Thursday, June 9, 2011

Glad Tidings to Share...



Summer has dropped in... from dizzying heights.... bringing heat with HUGE winds and thunderstorms... the "usual stuff" that one associates with summer's bombastic displays. Menacing deer flies during the day and mosquitoes during the night... have replaced the black flies in the field and on my walks... but these daily rituals fill my heart with joy and excite my desire to be "out there" in a new world full of scents... sounds and sights that change almost daily!


Deb is back from her week-long Grand Gal visit to Saskatchewan... heart gladdened by the experience and all the Gramma huggin'... but also gladdened to be be back in the [cleaner]world and life that "We" share...HAHA!!! "She" was overjoyed with my effort and simple gift... as "I" was overjoyed to have her company and laughter... when "I" tease and perform. Simple joys and pleasures like my morning coffee and newspaper delivery to her... our daily cribbage matches in the studio and sharing the daily newspaper crossword rituals are again the order of business... and pleasure at The Paint Box Gallery. Life is good... and "Summer" in my own world ... has surely returned!


More glad tidings to share with those of you who took up my pleasure to support Allison's Chicken Pesto Sandwich entry to that on line Country Harvest Ultimate Sandwich Contest. Her entry was selected as one of the three finalists to receive a $1000 prize for her efforts! A yummy surprise for a young gal conducting her first university summer class in Venice! Thank "You " to all from Allison and "I"... for your daily votes sent in on her behalf ! Another solid example of the power of blogging as a tool to reach out and... simply share! Thank you one and all !


Congratulations to Sherry... for pushing forward with her coloured pencil to overcome the block that "She" was experiencing! Never giving up the ship... always results in saving it! Glad to share your glad tidings read in your last post! When the canoe dumps you our suddenly... stay with the canoe. When lost in the woods. Sit down and think. Get your bearings... make a plan and move on only after the initial bewilderment and fear subsides. Good common sense decisions.... in outdoor adventures ... and in the creation of art!!!!


A very BIG thank you"to Suzanne Berry for Spot lighting "Lost In the Sixties" on her wonderfully rich site (see right hand tool bar)... and for the Lady Bug Brigade Parade! Exquisite summer fare... those Lady Bugs! One of them might just be my own Lucky Lady Bug... Deb! That's what I call her! My thanks also... to those of her followers who left gracious and uplifting comments concerning the piece! Do come on over for a visit whenever you are able!


Today's jpeg featured here in this post is the last (for a while) in the series of acrylics that I "played at". The site is Bateau Channel... a favourite haunt of mine on the inside of Howe Island... where Lake Ontario drops into the St Lawrence River. Access to this island site is obtained only by means of a small cable-driven four car ferry... a peaceful summer getaway from the mainland rat race. Sunset is a particularly serene moment on this picturesque and quiet island retreat... looking westward up through this channel. It gets its name from the fact that the channel was used by the "batteaux", or large rafts made from squared white pine timber that were driven by crews of men who lived aboard from the entry point upstream near Trenton down the entire length of the St Lawrence to awaiting timber ships at Quebec. It was then loaded and taken across the Atlantic to Britain. This heritage piece that harkens the earliest historical beginnings of travel, settlement and industry in this part of Canada.


Happy Summer!... Good painting to All !!






15 comments:

  1. you live in such a wonderful part of the world bruce...glad you are there to catch it all!!!

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  2. Hi there Mate!... Glad to have you aboard!

    It is indeed a wonderfully... beautiful part of the world Rob... and "I" am greatly blessed to be able to live and paint in it! I am never without inspiration... or subject - real plus for any painter!

    "I" am so very glad to share it with painters whose work and ethic I very much admire....talented people like your Self Rob!Thank "You" for sharing your own very beautiful part of the world... through your eyes and own very HUGE talent!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. Beautiful scene and you've captured the majestic feeling of those evergreens so perfectly. Congratulations!

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  4. Hi Katherine!... Thank "You" for stopping by and for your encouraging comments!

    It is indeed a majestic... beautiful and inspiring place to visit! You seldom meet another car or person there... since only cottagers and farm folk make the crossing where I choose to. The other... more modern multi-car ferry closer towards Kingston, often has large lineups during the summer months.

    Glad that you enjoyed the view!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Loving these dark ground pictures! Keep 'em comin'! Thanks for your support of my Ultimate Sandwich, Dad, and to all your blogging buddies who lent a hand!
    Love from Venice,
    Allie xoxoxo

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  6. Hello There Jemima!... Yup!... Love that dark ground for a change... shuffles up the deck for sure... but it creates great colour and contrast!

    Your Pesto Sandwich was not only a winner in the contest Allison... it was a real hit on the two occasions that I served it! A keeper in the Dad Cookbook for sure!

    Looking forward to a get together when you return after your research is completed! Enjoy your time... bathed in the mystery and golden serenissima... which is Venice at its best! See you soon Sweetie!Thanks for dropping in!

    Ciao... and Much love always!
    Dad!
    XXXXXOOOOOXXXXX

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  7. This painting actually looks quite a lot like some areas around where I live out here on north Vancouver Island! I love it here but sometiimes miss Ontario, especially on the Bruce Penisula where my grandparents cottage still is (now owned by my Aunt and Uncle) at Lion's Head - a place that inspired me from my early childhood. Don't miss the heat of On. summers, though. Here is has been breezy and mild temps - lots of sun the past few days even! Too bad I'm not more of a plein air painter but when I get out there I just want to look and look and I don't get around to painting:-) You have a knack for it that I admire.

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  8. Hi Karen!... Canada is a diverse and beautiful country... but there are similar landscapes found in every area of the country... that echo others.

    The Bruce is a very unique area... especially at Lion's Head and Tobermory... I visit there occasionally.

    Glad that the West Coast weather has improved and is getting back to "normal" for the season!

    As for the plein air thingy... your portrait work is simply breath-taking... simply because of your passion... and years of devoted time to perfecting and understanding that genre. That's a both gift and a product of years of dedication on your part!

    Thanks for visiting and for your encouragement!
    Good luck with the "Lady in the Garden" piece!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Thank you for your always uplifting thoughts and words, Bruce. Also thank you for taking the time to get to know your blogging friends and thinking on them. I always look forward to your posts. I have to say that this piece is just gorgeous. I love the trees in the foreground and that Hudson River school lighting in the distance. Just truly a jaw dropper for me. Did I ever tell you that my favorite pieces are the maple series you did not so long ago? Still, every piece becomes a favorite as I continue to scroll up and down to look and re-look!

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  10. Good Morning... it is here Sherry!Good to hear from "You"!

    I use my blog and my painting to make contact with others like my Self who love and pursue a journey creating and enjoying art. Throughout my own life art has brought people to "Me"... that I would not have met otherwise.... people who like your Self who matter!

    We all have our different ways and processes... but underneath... "We" are kindred spirits. We share the same joy... the same drive... and the same disappointments in that pursuit. It is comforting to know... that one matters... is worthy in the eyes of someone... no matter how far away they might be physically!

    I must admit that Maple Sugaring time and painting during that time of year has always been one of the highlights of my painting year. Perhaps again... it is because of the "Sweet" memories I have ... of so many people and bushes visited over the years!

    Glad to hear your voice... and so glad to see "You" happy with your own process Sherry! Keep up the good work!

    Good Painting and Pencilling!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. Visiting your work today Bruce to enjoy such a wonderful piece! The light is drenching the whole place and lifting it up to eternity..I could enlarge it and study every brush stroke as well, it was inspiring!

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  12. Hi Bruce,

    Congratulations to Allison on her recipe.

    These acrylics have been very nice, every bit as good as your oils. One of these days I am going to get around to trying oils, or more probably alkyds.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  13. Hi Padmaja!... Nice to have you visit... and glad that you found the new piece enjoyable to look at!

    Light is a very important and key element that I try to catch and add to each of my paintings. Obviously... the most dramatic light occurs in the earliest and latest part of each day, so those times are my favourite to be out painting!

    Do drop back for more visits... glad to have you aboard! I will visit your site to see what type of work that you produce!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  14. Good Morning Keith!... Thank "You"... for your visit and for the encouraging comments regarding the quality of the acrylics!

    It was refreshing to think... quite literally... outside of my usual (paint)box. The techniques and handling in general, as you well know and understand from your own experiences are vastly different.

    Like yourself... I felt that the quality of both was remarkably similar... but the way the pigment could be handled and the way it performed... especially in the drying process was vastly different in the acrylics. Worth the experience for sure... and I certainly will come back to it.

    Allison was both surprised and thrilled with her win! Thank you for your support Keith!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  15. Thank you Skizo... for your visit and for the positive comments about my work!

    My first visit to your site was very enjoyable too! I found your work to be colourful...very well designed... and executed in a unique and personal way!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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