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.

White Lake IV - A Work in Progress

Today is our last full day at White Lake Provincial Park and with breakfast over, while we were having our cup of coffee/tea we decided that we would walk the Tiny Bog Trail in the morning and after lunch we would go to on White Lake fishing.

The Tiny Bog Trail is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) in length, with a wide variety of terrain. The marshy areas would have a pathway made of wood planking, hard packed earth in other areas as well as a mix of pathways over rocks and around boulders as the trail goes up and downhill.

We weren't very far into the trail when we started to get into the marshy areas, where we went across a wooden path  followed by the hard packed earth trail and then another wooden path.

It wasn't long before we came to a spot on the trail where we could see a body of water edged on all sides by reeds, with a beaver lodge on the far side.

The trail continued with the terrain constantly changing and going up and down hill.

At the halfway point there was a lookout point with a bench, where you could catch glimpses of the lake below.















The trail continued through mainly forest, up and down hill, but in some areas there were large boulders scattered around here and there just sitting in among the trees.

They were probably carried there by glaciers millineia ago as they made their way across the Great Canadin Shield.

It wasn't long before we made it back to where the trail branched off and we returned to the car to go back to the campsite for lunch.

Before we made it there, Ron decided to follow a dirt road we hadn't been on to see where it went.

It was a good thing he did, as we found another place to launch the canoe into White Lake.

There was a quiet inlet with sheltered places that may be a good location for Ron to catch fish, without having to go to the boat launch and paddle a very long way to get here.

After having lunch we went back to the inlet and we got the canoe off the roof and into the water and Ron went fishing in the inlet and I stayed onshore and first went around and took a number of reference photographs.















I started my sketch by putting in the horizon line first. I added the land just above the horizon in the distance and gradually worked forward.

Next, I started putting in the islands on the right side of the lake, this was followed by the spit coming out from the left side.















It wasn't long before Ron came back into the inlet and moved slowly back and forth still trying to catch a fish.

I added a few coniferous trees onto the left side of the drawing.















As he made his next pass across the water in front of me, I decided to add him into the drawing.

On his last pass he almost caught a fish, just as he was bringing it into canoe it managed get free of the hook and back into the water.















It was time to go back to the campsite and after supper we enjoyed our final campfire.

Tomorrow, we pack up the few things that need to be tidied up and tied down and we will be on our way back to Chutes Provincial Park.

White Lake I-III

After a good night's sleep, we were well rested and ready to explore White Lake Provincial Park which is a large 10,003 acres (4048.00 ha) park, that was established in 1963.

First, we walked down the path and along the edge of the lake, which as this time of the morning was like a mirror, reflecting back the images of the islands into the water.

After breakfast, we took the car to find the boat launch first and then decided that we would explore where the different roadways led throughout the various campsites.















White Lake I

We returned to the trailer to have lunch and afterward I got my camera, pencils and sketchbook together and we went back to the boat launch to go out on the lake.

Once on the lake we paddled along the shore toward where we had seen a large inlet with with reeds bull rushes and lily pads, which looked like a good place for fish.















White Lake II

While Ron fished, I started work on my first sketch which had a spit with spruce trees, coming out into the lake beside a pathway going through the reeds.

After about and hour, we moved along the reed bed toward another section of land with coniferous and deciduous trees.















White Lake III

A while later, we rounded the point and saw a couple of islands and the far shore of the lake.

I worked on that sketch until my knee started hurting, at which point I slowly started paddling back in the direction we came from letting Ron continue to fish. 

Unfortunately for Ron, the fish just weren't biting and once we were heading away from the inlet, Ron put his fishing gear away and we paddled back to the boat launch.

While I made supper, Ron took the dog out for a walk. When he returned, he filled the fire pit with wood so we could enjoy a fire while relaxing after our meal, with a beverage.

After everything was tidied up in the trailer, we started the fire and enjoyed the evening.

We stayed up until the fire was out and then headed off to bed.

We would decide in the morning what we would do, depending on the weather.

Anstuther Lake I-VI

Today we went to Anstruther Lake, which is another of the many lakes located in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park.















Anstruther Lake I

We were originally going to go to Wolf Lake, which is between Loon Call Lake and Anstruther Lake, but Ron wanted to use the pontoon boat for a change, rather than the canoe.















Anstruther Lake II

Unfortunately, the lake by the boat launch was too shallow for us to get the boat into the water safely so we went to the Anstruther Marina and put the boat into Anstruther Lake.















