Bat House

Even though we have snow flurries and the temperature is 32F (0C) with a wind chill making it feel like 23F (-5C) Ron put up the bat house I received on my birthday from Christine.

He put it on the south side of the barn, where it is protected from the north wind.

I am hoping that it will become a home for little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) which are currently listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

Up until recently, we used to watch a number of them fly at night hunting for insects.

Last year I only saw one on the property, which disappeared toward the end of the summer.

Bats have very few natural predators, some owls and predators like racoons.

Diseases such as rabies may cause death but no more than it would affect any other wild animal species. Many bats are now dying from white-nose syndrome which has been a significant cause of mortality since 2006, killing over two million to date.

In some areas the bat population loss has been extreme, averaging a loss of up to 90%.

SPARK Photography Show

Today I am at the Kawartha Artists' Gallery and Studio sitting the SPARK Photography Show which started yesterday.














There are two parts to the exhibit. The first part is photography. The second part is of paintings shown with a reference photograph.











If you have a chance please come to the opening on Sunday 08 April 2018 from 1-4 p.m. and meet some of the exhibitors or come and see the show which continues until 03 May 2018.

Buckhorn Artists' Group Blog - Show Updates

I have updated the Buckhorn Artists' Group blog with a listing of shows some of the various artists in the Group are exhibiting their work in during the month of April.

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

Bend in the Road 2

It has been an interesting day with the temperatures starting at 18F (-8C) in the morning and warming up to 43F (6C) by late afternoon.















Throughout the day we had snow flurries, with enough snow falling to cover the ground with a thin blanket of snow. While I watched the snow fall, I did this drawing of a rutted, dirt road out in the country.

Confirmed Shows for 2018 - April

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

Academy Theatre, 2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, Ontario
Guild Room
24 Mar 18 - 28 Jul 18

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, Peterborough, Ont.
KAGS
28 Mar - 03 May 18 SPARK Photography Show
Opening Reception 08 Apr 18 from 1-4p.m.
20 Jun - 15 Jul 18 Interactions
Opening Reception 24 Jun 18 from 1-4p.m.
08 Aug -09 Sep 18 Figuratively Speaking
Opening Reception 12 Aug 18 from 1-4p.m.
26 Sep -21 Oct 18 Driven to Abstracrion
Opening Reception 30 Sep 18 from 1-4p.m.
24 Oct - 11 Nov 18 Outdoor Painters' Show- Nature's Splendour
Opening Reception 28 Oct 18 from 1-4p.m.
28 Nov - 21 Dec 18 and 02-20 Jan 19 On the Move - A History of Transportation
Opening Reception 03 Dec 18 from 1-4p.m.

18th Annual Peterborough Garden Show,
The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough Ont.
13-15 Apr 18

The Douro-Dummer Library Art Gallery, 425 Douro Fourth Line Road, Hamlet of Douro, Ont.
04 May - 04 Ju1 18 Countryside Art Group
Opening Reception 11 May 18 from 7-8p.m.

Northey's Barn Boutique
1981 13th Line, Selwyn, Ont.
09-10 Jun 18

Miskwaa Art Studio and Outdoor Gallery, 250 Edwina Drive,Trent Lakes, Ont.
14 July -12 Aug 18

St. Matthews Church, Buckhorn, Ont.
Buckhorn Artists' Group
16-19 Aug 18 28th Annual Shades of Summer Art Show

Fenelon Falls Fair Grounds, Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Kawartha Arts Festival
01-02 Sep 18 Kawartha Arts Festival

Please come out and enjoy the artwork displayed at these shows.

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.

ACEO - Sunset Island 4

Since it is a rainy day, I thought I would get this little piece finished that I had started last year while teaching a class (see posts on 31 May 2017 and 27 February 2018).

I started by working on the grasses and growies at the base of all the trees alternating with burnt sienna, raw sienna and new gamboge.

Next I worked on the largest pine tree on the island and finished putting in all the branches with pine needles as well as all the lower broken branches using various mixtures of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue.

From there I moved down and painted in the rocks on the island using the tree branch mixture and adding in a little bit of alizarin crimson.

Lastly, I put in the reflections in the water with a mix of French ultramarine blue and burnt 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.