Hydrangea Box

It is coming in to hydrangea bloom time again.  The wet weather has created a profusion of blooms and it is great to watch the colour tones change each day in the warm humid summer weather.  The mopheads are falling over with the weight of their blossoms.  They are blindingly white in colour.  Will have to try to paint them to get that effect.  So happy because last uear none of them bloomed except for the "Annabelle's".

Daisy Meadow at Fletcher

This was the last of the paintings done on our last afternoon and evening painting with Catherine Gibbon.  There were few shadows but the sky put on a great show.  I have really enjoyed painting in Catherine's classes and want to thank her for being positive for us all and patient!  May we have many more opportunities to paint in God's creation!

Cedar Bush and Moss

I was trying to get the shadows of the trees on the mossy rocks in the cedar bush at fletcher creek.  It's not quite there yet.  There are some great old cedars here which made for great painting.

Burn's Lake #4

This was done on the last day we spent at Burn's Conservation Area.  There was a great sky as the sun was setting above the trees.  It was fun doing this one even if the mosquitoes were annoying.  Thankfully there was a bit of a breeze to make it bearable.  One is usually able to block annoying things out when into a good  "paint out".

Cedar Bush at Fletcher

This was the first of three paintings done the day we were at Fletcher Creek.  Several of us braved the bugs and sat in the middle of the eerie cedar bush and enjoyed it.  There were very few bugs which made for a great couple of hours painting.  It was a challenge to catch the shadows when the sun peeked through the clouds.

Fletcher Creek Conservation Area #1

The last Tuesday painting class we had a beautiful afternoon painting (makeup class) and then a lovely evening.  The weatherman threatened thunder storms but they did not materialize and except for a few bugs we had an enjoyable final evening.    This was the third small painting.  The sun had gone behind the trees.  This pathway still needs some work.  I lightened the background, which really helped to get depth in the painting.

Burn's Lake at Dusk

Painting in the evening is worth it just to experience the glorious sunsets!

Burns Water Study

Another water and trees study done at Burn's conservation Area.

Land of the Silver Birch

Happy Birthday Canada!
We are so privileged to live and work in this beautiful country created by God.  Let's give thanks always!

Burns Lake #1

Tuesday's painting class, we visited the "Burn's Conservation Area".  A wonderful opportunity to paint water.  The bugs were annoying but the weather was beautiful and the reflection in the water was a great challenge!

Lake Huron Tues PM

Later afternoon the wind picked up and we could see the white crests of the waves almost to the horizon.  The shadows of the clouds were quite visible on the water, the sun glistening  brightly.  It would be worthwhile to make a few studies of the waves.

Sunset Lake Huron

One of the beautiful sunsets we oohed and aahed over.  Sky and water have a special attraction when you don't see them every day.  I feel so blessed to have experienced this.

Weigela #2

This was the first painting done on Monday morning of the Weigela bush.  The flowers were weighing the branches down and made them droop to the ground-lovely!

Weigela at Brentwood

The weigela was blooming profusely in the garden of  " Brentwood on the Beach".   Had a chance to quickly paint this little study on Monday.  Have to paint some flowers at some point. 

The beach and Lake

Tuesday morning, I braved the stairs down to the beach with all my equipment.  There was a nice breeze and the sky was filled with fluffy clouds which were reflected on the water. I am really not happy with the waves but will remember this idyllic place ever time I see this study.
   Painted for several hours in total solitude and then dragged everything back up the stairs for a delicious lunch and final meal of our stay in the house.  Thank you Chery O. for your helpful suggestions.

Lake Huron #2

This study was done on Monday afternoon.  Boy, the colour was constantly changing and the sky , Wow!  The instructor said it was a good idea to give yourself permission to make studies and not expect a finished painting st every sitting.  I know she's right!  One learns from doing it over and over!  Also good for future reference.  Think we need to spend a week or more doing this.

Sunset over Huron

We experienced a beautiful sunset over Lake Huron, the first evening.   This was the first lake study, trying to depict that glorious sight.  The canvas wasn't large enough to contain it.  I'm sure that no canvas is!

Painting Retreat

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a painting retreat at "Brentwood on the Beach", a bed and breakfast on Lake Huron between Bayfield and Grand Bend.  The instructor was Cheryl O., who very ably and patiently helped us to improve our style and skill.  The location was perfect.  This is the back of the house facing Lake Huron.  I will post some pictures, later of the beautiful sunsets we experienced.  I tried to take the opportunity to paint the lake as often as possible. It was everchanging.

97 Farm

This little sketch was done early May at the lovely #97 farm.  I would like to make a larger rendition.

Early Spring in Troy

This  painting was done on a Tuesday evening early May in the village of Troy. .  It developed into more of a Van Gogh inspired work. It's a challenge to get back into "plein air" painting when the world is still bare.
We need to look for the beauty that's more subtle at this time of year.

First Iris

The rain has been good for the iris crop this year.  I am really enjoying the show in our garden.  Took a visit to the Laking garden but it is in transition.  There are some beautiful peonies and a much smaller bed of irises-still worth the trip!
      This variety is supposed to bloom twice a season.  Ours haven't done that yet but it's still a lovely specimen.

Blue House with Yellow Door

I thought this was just the most paintable house with its crabapple out front.  What to call it?  Blue house or Yellow door?   

Spring Fields on #97

I have been out painting on Tuesday evenings from the end of April(so early spring).  We started in Troy and then visited this lovely farm on Hwy #97.  The greens were so fresh and bright and the soil newly turned.  Wish we could slow the process down!  This was a view of  one of the newly tilled fields.  Have missed a few weeks because of rain.  There is lots of paintable material in the garden.

