Monday, February 21, 2011

Family Day In Canada!




Our government... in its infinite wisdom created "Family Day" ... statutory holiday for working Canadians and their families... except that they didn't create one that applied to all people Banks are closed... federal offices and services are closed... yet stores and Canada Post are open for business! How strange!

We are at home however... sharing time with two of my family... just chillin'... quite literally! Winter moved right back into our area with some more snow and sub-zero temperatures... after two days of spring-like weather and double digit temps. The ski resorts and outdoor rink enthusiasts are happy at least... as are the snowmobilers. Our area is well endowed with much-used woodland and cross-pastureland ski trails. Snow is BIG business in our area!!!

I'm not a snow machine owner... or enthusiast. I've never even rode on one! Too much noise and jostlin' about for "Me" and my kidneys! HAHA!! Seriously though, I prefer hiking... either on foot, or on my snowshoes... where I can enjoy the quiet and the varied wildlife and birds that winter in our region. Just a difference in choices!

Here is a large 4x8 foot commission that I completed a couple of years back for the family of Ron Hallyburton family of Hillsdale. They are very BIG fans of any sport that involves speed. Son Travis depicted in the commission raced high performance snow machines until a serious injury to his knee ended his participation. Both he and his older brother Thane also drive stock cars during the summer and fall months! It is a family passion and draws them together to complete... both on the track and in the pit!

This piece was quite a lengthy undertaking... and required a lot of practice on my part to "get up to speed" on drawing these machines and the gear. I had two discs of good digital references with over 220 images to come up with the composition. I managed in a week to "splice together" a couple or related images to come up with the race action composition. In the end... both they and I were happy with the outcome. My last act was to hang the work at the head of Trav's bed... in a room bedecked in motor sport decals and trophies. The "Hallyburton Air Show"... 4x8 feet on a full sheet of cradled tempered masonite was a challenging...b ut rewarding commission for friends!

Whatever your interests... either indoor or outdoor... enjoy the last of our winter in your own special way! And wherever you can... spend some of that time with your Family! Time is very precious... and has an uncanny habit... of slipping away too quickly on us all !


Good Painting and Playing... to ALL!

19 comments:

  1. Wow Bruce! What an accomplishment! No kidding you and the Hallyburton family are happy with it! I just can't seem to use enuogh exclamtion points here, lol!
    ...and I love the fact that I can blow up the pictures and get a good look at the detail...:)! :)!

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  2. Lucky you! But it's a federal holiday (probably why Canada Post had to be open) and BC doesn't get one. I think we might be the only province that doesn't. Great job on that painting!

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  3. Hello again Bridget!... Thanks for visiting and for the supportive comments!

    It really is great when both the clients and the artist come away from the commission process feeling satisfied and excited about the result!

    That feature really does offer a real idea of the brushwork doesn't it Bridget? A real asset when you are looking at another artist's work and style.

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Hi Liz-Anna!... Welcome to my blog! Thank "You" for visiting and for the encouragement!

    Wish that the government would get its act together on this holiday issue... and other things!HAHA! They seem really in left field on every issue that's important to us these days!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    PS Love your block prints on handmade paper projects! Very crisp and well designed!

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  5. I think this is an absolutely amazing piece, Bruce. For snowmobile enthusiasts, it is truly awesome! I haven't been on a snowmobile in probably 40 years but I used to love it when family friends would take us out on theirs. (Something looks quite grammatically incorrect in that last sentence...I tried the apostrophe but got a red underline...!)

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  6. Hi Sherry!... Thanks for dropping by and for again leaving an encouraging comment!

    Despite your worry re: grammar on that last sentence... I "got the drift" of the underlying meaning... and that's all that matters isn't it Sherry? I too... try to edit my writing... but sometimes my ol' fingers... bad typing... causing too many typos to sprout up... and age-imposed forgetful nature... allow wee "slips" to occur! HAHA!! Not to worry!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Hi there Mate!... Glad that you like this one! Figured you would... given the wonderful motor and cycling images that you have created over ten years! They are nothing short of spectacular... and are... "good and fast!"

