Sunset Island I, 3 and 4 - Three Works in Progress

Today I taught a class at The Point in Young's Point, Ontario with Cindy Allan and Norma MacEachern as my assistants.

I showed the group the one Cindy and Norma had worked on with me (see post on 26 May 17) earlier this month.

I did a small painting of the sky and water for the group using mixtures of raw sienna and burnt sienna.

All of them wanted to do the sky in the poster (see post on 03 May 2017).

Sunset Island 4

I did a large sky, warning them in advance that they must be careful so they do not end up with green in the sky where it comes in contact with the yellow.

Using a mix of Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue the top of the sky was brushed in and while I was still wet burnt sienna and the blue mix was brushed in for the clouds.

A mix of raw sienna and burnt sienna was put into the bottom of the sky, darkened slightly and brushed across the bottom for the water.

Sunset Island 3

Most of the group were having a few problems with following along with what needed to be done so I did up two smaller pieces (one for each group) so they could see the steps.

Once they had the sky and water painted in we then broke for supper while the paint dried.

With a dark mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, we started painting in all the silhouettes beginning with the far island, its reflections in the water.

I started working on one of the small pieces to add in the rocks, trees and water ripples.

Sunset Island I

I would like to thank Mrs. Denise Coon on her purchase of Sunset Island 5.

Sunset Island II - A Work in Progress

Cindy and Norma came over to paint a sunset with me so they will be able to help me next week when I teach the class.

I started with pure raw sienna streaked in the sky with curved diagonal strokes leaving some areas white.

While the paper was still wet I brushed in the water with horizontal strokes leaving a few areas white.

I mixed burnt sienna with the raw sienna and painted it into both the sky and the water.

Next I brushed a little pure burnt sienna into the sky and water.

I added French ultramarine blue to the burnt sienna for a dark grey mixture and painted in the distant islands and leaving a small space put in the reflections.

With a dark mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and a small amount of alizarin crimson I started painting the main pine tree and indicated the trunks on the three larger trees.

With the same mixture I started painting in the rocks adding a little water in some areas to give it a mottled effect.

Lastly, I put in a few reflections of the rocks into the water.

Cindy and Norma each completed their paintings within the time allowed for a class, so we are good to go with the class.

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

Poster for the Sunset Island Class at The Point

I just had the poster made for the class I am teaching at The Point - the Young's Point Diner and Pizzeria, at 403 South Beach Rd., Lakefield, Ontario on the 31 May 17.

If you are interested in taking this class, please contact Janice Costa at The Point.

Moonlight 1-6

We have a beautiful full moon tonight and I thought it would be a good idea to do drawings of scenes with a full moon.

In the back field we had a pair of majestic, intertwined white pine trees.

Unfortunately, during a wind storm a couple of years ago one of the pines fell down.

I thought I would do a few drawings of the pines as I have seen them so many times in the winter with the moon glow shimmering across the ice and snow in the fields.

Moonlight 4

In the morning when the moon is setting in the west, it can often be seen peeking out from behind the branches of a grouping of three large maple trees that are at the front of the property along the western fence line.

Just before the sun rises I often see the long, cast shadows of these trees running across the snow on the track and on the rise to the infield.

Moonlight 5














Moonlight 1

I have property on the far side of the Snelgrove Brook and from there I have a clear view of my farm and at night in the moonlight it looks much like this sketch.















Moonlight 2

The view from the barn paddock overlooks the Snelgrove Brook and in the early years when we first bought the farm you could see the moon reflected in the water.














Moonlight 3

Along the east fence line by the house,the moon glow sends long fingers of cast shadow from the apple trees across the ground and creates some interesting patterns.













Moonlight 6

When I took night school classes at Sir Sanford Fleming College, I would return home late at night and would sometimes see the moonlight reflected on Chemong Lake when going through Bridgenorth.

Taking Down the Show at the Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery

Today was a very busy day with starting the morning off by going to Fenelon Falls for a seminar on business plans and marketing. It was interesting and very informative with plenty of new ideas that I can put to good use.

