What was said to the Rose

What was said to the Rose

I've been working on this piece off and on for awhile now. It is an Oil on Canvas measuring 36 x 28 in.  It has undergone quite a few changes from its inception at the Shellmouth art retreat last year but I am pleased with where it is currently. I read Rumi's poetry often and this painting is reminiscent of something he wrote way back in the mid 12 century.

A Plein Air piece

I painted this 6 x 8 oil in the company of my good friend Garry Harris. We were advised not to go out at this time of the day as the temperature was above 30 Celcius and the humidity was quite high but I am probably a little stubborn so we sat on top of a lovely butte and painted to our hearts delight.  There were turkey vultures and red tailed hawks screaming at us from above and the sun was scorching but it was all worth it.  Garry did a nice little sketch that he was quite pleased with. This is looking south by south west.

Wolf Willow Retreat en plein air

A bunch of painter buddies got together on a few days and painted en plein air in the town of Eastend, SK.  It was a great experience, very hot and humid, but a beautiful day nevertheless.  One memorable experience was having a cranky rancher type of guy stop by our setup and proceed to give us a berating for blocking the fire lane (which it wasn't). Talk about ruining the ambience of the moment!  We managed to send him on his way and continued to work on our respective pieces.

en Plein Air

This past Sunday afternoon I took my pochade box down to the lakeside and painted this view down Little Manitou Lake, looking west.  It was a lovely day but a bit windy at times as I had to weigh down my easel to keep it from flying into the salt water!  As it was Spirit of Manitou Studio Trails weekend there were lots of people about and I had one visitor who was curious enough to stop and ask if it was Ok if she watched me for awhile. We had a nice chat while I painted and then she was off to visit the galleries all about our community.

Down the back lane

Daisies in Shade

This time of the year at Manitou Beach one can find lots of wild flowers growing all over the place, especially in vacant lots or parcels of land where owners don't get to very often.  Right across the back lane from my studio is such a piece of land that often has bunches of daisies growing profusely so the other day I sat there and painted to my hearts delight!

Prickly Pear Blossoms

Prickly Pear Cactus Blossoms

Oil on Board

I'm just nicely back from our annual Art Retreat at the Brady Ranch near Eastend Sk.  I painted a few paintings whilst down there and I will post them in the next few days.  We had a fantastic time once again and I discovered new facets to old friends that totally amazed me.  My friend Garry Harris and I had a great time painting en plein air on top of Brady's Butte and he took the reference photo for this painting.  I've taken some artistic license with it, but I can.  I remember the first time my brother Richard experienced Eastend.  While on a photo shoot along the Frenchman River he decided he needed a lower perspective on the world and promply sat on a nesting of very prickly cactus's.  I declined to help him remove the needles from his buttocks!