Long Lake VI - A Work in Progress

I had planned on going painting today with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group to the Miskwaa Art Studio and Outdoor Gallery in Trent Lakes, Ontario. But unfortunately, we ended up having rain most of the day with the chance of a thunderstorm, due to the continuing heat 86F (30C) and high humidity 102F (39C).

Instead I decided to work on this drawing that I had started a number of years ago (see posts on 15 June 2013, 05 July 2016 and 23 March 2018) while canoeing on Long Lake.

I started by putting in more of the background trees and then adding the outline of the tops of the main rock masses.














Next I put in some of the larger dead tree trunks and then, added in a few of the grasses and growies among the rocks.

On the foreground island I started adding in some of the crevices and shadows on the rocks before starting on the trunk and lower branches of the largest pine tree.

I added some water ripples to the base of the foreground island and to the base of the middle rock island.

I will post this drawing at a later date once the drawing has been completed.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Back Forty III - A Work in Progress

I picked this one to work on today, I had started last year (see post on 25 June 2017) when we were out in the bulldog and going through the back fields and had a doe pop out from its hiding spot at the edge of the sugar bush.

I started by putting in the hay growing at the edge of the field.














Next, I started putting on the leaves on some of the bushes, but before I could get any further I had a long distance call that took up a fair amount of time.

I will post this drawing at a later date once I add more details onto the deer.

Countryside Art Group Blog - Show Updates

On the first of each month I will update the Countryside Art Group's blog with a listing of shows where the various artists in the Group are exhibiting their work.

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

Suppertime? - A Work in Progress

Today, I wanted to get more of the sponges, coral and plants painted on this piece I had started quite a while ago (see posts on 15 March, 31 October and 30 December 2012, 25 March 2013 and 09 August 2017).

Using Titanium white, ultramarine blue and raw sienna I finished adding to the plants at the top of the rock face. With the white, I indicated the top of some of the sponges lower down on the rock face.

With various mixtures of raw sienna, burnt sienna and Hansa yellow, I added some tube sponges on the edge of the rocks closest to the Jack-knifefish (Equetus lanceolatus).

From there using the same colours I added more sponges into the middle of the center area and a few more smaller ones towards the left side.















Next, I used a mixture of Titanium white, ultramarine blue and vermillion and put in a couple more of the purple sponges toward the middle of the rock face and some much smaller, duller coloured ones to the left side.

At this point I wanted to get the top area of the rock face completed. I mixed various greens using ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, raw sienna and Hansa yellow.

Using the greens I put in some of the small, leafy sea weed, draping it down the rock face from beneath the light coloured sponges and corals.

Lastly, using the darker greens I added a few pieces of seaweed above and around the smaller purple sponges.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have finished painting the remaining coral and sponges on the rock face.

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

ACEO - Peaceful Morning 1

Today I wanted to finish this piece that I had started a while ago (see posts on 10 September 2014 and 26 February 2018).

I started by putting in the far shoreline trees with various greens made from French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue, raw sienna and new gamboge.

Next, using burnt sienna and a tiny amount of alizarin crimson I indicated the rocks at the edge of the water.

Now it was time to start on the island in the foreground.

Using the same green mixtures from the background trees with the addition of small amounts of burnt sienna I put in the large pines.

With French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I put in the dead tree trunks; and then adding a little alizarin crimson I painted in the rocks on the waterline.

Lastly, I added the grasses and growies at the base of the pines and in among the rocks.

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. Fabriano 100% cotton, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

The Pit Crew

Last year, Ron noticed that our grandson Aaron was outgrowing his motorized Jeep and probably wouldn't be using it this year.

Since we had a small and very old Husqvarna lawn mower on which the deck was no longer working, Ron decided to work on it over the winter to give Aaron a "new ride" for the summer.

He took the rusted, old deck off first and then cleaned up the undercarriage, making sure there were no rough edges that could cause problems.

Next he bolted a steel plate across the speed control so that it could only go forward on the slowest setting.















From there he worked on the motor to make sure it was in working order and would start and stay running.















Next he fixed the two flat tires and then it was time to take it for at test drive to make sure there were no unforeseen problems.















And of course he found that when you got off the seat the kill switch wasn't working and the engine didn't stop running.

That took a couple of weeks until the part came in so he could fix that and finally get the lawn mower out of the shop and into the west barn stone room with all the other lawn mowers which were waiting for spring.

Finally, today is the day when Ron and Kyle handed the key to Aaron and took him down to the barn so will be able to drive his new "toy".

They showed him where the brake was and then allowed him to start it and he was able to drive it slowly out of the barn for the first time.















With his father and grandfather on each side of him, they left the barn drive and headed up to the main driveway for his first time of going up and down the driveway.















After the first turn up and down the driveway Kyle went with him and left grandpa to relax in the shade watching them.















On the way back just before turning around to go again, it ran out of gas so it was time for a pit stop to fill the gas tank. Aaron was standing by, watching them closely to make sure they were doing it right.

Once it was fueled up they tried to start it again but it just wasn't working.

While grandpa went down to the stone room to get the battery charger out Aaron and Kyle pushed the mower down to the doorway.

Aaron was right there watching how they hooked up the cables onto the battery and asking them questions.

It didn't take very long for the battery to charge enough so it started and Aaron was on his way once more going down the driveway.















This time it was grandpa's turn to go with Aaron and he asked grandpa if he could drive on the front lawn for a change.















Ron explained to him that when he went down the hill he had to go straight down and not go on an angle, as the hill was steep and he didn't want him to roll the mower over and get himself hurt.















After Aaron safely negotiated the hill and turned a couple of laps around the front lawn they headed up onto the back part of the track and went to the back bend before turning around and coming back.















Then one final trip around the front lawn and it was back to the barn.















But just before they mad it back to the barn it quit and Kyle pushed it into the west barn stone room.

Grandpa will have sorted the problem with it quitting by the next time Aaron comes up to play with his new toy.

Old Shed I - A Work in Progress

Today I was in the mood to draw and I pulled out this sketch that I did a number of years ago (see posts on 13 July 2013 and 03 March 2017) when I was on a paint out with the KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group.

I started with putting the boards on the right side of the shed door and then added more leaves to the climbing vine on the building.

From there I finished the large upright board leaning against the side of the shed.















I wasn't happy with the way the shed looked and I decided to extend the roof and length of the building.

Next I added another barrel on the left side of the boards leaning against the wall.

Perhaps I will add another window and put a door in the open space on the building and I will post this drawing at a later time once I have finished more of the building.