Anstruther Lake III

It is a large, two basin lake, with a surface area of 1,700 acres (633 hectares). It reaches a depth of 120' (36.6m) with the average depth being 41' (12.6m). Water flows into Anstruther Lake on the north end from Rathbun Lake and leaves to the southwest end via the Anstruther Dam into Gold Lake.













Anstruther Lake IV

The major fish species include large and smallmouth bass, a small population of walleye and lake trout. Due to over fishing for trout it has resulted in a shortened open season with the aim being to protect this naturally reproducing species.















Anstruther Lake VI

The nice thing about being on the pontoon boat is that I can walk around on the deck and move my chair to sketch in any direction; unlike in the canoe where unless I paddle to turn the canoe to the direction of what I wish to draw, which can be a time consuming effort.

We went up the lake and pulled into an inlet and Ron thought it would be a good place to go fishing.

I pulled out my sketchbook and started with the one shoreline and did as much as possible as the boat drifted on the current.

I did a number of drawings of the shoreline, the trees, the rocks and the waterlilies.

Unfortunately, Ron didn't have much luck catching fish today.

Anstruther Lake V

On the way back to the Marina we stopped a few times to try and get a fish but this time he had no luck.

The next time we go out, we will take the canoe and go to Wolf Lake.

Hay Bay I

Today we took the trailer for our last trip of the year and went to Pickerel Park Sun RV Resort and Campground in Napanee, Ontario.

It didn't take very long for us to get into our spot and have everything set up. This time we brought Kyora with us and she quickly learned not to charge out at the other dogs or bark at people as they walked along the road.














Then we went exploring. The Campground is located on 21 acres (8.5 hectares) and features over 700' (213.4m) of shoreline on Hay Bay. The boat docks are set in such a way as where the small sandy beach is located the central dock forms a large, rectangular protected swimming area, with the boats docking on the outside, or at other straight docks on either side of the protected section.

The heated pool, been drained for the season, but there was bingo in one of the buildings and craft/art activities, there were a number of horseshoe pitches and Ron couldn't wait to go fishing.















After lunch, we went back to the docks and Ron went fishing while I did this little pencil drawing of the shoreline on the other side of Hay Bay.

Kyora, caught up on her beauty sleep as she lay behind Ron's chair and occasionally lifted her head and looked around to be sure that we were safe.










Time seemed to pass quickly, and before long the sun was getting lower in the sky and we headed back to the trailer to have supper and relax for the evening with a campfire.

We left the next morning, early enough to beat the Thanksgiving weekend traffic as we headed back home.

ACEO - Morning Fisherman 2

Today I decided to finish this painting that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 07 February 2017 and 08 December 2018).

First, I mixed a couple of different greens with French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge. I painted in the distant shore on the right side of the lake and then using a sponge, I dotted the leaves into the area above where a tree would be located on the rock spit.

Next, I mixed a brown of burnt sienna and the remaining green paint for the tree trunk and branches.

With burnt sienna I put in the rock reflections into the water.















For the fisherman I used cadmium yellow for the shirt, French ultramarine blue for the jeans and a mix of the blue and burnt sienna for the hat.

Lastly, the all important fishing pole and line were put in with the hat colour and a small amount of the tree trunk colour to darken it slightly.

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.

Skies - Three Works in Progress

Today I wanted to play with colour and what better way than to paint skies?

I pulled out these three pieces that I had started a while ago (see posts on 27 June 2013, 23 September 2013 and 07 February 2015).

To keep the palette simple, I would use just three colours which were alizarin crimson, Antwerp blue and new gamboge.

I made a puddle of each colour on my palette, so I could put the paint on quickly and not have to stop to mix color.

I wet the sky in the first painting being careful not to touch the sun.

Using the blue first, I brushed in the top quarter of the sky, this was followed by using the red into some areas of the blue and part way down the sky.

Windmill 1

Lastly, I used the yellow and painted down to the top of the horizon line and then set this one away to dry.

With the next piece I wet the entire paper and as with the first painting I started at the top using the blue and brushed a small amount into the top leaving white areas for clouds, followed by putting the blue into the bottom of the painting for the reflection of the sky colours in the water.















Snelgrove Brook 1

This was followed by using the red into the top third of the painting again leaving areas of white for the clouds and then putting some into the water just above the blue.

Lastly, I put in the yellow into the bottom of the sky to just above the horizon line, followed by putting it in below the horizon line and going down into the red of the lake.

I set this one aside to dry.















Morning Fisherman 2

For the last piece, I started by brushing in the blue through the sky and leaving some areas untouched down the horizon line. The blue was then worked through the water area the same way up to the horizon line.

Next, I brushed the red throughout the sky and in some places overlapping the blue, followed by brushing it in throughout the water.

On this one I decided not to add the yellow. Instead, I put in the rocks in the foreground using burnt sienna, the red and the blue. before setting it aside to dry.

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

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

Morning Fisherman 2 - A Work in Progress

Today I was just scribbling to see what I could inspire myself to draw and I ended up playing with a fisherman, in waders fishing by the shore of a lake.

I added in a tree on the shore on the left side of the drawing and a few water ripples, on the right side I put in some land with pine trees, I may add a cottage later.















In the background I lightly put in the horizon line and added some small tree tops in the distance.

I will post this again once I have put in the sky and the water.

By Lock 31

It started off as a cold day 34F (1.1C) and made it up to 48F (8.9C) but at least the rain has stopped and the sun is shining.

This morning when I went to go to the barn I was greeting by a loose cow drinking from the bird bath in one of the flower beds on the front lawn. I went to the barn and got a bucket of grain to try and coax her into the barn, but she took off across the infield and went over the fence and into my neighbour's fields.







Trees, Rocks and Water Sketches

I went to Twin Willows Restaurant in Buckhorn to meet a friend for lunch and since I arrived early I started doing little sketches of some of the things |I could see from my both by the window overlooking the Lock 31.









Trees, Rocks and Water Sketches A

With the Lock 31 being closed for the season there were no boats tied up in the channel so I had to be content with trees, rocks, reflections and whatever I could find to attract my attention.














Rocks and Growies

With the rocks the sun lit up the growies behind them and I think I may even turn this one into a painting by itself or use it as a part of an autumn landscape.














By Lock 31

Just up from the locks a lone fisherman came out to try his luck and I did a quick sketch of Buckhorn Lake as you approach Lock 31 with some of the cottages that are on the lake.

My friend arrives 20 minutes late, but at least the wait was productive and I will post these sketches at a later date as I turn them into paintings.

Loon Call Lake I-VII

Today we took the canoe and went up to Loon Call Lake which is another lake along Ansruther Lake Road and is within the Kawartha Highlands Park. It is less than a mile (1.6km) before Wolf Lake and we had stopped to take a look at it earlier this year (see post on 21 July 2014) as we were heading home.

It is what is known as a Canadian Shield lake which was formed millions of years ago when the continental ice sheets moved, depressing the land and scooping out thousands of lake basins as it carried away most of the soil leaving the bare rock exposed.

Loon Call Lake is a fairly small, long narrow lake compared to some of the other nearby lakes.

Loon Call Lake I

It is approximately three miles (4.8km) in length with an irregular shoreline which in some places drops off sharply and has a number of islands. The lake reaches maximum a depth of 56' (17m) with the average depth being 16' (4.8m).

With it being an infertile lake it is regularly stocked with splake (a cross between lake and brook trout) which is one of the major fish along with bass (both large and small mouth), sunfish and yellow perch.

The launch site is at the northeast end of the lake and as usual we paddled to the end of the lake where we stopped to have lunch.

Loon Call Lake IV

We were in a small inlet and Ron started fishing and I took out my sketchbook to draw while we let the wind and the current carry us back.

Before we were out of the inlet he caught a sunfish and after I had taken it off the hook and released it, with his next cast he caught a 14" large mouth bass which was released back as well.

As usual I made a number of sketches and took reference photographs and will probably at a later date turn them into paintings.

Loon Call Lake V

There are two paintings that I want do in the not too distant future that are both in almost the same location.














Loon Call Lake II

The first one is of a marker which is in the channel between the shore and one of the larger islands. It is of a solar patio light mounted on a post. I thought it was a wonderful idea and I am sure that when it originally had only a plastic marker many boats hit the rock before they could slow down and maneuver away from it.














Loon Call Lake III

The other is of a chair sitting all alone on the rocky island among the tall pines far from the cottage located on the southern side.














Loon Call Lake VI

It wasn't long before the sun was getting low in the horizon and we were back at the launch site.















Loon Call Lake VII

On our way down Highway 28 and stopped in Burleigh Falls to have supper at the Lovesick Lake Restaurant and Grill before returning home.

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