Affordableism

Today is the last day of the Affordableism at Art on Kent for 2016 and it will re-open on 05 January 2017 and continue through to 14 January 2017.
















I tried to get a good photograph of the window display from the street, but there was too much glare and reflection.

So I went into the foyer and took a photograph through the side window which had a little less glare. Even with that the photographs do not do justice to the window display.

As the name of the show implies the paintings are priced to be affordable and the range starts at $10.00 and goes up to the most expensive are $300.00.

Upstairs was a treasure trove of gifts for every occasion.

There was original framed art from 4" x 4" up to *24" x 30" in acrylic, charcoal, conte, graphite pencil, pastel, pen & ink, Prisma pencil, watercolour and mixed media in a wide variety of subject matter which would please almost anyone.

There was a wide variety of sculptures in wood, papier-mâché, metal and clay.

Beautiful handcrafted dolls in luxurious costumes and bold coloured wall hangings.

Many one of a kind pieces of jewellery could be found scattered throughout the Gallery.

There were necklaces with matching earrings in semi precious stones, boxed as a set or as individual pieces; carved leather earrings, brooches, bracelets and hair clips of leaves, flowers and animals.

And to hold the jewellery there were stained trinket boxes in glowing colours.

I chose a bracelet of fresh water pearls for a family member as a Christmas gift.

There was a wall of Christmas wreaths in traditional cedar decorated with holly and bows, then others of grapevine adorned with ribbons, bows, flowers and leaves each with its own distinctive flavour and some made of braided cloth and others of cut felt.

Interspersed between the wreaths were many different ornaments in hand blown glass, stained glass, Styrofoam covered with sequins, beads and metallic ribbon, all hanging suspended by ribbons, leather cords or chains. 

I spent some time looking at the many of the one of a kind pieces of hand formed pottery bowls, cups, trays and figurines.

On the whole it is an exceptional show and if you are unable to make it out to see it today, I hope you will find the time in the New Year when the Gallery reopens on 05 January 2017.

Tied Up 3 - A Work in Progress

This morning I went out to do the barn chores with the temperature at 9F (-13C) and the wind making it feel like -4F (-20C) and on top of that, we are to get 8" (20cm) of snow today in addition to what is already on the ground.

I pulled out this drawing that I did a couple of years ago (see post on 11 September 2014) and thought I would work on this piece until the snow plow comes by so I can go out and run my errands.














Using Antwerp blue I brushed in the sky into the background, but before I could do more work on this piece the snow plow arrived and is here clearing my driveway.

I will set it aside for now and post it again once more work on the painting has been completed.

Communion - A Work in Progrress

It is 10F (-12C) and with the wind chill it feels like -6F (-21C) and snowing. I have no intention of going out today so I want to try and at least finish the goblet and do a little work on the water decanter on this painting that I have been working on for quite a while (see posts on 09 May, 18 July, 02, 09, 19, 23 and 30 August, and 13 October 2016).

Starting with a very dark mix of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I put in the darkest black on the goblet first and gradually lightened the colour for each value of grey needed to for the goblet, the water in the decanter and on the stopper at the top of the decanter.

With a pale wash of alizarin crimson I indicated the reflection from the wine decanter onto the goblet and in the water of the second decanter.













Using a pale wash of burnt sienna with a touch of raw sienna I put in the reflections from the wood panels of the walls onto the goblet and the stopper of the water decanter.

Next I added small touches of new gamboge, French ultramarine blue, Antwerp blue and raw sienna for the rest of the reflections on the polished silver of the goblet.

I will post this painting again once I have completed the water decanter.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.

Rock Shadows - A Work in Progress

Today is a little colder than yesterday with the temperature in the morning at 14F (-10C) and as I walked down to do the barn chores the wind chill made it feel like 1F (-17C) compounded by snow flurries blowing around.

I pulled out this painting to work on that I have been picking away at for a while (see posts on 30 January 2011 and 12 March 2013).

I started with the centre section behind the birch trees and completed that first before taking a break to have a cup of tea and lunch before taking the dog out for a walk.

















The nice thing was that it had warmed up a little with the temperature at 19F (-7C) and the wind chill was 3F (-7C), but the not so nice thing was that the flurries had changed to snow and now there was another 6" (15cm) on the ground and according to the weather report I can expect another 2-1/2" (6cm) overnight.

I continued to work on the trees in the background until I completed those on the right side of the painting before calling it a day.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have painted the large birch trees behind the rocks.

Sunken Logs 1 - A Work in Progress

With the temperature at 27F (-3C) and the wind chill making it feel like 19F (-7C) and snow coming down I decided to put my smaller unfinished paintings in portfolios; that way when I wanted something to work on I would have easy access to a wide range of subjects.

The original lines that I had put onto the paper (see posts on 08 August 2012 and 20 July 2013) had faded, so I went in and reworked the logs.















I will post this piece at a later date once I have turned the fish into a Smallmouth Bass and perhaps added a snagged lure onto one of the logs.

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

ACEO - Chance of Snow 1

It seems appropriate that I would work on this painting today, that I started earlier this year (see posts on 12 June and 11 October 2016) since it is 27F (-3C) and snowing.

With a grey mixture of French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna I painted in the deciduous tree trunks and branches.

Next I used various green mixtures of French ultramarine blue, raw sienna and new gamboge, I put in all the pine trees. 













Lastly, with mixes of burnt sienna, raw sienna and new gamboge I put in all the grasses and growies in the foreground and among the trees.

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 300lb. Arches 100% rag, acid free watercolour paper. It is priced at $20.00 and sold unframed.

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

Loon Call Lake VII - A Work in Progress

Today I woke up to a very thick heavy fog; it was so dense that when I went out to do the barn chores I could barely see the outline of the east barn. It was the type of fog that would probably last most of the day and the temperature hovered around 24F (-4.4C).

Once I returned from playing hide and seek in the fog with Kyora I thought I would work on one of the drawings I started a while ago (see post on 14 September 2014), while canoeing on Loon Call Lake.

I started with the background trees and lightly indicated them, followed by adding in a few tops of pine trees here and there to create interest.















Next I put in the cottage on the island and around the base I added a few grasses and growies.

Around the cottage I started putting in the pine trees until Ron came in and we had to go out and run some errands.

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