Coon Lake VII and IX - Two Works in Progress

Today I was with the Lakefield Creative Art Guild and decided to work on one of the sketches I did while on Loon Call Lake last year (see post on 29 July 2014).

First I put in the distant shore and trees.

Next I added the outline of the rocks as a base for the tree and vegetation.

I took my time with the tree to capture the broken limbs and the way the branches were bent from the wind.

I added bushes at the base of the tree and growies around the rocks.

Coon Lake VII

After lunch I decided to start on another sketch of Coon Lake and leave the first one until I decide what else it needs.

I put in the outline of the rocks and a few water ripples below them.

Next I added some bushes, small trees and growies on the rocks.

Coon Lake IX

I will post each of these drawings once more work on them has been completed.

Abandoned House I - A Work in Progress

I did a sketch of this abandoned building while I was travelling on Highway 134 a number of years ago (see post on 19 June 2013).

Beginning with the two large trees on the left side I started to ink in the drawing.

Next I added the pine tree behind the building which gave definition to the back end of the roof.














Then to ground the building I added the tall grasses and growies below the tree trunks and house, leaving the pathway to the door empty for the moment.

I started on the tree on the right side of the drawing before I ran out of time.

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

Evening Marsh 1 - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this painting that I had started working on again earlier this year (see posts on 11 December 2011 and 31 January 2016).

It had originally been called Yellow Sky 3 and after deciding that it would be a nice scene of a wetland area I have changed its name to Evening Marsh 1.

I started by putting in some of the tree trunks with mixtures of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.













There will be a number of the trees that will be dead which is often found in the marsh. 

As I do more work on this painting I will post it at a later date.

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

Freedom

Today I set the crow free.














When I took him outside he sat on my arm for almost five minutes looking around, getting his bearings. He flew to the trees by the fence line at the back of the track and stayed there for about 15 minutes before heading off toward the back fields and disappeared from sight.

I hope he survives, now that he is back in the wild.

Foggy Day - A Work in Progress

With the mild temperatures we have had over the last week, most of the mornings have been fairly foggy and I thought for the watercolour class at KAGS a simple foggy morning would be a good painting.

Using a limited palette of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for most of the background of this painting and gradually darkening the colour as the closer trees become more defined would work well; and we may not even require a third colour for this painting.

Then entire paper was wet and then a light wash of the grey mix was applied. Then the paper was set aside to dry slightly as more pigment was added to the wash colour.














With the darker paint the distant horizon was put in with a few soft indistinct trees.

Adding a little more of the two colours the next layer of trees were added as well as a little more of the background.

Some of the students wanted to do a lake in the foreground, while others wanted to have a fence line with trees.

At this point I had each student do another background on a smaller piece of paper and in two weeks we will complete one of each.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Cold Day 2 - A Work in Progress

The first of the grackles have arrived at the feeders, which is nice to see and it means that spring will soon arrive.

I didn't have a lot of time to paint but, I wanted to get a little further along on at least one painting so I pulled out this little piece that I had started a few years ago (see post on 27 November 2013).

Using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and cobalt blue, I brushed in the sky leaving some of the white paper showing through for clouds.

I darkened the mixture slightly and put in the ice covered water.

Next I added a little bit of burnt sienna to the blue mixture to make a warm grey and indicated the tree trunks on the distant snow covered hills.

By then my friends arrived to pick me up and we would to go to the art supply stores close to Toronto.

I will post this painting again once it has been completed.

Forest Stream 1 - A Work in Progress

I wanted to paint today but didn't really know what I wanted to work on, so as I looked through the many smaller pieces I had started over the years I decided to work on this one (see post on 13 February 2013).

I thought it would make a nice winter forest scene and indicated the placement of the larger trees and also put in a small stream running through them.

This painting was originally called Grey Sky 1 and I have changed the name to Forest Stream 1.














At the back of my property I have 4 acres (1.6ha) of mixed hardwood consisting mainly of maple, birch and elm which I thought would make in interesting painting.

Working from the back forward I put in the distant tree line with a pale mix of French ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Gradually darkening the mixture slightly I added the first of a slightly closer tree, then the next closer tree and for a change put in the markings on one of the birch trees to get an idea of the values needed for the painting.













I will post this painting as more work on it is completed.