Lovesick Lake XV-XIX

Today we decided it would be a good day to take the canoe and go out on the lake for the first time this year. We picked Lovesick Lake as there is usually plenty of parking and it has easy access to the lake.

It didn't take long to get the canoe into the water, our gear loaded and we were on our way up the lake.














Lovesick Lake XV

We went up the main channel until we came to this island with the cottage on it and I worked on my sketch while Ron started fishing.

The current slowly carried us back toward the main channel until Ron moved us back, so I could continue with my drawing.














Lovesick Lake XVI

With Ron having no luck catching a fish in this spot, we moved on to another location and I worked on this sketch of a seagull on a rock eating a fish while Ron tried his luck.

After a while with him still not having any luck catching a fish, we decided to have our lunch as we continued to watch the gull eating his meal.















Lovesick Lake XVII

We let the current take us through the channel that has a multitude of close to the surface submersed rocks where motor boats cannot go through without damage to their props.

Although, today there was one man who knew exactly how to go through with his small boat and when he had to lift the motor out of the water to avoid damaging it; so you know he has spent a lot of time finding the way through the channel safely.














Lovesick Lake XVIII

We stopped at a small inlet just before entering the main channel, before slowly making our way toward the boat launch.

It was near the channel marker Buoy 234 the that Ron finally caught his first fish. It was a nice sized bass and I carefully removed it from the hook and released it back into the water.

Lovesick Lake XIX

We moved across the channel to the far side of one of the smaller islands out of the way of boat traffic and Ron caught his second bass, which I carefully released back into the lake.

From there we returned to the boat launch and went home after a very enjoyable day our on the lake.

ACEO - Cottage Country 1

We are supposed to get another up to another 2" (5cm) of snow today on top of all the other snow we have had this week.

After doing the barn chores and feeding the birds I decided to paint. I pulled out this piece that I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 05 June 2014 and 05 May 2019).

I started by putting in the distant shore on the horizon line with burnt sienna.

Next, I worked on the cottages, starting with the roof which I painted with various greys made of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

With a wash of burnt sienna I painted both cottages, being careful to leave the windows without paint.

Darkening the burnt sienna slightly I indicated the logs on the cottages.

Next, I darkened the roof colour and added more details to the roof, the door jamb, and window sills on the cottage. At the same time, I indicated the tree trunks around the cottages.

To finish the cottages I used cadmium yellow for the lights shining through the windows.














Mixing various green using Antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue and raw sienna, I used a sponge and applied the green paint to the deciduous trees.

This was followed by painting in the pine trees around the buildings.

I added in the grasses and growies around the foreground cottage with mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna and new gamboge.

Lastly, I painted the rocks using various mixtures of burnt sienna, alizarin crimson and French ultramarine blue.

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

Long Lake Cottage XIII - A Work in Progress

Today it is snowing, with the temperature at 25F (-4C) and the winds blowing the 2" (5cm) of snow at a steady 12mph (20km/h) with gusts of 24mph (39km/h) making it feel like (-10C) 14F.

With living on the top of a hill there is nothing to stop the full force of the wind driving the snow into your face.

After doing the barn chores, filling all the bird feeders and having breakfast, I thought I would like to work on this drawing that I had started a couple of years ago while canoeing on Long Lake (see posts on 16 September 2019 and 20 July 2020).

Before I can finish inking in the drawing I need to do some work on the cottage to square it up and get the proportion correct.

I started on the main part of the cottage, straightening the walls, squaring up the windows, putting on the roof, adding the shingles and chimney.

Next, I started on the mud porch, trying to get its roof under the overhang of the main roof and making it looked like  it was an addition to the cottage.

Before I  could finish the porch I had friends drop in for a visit.

I will post this drawing again once I have the cottage and remaining landscape drawn.

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

Loon Call Lake VII

Today I was sitting at A Place For The Arts in Bancroft, Ontario.

The new show in the Annex, "Exhibition of Colour" was being hung, featuring the art of Jewell Allington and Jane Hall, both are friends I made through my time at the "old" Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio.

After opening the Gallery and doing the various chores that all sitters should do to keep the site looking clean and tidy, I took out my artwork and continued to work on this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 14 September 2014 and 10 December 2016).















It was another fairly quiet day for a Wednesday so I ended up having plenty of time to work on this piece.

