Coral Reef 3-5 - Three Works in Progress

I came across these three pieces, that had once started as granite rocks in a larger painting but it didn't quite work out.

After looking at them, I decided that I would turn them into underwater paintings.















Coral Reef 3

Using French ultramarine blue, cobalt blue and burnt sienna I painted in the water on each painting.















Coral Reef 4

Before I could get more work done on these paintings, I had friends come over for a visit.















Coral Reef 5

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

ACEO - Tied Up 4

Today I was thinking about being in the Caribbean, with the warm breezes and turquoise waters, so I thought I would work on this painting that I had started last year (see posts on 19 April and 24 July 2017)

Since I already had the sky with the birds completed I started by working putting in the water with a mixture of Antwerp blue with a small amount of cobalt blue. I left the area by the sand with the surf splashing up the white of the paper.

Next I used raw sienna as a base colour for the sand and as it dried I used a wash of burnt sienna I put in the islands on the horizon.

Darkening the burnt sienna was with a little cobalt blue I added the shadows to the islands and into the sand and put in the tethering post.

Using the Antwerp blue and raw sienna I put in some palm trees on the islands and some seaweed onto the sand around the boat.

Now it was time to work on the boat with alizarin crimson.

A lighter red was put on the sunlit side first and a hint of new gamboge was added in a few areas. On the shadowed side darker alizarin crimson was painted in first and Antwerp blue added  into the shadowed areas.

Lastly, with a mix of French ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson and burnt sienna I put in the gunnels and the rope tying the boat to the post.

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.

Coral Reef 1 and 2 - Two Works in Progress

Today, I wanted to paint but just wasn't sure which piece to work on and try to finish.

I decided to go through some of my pieces that didn't work out and were kept for playing with colour or cut up to make into small paintings.

I pulled out these two pieces that had started as moss covered, granite rocks, but it didn't quite work out.















Coral Reef 1

After looking at them I thought I could turn them into underwater paintings.

Using French ultramarine blue, cobalt blue and burnt sienna I painted in the water. For the first one I put the darker water at the bottom against the rocks and added some lighter areas toward the top to indicate the waves and light coming in from the sky.















Coral Reef 2

For the second painting I lightened the colour slightly with water to try and create what it looks like from under water when a wave comes over a rock near the surface and the sun shining through the sallower water.

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

ACEO - Along the Shore 1-3

Today I am back at the Douro Spring Automotive Flea Market and Car Show held at the Douro Community Centre and Arena, located at 2893 Highway 28 and County Road 4, in Douro, Ontario.














Along the Shore 1

When I first arrived, there were already four of the old cars lined up along one side of the parking lot and after taking a few things inside I came back out to take photographs.

With wanting to go back outside to take photographs as more cars arrive I decided I would work on these three paintings that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 16 September 2013, 27 August 2016, 16 January and 22 December 2017).















Along the Shore 2

In between taking photographs of the cars, I completed each of these three paintings.

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














Along the Shore 3

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. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

Suppertime? - A Work in Progress

Today, I wanted to get more of the sponges, coral and plants painted on this piece I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 15 March, 31 October and 30 December 2012, 25 March 2013 and 09 August 2017).

Using Titanium white, ultramarine blue and raw sienna I finished adding to the plants at the top of the rock face. With the white, I indicated the top of some of the sponges lower down on the rock face.

With various mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna and Hansa yellow, I added some tube sponges on the edge of the rocks closest to the Jack-knifefish (Equetus lanceolatus).

From there using the same colours I added more sponges into the middle of the center area and a few more smaller ones towards the left side.















Next, I used a mixture of Titanium white, ultramarine blue and vermillion and put in a couple more of the purple sponges toward the middle of the rock face and some much smaller, duller coloured ones to the left side.

At this point I wanted to get the top area of the rock face completed. I mixed various greens using ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, raw sienna and Hansa yellow.

Using the greens I put in some of the small, leafy sea weed, draping it down the rock face from beneath the light coloured sponges and corals.

Lastly, using the darker greens I added a few pieces of seaweed above and around the smaller purple sponges.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have finished painting the remaining coral and sponges on the rock face.

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

Sail Softly on By I

I didn't have very much time today to work on my art as I have to go to the Executive meeting at KAGS this afternoon.

I pulled out this drawing that I started a long time ago when I did the original sketch in the Caribbean and started to ink in when I returned home (see posts on 24 June 2014, 27 May 2016 and 09 February 2017).















I started by completing the drawing of the mother first and then working on the child.

