Trilliums - A Work in Progress

This is the first in a series of the Provincial Flowers of Canada.

The Trillium (Trilliium grandiflorum) was chosen as the provincial flower for Ontario in 1937. It is an official symbol of the Government of Ontario and is often used in heraldry in Canada. It also serves as the official wild flower for the state of Ohio.

These charming native woodland wildflowers are a harbinger of spring.

They start flowering for two to three weeks beginning in late April to mid May depending on local conditions.

The plant is most commonly found growing in rich deciduous or mixed upland temperate forests of eastern North America.

They're from southern Ontario, Canada in the north, east across to Nova Scotia, and south into the USA to the northernmost part of Georgia and west to Minnesota.

The simple elegance of these delightfully unusual single stemmed flowers, have a whorl of three leaves and single, large 2" - 4" (5cm - 10cm) three petal flower with slightly ruffled edges. They are white when they first bloom and often turn pink with age, making them one of the best-known and easily recognized wildflower.

I will post this painting at a later date when it is completed.

OSWOA - Nightshade

This is a painting I did as a demonstration piece for the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group in the early part of the year.

Everyone in the Group was required to bring in pictures of flowers already drawn and masked out on watercolour paper.

The background colours of aureolin, and greens made using mixtures of Antwerp blue and French ultramarine blue with aureolin and raw sienna were set in small containers. A dark was mixed using French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson and set aside.

The paper was wet and the pure yellow was poured onto the paper. The green mixtures were poured over the some areas of the background and rolled around being careful to leave areas of the pure aureolin.

As the paper started to dry and there is more control over the paint the dark mixture was poured mainly around the flowers and berries, then splattered over a couple of areas.

The painting was then set aside to allow the background to dry completely before the masking fluid was removed.

Once the masking fluid was removed the flowers and berries were painted by carefully building up layers of colour.

The OSWOA shown here is an original watercolour painting using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on 140lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. This one is priced at $50.00 and sold unframed.

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

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

ACEO - After Midnight 1-2

Night skies have a different feel about them and many things are hidden and not as distinct as when sunlit..

Depending on the phase of the moon which changes what you are able to see.

From the bright, shimmering highlights of a full moon which allows you to see much more than when there is the almost inky black darkness of a new moon.

After Midnight 1

While the trees are the same as those seen in daylight they look very different at night.

Darker, more foreboding and if the wind is blowing, the rustling noises can make you feel as though you are not alone and can cause the hairs on the back of your neck to rise.

If you would like more information about ACEO please go to my post on 11 March 2010.

After Midnight 2

The ACEO shown here are all original watercolour paintings using Artist quality Winsor & Newton paint on Strathmore, acid free watercolour paper. They are priced at $20.00 each and sold unframed.

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Show Updates

I have updated the Buckhorn Artists' Group blog with a listing of shows some of the various artists in the Group are exhibiting their work in during the month of July.

If you get a chance come out and visit them at one or all of the shows.

Confirmed Shows for 2010 - July

This is a listing of confirmed shows that I will be exhibiting my artwork at this year. I will update the list as more shows are added.

The Lindsay Gallery, Lindsay, Ont.
02-30 Jul Annual Juried Art Show of Fine Arts/Visual Arts
Opening Reception 08 Jul 10 from 7-8:30pm.
23 Nov - 18 Dec Christmas Show
Opening Reception 25 Nov from 7-8:30pm.

Settlers' Village, Bobcaygeon, Ont.
09-11 Jul Bobcaygeon Fine Arts Festival

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
11 Jul - 05 Aug People, Places and Things
Opening Reception 11 Jul 10 from 1-4pm.
05-23 Sep Driven to Abstraction
Opening Reception 05 Sep 10 from 1-4pm.
24 Oct – 11 Nov Outdoor Painters Show
Opening Reception 24 Oct 10 from 1-4pm.
05-22 Dec & 04-13 Jan 11 Christmas Show
Opening Reception 05 Dec 10 from 1-4pm.

Kingston Kennel Club Show, Kingston, Ont.
24-25 Jul

Lang Pioneer Village and Museum, Keene, Ontario
05 Aug - 21 Oct MacKelvie Gallery

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont
Buckhorn Artists' Group
07-15 Aug 20th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

The Lindsay Inn, Lindsay, Ont.
18 Nov Canvas Confidential Art Sale
Opening Reception 25 Nov from 7-8:30pm.

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at these shows.

Cold Comfort

This is a small square 4-3/4" x 4-3/4” original, framed watercolour for $75.00.

It is early morning with the rosy tint of dawn causing the trees to cast long shadows over the snow. The large white pines like sentinels clothed in green needles stand bravely, sometimes bent but not broken against the elements of Winter.


















I have just received confirmation that both paintings, Aurora Borealis (see post on 04 April 2010) and Pristine Beauty (see post on 13 June 2010) I submitted to The Lindsay Gallery for their Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts/Visual Arts have been accepted and my painting Aurora Borealis received an Honourable Mention Award.

The juror was Susan Holland, Curator of The John M. Parrott Art Gallery, Belleville, Ontario.

The Opening Reception is on Thursday, 08 July from 7-8:30pm. The exhibition runs from 02-30 July 2010.

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

Blue Shadows

With living on the top of a hill I often see the trees lined up along the top ridge of a hill, their shadows race downhill like blue grey toboggans leaving a trail in the snow.



















This original 7-1/4" x 7-1/2” framed watercolour is available for $165.00.

Today I have to take two paintings over to The Lindsay Gallery for their Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts/Visual Arts.