Crystal Clear I

I decided to ink in this drawing (see post on 21 April 2013) of the tidal pool in front of our beach house that we stay in when at the CoCo View Resort on Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras.















The tide was just starting to come in and it wouldn't be long before the large rocks would be buried beneath the water, with only a slight ripple to mark their presence.

I enjoyed carefully wading through the tidal pool after may last dive of the day as there was a treasure trove of sea creatures to be found.















Usually a couple of Queen Conchs, various different kinds of crabs, a multitude of snails and a number of different types of small fish.

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

ACEO - Evening Lighthouse 1

I wanted to finish this painting that I had started last year (see posts on 18 April and 24 May 2016 and 10 February and 28 April 2017).

I started with a pale orange of new gamboge and alizarin crimson and washed into the foreground water and then a little burnt sienna was added to the mix and the colour was put in just below the horizon line.

Pure new gamboge was put into the water from below the dark orange to just below the rocky shore.

Using various mixtures of French ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and alizarin crimson the rocks and shoreline below the lighthouse was stippled in to create texture; the crashing surf was created by leaving ragged areas of white paper at the base rocks.

By mixing a pale blue grey with French ultramarine blue and burnt sienna the shadows within the surf against the rocks was indicated.















With a darker mix of the pale grey slightly more to the blue range the darker part of the waves were painted in between the water reflecting the sky colors.

Lastly I painted in the distant land on the horizon line with a darker mix of the wave colour.

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 enjoy the artwork. I hope you will return often.

Barn VIII

I am looking forward to this afternoon as I will be able to go outside and enjoy sitting in the sun for the second time to since breaking my leg. With the temperature going up to 79F (26C)and the humidity making it feel like 86F(30C) and having a thunderstorm this evening, makes it a triple bonus day.

In the meantime I pulled out this drawing of a horse barn on Highway 134 that offered both hay and sleigh rides.

I started with the barn and added the tin roof, fascia boards and set the wall where the drive shed joined the side of the barn.

Next I added the barn doors, the windows, the concrete base and the barn board.













Then I started on the drive shed adding the tin roof, the doorway and the barn board.

I added the runners to the sleigh, built up the box and finished the sides.

Lastly, I put in the background, beginning with the horizon line, adding a tree behind the barn, the fence line and grasses and growies along the fence and around the barn and in the pasture.

This original 5-1/4" x 9” graphite pencil drawing when matted and shrink wrapped will be available for $40.00.

Poster for the Sunset Island Class at The Point

I just had the poster made for the class I am teaching at The Point - the Young's Point Diner and Pizzeria, at 403 South Beach Rd., Lakefield, Ontario on the 31 May 17.

If you are interested in taking this class, please contact Janice Costa at The Point.

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.