Lastly, I added a few seagulls into the sky to finish the drawing.

This original 5-3/4" x 9" pen and ink drawing will be available when matted and shrink wrapped for $75.00.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Along the Shore 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

This morning I woke up 19F (-7C), with the wind chill making it feel like 8F (-13C) and add to that another 3" (7.6cm) of snow on top of everything we had received a couple of days ago.

To offset the cold I decided to work on these three paintings that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 16 September 2013, 27 August 2016 and 16 January 2017).

Working on all three paintings at the same time, I started by putting the seagulls into the sky using a dark of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.















Along the Shore 1

Next I put in the blue of the water using various mixtures of Antwerp blue and raw sienna, leaving some areas of the paper white against the shoreline.

I added a small amount of French ultramarine blue to the water colour and added a few darker areas throughout the water to indicate waves.















Along the Shore 2

Using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, raw sienna, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson I started adding layers of colour onto the distant islands on the horizon line.

Darkening the colours slightly I put in the closer islands.















Along the Shore 3

Lastly, I worked on the closer more detailed rock cliffs close to the beach.

I will post each of these paintings as they are completed.

Sharing the Sky I - A Work in Progress

Today I wanted to do a little more on this sketch that I started in Cuba (see post on 23 May 2016).

Using pen and ink I started with the clouds putting in the outline first and then adding in some shadows.

Next, I put in the horizon line, followed by adding the islands and hills.

From there I put in the palm trees, life guard hut, and the pier.















I then started in on the water and put in the waves and white caps as well as the ripples from the waves washing onto the beach.

The kite boarder was added onto the water. I then erased the hut that had been on the end of the pier as I felt it made things too "busy" and fought for dominance with the kite boarder.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I have added a few more kite boarders and some of the seagulls which are sharing the sky with them.

ACEO - Caribbean Shore 1

It is fairly mild here 39F (4C) with the wind chill at 28F (-2C), fairly "balmy" weather for a December day, which is why I pulled out this painting that I had started a couple of years ago (see posts on 08 April 2015 and 27 August 2016).

Using greens made from various mixtures of  Antwerp blue, burnt sienna, French ultramarine blue, new gamboge and raw sienna I started by putting in the trees on the distant land on the left side of the painting first.

I followed this by putting in the palm trees on the right side of the beach, followed by adding the closest palm trees on the left side of the beach.














I added a few strands of seaweed onto the sand of the beach just above the waterline.

Finally, using a dark of burnt sienna and the darker green mix I painted in the coconuts among the palm fronds on the two closer trees, then lightened the colour with water I put in the tree trunks on the closer trees and on the tree trunks at the far end of the beach.

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.

Grass Huts I

Today I didn't feel like working on a painting so I decided that I would work on this drawing that I started work on earlier this year (see posts on 15 February and 06 July 2017) once they had been found in a box that had been put away in storage.

I started back working on the right side tree and added a couple more palm fronds to finish the first tree.

Next I put in the two remaining palm tree trunks beginning with the trunk of the smaller one on the left side of the group and then doing the larger one in the middle.

Then I started putting the last of the palm fronds on the first tree which were blowing in the wind, followed by putting those on the smaller tree, being careful to keep them behind the middle palm tree trunk.

Lastly, I added the palm fronds on the large tree in the middle, being sure to keep them behind those of the first tree.

This original 6" x 7" pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $75.00.

Grass Huts I - A Work in Progress

It is hot 84F (29C) and humid 91F (33C) and I thought that I would work on one of a number of sketches that I did while I was in Cuba (see post on 15 February 2017).

Along the beach by the Tryp in Cayo CoCo were a number of dilapidated huts that were left there to provide shelter should you get caught outside during a thunderstorm.

Hopefully, the wind won't be strong enough to cause them to collapse on top of you.

I finished the huts by putting in the walls and doors.

Next I indicated some of the sand on the beach and the waves along the shoreline.

I drew in a clump of palm trees by the huts.

I started with the small clumps of young palm trees at the base of the large palm trees before I started on the trunk and some of the palm fronds at the top of the trees.

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

At the Beach 1 - A Work in Progress

Today I was given the wonderful news by the surgeon that I would no longer have to wear the hinged splint and that I could finally put full weight on my leg, drive a car and go upstairs. I can get back to having a life that goes beyond being confined to my living room and kitchen and most importantly I can have a shower instead of a sponge bath using my kitchen sink.

I pulled out this painting that I had started a number of years of years ago (see post on 24 November 2014) and thought I would like to work on something bright and colourful to match my mood.

