Fire Cracker

I would like to thank Mr. Robert Johnston for commissioning me to do a graphite pencil drawing of his draft horse Fire Cracker.

He was a wonderful horse to work with and stood quietly while I blocked in the sketch.

It took less than three hours to complete the drawing, mainly because he simply munched on his hay and allowed me to move his head without any fuss to capture the details.

Four Seasons

Today I am painting with the Buckhorn Tuesday Painting Group at St. Matthews Church.

I couldn't get into painting so I decided I would sketch different things I could see outside that were around the church.














Spring 2

Looking out the south window I could see the trees by the lock starting to show their spring colours.














Summer 2

Out the back door there were three large trees, two oaks and a maple, which I put them into full summer foliage.














Autumn 2

From the front door there were two large oaks in the front lawn and you could see the waters of Buckhorn Lake all that was needed was to add a few autumn leaves.















Winter 2

Lastly, I looked across the street from the bottom of the ramp at the back of the church. With the birch trees on one lawn and a large pine on the next lawn and I changed the houses into trees in the background, which would be ideal for winter.

Skimming the Waves 1

Spring is definitely here now and this morning I was overjoyed by the arrival of my pair of North American Kestrels (Falco sparverius).

They have returned once again to their nesting box under the eaves of the house just outside my bedroom window. I look forward to watching them and their young until they have to leave and head south for the winter in the fall.








With the arrival of my kestrels I thought I would like to work on a drawing of a bird in flight and I chose this piece that I had started last year (see post on 22 September 2013).

It didn't take very long for me to ink in this small 2-1/2" x 9” drawing of a gull flying close to the waves. Once it has been matted and shrink wrapped it will be available for $30.00.

What?

This is a painting I stated with Gail Hawkins a couple of months ago (see posting on 25 February 14).

I enjoyed working on this piece and I think I may do a few more pictures of cattle in the future.














This is the third of three paintings that will be donated to the Canvas Confidential fund raiser for The Lindsay Gallery.

Paint It Big! Show at Art on Kent

Today was the last day of the Paint It Big! Show at Art on Kent in Lindsay, Ontario. I sat the afternoon shift of the day and took in my paintings for the upcoming show Self and Others which opens next Saturday.














At the same time I also brought in my paintings for the Exchange Show with Gallery in the Attic which is here in Peterborough, Ontario and the opening for that show will be on the evening of 09 May 2014.

Evening Quiet

Junkyard is finally starting to show a little more trust and starts meowing when he hears or sees me coming to the barn and comes downstairs and waits for this food. But he still retreats quickly, although not very far away; if I go to touch him. His paw is still swollen, but he seems in good health.

So far he has not entered any of the live traps I have set out for him so I can take him to the vet to have it treated.

















I came across this painting that I had started with a number of others of the same scene; an open gate leading into a snow covered field. I did a series of them at various times of day.

This painting only needed the shadows from the trees and the track leading through the gate to be completed.

This original 6-1/4" x 7-1/4" framed watercolour is available for $165.00.

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

A Flash of Red

Even though spring supposedly arrived last month, winter is still holding on tightly with its cold and icy grip. What better than to paint a snow scene of another winter sport? In this case ice skating.

In rural Canada whenever the ice freezes over on the lakes, ponds or rivers and becomes thick enough to carry weight it is time to shovel out a clear space and put up the nets for a game of shinny hockey, figure skate or simply go skating alone or with a group.













I decided to paint a young girl out practicing on a frozen river who perhaps has dreams of becoming an Olympic medalist and stand on the podium representing her country; like Barbara Ann Scott gold 1948, Petra Burka bronze 1964, Karen Magnussen silver 1972, Elizabeth Manley silver 1988 and Joannie Rochette bronze 2010.

Who knows; perhaps one day her dreams may become a reality.

This original framed 9-3/4" x 15" watercolour is available for $295.00.