Bulrushes

Another challenge from Peter Sheeler, wet-in-wet but I added a bit of pen work with ochre ink

 I think I will rework this a few times to get control of my brush strokes that tended to wander a bit, and think more about the placement of the bulrushes, otherwise I am quite happy with the first attempt.

Alan

Red ..

I cannot resist picking up leaves anymore than I can resist trying to paint them !

The blues of the shadows went wonky, so imagine blues in the shadows because they are there ... 'onest

Urban Sketchers KW in Victoria Park

Met up with the Urban Sketching crowd in Victoria Park, Kitchener today. I must admit I almost stayed home, hiding in the AC ... but I didn't

 The Rotunda .. There was a flag flying but..

Fluid hot pressed watercolour paper 9 " x12"

Sennelier watercolours
Noodlers flex pen
TWSBI Demonstrator fountain pen
Noodlers carbon Black Ink
Noodlers Lexington gray Ink

Lowville with the USkKW

Yesterday was a welcome relief from the oppressive heat and humidity and what better way to celebrate than with a group of sketchers in Lowville Park.

I settled in by Bronte Creek surrounded by laughing children who's parents encouraged them to paddle and try to catch fish in nets or with their hands.
All those sounds drifted into the background ambiance as my mind wandered and focused on the scene.. 

Alan

Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region

Yesterday, dispite the heat and humidity I joined up with a gang of urban sketchers from Waterloo.
Not my first outing with the group but it has been a while.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/KWUrbanSketchers/

THis time we gathered at the Boathouse in Guelph where each went their separate ways but most of us ended up under the tree lined shore opposite the boathouse in the shade with a not-so-gentle breeze blowing, I must admit it was easy to sit there and the 3 hours passed quickly in pleasant conversation and painting.

I work quite quickly so I managed two paintings/sketches in pen and wash, this one was the better of the two and the one I went with at the 'throw down' ... where we all gather after the allotted time and get to see what we have accomplished.

Not my first attempt at this subject but I am quite happy with it
The colours are a bit washed out, especially the blues but you get the idea..

Alan

Into the light ...Finally

This painting was stuck at the back of a drawer and forgotten for many years. When I found it it was rolled, creased and tattered
.
Recently while talking to my framer, Don Corby I told him about it.
He figured he could breathe some life into it, so I let him and he did!

So here it is after 25 years or so in its rightful place on the wall.

Thanks Don!

20" x 30" Acrylic (washes as in watercolour) on paper
This was a project / demonstration image in a 'how to' book the title of which is long forgotten

Sorry about all the reflections ;-)

Alan

Perspective... the eternal struggle

I hate perspective, my renderings always look .. awkward.
Yes I know how it's supposed to work and how to do it but it never 'looks' correct.

So I keep trying .. ;-)

So this one started out as a pen and ink rendering and ended up as a little watercolour
(it's about 6" x 3"), using QOR watercolours and trying to work in purples, fushia and violet into my shadows.
I think the angles look a little better but.... 

Alan

Burnt Cove - Tobermory

Last weekend I was at Doug's Cottage in Tobermory.
Weather wise a dreary, windy and rain swept couple of days but in reality a time to chat, laugh and catch up with the occasional walk to 'blow away the cobwebs'.

From the moment I saw the little island just off shore in a sea of shifting ice I knew I had to do more than photograph it.

Here is the result; a small ink and wash on Strathmore 400 8" x 5"mixed media paper.

Not exactly as it was but that's not the point is it, this is what I 'saw' as we sheltered in the cedars out of the wind, waiting for an elusive otter we had seen all to briefly as we approached.

Burnt Cove Tobermory..

It's been a while ..

Life happens even when you are not paying attention.
It's been months since I put pen and brush to paper, yes I have been struggling to track down my muse(s) but today I actually did something!

A small line and wash study of an unknown barn (mostly out of my head) on a sunny day ..

Now the ball is rolling lets see if I can keep it rolling !

Out of the closet ...

Not many people have seen my work , over the years it has pretty well been my immediate family.
This year I decided to 'come out of the closet' so to speak and I entered one of my recent watercolours into the Wellington Artists Gallery 'Juried Art Show'.
To my surprise it was accepted !

So that was that .. no more hiding in the closet.

Homage to A.J Casson - White Woods
and me (No I wasn't the waiter)

Road Trip - Erin

I went on a road trip this morning all the way to Erin.
OK not a long way but far enough for some fresh scenery.

After checking out the (ahem) Bakery we settled down across the street to draw/paint the buildings of downtown.

I chose a rather freestyle pen and ink method (one line sketches) that I am tinkering with, thanks to Larry in Quebec City  http://www.larrydmarshall.com/

Noodlers Carbon Black Ink in a Noodlers Ahab flex pen
Strathmore 300 mixed media sketchbook 8.5" x 5.5"

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Patrick had taken on a rather large watercolour so I was done before him so I decided to work on a small watercolour, a fire hydrant ... thanks to Larry again!

It was to have ink added but I was told to leave it alone ...so no ink.

W&N watercolour Field set W&N travel Brush set
Moleskine 5" x 8" watercolour sketchbook

All in all a great, relaxing morning

Alan

Scotsdale Farm

Niagara was too far (KW Urban Sketchers went there today) .. so I decided to stay closer to home and visit Scotsdale Farm nr Georgetown.

600 acres of trails and buildings, another hidden gem.

The old house is currently unoccupied ( boy, what a place to live!) I have sketched it before from a different angle but wanted to try and work on my limited perspective skills.

Saunders Waterford 140lb NOT 16" x 12"
Windsor and Newton watercolours
My handy dandy W&N field sketch brushes

Yes that was way to big for a sketch !!
No my perspective skills still need work

But I enjoyed myself and met several people who stopped by to chat and even admire my work :-)

Alan