Sunken Logs 1 - A Work in Progress

This is the first time the Buckhorn Artists' Group has gotten together since March of 2020 and although only five of us were able to meet today it was enjoyable to be painting as a Group.

I wanted to do a little more work on this painting that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 08 August 2012 and 20 July 2013) as it is fairly small and I can stop working on it at anytime.

I decided that my light source would come from the upper left corner.

After making various browns and greys by using combinations of French ultramarine blue, Cobalt blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna, it was time to start painting the bark and woodgrain on the logs.














Starting with the closest log, which was in the shadows, I used the darker mixtures and was careful to leave a few bits of white paper as highlights touched by the sun.

Next, I put in the one behind it to the right and having it slightly lighter in colour.

From there I added some of the darker textures on all of the remaining logs first and I gradually worked toward the lighter colours.

I still have a lot more to do on the logs and I have to decide what kind of fish or if I am going to have more than one and where to place them.

I will post this painting at a later date once the logs are completed.

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

Mississauga Lake I-V

Today, Ron and I decided we would take the canoe and go find a new lake up Highway 507 and we came across Mississauga Lake.

It didn't take us very long to get the canoe off the trailer, the gear loaded, into the lake and we were on our way.














Mississauga Lake I

Even though as we headed out the wind started up and the clouds rolled slowly rolled in we decided to continue.

The lake is fairly large with a surface area of 1,452 acres (588 hectares) and deep with a maximum depth of 130' (39.6m) the average depth being 58' (17.7m).














Mississauga Lake II

The lake is known for Lake Trout, Small Mouth Bass and Large Mouth Bass and Ron was hoping to get a few of them.

We soon pulled into an inlet and Ron started fishing and I took out my sketchbook and started on a drawing of a birch tree at the end of a spit.














Mississauga Lake III

After taking a number of reference photographs I started on a sketch of the shore line of the inlet. I didn't get very far along on it before Ron decided to go to another area where the fish may be biting.

We continued on our way up the lake and stopped in another inlet and Ron went back to fishing while I started another sketch; but since he wasn't having any luck there we decided to take a break and have lunch.














Mississauga Lake IV

After lunch we continued along the shoreline and came across an area which had the stumps of many large cedar trees that had died and fallen due to the rise of the water level many years ago.

I referred to the area as the "Cedar Tree Graveyard" due to the lack of any live trees.














Mississauga Lake V

After getting the "graveyard" blocked in I turned my attention to a spit of land coming out into the Lake at the end of the area and I did a quick sketch of the tall pines and cedars.

The wind at this time was getting a lot stronger and we decided we had better get back to the boat launch before we get soaked. On the whole it was a good day even though Ron didn't catch any fish.

Sunken Logs 1 - A Work in Progress

With the temperature at 27F (-3C) and the wind chill making it feel like 19F (-7C) and snow coming down I decided to put my smaller unfinished paintings in portfolios; that way when I wanted something to work on I would have easy access to a wide range of subjects.

The original lines that I had put onto the paper (see posts on 08 August 2012 and 20 July 2013) had faded, so I went in and reworked the logs.















I will post this piece at a later date once I have turned the fish into a Smallmouth Bass and perhaps added a snagged lure onto one of the logs.

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

Barracuda I - A Work in Progress

It is typical hot July weather with the temperature reaching 91F (33C) and the humidity making it feel like 99F (37C).

This is another sketch I transferred onto paper from my diving slate when I was in Roatan, Honduras at the CoCo View Resort.















I was on Newman's wall after the first morning dive on my way back to the Resort when I came across this small school of barracuda slowly moving along the reef.

I did a quick sketch of their placement in the reef and thought it may turn into a nice painting later.

I will post this sketch once more work on it has been completed.

Koi 10 and 11

Today we brought in all the hay for the horses into the barn in time for the winter. It is a nice feeling to get that job completed and out if the way.

After supper while relaxing and watching television I started doing some simple drawings of koi.

I was interested in capturing the movement of the fish as it moved through the water.

To see how the fins rippled and moved as it went up to the surface as well as when it moved down to the bottom of the pond.

Koi 10

I also tried different positions and angles of the fish.















Koi 11

I would like to thank returning collectors Mr. and Mrs. Jiri Spirk of Lakefield, Ontario on their selection of Sunlit Sails (see post on 22 February 2010).

Koi 8 and 9

Today I wanted to do a couple of drawings of koi for some paintings I had started a couple of years ago that just need the fish transferred onto the canvas.