I started by completing the cottage and followed by putting the rocky shoreline in to the left side, putting the shadows to the rocks and adding some grasses and growies.

Next, I worked on putting in the pine trees on the rocky area to the right of the cottage, followed by adding the rocks, their shadows and the grasses and growies.

Lastly, I put the reflections of the trees into the water.

This original 6" x 9" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

Drawing on the Otonabee River

Today, Norma and I went out along River Road to find a place to sketch.

We came across a lovely location with two cottages on the opposite side of the Otonabee River, which had stone stairs leading down to the water and a wide variety of blooming plants in their gardens which were reflected into the calm waters.















Cottage on the Otonabee River I

After doing my drawing of one of the cottages, I walked a little further up the river and did this sketch of the branches sticking up out of the water of a cedar tree that had broken and fallen into the river.















Dead Cedar on the Otonabee River I

I will probably come back and do a little more work on each of these drawings at a later date.

Long Lake Cottage XIII - A Work in Progress

Today, I had planned on working on my art outside, but even though the temperature was 81F (27C) with the humidity making it feel like 88F (31C) it was a little breezy out with the wind at 12mph (20km) and the wind gusts up to 22mph (35km/h).

So instead of sitting outside and fighting with my paper, I sat in the porch enjoying the sunshine while I worked.

I wanted to get the main rocks inked in and if I had the time, to also start on the trees and growies.

Once the rocks were placed, I put in the tall leaning pine trees. 

This was followed by the putting the bushes around the base of the pines.

Next, I put the small trees and growies in the cracks and spaces between the rocks and some bull rushes coming out of the water.

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

Clear Lake V - Cottages

I wanted to finish another drawing, so I pulled out this one that was a part of a series from Clear Lake that was started a number of years ago (see posts on 09 June 2013, 06 May, 06 July and 31 December 2016 and 07 February 2018).

First I put in a couple of chairs by the shade tree at the edge of the lake.

This was followed by adding grasses, rocks and growies along the shoreline.















Lastly, I added a few more ripples into the water in the foreground.

This original 7" x 9" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

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

Long Lake XIII-XVI

Since Ron didn't have to go into work today we decided to go canoeing on Long Lake.

It didn't take us very long to get everything together, loaded into the car and get on the road so we could spend the day on the lake.
















Long Lake XIII

We paddled up the lake as usual until Ron found a spot to go fishing and once he was settled I got out my sketch book and pencils and started drawing.


















Long Lake XIV

It wasn't long before he caught a bass and I stopped to take it off the hook and release it back into the lake.

Once the fish stopped biting it was time to move to another location.

What I like about Long Lake are the beautiful, granite cliffs rising high above the lake; with the many pine and spruce trees growing up out of the cracks in the rocks.

You have to wonder how some of them can grow so tall without a lot of soil for their roots.

Long Lake XV

After we had lunch in a quiet inlet, it was time to turn around and slowly head back to the boat launch.

I continued to work on a couple of sketches as we drifted back down the lake.

Ron was very happy that he caught three bass which made the day enjoyable for him and as for me I had four sketches and a lot of reference photographs to show for my day out on the lake.

Long Lake XV

Now we will pick up supper on our way home for a relaxing end to our day.

Lovesick Lake IX, XI and XII - Three Works in Progress

Today I wanted to do a little more work on these drawings that I had started last month (see post on 07 July 2019).

On the first one I worked on the tall pine tree on the small island and managed to complete the one side of the tree and some of the ground at its base before I was interrupted.















Lovesick Lake IX

After lunch I thought I would work on another of the drawings and I started with this one. I managed to get the cottage indicated with some of the trees and bushes around it, as well as the tree tops on the larger pines before it was time to get supper ready.















Lovesick Lake XII

I started to work on the next, but I wasn't destined to get more than a few of the top branches finished and indicating the branches on the largest tree, before I had unexpected company arrive. 












Lovesick Lake XI

I will post each of these drawings as more work on them is done or they are completed.

Chemong Lake III-V - Three Works in Progress

Today we went out in the pontoon boat on Lake Chemong.

As usual we went out into the lake and dropped anchor and had supper. Afterward we pulled up the anchor and let the current carry us back.

While Ron tried his luck at fishing, I worked on a few sketches of the lake and the landscape.















