" Things... go better with Coke!"
"Fenced In By Autumn"- oil on panel 8x10 inchesa
"Long Morning Shadows!'-oil on panel 8x10 inchesI simply can't believe the good painting fortune that I've enjoyed! The weather... and the colour continue to provide me with unbridled enthusiasm and subject matter to be painted!
The remaining foliage here is so soft and muted in most places... like the woodwind section of the orchestra... and then ... here and there yet... the rich brass of remaining maple oranges, softwood golds and raucous oak russets sound a distinct trumpet fanfare - splash of "colour surprise that begs the inclusion of a dash of raw pigment... almost directly from the tube!
The two jpegs that I've posted today are examples of what can be done to make contemporary/ modern homes more appealing as painting subjects. I tried to surround these otherwise rather "ordinary" (from a painter's selective eye) subjects... with a "supporting cast" of interesting visual elements... which do exist... but are "amplified" for artistic punch to create more visually appealing images. I also have used a much sharper and steeper than usual three quarter perspective to elevate the subject... giving it prominence... and a greater sense of... dare I say... majesty????
Regardless of what viewers... or even owners will think... I very much enjoyed painting these two... and feel a great sense of achievement from my own belief that they really don't stand out as being different from... or inferior in artistic merit to the "heritage" homes... which obviously are my usual subject matter! I hope that you enjoy these first two examples. I hope to do a couple more and then finish with a couple of my usual fare.
I will be absent for the next three days however. Tomorrow.. I will be painting in the quaint rural village of Kettleby south of Hillsdale near Aurora with my youngest son Bryn, aged 15 years. It is "Going to Work With Dad Day" at his high school... and he elected to join me at my ..."Work"! Kettleby is a picturesque throwback to rural Ontario town life at the turn of the twentieth century. It provides a host of interesting subjects, many of which I have painted before... and is the perfect quiet place to spend a day painting ... en plein air... with a Soul Mate... and "He" most certainly is that!
On Thursday and Friday we will head down to our home town...Brockville, on the St Lawrence River to visit our dentist Peter Culp. Pete and I go back a long way. He was a student in my grade seven and eight classrooms in the late 70's... and we have remained "joined at the hip"as long time friends ever since.
We will do an overnight visit with my eldest child Lisa at her lovely home on Kerry Point Road... five doors down from the site of my family's cottage on Narrow's Lane Road. Next day we will head two miles westward to Rockport to conduct some "business". More on that...at a later date!
We then head up the highway about 45 minutes to Kingston to "do lunch" with my daughter Allison... to celebrate her birthday and to presenther with her La Salute painting.Later in the afternoon... we will point the van cross-country towards Hillsdale... weaselin' our way through the back roads taking in the beauty of the Canadian Shield along Highway 7. Though the journey is a good 4 hours in duration... the scenery never fails to give us pleasure... and less trafcfic for sure than the other major 4oo level semi-infested speedway alternatives
A whirlwind couple of days of travel... but that's what painting does for "You"... keeps the grey matter energized... and the arthritis at bay and the soul joyous... and thankful!
Talk to you soon! Stay tuned... for our combined results arising from our Kettleby Kaper! I'll most likely post again towards the weekend. Until then...
Good Painting ...to All!!
Hey Bruce,
ReplyDeleteYou certainly did make 'ordinary' homes look more appealing!! Here I was thinking, 'how is he finding these awesome homes to paint?'! Then I read what you wrote...!
I really admire your persistence and hard work. I know in my heart that I could be painting more on my days off. You've inspired me to do just that!
Have a wonderful week,
Nora
Thanks Nora... For the visit and encouraging words! Glad that you find food for thought in the site!
ReplyDeleteJust as you showed us with your masterful whimsy sketches "over lunch"... we make time to make art and create spaces for creative activity. Subjects can often been found in the most"ordinary places and spaces in our daily lives! I loved your line drawings and character analysis... in a few strokes!
Good Sketching and Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
ReplyDeleteYou've certainly given these new homes as much character in the paintings as the old ones. They should fit in well with the rest of the exhibition.