I did my first sketch in the portrait format and had it heading down toward the bottom of the pond after a tasty treat.

I put slightly longer fins and tail of the fish, but bit as long as one would fin on a butterfly koi just to create a bit of interest.

The second one is in landscape format and had the koi rising up.

Koi 8

This one also had longer fins which creates more of a flowing movement.















Koi 9

Perhaps some of these drawings will be used in future paintings of koi.

Koi 6 and 7

Today I was watching a program on Koi and how they are raised and while the program was on I did a couple of drawings of them.

One of the many interesting things on the program was that koi have been reported to achieve ages of 100–200 years with the average age at a little more than 50 years.

There was a well-known red coloured koi called "Hanako" who lived to be 228 years old (1749-1977). Needless to say, he was owned by several owners through the course of his lifetime.

Koi 6

To the Japanese the koi fish is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune. They are also associated with Japan's national identity and culture.

Which is why I was surprised to find that Japan was not the largest cultivator of koi in the world; with the top five being Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Trying to keep all of the varieties and variations of koi straight can be hard enough, especially since new koi varieties are still being actively developed.

Koi 7

I fell in love with the Butterfly koi (also known as dragon carp, or longfin koi) when I first saw them in Aruba at The Butterfly Farm, but unfortunately with all the predators I have around here there is no way I can have a koi pond on the farm.

Koi 4 - A Work in Progress

Today is a much milder day with the temperature at 14F (-10C), and the wind chill making it feel like 3F (-16C). It is overcast and we are supposed to get some snow flurries this afternoon, hopefully there won't be too much blowing snow.














I had planned on getting this painting that I had started last year (see posts on 18 July 2014 and 09 January 2015) completed while I was at Art on Kent this afternoon, but we had a number of people come through the Gallery that I didn't have very much time to paint.

I will post this painting at a later date once more work has been completed on the Koi.

Koi 1 and 4 - Two Works in Progress

Well it is finally getting warmer, today is 8F (-13C) and with the wind chill -8F (-22C) which is much more tolerable than the cold that we have had over the past couple of days.

Today I had to sit at Art on Kent instead of on my usual Saturday as tomorrow I have a class at KAGS with John David Anderson.














Koi 1

With it starting to snow shortly after I arrived not many people came in, most probably preferred to go home and spend their evening in the comfort of their home. So I worked on a couple of the drawings of the koi I had started last year (see post on 06 and 18 July 2014).

Once I had tightened the details on the sketches it was time to paint in the background.














Koi 4

On the first one I painted the background using French ultramarine blue and on the second one I used Cobalt blue.

I will post each of these paintings at a later date one I have completed the koi.

Koi 3 and 6 - Two Works in Progress

Today was  a very busy day with many errands to run and things that had to be completed, but I still wanted to either draw or paint and in the end I did a little of both.

I pulled out some sketches of koi that I had started earlier this year (see posts on 18 and 30 July 2014). I refined the sketches until I was pleased with the drawing.














Koi 3

For the first one I painted the water using a mix of Cobalt blue and French ultramarine blue, then set it aside to dry. The second one the water was painted with Antwerp blue and Cobalt blue.














Koi 6

I will post both of these paintings at a later date once I have completed the koi.

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

Last Day of Water, Water Everywhere

Today was the last day of the Water, Water Everywhere show at Art on Kent.

I had one of my paintings in the display window on the lower level of the Gallery facing out on Kent Street.

It was a lovely display but unfortunately I couldn't take a better photograph of it due to the glass reflecting back the building from across the street.

But it did give a very good idea of the artwork patrons would find on the upper level of the Gallery.

I brought in three paintings for the next show called Abstractions and Contractions which will open on 01 November, which unfortunately I will not be able to attend as it is also the same day as the opening of the Outdoor Painters' Show at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery & Studio.

In addition to the show opening at KAGS there is also the silent auction of art work by the ODP to raise funds for the Best of High School Art as well as a frame sale to raise prize money for the Juried Art Show being held next year.














I spent most of my time either taking in paintings for the upcoming show at Art on Kent or working on drawings of Koi for six paintings on which I am working and hope to have completed before the year is over.














I hope many of you will be able to come out and enjoy the art at both shows next month.

Koi Pond - A Work in Progress

Today I was doing the morning shift at Art on Kent and took in my paintings for the next show Reaping and Gathering.

While sitting the Gallery I worked on the placement of the koi on my painting Koi Pond (see post on 21 May 2014).