Chemong Lake Cottage III

The first one was to be of a large cottage on a point of land, hidden in among the trees.

I had just finished the sketch of the island as Ron caught a sunfish, which I had to take off the hook. I decided that I would put in the cottage from my photographs at home later.















Chemong Lake Boathouse IV

Ron started the motor and headed for a fishing spot closer to the boat launch, while I worked on my next sketch was of a large boathouse at the edge of the lake.

It wasn't long before he caught a small perch and with my sketch almost completed, he moved on to another place to try for a third fish.















Chemong Lake Causeway V

Unfortunately for Ron he had no luck on getting a third fish. I continued to work on a sketch of the causeway as he headed into the dock. On the whole it was an enjoyable evening on the lake.

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

Old Cottage II

Winter just doesn't want to leave, but with the high today of 54F (12C) the snow we received yesterday should soon be gone.

I thought that I would like to finish this drawing that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 14 July 2013, 31 May 2016 and 18 January 2018).















The only thing that was left to do on this picture was to add the shading into the interior of the building showing in the open doorway of the cottage.

This original 7" x 9” pen and ink drawing when framed will be available for $150.00.

Viamede Resort Cottage Reflections I - A Work in Progress

I wanted to do a little more work on this drawing that I started last year (see post on 14 September 2017).

Starting on the left side, I put in the closer deciduous trees and added a few growies.











Next, I indicated the trees in the background, followed by putting in the pine trees.

I will post this drawing at a later date once more work on the cottages have been completed.

Loon Call Lake Turtle I and Clear Lake V - Two Works in Progress

I wanted to work on this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 27 September 2015) while we were out on the lake canoeing.

It didn't take me very long to put in the fallen tree trunk that on which the turtle was sunning himself and then I set it aside.











Loon Call Lake Turtle I

I still wanted to do more drawing  so I pulled out this piece that I started a long time ago (see posts on 09 June 2013, 16 May, 06 July and 16 December 2016).















Clear Lake V Cottages

I did a little more work on the shoreline and added in a few more ripples into the water. I will post each of these drawings as more work on them is completed.

Old Cottage II - A Work in Progress

I pulled this drawing out that I started quite a while ago (see posts on 14 July 2013 and 31 May 2016) while at a paint out with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group.

After looking at the drawing I decided that I didn't want to put in the wheelbarrow leaning against the building and I put in the wooden boards across on that side of the building.

From there I added the grasses and growies at the base of the larger part of the building as well as putting the climber going up the side of the building.
















I put the shadows beneath the eaves on both sections of the building.

Next I darkened in the broken window on the smaller section of the building.

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

ACEO - Dusk 14

We arrived at the Knoepfli Inn, located at 5484 Highway 124 in Magnetawan, Ontario yesterday and spent most of the afternoon settling in and taking photographs. I am limited by my leg as to where I can go on the property but hopefully by next year it will be a lot better and I can get down the hill to the river behind the cottages.

Bea Kolman mentioned at breakfast this morning she would really like it if for next year she could have some paintings of the various cottages for the Scenes of Magnetawan" show for next year. While the light was good in the morning I most my time out taking photographs of the cottages on both sides of the road, then I took pictures of the Inn, the farmhouse and the boathouse.

After lunch I spent some time working on a number of sketches of various birch trees on the property.

This evening after supper went down to the dock by the boat house, which is on Ahmic Lake at the start of the Knoepfli Falls which become the Magnetawan River at the end of the rapids under the Highway 124 bridge.

I thought I would use the opaque watercolor paint that I had used earlier this year, as it seems to lend itself to painting late evening scenes.

I had to work quickly so I kept the painting fairly simple before I lost the light as the sun set.

Thank you for looking at my 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.

Viamede Resort I-III

Today the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group went to the Viamede Resort in Woodview, Ontario.

When Cindy, Norma and I arrived in the upper parking lot at the Viamede Resort, I stopped to take some photographs of the chapel on the property where numerous weddings have been held over the years since it was established in 1877.

From there we went back across the parking lot and started down the paved pathway to the docks on Stoney Lake.

I didn't go down onto the dock, but stayed in the patio area just above them.
The lake was very calm and I took photographs of the cottages on its edge that cast long reflections across the water.

Viamede III - Flower Pot

I sat down at one of the picnic tables and started sketching the cottages before the wind came up and blurred their reflections.

