The Shed

The cottage shed - old and a bit leaky but still filled with summer treasures. I was aiming to simplify but my challenge became values as the light changed. Finally it came reasonably together and at the end, I added the blue stroke to enliven the inside of the shed.

Lazy Hazy Days

At the lake today, with the family therefore a bit distracted while painting. It was one of those leisurely days of summer. I wanted to paint strokes, shapes and not over noodle everything....in other words, stay simple. Then I decided to experiment with a shift in hues in the sky, after reading that chapter in Carlson's book. But I am guilty of "blending" those shifts - again. I have to go back to the rectangle exercise.

Hemp Field Edge

It was hot and humid today, pre thunderstorm, and Mary and I drove along some back roads in search of a spot to paint. The sun was strong and the distance hazy. The owner of the fields told us that hemp was planted here. Later a deer crossed the field, and then a bear and her two cubs came out of the trees. Everything was very green, and I wanted to capture some variation in the greens, from the blue green distance, the clump of trees in shade, to the fresh yellow green of the young shoots lit by the sun.

Incoming

Yesterday while driving, I saw a storm coming in. Lightening was flashing and rain was on the way. It was a fascinating scene of opposites. When Mary came by to paint today, I decided to give it a try - John Carlson says that it is good to paint from memory, and since my memory fades fast, it was now or never.

Pink

Still from our day outside, a little sketch of trees with what I find irresistable....a flowering bush. Mary gave me some Winsor & Newton Genuine Rose Madder to try - it makes lovely pinks.

Trent River

This view is from a beautiful spot on a friend's farm that I was shown this weekend. In the distance is the Trent River. Soon the leaves will be out. I am still enjoying that first blush of pink and lime green.

Alpacas

Today was a beautiful sunny early spring day, and my sister and I went to visit a friend's alpaca farm near Havelock. They are related to llamas and camels. I wanted to try capturing their essence while their smell was still on my clothing - next best thing to plein air!

First One Up

Spring is in the air, against the greys before the greens. Mary and I wanted to keep it simple today.

Hidden Trail

I wish I knew the names of these trees in Mexico - they bloom yellow and were rather short, or else like tall bushes. The long dry grass had a very grey look to it. I liked the little pathway that snaked through to the ranch. I have gone in with quite thick paint for the grass - might be too heavy but I am experimenting with thick and thin paint right now.

Snowdrops

After San Miguel, I have finally painted again, today with Mary - snowdrops from her garden, a true first sign of spring. It has been too chilly to paint outdoors yet, in my reality, and especially after Mexico!

Courtyard

Today I had a moment to paint again, trying out some of the things that Frank did when he painted things in shade. It was done quickly, before I cleaned up the easel and palette for travelling home. Once home, I will put all of the learning to good use.

Thursday

This morning we painted, and in the afternoon Frank demonstrated. I am quite happy with my painting - just wish I would have taken a bigger canvas. It might not be the best photograph - there is a little glare. This whole week I have only used three primaries and white - ultramarine, cadmium red and lemon yellow - and it has been great. Frank is an excellent teacher - patient, wise and clear....with a good sense of humour. His demonstrations have been excellent teaching tools - today he painted the same cactus but from the other side. It was fabulous to see how he approached the same subject...his composition, his colour mixing, his start and block-in, and then the evolving steps (top photo).

First Day of the Frank Gardner Workshop

Today was the first day of the painting workshop. We were at a ranch about 15 minutes from San Miguel. Weather was a bit overcast and windy in the morning. Our group consists of 8 painters. Frank started with a demo about blocking in to get the values right. We then did three value studies - just flat shapes.

Grapefruit for Breakfast

Geese in the Reeds

Still working with my gray puddles, although the mud which had a bluish tinge looks too blue here, might need a more muddy look to see that it is an embankment. Did the geese strictly as shapes and am pleased with how they turned out - minimal strokes too!

Toronto Street Scene

So with all of these wonderful leftover greys, I put them to use in this painting because most of it is in shadow. Maybe the wall could have been a bit darker, but I think it still works.

Winter Roses

This summer, I had a big clay pot with mini rose bushes. When it was time for the fall clean up, they were still making buds, so I brought the whole pot in and now they are really blooming in full splendour. The buds reach for the light on rather long branches and so it was tricky to even attempt to keep them in place as subjects. But it was fun standing in the sun, painting nearly plein air.

Chinese Teapot

Painted at Mary's today. This teapot was complicated to draw but I think I got it. The background is brushstrokes of different grays, which could have been darker and look even lighter in the photo. I am still working on brushstrokes of mixed colours, same value, no blending and it is coming along.

The Brass Pitcher

The other day, I found this brass pitcher in an antique store - what a delight! The plan is to paint it a lot more. Mary and I painted together today, with a nice wood fire to warm us. Winter does have its perks!

The Delft Bank

Mary had this nice Delft piggy bank that we decided to paint today. It had odd slant eyes and a windmill on the other side. I decided to do something different because I have been reading about gradated dark backgrounds. The front cloth colours are blended, but the pig is done with decisive strokes. And the background is hard to see but contains blue, brown and red, becoming lighter towards the shape of the bank. Does he not look like a fat and greedy little pig!