Tranquility

Tranquil Morning

I have always been a dreamer, as long as I can remember I have been in awe of natural wonders of what is known as life on the planet earth.  I still get snippets of memories from my childhood of times spent in the raspberry bushes, looking up through the berries, branches, the clouds beyond and my grandpa as he picked and just being totally in the moment.  I can still hear the bumble bees and grasshoppers and smell the earth and the berries on those hot summer days. The door of their house slamming and Baba calling for me, probably worried that I fell in the river or was off on one of my numerous adventures.  I was famous for disappearing and turning up in another town, looking for my Dad (a railroad engineer who made frequent trips up to northern communities). I credit this wonder with my fascination with painting the landscapes of places I love, that being in the moment and being oblivious of extraneous noise that can hide the true beauty of life.  The pastel above is a celebration of just such a moment I had on Schist Lake, Mb.

Rock Paintings

Rock Painting Oil

I took a boat ride on Amisk Lake to look at some rock paintings.  The paintings were quite hard to find and frankly I was left wondering if they were the real McCoy, know what I mean?  It's like looking at cloud patterns or other naturally occurring events, it is in the eye of the beholder.  Leonardo da Vinci was a proponent of using these accidental images in his under paintings as a prominent part of the painting. I marvel at how these images appear in my paintings, maybe they are something that comes from the subconscious, bubbling up from down under like champagne.

A Plein Air Painting

Mud Lake Oil

One of the first things I did  up at Denare Beach was set myself up overlooking Mud Lake which is just minutes away from the DenarePlex, the site of the Art Retreat.  A lovely setting, I was up on some pre cambrian rocks looking down at the lake.  Out near the middle of the lake was a small outcropping were sea gulls and pelicans were hanging out.  A supernatural experience.  I found out when I got back that the conservation officers were out in the area trying to trap a rogue bear that was wandering around in the vicinity! I'm not surprised because there were blueberries everywhere you looked.

Schist Lake Morning

Schist Lake Morning Oil

One of the great things some friends and I did while up at our Denare Beach art retreat (Shellmouth North) was to go on a boat ride in fellow artist Ron Watts pontoon boat.  Ron has a lovely cabin on Schist Lake and together we travelled up and down that fabulous lake in the early morning where we spotted numerous loons, pelicans and eagles.  The above painting is one of two I have painted of that experience, and I definitely have a few more planned as it was a very stimulating experience on a supernaturally beautiful lake.  Thanks again, Ron, for the hospitality!

The Value of Thankfulness

Melody  36 x 48 Oil

After reading the latest post of Robert Genns Painters Keys, which was about thankfulness, I considered my experience up at the Denare Beach (Shellmouth North) retreat with respect to the idea of giving thanks.  For sure we always as a group said grace before we partook of the fabulous meals prepared for us by fellow artists but there is also saying thanks to all the participants for their help and critical comments that served to enhance the artistic experience.  There is giving thanks to God for the supernatural geography that is Amisk Lake, Schist Lake, the creeks, forests, blueberries and bears.  Their is thankfulness for the humor of singing Karaoke at 1:30 in the morning with people that sing way better than you, or worse.  Skinny dipping in the crystal clear waters of Amisk under a full moon at 1 in the morning with other loony artists, and the loons.  The list goes on.  So thanks, and thanks again.

Denare Beach Art Retreat

Blue Hotel  Oil on Canvas 36x48

I am back from a week of painting in the wonderful community of Denare Beach, SK.  Our annual Shellmouth Retreat was moved there to give Jan Layh a bit of a break this summer after busily planning for her daughter Avery's wedding in a few weeks time.  What a fantastic place to be for a week of friendship and art making.  Many thanks to Karen Clark and Sarah Trevor, who organized this fantastic event.  I made new friends and reconnected with the supernatural wonder of the precambrian shield country after being away for nearly three years.  It has wetted my appetite to get back there and paint the landscape once more.  Also thanks to the artists of that area who came out to participate and to the public who supported all of us at the wind up on Saturday, what an amazing turnout!  We were treated to some special music performed by the Hanson's, a local duo, who played while be danced our heads off!  The painting above is one of 9 that I completed while up there.
I would like to invite my readers who are in the vicinity to come out to my solo show here in Watrous at the Gallery on 3rd.  It is titled "Conversations with Place," and will feature many of my works of the area.  It opens on Wednesday, August 17th.  The opening reception is August 19th at 7 pm.  Hope to see your there!

