Friday, February 1, 2013

Thirty Day Thousand Island Challenge... Under Way!

I decided to begin my Challenge en plein air at Ivy Lea Park, a popular and picturesque campground  facility run by Parks Canada. I knew of several possible painting sites because I had recently visited there with my camera when the snow was deeper. I knew as well... that several of the sites were well protected from the wind... and that would be absolutely essential because the temperature here was hovering at -12C as I left on my morning foray.

I pared down my equipment as well because I knew that I would have a carry of over a kilometer to reach the site I intended to paint at. No problem on the way in, but after several hours in the cold, the trip out can be really gruelling carrying the gear back... plus a wet painting. The sky was overcast and the terrain treacherously icy in places. We had experienced rains and very high sou'westerly gale force winds over the past two days. These had all but removed all of winter's icy river handiwork in Rockport. The River was completely open again... save for odd drifting shards of ice pans as they passed... moving slowly eastward.

When I arrived at Smuggler's Cove, I was astounded... and disappointed to discover that the sou'westerly had driven the broken ice right fully into the cove. The piled up ice now obliterated most of the attractive dark waters which usually flow continuously... even during winter. I decided however... to just jump in and make do with what was there. Time was of the essence in this cold. Rambling about aimlessly wastes time and valuable energy and most usually spells disaster for the day! Grin and ... bear down! Glad that I had chosen to bring a smaller format (8x10 inch panels) than usually is the case for me outdoors. In hind sight, anything larger requiring longer working time... and I would have been beaten for sure!

I had laid out my palette completely before leaving home... so my set up time was quick and I settled right into my work. As I was in the process of establishing my "map" for the painting... the sun suddenly emerged, ever so briefly... but it gave me ample seconds to observe and  to put the effect to memory for later use in the painting session. I had purposely left my camera at home. The cold really plays havoc with electronic equipment and the alkaline batteries. So today... "Shoot from the hip... and the end of the brush" was the order of business for the day!

My lay in was moving along nicely, when suddenly, the wind shifted around and began to blow straight into my face. There was nowhere to hide... so every stroke had to count. The wind chill had to be in the high -20s... and my hands began to quickly feel the cold. I had enough structure and detail to finish (comfortably) what I had to back in the studio. I knew from previous experience that you pack up and leave early... as opposed to hanging in foolishly... and dangerously. By the time I reached the car and loaded the gear into the van, I could indeed feel the first pain of frostbite on both hands. I put another pair of gloves on and within about five minutes they soon began to lose their stinging feeling.

The first jpeg shown below records the sketch ... "raw from the field." The second records the small changes I felt were necessary to correct tone and add small details for increased viewer interest. I played around mostly with the ice in the foreground to create patterns and shapes... adding slivers of dark here and there. All in all... I felt the exercise worthwhile... and I did truly enjoy the outing... despite the cold at the end. Preparation... and common sense are the go words ... if you paint en plein air in sub zero weather. Cold is not just about mere comfort. Tt is more about safety.

Stay tuned!... 29 more Isleviews to go... in a 28 day month! HA HA!

Good painting ... to ALL!


Raw..."bitterly raw"... from the field!


"Jammin'... in Smuggler's Cove, Ivy Lea" - a plein air oil sketch 8x10 inches

10 comments:

  1. Bruce, I love these paintings. Bravo, to go out there in such frigid weather and produce such lovely paintings. You certainly have captured the frigid snow and ice conditions, love the palette of colors, Just a perfect blend of warm and cool colors and tones. Brilliant. Again, you have inspired me to bundle up and give a try, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brrrrr.......-12! Frostbite! Jeepers! I doff my wooly hat to you Sir. I would be doing this challenge in warmer months but then I am a southern wussie :o)

    It's a great result, I can feel the chill in those icy waters.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I so love winter paintings and this is one fabulous one at that. I cannot imagine painting out in the extreme cold or in the extreme heat so my hat is definitely off to you and all of the other plein aire painters. I do not know how you do it! This really is beautiful, Bruce, and I think your added touches in the studio made an already beautiful painting even more so.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good Morning Joan!... THanks for visiting and for adding your "warm" compliments! HA HA!

    Painting outdoors ... any time is exhilarating for me... but I love winter painting because for some strange reason... the silence seems amplified... the landscape so much fuller of possibility.

    Hope that you enjoy your trip out there.. but do be careful and be prepared to be "out there." A thermos of coffee or soup is a great comapnion,... buys extra painting time... HA HA!!~!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good Morning Lisa... Thanks for your encouraging comments and thoughts!

    Winter painting is not for everyone.. and one is not a "wuss" for preferring the warmer times to paint. It just happens to be my preference and I now find it easier to be there... given that I know what to expect... and how to prepare myself.

    Still... there are days when all good plans (and common sense) go asunder! HA HA!!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good Morning Sherry!... Thank you ever so much for your warm compliments and visit!

    I too, am in love with winter and always look forward to those days when I can get "out there." I cannot tolerate the heat any more and must stay out of the sun and be covered up. Too much exposure over too many times being out there is the reason.

    I am pleased with the end result as well. Just enough to tighten up areas and to add those touches I could remember were there... and intrugued me.On to the next panel!

    Good painting!
    Warmest regards
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brave brave man!! And what a painting!!! Looking forward to many more in your challenge - and thank goodness, I can view it here in my warm room instead of fighting the cold out there in the frozen north :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. HI there Rhonda!... Weclcome from the frigid "WQhite North! vHA HA!!

    Being part Inuit... Not!... the cold doesn't phase me! HA HA!!! I don't always find myself... literally "out in the cold" as badly as I did yeaterday. I remedied that for today's cold Day #2! Surprise ... surprise!

    Stay tuned for more paintings... more silliness and the solution for the cold!

    Thanks for dropping by and adding your warm encouraging words!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Bruce, the painting is superb and for me, not seeing these sights around here, the snow and ice makes it more interesting than open water. I'm not sure it would be worth losing fingers for though!

    All the best,
    Keith

    ReplyDelete
  10. HI there Keith!... Thank you for your visit ... your encouragoing words... and your very sage and sound finger advice! Duly noted Sir!
    The ice and snow create great opportunities for imaginative forays using dramatic colour... which is one of the reasons that I find myself drawn into these colder days and parts of the day.. which reason doesn't support.

    However... it is only at those brief moments in the year that such lighting and colour conditions manifest themselves. I will heed your advice... and cut my time and exposure to these potentially dangerous events!

    Glad that you have been enjoying the Challenge series of paintings. Stay tuned!... Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce















    ReplyDelete