Titanium... White Christmas!

Holm's Homestead, Gervais Road - oil on b. sienna toned panel
(Note the grainy texture detail )

Barn Complex on 7th Line Oro -oil on burnt sienna toned panel - 16x20 inches

John and Mary Silk's Century Homestead, Matchadash

Oil on toned b.sienna panel 10x12 inches

Winter rolled into our Oro-Medonte region off Georgian Bay like a freight train on late Tuesday evening! I arose early on Wednesday morning to find about 6 inches of snow already on the ground and with gusting winds and zero visibility making travel of any kind treacherous and foolhardy.

None the less... I had an appointment to meet with a prospective new gallery owner in nearby Penetanguishene... so I headed out cautiously at 60 kph or less and managed to arrive on time for the 10:00 am appointment. On the way back to Hillsdale, a sunny and blue sky scenario followed on my heels and remained for the remainder of the day.

What a stroke of luck that was! My painting buddy, David Kay and his lovely wife Diane had arrived to spend a few days with us so that David and I could do some plein air work in the area.

We had a quick hot chicken stew lunch and David an I headed out eagerly to the site on Gervais Road that I had chosen to begin our painting time together. The site there had a unique and colourful subject that David had never seen, or painted... though I had on two previous occasions last winter. I knew that it would work for us and that it would alleviate any need for a "drive around"... which usually eats up valuable painting time.

David approved heartily with my choice... and we immediately launched into action. David selected a 16x20 panel to work on.... while I chose a smaller 10x12 inch sienna toned masonite panel that I was eager to try out. I had used a different method of applying the gesso undercoating... which left a fine abrasive tooth all over the panel surface... not unlike a coarse pastel paper texture.

We had arrived at the site by 2:15 pm... and both of us had what we wanted by 4:00 pm, so we decided to pack it in and spend what was left of daylight looking at possible locations for the next day. The temperature late in the day had plummeted quickly to -8C... so knowing our limit and choosing a less punishing strategy... we made the right choice not to push for another start.

Thursday morning was beautiful... with the sunlight coming in and out while we painted , but we were both able to produce good paintings from the site we scouted out the previous day. Again... by 1:00pm, the temperature, as expected dropped very quickly. We passed up the planned hot lunch break in Craighurst and pushed on up to Big Chute on the Severn River to a nice farmhouse subject. David has his fill of Algonquin wilderness settings... and so enjoys the opportunity to sink his teeth into rural farms and barns for a change.

By this time, there were no lighting effects at all... very BLAH conditions... offering little chance for contrast and dramatic lighting. However... the composition was very interesting to us both, so we soldiered through the greyness... and the rapidly increasing cold to get down something that we each could carry home to our individual warm studios... to play with.

Both of us love the outdoors... and the solitude of painting alone. We share the same respect and need for wilderness conditions in our lives. We always are able to find commonality in our interests... pleasures and our personal code of values. On top of that... we both have supportive spouses who accept us for who we are... support our work and enjoy company together as couples.

We are deeply blessed... and know it!

None of these images have been changed in any way. They are... as they were created and returned from the field... untouched. They'll sit a day or two... and I'll enjoy the time... with coffee in hand... deciding to add... or not... and remembering a couple of fine days... "out there" with a good friend... doing what we both love!

Does life get any better?... I think not!

Good Painting to all!