Sweet PeasSweet Peas

Sweet Pea Plein Air

I love sweet peas. You can put a small bouquet of them in a room and they fill the space with their heavenly scent.  Sitting by these will painting was a wonderful experience.  I will miss them when the frosts come but look forward to them again next year.  I have been saving their seeds to plant for a few years now.

Fall Flowers

Marigolds in Antique Vase

This past weekend I had some time in the studio so I set up this arrangement of Marigolds in Crystal's Grandma's antique flower vase and got down to work.  Really enjoyed painting from life, as usual.  Painting knife used exclusively.

A river scene

This pastel was painted the day after the previous posting, almost the same place but much different light going on.  Same fish jumping and ducks quacking.

Dusk en plein air

Dusk on the Assinaboine River

This is a pastel painted just as the sun was going down over the Shellmouth valley.  I was sitting with a friend by the river desperately trying to capture the colours before they were gone, a near impossible task.  Near the end of the session I was just guessing because I couldn't really see the pastels in my box, hence the sketchiness of the piece.  A memorable experience by the river with the waterfowl flying about and the  fish jumping out of the water trying to catch bugs.  

Shellmouth United Church

Shellmouth United Church

I was able to paint a number of plein air pieces while down at the annual Shellmouth Art Retreat this past August. This one is of the Shellmouth United Church, which was saved from demolition by a community of engaged individuals who wanted it preserved.  I sat in the field not far from the community hall where the retreat is held one fine morning when the mist was almost dissipated. Curiously, the sky was almost the same colour as the birch board support I was using.

Shellmouth en Plein air painting

I've painted from this location before on a number of occasions with my brother Richard present taking photos, Garry Harris, James Dean, Jan Layh, Dean Bauche and others all trying their hand at painting from the subject.  Nothing beats it in my humble opinion, I'll never tire of it as long as I'm able. A great spot where the Assinaboine River takes a turn and lazily continues on her way.

JJ Cale

JJ Cale  Pastel on Paper

I have been a fan of JJ Cale for many years and was greatly saddened to hear of his passing a short while ago.  It was a cathartic experience for me to draw and listen to his wonderful lyrics and guitar playing.  All things must pass, there are those who will miss this amazing bluesman.

Shellmouth Valley

This is a 6 x8 oil on birch plywood painted en plein air at Shellmouth, Mb at our annual
Art Retreat.  I've painted down here on numerous occasions, this time I had two friends with me, Jan Layh who is the facilitator of the event and Hollande Woods.  A wonderful time spent enjoying the moment.

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!