I printed off a copy of the painting and drew out a number of koi in various sizes and positions on a piece of tracing paper and then cut out each fish and moved them around on the painting.

I may do a couple more of these changing the direction of the painting and changing the koi to see which one looks the best.

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

ACEO - Koi 2 and 5

The temperatures are climbing again with a lot of humidity the high being 73F (23C) and feeling more like 86F (30C) with rain falling for most of the day.

I thought with it being a wet day I may as well do more work on some of the Koi paintings that I had started earlier this year (see posts on 06, 18 and 30 July 2014 and 12 August 2014).

For the first one I used a wash of new gamboge over the body of the koi as a base and then while it was still wet added in a darker mix with the addition of alizarin crimson to give the fish a little shape.

Using various mixtures of new gamboge, alizarin crimson, raw sienna, burnt sienna and cadmium red I painted in the orange markings.

Koi 2

I used French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson to create a warm black and used that to paint in the dark scales on the koi's body, the markings on the fins and the pupil of the eye.

For the second koi I used new gamboge as the base colour for the orange areas of the body and while it was still wet I added mixtures of alizarin crimson and burnt sienna to give the body shape.

For the white areas I used a mix of raw sienna, with a touch of the black mix used for the pupil of the eye and painted in the shadows and the details on the fins and tail.

Koi 5

Using cadmium yellow I added a little more definition to the tail and the dorsal fin.

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.

Shades of Summer Art Show and Sale

With the weather having turned cooler and rain falling on and off for most of the day not many people came through the show today.

I chose the two vertical Koi paintings that I had started last month (see posts on 06 and 30 July 2014).

First I tightened up the drawings until I was happy with them.

Koi 2

For the first painting I used Antwerp blue as the water colour for the background. I swirled the paint to make it look as though there was movement in the water. It was then set aside to dry.

For the second piece I used French ultramarine blue with a touch of Antwerp blue for the water.

Once again I tried to create a feeling of movement with areas of light and dark near the tail and fins as though the fish is swimming through the water.

I will post both of these paintings at a later date when they are completed.

Koi 5

Pottery was sold by JoAnne Connell Northey.

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at our show.

The hours for our show are:
12 Aug 14 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
13 Aug 14 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
14 Aug 14 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
15 Aug 14 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
16 Aug 14 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
17 Aug 14 - 12:30pm - 4:00pm

Koi 5 and 6 - Two Works in Progress

Today I did another fourteen sketches of koi for the painting called Koi Pond that I had started as an abstract showing movement in a class I took in the spring (see post on 21 May 2014).

I think I now have enough sketches of koi on tracing paper in various sizes and positions that my next step is to cut them out and place them onto the photocopies of the background.


Koi 5

Once I am happy with their placement on the photocopy I will tape them into place and after doing all four I know in which direction the panel should go and at that point I will have the sketches enlarged to the size to fit on the panel.














Koi 6

As usual I took two of the sketches and transferred them onto smaller pieces of watercolour paper which I will post at a later date once they have been painted.

Coon Lake I-X - Ten Works in Progress

It is so nice having Ron home during the early part of the week as we can get away and go out in the canoe when the lakes aren't as busy with all the weekend cottagers.

Even though the skies were overcast with a brisk wind blowing making the weather a little on the cool side for a summer day in July we enjoyed ourselves.

Coon Lake IV

Today we went on Coon Lake as it is located on the north side of Highway 28 just east of Burleigh Falls.

It wasn't very far away, especially with the chance of rain in the forecast; we didn't want to spend our time driving instead of being out on the water.

Once we had the canoe and our gear unloaded and into the water we paddled as usual to the end of the lake and allowed the current to carry us back to the launch site.

Coon Lake VI

The lake isn't all that large although it does reach depths of 50' (15.24m) with the average depth being around 22' (6.7m).

What I enjoyed was exploring the irregular shoreline and the many small bays and inlets.

As we headed toward the shallower north west end of the lake we came across a rundown cottage on a small island.

I did a couple of sketches of and made sure I had plenty of reference photographs.

Coon Lake VII

It was one of those unique fixer uppers and perhaps we will find out who owns the place and if they would be willing to sell. It would be another project for the future.

While going around the back part of the island I had to keep a sharp eye out for submerged logs and rock shoals just below the surface of the water. It was very weedy but it had a multitude both the yellow and the white lily pads.

As we drifted back towards the southeast section of the lake there were a number of steep rocky drop offs.

