The Ottawa River at Jennings Road

This was a very moody cloudy afternoon when Marina and I painted this scene. We had plans to go to this location for nearly a year but never made it until last week. We both had a great time and discovered the benefits of painting when it is cloudy. The landscape stayed the same for the whole time, there were no moving shadows, and no changing light. What a treat for landscape painting.

Near The Opeongo

On our way to Meaford, Marina and I stopped to photograph this incredibly beautiful spot along highway 58. The day was hot and and humid, the air hung heavy and still, and there was such a stillness and sense of being or of life vibrating just under the surface of all that we could see and feel. Being there at that moment was so powerful and life affirming. I wish I had the ability to translate some of that feeling into paint so that I could share some of that experience.

Tulips - a study

This painting is a sort of follow-up on the challenge entry, my focus was on selecting complimentary colours from the Munsell wheel. The composition is almost exactely the same as the previous painting with the tulips substituting for the geraniums and the vase turquoise instead of blue. I greyed down the turquoise table cloth and darkened and cooled the cloth in the background to provide contrast.

Spring Run-off - sketch

Yesterday was heavenly, the first outdoor painting day with Marina this season. We drove to one of our favorite spots and set up looking over this delightful little 'creek' which only runs in the spring with water from the melting snow. It was one of those gorgeous days in spring, the sun shining on our backs, a bit of coolness in the air, the sounds of the melt water burbling along the ditches - no bugs, and the endearing sounds of the birds singing their hearts out. The coulour of the grasses was difficult as it is a greayish yellow this time of year but I think the painting as whole turned out pretty well.

The Guardians

I am trying to keep my paintings loose, describing large colour areas and focusing on design rather than detail. This is much harder than it sounds. When standing outside in nature your eyes take in a million subtle changes in colour and value and it is so easy to zone in on one small area of the painting and keep working there. I find the discipline required to keep it big and keep it loose usually breaks down as I get more tired at the end of the day.

Rainy Day near Auburn

I am back from the plein aire workshop with Ian Roberts in Goderich, Ontario. It was a wonderful experience, for both personal and artistic growth. The 4 days spent immersed in the fundamentals of painting outdoors; design, composition, simplification, colour mixing, value determination, to mention a few were exhilarating and exhausting. The above painting was done outside in a small park pavilion with the rain pouring down . A damp and cold environment, which however, revealed a subtle beauty not normally available . Marina and I had so many laughs and enjoyed so many good times in this beautiful country of ours during our trip to and from Goderich and during the workshop.

Looking Down River

The Ottawa River flows south-east with the Laurentian Mountains on the Quebec side and a usually more gentle flood plain on the Ontario side. This view down the river is from a public wharf in a small Quebec town about 30 miles nort-west of Pembroke.

Apples and Brass Pitcher

This was a fairly quick study of some fruit and an antique pitcher. I like the looseness of the brushwork and the simplicity of the composition.