Barn VIII

I am looking forward to this afternoon as I will be able to go outside and enjoy sitting in the sun for the second time to since breaking my leg. With the temperature going up to 79F (26C)and the humidity making it feel like 86F(30C) and having a thunderstorm this evening, makes it a triple bonus day.

In the meantime I pulled out this drawing of a horse barn on Highway 134 that offered both hay and sleigh rides.

I started with the barn and added the tin roof, fascia boards and set the wall where the drive shed joined the side of the barn.

Next I added the barn doors, the windows, the concrete base and the barn board.













Then I started on the drive shed adding the tin roof, the doorway and the barn board.

I added the runners to the sleigh, built up the box and finished the sides.

Lastly, I put in the background, beginning with the horizon line, adding a tree behind the barn, the fence line and grasses and growies along the fence and around the barn and in the pasture.

This original 5-1/4" x 9” graphite pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

Barn I

My little North American Kestrels have returned. It is nice to hear then calling to each other and occasionally seeing them fly.

This is another sketch that I did a few years ago (see post on 25 September 2013) and thought I would work it up into a finished drawing.

I added the tin on the barn roofs and put a few lightning rods onto some of the roofs. Next I added the rest of the front facing of the far right barn.

I fixed up some of the doors and windows, as well as putting more detail on the barn boards.














I added and fixed up some of the doors and windows, and put more detail on the barn boards.

I decided to leave out the branch and leaves, coming in from the right side.

I know that if I want to turn this drawing into an interesting painting I will have to extend the left barn and perhaps include a few dairy cows into the barnyard.

This original 6" x 9” pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

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

Barn IX

I wanted finish a drawing today, so I pulled out this piece that I had worked on last year (see posts on 28 September 2013 and 15 May 2016).

First I put on the roof line and tin on the barn and then I put on the barn board.














Next I put in the horizon line and added some trees and a fence line in the distance.

Lastly, I added the round hay bales inside the barn and some long grasses around the entrance.

This original 5-1/2" x 9” original graphite pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

Pinto - Stock Type

After posting the logo I had designed for the Ontario Pinto Horse Association (see post on 24 November 2015) I decided I would like to do a more recent version of each of the different types of Pintos.

This is the Stock type Pinto, which usually has Quarter Horse blood and in this category many Pintos are also registered as Paints.

One of the most common questions is "What is the difference between a Pinto and a Paint?"

Basically, the difference is that a Pinto is a colour and can be registered with the Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. and a Paint is a breed that can be registered with the American Paint Horse Association and because of its colour can also be registered as a Pinto.

For more information about either registry please click on the links.

This original 8" x 10" framed graphite pencil drawing is available for $85.00. SOLD

Barn IX - A Work in Progress

After Ron left for work this morning I pulled out this sketch of a barn that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 28 September 2013).

I started with the big maple tree to the right of the barn and continued along the right side developing the two birch trees, another maple further in the background and three young birches.

On the right side I added two more birch trees and then added grasses and growies at the bases of the trees and in front of the barn.















The barn needed to be extended to the left side so there would be room for the panels on each side of the open doorway.

I had to stop work on this drawing as a couple of friends dropped by to visit me. I will post this drawing at a later date once I have completed the barn.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Barn IV

Today I was in not in the mood to paint but I still wanted to do something, so I went through one of my files of sketches and pulled out this one that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 25 September 2013).

I remember it well, the run in shed had a tree growing out through its roof and a small barn beside it looked as though it would fall over in a strong wind. I need to go back and see if the building is still standing and how big the tree has grown.

Beginning with the leaning barn, I used the higher roof line, ran the lifted pieces of tin on the roof keeping them bent and twisted, changed the windows to a barn door, added a door to the hay loft, and removed a number of barn boards from the building.














I proceeded to do some work on the run in shed, starting with the tree growing through the roof, then I twisted the tin around it and bent the edges. I set the side door partially off its hinges showed the old dirt inside the shed and indicated the barn board on the building.

The big barn didn't need a lot of work, I fixed the roof line, added another lightning rod, put in the barn boards, some stonework at the base of the building added a vent hole at the top of the front of the barn.

Lastly I added a fence behind the big barn and another in front of the trees at the back of the pasture. I put some grasses and growies along the path from the barn.

This is an original 6-1/2" x 9” graphite pencil drawing available when matted and shrink wrapped for $50.00.