It sounds like an exciting couple of days that you have ahead of you. I hope you have a good time.
All the best,
Keith
I just love how these homes are shrouded in trees and leaves. So very beautiful! I can't wait to see your painting of that top building, Bruce. Is that a granary? I love that building architecture.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Keith!... Just a quick comment this morning! Still dark here... but I'll leave at 7:30 am to meet Bryn for our Kettleby Paint Out together! Looking forward to the day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you share my feeling that these newer houses share the feeling of the older ones. That was what I hoped would happen. They were fun to paint in any event!
Always have a good time... when with my children! Thanks for your visit and kind, supportive words Keith!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Hi there Sherry!... Glad that you enjoyed seeing these paintings... as much as I enjoyed painting them.
ReplyDeleteIt is a challenge to step up to a subject that isn't really..."one's cup o' tea"... and make something from it! But meeting the challenge is what painting is really about - growing to meet new challenges!
The "granery" is Rumble's Flour and Feed Mill here in the village. Once the centre of village and area commerce... it stands... neglected... decaying... and hovering precariously on the edge of tumbling down. Sad really... after the years of service!
I posted the sketch, I believe two posts ago as completed in my first round of Hillsdale sketches!
Good writing! Thanks for checking in and for your gracious comments!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
You've really made these two houses look beautiful. I really like your idea of using the three quarter view. I would never thought of doing that. Now I'm going to have to try and see if I can make a newer house look like it has personality.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely! I do LOVE how you paint these homes...so much life and energy, gorgeous colours, and a deep sense that these are beloved domiciles! As an aside, I will tell you that I had a job for a year drawing and painting new homes for developers - they had to be done in Gouache and in only two days - large full colour paintings with flowers, shrubs, trees, clouds in the skies, etc. - we toned down the exaggeration of perspective for the two story homes so they wouldn't have that "wowed" effect and put off potential buyers. Slave labour at $8.50 an hour but I sure learned how to paint bricks:-)
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy!... Thanks for your lovely comments and for visiting!
ReplyDeleteGive that steep three-quarter view a try! I think that'll be surprised how it changes "the ordinary"... into an interesting one... with its own unique personality!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Hi there Karen!... Thank you for visiting... for your encouraging comments and for sharing your own personal experiences!
ReplyDeleteWe all have had to do things during our careers like ... they call it "earning one's spurs"... "keeping the wolf away from the door"... etc.
The price of being in one of the most satisfying day-to-day jobs one can find! Worth all of the "bunk n' junk"!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Oh, Bruce, your work is brilliant. You have captured the fall in all it's glory. We haven't been blessed yet. It isn't only the colors of nature,what I love the houses and play of light and shade, warm and cool colors, simply wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Joanh
Hi there Joan!... Hope that your fall lasts as long... and is as kind to you and your fellow plein air artists as it was to me!
ReplyDeleteIt has really gone down quickly here after the two back -to-back killer frosts in our area... but I have had a great run!
Glad that the paintings pleased you Joan! Thanks for your visit and aalways encouraging comments!
Good Fall Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
What beautiful paintings! Our Fall went so quickly after getting an unexpected snowfall. At least I can enjoy a lttle more Fall through your paintings!
ReplyDeleteHi Samantha!... Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteSorry that the snowfall brought your enjoyment of Fall to a sudden halt! That often occurs in our area as well... however this year, it was both lovely and lasted a long time!
Glad that my paintings help to extend your Fall feelings! Enjoy!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
fantastic how you paint your buildings bruce,a great blend of being loose and thight!
ReplyDeleteHi there Mate... Thanks for the visit... and the estute observation about the combination of loose and tight... when dealing with painting buildings!
ReplyDeleteYou've hit the nail right on the head with that statement Rob! If you notice the loose is in the treatment of the vegetation which encloses the tighter detailing of the house.
It reads as you've nicely put it..." a blend of loose and tight"- each dependent upon the other for support in making the overall statement on such a small format!
Good painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce