Summer Art Retreats

Another few days and I'm off to the annual Shellmouth Art Retreat. Time to get my canvas's stretched and gear organized as I never know exactly where the muse will take me. This usually means taking everything except the kitchen sink down there! One whole week of painting and hanging out with dear old friends. My daughter Sacha will be making her first appearance there and I am quite pumped about that as I know she will have a great time. I get lots of work done at the retreat, usually a painting a day. This painting is yet another view from my studio window portraying the afternoon sun playing on the trees and lake. Enjoy.

Observation

This morning as I sat on my deck drinking a good cup of coffee I found myself thinking about the art of observation and how much this informs my life as a whole. There were the robins singing their lovely songs, a warbler hovering above a Canada thistle and eating the seed head. Actually it was that warbler that got me thinking about observation. Firstly, here was this beautiful yellow bird flying above a purple flower head - a perfect complementary pair in more than one way I bet. Nature gave the thistle its thistles to protect it I assume, but it also gave the thistle the warbler, who in the process of munching on its flower also helps propagate its species. And on and on it goes. The way that warbler gives out a joyous song as it bob's up and down as it flies away. The purple martins performing aerial acrobatics that would make Cirque du Soliel envious. Pelicans slowly circling above the lake and climbing higher and higher until they disappear from view. I have to think that I have been observing events such as these all my life and they are as important to me as breathing and my art making is all the more satisfying for it. The above painting was done many years ago while I was on a crazy fishing trip with my brothers and our sons. That is a story for another time!

Pastel painting

I've made a box to hold all of my pastels in an orderly manner and had a chance to check out its suitability at our retreat down in Eastend awhile back. It actually worked quite well for me and I will only have to make a few small adjustments to make it right. Had a great time down in Eastend and was sorry to leave the place, as usual. Seems like you just get settled in and its time to go home. This pastel was inspired by the view from my studio window and employs a new method I am playing around with.

Spirit of Manitou Studio Trails Tour

Today is the start of a two day event (July 9-10) called the Spirit of Manitou Studio Trails Tour being held in the Resort Village of Manitou Lake, Watrous and outlying area. If you are close to us why not consider coming out and visiting the studios of all our wonderfully creative folks here? We had a wonderful turnout last year and are hoping for the same or better this year. I am set up at the Renown Room of the Manitou Springs Resort, along with Helen Herr, a wonderful artist and poet.

Eastend Art Retreat

We are back from our annual retreat to Eastend, SK, which is hosted by my good friends Barb and Dean Bauche. It is always a memorable time, getting together with old friends and meeting new ones, dealing with wild weather events, and exploring the wonderful landscape. This year I couldn't help feeling sad and also upset with respect to what is happening with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its terrible impact on the bird population. This year at Eastend I saw and heard the most beautiful birds that I've never seen before and the thought that they are soon heading down to that disaster zone, possibly never to return is unconscionable to me. We are supposed to be looking after our small friends, aren't we? This oil painting represents the place we stay at down at Eastend. There are numerous blue bird houses around the property and to me signify good stewardship. I would encourage others to take steps to protect our birds, the world would be eerily silent without their songs.

First day of Summer

We've had a couple of days of sunshine finally. Rain has been the new normal for most of the prairie provinces and it looks like more is on the way. My thoughts are with those people who have suffered heartbreaking losses due to the inclement weather. I got up quite early the other morning and painted this picture from my back yard, looking down towards Little Manitou Lake. It is an oil on linen.

Tom's Tree

There is a lake I used to frequent with my brother Richard up north of The Pas, Mb. where we
came across a pine tree which made us think of the Canadian painter Tom Thompsons famous painting. In honour of that occasion I painted this pastel. It in no way comes close to the beauty of his work, but what the heck, one can only try!

Serenity at Sundown

I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing an amazing performance by what I believe to be terns over the waters of Manitou Lake. A group of them were flying in formation and they appeared to be a mass of white flecks. When they turned and abruptly changed direction they literally disappeared from sight as there black markings blended into the landscape behind them. What a beautiful and memorable sight! I submit this pastel in honor of the event. It seems like a simple thing to comment on but it really was an awe inspiring spectacle.

Rainy Spring Day

Who out there doesn't love to take a walk after a warm spring rain? The smell of the budding poplar buds and choke cherries, the fragrant earth, the bird song and the wind in the trees. Everything has been given a new lease on life and exuberance is in the air. This little watercolour is a testament to my feelings on just such a day.

Re-cycling

I was banging around the studio this afternoon looking for a canvas to paint on and I came across a panel that was previously painted on. After some consideration I decided that it had the makings of a water type painting with lilies. There is a particular type of water lily that grows in Percy Lake, where my good friend and artist Jan Layh has a summer cottage and I have wanted to paint them for some time. With that in mind I went to work on the piece and very shortly I had what I was looking for. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Amisk Lake

This is a painting that I have done for a client from
Flin Flon, Mb. It portrays a wonderful lake in East Central Saskatchewan called Amisk Lake, or Beaver Lake as some of the locals prefer. I had great fun painting it and believe that it captures the essence of the place. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

A new painting

I am getting over the inclement weather, after all for the artist it provides yet another perspective on the world we live in. I'm looking forward to the weekend when I can spend some real time in my studio on a larger piece I have been thinking about. This piece I am posting is a view of the land south of the "Bog", off of # 10 highway in northern Manitoba. The place suffered a devastating forest fire a number of years ago, resulting in the blackened trees set against the hills and sky. It is quite beautiful in the spring when the underbrush starts greening up, a real contrast. Just goes to show you how good can come from bad. I chose to portray it in late fall as I liked the blues and greys.

Winter Returns

I couldn't help posting this pastel I did awhile back because it really reminds me of the kind of weather we are having right now. We kind of had a taste of spring with rather nice temperatures and lots of sun and then the snow came again. It won't last of course but it is rather depressing.