Barn VII

I arrived late for the still life class at KAGS today and just took photographs of the display. I may or may not do a painting from them at a later date, but at least I have the reference.

After making a cup of tea, I sat down for lunch with both the Still Life Group and the Outdoor Painters' Group, which is interesting as some just come in for the still life class, others just come in for the outdoor painters' afternoon and some of us belong to both groups.

It was soon time for me to open the Gallery, put out the signs and set myself up at the front desk on the upper level to wait for visitors.









While I wait, I pulled out one of the many barn sketches I did last year (see post on 28 September 2013).

I worked on this drawing on and off during the afternoon until I was pleased with the building and the drawing.

This original 3-1/4" x 9” pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $30.00.

It wasn't long before the evening shift arrived and it was time for me to go home. Since it rained all day and the temperature stayed just above the freezing mark, 31F (-0.5C) I will be careful driving home as you never know at these temperatures and conditions if a patch of black ice has formed on the road.

Winter Moon

I pulled out this painting that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 21 May 2010 and 31 May 2014) and wanted to complete it today.

I started on the fence by using burnt sienna to run the lines of barbed wire and then added the barbs onto the wire.

Next I painted in the grasses and growies at the base of the fence posts using various mixtures of aw sienna, burnt sienna, new gamboge and cadmium yellow.

Lastly, I put in some grasses on the left side.

This original watercolour painting when framed will be available for $125.00.

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

Barn VI

It is a very hot 90F (32.2C) and with the humidity it felt like 106F (41.1C)

Cindy and I went to Millennium Park, in Peterborough, Ontario to see what our area looked like for the Purple Onion Festival in September; afterward Cindy sketched, while I took photographs of some of the various gardens and waterfalls in the Park.

A little later we parted company and I headed to KAGS to sit the last day of the Figuratively Speaking exhibit.











While I was there I worked on this sketch that I had started last year (see post on 25 September 2013).

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

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

Barn III

Today is another bright, sunny and hot 82F (28C) day and with the humidity it feels like 93F (34C).

I thought that I would develop this sketch that I did a few years ago (see post on 25 September 2013) into a more finished drawing.

Next I started on the barn by adding the tin onto the roof, windows on the long side of the barn and a sliding door and a door to the mow on the front of the barn.

I removed the fence that was in front of the barn and then worked on the large rocks in the foreground, filled out the pine tree and added a roadway to the barn.













I put grasses at the edges of the road and rocks and the added a fence along the edge of the field.

Lastly I added a farm house and some trees on top of the hill in the distance.

This original 5-1/4" x 9” graphite pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

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

Barn XII

Today was a very busy day for me; but a least it is a bright and sunny day with the temperature climbing to 79F (26C) but with the humidity it feels like 84F (29C). Fortunately, there was a breeze and while driving I had my sun roof open on the car and the air conditioner on which made things comfortable.

First I went to Lang Pioneer Village and got my paintings from the McKelvie Gallery and while I was there, I took some photographs before I went out with some of my fellow KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group artists for lunch in Keene.



















From there I headed out to The Lindsay Gallery to pick up my painting from the juried art show and then returned home and where I had planned to do some work in my garden.

Instead I sat in the shade of one of the apple trees near the barn and did this drawing of the fronts of the east and the west barns. It was a peaceful way to end the day.

Pine Forest

Today started off with a foggy morning but it is supposed to get hot and humid again today, with the temperature reaching 78F (25.5C) and the humidity making it feel like 91F (32C).

I thought I would like to paint outside this morning but didn't want to go too far from the house so I decided to paint the forest at the edge of the front field.

Using mixtures of titanium white, ultramarine blue and cobalt blue I brushed in the sky.

Next I mixed a wide variety of greens using raw sienna, yellow ochre, pthalo blue, burnt sienna cobalt blue and ultramarine blue.

Using the various greens I worked my way from the background trees through to the closest ones to me, gradually darkening the colors.

Now I have to go to the Norwood Skillet and take down my show.

In the Caribbean 1

Today I was watching a program on television about the various resort islands in the Caribbean.

As I was watching the program, I pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil and did this little sketch which was a composite of a number of the beaches.















I put in the horizon line where the sky meets the ocean.

I added clouds into the sky and added some of the larger waves into the water.

Lastly, into the foreground I added the bubbling froth as the wave starts to recede back into the ocean.

Mountain Range

I wanted to compete this painting that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 26 May 2010).

Working from the background forward I started by rounding the top of the middle mountain so it didn't look as though someone had put off the top.

Next using various mixtures of cadmium red and cadmium yellow, I brushed in some areas with colour to give a little more depth to the autumn colours, but not enough to make them jump out at you.

Now I wanted to work on the rocks. Beginning with the further back ones on the right shore, I tidied up the top edges that were against the background trees. This was followed by adding some darker colors and lighter colours to give the rocks shape.

On the middle section of the rocky shore, using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, raw sienna and alizarin crimson, I gradually added more definition to the individual rocks, instead of having them as one large mass. This was followed by adding various textures to some of the rocks, while leaving others fairly plain.












On the foreground rock face, I toned down the far left section and added a few cracks onto the rock surface.

Lastly, I wanted to make changes to the the lake, again working from the back forward, I lifted a few highlights from the dark reflections in the water below the reeds at the shoreline.

Below the furthest back ones on the right side I darkened the colour in the water slightly, while still letting some of the paler colour show through; and dry brushed some of the dark green colour right across the water.

I removed the dark section at the bottom of the middles section of the rocks leaving only a thin line at the base  of them.

Using various mixtures of burnt sienna, raw sienna, and French ultramarine blue and using a dry brush I put in ripples through the middle section of the lake from the base of the rock across the other side.

From there I continued working across the lower part of the lake with a dry brush to add more ripples on the lake.

When this original 6-1/2" x 11-1/2” watercolour has been matted and framed it will be available for $245.00.

Lake Reflections I

Today I just didn't feel like going to a paint out with the group, so instead I went to the Selwyn Beach Conservation Area. I wandered along the hiking trail and about 1 mile (1.6km) along the trail I stopped to sketch this view of Chemong Lake.














What I liked about this scene was the two trees that flanked the trail that led to the lake. It made it look so inviting to go and stand at the edge of the water and look out across the inlet.

Sunset Pine

With living on the top of a hill I am fortunate to see both the sun rise and the sun set each day, weather permitting.

I have a number of stately pine trees on the property and they are often silhouetted against the sky.

Last night I sat at the kitchen table looking out the window and watched the sunset and painted in the background sky for this painting.

Today I added the silhouette of a solitary pine tree.

This original framed 6" x 8" watercolour is available for $125.00.

In the Shade

I was a hot 82F (28C) and very humid feeling like 93F (34C) day, thankfully the breeze kept the air moving and prevented it from becoming unbearable.

I worked in the garden this morning before it got too hot and put out a couple of hummingbird feeders. I put one in the lawn garden and another from the maple tree at the front of the house.

It certainly didn't take long for the hummingbirds to find the feeders. It is always nice to have them around, especially when I am working outside.











I pulled this painting out that I had started earlier this year (see posts on 15 January, 24 February and 19 May 2014).

I added more leaves to the maple tree and a little more colour to the grass.

This original 2" x 3-3/4" watercolour painting when it is framed will be available for $65.00.

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

Cottage Reflections

It won't be long before the locks are open again and there will be more boat traffic on the lakes and rivers as the cottagers come up to open their cottages and spend the weekends until the summer when many stay until they close their cottages in September.












I started this painting yesterday when I was with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group in the morning before I had to go to KAGS to teach my watercolour class in the afternoon. It is of the cottages on Buckhorn Lake behind the lock.

I made the painting as it would look in the summer, rather than show the trees that are barely starting to have leaves on their branches.

This framed original 7" x 13" watercolour is available for $185.00.

Undisturbed Beauty

Nothing like waking up on a spring day to find a hard frost on the ground the the temperature at 26F (-3C) and by late afternoon it is a wonderful 60F (15.5C).

It is fitting that I work on a winter scene this morning.

This is a scene on the infield at the north east corner of the track beside the house on a bright clear winter day. I see it often when I am out walking, provided of course that the show isn't too deep.














This 7" x 9" original, framed watercolour is available for $225.00.

After the Executive meeting at KAGS it was great to be able to get outside and work in my garden for a while.

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

Kind Eye

Today started off below freezing again 30F (-1C) and even though it was overcast most of the day we were fortunate that we had rain instead of snow, because our high was 38F (3C).

I was getting a number of things finished around the house but I also wanted to do some art today.













I started doodling and the finished drawing ended up being the eye of a horse.

This original 3" x 4" graphite pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $20.00.