Elements of Nature Poster

This morning I went to the Dancing Blueberries in Peterborough and met with Howard Berry to take down my paintings and help him hang his paintings.

It didn't take very long to exchange the paintings and I continued on my way to the printer's to pick up the posters and invitations for the upcoming KAGS Outdoor Painters' Group Show called "Elements of Nature" before heading to the Gallery.

I was pleased to see that one of my paintings was selected to appear on this year's poster.

The show runs from 11-29 November 15 with the opening being on 15 November 2015 from 1:00-4:00p.m.

I hope to see some of you at the opening of the show.

Lovesick Lake VI - Beaver Island Pine I

Today is the first day of unseasonably mild weather for the week before a cold front comes through and brings it back down to seasonal temperatures. To have 68F (20C) with sunshine in November is a bonus that I am going to enjoy.

I was looking through some of the sketches I did during the summer (see post on 02 August 2015) while canoeing on Lovesick Lake. I pulled this one out and decided to complete the pen and ink drawing.

I started with the pine tree which was not doing very well on its island home and its companion pine had already given up the ghost.

What I liked about the tree was the fact that it was still fighting to keep its place on the small island that was no longer able to support it and I wouldn't be surprised when next time we go back to Lovesick Lake to find the tree either dead or having been broken by the harsh winter winds.

Once both trees had been completed I started on the smaller bushes at their base and which were a rich yellow green.

Next I put in the reflections and lastly I did the rocks at the edge of the water which were pale pink granite.

This original 3-1/4" x 9" pen and ink when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $25.00.

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

Confirmed Shows for 2015-2016 - November

This is a listing of confirmed shows that I will be exhibiting my artwork at this year and into next year. I will update the list as more shows are added.

Dancing Blueberries, 360 George St. N., Peterborough, Ont.
02 Oct - 04 Nov 15
28 Sep - 03 Nov 16

Kawartha Arts Network - Art on Kent, Lindsay, Ont.
KAN
05-28 Nov 15 Transitions
Opening Reception 07 Nov 15 from 1-3pm.
03-31 Dec 15 and 07 Jan-16 Jan 16 Affordibleism
Opening Reception 05 Dec 15 from 1-3pm.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
11-29 Nov 15 Outdoor Painters' Show - Elements of Nature
Opening Reception 14 Nov 15 from 1-4pm.
02-20 Dec 15 and 06-17 Jan 16 Christmas Show and Sale
Opening Reception 05 Dec 15 from 1-4pm.
24 Feb - 24 Mar 16 The Abstract Show
Opening Reception 28 Feb 16 from 1-4pm.
13 Apr - 05 May 16 Floral and Still Life
Opening Reception 17 Apr 16 from 1-4pm.
15 Jun - 10 Jul 16 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 19 Jun 16 from 1-4pm.
24 Aug - 11 Sep 16 Black and White Plus 1 Colour
Opening Reception 28 Aug 16 from 1-4pm.
28 Sep -23 Oct 16 Fall Show
Opening Reception 02 Oct 16 from 1-4pm.
26 Oct - 13 Nov 16 Outdoor Painters' Show
Opening Reception 30 Oct 16 from 1-4pm.
30 Nov -18 Dec 16 and 04-15 Jan 17 Christmas Show and Sale
Opening Reception 04 Dec 16 from 1-4pm.


The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough Ont.
08-10 Apr 16 The 16th Annual Peterborough Garden Show

Extendicare, 860 Alexander Court, Peterborough, Ont.
07 Nov 16 - 02 Jan 17

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at one or all of these shows.

Toadstools 1-3 - Three Works in Progress

Today I was sitting at Art on Kent which is one of the art galleries in Lindsay.

What better way to spend my time at the Gallery on Hallowe'en day than to work on paintings of toadstools that I had started with a class earlier this month (see post on 20 October 2015).

Although we had a number of people come through the Gallery I started by adding the placement of the white scales on all of the toadstools.

Toadstool 1

On the second painting I thought the single toadstool could use a little company since Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) have a symbiotic relationship with the roots of various deciduous and coniferous trees and are found mainly in forested areas growing in groups in all stages of development.

Occasionally they form a naturally occurring ring with one or more trees in the center. These rings are considered to be tethered to the tree and this relationship prevents them from growing too far from the tree roots.

These rings have many names including: fairy rings, fairy circles, elf rings, elf circles, pixie rings, sorcerers' rings or witches' rings.

Toadstool 2

The names come from old European folk tales dating back to the 12th century when people once believed that mushrooms growing in a circle came from supernatural origins and marked the places where fairies, elves, pixies, sorcerers and witches would gather and dance.

These gatherings usually happened on moonlit nights and the rings would only become visible to people on the following morning in the light of day.

European superstitions routinely warn against entering a fairy ring as they are generally regarded as dangerous places and should be avoided due to the terrible consequences.

Toadstool 3

And to enter a fairy ring on May Eve or Hallowe'en night was especially hazardous.

While they are most often associated with doom and seen as dangerous places, some legends claim these circles are places of fertility and good fortune. One folk tale states that building a house on a fairy circle will bring prosperity to its owners.

I will post each painting as it is completed.

Thank you for looking at my artwork.

Sailboats 5 and 6 - Two Works in Progress

After transferring the sketches of Sailboat 5 and 6 into Evening on the Lake (see post on 22 October 2015) I decided to rework the sails on both of the sketches.

With Sailboat 5, I decided to reverse the sketch and have it going in the opposite direction and use it as a match to go with Sailboat 6.

This took a little more work as I had to change the positions of the sails and move them to the opposite side of the mast on the boat.

It took a little while until I was happy with the outline drawing.

Then it was time to transfer the image onto the watercolour paper.

I made a few more changes to the hull of the boat after it had been transferred onto the watercolour paper.

Next I used a liquid masking fluid on the boat to protect the white paper on the hull and sails.

I then set the painting aside to allow the friskit to dry completely before I started work on the next boat.

Sailboat 5

For the second boat I left it going in the same direction as it was in the original sketch.

As I did to the sketch of Sailboat 5, I changed the shape of the mainsail to have it attached to the mast.

When I was finally happy with the completed outline sketch it was once again time to transfer it onto the watercolour paper.

A couple more details were changed after I had transferred the drawing and it was ready for the masking fluid.

After the masking fluid was applied to the sailboat, this painting was set aside to dry.

I will post each of these paintings at a later date once the background sky, land and water have been painted.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to view my blog and I hope you will return to see how these paintings progress.

Sailboat 6

Sailboats 3 and 4 - Two Works in Progress

Today I just didn't feel like heading down into Peterborough to go to the Still Life class at KAGS.

Instead I wanted to work on a few of the sketches I did earlier this year when we went on the Stoney Lake Boat Cruise (see post on 29 August 2015) and develop them into a couple of paintings.














Sailboat 4

The sketches of Sailboat 3 and Sailboat 4 were fairly small and I decided to put both of them on the same piece of watercolour paper.

After transferring the sketches onto watercolor paper I thought that I could reverse the direction of the two boats and change their positions on another piece of watercolour paper and do a second painting.














It didn't take very long to rework the sketch and transfer it to another piece of watercolour paper the same size as the first one.

Using a liquid masking compound I painted the boats on both paintings to protect them when I painted the background and keep the sails white.














Sailboat 3

These two paintings should be interesting to do and I will post both of these paintings once they have been completed.

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

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.