From there it was off to Douro-Dummer Township to take down the Countryside Art Group show at the Library Art Gallery.

Finally I was back home and wanted to do a little work on a painting and I chose this one (see post on 20 January 2015).

Using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I started first by painting the island.

Then I started on the tree trunks and branches in the foreground and darkening the mixture started to add in the pine needles.

Evening Sky 5

Painting in the negative I created the rocky base against the water below the tree trunks. I added growies above the rocks and around the base of the trees.

Lastly I put in the reflections in the water below the rocks. I will post this painting at a later date once it is completed.

OSWOA - Grey Day 1 and 2

Today is another nice day with the temperatures to reach 55F (12.8C) even though there is rain in the forecast it is still better than having it snow; although that is coming for later in the week when temperatures once again drop below freezing.














This afternoon I taught the basic watercolour class at KAGS and with this class all my students had never painted in watercolour.













I had them start with small paintings no larger than 8" x 10" which is a lot less intimidating that doing a first painting on a piece of 11" x 15" (a quarter sheet) watercolour paper. This way they can also finish the painting within the three hours of class time and can have another painting started.













Grey Day 1

I also limited the number of paints used to a maximum of three colours in order for my students to learn the wide variety of colour combinations they could achieve with a few colours. In this case we used burnt sienna, raw sienna and French ultramarine blue.














I had these two samples of skies using various mixes of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna that I did with another class (see post on 11 December 13)  and then showed the class how to do various types of clouds and allowed them to make a choice for their painting of how they would like the sky.













While their painting was drying I showed them how to put in the trees lightly with pencil and how to mix the colour for painting the trees.

After my students completed their painting I gave them homework. To do the another two more paintings using different combinations of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the sky only and that next week we would learn about putting in water, rocks and different types of trees.













Grey Day 2

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA shown here are original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $40.00 each and sold unframed.

ACEO - Tree Tops 10 and 11

The colours here are absolutely stunning, with the various reds, yellows, golds and greens; especially when I look out over the trees below the hill and across the Snelgrove Brook and the far hill beyond.

Today I wanted to work on these two pieces that I had started earlier this year (see post on 19 February 2014) and called them Clouds. I have already completed the first two of them earlier this month (see post on 06 September 2014).














Tree Tops 10

Keeping with the same theme I first worked on the one that had been called Clouds 3 and used as my subject more of the trees from the north fence line that I see out of my kitchen window.

Once this one was completed I worked on the final background which had been called Clouds 4 and painted the last of my bare bones trees.














Tree Tops 11

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 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

OSWOA - Sunset 1

This is a painting I had started last year (see posts on 08 February 2013 and 15 March 2013) and wanted to finish.

I started by painting in the main pine tree on the left side of the painting and then gradually adding in the background tree trunks.

I added more pine trees of various sizes along the ridge of snow and using a pale was of the pine needle colour lightly indicated the tree shadows on the snow.

Finally I added the grasses and growies to the base of the trees and in some areas of the snow.

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA 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 $40.00 and sold unframed.

OSWOA - Sunset 2

While going through a box of small pieces that need just a little work to complete I came across this piece that I had started last year (see posts on 04 February 2013 and 15 March 2013).

I painted in the trees on either side of the painting first and then added the grasses and growies to the bottom of the painting.

Lastly I put a couple of birds into the sky.













If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA 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 $40.00 and sold unframed.

Pine Tree at Dawn

Today my Smoke kitty finally came back. I thought something had happened to her, since she was gone for almost two weeks.

This morning I watched the sunrise and painted the dawn colours and added the same pine tree from yesterday to the painting.

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

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

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.

Pastel Morning - A Work in Progress

At least today we didn't start with the -14F (-25.5C) temperature first thing in the morning like we did yesterday and we aren't supposed to get any more snow today, we get to wait for tomorrow for the next storm.

Today I was at the first of four workshops in acrylic with Gail Hawkins.

We worked on paintings with a large sweeping sky to provide a strong contrast for the landscape in the foreground. I decided to work on a painting of the sunrise that I saw this morning of the lone pine at the back of the property.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have more of it completed.