I started by under painting the sky with aureolin, leaving the sun untouched.

While the paint was still wet, I used a mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson to paint in the evening clouds at the top of the sky.

Next I used new gamboge; I darkened the sky just above the horizon line.

I darkened the sky colour with a little bit of alizarin crimson and painted the sky reflection below the horizon line leaving some areas of white for the crests of the waves.

To this mix I added some cadmium yellow and put in the middle area of the water.

Lastly, using burnt sienna and raw sienna I put in the sandy shore.

I will post this painting at a later date once I decide on the colour of the water against the shore and place the people on the beach.

Waiting I

I saw the surgeon today and the good news is that I am allowed to put half weight on my leg, but the down side is I am still not allowed to go up or down stairs and I am not allowed to drive for at least the next 6 weeks.

When I returned home I thought I would work on this drawing of Eagle Beach in Aruba (see post on 12 November 2016).

I put in the boats first and then added the waves washing up on the beach and in the water.








Lastly, I put in the horizon line, the distant shoal and the clouds.

I can see in the future developing this drawing into a wonderful painting depicting the bold and beautiful colours of the Caribbean.

This original 9" x 12” pen and ink drawing when matte and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

Grass Huts I - A Work in Progress

This was one of a number of sketches that was in one of the pads of paper Ron and Christine brought in for me the other night.

These sketches were all from when I was in Cuba a few years ago for two weeks, staying at the Tryp in Cayo CoCo and the Iberostar in Cayo Guillermo.

I started on the first grass hut by putting in the wooden uprights, followed by the cross members and then the face boards.















Next I put the palm fronds onto the roof to get most of this open air building finished.

I wanted to do more on this drawing but I was tired and had to put this sketch away before finishing the first hut.

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

Caribbean - Two Works in Progress

I did a little bit on this drawing that I had started a couple of years ago  (see posts on 24 January 2014 and 27 May 2016).

After putting in the woman's hair, I found I couldn't get into the drawing so I set it aside.














Sail Softly on By I

Next I started on another drawing that was also started a couple of years ago (see post on 12 January 2014).















Along the Beach I

I put in a few boats up near the horizon line and then did a little more work on the seaweed on the shore.

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

School's Out I - A Work in Progress

I started to work on this underwater drawing that I began last year (see posts on 15 July and 28 December 2016) by indicating the bottom edge of the sea fan by the top edge of the rock.

Next I put in the top of the highest rock on this piece of the reef.

Part way down the reef I put in the rock out cropping with some yellow tube sponges. At the base of the sponges I put in some sea weed.

I will post this drawing at a later time once I have decided whether I am going to put in a school of French Grunts or Purple Wrasse.

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

Along the Shore 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

Today it is 25F (-4C) with the wind chill making it feel like 18F (-8C) and we are going to get just under 1/2" (8mm) of freezing rain accretion.















Along the Shore 1

I pulled out these three paintings that I started a while ago (see posts on 16 September 2013 and 27 August 2016).















Along the Shore 2

Since I didn't have much time to work on paintings today, I decided to put in the sky on each of the paintings with Antwerp blue.















Along the Shore 3

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

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Tied Up 3 - A Work in Progress

This morning I went out to do the barn chores with the temperature at 9F (-13C) and the wind making it feel like -4F (-20C) and on top of that, we are to get 8" (20cm) of snow today in addition to what is already on the ground.

I pulled out this drawing that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 11 September 2014) and thought I would work on this piece until the snow plow comes by so I can go out and run my errands.














Using Antwerp blue I brushed in the sky into the background, but before I could do more work on this piece the snow plow arrived and is here clearing my driveway.

I will set it aside for now and post it again once more work on the painting has been completed.

Sand and Surf III

This is a sketch I started in Aruba while spending some time enjoying the sun on Eagle Beach.

I added a few more details to the people that were on the beach and in the ocean.














I hope to return to Aruba next year.

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

Beach Scenes - Four Works in Progress

Today I thought I would like to work on some of the scenes from the Caribbean.

I pulled out three drawings from Aruba (see post on 16 September 2013) and one from Roatan (see post from 08 April 2015).














Along the Shore 1

I thought that I would work on all four pieces at the same time starting with the sand.















Along the Shore 2

I used raw sienna in various strengths for the sand on the beaches leaving some areas of white paper by the shore for the froth from the waves.














Along the Shore 3

Using Antwerp blue in the sky I brush in the sky and then added in a little of the raw sienna for the water, leaving some areas white for the froth on the beach and for a few white caps.















Caribbean Shore 1

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