Chemong Lake X and XI - Two Works in Progress

Today was another hot 82F (28C) and humid, 93F (34C) and although they are calling for thunder storms tonight, I doubt that they are going to appear.

Ron wanted to take the pontoon boat out again and see if the motor was going to work any better, so we went back to Chemong Lake.

It took at least four tries until he finally managed to get it to go into gear and take us out into the lake. This time we went up the lake to the very end.
















Chemong Lake X

Once we made it to the end, we stopped to have lunch before turning around to head back to the boat launch.

On the way back Ron stopped to try his luck at fishing, while I worked on a sketch of a nice area with bent and twisted cedars, sunken logs and lots of strong contrast with sunlight and shadows.
















Chemong Lake X

From there we moved further down the lake as Ron continued fishing, letting the current carry us along which didn't give me much time to sketch.

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

Wolf Lake V-VIII -- Four Works in Progress

With it being a nice sunny day we decided to take the canoe and go out on the lake for the day.

As we headed up Highway 28 we were talking about which of the many lakes in the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park and decided that we would go on Wolf Lake.

It didn't take long for us to unload the canoe, put our gear into it and head out onto the lake. We paddled up the lake until we came to one of the inlets and I started sketching while Ron got his rod out and cast his line.















Wolf Lake V

I had barely gotten started on my sketch when he caught a nice sized bass, so I had to stop what I was doing and carefully take it off the hook and release it back into the lake.

It wasn't long before we left the inlet and went onto the lake again and headed further up the lake and went to the far side of an island.















Wolf Lake VI

Once again I started on a sketch beginning with a tree stump sticking out of the water just off shore of the island and then, Ron caught a small bass. So, I had to stop and take it off the hook and release it.

I barely had time to pick up my pencil before Ron caught a larger medium sized bass for to me to remove it from the hook and release it.
Before I could clean my hands there was another medium sized bass for me to unhook and release.















Wolf Lake VII

We moved further up the lake and stopped between the shore and a large group of islands and had lunch. Then we turned the canoe around and once again I worked on a sketch while Ron went back to fishing and before long, he caught another medium sized bass and I had to set it free.

We found another inlet and at this one Ron wasn't catching a fish as soon as he cast out the line. I was able to spend some time on my drawing where I put in the island and indicated some of the land on the far side of the lake before he caught another small bass.















Wolf Lake VIII

It wasn't long before we returned to the boat launch and headed were soon heading back home.

I will post each of these drawings again when more work on them has been completed.

Chemong Lake VII-IX - Three Works in Progress

With it being a little on the windy side after lunch, we decided to take the pontoon boat out on Chemong Lake. We just had the motor overhauled at Paris Marine and picked it up on Saturday.

We loaded everything onto the boat and put it into the lake; I walked it along the stone water break while Ron parked the trailer.

We were finally ready to go and the motor didn't want to work.

At first the motor wouldn't start and when it did it wouldn't stay running.

After about 20 minutes of playing with it, Ron finally got it started and it stayed running so we headed down the lake. I had misgivings about the motor continuing to work.

Chemong Lake IX

When we arrived where Ron wanted to fish and islands for me to sketch, we stopped and dropped the anchor. As usual Ron fished while I sketched one of the islands.

We saw a heron ahead of us and it flew in behind the next island and with Ron not having any luck catching a fish we decided to follow him; but the motor once again decided not to co-operate and it took a little while to get it running and stay running.















Chemong Lake VII

Finally, we made it around the next island and the heron was still there. We stayed well away from him, but I was able to get a few nice photographs and I worked on a sketch of him and the area he was in while Ron fished.

It was time to head back to the boat launch and this time it only took two tries to get the motor started and stay running. Ron stopped one more time to try his luck fishing while I sketched and he was rewarded with a rock bass.















Chemong Lake VIII

It was getting late and we headed back to the boat launch; this time the motor started and stayed running on its first try.

Once we reached the boat launch the wind had become stronger and it was hard getting the boat alongside the dock. As I jumped onto the dock I lost my balance and ended up going for an unexpected swim. The upside was I got the boat tied to the dock and Ron went for the trailer and I was able to help get the boat easily onto the trailer.

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

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.

Lovesick Lake XIII - A Work in Progress

I see that my goshawk is still around. Last year, he worked his way through almost 20 squirrels; this year with not as many squirrels available he did take out a blue jay.

I didn't see him do it but, the jay feathers and the imprint in the snow told the story.

With it being Ron's birthday today and the kids bringing Chinese food for supper I didn't have a lot of time to get into anything that was going to take a lot of set up to get working on a painting.

So I decided that I would work on some of the sketches I did last summer while we were out on the lakes in the canoe or on the pontoon boat.

I chose this one of  Lovesick Lake (see post on 08 June 2020) and started working on putting in the far shoreline.

From there, I put in some of the trees on the island and it wasn't long before Christine and Kyle arrived bring supper.













Christine had baked a "turtle" cake for him, as she felt that at age 65 he would slow down to turtle speed which, we both knew would never happen.

While Kyle went own to the barn to get Ron, we got everything set out for supper.

We had an enjoyable supper, followed by singing "Happy Birthday" to Ron , who managed to blow out the candles with no problem.

After dessert was finished, we decided to spend the rest of the evening playing Chinese checkers.

Time passes quickly when you're having fun and all too soon, they had to go home.

It won't be long before it is Christine's birthday.

Eels Lake I - A Work in Progress

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to have a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) come to my fat feeder at the front of the house. She tried to get onto the feeder so she could get to the suet a couple of times before landing on the ground and looking up and studying the feeder.

It didn't take her long to figure out how she would have to land on the feeder to gain access to the food.

These mainly black birds are one of the largest forest birds in North America and I usually see one a couple of times a month.

The name Pileated comes from the Latin word pileatus which means "capped" and refers to the bird's prominent red crest. This one is a female, as the male has a red line from the bill to the throat patch running through the lower black stripe on the cheek.

As they do not migrate, a Pileated woodpecker pair will stay together on their territory all year round. They will defend their territory in all seasons, but tolerate others during the winter.















While walking through the fields and in the forest on the property I have often seen signs that they are in the area. This is because Pileated Woodpeckers digging into dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, of carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae, they leave a unique, large and roughly rectangular hole in the wood.

I hear them drumming to proclaim their territory and they will often use hollow trees to make the loudest sound possible.

In April, the male excavates a hole for their large nest in the cavity of a dead tree, to attract a female for mating and raising their young. Once the young are raised, the nest is abandoned and they do not use it again.

When abandoned, these holes provide good homes in future years for many other birds and a wide variety of other animals.















After she left, I thought I would like to work on this drawing that I started while we were canoeing on Eels Lake a couple of years ago (see post on 30 September 2019).

I started working on the rocks in the water in the foreground, indicating the outline and adding some of the shadows.

I put in a few water ripples to give me a base for the island.

Next, I put the bark texture on the lower part of the main pine tree.

From there I started on a small pine that was just in front of the larger pine.

I put the ground lines in first. This was followed by the trunk and then gradually adding branches and needles.

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

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

Selwyn Beach VII - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to do some work on this drawing that I had started a couple of years ago (see post on 06 May 2018) when we were at Selwyn Beach Conservation Area.

I started at the bottom of the shoreline and gradually worked my way up, adding water, rocks, weeds, grasses and growies.

When I came to the edge of the bank I continued adding the grasses, growies and rocks.

From there I started working my way across the far edge of the land adding the rocks and growies.

I left the area where the birch and cedar trees are going to be placed blank until after they have been drawn in and completed.

Next, I did a little work on the land extending out into the Chemong Lake.

I will post this drawing again, once I have finished putting in the foreground trees.

Eels Lake V and VI

Today we went out in the pontoon boat to Eels Lake and invited my friend, Norma and her dog Buddy to come along with us.