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

OSWOA - Dawn Silhouette 3

Today I was painting with the Lakefield Creative Guild and decided to work on a couple of small pieces that were almost finished (see post on 26 Dec 11).

This painting needed the branches added to the trees and I also added in a few dead tree trunks. The shoreline needed to be a little more defined and I changed the colour of the water slightly. While the paint was still wet I added reflections into the water.

If you would like more information about OSWOA please go to my post on 12 March 2010.

The OSWOA shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Windsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $30.00 and sold unframed.

Sunset Silhouette

Most of the cottages on the lakes were closed over the Labour Day weekend and will sit silent and empty until spring arrives next year and the cottagers return once again.

There are a few that return each weekend and will continue to be here enjoying a more quiet and peaceful time on the lake until next month when they close their cottages for the season on Thanksgiving weekend.

This is one of those cottages on Upper Chemong Lake that can be seen from Highway 507 (also called Buckhorn Road or County Road 23).

This is an original framed 3-3/4" x 6-1/4" watercolour available for $85.00.

Pine Tree 1 - A Work in Progress

One of my favourite things to see are pine trees silhouetted against the sky.

For as long as I have owned the property there was a pair of tall stately pines entwined together on the top of the hill on one of the back fields.

Unfortunately during in windstorm in July of last year one of them was no longer able to withstand the high winds and fell, leaving its companion standing all alone.

It seems so forlorn now. I started this painting of it from the opposite side than I see from the house.

I will post this painting at a later date once It is completed.

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

Sunset Silhouette 3

This is the third original 4" x 4" acrylic painting and is available for $65.00.

The other two are Sunset Silhouette 1 (see posting on 27 December 12) and Sunset Silhouette 2 (see my post on 19 December 11).


















You are welcome to come out and see all three together at the Miniature Squared Show which will open at KAGS this Saturday and will run through to 02 February 12.

Sunset Silhouette 2

This is the second of three original 4" x 4" acrylic paintings and is available for $65.00.

The first is Sunset Silhouette 1 (see my post on 19 December 2011).

















They will be exhibited at the Miniature Squared Show at KAGS which will open on Saturday 15 January 12 and will run through to 02 February 12.

Sunset Silhouette 1

I decided to do something different from what I would normally do for my three paintings to be exhibited in the Miniature Squared Show which will open at KAGS on Saturday 15 January 12 and will run through to 02 February 12.














Lately we have had some spectacular sunsets with the dark tree trunks and branches silhouetted against them. I chose to use horses as the silhouettes instead.

This is the first of three original 4" x 4" acrylic paintings and is available for $65.00.

Morning

This little gem is an original 3" x 4” framed painting created using a limited palette of three colours: cadmium red, French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

Cadmium red was washed into the sky and water.

While the paper was still wet a pale mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna was used to paint in clouds.

The cloud mixture was darkened as the paper dried and the islands and tree silhouettes were then painted when the paper was almost completely dry.

I would like to thank new collector Mrs. D. Neudorf of Welland, Ontario on her purchase of this painting.

Close to the Water - A Work in Progress

The evening sky has been painted in with a mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna near the top, blending into a mixture of raw sienna and burnt sienna, with the orange a mix of raw sienna and alizarin crimson at the horizon line.

The same colour mixes were used in the water and applied with zigzag strokes to give the impression of movement. A slightly darker mixture of alizarin crimson and raw sienna was painted in below the horizon line, with a few touches of pure alizarin crimson in the background.

The colour was gradually lightened as it came closer to the foreground, where it gradually changed when the raw sienna and burnt sienna was added to the right side of the foreground.














Areas of the French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna were painted into the foreground water. Once the paper was dry the juvenile gull was sketched into the foreground and the shape of the bird suggested using the same colour.

The background island and trees are a mixture of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson. Using a darker mixture of the colour a suggestion of the ripples on the water has been added in a few places as well as the dark tips of the gull's wings.

The foreground rocks have been completed and some of the trees on the closer shoreline have been painted.

I will post this painting once more of it is completed.