The St Lawrence River is very low for this time of year... down almost two feet below normal which would be disastrous for farmers and for all of us who depend upon wells for our fresh water. So I am not bloomin' complaining about the weather at all. It did however curtail my attempts to get outdoor painting... until this evening. After supper... the sun came out for an hour and I headed out into the village... sketchbook, pen and ink kit and watercolours ... eager to at least have a go at painting.
On Wednesday, my painting pal from Algonquin Park, David Kay and his wife Diane are coming for a two or three day stay with us here. They are coming to fetch their second of two stained glass windows that they had commissioned Deb to create... and David and I will put in some time painting in the area.This will be David's first painting trip into this area! We four share so much in common... and we always enjoy each other's company... so good times are on the way!
irises
Today's sketch is a quick ink rendering... with just a touch of watercolour to add some interest and flourish. I often use this kit and method when I'm travelling because it is portable and quick to produce a resulting reference which I might use afterwards to create a larger painting. Strangely... my ink brush seemed not to dry as quickly as usual... likely I felt because of the cold. As a result there was some unwanted smudging in areas where I used it and where my drawing hand touched the wet ink.. It took some "creative" thinking and doctoring to lessen the unwanted sprawling of the dark ink mass in places.
I am as well posting some floral blooms... for the gardeners at heart to enjoy. Sometimes it's fun just to be the observer... letting the brushes lie idle... while the eyes and brain soak up the wonder that unfolds so quickly... and briefly in this rich and florid part of the year! I hope that you enjoy the post!
Good Painting to ALL!
Bruce, I love the sketch so much. What a gorgeous old building seen through your eyes. The flowers are beautiful and that photo of moonlit poppies? Stunning!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Sherry!... Thank you for visiting and for your compliment on the "Boathouse" sketch!
ReplyDeleteA lot of fussy Victorian detail... but that is the charm of the place. Combine that with an unruly brush-ink pen and voila! A recipe for disaster!
The flowers here are over-the-top gorgeous everywhere you look. The Moonlit poppies??? I saw the moon just as I was retiring to the basement studio to post last night, so I grabbed the camera and went across the road. Pure fluke it was... and not my photography skills at all! HA HA!! Just like painting sometimes... the result is out of your hands. It just..."is"!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Wonderful sketch, Bruce..SO beautifully detailed. That Moonlit Poppies is such an incredible photo!!! Looks like you live in God's Country..gorgeous photography.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Hilda!... Thank you for your encouraging comments on this post... and for visiting!
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed God's Country Hilda! The First Peoples of this area called it Manitouana... which roughly translates "Garden of the Gods." It is so... in any language!
We are deeply blessed to be living here!
Good painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Your photos are really great to see, I especially like the moonlit poppies. It is interesting to see what is blooming up there. We have many of the same sort of flowers here in Texas but ours bloomed a few months ago.
ReplyDeleteHi there Douglas!... Thanks for dropping by!
ReplyDeleteGlad that you enjoyed the bloomin' photos! HA HA!
Some of these blooms have already started to fade... just hours after I took the pictures!
Spring flowers have such a short life span... but their welcome faces do much to cheer one up after many long hours of cold and darkness!
Thanks for your visit and interest!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Good morning Bruce, it's strange how our weather seems to mirror yours these days. Like you we had a dry warm spell, which has now turned cold and wet. We've had some wildfires as well because of the dry ground.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Keith
Hi there Keith!... Weather and wildfires... "second verse... same as the first!"The weather has been crazy all over the world.
ReplyDeleteLuckily... we had a window of opportunity for good painting weather when David and Diane visited! I will post the results... soon!
Stay tuned!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce