Old Oak I

Today I wanted to finish this pen and in drawing that I started a number of years ago (see posts on 22 February 2013 and 25 January 2017).

The first thing I did was to remove the building. I wanted the background to be uncluttered and I felt the house made it look too busy.

I indicated the distant hills in the background and put in various layers of trees adding more details to the closer ones.














Next, I put in some more fence posts into the middle ground.

This was followed by various grasses and growies at the base of the posts and into the field.

Into the foreground I added grasses growing around the base of the oak tree and some clumps of grasses at the base of the front posts.

Lastly, I added the barb wire to the fence posts.

This original, 6-1/2" x 9" pen and ink drawing will be available after it is matted and shrink wrapped for $60.00.

Pinto News Illustration April 1981

While sorting through some files I came across a copy of the Pinto News for April 1981, which features on the cover the logo I designed for them (see post on 24 November 2015).

This horse is of my second horse "CoCo" who had three different brands on her. All of them were on her left side.

The first was an N on her cheek and no hair covered it at all just the dark coloured flesh. 

The second was a backwards E and a normal N on her shoulder. 

The last one on her flank was a double LL over a lazy L below it, which was like the first one with no hair over it, just the dark coloured flesh showing.

I felt bad that she went through so much pain, as she was the kindest, gentlest and most caring of all the horses I have owned over the years.

Tied Up 4

Today as I was waiting for Christine to come and take me to my physiotherapy session I saw a couple of seagulls flying.

I thought that I would do a little drawing of a small boat tied up with its reflection in the still water of a tidal pool.

It seemed fitting that I would fill an area of the sky with a large group of seagulls.

At a later date I may develop this drawing into a painting.

Soft Reflections I

Today I started working on this sketch that was originally called Long Lake IX (see post on 14 September 2013).

It was one of the many sketches I do while out in the canoe on the various lakes in the area.














It was on an island where a number of the tall old pine trees had died off, but there were a few trees still clinging to life in the poor soil.

This original 5" x 9” pen and ink drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.

ACEO - Tied Up 2

I wanted to finish this painting that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 22 June 2013 and 09 January 2017).

Starting with the boats, I wanted to give them each different coloured gunnels, the large sailboat I painted with alizarin crimson, the right side one I used Antwerp blue and the centre boat I added a little raw sienna to the blue and painted the gunnel green.

Mixing a dark of burnt sienna with a little bit of French ultramarine blue, I put in the mast on the sailboat, the ties on the boats and some of the islands on the horizon line as well as the dark areas of the waves just below the horizon line and in the foreground.















With a pale wash of aureolin and raw sienna I painted the hulls of the boats, leaving a few areas white.

Using cadmium red I put in the mooring buoys to the end of the mooring ties.

Lastly I added a little bit of seaweed on the beach using a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna.

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

The ACEO 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 $20.00 and sold unframed.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

On the Lawn - Revisited

I pulled this drawing out as I felt there was no strong contrast in each of the elements, so I started by darkening some of the areas of the flag first.

Next I darkened the rock in behind barrel, on the barrel I darkened down some  of the barrel staves and hoops.














Lastly, I darkened the shadows on the wooden deer.

This original 6" x 9” pen and ink drawing when framed will be available for $150.00.

Waiting I

I saw the surgeon today and the good news is that I am allowed to put half weight on my leg, but the down side is I am still not allowed to go up or down stairs and I am not allowed to drive for at least the next 6 weeks.

When I returned home I thought I would work on this drawing of Eagle Beach in Aruba (see post on 12 November 2016).

I put in the boats first and then added the waves washing up on the beach and in the water.








Lastly, I put in the horizon line, the distant shoal and the clouds.

I can see in the future developing this drawing into a wonderful painting depicting the bold and beautiful colours of the Caribbean.

This original 9" x 12” pen and ink drawing when matte and shrink wrapped will be available for $50.00.