    Probably... we both enjoy the challenge of catching the action... colour and something... outside of the box!HAHA!! Keeps life interesting for sure!

    Thanks for the gracious comments! Coming from a sporting artist of your calibre... makes the compliment that much more heart-felt! Thank "You"!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  8. The painting has all the energy of a day out on snowmobiles and I can see why the family loves it. I had an uncle who was addicted to snowmobiling and did it into his late 80's. I used to ride on the back of my first husband's motorcycle when younger and enjoyed it very much. I imagine I would like snowmobiling too but now I have conflicting feelings about activities involving internal combustion machines and speed. I drive a hybrid now and only when absolutely necessary. The world is changing and carbon footprints are a reality we need to consider. I don't wish to be a wet blanket but as a species the time has come to reconsider our recreational outlets and how the damage done to environment and wildlife habitat is more important than our fleeting activities done only for fun. Bikes and old fashioned sleds are also fun and don't use up precious resources or cause a lot of noise pollution. Now I suppose I can expect some hate mail...sigh.

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  9. Hi Bruce,

    Hope you enjoyed Family Day. I love this wonderful painting. The shadows on the snow and the glow of the sun just wonderful. I love the figures snowboarding. You have not only captured the wonderful atmosphere of the cold, but also the action of the snowboarders

    Well done Bruce. Thank you for sharing.

    All the best
    Joan

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  10. Hi Karen!... The world is a vastly changing place and when "We"... as a species consider ourselves above the laws governing the cycle of Nature... and Creation... we run the very real chance that we will carry out our own extinction.

    Sure looks that way, as I survey the sad state of things around the globe. Harvest is hardly a word we either understand or practise in our management and use of natural resources.

    We are only interested... it would seem, in consuming and play... at any expense... to the environment or ourselves... until we are at last consumed by our arrogance and greed.Sad!

    Bring on the hate mail! That has never dissuaded me from expressing what I believe is right! "I" do what "I" can... and obviously... "You" do as well. Shine... and Paint on!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Hi Joan!.... Thanks for dropping by and for the uplifting compliments regarding the snowmobiling piece!

    While I am not at all any advocator of the sport... nor have I ever ridden on one... it was a challenging and enjoyable project from start to finish. Building the cradled support for the birch panel was the most challenging part of the whole project!

    I did indeed enjoy our laid back celebration of Family Day in our own way. Now... back to the grind... and the easel for "Me"!

    Glad to see your searching with the pen and ink sketches. I love the crisp contrast of blck n' white! Good for you!

    Good Sketching and Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  12. Hi Bruce,

    What a great action painting this is! I love the colors of the snow, and the bright colors of the snowmobilers. It is all about winter!
    I agree, enjoy the last days of winter. I never wish for spring or summer. It will come. I like to enjoy each day. Don't want to wish life away.

    Best to you,

    Sue

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  13. Hey there Sue!... What a pleasant surprise! So good to hear from "You"!

    Thanks for the compliments! Like "You"... "I" really live every day... one day at a time and truly enjoy every season for its unique differences.

    I spent the afternoon outdoors this afternoon painting on location nearby. The sun felt so wonderful... warm and strong... even in the face of the sub zero temperatures. Little wonder that the birds were singing their heads off... cardinals... bluejays... chickadees... all as happy to be "out there"... as was "I"!

    Good Painting!
    warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  14. Love the ski mobile painting and also your sentiments!!

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  15. Hi Marian ! ... Thanks for checking in.... and for the supportive comment!

    It's so important to live your own life according to your own beliefs and principles, That is the real source of peace and contentment in one's journey!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  16. Cool! I haven't try to ride with snow mobile. It seems interesting. I will suggest that to my parents. Thanks for sharing.


    Autumn

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  17. Hi Autumn May!... I haven't either. Those that ride them... love them! Too much noise and speed for me!

    Glad that you liked the post!

    Happy Winter!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  18. Amazing Experience!Nice blog.I would love to visit this place.I love to ride with snow.It's really interesting.Thanks for sharing.

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