Coon Lake IX

Ron had a great time catching four large mouth bass, a small mouth bass, a sunfish and a small muskellunge all of which we live released back into the lake.

I was fortunate to be able to get photographs of a Great Blue Heron fishing near the shore and took as many photographs as possible until we got too close and he flew further down the lake.

I did a number of sketches of the lake, shoreline, trees, birds and the water lilies and also took a lot of reference photographs.

Coon Lake X

I should be able to produce many paintings over the winter of Coon Lake.














Coon Lake VIII

I know it won't be long before we return to Coon Lake.















Coon Lake I

On the way home we stopped at the Burleigh Falls Lodge Resort and had supper in their Island Grill restaurant where we enjoyed their fish and chips.














Coon Lake II

It was a wonderful way to end the day and the rain held off until we made it safely home.














Coon Lake III














Coon Lake V

What's New? - A Work in Progress

We were very fortunate that the rain held off yesterday until 8pm and it continued to rain throughout the night including having a major thunderstorm at 2am which lasted for almost two hours. The rain finally ended around 6am and as I headed for the show at Lockside Trading Company it was cloudy and looked as though it would start to rain at any moment.

It didn't take as long to set everything up again as I knew exactly what was being hung up on the grids which made things a lot easier.

With the overcast skies not too many people came out for the morning but as the day progressed the clouds disappeared and the sun came out bringing with it the crowds.













I did a little more work on this painting that I had started in one of the Still life classes at KAGS (see post on 27 March 2014).

I started by working on the curtains to give a little definition to the folds.

Next I darkened the shadows beneath the duck and then worked on getting the duck to look a little more round in shape.

I will post this painting again once the toy duck is completed.

Koi 3 and 4 - Two Works in Progress

Today I am working on more sketches for Koi Pond (see post on 21 May 2014) and did another ten koi in different positions.














Koi 3

I also chose two of these sketches and transferred the images onto small pieces of watercolor paper as I did the first time (see post on 06 July 2014) I worked on sketches for this painting.













Koi 4

I will post both of these koi paintings at a later date as more work on them is completed.

Koi Pond - A Work in Progress

Last month I took a class with Krista Ouellette at KAGS.

The object of the first abstract class was to create movement using colour and shapes.

I chose to use a limited palette of titanium white, raw sienna, French ultramarine blue and chromium oxide green on a fairly large canvas.

With my first lines I set down in an S curve and worked around it through the painting.

I added the various colours blended them, moved them throughout the canvas, changed them and kept working until it felt finished.

Unfortunately, with working on such a large canvas I didn't think to take the time to take photographs as I went through the stages of painting in the colours and creating the movement.

After letting the painting dry so I could move it around to decide which way it would look the best.















As you can see, each direction as its own character and the movement is slightly different. I think I will have to keep changing it around until I decide which way I like the best.















In the meantime I will draw out a number of koi on tracing paper and put them onto the painting and see which way they would look the best.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have placed the koi on the painting.

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

Toy Ducks - Two Works in Progress

Today's theme in the still life class at KAGS was toys. It was a good thing so many toys were brought in for the class as we had thirteen people in the group and were able to have four different displays set up to accommodate all of them.

I chose to do a couple of pieces using the some of the different ducks and fish toys.

For the first one I drew one of the ducks and one of the fish. I painted in the background curtain with various shades of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and cobalt blue. Then set it aside to dry while I sketched in the second drawing of a rubber duck and the same plush duck in reverse.













What's New?

I painted in the background using French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and raw sienna. This was set aside to dry and I went back to the first painting and using raw sienna painted in the floor and with a touch of burnt sienna indicated the shadows under the toys.

I then went back into the second painting and using French ultramarine blue and Antwerp blue painted in the floor and indicated the shadows beneath both toys. By then it was time to take a break so I set them aside to dry.

After break was over I started back on the first painting and placed a more defined shadow beneath both the fish and the duck.













Wanna Play?

Then working back and forth between the two toys the eyes were put in and all the dark lines. A wash of aureoline was put over the entire duck as a base yellow and different areas were painted with raw sienna, new gamboge and cadmium yellow.

The fish was painted with alizarin crimson and cadmium red and in the lighter areas mixtures of new gamboge and cadmium yellow.

I will post these paintings at a later date once more on them has been completed.

Thank you to new collector Mrs. Julia Cameron of Peterborough, Ont. on her purchase of Poetry (see post on17 January 2012).