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.

Bursting

The early morning sun is a brilliant orange for a short time period, and burts through the trees to quench our soul. And I wanted to burst out the colours and paint this heat coming through the cool forest.

Muskrat River

Mary and I went out in the late afternoon, to make use of a perfect painting day. We were positioned on a knoll overlooking a little river. A fox was leaping through the dried grasses. It was idyllic. We wanted to do a simple composition, with simple strokes.....and then it got complicated......or we got complicated.....or lost in the scene....or just had too much fun!

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.

Tree Island

Mary, Victoria and I went out in the late afternoon, in search of a painting spot in beautiful evening light and found one where we could park, spread out and yet not trespass. It was a glorious day....bugs and all. My first attempt was a wipe down - so I added thalo blue and got a bit more adventurous.

SPAWNING

Did I mention that I had the good fortune to acquire a beautiful handcrafted cherry wood studio easel from my friend Mary's husband Phil. It is huge next to my little plein air easels. My logic is that with a big easel requires larger canvases....and then came the second requirement - a lot more time. I have been working on this painting all week!

I took a rather colourless early spring scene and decided to see every nuance of colour possible. Gordon MacKenzie, a wise watercolour teacher had once told me "learn all of the rules well, then forget them and just paint". The time has come.

Apple Tree in May

Worked on the blossoms and shadow - needed more depth and contouring.

Many years ago, we planted an apple tree from a seed in a commercial Granny Smith apple. It was a school project for my youngest daughter, and grew to be a large tree. A few years ago it had three blossoms, the next year five, last year ten, and then this year there are thousands of blossoms.

More Apples

Painting day with Mary - we always have so much fun, and although we paint the same scene or still life, inevitably it turns out very different. I still like making rounded smooth shapes....it is in me, what can I say?

The Zone

Lately I have been wanting to paint a bit differently, inspired by the exhibits I have seen in the last six months. It is a shift from a study mode into a more zen space while painting, for the pure joy of it.

Medicine Lake

I have been moving my daughter's things from her university apartment and came across this painting which I had done for her several years ago as a symbol of support and strength. They are the Rocky Mountains near Jasper Alberta by Medicine Lake. It was interesting to see it again - the canvas had been primed with a pink which gives these rugged mountains a soft aura.

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.

Early Spring

We found this little laneway in a farmer's field. The day was perfect to be out painting.

Spring Hues

Out painting with Mary today - this was my warmup piece. I had a need to paint the soft hues of the budding trees, and Mary gave me another piece of plywood. The grain of the wood comes through, unless really thick paint is used - which I didn't. The exercice satisfied my desire - feels a bit abstracted.....

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.

Reflections

Seems like I am drawn to reflections in spring ponds - reminds me of watercolours. After seeing the Group of Seven, it is the confident decisive strokes that impress me the most - and of course their colour sense. The minimal lush brushstrokes in gorgeous colours - what mastery!

Windswept

It has been a while since I painted last, but the good news is that I was in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario and at the McMichael Gallery to really study and enjoy the Group of Seven collection. It has been fabulous....I come home inspired. This scene is on Highway 41, spring in the valley!

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.

Yesterday's Cups

Yesterday, Mary and I painted these cups. I completed and then wiped off the first go. Mary gave me a piece of unprimed birch plywood to paint on, to experiment with the underlying wood grain and colour that comes through. It is different and would be interesting for landscape. This is what the Group of Seven, specifically forerunner Tom Thomson often used.

Tool Bouquet

Another one that I painted together with Mary. We had an interesting thing going - one of us painted the scene warmer, the other one cooler than what was actually there.

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.

Final Day of Workshop

This morning Frank reviewed his demos and showed us how he makes adjustments and finishes them. A lot of interesting topics were shared, and a lot of information gained. In the afternoon we all painted together in a small area, but we had 360 degrees of vista to choose from. I am pleased with mine, and major pleased with what I learned and practised on this workshop. I now am starting to work with one value relevant to the next. I have heard this, understood it, but couldn't quite do it before...this has shifted. It has been an amazing workshop, Frank is a phenomenal teacher and I look forward to returning.

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).

Mid week

Today Frank set us out on our own, to paint whatever and wherever we want, then to come back for critiquing. He wanted us to work through our obstacles and our vision, and that he critiques without seeing the scene that we are working from.
We are having formidable mexican lunchs.
In the afternoon, we chose a design and painted while Frank came around to assist. It was very windy again today, and warm, so I made a shady spot my priority. The larger painting is not quite finished and was from the afternoon.

Second Day at the Workshop

Frank did a wonderful demonstration this morning. The block in exercise of yesterday was expanded to deeper attention to values. There was a white carriage standing in shade, and he started on a canvas primed with leftover mud from his palette, then drew in the basic shapes and started with the lighest value to key the painting. Frank said to not stare at anything for too long because it will expand, change colour, move forward....

We painted in the afternoon - I am not finished with mine yet....will postone later.

The house at the horse ranch where we eat lunch and keep our supplies.

Evening sun from Los Frailes.

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.

Second Day in San Miguel

My cousin Marina Desiree's house in Los Frailes area by San Miguel, the garden in the Bellas Artes and a street scene. It has been a busy day meeting friends and being around town.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Mexico

Arrived last night in San Miguel - it is warm, the scent of flowers was in the air, crickets were chirping, the stars were out, and we quickly went into the town centre just to see the town square with the beautiful lit up La Parroquia church. Mariachis were playing and it was like entering into another world. I start a plein air workshop with Frank Gardner on Monday for five days.

Tulips

Mary, Victoria and I painted tulips yesterday.

Toya's Painting of Tulips

Victoria has been painting with me and this is one of hers. This is only her fourth oil painting. She is a natural!

Early Spring

Post Valentine

Victoria and I wanted to give ourselves a 15 minute time limit to paint, after preparing. It was a good exercise to be definite with strokes and values.

The Fam

Victoria is home on her reading week and we are having such a wonderful time together. Today we set up a still life and painted.

Study

Found a little black and white value study from long ago and decided to give it a quick try.

Grapefruit for Breakfast

Bird Bath

These grouping of Canada Geese were in this small creek last summer, preening and grooming and swimming around together. I liked the S curve in the composition, and the shapes of the geese without using too many brushstrokes.

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!