Day Lilies

I discovered some rather nice plants in the lot down from me last year and I got the vacant owners permission to tend some of them.  One of the species is the Day Lily, which I have attempted to portray in pastel.  This seems like a particularly good year for them as they have abundant blooms and don't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

The Blue Hotel

Here at Manitou Beach we have an intriguing old building on the edge of the lake.  In fact it is now partially submerged because of the increased amount of water we are dealing with at the resort.  I am told it was once known as the Blue Hotel back in the glory days of this community.  Recently it was used as a brine shrimp processing plant.  At the present time it is abandoned and probably due for destruction.  It is kind of a sad commentary on what was once a grand and popular place.  I don't like seeing buildings such as this being permanently lost because once they are gone, their gone forever.  I plan on doing a series of paintings of this wonderfully evocative place, hopefully before it disappears.  

Praludium

Today was a wild weather day, very unsettled and some extremely evil looking clouds.  This morning on my way to work I witnessed a very interesting weather event and I guess it stuck in my head because it came back to me in my studio this evening.  I had simply wanted to tone some canvas's for an upcoming Retreat and instead this painting manifested itself.  Somewhat like my buddy Chris Wikman I used some funky colours that I normally don't use, and although they are much more toned down than Chris's I think they are successful and reminiscent of nature.  I called it "Praludium" because I was listening to a Bach piece by that name played by the guitarist John Williams.  I thought it fitting and somewhat uncanny how this all happened.

Wind in the Grass, Smoke on the Wind

This pastel was a plein air effort from the hill above the dam at Eastend.  I was up there with Dean Bauche, Bonnie McNabb and Ovid Mercredi.  There was a pretty stiff wind blowing and I had to hold onto my pastel board tightly to keep it from taking off on me.  For sure I didn't have to worry about blowing the pastel dust occasionally.  I love sitting in nature and painting, and when the elements are particularly active, it is even more vital.  Plein air pieces form a lasting memory for many years after. 

A Pastel from Eastend

I have a few more pieces of art I created, with the help of a greater hand than mine, from my retreat down in Eastend.  This one above is from a favorite place of mine to sit, it is on top of a butte that overlooks the Frenchman River basin.  It is quite high up and can get quite hot at times.  Most times I get the gears from Red Tailed Hawks who take exception for me being in their haunt.  I have suffered the odd sun burn and have lost one large painting knife up there.  Maybe its become the prized possession of a large bird, likely a wise old Raven.  I understand that they like tools.  This is a wonderful place to be...........

Eastend 2011, the third day

Usually at art retreats I have to cease working in oils due to transportation issues and this time was no different.  I wanted to do a large painting like the previous days effort so I got out my acrylics and went at it.  The above painting is the result.  I call it Eastend Hills Afternoon.  The photo does not do it justice, much nicer to see the real thing.

Eastend 2011, the second day

High Winds, Bright Sky  30 x 30 in Oil on Panel

 

 

 

 

This time around at Eastend Dean let me set up my studio space in the ranch's owners workshop, which suited me just fine because I have much the same setup at home.  Dean Bauche and Bonnie McNabb were also set up there but Dean good nature ably ribbed me about how I managed to take over half of the workshop. I let it pass like water off of a duck's back.  I painted the picture above on my second day down there and it is loosely based on the previous posts plein air piece.  I am always amazed at how much work a person can get done on the ranch.  Wish I could do the same at home.