Prairie Vista

I made some changes to the tracks in the grain and let them fade out sooner. Also brought some more detail and colour in the foreground.

Prairie Sky.

This is for my Prairie friends.  Trying to create a looming sky with the feeling of distance that you get on the flat, flat Prairie.  This idea was from a photograph taken near Edmonton.   I feel like it still needs some work so will let it sit for a bit to decide just what it is it needs.

Pathway through the Dunes

Last class of a 9 week session at the DVSA.  This was painted from a photo taken while on a "Bike and Barge" trip in The Netherlands.  Have always wanted to paint a dune scene.  Maybe someday DV. will be able to paint "plein air"   I had a very enjoyable time in the class.  Was able to take on some new challenges, especially the freedom to paint from a photograph.

Chinese Cabbage and Dragon Fruit

Last weeks class, I quickly sketched this cabbage and dragon fruit.  The cabbage had lovely curled leaves but the dragon fruit sure didn't please as a subject.  Perhaps I'll just blot it out.  This week is the last class of the session.  It has been refreshing to paint different subject matter with a different teacher.

Forsythia bush and Barn

I was enthralled by the shadow on the snow cast by this wild forsythia bush.  This is bush I will pick from to force blossoms in the house.  I have a photo of it in bloom that would be a wonderful project to paint. Beauty and the beast.

Interpretation of a Phil Buytendorp Painting

This was my attempt at painting  an interpretation of a beautiful Phil Buytendorp painting.  Didn't get close to the beauty of his.  It is definitely a good exercise and  humbling which is good for the soul..

Cezanne Fruit and Ginger Pot

The final edition of my interpretation of a Cezanne painting.

Snow Covered Garage

This painting was done from a photograph with acrylic paint.  The sun and shadows on the snow create a rainbow of colours.  Great fun to paint!

Garage in sunlight and snow-sketch

This sketch was made from a photograph of the garage behind the house.It was the day after a heavy snowfall and quite sunny.I wanted to capture the light and shadows on the snow even though there is little or no sky visible.   A very basic sketch on canvas paper.There is so much colour reflected from the snow!

Snowy Laneway

We were asked to bring a photograph to paint from at last week's class.  So I took the photo my daughter wanted me to work on.  Put some finishing touches on the painting at home.  The  challenge was to make a vibrant painting from a very dull looking picture.  The photo was taken during a snow storm.  Haven't decided whether to add the snow that was falling.

Fall

This painting is being done from a photograph of what looks like a Tom Thompson but the signature looks different.  The background has very bight oranges, yellows and reds with a very dark foreground, typical of some of Thompson's work.  The original is very eye catching.  This is my groundwork.

Cezanne's fruit

Tuesday afternoon we tried to get in the mind of  a number of different artists.  We could choose a photograph of a painting and try our hand at copying.  This was my effort at imitating one of Cezanne's famous fruit paintings.  It's still got a bit of work on the shadows left to do.  A good exercise.  Can't figure out why he did it this way, though.  The whole effect is very dark.

Snowy lane

How it looked this morning from the lane way-also the view that needs to be painted for our youngest
's birthday in February..  Maybe today is the day to get motivated and start.

Sun lit Window #2

This is a bigger canvas and I was much more careful to figure out the perspective.  It is fun to play with the palette knife in order to create old and worn looking plaster. Hope you had a restful Sunday!

Sunlit Window #1

Last Tuesday at the DVSA ,we had to choose a black and white picture and use primary colours and then decide on the colour scheme . The idea was that we build up the colours in the sequence used with the pepper.  It makes one aware that some shadows are very deep and dark and others much more subtle-still working on that!   There was more than that to challenge in this particular composition.   It presented a review of perspective.  Who would think that there were so many focal points in one little room?  I have a renewed appreciation of "Vermeer's" paintings.  This was the first attempt with some tweeking once I got home.  Fun to experiment with some palette knife work too!

Sugar Maple

The challenge for "OPAS" was to paint a picture with two complementary colours plus white.  My choices were blue and orange with a red background.  Next time  will try with a white ground.  It's a fun challenge when the world is touched with snow.

Paprika

I had time to try a  pepper on a bigger canvas last Tuesday and was surprised at all the colours visible in the light from the window reflected on the pepper.
  The forsythia brought in the house last week are showing yellow tips on the buds.  My husband found one little snowdrop bud outside(With more coming).  Winter is a time to find joy in the little things.  Thank you Lord!

Red Pepper

Last Tuesday we had to paint 4 different stages of a subject.  !. the sketch, 2. washes 3. mid tones 4. darks and lights
 Lots of colours in this red pepper specimen.

Tuesday afternoon is my afternoon at the DVSA.  The first class we tried different backgrounds and then placed the still life Sandee Ewasiuk had composed on the canvas to compliment the background.  It was an interesting class.  There were some lovely inspiring bowls that were hard to ignore or omit.  It sure helps to dispel the winter "Blahs".   .  I give thanks for this opportunity.

No More Pictures!

I am finding the whole blog experience a huge lesson in frustration.   The picture downloading mode has been changed so that even my daughter doesn't know how to work it.  Why don't they leave "well enough" alone so that people can use the equipment that is in their home.  There is my rant of the day.
  Have started a new art course at the "DVSA".  Was hoping to post some of the work . That, I guess is not going to happen and I may have to abandon the blog altogether if this keeps up.