) but, at least it is supposed to be sunny most of the day.

After doing the barn chores and having breakfast I decided I would like to work on this sketch of Christine playing in the waves with a stick that I had started many years ago.

At that time I did a watercolour painting of her called "Christine on the Beach" (see post on 17 April 2011) from one of the other sketches.

I started working on Christine, beginning with her hair and gradually working my way down, next by putting in the facial features.

From there I put the clothes on her upper body.

This was followed by putting the details on her right arm.

Next, I wanted to get the lower part of her dress completed, showing all the folds created by the strong wind that was blowing that day.














Lastly, I drew in her legs and feet as well as the stick she was using in the water.

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

New Friend

It looks as though the weatherman was wrong when he said we wouldn't see the temperature climb to 70F (21.1C) until the spring. I am certainly glad he is wrong as today was a beautiful sunny day with the temperature being 72F (22.2C).

I would like to thank new collector Mrs. Barbara Miller of Toronto, Ontario for her commission to do this pen and ink drawing of her son and one of their horses.

It brings back fond memories of whenever I had the chance to make a new equine friend. It didn't matter if it was the milkman, iceman or policeman's horse.

Each meeting, no matter how fleeting was a joy to remember for a lifetime.

First Love - A Work in Progress

It is another nice, sunny, hot 74F (23.3C) and humid 85F (29.4C) day; so I decided that I would do some work on a couple of quick sketches that I did earlier this month.

I was at the Peterborough Exhibition enjoying some of the horse show in the morning, before I had to go to Buckhorn and sit at the art show in the afternoon.

While walking through the infield among the trailers I came across and endearing scene of a young child hugging her pony in between getting him ready for the show.

I did a quick sketch and took a couple of reference photographs before the moment was lost.

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

Winter Playground

When my daughter, Christine was very young her best friend was one of my neighbour's children Tim Dunford.

He was always very patient and looked after her much like an older brother would take care of a baby sister.

This painting is a result of some of those memories of them tobogganing down the big front hill, and I will at a later date paint some of them when she was learning how to skate, and them going trick or treating in their costumes.

Thank you to returning collectors the English Catholic School Association, (Mr. Joseph DiProfio) of North Bay, Ontario on their purchase of this painting.

Spring Bouquet

This is an original 7-1/2" x 10-1/2” framed watercolour painting.

I remember when my daughter, Christine was little would go out into the fields and bring me a bouquet of the weeds and wild flowers she would find.

Thank you to Mrs. Marsha Rennie of Lakefield, Ontario on her selection of this painting for her art collection.

I am now going to head out to paint with the Outdoor Painters' Group.

Fluttering Wings

Fluttering Wings is an original 7" x 10-1/2” framed watercolour.

This is the second in series of paintings I am working on depicting children playing (see Go Fly a Kite posted on 10 November 2010).

Congratulations to new collector Mr. William Green of Lakefield, Ontario on his selection of this painting.

Christine on the Beach

Christine on the Beach is an original 14-1/2" x 22” framed watercolour.

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, but when children get near water whether it is a puddle in the driveway or a lake they find a way to play in it.

In this instance it was my daughter playing with a stick in the water. We were going out later for supper and she knew she couldn't get her dress wet. So being able to be ankle deep in the water and splashing with a stick was the best she could do.

Congratulations to new collectors Mr. & Mrs. Donegan of Nepean, Ontario on their selection of this painting.

Go Fly a Kite

Go Fly a Kite is one of a series of 6-1/2" x 10” watercolour paintings I am working on depicting children playing.

Today I am sitting the Outdoor Painters' Show at KAGS and will be removing my paintings tomorrow when the show comes down to make way for the next art group.

Congratulations to Ms. Penny Pierce of Lakefield, Ontario on adding this painting to her collection.

Towards the Light - A Work in Progress

We have a lovely park about five minutes away called Selwyn Beach Conservation Area, located on the north east shore of Lake Chemong.

The 72 acres (29 hectares) Park was established in 1973 to provide a section of the Lake's shoreline for public use.

It has an unsupervised sand beach with nearby barbecues and tables for picnics, as well as a large shelter complete with a central barbecue pit. Further down the shoreline there is a boat launch and docking facilities.










What I enjoy the most are the hiking trails in the northern portion of the Park. It has been left undeveloped except for the trails which pass through a wide variety of terrain including open fields, wetlands and woodland.

The area shown is found close to the parking lot; and you past through this small portion of the woodland as the three children in this painting are in order to get to the beach.

I will post it again as I complete more on the painting.

Inlet

This is an original 11" x 12-3/4” framed watercolour available for $225.00.















Two children stop at the edge of a high cliff to have their lunch. Looking down from their vantage point, everything below seems so small and unreal, that they are more like toys left scattered about the landscape by a giant's hand.

Going to the Fair

An original 15" x 19” watercolour, framed $980.00.

It is amazing what you can find when you go through old portfolios. This painting was on the cover of the November/December 1997 issue of Horse Talk Magazine.

My father started working for Canadian Breweries (when E.P. Taylor owned it) in the 50's driving transport. With his experience working in the lumber camps in Quebec skidding logs during the winter months with horses he was a good choice to be given the responsibility in the 70's for hauling the number one show team of Carlsberg Belgians throughout Ontario and Quebec.















Because of this I have a special place in my heart for the Belgians. The painting shows the calm, gentle nature of the Belgian as she follows patiently along behind her tiny owner.

This painting is a part of my solo exhibition at Showplace Performance Centre, Peterborough, Ontario which runs from 31 Mar - 04 May 2010.

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

Here Kitty Kitty

Chalk pastel is a medium I enjoy working with (except for the dust, but that is why they make fixative).

This painting was created from a few quick sketches and a couple of photographs I had taken of my daughter when she was about 18 months old.












She was trying to coax one of the barn cats over so she could pet its soft white fur. She did eventually succeed even though White cat was unsure about it at first.

This framed 18" x 24” original is available for $395.00 is currently hanging at Showplace as part of my Solo show. SOLD