We both brought our sketch books along and Ron of course brought his fishing rod.















Eels Lake V

We first went to one of Ron's favourite fishing spots and we sketched while he fished. After he caught his second fish that I had to unhook and release we went to a quiet inlet and had lunch.

From there we toured the some of the lake and after about an hour Ron decided to try for another couple of fish while we sketched.















Eels Lake VI

Unfortunately, for him he didn't have any luck at his new location.

It wasn't long before we headed back to the dock and from there headed home.

Pigeon Lake I

Today Christine came out to the farm to visit for the day and we went out on the pontoon boat in the afternoon to take her fishing. 

While they got the boat ready, I packed a supper for us to have while out on the lake.

Once we launched the boat at the dock onto Chemong Lake, we went under the James A. Gifford Causeway which links Bridgenorth to Ennismore.

We headed up Chemong Lake and turned into Pigeon Lake, then continued into the lake until we found a promising spot to fish and I had a number of things that I could draw.

Unfortunately, they only succeeded in catching various weeds and water plants. Although Christine did get a few nibbles on her lure which "lost" its tail to a hungry predator

While Ron and Christine tried to catch fish, I worked on this drawing of a series of islands on Pigeon Lake.

We stopped in one of the sheltered bays on Chemong Lake to eat our supper before heading back to the house.

At home, we had an enjoyable evening playing Tri-Ominos, before Christine left to return to her home.

Eels Lake IV

Today we went to Eels Lake with the pontoon boat, which was a great improvement over last year when we took the canoe.

We went up a different channel and found a quiet spot where Ron could fish and I had plenty of things to draw.

I had barely started my drawing before Ron caught a perch, which made him happy as last year he didn't catch anything when we were here last year.

After I removed the fish from the hook and carefully released it back into the lake I returned to my drawing.















It wasn't long before he caught another perch (but not the same one) and I returned it back into the lake.

Once more I returned to my drawing and this time, I managed to get a lot more work on it completed before he caught a large mouthed bass and we went through the same routine again.

I did a little more work on my drawing before Ron decided he wanted to explore the lake and see what other fishing spots he could find.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and I took many photographs of the islands, shoreline and some of  the boats out on the lake. Giving myself a lot of reference materials for future paintings.

White Lake Campsite 79 - A Work in Progress

Today was our third day at White Lake Provincial Park with another sunny and warm 82F (28F) day.

After taking the dog out for her morning walk and enjoying the loons and their babies on the calm lake we returned to the trailer and had breakfast.















While relaxing over our morning cups of tea or coffee, we discussed our plans for the day. Ron wanted to go fishing and try his luck again, but with my knee still hurting from being in a cramped position in the canoe yesterday, I decided I would stay here at the campsite and sketch.

After taking a number of reference photographs I started this sketch of the empty campsite across the road. It had some lovely birch trees nestled among the pine and spruce trees, with a lot of wild flowers in bloom around the edges of the lot.

Ron returned a few hours later and once again he didn't have any luck catching Walleye, Northern Pike or any other type of fish for that matter.

We decided that after lunch, we would walk the Deer Lake Trail which gives the option of a 1 mile (1.5km) long walk to the observation deck or continue around Beaver Pond for 1.6 miles (2.5km).

The trail was fairly level with just one section that went slightly uphill and then back down to the observation deck.

The observation deck allowed you to view almost all of the Beaver Pond.















From there we opted to follow the Deer Lake Trail around the Beaver Pond.

Aside from a few pathways through the forest we were pretty much within sight of the pond.

Some areas of the path went over soft, wet, marshy areas and a pathway made of wood planking wound its way through the forest on the edge of the wetland.

While on the trail you would catch glimpses of birds and butterflies, hear the rustling sounds of small animals scurrying through the underbrush and the never ending chorus of frogs.

It wasn't long until we were back to the beginning of the trail and heading back to our campsite.

We saw the sign for Clearwater Lake and decided to check it out which is listed as a fairly easy trail and only 1.2 miles (2km) long.















When we arrived at the start of the trail, Ron wasn't particularly thrilled about reading the warnings about meeting a bear on the trail, but decided that with it being fairly well travelled, the odds were worth going anyway.

The trail going through the forest was of hard packed earth and fairly level without a lot of tree roots near the surface which, if you are not watching where you place your feet could be a problem.















It didn't take long for us to make our way to the lake which as we approached it, we could see the sandy bottom through the crystal clear water.

There were canoes available for rent and a bench by the water where you could sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the place. The only sounds were the whispering of the leaves as the wind blew though them.















It was nice to see the fingerling speckled trout in the water by the shore and I watched them for a little while, until it was time to retrace our steps back to the car.

As we drove back to the campsite we talked about going on the Tiny Bog Trail in the morning and going fishing in the afternoon on our last full day in the park.















It wasn't long after we returned to the campsite that we had supper and the dog was taken for her final walk.

As the sun was setting it was time for a bonfire while we relaxed and enjoyed the evening.

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.

Wolf Lake I-IV

It was going to be a nice day to go out on the lake, with a temperature reaching 79F (26C) and humidity making it feel like 86F (30C).

We decided to go to Wolf Lake for a change, as the last time we were there was in July 2014.

It didn't take long to get everything ready and we were on our way.

The nice thing about going out during the week, is that we do not have to contend with the weekend traffic.

Once at the lake, it was easy to put the canoe into the lake get everything loaded as there was no one around. Ron parked the car and we were off.

Wolf Lake I

We paddled out into the lake for about a half hour and Ron started fishing while I got out my sketch book and sketched until Ron caught a large mouth bass.















Wolf Lake II

After I unhooked the fish and carefully released it into the lake; the canoe had drifted and rather than paddle back to where I had been sketching I simply started another sketch.















Wolf Lake III

After Ron caught his second bass, we stopped for lunch in a quiet inlet. It was there, after lunch he found a great spot for catching bass. Which, aside from stopping to take them off the hook and release them, it gave me plenty of time to work on a drawing.















Wolf Lake IV

After he caught his fifth bass it was time to head back and go home, on the way I did this last sketch of rocks at the lake's edge.

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

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.

Stoney Lake II - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to work in pen and ink, so I pulled out my folder of drawings that were in various stages of completion and decided that I would start work on this one that I did while on the Stoney Lake Boat Cruise (see post on 19 September 2019) last year.











I started inking in the trees on the foreground islands and gradually moved to some of the trees on the islands in the background, followed by indicating the rocks of the cluster of little islands where the trees were growing.

I will post this drawing at a later date as more work on it is completed.

Loon Call Lake XI-XIV

After hearing the weather forecast calling for clear skies a temperature of 84F (29C)  with humidity at 90F (32C) it seemed like a good day to go out on the lake.

While Ron got everything together and put into the car then loaded the canoe, I made our lunches and gathered my pencils and sketch books and did the barn chores.















Loon Call Lake XI

It wasn't long before we were heading up Highway 28 and deciding on which lake we were going to spend the day.















Loon Call Lake XII

We decided on Loon Call Lake as the last time we were there was in 2015 and it would nice to see what changes have been made in the last five years.















Loon Call Lake XIII

One of the cottages at the end of the lake that looked like it was abandoned had been given a facelift; and around the point from it the owners of that cottage had added a four foot tall lighthouse, of which I did  a sketch.















Loon Call Lake XIV

By then it was time to break for lunch and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze, before we would slowly make our way back to the boat launch.

Ron had been enjoying his day as well, he caught four largemouth bass and a sunfish, all of which were safely removed from the hook and carefully returned to the lake.

In one inlet there was a small tie up at the water and a "goat track" leading up over the rocks to an outhouse and higher up was a small cottage at the very top of the rock face.

Loon Call Lake XIV

On this sketch I am not sure whether to do it as a vertical to show just how far up the cliff you have to go to the reach outhouse or leave it as a horizonal sketch. Time will tell.