Once my drawing of the cottages was completed, I started on a sketch of the large wooden barrel planters at both entrances to the patio.

They were filled with ivy, dark purple petunias, bright pink geraniums and salvia.

What intrigued me was the use of two hawsers (a heavy rope used for mooring) running between the posts that surrounded the patio giving it a nautical theme.

Which, is fitting since the docks and boat house are right there.

Viamede II - Planters

Once I finished that sketch I noticed a flower pot on the upper level of the boathouse.

It had a black eyed Susan vine growing out of the pot and climbing up the corner post on the rail fence around the deck.














Viamede I - Cottage Reflections

At a later time I may turn each of these drawings into either watercolour or acrylic paintings.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Buildings I

Yes it is snowing! Overnight we received 2" (5.1cm) of heavy packing snow with the temperature in the morning being 30F (-1C) and the wind chill making it feel like 28F (-2C).

For the rest of the day we are going to have mixed precipitation of rain and snow. We will see how much of this white stuff will remain on the ground.

I thought I would work on this drawing today, that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 14 August 2013).

First I worked on the buildings, adding shingles, tiles or metal onto the roofs; as well as a couple of chimneys onto the main building.










Next put on the boards and siding on the various buildings, followed by the windows and doors.

Then it was time to start putting in the background trees and bushes behind the buildings and adding a little smoke coming out from one of the chimneys on the main building.

I put in the horizon line on the lake; and then on the shoreline I added in some grasses and growies on the bank and water ripples below and into the lake.

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

Clear Lake V - A Work in Progress

I had some time today and thought I would like to try and get this drawing completed that I have been working on it for quite a while (see posts on 09 June 2013, 16 May and 06 July 2016).

I started by working on the background trees first, beginning from the pine tree by the cottage and working to the right along the top of the rocks.

Next I put the rocks beneath the trees into the background, and along the edge of the lake and below them the water ripples.

From there I started in on the foreground by putting in the two dead pine tree trunks first, followed by the maple tree and the pine tree by the cottage.
















I put the rest of the cottage in behind the trees surrounding ii and added grasses and growies at the base of the trees.

As my time for working on this drawing was running out I started adding some rocks along the shoreline.

I will post this drawing again once I complete the foreground and the lawn chairs.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Loon Call Lake VII - A Work in Progress

Today I woke up to a very thick heavy fog; it was so dense that when I went out to do the barn chores I could barely see the outline of the east barn. It was the type of fog that would probably last most of the day and the temperature hovered around 24F (-4.4C).

Once I returned from playing hide and seek in the fog with Kyora I thought I would work on one of the drawings I started a while ago (see post on 14 September 2014), while canoeing on Loon Call Lake.

I started with the background trees and lightly indicated them, followed by adding in a few tops of pine trees here and there to create interest.















Next I put in the cottage on the island and around the base I added a few grasses and growies.

Around the cottage I started putting in the pine trees until Ron came in and we had to go out and run some errands.

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

Clear Lake V - A Work in Progress

It is another hot 88F (31C) and humid 95F (35C) day and they are calling for thunderstorms for this evening and overnight, but I don't think that is going to happen as the clouds are just not forming the right way for a thunderstorm.

I pulled out this drawing that I had worked on earlier this year (see posts on 09 June 2013 and 16 May 2016).

After looking at this drawing I decided that I would like to make it a little larger in size and since there was plenty of blank paper I developed the land in the background by adding a cottage, a boat dock, trees and a pathway.

I started on the background trees behind the cottage which had the added benefit of outlining the edges of the building.

Next I went in and put in the cottage into the background, then added the grasses along the pathway down to the dock.

I put in the water and reflections below the dock and along the distant shoreline. Lastly I put in a few rocks at the edge of the water.














Before I started on the foreground cottage, I lightly indicated where the large tree on the left would be placed, as it is in front of the cottage.

I put in the front edges of the cottage, then the fascia boards. Next I indicated where the door and windows would be placed and then I added the shadow on the wall caused by the edge of the roof and the reflected light in the windows.

Then I started on the roof by putting in the chimney first, adding the roof line and finally putting on the shingles.

Next I started working on the larger tree trunks on the island, but ran out of time before I could get them finished.

I will post this drawing at a later date when I may also extend the foreground out a little more and put a fire pit in front of the Kawartha chairs.