Plein Air with John David Anderson

Today is the first day of the John David Anderson workshop at KAGS. I had taken a workshop with him last year (see postings on 27 and 28 October 2013) and wanted to return and see what new things he would be showing us this weekend.

We spent the day painting "en plein air" which translated from French means: in the open air.

For me this was a new experience as I usually paint outside with watercolour paint instead of acrylic. I learned quite quickly the many differences, especially since the acrylic paint tends to dry a lot faster outside in 78F (26C) when in the sun.














Not to mention that the beautifully landscaped home on the river where we were able to paint had a small koi pond that I was painting. Unfortunately I often was distracted and constantly stopped to get photographs of the fish as they glided through their underwater home.

I will post this painting once I have finished the rocks and added a little more detail into the water.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Ships - Three Works in Progress

For the first time my Smoke kitty isn't in the barn to greet me asking for her food to be put in the tray. It is unusual for her to miss a meal. Perhaps she is just running late and will show up tonight.

Today I put out my hummingbird feeders and we will see how long it takes them to come around regularly.













Wind in My Sails I

I pulled out these three sketches of the tall ships that I had started last year. I put in the water and wave patterns below the ships first.

Next I added the hulls of the ships and some of the sails that I knew where in the position where they belonged.

















Ghost Ship I

I will have to go back into the drawings and make sure the sails and rigging is where it should be positioned and get the outline of the hull correct.

I will post each of these drawings at a later date as they are completed.











Phantom Ship I

Paint Out at Lang Pioneer Village

Today we had out paint out and show set up at the MacKelvie Gallery at Lang Pioneer Village.

I chose to take two of my cow paintings (see postings on 11 and 13 May 2014) to hang in the Gallery and this is where they are being displayed.













I spent the rest of the morning going through the Village taking reference photographs and sketching things that I would like to paint at a later date.

It was nice seeing a lot of the volunteers in period costume wandering through the village and working in some of the buildings.

I will post my sketches and paintings at a later date as I complete them.

Norwood Skillet

I was at the Norwood Skillet at 4247 Highway 7 in Norwood, Ontario yesterday to see how many paintings I would need to bring with me to hang today and had lunch which was fish and chips and it was excellent.

Their food lives up to their motto, which is "As Good As Homemade Gets". It definitely has that homemade flavour and I would recommend both the fish and chips as well as the meatloaf which I had for supper today after setting up my show.















Entry 1















Entry 2

 












Entry 3














Entry into Middle Room

They have a number of things going on during the course of a month at the Skillet including an all you can eat brunch every Sunday for $8.99 starting at 9am and finishing at 2pm.

With Ron starting work this week on the Monday he should be home for the weekend and I will see if he would like to view my exhibit and also try their buffet.

Middle 1

The first room as you enter the Skillet is set up for both dining in or for takeout as well as having an ice cream counter which I will have to check out when I am there next month.

The entry leads into the middle room and both rooms are bright with natural sunlight throughout the day which makes it a very pleasant place to eat.

Middle 2














Middle 3














Middle 4

Off the middle room is the much larger Lounge area where they hold the buffet on Sunday.

It also has a bar on a slightly raised level which also has an area for musicians complete with drums and a piano.

This is for their monthly Friday Open Mic Jamm Night in the Lounge from 9pm. until closing. The next one will be held on 06 June 14.

Lounge and Bar













Lounge 1











Lounge 2

The only stipulation on having your artwork here at the Norwood Skillet is that you cannot put any more nails into the wall. So you need to bring paintings that will fit into the spaces.

I took in a wide variety of different sized paintings and ended up with31 pieces hung in the three rooms.

This is what my exhibit looked like once it was completely set up.

Lounge 3

If you have a chance and you are out in the Norwood area you should stop and visit the Norwood Skillet to have a meal and see my art display.

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





Lounge 4

Bunny and Baskets 1 - A Work in Progress

This is a small detailed painting of the bunny that was in the second Still Life class at KAGS last month see yesterday's posting.

I have completed the background, the under paint on the basket and a little bit on the pussy willow.

I will post this painting at a later date once more work on the bunny has been completed.

Now it is time for me to go outside and work in the garden and get some of the new irises, violas and marigolds planted into my main flower bed.

Bunny and Easter Eggs - A Work in Progress

My house is filled with the scent of lilacs. I have a vase full of lilacs in almost every room in the house.

With the temperature at 62F (17C) and the morning being bright and sunny it was not long after doing the barn chores that I cut a huge bouquet of lilacs from the bushes growing along the south fence line of the front lawn.

It is unfortunate that they last such a short time, but then if they were available all year round they probably would not be as appreciated when they do appear.













This is a painting I started last month in the Still Life class at KAGS.

The background and the under paint on the tablecloth has been painted in as well as the first layer of colour on the red tulips which in the actual display were white.

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

Now it is time for me to head off to The Lindsay Gallery to drop off my entry form and from there to go to the Norwood Skillet to see how many paintings I will need to take there for the set up tomorrow.

Gardening 2 - A Work in Progress

We have returned from yesterday's wedding where we had a very enjoyable time with family and friends. Good food and wine as well as great music and I spent most of the night on the dance floor.

Now that I am back home it is time to recover from the festivities; so instead of working in my garden today I mowed the lawn instead.














It is fitting that I did a little more work on the barn board in the background on this painting that I had started last month in the still life class at KAGS.

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